Vic Roberts, ” laboring class” Green candidate dies at 75
“I am Vic Roberts, an old retired coal miner and I am a Green Party candidate for Congress in the Illinois 19th district. While campaigning for public office, I wear my coal miner’s hat as a symbol of the everyday way of life of the laboring class people. My every thought, my every action has been shaped and molded by laboring class people; this is who I am, this is what I am. To be sure, if elected to Congress, I, Vic Roberts, can and will best represent the interests of the laboring class people because I am one too.”
–Vic Roberts
With that simple appeal to his voters, Roberts was working to build a Green future for Illinois, and for all of us. His state party issued a press release today about Robert’s death, and it is below the fold.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Patrick Kelly
IL Green Party Media Coordinator
773-203-9631
GREEN PARTY MOURNS VIC ROBERTS
Vic Roberts, Green Party candidate for 19th Congressional District, passed away Friday night or early Saturday morning. The cause of death is unknown.
“Apparently, Vic participated in a parade just yesterday and seemed fine. He went to bed last night and died peacefully in his sleep,” said Rich Whitney, 2006 Green Party candidate for governor, who spoke to Roberts’ wife Carolyn on Saturday morning. Roberts was born Nov. 19, 1932. He was 75 years old.
Roberts, who had run previously as a Democratic candidate before running unopposed in the Green Party primary in 2008, was a retired coal miner known for wearing his distinctive coal miner’s helmet on the campaign trail.
Whitney described Roberts, of Taylorville, as a “staunch advocate for the Green Party and long-time advocate for working people.”
Cards and condolences can be sent to his wife:
Carolyn Roberts, 1022 N 1250 E Rd, Taylorville, IL 62568
Recent photos of Vic Roberts may be found here.
(From his site)
…In the words of a great lady, Mother Jones: Let us pray for the dead but fight like hell for the living.
I shall….and I will….