The United Citizens Party

“Knowledge is the Key to Unity and Unity is the Key to Liberation and Progress”

~ John Roy Harper II, Founding Member

History

In 1970, the United Citizens Party (UCP) was established as the first state political party organized and controlled by African Americans. As the time of its origination, there were no African-American South Carolinians in positions of power in local or state government.

The party first ran candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, the state legislature, and county councils in 1970. The 1972 presidential election was the first time the UCP utilized fusion voting to run the Democratic nominee George McGovern against Richard Nixon.

For more historical information please refer to “Is South Carolina Ready for a Progressive Third Party,” SC Point, October 12, 2004. www.scpronet.com/point/0006/p04.html.

 The United Citizens Party Today

In the summer of 2000, there was an effort led by Mike Avey, a political science professor at Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina, to revive the UCP. The group began and successfully completed the process to take back the party line under its original name, the United Citizens Party.  Since that time the organization has grown and continues to run candidates on its ballot line.

The Mission

The United Citizens Party is a political organization that opens the political process to all people. We provide an alternative choice to people whose principles and ideals reflect a society that is economically, socially, and environmentally just. The party seeks to empower the powerless--ethnic minorities, the poor, the working class, women, and other marginalized citizens--with the ability to actively and effectively participate in the political system. As the UCP, we will work together to elect people, who will fight for progressive public policies  that promote fair and equal treatment for all people.

For Further Information Contact the UCP

Email: theunitedcitizensparty@yahoo.com

We greatly appreciate your interest and support of the UCP