The Activist Guide to DC
In This Week's Action Alert
Action: Stop DC's Secure Communities Program! Resource: NEW! Organization Guide
Featured Article: Legal debate heats up over Ariz. Immigration
Cause: Volunteer for the Washington Peace Center
Get Your Tickets Now: DC Labor Chorus and Grammy Award Nominee, Christylez Bacon on May 22nd, for more info click here
Events [scroll down for full details]:
Th 5/20-Immigration Rights are Civil Rights
Fr 5/21-A Women's Support Group
Sa 5/22-Forging A United Africa
Sa 5/22-Discussion on Social Media with Shireen Mitchell
Sa 5/22-Two African American Washington DC Native Writers
Sa 5/22-One Voice: Songs of Peace and Justice
Su 5/23-Vigil and Rally for Colombia's Displaced
Th 5/27-American Political Art, Gallery Opening: The Corner Store
Sa 6/5-WPFW Town Hall Meeting
Sa 6/5-Parade for Peace!
Tu 6/8-Organizing 2.0: Using the Internet Effectively for Your Social Cause
We 6/9-Ban the Box Forum
Hey D.C.,
The Spring 2010 edition of the Peace Letter is entitled "The Activist Guide to DC: All the Tools We Need to Change the World". A central message throughout this edition is the disconnect that happens between national and local campaigns that are engaged in political work in DC. This Activist Guide to DC offers criticisms from both perspectives as well as necessary organizing information that many progressive activists can benefit.
The reality of the political terrain we operate in is that activism in Washington, DC is essential and strategic location for many causes and varying political objectives. In this era of well-funded and coordinated efforts by politically backward groups like the Tea Party, it is extremely important for progressive minded groups and movements to sharpen networks.
As local residents are aware, it is not enough to show up at an official government building on a weekend and demand change. It is critical to coalition build, understand the local contradictions and how the connect to national and global issues and put heads together to figure out new ways to engage the power of local residents.
Speaking of local-global issues, it is also important we continue to take action on a local level against these immigration laws that threaten communities all around the US - particularly the recently passed SB 1070 law in Arizona. So please keep sending emails to the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee of the DC city council to make sure that they keep their word to not introduce the Secure Communities program.
Lastly, we thank you our wonderful volunteers who helped out at the May 11th training on graphics design and at the May 15th Greater DC Social Forum. We will continue to build our volunteer program and look forward to working with seeing you in the streets!
Featured WPC Resource this week...
Check Out the new Organization Guide
Could your organization or group use more exposure so that more DC area folks know of the great work you do? Or are you interested in learning about the varying organizations out there also working on your issue? The new and improved version of the Organization Guide offers and easy-to-navigate directory of many DC area organizations. So check out our Organization Guide 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.
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Immigrant Rights are Civil Rights
Thursday, May 20th
7:00pm
All Souls Church
Corner of 16th St. and Harvard NW
(Metro: Columbia Heights - Greenline)
Community Forum on the Fight for Reform and Legalization
Speakers include:
Gustavo Andrade, CASA de Maryland
Ronal Mayorga, International Socialist Organization
Wendy Ramirez, Equal Rigths Center
Hosted by Dave Zirin, EDGEofSPORTS.com
For more information, click here
A Women's Support Group
Saturdays, May 21st - June 26th
3:30pm-5:00pm
276 Carroll Street, N.W. (Seeker's Church)
near the Takoma Metro
Are you a woman of color looking for a safe and supportive environment in which to share and grow?
Do you wish you had opportunities to discuss issues of concern with other women?
If the answer is yes, you are invited to join us for an interactive, enjoyable, and transformative experience.
Cost: $250.00 for six sessions
Led by: Dr. Theresa Ford, a skilled and sensitive psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience in conducting individual, group, and family therapy.
For more details on the event, click here
FORGING A UNITED AFRICA: AFRO-DESCENDENTS AND THE CONTINENT WORKING TOGETHER
Saturday, May 22, 2010
9:00am - 5:00pm
Emmaus Services for the Aging Building
1426 9th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20001 (corner of 9th & P)
GPAC & NCOBRA INTERNATIONAL present this all day forum to explore ways of increasing ties between African-Americans & Africa
GPAC --The Give Peace A Chance Coalition--is a think tank dedicated to strenghtening ties between Africans in the Diaspora and those on the Continent, with a particular concern with U.S. foreign policy in Africa.
NCOBRA-- The National Coalition Of Blacks for Reparations in America--spearheads its foreign affairs efforts through its International Bureau.
For more information, click here
Discussion on Social Media with Shireen Mitchell of Digital Sisters
Saturday, May 22
11:00am - 1:00pm
Sister Space and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
As a teenager growing up in the New York City Projects in the 1980s, Shireen Mitchell ventured where no young black girl had ventured before: the local video arcade. "The store owners tried to kick me out because I could beat anyone there with a quarter, so they weren't making any money," Mitchell says. "I couldn't imagine anyone who didn't like tech -- that was my world. But in 1984, I was the only female there." Today the company Mitchell keeps outside the arcade is not that different. A social-media consultant, diversity advocate, and tech nonprofit founder, she still often finds herself the only African-American female on IT teams and at conferences. Only about a fifth of science and engineering managers are female, and even fewer make it to the board level of prominent high-tech firms.
For more information, click here
Two African American Washington DC Native Writers:
Shantella Sherman and Melanie Marshall
Saturday, May 22nd
5:00pm-7:00pm
Sister Space and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue N.W.,
Washington, DC 20010
Ms. Sherman is a native of Washington, D.C. and is currently working on her doctoral degree in African-American History and Popular Culture.
She would be the first to say that writing about her experiences has taken her by surprise and she hopes you enjoy these stories. As they are all true, please be mindful when reading them to children, and caution them not to attempt to replicate these outstanding adventures.
For more information, click here
One Voice: Songs of Peace and Justice
Saturday, May 22
7:30pm - 9:30pm
First Trinity Lutheran Church
501 4th Street, NW
The DC Labor Chorus Presents their Annual Community Benefit Concert
Proceeds go to send people of color, youth, and low-income DC-area residents to the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit. For more infor on the Greater DC Social Forum, click here.
Featuring local progressive hip-hop artist and Grammy Nominee, Christylez Bacon
Tickets $20 - You can buy tickets online, at the door, or from any member of the DC Labor Chorus or members of the Greater DC USSF Organizing Committee.
For more information, click here
VIGIL and RALLY for Colombia's Displaced
Sunday, May 23 - 12:00pm
Monday, May 24 - 5:00pm
Vigil: Sunday and Monday from 12 - 5 pm, please come see a moving display of thousands of faces and stories of people in Colombia who've been displaced by the ongoing violent conflict fueled by $6 billion in US military aid. Stand with those who struggle for justice! Help hand out flyers and gather signatures to increase support for a resolution now in Congress to support displaced communities, especially women, indigenous communities and communities of color.
Rally: At 5 pm on Monday, come together with members of AFRODES (National Association of Displaced Afrocolombians), the Colombia Human Rights Committee, Latin America Working Group, Mennonite Central Committee, School of the Americas Watch, US Office on Colombia, Witness for Peace, and many others concerned about the hidden displacement crisis in Colombia.
For more information, click here
American Political Art, Gallery Opening: The Corner Store
Thursday, May 27th
6 - 8 pm
The Corner Store, 900 South Carolina Ave., SE,
Located one block from Eastern Market Metro
American Political Art
1960's Posters from the Cold War to Vietnam And Anti-War Paintings from a Private Collection
Gallery Opening Thursday May 27th from 6 to 8 pm
The Corner Store, an innovative art gallery and performance space located 9 blocks from our nation's Capitol, proudly opens a Memorial Day show of art as social commentary. Come to see posters and paintings by San Francisco Bay Area artists who demonstrated through art their concerns about 1960's America - the Vietnam War, the nuclear bomb and the civil rights struggle.
Runs through Monday May 31 by appointment 202.544.5807
For more information, click here
WPFW Town Hall Meeting
Saturday June 5th
1:00-3:30pm
All Souls Church
1500 Harvard Street, NW
The Local Station Board (LSB) of WPFW 89.3 FM is hosting a Town Hall on Saturday, June 5th, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. It will be held at All Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard Street NW, DC.
The town hall will be an opportunity for listeners and community members to share their comments, critiques, ideas, and visions with WPFW's elected Local Station Board, staff, and programmers.
For more information, click here
Parade for Peace!
Saturday June 5th
11:00am-1:00pm
Learn to stilt. Help make HUGE puppets. Perform with activists at the WPArade!
No experience necessary.
PERFORM:
Sat, June 5 - 11am-1pm. March with the Washington Peace Center, Washington Action Group and Puppet Underground in the WPArade. Parade for Peace!
LEARN:
Sat May 22, 1-5 pm Giant Puppets, Props & Flag workshop with WAG @ the Doghouse in Takoma Park, call 301-8891-3680
Sun May 23, 4-7 pm Learn to stilt! Stilt workshop in Malcolm X Park, 15th & Euclid
Sat and Sun May 29-30th, Puppets, Props & Flags workshop at the Doghouse in Takoma Park, call for times 301-8891-3680.
Mon May 31, Puppet, Costume Workshop with Puppet Underground in DC, time and place TBA.
For more information, click here
Organizing 2.0: Using the Internet Effectively for Your Social Cause
Tuesday June 8th
6:30-8:30pm
St. Stephen's Church
1525 Newton Street, NW
This workshop will explore different ways to enhance your organizing strategies in an interactive workshop that addresses how to apply basic organizing knowledge to organizing on social networking sites and other useful internet tools to connect with people.
This event is free and open to the public.
Facilitator: Eric Shutt, creative social media strategist
eSocialMediaShop, http://eSocialMediaShop.com
For more information, click here
Ban the Box Forum
Wednesday, June 9th
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Bethlehem Baptist Church
2458 Martin Luther King Ave., SE
(near Anacostia Metro Station)
The DC Statehood-Green Party is co-sponsoring a public forum with Returning Citizens United on efforts to "Ban the Box." The DC Ban the Box campaign combines both DC Council legislation and a proposed Mayoral Order to bar discrimination against people with criminal records in housing and employment.
For more information, click here
Featured Article:
Legal Debate Over Arizona Immigration Law
Written by Jerry Markon
May 17, 2010 on www.washingtonpost.com
The battle over Arizona's new immigration law escalated Monday as some of the nation's leading civil rights groups filed the latest federal lawsuit over the legislation, arguing that it is unconstitutional and would lead to widespread racial profiling.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix by a coalition of civil rights organizations, said the Arizona law violates the Constitution's supremacy clause, which says federal law trumps state statutes. Immigration enforcement, the lawsuit argues, is an area of "exclusive federal authority."
"This is the most extreme and dangerous of all the recent state and local laws purporting to deal with immigration issues," said Lucas Guttentag, director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, which filed the lawsuit along with the NAACP, the National Immigration Law Center and other groups. "This law turns 'show me your papers' into the Arizona state motto and racial profiling into the Arizona state plan."
To read the complete article click here
