Weekly Activist Alert - Celebrating Black History by Taking Action
Action: Tell Congress: Stop the War Machine!
Resource: Legal Support for Direct Action
Featured Article: More Pain for Devastated Haiti
Cause: Justice for Mumia: Call Holder Thursday 2/25
Events:
We 2/24 - DC Coalition Meeting
We 2/24 - Represent'n At the US Social Forum
Th 2/25 - Africa's Resources in African Hands Solidarity Action Network
Fr 2/26 - Role of the Artist in a Capitalist Society
Sa 2/27 - GLSEN Youth Summit
Sa 2/27 - Concert for Peace with Folksinger George Mann
Tu 3/2 - Shared Struggles of the Palestinian and African American Peoples
Su 3/7 - Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day
Hey D.C.,
In a sobering report issued on Monday February 22nd announced that since the Taliban's fall in 2001, the death toll of US soldiers in Afghanistan has now reached 1,000. Combined with the rising number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan that has reached 27 in the past week alone and the total body count in Iraq sine 2003 that is close to 100,000 civilian, non-combatants, these numbers are staggering.
Much of the legacy of celebrating black history month is a history shaped by a consistent quest for freedom, justice and peace. Despite, domestic contradictions that show that since 2001 police brutality rates have claimed the lives of over 100,000 citizens (majority young, black men) and disproportionately high prison rates, blacks remain a largely progressive segment of society. A survey conducted at the start of the Iraq war in 2003 reported that only 44% of African Americans supported the invasion - as compared to the 67% of Latinos and 73% of Caucasians that did the same.
The best way to celebrate black history to take action against the war in Afghanistan and the greater imperialist agenda that insists on an oppressive US military presence everywhere in the world. We also hope that read this week's article on new efforts to militarize Haiti and continue supporting progressive organizations for Haiti relief...may we never forget her struggles.
Click here to Support Mumia Abu-Jamal
by Calling Eric Holder on Thursday February 25th
Featured WPC Resource this week...
Legal Support for Direct Action
Haven't yet considered the legal implications of your mobilization? Or is this an on-going concern that you aren't quite sure if you are handling it in the best way? Check out our Legal Support for Direct Action 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
DC Coalition Meeting
Wednesday, February 24
6:30pm
Sisterspace and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue N.W., Washington, DC
Agenda items include; Strategic Planning for organization, educating community about marriage equality, upcoming pride events, etc. All are welcome. Click here to join the DC Coalition Facebook group.
For more information, call 202-302-5550.
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Represent'n At the US Social Forum: How to Plan a Workshop
Wednesday, February 24
6:45-8:45pm
Institute for Policy Studies
1112 16th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
The USSF is the next important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country and changes history.
Facilitated by organizers in the DC Metro Social Forum, this session will go over with participants: the requirements for holding a workshop, how to submit proposals for a workshop, and some suggestions/pointers for designing the best workshops for the USSF.
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Africa's Resources in African Hands Solidarity Action Network
Thursday, Feb 25
7:30pm
507 Quincy St NW,
Washington, DC, 20011
Find out how you can get involved in the movement that's changing the world, working under the leadership of the black community-led Uhuru Movement, leading worldwide struggle for African people to unite and liberate themselves and regain control over their land, lives, communities and resources!
Penny Hess, the chairwoman of the African People's Solidarity Committee, activist leader and author of the groundbreaking books "Overturning the Culture of Violence" and "All Diamonds Are Blood Diamonds," will be embarking on a speaking tour of the Northeast, and the first stop will be here in DC.
For more info, contact:
The Uhuru Solidarity Movement
857-233-7508
philly@uhurusolidarity.org
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"Role of the Artist in a Capitalist Society" with Spoken Word Artist Face
Friday, February 26
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Sisterspace and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue N.W., Washington, DC
Spoken Word artist "Face" will lead us in a discussion on the "role of the artist in a capitalist society." Spoken word will follow the discussion. Fee: $5.00; Refreshments for sale.
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GLSEN Youth Summit
Saturday, February 27
12:00pm - 10:00pm
Towson University Union
Maryland
Cost $15- includes Workshops, Dinner and Dance (Cash or Checks payable to GLSEN Baltimore)
Workshops: Media/Current Issues;
Apples, Pears, Oranges, and Celery: Unraveling the Complexities of Gender;
Bisexuality; LGBT Issues and Religion
Questions to: glsenbaltcommittee@comcast.net or 410-542-0472
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Concert for Peace with Folksinger George Mann
Saturday, February 27
Reception at 7pm, Music at 8pm
IVAW House, 707 Ingraham St. NW,
Washington, DC.
George Mann, folksinger will perform his labor and veteran songs. This is a fundraiser for the local IVAW branch. Suggested donation $5-10 but no one will be turned away. Reception and snacks before the concert. Peace, Labor, and Veterans join together for an evening of music and solidarity.
For more info, email Bruce Wolf, Haunteddog@aol.com
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Shared Struggles of the Palestinian and African American Peoples
Tuesday, March 2
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Busboys & Poets
14th and V Streets, NW
Washington, DC
Omar Barghouti, one of the leaders of the Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions Movement among Palestinians will be appearing at Busboys & Poets on March 2nd. Also appearing with him will be the performer Head-Roc. The focus of the evening will be on the shared struggles of the Palestinian and African American peoples. For further information, contact the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation at: (202) 332-0994.
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Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day
Sunday, March 7 - 8:30am
(American University-Ward Building
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW)
Monday, March 8 - 8:00pm
(Capitol Hill - The Methodist Building Meeting Room
100 Maryland Avenue NE)
GAIN IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR YOUR ACTIVISM & MAKE AN IMPACT IN CONGRESS!
The popular program is back for the second year! In February 2009, nearly 200 people came from across the country to join Interfaith Peace-Builders and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation for the first Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day. In 2010, we will again be gathering in Washington DC.
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Featured Article: More Pain for Devastated Haiti: Under the Pretense of Disaster Relief, U.S. Running a Military Occupation
Posted February 12, 2010 on www.blackagendareport.com
The rapid mobilization of U.S troops in Haiti was not primarily done for humanitarian reasons; we're likely to see a neoliberal economic plan imposed, at gunpoint if necessary. citizens.
Official denials aside, the United States has embarked on a new military occupation of Haiti thinly cloaked as disaster relief. While both the Pentagon and the United Nations claimed more troops were needed to provide "security and stability" to bring in aid, according to nearly all independent observers in the field, violence was never an issue. in
Instead, there appears to be cruder motives for the military response. With Haiti's government "all but invisible" and its repressive security forces collapsed, popular organizations were starting to fill the void. But the Western powers rushing in envision sweatshops and tourism as the foundation of a rebuilt Haiti. This is opposed by the popular organizations, which draw their strength from Haiti's overwhelmingly poor majority. Thus, if a neoliberal plan is going to be imposed on a devastated Haiti it will be done at gunpoint.
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See you in the streets!
Chioma, Hazal & Sonia
Washington Peace Center
