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{{short description|American activist and former Black Panther captain}}
[[Image:AaronDixonSenate.jpg|framed|Aaron Dixon]]
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Aaron Dixon
| image = Aaron Dixon 01.jpg
| caption = Dixon in 2012
| office =
| term_start =
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| constituency =
| majority =
| office2 =
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| constituency2 =
| majority2 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|01|02}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = {{plainlist|
* [[Black Panther Party]]
* [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]]
}}
| relations =
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], U.S.
| occupation = Political [[activism|Activist]]
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}


'''Aaron Dixon''' (born [[January 2]], [[1949]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[activism|activist]] and former captain of the [[Seattle]] chapter of the [[Black Panther Party]]. He is currently running for the [[United States Senate]] in [[Washington state]] on the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] ticket.
'''Aaron L. Dixon''' (born January 2, 1949) is an American [[activism|activist]] and a former captain of the [[Seattle]] chapter of the [[Black Panther Party]] for its initial four years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/14/18492683.php |title=Forty Years After Founding Seattle Black Panther Chapter, Aaron Dixon Still at Forefront of Struggle for Racial Equality |work=[[Democracy Now!]] |date=2008-04-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803032751/http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/14/18492683.php |archive-date=2012-08-03 |access-date=2010-08-27}}</ref> In 2006, he ran for the [[United States Senate]] in [[Washington state]] on the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] ticket.


==Background==
As an adolescent, he marched with Dr. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] to end housing discrimination in Seattle, and was one of the first volunteers to participate in the busing program to integrate schools.
As an adolescent, Dixon marched with Dr. [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] to end housing discrimination in Seattle, and was one of the first volunteers to participate in the busing program to integrate schools. [[Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.|King's assassination]], on April 4, 1968, deeply affected Dixon and propelled him towards the [[Black Power Movement]]. That week, Dixon and his brother Elmer were in [[San Francisco]] for the West Coast Black Student Union conference, and during that time attended the funeral of [[Bobby Hutton]], a member of the Black Panther Party killed on April 6 in a confrontation with the police. Following the funeral, Dixon met with some of the Black Panther leadership such as [[Bobby Seale]] and [[Kathleen Cleaver]], who made a vivid impression upon him. The time spent in San Francisco lead the Dixon brothers to set up the first Black Panther chapter outside of [[California]], in [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bloom |first1=Joshua |last2=Martin, Jr. |first2=Waldo E. |date=2013 |title=Black against Empire: The history and the politics of the Black Panther Party |location=Berkeley and Los Angeles |publisher=University of California Press |page=146 |author-link2= Waldo E. Martin |title-link=Black Against Empire}}</ref>


While a member of the Black Panthers, Dixon started the [[Free Breakfast for School Children]] program that fed thousands of hungry [[African American]] children; and he helped to open a free community medical and legal clinic. The clinic continues to this day as the [[Carolyn Downs Clinic]], now part of Country Doctor Community Health Center. Aaron also became involved in electoral politics when he worked on the mayoral campaign of [[Lionel Wilson]], who was elected as the first black mayor of [[Oakland, California]] in [[1977]].
While a member of the Black Panthers, Dixon started the [[Free Breakfast for Children]] program that fed thousands of hungry [[African American]] children; and he helped to open a free community medical and legal clinic. The clinic continues to this day as the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://countrydoctor.org/carolyn-downs-fmc/ |title=Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center |website=Carolyn Downs & Country Doctor Clinics |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> At the same time, according to the ''[[Seattle Weekly]]'', the Panthers were involved in the "firebombing [of] businesses and institutions that they considered racist."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2006-08-02/news/aaron-dixon-s-radical-past.php |title=Aaron Dixon's Radical Past |first=Mike |last=Seely |work=[[Seattle Weekly]] |date=2006-08-02 |access-date=2020-11-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502185328/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2006-08-02/news/aaron-dixon-s-radical-past.php |archive-date=2007-05-02}}</ref>


Dixon also became involved in electoral politics when he worked on the mayoral campaign of [[Lionel Wilson (politician)|Lionel Wilson]], who was elected as the first black mayor of [[Oakland, California]] in 1977.
After leaving the Panthers, Dixon worked for several [[non-profit organization]]s, focusing on drug and gang violence and working with homeless youth. In [[2002]], he founded [[Central House]], a non-profit providing [[transitional housing]] for homeless young adults. Central House also has a [[Youth Leadership Project]] that operates at four Seattle public high schools. It teaches youth to think positively, graduate high school, and control their own destinies. It also teaches them the importance of serving their community.


After leaving the Panthers, Dixon worked for several [[non-profit organization]]s, focusing on drug and gang violence and working with homeless youth. In 2002, he founded Central House, a non-profit providing [[transitional housing]] for homeless young adults. Central House also has a Youth Leadership Project that operates at four Seattle public high schools. It teaches youth to think positively, graduate high school, and control their own destinies. It also teaches them the importance of serving their community.
Dixon is the father of six. He recently married Farah Nousheen, a media activist and founder/director of [[Tasveer]], a grassroots organization committed to independent South Asian film. They live in [[Beacon Hill, Seattle, Washington|Beacon Hill]] with their combined large family.

Dixon is the father of six and lives in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]].


==2006 United States Senate race==
==2006 United States Senate race==
{{main|Washington United States Senate election, 2006}}
{{main|2006 United States Senate election in Washington}}

On March 9, 2006, Dixon announced his decision to seek the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party's]] nomination for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent [[Maria Cantwell]] on her continued support for the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present|U.S. presence in Iraq]] and the [[USA PATRIOT Act]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003187934_green10m.html |title=Green candidate aims for Democrats' votes |first=Alex |last=Fryer |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=2006-08-10 |access-date=2006-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206032824/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003187934_green10m.html |archive-date=2007-02-06}}</ref>

His platform included a call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, the repeal of the PATRIOT Act, support of [[same-sex marriage]], the implementation of a system of universal [[single-payer health care]], the end the [[war on drugs]] and a renewed focus on the issue of poverty.

On May 13, 2006, Dixon was nominated as the Green Party of Washington State's nominee for the U.S. Senate. On July 10, 2006, the Secretary of State's office announced that the Dixon campaign had gathered the appropriate nomination signatures and that Aaron Dixon would appear on the November ballot. Besides Dixon and Cantwell, the ballot included [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] nominee [[Bruce Guthrie (politician)|Bruce Guthrie]], [[Independent (politician)|independent candidate]] Robin Adair and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger [[Mike McGavick]].

===Endorsements and criticisms===
A positive reaction to Dixon's candidacy came from Republican Chairwoman Diane Tebelius.<ref name=Spoiler>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/262469_senate10.html |title=As an Anti-war Candidate, Dixon Says he is no Spoiler |first=Neil |last=Modie |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=2006-03-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914042546/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/262469_senate10.html |archive-date=2012-09-14}}</ref> Negative reactions from other Democrats, who cited the [[vote splitting]] that Dixon would have on Cantwell's voters, thus aiding the pro-Iraq War Republican candidate.<ref name=Spoiler/>

Dixon faced criticism for having criminal charges on his record, most for traffic violations, and owing the city and county substantial fines as a result. Public records revealed that Dixon: had only ever voted once in [[King County]], in 1998; was not married to his claimed wife, and was still married to a different woman; and owed several thousand dollars to another former spouse for [[child support]] payments.<ref name=Voting>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0614/geov-parrish.php |title=Aaron Dixon's Voting Record |first=Geov |last=Parrish |newspaper=[[Seattle Weekly]] |date=2006-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414001800/http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0614/geov-parrish.php |archive-date=2006-04-14 |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref><ref name=Pope>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Modie |title=Political gadfly Pope sneaks into council race as Democrat |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Political-gadfly-Pope-sneaks-into-council-race-as-1245767.php |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=2007-08-05 |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> Dixon described these as additional costs in addition to his agreed payments, and indicated he was working to pay the debt.<ref name=Voting/>

===October 17 debate exclusion and arrest===
[[File:Dixondebateprotest2small.jpg|thumb|right|Aaron Dixon and supporters protesting exclusion from KING-5 debates]]

Dixon did not meet the sponsors' criteria of public support or fundraising to participate in a televised debate of the Senate candidates to be held on October 17, 2006, sponsored by various news outlets and civic organizations in [[King County]]; to take part, candidates had to have garnered 10 percent of the tally in a scientific poll; be the nominated candidate of a party that won 10 percent of the vote in the last election; or have raised at least $1.2 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=7681 |title=Green Party candidate arrested at Senate debate |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2006-10-17 |access-date=2010-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090340/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=7681 |archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref>


On the day of the debate, Dixon was arrested for trespassing at the [[KING-TV]] studio in Seattle, where he and his supporters were protesting his exclusion from the debate being taped there for broadcast later that day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_101706POLarrest.CB.4a80cd90.html |title=U.S. Senate candidate arrested at debate |work=[[KING-TV]] |date=2006-10-18 |access-date=2010-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927042350/http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_101706POLarrest.CB.4a80cd90.html |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>
[[Image:Aaronsign.jpg|framed|Aaron Dixon for U.S. Senate yard sign]]


===Election results===
On March 9, 2006, Dixon announced his decision to seek the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party's]] nomination for U.S. Senate, challenging [[Maria Cantwell]] on her continued support for the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006|U.S. presence in Iraq]] and the [[USA PATRIOT Act]].


#Maria Cantwell (D) 1,184,659 - 56.81%
His platform included a call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, the repeal of the PATRIOT Act, support of [[same-sex marriage]] to implement a system of univeral, [[single-payer health care]] and a war on poverty.
#Mike McGavick (R) 832,106 - 39.91%
#Bruce Guthrie (L) 29,331 - 1.41%
#Aaron Dixon (G) 21,254 - 1.02%
#Robin Adair (I) 16,384 votes - 0.79%
#Write-ins (NP) 1,445 votes - 0.07%


==Post-campaign==
Dixon's entrance into what many speculate will be a tightly contested race captured immediate media attention and was quickly endorsed by [[Brita Butler-Wall]], the President of the Seattle School Board and [[Sally Soriano]], a fellow Board director, Amy Hagopian, the President of the Garfield High School [[PTSA]], as well as Olympia city councilman T.J. Johnson, [[Ralph Nader]]'s 2004 running mate, [[Peter Miguel Camejo]], former chairperson of the Black Panther Party [[Elaine Brown]], [[Malik Rahim]], founder of the [[Common Ground Collective]] and [[Todd Chretien]], organizer of the San Francisco [[College Not Combat]] initiative and 2006 Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in California.


In the months following the campaign, Dixon reorganized much of the campaign's organization into the Center for Social Justice, based out of the campaign's former headquarters in Seattle's Central district. The Center organized an [[January 27, 2007 anti-war protest|anti-war rally and march]] on January 27, 2007, in Seattle, which had a turnout of several thousand.
Reaction to Dixon's candidacy was largely positive among many local progressives, peace activists, gay rights activists and community leaders, though the reaction among Democratic [[bloggers]] was almost universally negative, citing the "[[spoiler effect]]". Dixon denied this, arguing that Cantwell's support for the [[2003 Iraq War]] meant that he would draw anti-war voters that would not support Cantwell. <ref>Modie, Neil. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/262469_senate10.html "As an Anti-war Candidate, Dixon Says he is no Spoiler"] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', March 9, 2006</ref>


In 2012, Dixon published a memoir, ''My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain'', {{ISBN|978-1608461783}}.<ref>Aaron Dixon, ''My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain''(2012), [[Haymarket Books]]. {{ISBN|1608461785}}.</ref>
Dixon also faced criticism in Seattle media for having several criminal charges on his record, most for traffic violations, and owing the city and county substantial fines as a result. Public records circulated by a local Republican Party activist also showed that Dixon owed several thousand dollars to a former spouse for [[child support]] payments. Dixon described these as additional costs in addition to his agreed payments, and indicated he was working to pay the debt.<ref>Parrish, Geov. "[http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0614/geov-parrish.php Aaron Dixon's Voting Record]" ''Seattle Weekly'' April 6, 2006.</ref>


== See also ==
On April 8, 2006, the Dixon campaign officially kicked off its campaign with a 350-person event at the Garfield Community Center, where he raised $4000. Speakers included Amy Hagopian and Elaine Brown. On May 13th, 2006, Dixon was overwhelmingly nominated as the Green Party of Washington State's nominee for the U.S. Senate.


* [[List of African-American United States Senate candidates]]
On June 25, 2006, Dixon joined fellow Green candidates [[Alison Duncan]], candidate for New York Lieutenant Governor, [[Julia Willebrand]], candidate for New York Comptroller, [[Malachy McCourt]], candidate for Governor of New York, [[Howie Hawkins]], New York candidate for U.S. Senate and Peter Camejo, candidate for Governor of California for a "March for the Fight for Love and Life" in support gay and lesbian rights in New York City.


== References ==
On July 10, 2006, the Secretary of State's office announced that the Dixon campaign had gathered the approporiate nomination signatures and that Aaron Dixon would, indeed, appear on the November ballot. Also appearing on the ballot will be [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] nominee [[Bruce Guthrie]], [[Independent (politician)|independent candidate]] [[Robin Adair]] and after their likely primary victories, incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Maria Cantwell and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger, [[Mike McGavick]].
{{reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{external links|date=January 2022}}
*[http://www.dixon4senate.com Campaign Website]
{{Commons category|Aaron Dixon}}
*[http://www.archive.org/details/Aaron_Dixon_for_Senate Aaron Dixon press conference video]
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.kuow.org/program_lecture_series.asp?Archive=02-15 KUOW Speaker's Forum: Aaron Dixon on the History of the Black Panther Party]
*[http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/aaron_dixon.htm Interview with Aaron Dixon 2005], and transcript of 1970 interview. ''[[Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project]]''
*[http://www.kuow.org/defaultProgram.asp?ID=10363 KUOW - The Conversation with Ross Reynolds: Aaron Dixon on his 2006 candidacy for U.S. Senate]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060615071313/http://www.dixon4senate.com/ Campaign Website]
*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/262119_senate08.html "Former Black Panther Aaron Dixon to run for Senate" - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 8, 2006 ]
*[https://www.myspace.com/dixon4senate Aaron Dixon's Myspace Page]
*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002855577_dixon10m.html "Former Panther Leader Runs Against Cantwell" - Seattle Times, March 9, 2006 ]
*[https://archive.org/details/Aaron_Dixon_for_Senate Aaron Dixon press conference video]
*[http://eatthestate.org/10-14/EducatingSenatorCantwell.htm "Educating Senator Cantwell" - Eat the State, March 16, 2006 ]
*[https://www.kuow.org/stories/aaron-dixon-co-founder-of-the-seattle-chapter-of-the-black-panther-party KUOW Speaker's Forum: Aaron Dixon on the History of the Black Panther Party]
*[http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5604523p-5036838c.html "Candidate Hammers Cantwell’s War Vote" - Tacoma News Tribune, March 21, 2006 ]
*[https://www.kuow.org/stories/green-party-senate-candidate-aaron-dixon KUOW - The Conversation with Ross Reynolds: Aaron Dixon on his 2006 candidacy for U.S. Senate]
*[http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060321/NEWS01/60321027&SearchID=73239785994588 "Senate Candidate Wants Troops Home" - The Olympian, March 21, 2006 ]
*[http://www.seattlepi.com/local/262119_senate08.html "Former Black Panther Aaron Dixon to run for Senate" - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 8, 2006 ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060520143843/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002855577_dixon10m.html "Former Panther Leader Runs Against Cantwell" - Seattle Times, March 9, 2006 ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060702020750/http://eatthestate.org/10-14/EducatingSenatorCantwell.htm "Educating Senator Cantwell" - Eat the State, March 16, 2006 ]
*[http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/aaron_dixon.htm Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project: Interview with Aaron Dixon ]
*[http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/aaron_dixon.htm Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project: Interview with Aaron Dixon ]
*[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=matt19&date=20031119 "Lending a Hand to Hard-luck Kids" — Seattle Times, November 19, 2003 - profile of Harder House, founded by Aaron Dixon]
*[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=matt19&date=20031119 "Lending a Hand to Hard-luck Kids" — Seattle Times, November 19, 2003 - profile of Harder House, founded by Aaron Dixon]
*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002270461_danny11.html "Reunion of Black Panthers" - Seattle Times, June 1, 2005 ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060630045758/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002270461_danny11.html "Reunion of Black Panthers" - Seattle Times, June 1, 2005 ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060719005526/http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_06_26.shtml "California, Washington and New York Green Party Candidates Join "March for Love and Life", Green Party of the United States Press Release, June 23, 2006 ]
*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002275598_blackpanther15m.html "Black Panthers Share History with new Generation", Seattle Times, May 15, 2005 ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080820004045/http://seattlepi.com/local/280737_cantwell10.html "Anti-war liberals blast Cantwell", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 10, 2006 ]
*[http://gp.org/press/pr_2006_06_26.shtml "California, Washington and New York Green Party Candidates Join "March for Love and Life", Green Party of the United States Press Release, June 23, 2006 ]
* [https://archive.today/20130415190302/http://www.selvesandothers.org/article15281.html "Out of War...And Into Our Communities", By Jesse Hagopian, October 4th, 2006 ]
*[https://archive.org/details/We_Have_a_Choice "We Have a Choice: a grassroots run for senate (2006)", a film at archive.org ]
{{refend}}


{{Black Panther Party}}
==References==
<references/>


[[Category:1949 births|Dixon, Aaron]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Aaron}}
[[Category:Community organizers|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:American activists|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:Activists from Chicago]]
[[Category:African Americans|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:Activists from Seattle]]
[[Category:Living people|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:American community activists]]
[[Category:Pro-choice politicians|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Black Panther Party members|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:Members of the Black Panther Party]]
[[Category:Green politicians|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:Washington (state) Greens]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists|Dixon, Aaron]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]
[[Category:African-American people in Washington (state) politics]]
[[Category:American democracy activists]]
[[Category:African-American candidates for the United States Senate]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American writers]]

Latest revision as of 00:24, 11 August 2024

Aaron Dixon
Dixon in 2012
Personal details
Born (1949-01-02) January 2, 1949 (age 76)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party
Residence(s)Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
OccupationPolitical Activist

Aaron L. Dixon (born January 2, 1949) is an American activist and a former captain of the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party for its initial four years.[1] In 2006, he ran for the United States Senate in Washington state on the Green Party ticket.

Background

[edit]

As an adolescent, Dixon marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to end housing discrimination in Seattle, and was one of the first volunteers to participate in the busing program to integrate schools. King's assassination, on April 4, 1968, deeply affected Dixon and propelled him towards the Black Power Movement. That week, Dixon and his brother Elmer were in San Francisco for the West Coast Black Student Union conference, and during that time attended the funeral of Bobby Hutton, a member of the Black Panther Party killed on April 6 in a confrontation with the police. Following the funeral, Dixon met with some of the Black Panther leadership such as Bobby Seale and Kathleen Cleaver, who made a vivid impression upon him. The time spent in San Francisco lead the Dixon brothers to set up the first Black Panther chapter outside of California, in Seattle.[2]

While a member of the Black Panthers, Dixon started the Free Breakfast for Children program that fed thousands of hungry African American children; and he helped to open a free community medical and legal clinic. The clinic continues to this day as the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center.[3] At the same time, according to the Seattle Weekly, the Panthers were involved in the "firebombing [of] businesses and institutions that they considered racist."[4]

Dixon also became involved in electoral politics when he worked on the mayoral campaign of Lionel Wilson, who was elected as the first black mayor of Oakland, California in 1977.

After leaving the Panthers, Dixon worked for several non-profit organizations, focusing on drug and gang violence and working with homeless youth. In 2002, he founded Central House, a non-profit providing transitional housing for homeless young adults. Central House also has a Youth Leadership Project that operates at four Seattle public high schools. It teaches youth to think positively, graduate high school, and control their own destinies. It also teaches them the importance of serving their community.

Dixon is the father of six and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2006 United States Senate race

[edit]
Main article: 2006 United States Senate election in Washington

On March 9, 2006, Dixon announced his decision to seek the Green Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Maria Cantwell on her continued support for the U.S. presence in Iraq and the USA PATRIOT Act.[5]

His platform included a call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, the repeal of the PATRIOT Act, support of same-sex marriage, the implementation of a system of universal single-payer health care, the end the war on drugs and a renewed focus on the issue of poverty.

On May 13, 2006, Dixon was nominated as the Green Party of Washington State's nominee for the U.S. Senate. On July 10, 2006, the Secretary of State's office announced that the Dixon campaign had gathered the appropriate nomination signatures and that Aaron Dixon would appear on the November ballot. Besides Dixon and Cantwell, the ballot included Libertarian nominee Bruce Guthrie, independent candidate Robin Adair and Republican challenger Mike McGavick.

Endorsements and criticisms

[edit]

A positive reaction to Dixon's candidacy came from Republican Chairwoman Diane Tebelius.[6] Negative reactions from other Democrats, who cited the vote splitting that Dixon would have on Cantwell's voters, thus aiding the pro-Iraq War Republican candidate.[6]

Dixon faced criticism for having criminal charges on his record, most for traffic violations, and owing the city and county substantial fines as a result. Public records revealed that Dixon: had only ever voted once in King County, in 1998; was not married to his claimed wife, and was still married to a different woman; and owed several thousand dollars to another former spouse for child support payments.[7][8] Dixon described these as additional costs in addition to his agreed payments, and indicated he was working to pay the debt.[7]

October 17 debate exclusion and arrest

[edit]
Aaron Dixon and supporters protesting exclusion from KING-5 debates

Dixon did not meet the sponsors' criteria of public support or fundraising to participate in a televised debate of the Senate candidates to be held on October 17, 2006, sponsored by various news outlets and civic organizations in King County; to take part, candidates had to have garnered 10 percent of the tally in a scientific poll; be the nominated candidate of a party that won 10 percent of the vote in the last election; or have raised at least $1.2 million.[9]

On the day of the debate, Dixon was arrested for trespassing at the KING-TV studio in Seattle, where he and his supporters were protesting his exclusion from the debate being taped there for broadcast later that day.[10]

Election results

[edit]
  1. Maria Cantwell (D) 1,184,659 - 56.81%
  2. Mike McGavick (R) 832,106 - 39.91%
  3. Bruce Guthrie (L) 29,331 - 1.41%
  4. Aaron Dixon (G) 21,254 - 1.02%
  5. Robin Adair (I) 16,384 votes - 0.79%
  6. Write-ins (NP) 1,445 votes - 0.07%

Post-campaign

[edit]

In the months following the campaign, Dixon reorganized much of the campaign's organization into the Center for Social Justice, based out of the campaign's former headquarters in Seattle's Central district. The Center organized an anti-war rally and march on January 27, 2007, in Seattle, which had a turnout of several thousand.

In 2012, Dixon published a memoir, My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain, ISBN 978-1608461783.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Forty Years After Founding Seattle Black Panther Chapter, Aaron Dixon Still at Forefront of Struggle for Racial Equality". Democracy Now!. 2008-04-14. Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  2. ^ Bloom, Joshua; Martin, Jr., Waldo E. (2013). Black against Empire: The history and the politics of the Black Panther Party. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. p. 146.
  3. ^ "Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center". Carolyn Downs & Country Doctor Clinics. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  4. ^ Seely, Mike (2006-08-02). "Aaron Dixon's Radical Past". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  5. ^ Fryer, Alex (2006-08-10). "Green candidate aims for Democrats' votes". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  6. ^ a b Modie, Neil (2006-03-09). "As an Anti-war Candidate, Dixon Says he is no Spoiler". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2012-09-14.
  7. ^ a b Parrish, Geov (2006-04-06). "Aaron Dixon's Voting Record". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2006-04-14. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  8. ^ Modie, Neil (2007-08-05). "Political gadfly Pope sneaks into council race as Democrat". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  9. ^ "Green Party candidate arrested at Senate debate". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. 2006-10-17. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  10. ^ "U.S. Senate candidate arrested at debate". KING-TV. 2006-10-18. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  11. ^ Aaron Dixon, My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain(2012), Haymarket Books. ISBN 1608461785.
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