Van Jones sent this message out to friends and supporters on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Dear Friends:
My family and I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support that we have received over the past week or so. I resigned from the White House on Sept. 6, and I have remained silent since then—in keeping with my promise not to be a distraction during a key moment in the Obama Presidency.
Over the past several days, however, many people have been asking how they can help and what they can do.
The main thing is this: please do everything you can to support both President Obama and the green jobs movement. Winning real change is ultimately the best response to these kinds of smear campaigns.
I ask everyone to:
1. Support President Obama’s efforts to fix our nation’s health care, energy and education systems. His victory last fall did not represent the “finish line” in the fight to renew America; his election was just the “starting line.” This autumn, it is time to make history again—with victories on health care and clean energy.
2. Sign up to support groups that are working for green jobs.
As others seek to vilify or marginalize the movement for a clean energy economy, the leading groups deserve increased support. This is the year to ensure that the clean energy transformation creates good job opportunities for everyone in America.
3. Spread the green jobs gospel. The ideas and ideals of the green jobs movement are grounded in fundamental American values—innovation, entrepreneurship, and equal opportunity. My true thoughts can be found in my book: The Green Collar Economy. Check it out from the library—or order a copy and share it with a friend. See for yourself why clean energy and green jobs are good for our country.
4. Stay connected and speak up for me via your favorite blogs (e.g., Huffington Post, Grist, Jack & Jill, etc.), on message boards and all of your favorite social networking platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Supporters have set up a couple of them, to help you stay engaged, including: I Stand With Van Jones and I Love Van Jones.
In due course, I will be offering my perspective on what has happened—including correcting the record about false charges. In the meantime, I must get my family affairs in order and sort through numerous offers and options.
I want to be clear that I have nothing but love and admiration for President Obama and the entire administration. White House staffers are there to serve and support the President, not the other way around. At this critical moment in history, I could not in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. The White House needs all its hands on deck, fighting for the future.
Of course, some supporters actually think I will be more effective on the “outside.” Maybe so. But those ideas always remind me of that old canard about Winston Churchill. After he lost a hard-fought election, a friend told him: “Winston, this really is just a blessing in disguise.” Churchill quipped: “Damned good disguise.” I can certainly relate to that sentiment right now. 
Nonetheless, we must keep moving forward. Let’s continue our work to make an America as good as its promise. These are historic times. And we have a lot more history to make.
Sincerely,
Van Jones
This was originally posted on Grist.org and portside.org. It was also featured on HuffingtonPost.com.
11 Comments
I just wanted to say “I’m Sorry, so sorry”. You not only lost a position you were more than qualified and capable of handling but ‘WE’ the American People Lost — Lost YOU! It’s time for CHANGE and Change takes creative, courageous, tireless Leaders. God Bless You and Your Family and I look forward to seeing what you’ll be doing next.
Dear Mr. Van Jones
I can’t say one way or the other about the charges against you except there was enough in your background to make them. If you have something to defend against these charges please speak up.
Sincerely yours
Mfellion
I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with Mr. Jones if he is back in the bay area. We’ve got a project that might interested him.
David C
Try not to ask Why me?, rather ask What is this situation asking of me?
- Stephen Covey (Paraphrased)
I’d like to interview you about green jobs, our environment, and if you’re willing to, your side of the story about resigning. Please contact me at the email address or Web site above.
Dear Van,
I just want to add to the outpouring of love for you and all you have done. I am so sorry about what happened to you and pray that it is a blessing in disguise. Sent you a birthday card and a picture to the Ella Baker Center. Hope you got them both. Love, Suzi Jestadt
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.
Brother…showing some love, from the northern hemisphere. stay strong..you have more people standing with you in this world, than you probably know.
After listening to your keynote speech at Powershift 2009, I realized that Dr King must be singing praise in his heaven…you have the same power, and maybe even more..
Yes, the american gov have missed out,big time…but the world are waiting for you, eagerly.
Would Love to talk to you, about coming over here, to Sweden.
with Love, gratefulness and Respect
Carina in Sweden
If there is any complaint about Google, it would be that they are only reliable as the content they are searching, and anyone can make a web page these days. ,
Van, I just found this opportunity on the Ella Baker Site to express my outrage at the unwarranted attacks on you and your public persona this past September. I have admired you since we first met, now at least 9 years ago with the first Kucinich Presidential campaign and following with your generous support of The Peace Alliance and our work to establish a US Dept. of Peace…among other things. You are gifted and brilliant, your time will come. Thank you for all you do each day to make the planet a better place………
Blessings, Judy
Pres., Board of Directors
The Peace Alliance
Dear Mr. Jones,
You were given that position by the ‘First Black President of the US’!! Hold your head up high! Take care of your family, those babies need you and ALWAYS KNOW that your resignation GIVES YOUR BABIES MORE OF YOU!
I am an Information Specialist that found you during a search on green jobs. I will have to get the reason of why I am researching this topic later. Right now it is very important that you take care of YOU and family.
You have served your God and your people. If there is more work for you to do, GOD WILL MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ROADBLOCKS. Do not take the attacks on you as anything other than A STEPPING STONE. You Sir, will be just FINE! Thank you for the work that you have done to date.
This is late as hell brother, but I just wanted to state that I stand in solidarity with you from one man to the next. That hater thought he was putting a “stop” to something, but what he did is expose many more of us to your ideas who previously weren’t aware. I just ordered your book and have begun research on the concpets surrounding a green economy and how that can be beneficial to disenfranchised people and communities. Until next time, take care of you and yours. And furthermore, shoutout to Glenn Beck for giving you some shine and letting us know that there’s a kindred spirit out there speaking freely and independently about this issues.