Green Party vice presidential nominee Cheri Honkala spoke to De Anza political science students on Oct. 21 about her life as a homelss woman, an activist, and a third party candidate restrained by a two-party system.
Honkala was initially scheduled to speak in the main quad but the event was canceled due to the rain and she spoke in a political science classroom.
Honkala started her presentation talking about her political aspirations.
A homeless mother surviving in the streets with her young child, Honkala sought to create safe spaces for homeless families.
For 25 years she has been on a journey to fight poverty, facing down law enforcement in her struggle on multiple occasions.
“Things started to deteriorate, with rats, and children living outdoors in the pouring rain. We  decided we were going to march to our capitol and speak with our governor,” said Honkala.
“We marched every day, upwards of 22 miles per day. Media was covering us everyday.” said Honkala. “We would camp and sleep alongside the road at night. People from across Pennsylvania dropped off food for us.”  
Honkala was confident that media and public attention would ensure a response from the governor once the march reached Harrisburg, Pa. She thought housing solutions for the 70 homeless families who marched was attainable.
No one from the governors office spoke to them, so, tired and cold, they decided to stay in the Capitol rotunda.
They stayed for  six weeks until state troopers forcibly removed Honkala and her group so they moved outside to the Capitol stairs.
Under political threat, legal representation was denied and they were removed again.
“The children got a tour of the governor’s mansion and got to see how dogs there were living better than they did outside on the Capitol stairs,” said Honkala,
When they came back out, law enforcement threw out the families’ belongings.
“When people saw that, they began bringing us blankets,” said Honkala, “But on the coldest night of the year, the governor ordered the removal of the blankets.
“That’s how I came to be politicized in a human rights framework,” Honkala said.
 “That night the children talked about feeling like they were less than animals, less than human beings.”
Honkala faced officers again in a recent event that made national news.
Honkala and her presidential running mate, Jill Stein, were arrested while trying to participate in President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney’s televised debate on Oct. 22.
“Over 85 percent of the country is eligible to vote for myself and Jill Stein, and a candidate who has a mathematical chance of winning should be allowed to participate.” said Honkala.
“After being detained by Secret Service, Jill Stein and I were taken to a secret warehouse,” said Honkala.
 “Two qualified mothers were both handcuffed to a metal chair for over eight hours trying to be a part of the democratic process in this country.
While Romney talked about binders of women, two women were bound from fair representation.”
Honkala said students can watch Democracy Now on the Internet to view her participation in the presidential debates.
She and candidates from other parties respond to Obama and Romney even though they are not allowed to participate.
Honkala concluded by encouraging students to add her on Facebook
For more information on Honkala, her running mate, and the goals they hope to achieve in the White House, visit http://www.jillstein.org/