Alert #155  April 30, 2008

Protect the human rights
of immigrant families
PEACE DEMANDS ACTION.
 one email, one action, five minutes a week for peace
view this message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/155.htm
This Thursday, May 1st, marks the one year anniversary of the immigrant rights protests around the country. It is not a coincidence that Thursday is also International Workers' Day.

This week, please spend your five minutes for peace recognizing that the struggle for peace and justice begins right here at home. Our vision of a more peaceful world requires fair wages and safe working conditions for all employees, the right to family unity, and freedom from racial discrimination.

Please call your Congressperson today about two important pieces of immigration legislation:
  • STOP THE "SAVE" ACT.

    The Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R. 4088) is exactly the kind of immigration legislation that America does NOT need.     It would require employers to use a flawed database system to establish an employee’s right to work, turn community police officers into immigration officials and increase the number of immigrants in detention, without offering a route to legalization.

    So far 161 Members of the House of Representatives have co-sponsored the SAVE Act, including Representatives Kirsten Gillibrand (CD 20), Michael Arcuri (CD 24) and Brian Higgins (CD 27). Even more alarming, 186 members of the House have signed a “discharge petition” which would bring this dangerous legislation directly to the floor for a full vote without going through the committee structure. So far the only New Yorkers to sign this discharge petition are Representatives Peter King (CD 3) and Jim Walsh (CD 25).

    Please call your Representative and ask him or her to oppose the SAVE Act and the discharge petition to bring it to the floor. We need immigration legislation that brings peace to our communities, not more struggle.

  • PASS THE CHILD PROTECTION ACT.

    Under current U.S. immigration law, judges are not allowed to consider any outside circumstances when determining immigration cases. The landmark Child Protection Act (H.R. 1176) introduced by Congressman Serrano of the Bronx, would allow immigration judges to consider the interests of U.S. citizen children when hearing immigration cases involving their parents. Thus far this important legislation has 32 co-sponsors, 9 of whom are from the New York City area. If you are represented by Jose Serrano (CD 16), Gary Ackerman (CD 5), Joseph Crowley (CD 7), Jerrold Nadler (CD 8), Anthony Weiner (CD 9), Edolphus Towns (CD 10), Yvette Clarke (CD 11), Nydia Valezquez (CD 12) or Charles Rangel (CD 15), please call and thank them for their support on this human rights legislation. If you live in any other district in the state, please call your Congressional Representative and ask them to take the needs of children, particularly immigrant citizen children, into account.
As always, thanks for all you do.

In Peace,

Cheryl Wertz
Executive Director, Peace Action of New York State
info@panys.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 NYC Metro Area Upstate NY Out-of-State & Nationwide
FEATURED EVENT

Thursday, May 1, 12 noon – 4:00 pm
MANHATTAN.
12 noon: Gather at Union Square; 4:00 pm: march to Federal Plaza.
MASS RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT AND WORKER RIGHTS.
Stop the raids and deportations. Legalization now. Justice for all.
Sponsored by the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Worker Rights.
For more information see www.may1.info
New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Wednesday, April 30. 7:30 pm.
EAST VILLAGE. St. Marks’ Church, 2nd Avenue at 10th Street.
RALLY FOR THE NYC 9/11 BALLOT INITIATIVE.
The rally will be an opportunity for the press and public to learn about the 9/11 Ballot Initiative campaign and to fill out petitions. For more information see www.nyc911initiative.org.
Thursday, May 1, 7:00 pm
MANHATTAN. All Souls Church, Reidy Friendship Hall, 1157 Lexington at 79th Street.
THE HUMAN COST OF WAR AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS: FOCUS ON IRAN.
A lecture by Dr. Shahriar Khateri & Dr. Mohammad Soroush, Founders of the Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support. On tour from Iran, Drs. Khateri and Soroush have many years experience treating victims of chemical weapons used in the Iran/Iraq war of the 1980s. Speaking to both medical professionals and to the general public, they address the short and long term medical consequences of chemical warfare in hopes of heightening awareness of the devastation of weapons of mass destruction and to remind us that we must work to abolish these weapons. Sponsored by: Physicians for Social Responsibility and The Campaign Against Sanctions & Military Intervention in Iran. For more information, contact russellbranca@yahoo.com or 718-843-0515. Download flier.
Saturday, May 3, 8:00 pm
MANHATTAN. Riverside Theatre. 91 Claremont at 120th Street.
A PEFORMANCE OF ARTISTS FOR PEACE. In collaboration with Bernier Dance. Dance, poetry and jazz are blended in a stirring evening grounded in the provocative stories of Maxine Hong Kingston’s Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace. General admission $15 - $100. A portion of the proceeds to benefit New Era Veterans Residence.
Tuesday May 13th, 7 pm – 9:30 pm
EAST VILLAGE. The Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery @ Bleecker St.
JAZZ MEANS PEACE SALUTES GRANDMOTHERS AGAINST THE WAR AND THE
GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE. WITH SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST JOAN WILE.
A Jazz series dedicated to building a permanent alternative peace culture by supporting Peace Organizations and celebrating America’s unique classical musical art form; JAZZ. “Deconstructing The Great American Songbook” $8 admission + 1 drink minimum. For tickets and information see, www.grandmothersagainstthewar.org.
Saturday, May 17. 5:45 – 8:00 pm.
STATEN ISLAND. Unitarian Church Parish Hall, 312 Fillmore St.
PEACE ACTION STATEN ISLAND GENERAL MEETING AND POT LUCK DINNER.
Monday, May 19th, 7:30 pm
MANHATTAN. ImaginAsian Theater, 239 East 59th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
SCREENING OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY “TRUMBO”
TO SUPPORT THE PEACE ACTION FUND
OF NEW YORK STATE.
Award-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, creator of the timeless anti-war classic, Johnny Got His Gun, was jailed and blacklisted as one of the "Hollywood Ten" by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee during the Red Scare. In this riveting new documentary, Trumbo's story is told through his letters, enacted by Joan Allen, Brian Dennehy, Michael Douglas, Paul Giamatti, Danny Glover, Liam Neeson, David Strathairn, Donald Sutherland, and others. Tickets to the screening and post-screening Q&A $25. Tickets to the pre-cocktail party with special guests, $150. For additional information and tickets, see http://www.panys.org/trumbo.shtml
Wednesday, May 21, 7:00 pm.
BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Friends Meeting House – 110 Schermerhorn Street at Boerum Place
MAY 1948 – A NEW STATE FOR ISRAELITES, A NAKBA (CATASTROPHE) FOR PALESTINIANS.
A panel discussion on the issues and emotions associated with the events of 1948 and why they still matter. With Nadia Hijab, a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studes, Adam Horowitz, founder of Jews Against the Occupation, Zachary Lockman, a Professor in the Dept. of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYU. Sponsored by Brooklyn for Peace and the Peace and Social Action Committee of the Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Free admission. For more information, call 718-624-5921 or see www.brooklynpeace.org.

Upstate Events

Thursday May 8 – Saturday May 17
ROCHESTER, ITHACA, UTICA, SYRACUSE AND POINTS BETWEEN TO FORT DRUM.
NEW YORK STATE MARCHES TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER:
A PEACE MARCH TO FORT DRUM TO SUPPORT IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR
AND THE DIFFERENT DRUMMER CAFÉ. New Yorkers will be marching across the state to bring support to our active duty soldiers and Iraq Veterans Against the War. This march will be an act of re-birthing civic duty and responsibility to defend our Constitution and strengthen our resolve to stop the damage this unjust, illegal, and immoral war is doing to our families, communities, the world and most of all, soldiers. Support Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Different Drummer Café at Fort Drum. For more information, feeder march routes, and dates, see www.nysmarchesforpeace.org.
Saturday, May 10, 11:00am – 4:00 pm
Gallery dedication at noon, Eastern Woodland history at 1:00 pm.
CROTON ON HUDSON. Croton Point Park
GRAND OPENING AND RECEPTION FOR ARTISTS BARBARA HUNT AND JEANNE D. SHAW Honoring the Spirit of the Wood. Featuring The Nimham Mountain Singers: a unity drum group that sings eastern woodland songs. Sponsored by Riverdrifters Gallery: Fine Art Works. For more information contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Tuesday, May 13th, 7 pm
PLEASANTVILLE. WESPAC, 17 Marble Avenue in Pleasantville. 
ACTIVIST NETWORKING MEETING.
Come hear updates from YouthPAC, WESPAC's Middle East Committee, the Free Mumia Coalition, the Center for Racial Justice, No War Westchester, WESPAC's Environmental Committee, the Women's Circle, and WESPAC's Friends of Turtle Island.  If you have been active on an issue and would like to share your work with us, please plan on attending.  For more information contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Saturday, May 31.
SYRACUSE. Syracuse Peace Council, 924 Burnet Ave
OPEN HOUSE AT THE SYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL.

Ongoing Local Events
Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. 
See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm

Out of State & Nationwide Events
Saturday May 3, 2008, 3:15 to 4:45 pm
WESTPORT, CT.  McManus Meeting Room, Westport Public Library - 20 Jesup Rd.
TERRORISM VS. HUMAN RIGHTS: THE MIDDLE-EAST CONFLICT BEYOND THE MEDIA.
With Dr. Alfred Gerteiny, Author of "The Terrorist Conjunction, The United States, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and al-Qa'ida,” and Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, Author of "Sharing the Land of Canaan." For more information, contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Monday, May 12, 7:00 pm.
GREENWICH, CT. Cole Auditorium, Greenwich Public Library - 101 Putnam Ave
THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF THE ISRAEL LOBBY
IN SHAPING US FOREIGN POLICY.
With Professor Stephen Walt, Harvard University, Co-Author of The Israel Lobby.
For more information, contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.