We saw Green Party representative Ann Rose Dichov at the Take Back the Night event next to Centennial Hall.

Wildcat: That’s weird that your middle name is Rose.

Dichov: I like to bring Rose in, because, Andi, the symbol of the rose is this really beautiful image and I’d love to have that as a name. I’m the gender outreach coordinator for the Pima County Green Party, and we’re here today at Take Back the Night to highlight two of the 10 key values of the Green Party: gender equality and non-violence. The powers that be right now in the United States government have taken us into this awful bloodbath in Iraq. Innocent people are dying, Americans, military people are dying. Countries around the world aren’t very happy with the United States right now. People need to take back our country right now, and change the tide.

W: But isn’t that kind of violent, taking back the night. Can’t we share the night?

D: My understanding of this is that we as women should be able to walk down the street at midnight in the dark, and not be exposed to any kind of violence.

W: What about men? Should they…

D: And they also. It should be a peaceful society. Everyone is equal as human beings on the planet. And I’ll give this to you, Andi. (Holds out a piece of paper.)

W: Cool.

D: (Pauses.)

W: Grassroots. Is that to do with nature?

D: Not at all… Well yes, we are all one with nature, all living things. And grassroots democracy is what Sally and I are doing here. We just got finished with a weeklong event every evening at Sally’s house, preparing 3,000 ballots to send out to registered Greens in Arizona. Grassroots democracy is all about people here at the foundational level, where the power is, rising up and creating a movement. That’s what the Green Party is; it’s a movement.

W: Because it’s healthy to exercise, move. Like that?

D: (Pauses.) Well, no.

W: Like movement.

D: Are you joking with me?

W: Oh, n…

D: Are you joking with me?

W: Oh, I don’t know?

D: It sounds like you are. (Pauses.) But, what I mean to say is that a grassroots movement is energetic; it’s a wave of change. We can affect change. Most people want to live peacefully and not have their family members blown apart, you know?

W: Yeahhh! Yeah. Can I take your picture?

D: (Pauses.) Well, I just wanted to go back, because you responded a couple of ways that were strange to me just now; about the grassroots democracy and about movement. And I wasn’t sure if you were joking with me or not.

W: I … well … can you explain the grassroots?

D: It’s people coming together and creating a groundswell, a movement that will affect change. Here, Andi. (Hands the paper.)

W: So why is green better than the other colors?

D: (Pauses.)

W: That was a joke.

D: (Laughs.) You’ve been joking with me a lot.

– interview by Andi Berlin