HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
March 17, 2011, Issue #659
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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Dedicated to Helping Build Activist
Movements in the Hudson Valley
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Editor's Note: Our late March and April Activist Calendar will be emailed next week. Below are some new events in the next few days.... We've noted the March 19 Washington protest before but we list the full schedule for the March 19-20 weekend below, whether you are going or just have an interest in what's on the agenda.
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MORE ACTIVISM IN THE VALLEY
The right wing assault on workers, unions and just about everything else, combined with Egypt, Tunisia and struggles against repression, dictatorship and monarchies throughout the Arab world have obviously energized progressive and left movements in the Hudson Valley and throughout the U.S.
The MoveOn protests March 15 in support of the Wisconsin workers drew good numbers in several Hudson Valley Locations. For instance, in New Paltz, 100 turned out. In Hastings, 50. Our own March 15 public event at SUNY New Paltz on the democratic rebellions in the Arab countries and America's continuing wars was extremely successful, drawing 182 people to a highly-regarded meeting supporting the uprisings, and opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (There will be a report on this event in the Activist Newsletter next week). The March 16 labor rally in Yonkers against budget cutbacks was attended by 1,000 people.
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ACTIVIST EVENTS
Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20, WASHINGTON: On March 19, 2011, a broad coalition of U.S. military veterans consisting of members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, March Forward!, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Veterans For Peace will gather at the White House in solidarity to demand peace. The veteran-led action will be supported by a large array of activist groups including ANSWER Coalition (which called for the nationwide protests on the 19th), Fellowship of Reconciliation, CODEPINK, Voters for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, World Can’t Wait, Peace Action, United National Antiwar Committee, and the War Resisters League. On March 20, the veterans will gather to support Bradley Manning in Virginia. They say: "He should be treated as a hero instead of being incarcerated under conditions amounting to torture. We call for an immediate end to the cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of PFC Bradley Manning during his military confinement." Following are details of the action from http://www.stopthesewars.org/.
Here are details on Saturday, March 19, in Washington, DC
12 p.m., Rally in Lafayette Park, H and 16th Streets NW. Speakers: Elliott Adams, Chantelle Bateman, Brian Becker, Medea Benjamin, Zachary Choate, Ryan Endicott, Ayesha Fleary, Chris Hedges, Kathy Kelly, Mike Malloy, Michael McPhearson, Caneisha Mills, Ralph Nader, Debra Sweet, Ann Wright, Kevin Zeese.
1 p.m., Civil Resistance at the White House.
Housing will be available Saturday night at St. Stephen’s Church, 1525 Newton Street NW (corner of 16th Street). You must leave the church by 7 am Sunday morning. Anyone staying at the church must be respectful of whatever else may be going on there at the time.
Detils on Sunday, March 20
2 p.m., Rally and March to Quantico for Bradley Manning, Main St. and Rt. 1 (Jeff Davis Hwy.), Quantico, VA. See http://bradleymanning.org for more information.
Two 56-person buses have been reserved for five hours. Board buses in front of Union Station, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, in Washington, D.C., at 12:30 p.m.
Buses will be boarding to return from Triangle/Quantico at 4:30 p.m.
To reserve tickets for the bus ($10 round-trip): www.couragetoresist.org/bus
Housing will be available Sunday night at St. Stephen’s Church, 1525 Newton Street NW (corner of 16th Street), AFTER 9 p.m. Please do not go to the church before 9 p.m. Anyone staying at the church must be respectful of whatever else may be going on there at the time.
—Additional information, including a listing of ANSWER's March 19 protests in 46 different cities and towns throughout the U.S. is at http://www.answercoalition.org/national/news/march-19-day-of-action.html
Monday, March 21, HUDSON: "Civil Liberties and the FBI: How local Activists and Groups Can Respond," is the title of a 7-9 p.m. public meeting at Time and Space Limited, 434 Columbia St. A panel of four attorneys (Steve Downs, Valeria Gheorghiu, Kathy Manley and Michael Sussman) will speak about our rights as individuals and discuss ways that local peace and justice groups engaged in nonviolent activism can prepare for and respond to federal interference, raids and subpoenas. A question and answer session will follow. According to the organizers: "Last September, the FBI raided homes and antiwar offices in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and North Carolina. Fourteen activists were handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury. Among those targeted were members of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, and the Colombia Action Network. Who is the next target?" This meeting is sponsored by Middle East Crisis Response, Dutchess Peace Coalition and Palestinian Rights Committee, and recommended by the Activist Newsletter. Information, (518) 966-5366, (845) 255-5779, http://www.mideastcrisis.org.
Monday, March 21, ALBANY (College of St. Rose): An expert on the subject will be the speaker at an event titled, "Geopolitics, Global Oil Depletion and Very High Oil Prices: What Does This Mean for New York State?" He is William Reinhardt, recently retired senior project manager in the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority. The sponsor is the Capital Region Energy Forum. Information, (607) 282-0220, anotherthyme@yahoo.com, http://www.capitalregionenergyforum.org. Campus map: http://www.strose.edu/campus/maps_directories/campus_map.
Tuesday, March 22, ALBANY: New York State United Teachers is conducting an "Educate New York State Rally" 12 noon-1 p.m. on the steps of the Capitol Building. The rally is for full funding for the state's public school system. Information, http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/legislation_16295.htm
Tuesday, March 22, KINGSTON: A 12 noon vigil will be held on Rt. 9W in front of the Hudson Valley Mall. We're told it is "to grieve the recent tragic suicide of Jill Conner’s daughter, April, by a weapon purchased illegally at Dick’s Sporting Goods. All people who grieve with thousands of other families and friends who have lost loved ones due to weapon sales and abuses, please make your voices known. Come to our vigil for safety and security and to prevent the illegal sale of weapons. Bring placards or hold ours." Information, JaneToby@aol.com.
Sunday, March 27, ALBANY (SUNY Campus): A "Summit for a Statewide Ban on Fracking" will take place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on campus, 1400 Washington Ave., at the lecture center. The event is in preparation for a scheduled May 2 anti-fracking march in the state capital. From the organizers: "With only a few months until the moratorium on horizontal hydraulic fracturing is lifted — and with vertical fracking already causing problems across Western N.Y. — we need to seize current momentum and widespread public concern to advocate loud and clear for what we all know we need: a BAN! We know that when the public hears the truth about fracking, the vast majority of the population will stand with us in calling for a ban. If you're ready to take a step towards organizing your communities this summit was made for you. Goals of the day-long meeting include: Establish coordinated People's Advocacy Network; Share advice on effective advocacy Create a plan for building coalitions in our communities; Establish regional organizing networks for gathering statewide ban petition signatures; Helping to coordinate logistics for mobilizing people to come to Albany on May 2nd." Sponsored by Frack Action, http://www.frackaction.com/. More information on the Summit: http://www.frackaction.com/content/summit-win-ban.
To register: http://bit.ly/e5v9iG.
Carpools to Summit meeting: Carpool & caravans leaving New Paltz Village Hall at 7:45 a.m. returning at 8 p.m. contact Rosalynn Cherry rosalyn@clutterkit.com.
Kingston Park-and-Ride near circle 8 a.m. contact Alexander Lines (845) 810-0205.
