[Marxism] Fw: Two notes for a friend, Peter Camejo

[Alex Briscoe <obeynow20001@xxxxxxxxx>]

Clint and Belinda have been tireless peace, Green and Nader activists

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--- On Tue, 9/16/08, clint coppernoll <clint.ican2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: clint coppernoll <clint.ican2@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Two notes for a friend
> To: "Alex Briscoe" <obeynow20001@xxxxxxxxx>, "Elizabeth Arnone" 
> <elizarnone@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Robtice2@xxxxxxx" <robtice2@xxxxxxx>, "Toby A.A. 
> Heaps" <toby@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "ââbelinda Coppernollââ" 
> <belindagp3@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "PRO826@xxxxxxx" <PRO826@xxxxxxx>, "Cat Woods" 
> <cat801@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Chris Driscoll" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, 
> dgkraynak@xxxxxxxxxx, "Doug Nielson" <dougnielson@xxxxxxxxx>, "Mark E. Smith" 
> <mymark@xxxxxxxxx>, "Fraeda Scholz" <fraedasch@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Gully, Nigel T. 
> 32GULLY" <32gully@xxxxxxx>, gardenbeekeeper@xxxxxxxxx, "Howie Hawkins" 
> <hhawkins@xxxxxxx>, "Charlie Howe" <charliehowenow@xxxxxxxxx>, 
> hess@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Jerry Kann" <JerryKann99@xxxxxxxxx>, 
> j.kochick@xxxxxxxxx
> Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 7:09 PM
> In Memory of a Friend and His Smile September 16, 2008
> 
> 
> It has been a sad time for our family with the loss of
> Peter Miguel Camejo.
> Memories of our times with him flood through my mind; but
> even greater
> through my heart. For he was a man of heart. Anyone who saw
> and heard him
> would understand. He spoke with true conviction.
> 
> 
> Others will write and speak of the achievements of Peter. I
> would like to
> write about my friend. 2004 in Milwaukee, we sat, Peter,
> Belinda my wife and
> I, at the airport. We were waiting for our planes home
> after 4 days at the
> National Green Party Convention. We were all exhausted. It
> had been such a
> grinding four days; as we had watched the Party that all
> three of us had
> worked hard for, disgrace itself by being so non democratic
> in its
> nominating process at the convention. Peter had fought the
> hardest of all of
> us there, campaigning for his friend and running mate Ralph
> Nader. Peter had
> committed his prestige and his earned respect as a national
> leader of the
> Green Party, to support Ralph Nader.
> 
> 
> At a time when it would have been easy to fall in despair
> over what had
> happened to our Green Party, I remember Peter's
> strength. It was the
> strength of metal forged over a life time of struggle for
> what was right,
> honest and good. It was the metal of a man that had learned
> that working for
> what was right did not necessarily translate into a win all
> the time, not
> even most of the time. He was a true organizer that
> morning. I remember
> distinctly, him looking at Belinda and I in the eyes, and
> without skipping a
> beat saying "What happened was a sad day for our
> Party. But we can't let
> these people beat us or cause Ralph's voice to be
> silenced. They are
> unimportant compared to the message Nader has for America.
> We must go back
> to our states: organize and work, organize and work,
> organize and work!" His
> voice was full of resolve and determination. His eyes clear
> and gleaming.
> 
> 
> He lifted us up that day, as he had lifted many others over
> the years who
> had fought and lost battles to corporate and manipulated
> people. He urged us
> by word and action to keep up the struggle and fight on the
> good fight. That
> energy was easy to see in any of his speeches. The fire and
> electricity that
> Peter Camejo could generate in a crowd was riveting. Why
> can some do that
> and others are not as successful? Peter spoke from his
> heart and with
> conviction of what he truly believed in.
> 
> 
> Peter never forgot my daughter's name Coral; From the
> first time they met at
> a meeting we attended at a restaurant in Redwood City,
> while traveling from
> New Mexico to Washington State. After that he would always
> give her a hug
> and ask about us whenever they met through out the country,
> as she worked as
> a young organizer. She shared with me, that when she saw
> him, she felt he
> was like a grandfather, as well as someone she respected
> for political
> activism.
> 
> 
> My final memory I would like to share is one that even at a
> sad time like
> this brings a bittersweet smile to my face. I was getting
> out of a car with
> Peter while on our way to an event. People who knew Peter
> Camejo knew of his
> endless travel not only in his home state of California but
> also nationally,
> to speak out for the working people. At that moment, of
> exiting the car and
> our running conversation, I mentioned that the country was
> getting every day
> closer to saying "Enough" and rebelling. He
> stopped and looked at me. A
> small smile graced his lips, a twinkle lit into his eyes
> and he said "A
> rebellion, a peoples' rebellion, the rebels against the
> corrupt government,
> I like the sound of that." "That's why we do
> this!"
> 
> 
> To fellow Rebels who read this, we will miss Peter Camejo.
> However we should
> always continue the struggle as he so eloquently coaxed us
> to do. Clint
> Coppernoll
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Letter to Peter Miguel Camejo, September 16, 2008
> 
> 
> My heart aches with sorrow to learn that you have passed
> away Peter. I will
> miss you and remember you all the days of my life. I was
> privileged to have
> known and worked with a true champion of the common people.
> What a social
> justice warrior you have been, marching for Civil Rights as
> a young man in
> Selma, to marching in recent years in the anti-war and
> social justice
> rallies and events, It is awesome to think that you have
> marched and raged
> against the machine for over a half a century. You truly
> have both inspired
> and humbled me. Even in the last few weeks of your life, as
> you were dying,
> you kept fighting the Good Fight, endorsing the
> Nader/Gonzalez ticket for
> the Peace and Freedom party, helping them win that ballot
> line in
> California. Thank you as a Nader supporter for that last
> valiant effort, and
> I know Ralph and Matt thank you the most. I hope that
> success was sweet in
> your heart, and especially knowing you were a key element
> in persuading the
> delegates to "do the right thing" and endorse the
> Nader/Gonzalez ticket ,
> getting them on the California ballot so voters will have
> more choices this
> November.
> 
> One of my most vivid memories of you that I have, which is
> also a humbling
> one, is not being able to keep up with your faster pace
> when we marched with
> other Greens at a anti-war rally in San Francisco a few
> years ago. It would
> be the last time I saw you in person. I like to remember
> you full of energy
> and vigor as you walked for miles behind the Green Alliance
> banner,
> alongside a large coalition of Greens from the Bay area.
> After a while, I
> complained bitterly about my aching feet. You, twelve years
> my senior, never
> complained once. I was delighted when you tied on a green
> armband that I was
> handing out during the march, over your jacket sleeve. I
> remember you
> speaking to the crowds passionately with fire and spirit
> encouraging them to
> keep fighting this unjust Middle East war and to fight
> against racism as
> well.
> 
> You also spoke on Latino issues that day. I remember you
> handing me a large
> stack of leaflets you had ready, and asked me to pass them
> out to the
> crowds, inviting them to come to another event you and Matt
> Gonzalez were
> involved in, that supported the repeal of the 3
> strikes-life imprisonment
> law. Peter, you kept me busy as usual, this last day I had
> with you. I was
> exhausted trying to keep up with you, but I will always
> cherish this last
> memory of you.
> 
> 
> Thank you for being such a good role model and a truly good
> person who was
> not afraid to care.
> 
> Even with the terrible sadness I felt to hear of your
> passing a few days
> ago, I was delighted
> 
> and not really surprised to learn that you were able to
> complete your
> autobiography. I can imagine that your amazing passion and
> uncompromising
> determination kept you going to finish this last project, a
> gift of your
> memoirs, your life's journey, that will continue to
> inspire those you left
> behind. Thank you Peter, for these final words which I look
> forward to
> reading once it is published. I am sure to be inspired all
> over again.
> 
> I remain forever grateful to have met and have known you,
> Peter Miguel
> Camejo.
> 
> Farewell my friend, comrade and avocado Green. Peace be
> with you.
> 
> 
> Belinda Coppernoll


      

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