DC Metro Action is a listing of local actions, entertainment, volunteer opportunities and the occasional rant on a wide range of socially just issues.
contact me at dcmetroaction@comcast.net
Action of the Day Many of these action alerts are found on the listservs and websites of organizations listed in our "Act Locally" section (Left).
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Stand Up for Health Care for Janitors
DC janitors, who on average earn only $160 a week, are preparing for a showdown over health benefits. On Wednesday, April 30, the contract covering DC janitors will expire, and without an agreement that provides janitors with health benefits, they may be forced to strike. Help show building owners that Justice for Janitors means business in Washington. Living wages and health benefits make our communities stronger, here's how you can help:
* Come to a May Day Rally on Thursday, May 1, at 4:30 p.m. in Franklin Square at 14th & K Streets NW.
First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary Gets Short Shrift
ABC Channel 7, WJLA-TV, is not planning to broadcast to the DC viewing area the first democratic presidential candidate debate on May 3. ABC is running the debate live in other areas with early primaries. In short, Channel 7 is saying places like New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina play important roles during the early stages of the nominating process, so their affiliates will air the debate. The decision-makers at Channel 7 must not think much of DC's primary on Jan. 13, 2004. For more information, see this Washington Post article.
You can help by sending an e-mail today to Bill Lord, WJLA's vice president for news. Choose your own words, or cut and paste the following text:
Dear Mr. Lord,
Please broadcast to the Washington, DC, area the May 3 Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate.
Viewers in markets with primaries at the beginning of the nominating process, such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, will see the debate in its entirety after their local late-night news.
DC voters will also play an important role in the earliest stages of the nominating process when we select our preferred candidate in the Jan. 13, 2004, presidential primary election.
For the first time in 200 years, the District of Columbia will play a truly meaningful role in selecting a presidential nominee. I hope WJLA will give this the attention it deserves, beginning with the broadcast of the May 3 debate.
The coffee market is booming in the US. In DC, Starbucks and Cosi coffee chains are popping up on every corner. But for coffee farmers from Nicaragua to Uganda to Vietnam there is little to cheer about. Coffee prices have hit an all-time low. So while corporate coffee giants such as Procter & Gamble and Kraft are making windfall profits by buying coffee at rock-bottom prices and selling it to the consumer at a considerable markup, coffee farmers are facing job loss and starvation. As farmers are forced to leave or sell their land, coffee growing regions are falling into the hands of those who are clear-cutting the forest for profit and leaving destroyed wildlife habitats in their wake.
Co-op America has launched a campaign right here in DC to get more Fair Trade Certified Coffee both on the supermarket shelves and into the hands of consumers. They're asking Safeway, Washington's largest supermarket chain, and Procter & Gamble, which supplies much of the store's bulk coffee, to put more Fair Trade Certified Coffee on the shelves. To send an e-mail to Safeway, click here
On Thursday, May 1, from noon to 2 p.m., you are invited to a brown bag lunch sponsored by the DC Environmental Network, with Erin Gorman from Co-op America. It will be hosted by Friends of the Earth at 1025 Vermont Ave. NW on the third floor (McPherson Square Metro). For more information, call Chris Weiss at Friends of the Earth, 202/783-7400, ext. 120.
I hope everyone likes the new look of DC Metro Action. The sidebar was getting too long, so I switched to a template with two sidebars.
It's now 2:30 in the morning, and I think I have everything working ok. Except for the very top edge of the browser. It used to say "DC Metro Action" but now is displaying my Meta Tag. If anyone knows how to fix it, please e-mail me.
Learn more about the DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) at its weekly Tuesday night meetings, which give DC-area residents an opportunity to participate in face-to-face discussions about current events. Find out how to get involved, or use the opportunity to propose action and event ideas that could gain the support and resources of DAWN. If you attend a meeting, you are instantly invited to participate in all decisions made by the group – DAWN is what you make of it. The next meeting is Tuesday, April 29, 7 to 9 p.m., at the American Friends Service Committee's office, 2211 14th St. NW (U Street/Cardoza Metro stop; the office is just north of W Street). For more information, call 202/299-1050.
Thank you to all who have surfed through these pages, and welcome to all the new people who may follow. This has been a fun project for me, and it has given me the opportunity to look more closely at the grassroots of Washington, DC.
DC Metro Action needs to continue to hear from each of you – your ideas and suggestions have been invaluable. Besides, I just like getting e-mail!
DC First says we need a president who will stand up for democracy in DC, not a "clucking coward." Some presidential candidates are still undecided if they are going to actively campaign for the votes of DC residents in our first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 13, 2004. Those who have said they will campaign here will be named "Democracy Heroes"; those afraid to campaign here will be designated "Democracy Chickens." Click here to see DC First's lineup so far.
What can you do? Send this invitation to all of the presidential candidates and tell them we want to hear their solutions for ending the "Taxation Without Representation" status of over half-a-million DC residents.
Sol & Soul is a Washington nonprofit that uses the power of art and the creative process to transform lives, create community and build a more just society. Sol & Soul brings together professional artists from all disciplines with activists, community organizations, schools and individuals of varying ages and backgrounds to produce creative works with a social conscience.
Spoken Resistance, a collaboration with GALA Theatre, is the cornerstone of their efforts to nurture new artistic voices of conscience. On Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, the Spoken Resistance Workshop will present a new work, "Militant Love Poem." Set in the midst of a dehumanizing war, the work explores what makes us human through characters, poetry and music. A post-performance discussion will follow. It starts each night at 8 at The Warehouse Next Door, 1017 Seventh St. NW (just off the Mount Vernon Square and Gallery Place/Chinatown Metros). Tickets are $10, $5 for students. For more information, call 202/526-4417 or 202/745-2630.
DC First says we need a president who will stand up for democracy in DC, not a "clucking coward." Some presidential candidates are still undecided if they are going to actively campaign for the votes of DC residents in our first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 13, 2004. Those who have said they will campaign here will be named "Democracy Heroes"; those afraid to campaign here will be designated "Democracy Chickens." Click here to see DC First's lineup so far.
What can you do? Send this invitation to all of the presidential candidates and tell them we want to hear their solutions for ending the "Taxation Without Representation" status of over half-a-million DC residents.
Everyone is invited to a rally and cultural and spiritual gathering for peace with justice, sponsored by Black Voices for Peace. Dynamic speakers, performers and spiritual leaders will tell the truth about the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policies on Friday, April 25, 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the Plymouth Congregational Church, 5301 N. Capitol St. (at the corner of North Capitol and Riggs Road/Missouri Avenue, near the Fort Totten Metro/K-6 bus). Admission is free, and parking is available.
Appearing at the event will be:
* The Rev. Walter Fauntroy, New Bethel Church * Peta Lindsay, International ANSWER * Amy Goodman, Democracy Now and Pacifica Radio * Damu Smith, founder of Black Voices for Peace * Tony Regusters, director of WPFW Radio * Songstress Ayanna Gregory * Afrika Abney, Ashawarrior performer * Imam Mahdi Bray * The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Boyd, Spirit of Truth Center * Dr. Ruby Sales, Spirit House * The Rev. Stephanie Butler, AME Church * Spirit and Praise Dancers * Vanessa Dixon, health care advocate * Phyliss Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies
Learn about the movement to make DC the site of the nation's first presidential primary in the 2004 campaign. Will this help Washingtonians obtain first-class citizenship? Will it put the spotlight on housing, health care and other "urban" issues? Will the candidates come? Get it straight from the organizers' mouths!
Find out what you can do to keep this movement moving. Join Sean Tenner of the DC Democracy Fund, Lawrence Guyot, member of the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Party, and others on Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the National Council of Negro Women, 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (across from the Archives Metro at Seventh and Pennsylvania). Refreshments will be served. Call 202/232-2500, ext. 2, for more information.
The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public non-profit food and nutrition education resource in the metro area. Each year it distributes millions of pounds of food to the community and educates thousands of local residents on hunger, poverty and nutrition issues.
The Food Bank needs hundreds of volunteers each week to help in all parts of its operation. Projects include sorting and repackaging food, leading education programs, staffing special events and preparing mailings. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Hours are flexible, including weekends and Wednesday nights. For more information, e-mail Phil Borden or call 202/526-5344, ext. 286.
Attend the Food Bank's Metropolitan Hunger Conference on Thursday, April 24, at the Refreshing Springs Church of God in Christ, 6200 Riverdale Rd., in Riverdale, Md., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Marian Peele at 202/526-5344 or send an e-mail for more information.
The DC Language Access Coalition is asking for your help in supporting the Language Access Act, legislation being considered by the DC City Council that would ensure equal access to vital government services and benefits for immigrants in the District of Columbia who do not yet speak and read English proficiently.
The coalition is asking DC social justice and community service groups and individuals to add their names to its sign-on letter. It is hoping to get as many signatures as possible by Thursday, April 24. You can sign on by calling Ruth Spivak at the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, 202/319-1000, or by e-mailing her the following information: organization or individual name as you would like it listed; contact person, if an organization; and phone number.
If you're near Metro Center on Tuesday, April 22, stop into the Church of the Epiphany at 1317 G St. NW for a free Schubert and Mozart Concert at noon. The FMMC Orchestra will perform Schubert Symphony No. 5 and Mozart Symphonia Concertante. E-mail E. James Lieberman for more information.
Some of Washington's seniors and disabled citizens on Medicare can no longer get their prescription drugs at a near-free cost through the DC Health Care Alliance. An alternative, labor-intensive program to apply to pharmaceutical companies for reduced-price medications, the Pharmacy Resource Center – which has been established with $200,000 given by the Alliance to Catholic Charities – is underfunded, not yet operating, and unprepared to serve even the 500 that the Alliance is claiming, a fraction of the affected population of about 15,000 to 20,000.
On Wednesday, April 23, come protest with the Emergency Committee to Restore Seniors' Prescription Drug Benefits at the Department of Health, 825 North Capitol St. NE, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Call 202/397-2277 for more information.
"Overruling Democracy: The Supreme Court versus the American People" is a current Washington Post best-seller that writer and activist Barbara Ehrenreich calls "brilliantly argued and meticulously researched," Congressman John Conyers calls "groundbreaking," and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney calls "gripping" and "required reading for every citizen who cares about the fate of our democracy."
"We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and about America's Students (second edition)" has been called "the bible of the new movement for constitutional literacy among high school students." The book has been updated with more than 75 new pages about affirmative action, student free-speech rights, school vouchers, high school football prayer, and student disabilities.
The event takes place Thursday, April 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Stewart Mott House, 122 Maryland Ave. NE.
RSVP to Moira Lee at 202/274-4268 by Monday, April 21.
The Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) is a District program that is used to create and preserve affordable housing for low-income and working households. In the last fiscal year, the HPTF produced more than 2,000 units of affordable housing. It is now facing cuts in its funding.
Insist that Mayor Anthony Williams and the DC City Council ensure that the principle of full dedicated funding for the HPTF is honored. Come to a rally and press conference on Saturday, April 19, at 11 a.m. hosted by the tenants' association at 1020 Monroe Ave. NW and co-sponsored by Washington Innercity Self Help (WISH), Manna, Inc., and the Alliance for Affordable Housing. For more information, call WISH at 202/332-8800.
In the spirit of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 Bed-In for Peace, War Child and DC Indymedia are hosting a benefit Dance-In for Peace, with the new wave sounds of Earl Griffis, sophiafromlondon and others. The benefit will also feature the Lucky Lollipop Ladies, fortune telling from the Great Mysterio, matchmaking with the Postman of Love and prizes.
The international charity War Child attempts to redress the devastating impact that war leaves on the most innocent victims, with projects ranging from humanitarian relief in Iraq to music schemes in East Timor.
Dance-In for Peace is on Friday, April 18, from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at TomTom, 2335 18th St. NW. A minimum $5 donation is suggested. Call 202/518-6667 or send an e-mail for more information.
"On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia. Passage of this act came 9 months before President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. The act brought to conclusion decades of agitation aimed at ending what antislavery advocates called 'the national shame' of slavery in the nation's capital."
"Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia for Colored People in Washington, April 19, 1866" Wood engraving from a sketch by F. Dielman in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
More than 140 years later, the Stand Up for Democracy in DC Coalition is presenting a reenactment of the chain-breaking ceremony of enslaved persons. The public is invited to participate on Wednesday, April 16, at noon in Freedom Plaza. Call 202/232-2500, ext. 2, for more information.
At 7 p.m., author Elizabeth Clark-Lewis will be joined by other scholars to discuss "First Freed: Washington, D.C., in the Emancipation Era". The authors forum and book signing takes place in the Ring Auditorium of the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street, SW. Admission is free, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are recommended. Call 202/610-3371 for more information.
Sankofa, a West African Adinkra symbol meaning, "Learn from the past."
And on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. the Washington Ringing Society and the National Park Service will present a bell ringing at the Old Post Office Tower, 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in honor of the emancipation of DC's 3,100 former enslaved persons.
"Tomorrow is the saddest day of the year. Tomorrow is the day in which our monies are taken away from us to pay for all kinds of ridiculousness: war, the drug war, nonsensical pork-barrel projects, shady government contracts, etc. Tomorrow is the day when DC residents are exploited without recourse. Simply put, tomorrow is 'tax day' and we will be protesting."
Tuesday, April 15, 2003, has been declared "DC Voting Rights Day" both by unanimous resolution of the DC City Council and by proclamation of Mayor Anthony Williams. DC Vote will celebrate the day by hosting its Third Annual Tax Day Rally at 5 p.m. at Freedom Plaza, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW (Metro stop: Federal Triangle). At the rally, Mayor Williams will sign into law a permanent bill passed by unanimous vote of the city council to make the DC presidential primary the first in the nation on Jan. 13, 2004.
Join the mayor, city council, DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, dozens of advocacy groups, and hundreds of concerned Washingtonians, students, business owners, church members and advocates for democracy at the rally. Michelle Wright, Miss District of Columbia, USA 2003, will serve as emcee of the event; the Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington, DC, and the Voices of People Gospel Choir will provide entertainment.
Also in attendance will be DC Rabble, a coalition organization, which will provide instruction to residents who are paying their federal taxes but want to send a very clear message to the government that “Taxation Without Representation Is Tyranny.” Visit www.dcrabble.org for more information on tax obstruction.
Is Halliburton now giving orders to US troops in Iraq?
I listened on Friday as Donald Rumsfeld scolded the media for showing the "same guy looting a vase over and over again." Donald reminded us that there can't possibly be that many vases in Iraq. How dare he make light of the looting that the American forces have done nothing to halt? Allowing the looting of ancient Sumerian artifacts is akin to the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddahs. Who are the war criminals here?
"On Baghdad’s chaotic streets, it appeared American troops were doing nothing to curb the feverish looting. Troops could be seen waving looters through checkpoints and standing idly in front of buildings while they were being pillaged…
"U.S. Army troops and armor blocked access to the main palace grounds. The Oil Ministry also seemed intact with a heavy U.S. military presence inside."
Halliburton, Dick Cheney’s old company, has already been given an $8 billion contract to restore Iraq’s oil industry -- a contract that was signed without public bidding, congressional oversight or the best interests of the Iraqi people in mind. It was awarded as part of the plan to plunder the natural resources of Iraq, and so "Americans can reap a benefit far greater than any tax break."
I am embarrassed and appalled by my government's actions, and am at a loss as to what we can do about it. If only a single Democrat showed the spine to stand up to the cowboy and file articles of impeachment.
Who could resist a night billed as “Ain't Nothin' but an Occupation: A Week of Defiant Joy Through Performance, New York City Style"? It's on Sunday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at Visions Cinema, 1927 Florida Ave. NW. The feature presentation is a special rough-cut screening of "Everywhere But Florida: Cognitive Dissonance in Election 2000," directed by Matt Kohn.
“Everywhere but Florida” begins when the vote counting stopped and mainstream media coverage ended. The film explores the implications of the most controversial election in U.S. history and gives some suggestions about what we have to do now. After the screening, stay for a Q&A with the film's director and Jamie Raskin, Washington College of Law professor and author of "Overruling Democracy: The Supreme Court vs. The American People," currently number 8 on the Washington Post bestseller list.
The evening also includes the newly completed featurette "Emma's Footprints" and the trailer for "Horns and Halos," opening May 2 at Visions.
"Emma's Footprints" is a post-9/11 fable about a young anarchist member of a literary salon attempting to reconcile the past and present and reunite with his girlfriend and other cohorts. The film is directed by Central Park Summerstage co-founder Brian Keizer, produced by Guggenheim curator Marybeth Smalley, and scored by "Fight Club" composer Charles Goodan.
The trailer for "Horns and Halos," a film that captures the unlikely connection of three men -- a U.S. president, a discredited author and an underground publisher – whose paths to power and popularity become tangled in "Fortunate Son: George W. Bush and the Making of an American President."
Celebrate with the Youth Pride Alliance this Saturday, April 12, from noon to 5:30 p.m., at the P Street Beach (23rd and P Streets NW; Dupont Circle Metro stop).
Join thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth for the biggest annual celebration of the year. Along with the keynote speakers – activist Jonathan Perry and talk-show personality Jonathan Jaxson – there will be dozens of exhibitors and two stages of entertainment. And don’t miss Jam Crew’s dynamic hip-hop performance at 3 p.m. The Crew is a resident company of Joy of Motion Dance Center.
I received an e-mail today from the Shirts Off mailing list, via Zoe. It was a compelling cry for help from one of DC’s public schoolteachers:
”…As you might know, the state of the D.C. Public Schools has been in a state of perpetual decay and disrepair. Not only do D.C. teachers have to deal with one of the most disorganized and incompetent systems in the country, we also make approximately $8,000 less a year than teachers in neighboring school systems. The stories we could tell you about the insults and injuries we endure on a daily basis would amaze you!
”After having our union representative, Barbara Bullock, (You might have read about her in the paper. She spent $10,000 of our dues on wigs!) rob us of millions of dollars, we lack a strong union representative. The person representing us is here only temporarily from Connecticut and has no stake in seeing us get a fair shake. As a result, we find ourselves in a terribly vulnerable situation. The mayor and City Council hope to capitalize on our vulnerability by backing out on an agreement they signed on three years ago that promised to raise D.C. salaries in an effort to put them on par with neighboring districts.
”Not only does the city want to deny us this wage increase, which, by the way, would leave us with very modest incomes still below other districts, it also wants to deny us the normal ‘step’ increase that all teachers make for every year of experience they have. Such an assault on the teachers of D.C. would guarantee a dramatic turnover of D.C. teachers, and ultimately a teacher shortage, further disrupting the quality of education D.C. youth receive. So in fact, this assault on D.C. teachers is not an assault so much on the teachers themselves, it is a potentially catastrophic assault on the children of D.C.!
”…Please support us Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Wilson Building downtown (right in front of Freedom Plaza) as we rally to tell the mayor and City Council that this assault will not be tolerated. We need as much community support as possible. Please pass this e-mail on to as many people as you know. It is vital that we get the word out.”
The Wilson building is at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, near Metro Center.
The Latin America Solidarity Coalition is in Washington this week, Thursday, April 10, through Tuesday, April 15, with a full calendar of actions, conferences, lobbying and parties. Log onto the coalition's website for a complete schedule. For more information, call 202/234-3440.
Women in Black, an international network of peace activists, was founded in Israel in 1988 by Jewish and Palestinian women who oppose Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Learn more about them from a documentary to be screened Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Resource Center for Activism and Arts, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW (Metro: Dupont Circle, North Exit).
Independent filmmaker Donna Baillie follows a group of Women in Black (UK) volunteers, affectionately dubbed "Hell's Grannies," as they travel from London to Israel/Palestine to join organizations working nonviolently for change. Their journey is elegantly captured against a backdrop of human rights violations and protest actions. Baillie will be on hand for a post-film discussion with audience members.
The event is organized by the DC chapter of Women in Black, the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee's DC chapter, and Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel. Come by early, at 6:30 p.m., for a beer and potluck dinner; bring a dish to share or chip in for pizza. RSVP to 202/460-5199 or send an e-mail.
Here is a listing of Women in Black chapters in the DC area:
District of Columbia Website: www.womeninblack.yullah.com Join Women in Black vigils every Friday in Farragut Square Park (Connecticut Avenue and K Street NW), 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please wear black; all genders are welcome.
MarcParc, which operates several parking garages in Washington, is "Where Customer Care is First," according to its website. But MarcParc workers -- who earn poverty wages and have no health insurance -- come in last. After six months of struggle at Union Station, MarcParc employees still do not have a fair process to decide on unionization.
On Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 a.m., the MarcParc garage at the Holiday Inn at Thomas Circle, 1155 14th St. NW, will be picketed by its employees and their supporters. Show your support for the workers by walking the picket line with them. Call the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 27 at 202/393-7939, ext. 17, for more information.
Come hear from hands-on peace activists about what works at the grassroots level, then reflect with three theologians on how religious traditions evolved to embrace shared understandings of peace. On Tuesday, April 8, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the Washington National Cathedral, peacemakers from the Abrahamic traditions will lead a vigorous discussion of their religion-based peacemaking experiences around the world. Each has worked in a different tension spot where inter-religious dialogue has played a crucial role in either ending hostilities or promoting peaceful coexistence. David Smock of the United States Institute of Peace will moderate the discussion, which is co-sponsored by the Washington National Cathedral and the United States Institute of Peace. Call 202/537-2221 for more information.
I am a regular reader of The Nominally/Arbitrary Project and Don't Be a Hero, and the authors of those blogs frequently raise issues that make me think (thank you both for that). Zoe and Joanne have been writing about how to set aside one's own agenda and collectively unite behind a single message.
Having done coalition building for more years than I care to remember (my first campaign headquarters had a mimeograph machine), I've had this conundrum on my mind for a while. The very nature of coalition building brings together groups with mixed messages. So, from the gitgo, this is going to be hard – or is it something only Republicans can do?
I have always been impressed with the ability of the right to walk lockstep with a single theme. They know how to beat the drum in unison, all playing the same beat. I always believed that the right's abilities to be united in its message stems from (at least) two things:
* Republicans learned communications from advertising agencies. As far back as the 50's, Madison Avenue helped plan and focus their message.
So, if our strength is in numbers, and the very best coalitions are made up of a number of diverse groups, how do we get everyone on the same page? I'm not even going to try to answer that one, but I can tell you that everyone is fighting over the same thing, and it's not pretty: money. And the tool used to get funders' attention is media attention.
Every group is jockeying for face time on TV and news clippings to send to funders. Everyone wants to be at the top of the press release. Elbows are flying everywhere as we try to place our banners in the most prominent spot at photo ops. Rather than using the media to promote the issue, the message becomes merely a conduit to cash.
I don't know if the left can ever achieve that singular message which resonates so beautifully in the media. Maybe our greatest strength is our diversity, and we need to develop strategies that will magnify that diversity rather than shrink it to a single view.
The left is a grand mosaic, a quilt made up of thousands of different patches. And like any great work of art, we look different to all who see us.
Come to a benefit for the DC Children’s Choir on Saturday, April 5, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the historic sanctuary of All Souls Church, located at the corner of 16th and Harvard Streets NW.
The evening of dance and music will feature contemporary Buddhist, Cherokee and Japanese compositions, avant-garde works performed on the church’s celebrated Rieger organ, African-American gospel music and spirituals, and the minimalist music of Philip Glass and Michael Nyman. A donation of $10 is suggested, $5 for students. Call 202/483-6172, ext. 16, for more information.
The two finalists have been selected for the reconstruction contract in Iraq, and one of them plans to sub-contract to Halliburton. It seems that along with the contract that Dick Cheney’s former employer directly has to clean up the oil wells, Halliburton will pick up even more Iraqi business by being mentioned in other proposals as American firms fall over themselves trying to get a leg up in the selection process.
The other day, my friend Tom heard one of those right-wing, talk-radio disc jockeys ranting about how when the war is over, we're going to pump out a jillion gallons of oil from Iraq as payment for liberation. Can't say I'm surprised. We all know Dick Cheney's last job was at Halliburton, which already has a government contract to restore Iraq's oil wells to operating condition.
Citizen Works is planning a rally at Halliburton's DC office to bestow the Vice President with the "Daddy Warbucks" Award for excellence in corporate war profiteering as part of its national Big Business Day actions. The rally is on Friday, April 4, at noon at 1150 18th St. NW. For more information, contact Citizen Works at 202/265-6164.
Washington-area students and antiwar groups will come together for a Festival of Peace on Saturday, April 5, at the Washington Monument. The event, sponsored by the Campus Antiwar Network, will feature musicians, speakers, workshops and a candlelight vigil. The Campus Antiwar Network, which comprises more than 200 antiwar groups from universities, colleges, high schools and middle schools across the country, was created to help unify the growing student peace movement.
The festival will get started at 1 p.m. at the corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. The candlelight vigil and speakout start at 7 p.m. For more information, send an e-mail here, or call Lauren Ciszak or Crystal Woods at George Washington University, 202/242-1722.
Sure, taxation without representation is tyranny, but what can one person do about it? Get the word out! DC Vote needs volunteers from all over Washington to distribute flyers about its upcoming rally at Freedom Plaza on Tuesday, April 15. Make sure your neighborhood knows about the rally by picking up flyers at DC Vote, 1500 U St. NW, on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and spreading them around. For more information, send email or call Kim Bassett at 202/462-6000.
The Star Spangled Ice Cream Company bills itself as a "conservative alternative to Ben & Jerry’s" for Americans who would rather not buy ice cream that funnels money to "wacko left-wing causes." The flavor names make clear the company's political leanings -- Iraqi Road, Smaller GovernMINT, Nutty Environmentalist and I Hate the French Vanilla -- and the site proffers a couple of jokes about the French. But the first thing under its "News & Notes" section is an amazon.com ad hawking DVDs and videos by French actors Gerard Depardieu and Maurice Chevalier along with France’s favorite comic, Jerry Lewis.
Meanwhile, mark your calendars now for some free "wacko left-wing" ice cream: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is April 29.
Youth leaders from across the country will assemble in Washington April 3-5 for the Third Annual Black Youth Vote! Leadership Conference. Created to provide leadership development and engage young people in the democratic process, the three-day conference will be held at the National Education Association, 1201 16th St. NW. A town hall meeting on “The State of Black Youth” will be held Thursday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Blackburne Center at Howard University.
For more information, go to www.bigvote.org or call 202/659-4929.
DC Metro Action is published by Michael Schlesinger, a 32-year veteran of electoral and issue organizing who is committed to social justice and to increasing participation in the political process.
All original content (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Michael Schlesinger
