Weekly Activist Alert - President Shows No Love

Action: The President Has No Right to Waive Our Rights
Resource: Direct Action Checklist
Featured Article: Freedom Rider: Obama's Murder Inc.
Cause: Support Haitian Earthquake Relief!

Events:

We  2/17 - Prayer Vigil for Striking Wings Workers
Th  2/18 -The Struggle for Workers' Rights in Egypt
Th  2/18 - DC Labor Chorus Concert: Blues, Jazz & Message Songs
Sa  2/20 - RootsCamp with the New Organizing Institute
Sa  2/20 - Discussion and Book Signing with Hip-hop activist and writer Sista Souljah
Sa  2/20  - Puppets in the Cold! Chilly Day Cabaret and More!
Su  2/21 - M.O.M.I.E's TLC's Gala celebration & Awards Ceremony
Mo  2/22  - Application Deadline: Practicum in Advocacy at the United Nations
We  2/24 - Represent'n At the US Social Forum
Su  3/7   - Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day

The President can Kill You without Asking Congress

Hey D.C.,

Although both local and federal government offices in Washington have been slowed down due to the unprecedented snow storm (now referred to as 'snowmaggedon'), there has been absolutely no traction in the global militarism agenda.  What seems to be swept with the slush is the increased US and NATO coalition efforts in Afghanistan that recently launched two rocket attacks that missed their target and killed over 12 civilians.

Although mainstream media is in praise of intelligence efforts of the CIA and other agencies for the capturing of the Mullah Abdul Baradar, a top ranking Taliban leader, there hasn't been much press on other mischief that is taken on in the name of national security.  Fortunately, progressive blogs and other media outlets have exposed these inconsistencies like increased campus recruitment efforts by the CIA and no congressional oversight on a draconian policy (introduced by G.W. Bush, of course) that allows for the President to give orders for the assassination of American's abroad. 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.

Click here to learn what to do about hypothermia in DC's homeless population

Featured WPC Resource this week...
Direct Action Checklist

First time organizing a demonstration?  Or are you a seasoned veteran and looking for more organized ways of going about what you do so well?  Check out our Direct Action Checklist 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

Prayer Vigil for Striking Wings Workers
Wednesday, February 17
4:00pm - 6:00pm
GW's Square 54 Project
In front of the GW Metro Station (corner of 23rd and I St NW)

The strikers were performing concrete reinforcement on GW's Square 54 when the strike began. In retaliation, Wings fired a group of strike supporters. GW has turned a blind eye to these unlawful firings.

Working groups are also being formed now to support the campaign.

READ MORE

DC Labor Chorus Concert:
Blues, Jazz & Message Songs
Thursday, February 18
6:45pm
Shepherd Elementary School
7800 14th St NW
Washington, DC

$5 tickets available from PTA or at door.
Students and Labor Chorus members will sing a variety of songs, including
"Good Morning Blues,"
"It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing,"
"Change is Gonna Come," and "What's Going On."
The concert will take about 1 hour.

READ MORE

RootsCamp with the New Organizing Institute
From: Saturday, February 20, 2010 8:00am
To:  Sunday, February 21, 2010 8:00pm
NEA Building
1201 16th St NW
Washington , DC 20036-3201

Have you been doing some innovative organizing work lately that you'd like to share? Have you won an organizing fight that you're particularly proud of? Have you been debriefing your organizing work with your peers? Are you ready to connect with hundreds of other progressive organizers from across the country?
If so, you need to attend RootsCamp!
The conversation will be fast-paced and engaging, and will cover all aspects of organizing work -- including new media, field, and data/technology.

READ MORE

Discussion and Book Signing with
Hip-hop activist and writer Sista Souljah
Saturday, February 20
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ,
5301 North Capitol Street N.E.

All books must be purchased on-site by Sisterspace and Books.

Today, Souljah is a 21st Century multidimensional woman. From 1995-2007 she was the Executive Director of Daddy's House Social Programs, the charitable wing of Bad Boy Entertainment. She is the author of 3 national best sellers, The Coldest Winter Ever (Fiction), No Disrespect (Non-Fiction), and Midnight, A Gangster Love Story (Fiction).In 2008 within one week of the release of Midnight, A Gangster Love Story, Sister Souljah became a New York Times Best Seller entering the charts at #7.

READ MORE

Puppets in the Cold! Chilly Day Cabaret and More!
Saturday, February 20
7:00pm
St. Stephen's Church (Auditorium)
 1525 Newton St NW
 Washington, DC

"The Tale of the Hungry Mouths: A Soup Opera" by The Brothers Harrell
A soup opera served warm. A candlelight observance on six stages. Hailing from the rich tradition of southern puppet families, the Bros. Harrell dish up an evening of ultra low-tech neo-contemporary mixed-media performance art. Bring your own bowl.

There will be other performances.

READ MORE

M.O.M.I.E's TLC's Gala celebration & Awards Ceremony
for unsung local leaders
Sunday, February 21
5:30pm - 7:30pm
All Souls Church
 1500 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC

The Gala is one of many creative efforts by M.O.M.I.E's to bolster its organization and increase visibility in a faltering economy. M.O.M.I.E's TLC, Mentors of Minorities in Education's Total Learning Cis-Tem is a DC-based nonprofit organization that "nurtures the genius" of children by creating uniquely transformative educational experiences. Following the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the theme for this year's Gala is, Rise Up! A Journey for Economic Empowerment Worldwide, celebrating those who pushed against the odds to attain financial sustainability.

For more information, call Chitra Subramanian, 202-545-1919.

READ MORE

Practicum in Advocacy at the United Nations
Application Deadline: Monday, February 22
New York, New York

The Practicum in Advocacy at the United Nations is accepting applications for our program running concurrently with the NPT review. This is a rare opportunity to take a hard look at the main treaty governing the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
The Practicum offers a uniquely high interest, fast-paced opportunity for observing how the United Nations, as an international institution, works to address issues requiring multilateral engagement and coordinated action.

READ MORE

Represent'n At the US Social Forum
Wednesday, Feb. 24
6:45pm - 8:45pm
Sisterspace and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010

The US SOCIAL FORUM (USSF) is a movement building process. It's not a conference but a space to come up with the peoples' solutions to the economic, social, and ecological crisis. 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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

Featured Article:  Freedom Rider: Obama's Murder Inc.
Posted February 8, 2010 on www.blackagendareport.com

No one has the right to kill, or so we are told. Regardless of motive, murder is illegal, and the legal system rightfully sets the bar at a very high level before excusing this act. Not so where the government is concerned. Our constitutional law professor president, Barack Obama, like his predecessor George W. Bush, claims the right to murder American citizens.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Bush gave the CIA and later the military, permission to kill American citizens abroad if those persons were declared threats to the United States, its people or its interests. President Obama believes that he too can decide to assassinate Americans if he declares them to be terrorists. This is not some bizarre assertion made by tin foil hat conspiracy theorists. The president's Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, stated for the record and under oath before a congressional committee, that the president can give "special permission" to target American citizens for death.

READ MORE

See you in the streets!

Chioma, Hazal & Sonia
Washington Peace Center