By Duni Heimpel

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is urging students to reinvigorate a flagging antiwar movement – and in the process taking some swipes at progressives who play nice with the Democratic Party.

Swinging through the Bay Area during a 10-city speaking tour, Nader spoke at Berkeley's St. Mark's Church on Jan. 25 to a capacity crowd composed mostly of college students, whom he accused of being lazy before hitting them up for cash.

Following speeches by Greens Matt Gonzalez and Peter Camejo, Nader's appearance received a standing ovation. In a dark suit, he addressed the audience from the stage steps and spoke with disdain of the self-professed progressive groups that pandered to the Democratic Party in the November elections.

"A social justice movement is not characterized by avoiding the least worst option. The abolitionists didn't choose the least worst option; they had their own party," he said.

While conveying that social change comes from a shift in power, Nader implicated the current generation of students for not having done its job to fight for that change.

"What are you going to say when your grandchildren ask what you were doing when all this was being put under way?" he said. "Will you say you were too busy playing video games or binge drinking?"

He went on to implore the audience to engage in some form of civic action. Slumped, he looked old and deflated, his monotone words coming out in a patronizing rumble.

"It is time to exert a level of self-discipline," he said. "Individuals need to commit to civil action."

Though glad Nader addressed serious issues that were ignored by other candidates in November, Berkeley City Council member Kriss Worthington found Nader's approach harsh.

"Rather than lecturing the mostly student audience, I think we should be praising them for the resurgence of activism on campus, and even for showing up to listen to Ralph," Worthington told the Bay Guardian.

After rebuking the students, Nader turned the floor over to Greg Kafoury. The Portland-based lawyer, who acted as Nader's Oregon campaign manager, delivered a plea for financial support. Organizers said the event raised nearly $5,000 to pay off Nader's campaign debt.

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