Weekly Activist Alert - Fenty's February Frenzy

FENTY'S FEBRUARY FRENZY

Action: Say No to $25M Incentive for Military Contractor Corporation!
Cause:  Support Haitian Earthquake Relief!
Resource: Fundraising Resource Page
Article: DC Bill offers Northrop $25M in Incentives

Events:

We 2/3 - The Right of Palestinians to Study and Travel: A Discussion
We 2/3 - Stand Up to Homophobia and Hate from the US to Uganda
We 2/3 - INCITE DC and Left Turn Magazine Co-Sponsor Fundraiser for Haiti
Th  2/4 - George Mason W.E.B. DuBois Lecture: Black and Queer in America
Fr  2/5 - UDC Justice Cafe - The Constitution; Rights at Risk
Su 2/7 - Volunteer Orientation for the DC Childcare Collective
Su  2/7 - Demilitarized Super Bowl Party
Tu  2/9 - Learning/Teaching Circle White Privilege
 

FENTY'S FEBRUARY FRENZY

Hey D.C.,

February kicks off with many troubles for Mayor Adrian Fenty and his "all-star" team.  From his consistently plummeting approval ratings and the recent press on DC School Chancellor Michelle Rhee's low approval by DC residents, it is safe to say that Fenty's paving his way out of a job! While many may rejoice and are relieved by the possibility of finally ridding ourselves of his anti-people/pro-corporate politics, unfortunately, the problems do not end with the Fenty administration. 

In the middle of an economic crisis that has been used as the excuse for cutting the budget to downsize and eliminate many socially beneficial programs, five DC City Council members are now co-sponsoring a bill that favors military contractors and offers millions of city money as incentives. We hope you take action on this issue and encourage others to do the same.

We also hope that you attend the many the events listed below and continue supporting progressive organizations for Haiti relief...may we never forget her struggles.

Featured WPC Resource this week...
Fundraising Resources

Don't know where to research foundations?  Or how to write an appeal letter?  Or where to have a happy hour in this town?  Check out our Fundraising Resources page and please let us know if you have anything to add!

Appreciate this service? Please DONATE to support the movement for a more just and peaceful world.
 

EVENTS

The Right of Palestinians to Study and Travel: A Discussion
Wednesday, February 3
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1st Floor
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Join Project Engage, Americans for Peace Now, Foundation for Middle East Peace,
and Churches for Middle East Peace invite you to a discussion with

Berlanty Azzam
Student, Bethlehem University, forcibly returned to Gaza

Brother Jack Curran
Vice President for Development, Bethlehem University

Tania Hary
Director of International Relations, GISHA

READ MORE

Stand Up to Homophobia and Hate from the US to Uganda
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
2:45pm - Thursday, February 4, 2010 2:45pm

Full Equality Now DC rises in solidarity with LGBTQ Ugandans targeted by homophobic legislation being drafted by members of the "The Family," a U.S.-led right wing group with more than 10,000 cells worldwide.
Protest The Family's Homophobic and Right Wing Agenda!READ MORE

READ MORE

INCITE DC and Left Turn Magazine
Co-Sponsor Fundraiser for Haiti
Wednesday, February 3
5:00PM - 8:00PM
CommonWealth Gastropub
1400 Irving St, NW
Columbia Heights Metro, Green and Yellow Lines

There will be music and photography from Haiti!
Cost: $10 suggested donation gets you a free beer!
*BUT NO ONE will be turned away for lack of funds!*

READ MORE

George Mason W.E.B. DuBois Lecture:
Black and Queer in America
Thursday, February 4
1:30PM - 3:00PM
George Mason University - Fairfax, VA
Research I, Room 163

African and African American Studies and Women and Gender Studies present the 2010 DuBois Lecture Series on Black and Queer in America.  Featuring:
Patrik-Ian Polk, creator, director, and producer of Logo's Noah's Arc
Marlon Ross, professor of African American Literature and Gender & Queer Theory
Mini-documentary screening, Black and Queer in America, 4:00pm.

READ MORE

UDC Justice Cafe - The Constitutions ; Rights at Risk
Friday, February 5
6:00PM - 10:00PM
University of DC Firebird Inn
 Building 39, B-Level - 4200 Conn. Ave NW
Just above the Van Ness/UDC Metro (red line)

Special talk on the Constitution and Rights at Risk with:
ACLU Director Johnny Barnes and Shahid Buttar, Bill of Rights Defense Committee
 
Live performers:
LaPret will perform songs from his upcoming solo Debut EP "2010: FASHION of ATTRACTION"
Gee (Duke Ellington High School student)performing original compositions
Mike Bowers, Singer/Songwriter and UDC law student

* More performers expected*.

READ MORE

Jerusalem: The Key to Israeli-Palestinian Peace?
Thursday, January 28
11:00AM - 12:30PM
2255 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC

Americans for Peace Now, Project Engage (an initiative of the Kairos Project), and the Foundation for "Middle East Peace invites you to a discussion on:
Jerusalem: The Key to Israeli-Palestinian Peace?" with Danny Seidemann and Gregory Khalil

READ MORE

Volunteer Orientation for the DC Childcare Collective
Sunday, February 7
1:00PM - 5:00PM
Washington, DC

Childcare for Social Justice!
Interested in providing childcare for organizations working to further social justice?
Join The DC Childcare Collective!
The DC Childcare Collective, a small all-volunteer group, is founded on the belief that mothers, women of color, and people with low income are critical leaders of healthy and effective social justice movements. As an act of solidarity, The DCCC provides free childcare to progressive groups in the DC metro area that are working to further social justice.

READ MORE

Demilitarized Super Bowl Party
Sunday, February 7
5:00PM - 11:30PM
 IVAW House
707 Ingraham St, NW

Super Bowl Sunday has been taken from the heights of the football world to the heights of militarizing our society. We seldom even notice the many shots of "our troops" fighting in occupations that are both illegal and immoral. It has become common place to barley notice the game among million dollar commercials and over exposure of the military. This goes to the heart of a culture who has equated dissent with a lack of patriotism, a culture where one cannot love sports unless one choses to be inundated by war. IVAW has chosen to stand up against this militarization, against commonly held beliefs and enjoy the game without the militarism.
Just confirmed special guest sports writer David Zirin will join IVAW for the big game.

READ MORE

Learning/Teaching circle white privilege and the North American church- yesterday and today!
Tuesday, February 9
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Plymouth Congregational Church
5301 North Capitol Street, NE
near Ft. Totten Metro Station (red line)

A Learning/Teaching cirlce with Reverend Graylan Hagler.  See book chapters 1&2: Christianity and Slavery (1619-1863) & Christianity and Segregation (1863-1914).

This is a FREE course however a suggested donation of $5-15 per session to help our host congregations defer the costs of lights/heat/security would be warmly accepted.

READ MORE

Featured Article:
D.C. bill offers Northrop $25M in incentives

Posted February 2, 2010 on www.bizjournals.com

Northrop Grumman Corp. would receive $25 million in incentives to relocate its headquarters to D.C. under a bill introduced Tuesday by four members of the D.C. Council.

The "Global Security and Aerospace Industry Tax Abatement Act of 2010" would provide $19.5 million in real estate tax breaks over 10 years and up to $5.5 million in grants to offset relocation costs the company could incur in its planned move from Los Angeles.

The bill is sponsored by Councilman Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, along with six other of the city's 13 council members. Evans said the bill "sends a clear message to Northrop Grumman that we are absolutely interested in having them as one of our corporate citizens."

READ MORE


See you in the streets!

Chioma, Hazal & Sonia
Washington Peace Center