HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
Sept. 7, 2010, Issue #645
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
—————————————————
BUSES TO WASHINGTON RALLY OCT. 2
The trade union movement is organizing transportation from the Hudson Valley to the extremely important One Nation Working Together rally in the nation's capital Saturday Oct. 2. (See Oct. 2 listing below). Advance publicity suggests it is going to be huge. So far we know about buses from Albany, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, New Paltz and there may be more departure points. Some of our bus information is incomplete as to availability, times, locations and prices, but we should know for sure about all this (and perhaps other transportation options) in the next few days. For now, if you are interested in traveling by chartered buses from the region, drop us an email as soon as possible. Put the words "Oct. 2 bus" in the subject field and send us your name, email address and town. We will get back to you soon with all the information we have collected.
—————————————————
FIGHT ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS IN NYC 9/11:
The U.S. right wing is orchestrating a vicious racist campaign against Muslims, focusing on opposition to building a community center, including a mosque, close to Lower Manhattan's 9/11 Ground Zero. The rightists are organizing rallies this Saturday on the 9/11 anniversary, including in New York City. Progressives and anti-racists are also organizing a major march and rally in New York City this Saturday in support of the Muslim community and its Constitutional right to construct the community center. (See Sept. 11 below.) We encourage as many readers as possible to join this event. Organize car pools, if possible. A chartered bus will leave from the Masjid As Salam Mosque in Albany at 8 a.m. on Saturday, costing $25 for the round trip to the NYC demonstration. To check for seat availability and reservations contact Lynne Jackson (518) 434-6659, lynnejackson@mac.com. The Progressive Report posted a thorough article on the right wing campaign this morning at http://pr.thinkprogress.org/. And if you haven't yet read our Aug. 26 Activist Newsletter analysis of the anti-Muslim campaign ("It's Freedom of Religion — You know?"), the article is just below this calendar.
—————————————————
REV. LUCIUS WALKER: AUG. 3, 1930 - SEPT. 7, 2010
From the Committee to Free the Cuban Five:
It is with profound sadness that we pass along the message below, informing us of the death of our dear friend the Reverend Lucius Walker, a steadfast supporter of Cuba, the Cuban Five, and many other humanitarian causes. Rev. Walker was the originator and driving force behind the 21 annual Cuba Friendshipment Caravans, which brought solidarity and much more to Cuba from the people of the United States and the world.
From IFCO/Pastors for Peace:
It is with immeasurable sadness that we write to let you know of the passing of our beloved, heroic, prophetic leader Rev. Lucius Walker Jr. this morning. We will write with more information as soon as arrangements are made. Please keep his family and his IFCO family in your prayers. We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
From the Activist Newsletter, and from Peace and Social Progress Now:
Lucius Walker was simply one of the best. What a loss! An article will follow soon.
Lucius Walker, ¡Presente!
—————————————————
ACTIVIST CALENDAR
Thursday, Sept. 9, 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, http://www.mideastcrisis.org, gale@mideastcrisis.org.
Friday, Sept. 10 NEW YORK CITY: The group New York Neighbors for American Values is holding a candlelight vigil to support the right of Muslim Americans to build a community center, including a mosque, at 51 Park Place, two blocks from Ground Zero. It takes place 7:15-10 p.m. at the intersection of Church St and Park Pl. in Lower Manhattan. They say: "Please wear white in solidarity that day. Bring candles and American flags, but no signs." Information, (917) 566-2437, http://www.nyneighbors.org, contact@nyneighbors.org.
Saturday, Sept. 11, NEW YORK CITY: A rally and march against racism and anti-Muslim bigotry takes place today on the ninth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that launched the Bush-Obama wars. Participants will gather in Manhattan on the east side of City Hall at Centre and Chambers Sts. for a 1 p.m. march to Park Place and Church St. for the rally. The rally site is close to the proposed community center and mosque at 51 Park Pl. that has generated opposition from those who oppose locating a Muslim-associated edifice two blocks from Ground Zero. The event is organized by the Emergency Mobilization Against Racism and Anti-Islamic Bigotry, an ad hoc coalition of over 60 groups including International Action Center, National Assembly, Gabriela Network USA, New York City Labor Against the War, World Can't Wait, Al-Awda NY-Palestine Right To Return Coalition, several organizations from the Albany area and Women in Black Westchester. (For charter bus from Albany, see second item above.) Information, (212) 633-6646, http://iacenter.org/muslimsolidarity.
Sunday, Sept. 12, NEW PALTZ: The recent World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth held in Bolivia will be the topic of a talk by Bill Weinberg at the meeting of Caribbean and Latin America Support Project. This free public meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., will be held in New Paltz Village Hall on Plattekill Ave. one block south of Starbucks on Main St. A potluck dinner for those so inclined begins at 5 p.m. Information, (845) 255-0113, (845) 687-0587.
Monday, Sept. 13, OLD CHATHAM: Old Chatham Quaker Meeting will be showing the film "A Sea Change" at 7 p.m. at the Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd. (off County Rt. 13). The film tracks the journey of retired history teacher, Sven Huseby, on his quest to understand the acidification that is occurring on the Earth's oceans. He speaks with many experts to find that global climate change is only one half of the environmental problems that face humanity in the near future. A discussion will follow. Free and public. Information, (518) 766-2992. Directions, http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 14, ROSENDALE: The documentary "Flow: For the Love of Water" will be shown at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St. (Rt. 213), at 7:15 p.m. Free screening to honor Ulster County Creek Week. Sponsored by Rosendale and Marbletown Environmental Commissions. Information, (845) 687-7116, and about the film, http://www.flowthefilm.com/.
Friday, Sept. 17, MILBROOK: Author and angler Paul Greenberg will discuss large scale commercial fishing, extensive fish farming, and how questionable environmental standards have distressed aquatic ecosystems, pushing many wild fish species to the edge of extinction. Greenburg's new book, "Four Fish" discusses the relationship people have with salmon, bass, cod and tuna. This free public talk starts at 7 p.m. at the Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 44). Information, (845) 677-7600, ext. 121, freemanp@caryinstitute.org.
Saturday, Sept. 25, POUGHKEEPSIE: The Mid-Hudson Chapter of The Sierra Club's annual "Big Tag Sale" will be held at Mulligan's Irish Pub's parking lot, 2146 New Hackensack Rd. (Rt. 376, Red Oaks Mill) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 26. Information, bibis@juno.com, (845) 338-0300.
Monday, Sept. 27, POUGHKEEPSIE (Marist College campus): Progressive author and environmental activist Maude Barlow, an expert on the world's water systems, will discuss her book "Blue Covenant — The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water" at a free public meeting starting at 7 p.m. at the Nelly Goletti Theatre on campus. Barlow is also the national chairwoman of The Council of Canadians. Campus map, http://www.marist.edu/about/map.html. Information, paula.willoquet@marist.edu.
Saturday, Oct. 2, WASHINGTON: A just-formed liberal-leaning coalition of over 150 organizations including the AFL-CIO is sponsoring a massive rally here today. It's named One Nation Working Together. The rally is conceived as an answer to the Tea Party and the right wing and is obviously intended to build support for the Democrats a month before the elections. The coalition calls for "putting America back to work, quality and affordable public education, and equality for all. The coalition also has an antiwar component, One Nation for Peace, and many peace groups will take part. Says One Nation: "This movement includes human and civil rights organizations, unions and trade associations, nonprofit organizations, youth and student groups, religious and other faith groups, educational, peace, environmental, and ethnic associations, and any other groups and individuals who are committed to pulling our country back together now." Exact details about the Oct. 2 events are still being worked out. There will be buses from the Hudson Valley region. (See the first item above.) We will have a longer article soon with full details. Website information: http://onenationworkingtogether.org/?page_id=4, http://www.onenationforpeace.org/.
