Daniel Borunda

El Paso Times

EL PASO — An overflow crowd of about more than 300 cheered for Green Party candidate Jill Stein as she spoke about various topics, including immigration, U.S. policy in the Middle East and people killed by police during a rally at Cafe Mayapan in South El Paso.

"Don't be fooled by the lesser evil. Don't think for a moment that you have to drink that Kool-Aid," Stein said.

There is a need for a third party because of the influence by big money donors over the Republican and Democratic parties, said Stein who took shots at Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Libertarian Gary Johnson.

Stein's visit was the first to El Paso by a candidate for president during the current election season. Election Day is Nov. 8.

The Green Party is asking voters to "invest their vote." If the party earns more than 5 percent of the popular vote on Election Day, it will open the door to millions in Federal Election Commission funding for the next election. It would also help the party get on state ballots in future elections.

During the rally, some of the people in the crowd mentioned they were Bernie Sanders supporters who were now backing Stein. The rally drew people from as far away as Albuquerque and the San Antonio area, organizers said.

Graciela Mendez, 59, of the Lower Valley, attended the rally with her daughter, Andy Mendez, who at 17 years old is too young to vote but is encouraging people to vote for Stein.

Mendez said that she has never voted for a Green Party candidate but that she will vote for Stein.

"Hopefully, she will let it be heard that there is somebody out there that is willing to speak for the people because the other two (candidates), forget it," Graciela Mendez said.

Border communities, such as El Paso, are the front of issues of justice, immigration and the impact of global trade deals that do not take into account working people and the environment, Stein told the crowd.

"In this election people have learned that Republicans are the party of hate and fear. While the Democrats are the party of deportation and detention and night raids. So, we say an end to all that," said Stein, adding it's time for "a welcoming path to citizenship" for undocumented immigrants.

Stein touted a "Green New Deal" to create renewable energy jobs by investing in public transit, agriculture and conservation and called on improving public education and doing away with high-stakes testing.

"It's time to put an end to this police violence that has killed so many people of color," Stein said. "... We cannot recruit former soldiers directly from the military right into our police as if the police are the occupying force in our country. They are not. The police need to be serving our community, not dominating or terrorizing the community.

"Every community is entitled to a police review board with the power of subpoena and an independent investigator so that every death at the hands of police is investigated" she said. "Every family is owned an explanation."

U.S. military intervention is "applying a flamethrower to the Middle East," said Stein, adding that she the nation's huge military budget has made the nation less safe.

"Bombs and bullets do not end terrorism, they only make it worse," said Stein, calling for a "peace offensive" using financial restrictions and diplomacy to solve problems.

Stein's visit to El Paso was part of a campaign swing through Texas. She will be in the Houston on Saturday, San Antonio on Sunday and Austin on Monday.

Information: jilll2016.com

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.