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).
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier is once again organizing a holiday gift drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Lakota Nation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge is one of the most impoverished areas in the United States, and this is one way Peltier continues his humanitarian work for his people despite his 30-year incarceration. Help him reach out beyond the bars that imprison him. The gift drive helps not only the children and families, but also Leonard himself, keeping his spirit strong through the difficult holiday season.
"The Lakota People have four values to live by: bravery, wisdom, generosity, and fortitude. Generosity (Wacantognaka) is essential to a Lakota. It is better to give a lot than to have a lot. The best way to honor people is through giveaways (otuhan) where the givers share much of what they have with others, sometimes giving away everything in their possession." – Leonard Peltier
The Brian MacKenzie Infoshop (1426 9th St. NW, Mt. Vernon Square or Shaw/Howard Metro) will be collecting items to help support Peltier's efforts. Until Dec. 3, you can drop off donations of gifts, such as new and used toys and winter clothing, at the Infoshop. The gifts will be shipped to Pine Ridge in Peltier's name. Gifts can be dropped off anytime during normal Infoshop hours: Monday through Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.
You can also send gifts directly to the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, for shipment to Pine Ridge:
Leonard Peltier Holiday Gift Drive c/o Dean Cook 1161 Co. Rd 900 E. Champaign, IL 61822
The House budget cut of $50 billion will affect immigrants, including those who are legally in the United States. In fact, according to the Washington Post (Nov. 3, 2005), this bill will "cut tens of thousands of legal immigrants off food stamps" and other programs. "Those immigrants would lose their benefits because the House measure would require legal immigrants to live in the United States for seven years before becoming eligible to receive food stamps, rather than the five years."
To learn more, join a frank and open discussion at a workshop with immigration lawyer Jonathan Blazer. This event is sponsored by the DC office of American Friends Service Committee, a non-profit Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. Where: American Friends Service Committee DC Office (2211 14th St. NW, U Street/Cardozo Metro) More Info: Peta Ikambana at 202/299-1050
Despite the sentiment, I love this weekend. To me, this is a groovy four days away from work, an opportunity to cook some of my favorite food (hickory smoked turkey, oyster dressing), and the mark of another year on earth as my birthday always falls on or adjacent to Thanksgiving weekend. I call it "birthday festival weekend."
OK, I'm outta here. I still need to get five loaves of French bread and three quarts of oysters. Check out some of the links below to some of my favorite Thanksgiving surfing. Have a fun weekend, and see you next week.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington (GLAA) is the nation's oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization. GLAA was founded in 1971 to advance the equal rights of gay men and lesbians in Washington, DC, and is an all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization. The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. These meetings are open to the public and visitors are welcome.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. Where: Charles Sumner School (17th and M Streets NW, Farragut North Metro) More Info: 202/667-5139 or equal@glaa.org
The winner of the 2004 Next Generation Playwrights' Contest, Lisa Voss, has a new play that's opened in Washington. Presented by the Venus Theatre Company, "A Little Rebellion Now" is about DC statehood activists who form an uneasy alliance with IMF-World Bank protestors and attempt to secede from the Union. Branded as "terrorists," the rebels soon find themselves facing down armed US soldiers but resolve to stand their ground, asking the rest of the nation, Without the right to rebel, are we really free?
Empower DC started a People's Property Campaign (see DC Metro Action from Aug. 9, 2005) to provide some citizen oversight of the sale of public property to the highest bidder. The group believes that unused schools should be made into community resources, not high-priced condos.
You can join in at the next meeting as Empower DC continues to build a strong, citywide coalition of organizations and individuals who are saying "Our City Is NOT for Sale!"
When: Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Third District Station (1644 V St. NW) More Info: RSVP Parisa at parisa@empowerdc.org or 202/234-9119. Photo: Converted historic schoolhouse (circa 1903) at 440 12th St. NE, now the Lovejoy Lofts
I like this campaign. And while Washington doesn't yet have a Wal-Mart within city limits, other big boxes are here. But I particularly dislike Wal-Mart because of its heavy-handed union-busting, unaffordable employee health insurance, low promotion ceilings for women, illegal use of illegal aliens, unsafe working conditions, forced unpaid overtime and the exploitation of workers overseas. I am not willing to accept low prices at these costs.
Last month I posted about the campaign by the Organic Consumers Association, Breaking the Chains: Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Made, which started on Sunday, Nov. 13. This week, the film "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Prices" premiers. It's a feature-length documentary that uncovers the retail giant's assault on families and American values.
Starting Tuesday, Nov. 15, the film will be screened at more than 7,000 locations – this is 7,000 people who have bought the DVD and are hosting a house party, opening a conference room, or renting a back room somewhere and inviting others to join them for a screening. The filmmakers couldn't get a distribution deal, so props to them for this achievement. This is guerilla organizing at its best.
Of the nearly 50 screenings in the DC area, two stand out:
Who: Virginia Grassroots Coalition When: Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Where:Capitol City Brewing (2700 S. Quincy St., Arlington, 703/578-3888
Turn 7 Off is a site put up by workers at Channels 7 and 8 and WJLA as they struggle to negotiate with their rightwing broadcaster. They have been working without an agreement since Jan. 31, 2005. The owner, Robert Allbritton, has refused to extend our contract. Unfortunately this employer does not have a good track record in dealing with its workers. The previous contract talks lasted seven years, forcing employees to lose cost-of-living and 401K increases during that time. The loss to employees of ABC7-WJLA/NewsChannel 8 amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On Oct. 26, 2001, the USA Patriot Act became law. Four years later, what is the state of civil rights and civil liberties in the United States? Come to an A.N.S.W.E.R. Educational Forum to hear expert analysis and participate in a discussion on this issue. The featured speaker will be Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a civil rights attorney with the Partnership for Civil Justice.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. Where: 1247 E St. SE (Potomac Avenue Metro) More Info: 202/544-3389 or dc@internationalanswer.org
Arlington Independent Media (AIM) will premiere the film "Operation Ceasefire," which documents the anti-war concert and protest of the same name, held on the National Mall on Sept. 24 this year.
Featured musical performers include Thievery Corporation, Joan Baez, Steve Earle, Bouncing Souls, Le Tigre, The Evens, Ted Leo + Pharmacists, Wayne Kramer and the Bellrays, Living Things, Head Roc and The Coup. The documentary also includes interviews with and speeches by the Rev. Jesse Jackson; California Democratic Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters; Cindy Sheehan, co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace; national radio commentator Jim Hightower; Washington Wizards forward Etan Thomas; former State Department Officer Ann Wright; investigative journalist Greg Palast; and others.
AIM is a non-profit membership organization that provides the community with television production training workshops, professional production facilities, and Channel 69, the Arlington County public access cable channel. The screening is a benefit for the non-profit United for Peace and Justice, one of the co-sponsors of the September event.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Where: Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703/486-2345) More Info: Brian Long at 703/524-2388 or brian.c.long@gmail.com
Critical Mass DC holds a bike ride on the first Friday of every month. The group goes on a nice, calm bike ride through the streets of Washington, DC, showing residents what the streets would look like if more people rode bikes. Join in because riding your bike is healthier, more sustainable, builds better communities and is lots of fun!
Tomorrow, Nov. 2, is the one-year anniversary of Bush's "re-election" and will serve as notice to the beginning of the end of the Bush regime. The goal is not simply a few protests in DC, but a nationwide movement with 180 cities participating in actions. For more information, log on at www.worldcantwait.org.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. Where:Lafayette Park More Info:dc@worldcantwait.org
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
