02 April 2008

Activism in April


Progressive activists on the march, in April.
By Thomas Good / April 2, 2008

March was a very busy month for activists around the country, and April appears to be continuing this trend. Here is a preview of some upcoming events.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — SDS to protest Rhode Island Governor Carcieri’s Anti-Immigrant Policies.
From Brown SDS: Join Providence community organizations for an action against Carcieri’s anti-immigrant executive order. On Thursday, April 3, 2008, meet at Brown University’s Faunce Arch at 3 p.m. For more information on the Governor’s policies see the article in the: Providence Journal

NEW YORK — Impeachment Action at Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s office.
On Thursday, April 3, from Noon to 1 p.m. local impeachment activists will be visiting the Manhattan office (201 Varick St.) of Congressman Jerrold Nadler. Congressman Nadler is Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. It is there that H. Res. 333/799 (the bill to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney) now sits and Congressman Nadler has so far not signed on to it.

NEW YORK — Anti-war rally at Staten Island Baptist Church - April 5, Noon - 2 p.m.
Peace Action of Staten Island, Military Families Speak Out, First Central Baptist Church, Unitarian Church of Staten Island, Pax Christi, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Movement for a Democratic Society, the College of Staten Island Peace Club and other community groups and residents from neighborhoods all over Staten Island will rally to demand an end to the Iraq war and occupation. Individuals and groups will converge in the parking area of First Central Baptist Church at Wright Street and Van Duzer Street in Stapleton. Rev. Demetrius Carolina and Congressional Candidate Stephen Harrison will be among the speakers to address the rally. The Rude Mechanical Orchestra and the First Central Baptist Children’s Choir will provide music.

From the Staten Island Advance: In the five years since the war in Iraq began, groups of Staten Islanders have staged numerous protests to voice their frustration over what they see as a tragic foreign policy decision by the government.

To mark the fifth anniversary of what is increasingly an unpopular war, Peace Action of Staten Island will join with more than a dozen groups Saturday at First Central Baptist Church in Stapleton. {1}

DENTON, Texas — Student walkout at University of North Texas:
Monday, April 7, 9:11 a.m. - University of North Texas Student Walkout Against War & Campus Military Recruitment.Meet in Front of University Union BuildingStudents & Activists throughout the U.S Welcome! For more info: http://www.antiauthoritarian.net/NLN/www.myspace.com/unitedaid Andrew Teeter: bigteets44@hotmail 817.455.3787 Aron Duhon: Adduhon@live.com or beatnikk24@hotmail.com 409.828.0393

[ NOTE: this announcement follows an article in the Marine Corps Times which states that, “The Defense Department has announced a new get-tough policy with colleges and universities that interfere with the work of military recruiters and Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.” {2} ]

NEW YORK — Columbia 1968 - 2008, a 40th Anniversary Event.
From the website: Columbia 1968 and the World, A 40th Anniversary Event - April 24 - 27, 2008. This spring marks the 40th anniversary of the 1968 student protests at Columbia University. A group of alumni participants, working with faculty and students, has developed a program for a three-day conference to reexamine those events from a wide range of viewpoints and in the context of what was happening in 1968 in the country and the world. The conference will provide a chance for people who lived through that period to reconnect, reconcile, and reflect. And it will engage current students in a discussion about issues of war, race, and the role of the university—issues that are still with us 40 years later. What follows is a preliminary schedule of events showing confirmed speakers. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will be held at the Columbia Journalism School, 116th Street and Broadway. {3}

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — “Red Ink: Celebrating the Radical Tradition in Literature with Julia Wright” event at Robin’s Bookstore: Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m.
From the website: Julia Wright, as Keynote Speaker, will be discussing Richard Wright and his work. Also featuring Tom Good, Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History; Theodore Harris, Our Flesh of Flames; Ewuare X. Osayande, Misogyny & the Emcee: Sex, Race & Hip Hop; John Potash, The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders; Fred Stanton, musician; Lamont Steptoe, Oracular Rumblings and Stiltwalking; and an open reading of other area writers who want to continue the Wright tradition of politically inspired writing. {4}

For more April Actions check out the NLN Event Calendar.

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