Su09Sep - LEEDS - US Presidential Candidate Cynthia McKinney

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WEST YORKSHIRE TRUTH CAMPAIGN – PRESS RELEASE

US Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney, visits Leeds
CONFRONTING THE EMPIRE

31 August 2007



Former Congresswoman and US Presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney, is coming to the UK as part of a European tour and will be presenting a talk entitled "Confronting The Empire". The event, organised by the West Yorkshire Truth Campaign, will be held at the James Graham Building (Lecture Theatre B), Leeds Metropolitan University, Headingley Campus, Leeds LS6 3QS on Sunday September 9th at 7.00pm.

In 1992 Cynthia made history when she became the first African American woman to represent Georgia in the United States House of Representatives.

During her tenure, Cynthia won recognition as an outspoken leader for human rights, an ardent advocate for peace, and a determined worker for justice. As reports now surface that US soldiers are returning from Iraq and testing positive for depleted uranium, it is important to note that Cynthia McKinney sponsored legislation to end the use of all depleted uranium weapons until their health effects are known.

Cynthia voted against record Bush administration Pentagon budgets, and challenged the Pentagon to explain how it "lost" over $2.3 trillion in un-traceable transactions. She continues to decry the Pentagon's sweetheart deals with Halliburton, the Carlyle Group, and DynCorp and its successor companies.

Cynthia speaks out against the loss of fundamental freedoms under the Bush administration. She became one of the first Members of Congress to demand a thorough investigation into the events of September 11, 2001 and responsibly asked the question: "What did the administration know and when did it know it about the events of September 11th ?" As a result of her thought-provoking question, an estimated 40,000 Republicans voted in the Georgia Democratic Primary to oust Cynthia. It is called "crossover" voting and her supporters filed a lawsuit against this practice.

Cynthia will be standing as the Green Party Presidential candidate in 2008.

Ends

Notes to editors
For more information about this event or the West Yorkshire Truth Campaign contact Anthony Beckett (mobile: 07733323841; email: xxx), visit the West Yorkshire Truth Campaign website http://www.wytruth.org.uk or visit the tour website http://www.confrontingtheempire.org.uk