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).
Friday, October 31, 2003
An Evening of Classical Guitar and Antiwar Poetry
Guitarist Francesc de Paula Soler of Barcelona will be joined by Washington poets at a free concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (1909 Windmill Lane) in Alexandria. Donations to the sponsor, D.C. Poets Against the War, which works for peace and economic and social justice, will be appreciated. For more information, call Dan Logan at 703/768-1234.
The DC Coalition to Protect Civil Liberties, a grassroots movement by Washington, D.C., residents and organizations, is hosting a community forum, "The Patriot Act: What It Is and How It Affects You," on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ (5301 North Capitol St. NW). Speakers will include individuals whose lives have been directly affected by the Patriot Act and the war on terrorism. The last hour will be set aside for questions and testimonials from the audience. For more information, send an e-mail here.
Join thousands of people across the continent who are demanding that Kraft Foods stop using genetically engineered ingredients. Your help is needed to send a strong message to Betsy Holden, CEO of the largest food company in the United States, that we don't want untested, unlabeled, genetically engineered food on our supermarket shelves or our plates.
Join the Genetically Engineered Food Alert Coalition for a rally and leafleting on Friday, Oct. 31, from noon to 1 p.m., in front of the lobby office for Kraft, near Union Station in Washington (101 Constitution Ave. NW). For more information, contact Jessica Hoffman by e-mail or at 202/783-7400, ext. 104; Lisa Archer by e-mail or at 202/783-7400, ext. 190.
On the last Friday of every month, a Free Bicycle Solidarity Ride is held to promote cycling in Washington and to build a sense of community among area cyclists. The ride is open to cyclists of all ages, sexes, races, nationalities, religions, lifestyles, hair colors, shoe sizes and riding abilities.
The pack will leave Dupont Circle at 6:15 p.m. sharp and will follow a predetermined, theme-based route that changes each month. The rides range from 5 to 10 miles and move at a slow-to-comfortable pace. All traffic rules are followed, which results in several packs moving along the course as the original group is broken up by stop lights. Regrouping areas are set throughout the course to let the groups reconvene and then begin again. This system lets riders of all abilities enjoy the ride at a comfortable pace.
The rides are meant to increase public awareness of cyclists on DC streets, not to clog traffic. The cycling groups should use only one lane of traffic and leave the others to cars since impeding their progress will only infuriate commuters and defy the purpose of the rides.
Riders should descend on Dupont Circle on Friday, Oct. 31, before 6:15 p.m. to take advantage of pre-ride services provided by mechanics from City Bikes and other offerings.
Welcome to the newest listing on our "Act Locally" sidebar, DC Action for Children (DC ACT). The nonprofit is dedicated to gathering and providing accurate information about conditions and policies affecting children. DC ACT wants to empower and mobilize a citywide constituency to become involved in improving the lives of Washington's children and to hold public officials accountable for their policies. Check 'em out!
Thousands of non-citizens live and work in Washington. They send their children to local public schools, pay taxes and serve in the armed forces. Having lived here for a long time, they are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. But the road to citizenship is often closed off to them – by quotas, bureaucracy and waiting lists. To have thousands of taxpayers with no say over who serves on the city council or in the mayor's office is just plain unfair.
Read this terrific letter to the editor of The Hoya, Georgetown University's newspaper, which spotlights the work the Mount Pleasant Advisory Neighborhood Commission is doing to secure local voting rights for all residents.
You can learn more about this issue on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m., at a town hall meeting at All Saints Church (2835 16th St. NW). For more information, call Mario Cristaldo at 202/412-2469.
On March 25, 1911, the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory took the lives of 146 immigrant workers. The diversity and strength of the public's outcry about the horrific conditions in the sweatshops helped kick off decades of successful union organizing as well as federal oversight and safety regulations for the workplace.
End the Occupation of Iraq – Bring the Troops Home Now!
The United for Peace and Justice/ANSWER mass rally and march on Saturday, Oct. 25, starts at 11 a.m. at the Washington Monument. Gather at the northeast corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. Here is a listing of some local feeder marches:
Black Voices for Peace 9 a.m. to noon for a pre-rally and mini-fest at Malcolm X Park (between 15th and 16th Streets at Euclid and Florida NW).
Organized Labor Meet at 11 a.m. at the northwest Corner of 17 St. and Constitution Ave.
Shirts Off 11:15 a.m., from Malcolm X Park. Zoe provides all the details here.
Anti-Capitalist Bloc The as-yet-unnamed anti-capitalist collective will converge at 11:30 am at Seventh and P Streets NW. The group will march to the convention center and then proceed to the main rally. Bring noisemakers!
Northern Virginia Meet at 10 a.m. at the east entrance (outside the covered overpass) of the West Falls Church Metro (there should be plenty of free parking). Also, look for the "Northern Virginians for Peace" banner at the Mall exit of the Smithsonian Metro around 11 a.m.
Positive Force is running a benefit for the International Solidarity Movement on Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Aloysious Church, 19 I St. NW (Metro: Union Station). Live music will be provided by Majority Rule, Tradition Dies Here, the Hissing Choir and Rachel Jacobs. Admission is $6.
The Millennium Arts Center (MAC) in Southwest Washington is the largest arts center in the city, a multidisciplinary home to more than 30 artists and arts organizations. So why is the DC government trying to shut it down?
Using questionable tactics, DC leaders are applying extreme pressure to lock out the arts and turn the building over to a top-dollar commercial/residential user. Your help is needed to raise public awareness about the government's callous attack on a major cultural resource for the city and the greater Washington region. Come to a rally to support the arts in DC on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).
Please join veterans, military families and congressional leaders at a candlelight vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in support of bringing American troops home from Iraq. U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) have been invited, along with Wayne Smith, Bobby Muller and several other veteran leaders. An open mike will also be available for any participant.
The vigil is Friday, Oct. 24, from 9 p.m. to midnight, in the public area adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Kayhan Irani's multidisciplinary work "We've Come Undone" explores the impact of recent legislation on several communities in the U.S. that are experiencing the trauma of detention, disappearance and deportation. Interweaving drama, dance, music and multimedia, this series of monologues is inspired by stories from Arab-American, Muslim and South Asian communities. From a young girl's bewilderment at her father's disappearance to an INS agent's rant, the characters' truths aim to enlighten and inspire.
"We've Come Undone" will be performed on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the American Friends Service Committee Office (2211 14th St. NW); a discussion will follow the performance. The suggested donation is $10.
To kick off this weekend's events, the DC Anti-War Network, in collaboration with the Warehouse Theater, is hosting a welcoming reception and orientation session for anti-war activists. It's a great opportunity to get together, share ideas about Iraq and the Bush administration, as well as to plan for Saturday's demonstration and beyond.
The party is Friday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Warehouse Theater. Cash bar but admission. The Warehouse Theater is at 1021 Seventh St. NW, on the east side of the new Washington Convention Center, one block south of the Mount Vernon Metro stop on the Green/Yellow line.
A delegation from Gensuikyo, the largest peace group in Japan, is in town to attend a rally and to kick off a new petition campaign for the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings.
A reception for the group will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Mott house, 122 Maryland Ave. NE. For more information, call 703/369-7247.
People for the American Way (PFAW) wants to deal a knockout blow to the Bush administration. The Republicans in Congress have advanced a school voucher proposal for D.C. public schools all the way to the Senate floor, but the good news is that the momentum is on our side. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, help mobilize PFAW activists in key states to flood fence-sitting Senators with a clear message: Vouchers don't work! We can't win without your help!
The phone bank is at 2000 M St. NW on the fifth floor; dinner will be provided free of charge. RSVP to Todd Plants at 202/467-2380. Bring a photo ID and tell the guard on duty that you're coming to PFAW on the fifth floor.
Don't miss Mothertongue's fifth anniversary show! Come early for music from the DC Women's Drumming Collective and drink specials provided by the Black Cat. Stay for the kickin' spoken word Mothertongue is known for, featuring some of the best poets from the last five years and a multimedia Mothertongue "retrospective."
It's sure to be a good time, so bring a friend and help celebrate five years of women's spoken word in DC on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 8:30 p.m. at the Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW). Admission is $5 to $7, and proceeds will benefit the Metro Teen AIDS "Where my girls at?" program. Mothertongue T-shirts, posters and handmade journals also will be available for purchase.
The film "Deadly Embrace: Nicaragua, the World Bank & the IMF" will be shown on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m., followed by a discussion with Kathy Hoyt of the Nicaragua Network. The screening will take place at Provisions Library: A Resource Center for Activism & Arts (1611 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200).
Evidence suggests that displacement of poor families from strong housing markets in neighborhoods like Logan Circle might contribute to the concentration of poverty in neighborhoods like Ivy City. What are the implications of these trends for housing policy in Washington and the region?
Turner will present her findings at the forum on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Room 412 of the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW). A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7. For reservations to this free event, call 202/667-5445 or send an e-mail.
I watched Oliver Stone's "JFK" again over the weekend. At one point, Kevin Costner, playing New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, says, "Adolph Hitler said that the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it." George W. Bush saying that we invaded Iraq to "bring democracy" to the Iraqi people and 50 percent of the American people believing it bring truth to Hitler's words.
Author, activist and filmmaker Tariq Ali's new book, Bush in Babylon: The Recolonisation of Iraq, details the longstanding imperial ambitions of key figures in the Bush administration and how war profiteers close to Bush are cashing in. Organizing against the occupation has taken on a new sense of urgency as millions of Iraqis still have no water or electricity, unemployment runs rampant, weapons of mass destruction have not been found, and more soldiers have died in the time since Bush declared “victory” than during the war itself.
Left Turn magazine and War Times newspaper is holding a low-ticket fundraiser here in Washington that includes the showing of a film and discussion on Iraq, Vietnam and the 1960's.
War Times editor Max Elbaum, author of Revolution in the Air: Sixties Radicals Turn to Lenin, Mao and Che, will lead a public debate on whether the U.S. occupation of Iraq – like the Vietnam War – is shaping up to be another blow to American imperialism. The debate will focus on the key lessons of the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s and '70s that can be used in our current struggles against the occupation of Iraq and President Bush's endless war at home and abroad.
A segment from "The War at Home," the award-winning documentary on the '60s and '70s, also will be screened. The event starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Provisions Library: A Resource Center for Activism and Arts, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW. The suggested donation is $5. For more information, send an e-mail or call 866/860-9311.
Last week I heard from the folks at TouchDC, a group that connects people, as donors and as volunteers, to a wide range of nonprofit organizations doing important work in the greater Washington area. Contributions and volunteers are needed now more than ever, and local nonprofits are looking to individuals in the Washington region to provide this much needed assistance. TouchDC makes it easy to do good.
The Washington Blade has this story on the attack and rape of a lesbian by six men near Logan Circle. Zoe and Joanne both blogged about the incident yesterday, leading to this discussion on identity politics. And DC Indy Media has information on an upcoming protest rally planned by the DC Lesbian Avengers.
The Blade story says several of the men called the woman a "dyke" and a "lesbian" as they assaulted her, but the D.C. police reported the incident as a first-degree sex abuse case, a term used to describe a rape. Why have the police -- or the media -- not yet labeled this a hate crime? Hate crime legislation not only severely punishes offenders, but also goes a long way to clearly demonstrate the public's intolerance for this type of despicable behavior. If raping a woman while shouting "dyke" isn't a hate crime, what is?
"They… brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned. … They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features. … They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made out of cane. … They would make fine servants. … With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."
Christopher Columbus wrote this in his logbook, after he "discovered" the already inhabited islands of the Bahamas. Within 25 years, almost the entire Arawak population of Haiti, estimated to be about 3,000,000 people, had been exterminated thanks to disease, the slave trade and the forced labor policies that Columbus brought to the Caribbean. The success of the Columbus expeditions to the "new world" set off the European land-grab that led to the extermination of countless Native American tribes.
So, on this Oct. 13, 2003, let us remember it as a day that the genocide against the indigenous people of North America began.
Thanks to A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn (see link on right), for the reference to the Columbus logbook.
When the public health system was privatized by closing DC General Hospital and transferring responsibility to the DC Health Care Alliance, Mayor Tony Williams assured us that the new system would provide more effective health care. But the CEO of George Washington University Hospital calls the system an "abject failure" and wants the city to reopen a public hospital at the DC General site (Washington Post, Sept. 14).
On Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m., the DC Health Care Coalition (DCHCC) is sponsoring a march to the US Capitol from DC General (1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE, at the Stadium/Armory Metro stop). For more information about this event or to learn about other DCHCC events, call 202/635-5099.
Emily Jacir asked Palestinians from around the world, "If I could do something for you, anywhere in Palestine, what would it be?" Using the relative freedom of movement afforded by her American passport, she set out to realize and document these sometimes mundane but always profound requests.
The exhibition "Where We Come From" documents Jacir's creation of tentative bridges across artificial and dangerous borders, as she reflects on the consequences of Arab Diaspora. Texts in Arabic and English record each request and its outcome.
The project developed partly in response to the proliferation of checkpoints, borders and boundaries imposed within and across Palestine through years of conflict with Israel. Even those who possess an American passport, with the right to pass through these boundaries, are often subject to dehumanizing treatment – a tactic to discourage free movement.
"Where We Come From" is on display through Nov. 9 at the Provisions Library: A Resource Center for Activism & Arts, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW.
The Triangle Artists Group is made up of more than 100 lesbian, gay, bi, and trans/queer artists from the Washington-Baltimore area and includes a wide spectrum of visual, literary and performance artists. The group's current multimedia exhibit explores propaganda as it relates to conflict and war.
The works exhibited represent a wide array of approaches to the theme. Some deconstruct propaganda; some are propaganda. Some revisit familiar approaches, and others explore forms that are new to the canon. Some are made for formal installation, while others are more appropriate for direct action.
"Propaganda of War" opens on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Gallery at Warehouse, 1021 Seventh St. NW, with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. The show runs through Nov. 2.
Come out to celebrate the victory of the Global Justice Movement against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in September – won by the grassroots power that was generated in the streets of Cancun, Mexico, and all over the world. The event will include a commemoration of Korean farmer Lee Kyong Hae, who took his life in an act of protest against unjust WTO policies, and video footage from the anti-WTO action in Washington, DC.
It's all happening at the Latin Jazz Alley, 1721 Columbia Rd. NW, on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 9 p.m. Proceeds will be used to subsidize travel to Miami and Fort Benning, Ga., for the actions in November against the FTAA and the SOA. For more information, call 202/234-3440 or visit this website.
Francis Bok will discuss and sign his new book, Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity — and My Journey to Freedom in America, at a forum sponsored by the Writers’ Corner. Bok, an associate at the Boston-based American Anti-Slavery Group, was the first escaped slave to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in hearings on Sudan. In this autobiography, Bok shares the riveting history of his remarkable journey to freedom.
The event is part of the Arthur R. Ashe Jr. Foreign Policy Library’s Writers’ Corner series and is co-sponsored by Karibu Bookstore. It will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, at TransAfrica Forum, 1426 21st St. NW (near Dupont Circle). The suggested donation is $5, and pre-registration is requested. Call 202/223-1960, ext. 132, for more information or to register.
Tonight's stop on the Democracy Rising Tour promises to be full of good vibrations. The event features DennisKucinich, Ralph Nader, Head Roc, Noyekk, the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers and the B.A.D. Seven. Community tabling starts at 6, and the main program kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1518 M St. NW.
The Columbia Heights Community Discussion Circle helps those who live and work in the neighborhood get to know each other, develop relationships of trust, and build community power. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, join the Circle for a discussion about Columbia Heights' priorities and resources, especially as they affect the well being of youths, with Luci Murphy of the Gray Panthers of Metropolitan Washington and Suzanne Spencer of Avodah. The event is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Church, 1525 Newton St. NW.
Last week I heard from two local groups that asked to be listed in the "Act Locally" sidebar (see right).
Helping promote transit in the DC's Maryland suburbs, the Inner Purple Line blog is pitting itself against Montgomery County's country clubbers by trying to get a new Metro line built where the community needs it most.
The Washington Council of Agencies (WCA) is the largest and oldest umbrella organization serving the D.C. regional nonprofit community. For more than 24 years, WCA's mission has been to strengthen, promote and represent nonprofit groups based in metropolitan Washington to help them better meet the diverse needs of their communities.
Help Code Pink assemble and distribute outreach materials for its Nov. 2 teach-in, which will give activists in the Washington, DC, community an opportunity to learn new skills, including listening and facilitation, public speaking, anti-oppression training and legislation advocacy. An organizing meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at 733 15th St. NW.
The Code Pink teach-in is envisioned as an activist skill share organized by women and largely focused on bringing women's wisdom, perspectives and experiences to the forefront. Pre-registration for the teach-in will commence within the next couple of weeks and will be accessible at the Code Pink website.
Tired of the conservative tide? Wanna pull passersby off the ride? Make a choice to spit lyrics – resist by simply raising your voice!
The DC Guerilla Poetry Insurgency kickoff is Monday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Dupont Circle. Anyone willing to share poems or spoken word with social or politically progressive themes is welcome. Bring poetry, percussive instruments and a positive attitude. Poets are cannons in the battle for hearts and minds, and the resistance needs every voice it can get.
Roe v. Wade hangs by a thread. Sound the alarm at the Supreme Court with Eleanor Smeal of Feminist Majority, Kim Ganty of NOW, Kate Michelman of NARAL Pro-Choice America and Jatrice Galter Martel of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington. The event is Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.
This weekend, Cultural Tourism D.C. will host the fourth annual D.C. Open House, featuring free guided walking tours and free admission at museums and other attractions throughout the city. Washington’s most knowledgeable tour guides will regale walkers with tales of prominent figures and community life, while the city’s museums will reveal their world-class collections of art, historic objects and more – all for free.
On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4 and 5, the City Museum of Washington, D.C., will serve as a welcome center for the Open House. The museum’s lawn will feature live entertainment, while inside, an overview of the District’s history spiced with local stories is presented.
For more information, visit this website or call 202/661-7581.
Quique Aviles, a D.C. Latino performing artist and poet, this month will premiere the full version of "Caminata: A Walk through Immigrant America." In this one-man show, Aviles portrays immigrants from the Central African Republic, Iraq, Russia and El Salvador, as well as a South Korean adopted by white Americans, a New Yorker born to Italian parents who posed as French to enter the U.S., and an immigrant of unknown origin.
"Caminata" is presented by Sol & Soul, a D.C.-based arts and activism organization. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 18 at the District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $12 and $7 for students, seniors and DCAC members. A post-performance discussion with the audience will follow each show. For reservations, contact DCAC at 202/462-7833. For information about the show, call 202/526-4417.
The Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders will join in solidarity with local Washington labor unions at three events on Thursday, Oct. 2:
2:30 p.m. Join a UNITE picket line with union president Bruce Raynor, in support of workers at Sterling Laundry at the Churchill Hotel, 1914 Connecticut Ave. NW.
Lend your voice to the Laborers' rally for ACECO workers with union president Terry O'Sullivan at the US Treasury Department, 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
7 p.m. Support DC parking lot attendants, who are members of the HERE Local 27. HERE president John Wilhelm, AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, and AFL-CIO executive vice president Linda Chavez-Thompson will speak at Farragut Square (K Street, between 17th and Connecticut NW).
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
