Third Unitarian Church Social Action Committee
TUC Forums: The Mighty Twig, Kathy Kelly & People Wasn't Made to Burn
Start Date: Jan 15, 2012
End Date: Jan 29, 2012
January 15 Cassandra Harlan of Mighty Twig in Evanston will speak about
this community-organized library replacing a closed branch in an integrated
working class neighborhood. How could Evanston have closed this library? How
did these Friends of the Library organize to replace it? Check out
themightytwig.com. Deb Donovan will facilitate.
http://eplfriends.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/MTwig-Logo-with-
website-300x277.png
January 22: Kathy Kelly, a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative
Nonviolence, who has traveled to Afghanistan five times since May of 2010, will
speak about her most recent experiences, (Kelly returned from Afghanistan on
January 5, 2012), and present brief videos created by the Afghan Youth Peace
Volunteers regarding their hopes to live without wars. VCNV.org Laurel Lambert
will facilitate.
http://www.salem-news.com/stimg/july092011/kathy-kelly.jpg
January 29. Joe Allen will speak on his latest book: People Wasn't Made to
Burn: A True Story of Race, Murder, and Justice in Chicago. The well reviewed
book (http://www.thenation.com/blog/161904/true-crime-our-times-people-wasnt-
made-burn) is said to "reinvent the true-crime genre." It relates how in 1947,
James Hickman shot and killed the landlord he believed was responsible for a
tragic fire that took the lives of four of his children on Chicago's West Side.
Joe Allen is a Chicago based activist, writer, former teacher and member of
the International Socialist Organization. Laurel Lambert will facilitate.
http://www.haymarketbooks.org/files/imagecache/product/product/Allen%20cover%20image.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbUr78FMd_4
February is Black History month. Look for forums on notable residents of
the West Side, beginning with a program on "Stepson of the Blues," singer and
drummer, Larry Hill Taylors.
Third Unitarian Church Forums begin at 10:00 am sharp. Third Unitarian
Church is located at 301 N. Mayfield in Chicago, IL (2 blks E and one block S
of the Austin Ave Green Line El stop).
DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend
Occupy the Courts! Fri Jan 20 in Chicago
Start Date: Jan 20, 2012
End Date: Jan 20, 2012
CALL TO ACTION
Occupy the Courts
11:30am, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012
Rally at the Dirksen Federal Building, Chicago
Followed by a March to Occupy Chicago
January 21, 2012 is the 2 year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC which
allowed corporations to secretly spend unlimited amounts of their treasury to
influence elections based on ridiculous rulings by the US Supreme Court that a
corporation is a person and that money is free speech.
http://movetoamend.org/sites/default/files/occupy-the-courts.jpg
Move to Amend is taking action all over the country by Occupying every
Federal courthouse in the country on Friday Jan. 20, 2012 to gain public
support for an amendment to the US Constitution to get corporate money out of
our elections!
See the flyer for the Chicago rally and march, for more details.
(http://dupagecoffeehouse.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/09/Jan_20_2012_Occupy_The_Courts_Dirksen_Chicago_flyer.pdf)
If you are coming from DuPage County, please join us on one of the two
Metra trains, as we ride the train in solidarity to the downtown Chicago rally
and march. Please join us on the last open train car.
Union Pacific West Metra Line: If riding the Union Pacific West Metra
Line, look for DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend coordinator Frank Goetz,
frankgoetz@comcast.net, 630-653-0597, in the last open car. Frank will board
at the Wheaton station.
BNSF Railway Metra Line: If riding the BNSF Railway Metra Line, look
for DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend coordinator Judy Bloom, judy-
bloom@sbcglobal.net, 630-985-0904, in the last open car. Judy will board at
the Lisle station.
Here are some suggestions for what to write on your protest signs
1)
DEMOCRACY IS FOR PEOPLE
OVERTURN
CITIZENS UNITED v FEC
2)
RESTORE DEMOCRACY
GET CORPORATE MONEY
OUT OF OUR ELECTIONS
3)
THE US CONSTITUTION SAYS
WE THE PEOPLE
NOT WE THE CORPORATIONS
4)
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE
A CORPORATION IS A PERSON
UNTIL TEXAS EXECUTES ONE
5)
A CORPORATION
IS NOT A PERSON
The following could be written inside a drawing of a tombstone:
6)
R.I.P
US DEMOCRACY
7/4/1776 – 1/21/2010
7)
Died Young Due to
Citizens United v. FEC
US DEMOCRACY
7/4/1776 – 1/21/2010
FMI: DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend Contact: Steve Alesch,
steve.alesch@gmail.com, 630-779-8295
Move to Amend/Occupy Naperville Mock Funeral March
Start Date: Jan 21, 2012
End Date: Jan 21, 2012
DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend/Occupy Naperville Mock Funeral March
10AM Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, Bank of America, corner of Washington and
Van Buren, Naperville, IL
January 21, 2012 is the 2 year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC which
allowed corporations to secretly spend unlimited amounts of their US and
foreign treasury to influence elections based on ridiculous rulings by the US
Supreme Court that a corporation is a person and that money is free speech.
Move to Amend is taking action all over the country on this anniversary of
the death of our democracy to gain public support for an amendment to the US
Constitution to get corporate money out of our elections!
DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend and Occupy Naperville are teaming up on
this day to hold a mock funeral procession to mourn the death of our
democracy. We will have a fake coffin with "US Democracy" written on the side.
We will be recruiting pall bearers to carry the coffin. Wear funeral clothing
and bring protest signs or drums for the funeral march.
See Occupy the Courts - Protest the 2 year anniversary of the Citizens
United v FEC US Supreme Court Decision above for ideas for what to write on
the signs.
DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend Contact: Holly Scholz,
scholzh@comcast.net, 630-202-4367
[Immokalee Workers Solidarity Group]
Fair Food Picket at Trader Joes in LaGrange Sat Noon
Start Date: Jan 21, 2012
End Date: Jan 21, 2012
INFORMATIONAL PICKET FOR FAIR FOOD
Informational Picket at Trader Joe's in La Grange:
25 North La Grange Road, 60525
Meet on the sidewalk on the La Grange street side. We won't be able to
picket on the entrance as it is 'private property'
Saturday Jan 21, 2012
NOON to 1pm
Let folks know why Trader Joe's refuses to sign an agreement with the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). CIW has been instrumental in stopping
degrading conditions including slavery among tomato pickers in Florida.
Ask your friends and neighbors to sign the letter that we will deliver to
management after the picket. You can download a letter here:
http://www.ciw-online.org/Resources/tools/manager%20letters/TJLTR.pdf
Get it copied and get it signed.
Contact Laurel for more information: 773.991.8751 cell
http://www.ciw-online.org/images/tj_chicago_wisc/frnt.jpg
Background: Over the past decade, CIW has forged a coalition of retail
food industry leaders, Florida tomato growers, and farmworkers committed to
structurally addressing farm labor poverty and degradation. These nine multi-
billion dollar food retailers (including Whole Foods Market, McDonald's,
Subway, and Burger King) and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, which
represents 90% of the state's tomato growers, have agreed to support the CIW's
Fair Food principles, including a wage increase, a strict code of conduct, a
cooperative complaint resolution system, a participatory health and safety
program, and a worker-to-worker education process. This program has the
potential to dramatically improve the lives of 33,000 farmworkers throughout
the state.
Currently there is no credible or transparent mechanism for Trader Joe's
to verify that its own minimal supplier standards are being met, much less a
commitment to forge a higher set of standards through direct partnership with
farmworkers themselves. Moreover, recent statements by Trader Joe's
spokespeople – compounding several years of corporate inaction – make it
increasingly clear that the company has no interest in joining the Fair Food
program. Having witnessed the effectiveness and tenacity of the CIW, as well as
the dedication of consumers to this particular issue,we believe this is a
misstep on the part of Trader Joe's.
Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice
FILM SHOWING-The Return of Navajo Boy
Start Date: Jan 29, 2012
End Date: Jan 29, 2012
Join us for a free Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice Presents
FREE FILM SERIES
The Return of Navajo Boy
Co-sponsored by the Oak Park Public Library
Veterans Room, Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 2 pm
The prizewinning documentary THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY, directed by Jeff
Spitz, 2 pm, Sunday, January 29, at the Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake
Street, Oak Park, IL. THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY is an internationally acclaimed
film that reunited a Navajo family and triggered a federal investigation into
uranium contamination. The film chronicles the extraordinary chain of events,
beginning with the appearance of a 1950s film reel, which lead to the return of
a long lost brother to his Navajo family.
THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY reveals the impact of uranium mining on the
Navajo of Monument Valley. It highlights the story of Elsie Man Begay, whose
history in pictures reveals an incredible and ongoing struggle for
environmental justice.
The film will be followed by a short panel presentation with Jeff Spitz,
director of THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY, Jennifer Amdur Spitz, co-founder of
Groundswell Films, and Joseph Podiasek, Executive Director of the American
Indian Center, President of NUIFC (National Urban Indian Family Coalition) and
Commissioner, City of Chicago Human Relations. Q & A and open discussion will
follow the panel presentation.
59 min. Epilogue 15 min. 2009 Light refreshments are served.
For information, see: www.opctj-event.org or call 708.447.1547.
For film information, see: www.navajoboy.com or face
book.com/returnofnavajoboy
Sponsored by the Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice and co-sponsored
by the Oak Park Public Library
Co-sponsoring organizations: Citizens Act to Protect Our Water (CAPOW!),
and Nuclear Energy Education Service (NEIS)
Unity for a Change
Not Guilty, A Conference to Abolish the Prison Industrial Complex
Start Date: Feb 03, 2012
End Date: Feb 04, 2012
Join us on Friday February 3rd for the opening of the Art Exhibit by
Prisoners and on Saturday February 4th for: "Not Guilty, A Conference to
Abolish the Prison Industrial Complex".
Come to learn more about our "Not Guilty" campaign to get people out of
prison and hear from representatives of the Fully Informed Jurors Association
on the strategy of jury nullification. This event will serve as an open forum
for activists to share their experience and discuss ideas for joint action
geared towards dismantling the facets of the prison industrial complex.
Attendees will be given time to address the group about their ongoing
campaigns, actions, and initiatives. Following the presentations will be an
informal gathering where people can break out into smaller discussion groups,
socialize with others, and bridge our local networks. Stick around afterwards
for the art show that exhibits the work of prisoners and enjoy a full night of
live music.
Friday, February 3rd
7PM - Prisoner Art Exhibition
9PM - 12AM - Live Music (TBA)
Saturday, February 4th
5:30 - 6:00 -Doors open / refreshments
6:00 - 8:00 -Speakers / presentations - (organizations and activists are
invited to join the open forum to talk about ongoing initiatives)
8:00 - 9:00 -Group discussion / break-out session with small working
groups
9:00 - 10:00 -Hang out and talk with other activists / social networking
10:00 - 1AM -Live music and art show
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
At a time when the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world,
with over 2.3 million people incarcerated, we have to recognize that there is
a serious problem! The U.S. has only 5% of the world's population but it has
25% of the world's inmates. Now with the recent passage of the NDAA of 2012 it
looks like this country is moving even closer towards a police state. This is
a time when activists and grassroots organizations must unite across the board
in order to fight this modern system of historical oppression.
We are calling upon humanitarians to join us in a people's movement to
abolish the prison industrial complex, starting with a campaign called "Not
Guilty".
Many people don't realize that the only place within our entire system of
government where citizens actually have any real political power is on the
jury. By serving on the jury, citizens not only have the power to determine
the facts of a case, but to judge the morality of the law itself. By voting
"Not Guilty" jurors have the ultimate power to acquit innocent people of
unjust charges as a final safeguard and protection against a corrupt government
that is violating the rights of the public. By serving on a jury people have
the ability to help prevent their fellow citizens from being wrongfully
punished for unjust laws. In order for justice to truly be served, jurors must
be properly informed of their right to vote according to their conscience and
the social responsibility to acquit nonviolent offenders who are being issued
harsh and excessive punishment for victimless crimes as a result of government
abuses.
In light of the occupy movement, we are calling upon our fellow activists
and grassroots organizations to launch a radical people's movement to occupy
our local courthouses and simply educate jurors about their essential rights,
roles, and responsibilities.
Come to the conference to hear more about our grassroots campaign!
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