HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
June 6, 2010, Issue #642
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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EMERGENCY PROTEST TOMORROW Monday, June 7:
MIDDLETOWN: A rally, march and public meeting critical of the Israeli attack on a humanitarian flotilla bringing supplies to besieged Gaza this week will take place beginning at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Rt. 211 and North Galleria Drive. At 7 p.m. the demonstrators will march a half-mile to the Wallkill Town Hall at 99 Tower Drive for a 7:30 p.m. meeting. FOR FULL INFORMATION and directions see June 5 posting directly below this calendar.
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ACTIVIST EVENTS:
Monday, June 7, OLD CHATHAM: Film and discussion, "God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan," 7 p.m. at Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd. From the organizers: This film "explores the indomitable spirit of three 'lost boys' who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. They enter a UN refugee camp, then move to America, where they build active and fulfilling new lives but remain deeply committed to helping the friends and family they have left behind." Free and Public. Information, poetapoetus@taconic.net, (518) 766-2992, http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Tuesday, June 8, ALBANY: "Meet Your Newest Neighbors: Refugee Community Gatherings" at Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Ave. at 6 p.m. One of five gatherings in coming days that will introduce people to their new neighbors who arrived from all corners of the planet, after fleeing war and persecution (the website has full details). Learn about their perspectives on life, culture, and the knowledge that they have to share. Sponsored by: U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program, and Albany and Rensselaer Refugees. Information, (518) 459-1790, info@uscri-albany.org, http://www.refugeesalbany.org.
Thursdays June 10, and June 24, WOODSTOCK: The Middle East Crisis Response group of Hudson Valley residents opposed to Israeli and U.S. policies toward the Palestinians meets 7-8:30 p.m. at the Library, 5 Library Lane, just off Tinker St. All welcome. Information, (845) 876-7906, gale@mideastcrisis.org, http://www.mideastcrisis.org.
Sunday, June 13, BEACON: The Beacon Sloop Club's annual Strawberry Festival will be held on the banks of the Hudson at Beacon Waterfront Park, 12 noon-5 p.m. Free sails on the Sloop Woody Guthrie, music, children's area, environmental displays, WDST giveaways, farmers' market, craft and food vendors, and the freshest strawberry shortcake you can get. Performers include The Strawberry Hill Fiddlers, Pete Seeger, Dan Einbender, E'lissa Jones and Mark McNutt, Cabin Fever, Kate Powers and Steve Einhorn, Jen Klapp. Free and public. Information (845) 463-4660, (845) 831-6962, http://www.beaconsloopclub.org.
Sunday, June 13, NEW ROCHELLE: A 12 noon-3 p.m. Marriage Equality Day Rally will be held at Temple Israel of New Rochelle, 1000 Pinebrook Blvd. We're informed: "As a faith community, members felt it important to make a statement of solidarity for this important civil rights issue, particularly after the defeat of the marriage equality issue in New York State." Information, (845) 235-1800.
Sunday, June 13, and Saturday-Sunday, June 19-20, KINGSTON: Theater in a subway car? Yes, for three more performances at the Trolley Museum of New York, 89 E. Strand at the Rondout. The play is Bruce Grund's direction of Leroi Jones' (Amiri Baraka) explosive drama, "Dutchman." We're told by reader Linda Leeds that "The audience travels as passengers along with Laura Love-Kroll (Lula) and Lerone Simon (Clay) who brilliantly portray racial conflict and sexual tension that resonate in today's cultural and political reality." All performances at 7 p.m. Cost, $10. There are only 45 seats in this "theater," and no reserved seating. Museum: (845) 331-3399, http://www.tmny.org/.
Sunday, June 13, NYACK: Today, locally, is Gay Pride Rockland day, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Riverspace Parking Lot, 119 Main St. We're told: "This is an event for everyone — a free fun filled day, with street vendors, family activities, a 20' super slide, and a basketball clinic with former N.Y. Liberty player for K-12 youth. Balloons and local musicians contribute to the celebratory atmosphere. Community and religious leaders, elected officials and exciting performers make this a day not to be missed. Join us!" Information, (845) 634-5729, etc. 307, http://www.gaypriderockland.org/gpr_events.aspx#gprsunday.
Tuesday, June 15, HUDSON VALLEY to CUBA: If you are interested in possibly joining the annual Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba this July, contact http://www.ifconews.org/ and click on Cuba Caravan. It could be the trip of a lifetime. Travel through the U.S. for a week or two with one prong of the caravan, converge at the Mexico border and fly to Cuba for nine days, returning Aug. 3. Information, (212) 926-5757, cucaravan@igc.org.
Wednesday, June 16, RHINEBECK: "Brown Bag Lunch Vigil for Healthcare Not Warfare" will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at Rhinebeck Town Hall, 80 E. Market St. to carpool to Congressman Scott Murphy's office in Hudson. Sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America, Real Majority Project. Information, (845) 242-3571, joeltyner@earthlink.net.
Thursday, June 17, GARDINER: Author, teacher and activist Joel Kovel will discuss his latest book, "Overcoming Zionism," and recent events including Israel's attack on the humanitarian flotilla last week and the siege of Gaza at a 7 p.m. public and free meeting at Gardiner Public Library, 133 Farmers' Turnpike. From the organizer: "Although the situation in Israel/Palestine seems frozen, it's actually highly dynamic and rapidly changing. In this talk Prof. Kovel will be analyzing the threads of change and draw out their implications. He will also describe the main options for change — the two-state versus one-state solutions to resolve Israeli-Palestinian differences — and weigh their merits and chances of being realized. Information, ekassirer@aol.com.
Thursday, June 17, SARATOGA SPRINGS: Rally against British Petroleum at Rep. Scott Murphy's office, 487 Broadway, at 6. p.m., behind the slogan "No Bailout for BP, We Need Clean Energy." Part of a MoveOn.org nationwide event promoting clean energy and insisting the corporation pay full expenses to clean up the Gulf of Mexico after the recent historic oil spill. MoveOn.org is urging Congress to support legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko, and New York's two Senators. Murphy has not co-sponsored this legislation. Information, joe.seeman@yahoo.com, (518) 583-4326, http://pol.moveon.org/event/standfordemocracy/103706.
Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20, CROTON-ON-HUDSON: The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival will take place riverside at Croton Point Park, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Explore and enjoy seven stages of music and dance, juried crafts and marketplace, green living expo, activist area, rides on small and large boats, including the Sloop Clearwater. Performers include: Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, David Bromberg Quartet, Joan Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Pete Seeger, along with many others. Ticket prices: Children 12 and under, free with adult. Adults, $55 for one day (in advance; $80 at gate); weekend pass, $75 ($115, gate). Information, (845) 418-3596. Info and ticket purchase, http://www.clearwater.org/festival/.
Saturday, June 19, ALBANY: The film, "Crude: The Real Price of Oil," will be shown 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany's Emerson Hall, 405 Washington Ave. This film depicts the legal battle against Chevron, regarding the contamination of the Amazon River in Ecuador. Free Admission, free refreshments provided by Honest Weight Food Co-Op. Part of the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District's film series. Information, (518) 426-0883, dbull4@verizon.net, http://www.jflan.net/solidarity.
Saturday, June 19, NEW YORK CITY: Gay Pride Rally at Ramsey Playfield, Central Park, 72 St. and Fifth Ave. 4-8 p.m. This rally, which starts Gay Pride Week, will feature well-known performers and motivating speakers from the LGBT community. Free and public. For information about several major events during the week, including the annual march (see June 27 below), http://www.nycpride.org/.
Sunday, June 27, NEW YORK CITY: The Gay Pride March starts at 12 noon at 36th St. and Fifth Ave. in Manhattan. This popular event marks the 41st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that in effect launched the LGBT struggle for equal rights. Information, http://www.nycpride.org/march.html.
