Saturday, February 04, 2017

VFPeNews:Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall, Comment for #NoDAPL



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Veterans For Peace Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall

Veterans For Peace strongly condemns President Trump’s executive orders banning travelers from seven Muslim majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa, the expansion of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and the acceleration of deporting undocumented immigrants.
As veterans, we took an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution. The fundamental values we were told we risked our lives to serve, the values for which so many of our brothers and sisters rendered the ultimate sacrifice, are now facing a serious and existential threat.
The Trump administration’s implementation of hateful White Nationalism through draconian executive orders that target Muslims and ban immigrants and refugees as well as U.S. visa and green card holders, and push for an extension of the wall on the border, are betrayals of the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans. <Read Full Statement>

Zinn Fund Request for Proposals

The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice was founded to support grass-roots projects that make demonstrated changes for greater peace and justice.
The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice seeks proposals from VFP Chapters and members working on bold new approaches to resisting the causes of war. While we are open to funding any project which fits the VFP mission, we are particularly interested in working with chapters to:
  1. Increase diversity of membership and build new coalitions at the chapter level,
  2. Resist fossil fuel projects at a local level,
  3. Promote reconciliation and reparations for war crimes.
We will fund projects not related to the above items, and we do not want to dissuade any chapter or national member with a good idea and a plan of action from applying.

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Open Letter to Donald Trump: End U.S. War in Afghanistan

The U.S. war in Afghanistan is well into its 16th year. In 2014 President Obama declared it over, but it will remain a political, financial, security, legal, and moral problem unless you actually end it.
The U.S. military now has approximately 8,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan , plus 6,000 other NATO troops, 1,000 mercenaries, and another 26,000 contractors (of whom about 8,000 are from the United States). That's 41,000 people engaged in a foreign occupation of a country 15 years after the accomplishment of their stated mission to overthrow the Taliban government.
During each of the past 15 years, our government in Washington has informed us that success was imminent.
During each of the past 15 years, Afghanistan has continued its descent into poverty, violence, environmental degradation, and instability. The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops would send a signal to the world, and to the people of Afghanistan, that the time has come to try a different approach, something other than more troops and weaponry.

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Ann Wright Arrested in U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee

On Jan. 31st, Veteran For Peace member Ret. Col. Ann Wright was roughly arrested for speaking out against the nomination of Jeff Sessions and telling Senate NOT to confirm him at the Senate Judiciary Committee. The four-term Senator has come under fire for his record on voting rights, race, immigration and police reform.
"I am a retired U.S. Army Colonel and a former U.S. diplomat. I say No Hate, No Racism, No Ban on Muslims and NO Jeff Sessions." - Ret. Col Ann Wright, lifetime member of Veterans For Peace

Peace In Our Times Winter Edition Available for Download!

The Winter Edition of the PIOT is sold out but is now available for download!
Peace In Our Times is a Veterans For Peace publication.  It is a great outreach tool and getting the message of peace out! 
Order your spring edition to make sure you don't miss out when it's available.

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VFP Board Members Attend #NoBan Airport Protests in Albuquerque

"WE felt the presence and solidarity of veterans was important. Not only as veterans but as citizens and human beings we have an obligation to stand with and for all those who are oppressed. We remember and believe what Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Besides that, the human experience of being with so many people who care about others, who care about human rights and justice was incredibly empowering and uplifting." -Tarak Kauff, VFP National Board Member

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A Request from VFP-ROCK


VFP-ROCK sent a letter and request to all members to help futher the work of the Okinawan people.
"Warm greetings from Okinawa.  Two resolutions opposing yet more base construction on Okinawa, Resolutions 2016-9 and 2016-20 were passed by acclamation at the convention, with less than ten opposing votes each in the national polling. This was reported in the local Okinawan newspapers and television, giving great encouragement to the demilitarization movement in Okinawa.  As the US military occupation of Okinawa enters year 71, much gratitude goes to the US chapters of VFP for their solidarity and advocacy.
Now that the resolutions have been officially approved by the membership, it is time for us to ask each chapter to take some form of action on this, to the degree possible."

Do You Have a Great Resource?

We want to hear from you!
We are hoping to include a helpful resource in our weekly VFP E-News   Do you have a  resource that you have found useful in your work for peace?  A great movie?  Good guides to build organizing skills?  Let us know! 
Please send Resources that can be accessed online or are available to folks across the country.

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In This Issue:

VFP Statement on Muslim Ban and Border Wall
IVAW: Write Comment for #NODAPL

Zinn Fund Seeking Proposals!

Stop the Privatization of the VA!

Open Letter to Donald Trump: End U.S. War in Afghanistan

50th Anniversary of "Beyond Vietnam" Speech

Ann Wright Arrested in U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee

Ray McGovern Hosting Free Webinar

Peace In Our Times Available for Download

Do You Have a VFP Patch?

VFP Board Members Attend #NoBan Protests

Dr. Camillo Mac Bica Reflects

2017 Peace Essay Contest

Save the Dates: Upcoming Events


IVAW: Write Comment for #NoDAPL

Write Your DAPL Public Comment to the Army Corps of Engineers – Veterans Will Deliver it Directly to Them
Calling all Water Protectors – this is an all hands on deck moment. We demand that the Army Corps of Engineers keep their word and conduct a full review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Army Corps must solicit public opinion as part of their review, but the government’s webpage won’t accept our comments. So we have a new plan: members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will deliver your comments right to the Army Corps’ door.


Stop the Privatization of the VA

Express strong opposition to recommendations by the Commission on Care that will weaken the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system and significantly increase the share of veterans’ care provided outside of the VA. Proposals to shift funds to private contractors and for-profit care will take desperately needed resources away from our veterans, and should be rejected.

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50th Anniversary of Beyond Vietnam Speech

April 4, 2017 will be the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.  In confronting the deeply rooted racism,  militarism and materialism of the United States,  Dr. King described the United States as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the reading of Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, we are asking local VFP chapters to organize speech-reading events.

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Ray McGovern, VFP Advisory Board Member, Host Free Webinar

CHALLENGING MISSILE DEFENSE IN THE AGE OF TRUMP:
The Fight to Stop U.S. THAAD Deployment in South Korea Webinar/Teach-in
Monday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. PST
Ray McGovern, a VFP Advisory Board Member, and Professor Jae-Jung Suh will be giving a FREE webinar/teach-in online to anyone who wants to join. Hosted by StopTHAAD.org, a U.S. based task force to Stop THAAD in Korea and U.S. Militarism in Asia & the Pacific. VFP has endorsed StopTHAAD.

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2017 Peace Essay Contest!

The West Suburban (Chicago) Faith-Based Peace Coalition is sponsoring a Peace Essay Contest with a $1,000.00 award to the winner, $300 for the runner-up, and $100 for third place. Essays have to be directed to a person who can help promote knowledge of the Kellogg-Briand Pact (KBP)and, from whom a response is expected. Essays will be judged not only on the quality of the essay but on the impact of the response. Everyone is eligible to participate; there are no restrictions regarding age or country of residence. 

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Do you have a VFP patch?

Sew this embroidered patch on jackets, hats, backpacks, shorts and more to identify yourself with VFP at events in any weather.  
SIZE: 3" x 2.25"
Only $3.50 -- All proceeds support VFP's ongoing work.

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VFP Member, Dr. Camillo Mac Bica Reflects

Dr. Camillo Mac Bica, VFP Member, reflects on his heritage and history in the current poltical landscape.
"I grieve about how this nation has forgotten its values and what we stand for as Americans. For me, it has absolutely nothing to do with political ideology or who resides in the White House. For me, it’s about remembering my heritage, the people I knew and loved. For me, it’s about who I am, and where I came from. For me it’s about the values that I fought for, and for which many of my friends died."

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Save the Dates: Upcoming Events

Feb 6-12 - Travel for Activists: Cuba.  See itinerary and prices.  Contact Jim Ryerson, jimryerson@earthlink.net
March 11 - Half Day VFP Retreat in Nashville: contact Joey Kingjbkranger@aol.com
Aug 9-13 - VFP Annual Convention-"Education Not Militarization", Chicago, IL.  There will be a concert the evening of the 13th, so plan to stay the evening of the 13th!  More details to follow soon!
Veterans For Peace, 1404 N. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102

Veterans For Peace appreciates your tax-exempt donations.
We also encourage you to join our ranks.


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In Boston- Sunday: Screening of Standing Rock doc "The War of North Dakota"

In light of recent Trump executive orders, and increased police activity
and concerns at Standing Rock
<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/standingrock?source=feed_text&story_id=10158122942715123>,
it no longer seems sensible to wait to schedule "Flowers for Peace" (the
election documentary), or "War of North Dakota" (the Standing Rock
documentary).

So, we are actively seeking venues (anywhere in the US), to screen both
docs, and this Sunday, Feb 5th we will screen a fresh-off-the-press, "*War
of North Dakota <http://www.warofnorthdakota.com/>*" at 7pm at
Encuentro 5. (Length:
85 minutes. Questions with director Rod Webber (me) after.)

Watch Trailer <https://youtu.be/vns-L39q65c>

SYNOPSIS: The film highlights the actions on the Backwater Bridge and
nearby locations at the Standing Rock Reservation leading up to a brutal
night in which the Morton County Sheriff's department unleashed rubber
bullets, concussion grenades, tear gas and freezing water-cannons on the
people of Standing Rock and their environmentalist allies, resulting in 300
injuries. There was widespread hypothermia, the loss of eye-sight (with Sioux
Z Dezbah <https://www.facebook.com/siouxz.dezbah>😉 and a woman (Sophia
Wilansky), who lost the use of her arm-- both were injured by explosives
launched at the crowd by the police. Appearances and/ or interviews with:
Jane Fonda, LaDonna Tamakawastewin Allard <https://www.facebook.com/earthw7>,
Payu Harris <https://www.facebook.com/payu.kimitsu>, Wes Clark Jr.
<https://www.facebook.com/WesClarkJr/>,Dallas Goldtooth
<https://www.facebook.com/dallasgoldtooth>, Erin Schrode, Josh Fox
<https://www.facebook.com/joshfoxintlwow>, Vermin Supreme
<https://www.facebook.com/vermin.supreme.1>, and many more.

(The film is technically a rough cut, so we are working out a couple
technical flaws-- but think it is important to get it out ASAP.)

LOCATION: 9a Hamilton Place, Boston, MA.

<https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/massmovement?source=feed_text&story_id=10158122942715123>

The election film, "Flowers for Peace" began screenings in October, and we
continue to seek friendly venues interested in screening either, or both
films.

*"Flowers for Peace" * <http://www.flowersforpeace.net>

TRAILER <https://youtu.be/3QTXXaPlj7o>
SYNOPSIS: With my top hat and a Bible in hand, I took to the campaign trail
and used the peaceful symbol of flowers to win an audience with the
presidential candidates, ultimately taking on candidate Trump at 40
rallies, and resulting in an warrantless FBI raid and a false detainment at
the inauguration for "having explosives," which turned out to be,
(obviously), just flowers. Aside from the candidates, I spoke with people
as far and wide as Dr. Cornel West, Michael Rooker, Cenk Uygur, Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, Sarah Palin and many more. Interviews with alt-right
figures behind candidate Trump: Jared Taylor (white nationalist), Matthew
Heimbach, (neo-nazi) and Andrew Hallinan, the owner of the "Anti-Muslim gun
shop."

Of course, everything in the films themselves, (plus much more) is
available at YouTube.com/RodWebber
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FYouTube.com%2FRodWebber&h=ATOu-OOuSRgCawLKF4lXCdVoksQ_BPpK02uhHtbR2A6_-qv1PaSAbtP7laRXFnDkr38ey_SnpfYF19g1LECwPnT2JkV323noJJGKExKoPs5-d72PZSvHVtb9r9Xxv0pEvDMjn0jQr44bEJgVOg&enc=AZNSIow7Cl7DV4ckvSRNL0fVoO4asW0PJ926pZLBWpf2ChTkU8R6_zqCED4FiAMDepjmroM-42lsliPhOK6m7ne9vMT9MANUAtyaBZgxQ5c2jwctHlSJSCJFUFOZbhi0HIBNgDCfZ4FM12X3xarD5mJ69aq7ilWqTw-xWwiqRjgARn6w8MI_XzMF30O8ZZisU1o&s=1>
Please send all inquiries to RodWebberProductions@Gmail.com

Thank you Dan and Charlie and Encuentro 5!

--
*********************
RodWebber.com <http://rodwebber.com/>
FlowersForPeace.net
WarOfNorthDakota.com
781-223-4878
*********************
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Report from Standing Rock / DAPL Pipeline - Feb. 16 in Dorchester



image001
VFP - Smedley member, Dan Luker, who is now at Standing Rock plans to return to participate in this forum.

Dorchester People for Peace Solidarity Project!
DPP works with other local groups to build a Multi-Racial Peace Movement: End wars abroad and work for justice at home.  Please join us in solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe!

Peace and Prayer for Humanity
Report from Standing Rock/ DAPL Pipeline
Thursday, February 16, 2017, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
St. Marks Church School Hall, 18 Samoset St. Dorchester

Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, other Native American Tribes, and non-Native allies gathered in the thousands in North Dakota to prevent the building of an oil pipeline under the Missouri River by the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) Company, threatening the water source for 18 million people.  The “Water-Protectors” succeeded in halting the construction a few weeks ago, pending environmental assessments. But now Donald Trump has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to immediately approve the final step of the pipeline.

In the freezing cold, Native people are putting their bodies on the line and resisting this injustice by Trump. Thousands are joining them again, including our own community members. Together, they will be facing highly militarized forces. We must show equal fortitude!

Join us on February 16 to Plan Support for the Resistance!

Speakers:
MC: Judith Baker, Member, Dorchester People for Peace
Mariama White Hammond, Minister, Bethel AME Church
Emmy Rainwalker, Social Justice Activist and Support for Vets at Camp
Wyze Love, Native American Activist
Jude Glaubman, Water Protector Legal Collective at Standing Rock
Dan Luker, Vietnam Veteran, will report from Standing Rock

Endorsed by: Massachusetts Peace Action; Milton for Peace; Veterans for Peace; AFSC;
(list in formation)

For more information: 603.320.0813  emmyrain@gmail.com
MBTA Directions: Red Line (towards Ashmont): 5 minutes walk from Shawmut Stop
Wheelchair Accessible, Parking Available
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Pentagon Panel Urges Trump Team to Expand Nuclear Options

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Where The Money Is-Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s “Heat” (1995)- A Film Review

Where The Money Is-Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s “Heat” (1995)- A Film Review     




DVD Review

By Sam Lowell.

Heat, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, directed by Michael Mann, 1995    

More than once when reviewing films that are centered on bank robberies-with or without murder, murder most foul as part of the plotline- I have liked to refer to the answer to a question put to an old time bank robber, Willie Sutton, who when asked why he robbed banks simply replied-“that is where the money is.” I think underlying that hard and true fact is a core belief that old Willie knew who he was, and knew that when the fates cast their spell he had to live with the fact that good or evil he was a bank robber-and would be until he was caught-which he was more than once-or was killed trying. That premise is also what drives the bank robbery leader of the gang, Neil McCauley played by Robert De Niro, in the film under review the very well-done crime film Heat directed by ace crime film director Michael Mann. What gives the film a five-star rating, aside from expected high level acting of the lead actors, is that the same kind of compulsion drives Neil’s deadly adversary Lt. Vincent Hanna of the LA robbery-murder squad, played by Al Pacino, to catch and end the careers of bad guys.           

Here’s the way the dramatic tension played out here, played out in a way that was predictable, predictable in that the bad guys have to take a fall most times in a police procedural, but nevertheless drew this viewer in. McCauley and his crew which included good guy to have around all-around bank robbery handy-man Chris Sheherlis, played by Val Kilmer, plan and execute a robbery of an armored truck loaded with bearer bonds belonging to a well-known money launderer along with one Waingro, a wild boy loose cannon along for the ride. Waingro got jumpy and killed one of the guards and in the end all three guards on the trucked were killed. Neil tried to kill this renegade Waingro but he got away only to cause grief in triplicate throughout the film. In any case they get paid-off although with a close call since that money launderer also a nemesis throughout the film tried to have Neil and crew killed just for the idea of trying to rip off a “connected” guy like him.      

Naturally the robbery-murder, felony murder if the case ever came to trail, had to be investigated and the criminals put behind bars or eliminated and that is where one hot dog bad ass super-cop with strange mannerisms Lt Hanna comes in. He will relentlessly pursue every lead that his well-honed nose and brain can gather up. He almost had Neil and crew in a small caper but Neil sensed something was wrong with the set-up and abandoned the damn thing. Hanna was ticked off but still determined to grab the crew. See he “knew” Neil, knew he had to keep robbing banks or wherever the money was and so eventually he would fall. And Neil “knew,” knew just as well as Hanna did that he had to play the game out-just for the sake of the game. He had done some time and was not going back. Twins. So much so that Hanna “invited” Neil for coffee so they knew each other’s position. Making this almost a twisted buddy film when you think about it.


As everybody should know by now Neil had to go on one last caper-maybe-a big heist of over 12 million so the chase was one. You know as well that our Neil had to land in a ditch, had to take the big sleep after a one-on-one chase at LAX as Neil was trying to leave the country after a side trip to kill that damn Waingro. There is a little sex mixed in with Hanna having trouble with his wife, his third wife, Chris with his, and Neil with his recently picked up girlfriend but the heart of this one is the struggle over “where the money is”-and who gets it.  Great crime flick.       

***Poet’s Corner- Langston Hughes –Dream Deferred

***Poet’s Corner- Langston Hughes –Dream Deferred






From The Pen Of Frank Jackman



February is Black History Month










Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?




Langston Hughes



…he, Ezra Benton, Ezra Benton named after his father and his father before him who had worked, had worked back-breaking hard, worked his way up from nothing but a half-whipped nigra hot sun beating down cotton field hand hands all blistered, stinking like God knows what, always water thirsty to the assistant plantation blacksmith, assistant to Mister George Wright the white man from town who had seen him in one of the cabins all big and strong and asked if he could handle a hammer and there he was sitting in the cool shed when not flaming the kiln fires, there he was the man who shoed the damn horses when some fool drove the beasts too hard, heard , heard through the grapevine that now that Atlanta had fallen, had fallen to Sherman and his bummers, that Father Abraham up in the United States, up in Washington, D. C. was going to break up Mister’s plantation and give each nigra family, and maybe others too, maybe some upstart young buck with ambition like  him, forty acres and a mule to get them started now that slavery days were falling down.



With that news, Ezra, who normally took news from the grapevine with a grain of salt, no more, got a little wistful. Wistful about how he would collect his now far- flung family scattered here and there throughout the delta, take his forty acres and his mule and plow, plow night and day until the heavens came home, maybe buy some more land, forty acres was only the beginning for a strong-hearted, strong-willed man like him maybe built him a little white picket fence house like he had seen in town, and mainly make sure that his ever hungry kin, and his ever hungry own self had enough to eat, and then some. And so he dreamed…



…he, Brady Benson, son, righteous son of old Ezra Benson, who had helped his father, his kin father not some Father Abraham up in Washington or some such father after Old Abe was shot up  who never did get around to giving that forty acres and a mule that old Ezra still kept talking about although more wistfully of late, sharecrop Mister’s plantation land, sharecropped and never got ahead, never go that Ole Abe forty acres, and definitely did not get any mule, had heard, heard through the nigratown grapevine, that some nigra in Louisiana had boarded a “whites only” trolley in New Orleans, had been thrown off because he was “colored” and was actually going to Washington to have his case heard before the entire United States Supreme Court, all of them to decide if he could ride that thing or not. With that news, Brady, who normally took news from the grapevine with a grain of salt, no more, got a little wistful. Wistful about how maybe now Mister would not be able to take most of the harvest, and most of the little money left from old daddy’s work. About how he, Brady, might be able to get his own small farm and provide for his family on his own instead of being bunched up with daddy. But mainly he thought that from here on in when he went to town, or anywhere, Mister, or some Mister, would not be able to tell him he could sit here, but not there, he could walk here, but not there, he could stand here, but not there, he could eat here, but not there. And so he dreamed…



…he, Leroy, son of Benson, son of righteous Benson, grandson of old righteous Ezra, had got himself a little town learning, a little broken down schoolhouse learning but learning, learning how to weld stuff together with a torch and so he kind of escaped from the bottomlands and hot sun that he family had faced for generations. Now that war had come, a fighting war in Europe between he thought England and Germany, he had floated north, north up big muddy Mississippi north, when he heard that Chi town needed, desperately, needed welders, for stuff sent overseas. And once settled in the Chi town flop house cold- water flat tenements, overpriced, under-fueled all Negroes squeezed in like at home he had heard through the grapevine, the Division Street grapevine, that the jobs given out were permanent, to be had for as long as a man, a man can you believe that, wanted to work. With that news, Leroy, who normally took news from the grapevine with a grain of salt, no more, got a little wistful. Got to thinking about bringing up his wife, Louella, and his kids, maybe even daddy and granddaddy, and getting that white picket fence house, maybe with some land for a garden, that old Ezra always kept talking about when he was not muttering some silly stuff about forty acres and a mule. And so he dreamed…



…he, Daniel, Daniel, like something out of the Old Testament Bible, son of Leroy, son of righteous Leroy, grandson of righteous Benson, great-grandson of the late patriarch Erza, righteous Ezra of the ever dreaming forty acres, and a veteran, a twice purple-hearted veteran, European Theater, took advantage of the G.I. bill and learned the carpentry trade, learned it well, and as well now that he had moved back south with his extended family took to preaching a little (although Leroy, Chi town proud, curled his tongue every time Daniel quoted chapter and verse), a little over at 18th Street Baptist, over on land that had once belonged to Mister, if you can believe that. And once everybody was settled in, wife and her family and his, and his carpentry business was set up and running, he kept hearing rumors, very persistent rumors, through the nigratown grapevine that Mister, or some Mister, was thinking about giving the better sort of Negros the vote, if you could believe that, if you could believe anything Mister said, even if you heard him say it. With that news, Daniel, who normally took news from the grapevine with a grain of salt, no more, got a little wistful. Wistful about how if they, the Negros had the right to vote then, maybe, that nigra stand here, that nigra sit there, that nigra walk over that hill, that nigra eat across that river would finally be damn done. And so he dreamed…

Artists' Corner-For Black History Month-John Wilson

Artists' Corner-For Black History Month-John Wilson

If you are Boston in the near future check out John Wilson's paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts. 


The Cold Civil War Has Started- General Strike Against Trump-Facebook Page-Build The Resistance!

The Cold Civil War Has Started- General Strike Against Trump-Facebook Page-Build The Resistance!  




The Cold Civil War In America has started (maybe has been going on, brewing, for longer than the start of the Trump regime but this is where the social fault line lies now) -Which side are you on? Build the Resistance! Build the International Solidarity Front! Build the General Strike! All Out On The 17th.


Check out this Facebook link to the General Strike Against Trump Page-Which Side Are You On? 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1756631744665376/

JOIN US FOR A GENERAL STRIKE!!!

WEBSITE: http://f17strike.com/
FACEBOOK GROUP: https://facebook.com/groups/1816330771961327

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On February 17th We SHUT IT DOWN!

We will have day of general strike and non-violent civil disobedience and demonstration.

Our Demands:

1. No Ban, No Wall. The Muslim ban is immoral, the wall is expensive and ineffectual. We will build bridges, not walls.

2. Healthcare For All. Healthcare is a human right. Do not repeal the ACA. Improve it or enact Medicare for All.

3. No Pipelines. Rescind approval for DAPL and Keystone XL and adopt meaningful policies to protect our environment. It's the only one we've got.

4. End the Global Gag Rule. We cannot put the medical care of millions of women around the globe at risk.

5. Disclose and Divest. Show us your taxes. Sell your company. Ethics rules exist for a reason and presidents should focus on the country, not their company.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In his first week in office President Trump has trampled on human rights at home and around the world. He has banned legal immigrants and refugees from entering the country, defunded critical health initiatives for women in developing nations, dismantled the EPA and environmental protections, approved the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines, and directed the government to begin to dismantle the Affordable Care Act without any plan for covering the millions who would be left uninsured.

Trump has put our foreign policy and our very democracy in peril. He has purged the Joint Chiefs of Staff director of national intelligence and put them on invitation only status for future meetings. Meanwhile Trump added his political strategiest and extreme right media executive, Steve Bannon, on the National Security Council. These are troubling decisions and signal a move away from democratic governance.

His actions are being felt around the globe as legal immigrants are detained and deported. The Muslim ban is immoral, illegal, and un-American. He is not making America safer, he is hurting our economy and damaging our reputation with his racist policies and rhetoric.

Trump is not draining the swamp in Washington. He and his billionaire friends ARE the swamp. He refuses to divest from his company, creating a massive conflict of interest the likes the presidency has never seen. His cabinet is worth more than $9 billion and comes from ExxonMobile, Goldman Sachs, and predatory mortgage investment firms. These are the wrong people to lead our country.

On February 17th we will show Donald Trump and his cronies in Washington that our voices will be heard. No work will be done. No money will be spent. We will not support his corrupt government. We will STRIKE!!

Right now we are putting together a coalition of people and groups that are interested in organizing the strike. If your group would like to help let us know! To be successful we need buy in from a large number of political organizations and labor groups across the country.

#GeneralStrike #StandUpFightBack #BlackLivesMatter #NoBanNoWall#NoDAPL #NoKeystoneXL #StopTrump #RefugeesWelcome #Resist#WomensMarch

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/30/travel-ban-airport-protests-disruption

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/293981/could-a-general-strike-succeed-maybe-with-social.html