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
Busboys and Poets is Washington's newest gathering place. The restaurant and coffee house has a full service bar, free WiFi, a fully equipped performance stage and a bookstore operated in association with Teaching for Change, an activist organization committed to building social justice. The bookstore stocks progressive poetry, political books, media and independent retail items. Busboys and Poets is a community resource space committed to becoming a welcome addition to the neighborhood. It's located at 14th and V Streets NW. For more information, contact Michael Pitetti at 202/387-POET (7638).
After more than two years of foot-dragging, the Food and Drug Administration has failed women once again. In a report issued last week, the FDA demanded more time before announcing a decision to broadening access to the "morning after" pill.
Activists for the National Organization for Women and others who support the health and safety of women and girls will hold a rally outside the Department of Health and Human Service to insist that the FDA allow the sale of emergency contraception without a prescription. Please come during your lunch break on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at noon, to HHS (20 Independence Ave. SW), and bring signs demanding access to emergency contraception.
Code Pink continues its vigil at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center indefinitely. Every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., the vigil signals the late-night arrivals of badly wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Friday nights there is an abundance of traffic on Georgia Avenue and much support from those driving by. Join this very welcoming group, and bring friends, candles, a sign or a banner. The messages are about supporting the troops by bringing them home alive now, and taking care of them when they get here.
Those who have participated have been moved by the experience, one that put them much closer to the real face of war. They stood with soldiers, military families, neighbors, friends and fellow peace activists in caring and spirited community. It is worth noting that all of the soldiers they have met so far support the war, even adamantly, but most were open to hearing their perspective, some truly wanting to understand it.
The Friday evening vigil is at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (7200 Georgia Ave., at Elder Street NW; North Gate). For more information, contact Ann Wilcox at 202/441-3265 or Ellen Taylor at 202/270-1861.
The Darfur film series continues this week with "All About Darfur," a contemplative journey of filmmaker Taghred Elsanhouri to the land of her birth at a time of crisis, examining the Afro/Arab race dynamic in Sudanese society through the prism of her own experience of race in Great Britain and Sudan. The film offers a unique opportunity to hear and see Sudanese people articulating in their own words how they feel about the Darfur crisis, about race and politics in their country, and about the place and role of the international community in their affairs.
"All About Darfur" won the Chairperson's Prize at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. Check it out on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Institute for Policy Studies (733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020), along with a discussion to explore ways to take action to stop genocide in Darfur after the film.
DC Action for Children is collecting school supplies for kids in need. The group particularly needs backpacks – at least 150 – which they will fill with school supplies, like paper, pens, pencils, markers, rulers, crayons, etc. If you prefer, you can make a monetary donation, and DC Action for Children will purchase the supplies needed.
Please make checks out to "DC Action for Children/School Supplies Drive." Please deliver donations to DC Action for Children (1616 P St. NW, Suite 420), by Thursday, Aug. 25. Let's make sure that DC students have everything they need to be successful this school year! Call Kim Bell at 202/234-9404 for more information.
Preparations are underway for this year's Adams Morgan Day street festival, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 11, from noon to 6 p.m. on 18th Street NW, between Columbia and Florida Avenues. Adams Morgan Main Street is currently seeking volunteers for Adams Morgan Day — for the extensive planning before the festival as well as the day of the event. If you would like to volunteer for Adams Morgan Day 2005, please fill out this volunteer application. For more information, click here or contact volunteer coordinator Kara Moller at VolsAMDay@ammainstreet.org.
On Saturday, President Bush went on a bike ride. According to news reports, his schedule also included "a nap, some fishing, and some reading." But President Bush refused to meet with Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother who lost her son in Iraq. Cindy is fast becoming an international spokeswoman against the war. Now, it's up to all of us to show that she's not alone in demanding answers from the president.
Cindy has asked supporters to start candlelight vigils in our communities to remind people of the terrible price of war. So, MoveOn, True Majority and Democracy for America have teamed up to organize nationwide "Vigils for Cindy Sheehan" (and for all military and gold star families) on Wednesday, Aug. 17, starting at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Locally, vigils will be held at the White House, Dupont Circle, the gazebo in Old Town Takoma Park, the Clarendon Metro Station and a dozen other spots in the DC metro area. You can click here for the entire list.
The DC Books to Prisons Project provides a critical link between citizens who are incarcerated and those outside prison walls by sending donated reading material to prisoners and educating the public about issues surrounding prisoner education and literacy. DC-area volunteers are always needed to help pack books. You can volunteer any Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St. NW, room 203). At present, the only books needed are English and Spanish dictionaries and thesauruses. The group can also use cash donations to pay for postage. For more information, contact Kenji at 202/986-2081.
Family and Friends of Prisoners March on Washington
More than 2 million Americans are in prison, and Family Members and Friends of People Incarcerated says we need schools and jobs instead of prisons. The Montgomery, Ala.-based organization's Journey for Justice campaign calls for family and friends of people in prison to travel to Washington for the first-ever grassroots rally in support of prison reform.
A welcome reception will be held on Friday, Aug. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 1st floor foyer). In addition to speakers, refreshments and music, "Torture Inc.: America's Brutal Prisons," a UK Channel 4 film, will be screened.
On Saturday, Aug. 13, rally at Lafayette Park (16th St. NW, just north of the White House) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schools, Shelters and Public Spaces Are Neighborhood Resources
Empower DC invites all those interested to join them in developing a campaign to demand that all publicly owned property in DC be used for public benefit, and to oppose the current trend of liquidating "surplus" public property for private profit. For example, DC has sold vacant schools to developers to be converted into high-end condos (Parker Flats at Gage School, Lovejoy Lofts, Lenox School Townhouses), and the city sold the Randall Homeless Shelter to the Corcoran Art Museum.
Over the last year, proposals have been aired to dispose of several additional schools, firehouses, shelters, libraries and parks and play spaces. These valuable public resources should be used to fulfill community needs, such as the creation of affordable housing, shelter for the homeless, recreation, space for community services and other functions determined by neighborhood residents.
The city council has scheduled a hearing on disposal of public property for late September – but we can't wait any longer to speak out! Join in on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Empower DC (1419 V St. NW, basement). For more information, call Andrew at 202/277-5262 or Parisa at 202/234-9119.
Here is a chance to learn about the recent archeological excavation into an African-American cemetery in Adams Morgan. The cemetery is part of a still pristine historical area that includes the landmark Holt House – a still standing 18th-century mansion and a grist/plaster mill on Rock Creek, once named Columbian Mill, when Benjamin Stoddert and Roger Johnson owned it, and now called Adams Mill – renamed sometime after John Quincy Adams bought it in 1823.
The cemetery was founded shortly after the end of slavery, when it became easier for Americans of African descent to own property. However, its use as a burial ground likely predates Emancipation. Early census records for what is now Adams Morgan, Kalorama and Mount Pleasant show more slave labor toiling at area farms, estates and plantations then free labor.
Mary Belcher from the Holt House Preservation Task Force will lead a discussion on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. at Walter Pierce Park (two blocks north of 18th Street and Columbia Road in Adams Morgan; just follow Adams Mill Road past the gas station; the park is half a block up Adams Mill Road on the left.)
Reports now confirm that 400,000 people have died in Darfur, Sudan, as a result of the government-sponsored genocide. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes. After observing the woefully inadequate media coverage on the crisis in Darfur, Aisha Bain and Adam Shapiro (students at American University's School of International Service) decided to do something about it. In 2004, the team (with colleague Jen Marlowe) traveled to Sudan and eastern Chad and returned with over 45 hours of footage, along with incredible stories and images. The resulting work in progress is the Darfur Film Project, a documentary of the testimonies of survivors of the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
Come view excerpts from the Darfur Film Project and stay for a post-film discussion with the filmmakers on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 6 p.m., at the Institute for Policy Studies (733 15th St. NW, Suite 1020).
Sept. 9 will mark one year since the Bush administration acknowledged that genocide was taking place in Darfur. However, in the last year it has not taken sufficient action to guarantee the protection of civilians in Darfur and to end the genocide. It is imperative that we keep demanding action on the part of the US government. You have the power to protect! Help stop genocide in Darfur by signing the Africa Actionpetition to stop genocide in Darfur.
Progressive Maryland – a grassroots organization whose members include individuals and religious, community and labor groups – strives to improve the lives of working families through a living wage, election reform, affordable education and health care reform. WIN is a professional, political, and social network dedicated to empowering young, Democratic, pro-choice women. WIN provides women with access to job and networking opportunities and facilitates networking events, resume swaps, happy hours and panel discussions.
Solidarity DC is a group committed to bringing the DC metropolitan area's progressive community together to have fun and achieve justice, one happy hour at a time! Join in on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 5:30 p.m., at Andulu (1214 18th St. NW). The suggested donation is $10, but no one will be turned away. For more information, email solidaritydc@gmail.com.
America's use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq is causing untold problems for those exposed to its radiation. Allied soldiers have been reporting related health problems since the first Gulf War, and the effects on the Iraqi population are even greater.
The film "Poison DUst" tells the story of three young men from New York who could not get answers for their mysterious ailments after their National Guard unit's 2003 tour of duty in Iraq. A mother reveals her fears about the extent of her child's birth defects and the growing disability of her young husband – a veteran.
Filmmaker Sue Harris skillfully weaves, through interviews, their journey from personal trauma, to "positive" test results for uranium poisoning, to learning the truth about radioactive Depleted Uranium weapons. Their frustrations in dealing with the Veterans Administration's silence becomes outrage as they realize that thousands of other GI's have the same symptoms. The film mixes interviews with soldiers with commentary by experts such as Dr. Helen Caldicott, Dr. Michio Kaku, and Dr. Rosalie Bertell explaining how DU contamination spreads and how residue from exploded DU shells radiates people.
"Poison Dust" will be shown, with an introduction by Harris, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m., at St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton St. NW). The evening is sponsored by the International Action Center. For more information call 202/232-0057 or send an email to iacenterdc@yahoo.com.
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
