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).
Monday, July 31, 2006
Film Documents AIDS Activism as History in the Making
"Pills Profits Protest" – a documentary about global AIDS treatment activism – examines the national and international grassroots response to an epidemic that has already overshadowed the Black Death in terms of human lives lost. The demand for access to affordable treatment for 40 million people living with HIV, most of whom live in poor countries, represents one of the most successful political movements of contemporary history.
At the heart of this documentary are some thorny questions: Can the world afford universal HIV treatment? At what cost? What will be the global cost if we fail to treat and save 40 million people now? Pills, profits and protest, the three thematic touchstones of the film, each reflects an important aspect of the current battle. Behind this movement are people, personalities and lives. The film weaves their personal stories with a larger chronicle of history-in-the-making.
Different Avenues is a DC-based non-profit that provides services to homeless youth, most of whom are queer. The group is joining together with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers – a Florida-based organization largely made up of Latino, Haitian and Mayan immigrant farm workers advocating for themselves and their communities – for a fundraising film series.
The film series will explore issues important to both groups: the prison system and criminal injustice, people of color struggles, religious fundamentalism, and queer identity and explorations of gender. This week, you can see a double-feature: "Jesus Camp" and "Jonestown: The Life and Death of the Peoples Temple." The series is free and open to the public, but a $5 donation is being asked from all who can afford it.
When: Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m. Where: 1361 Monroe St. NW More Info: rasdestroyer@30gigs.com
Displacement, Diversity and Development: Our Place in Changing Neighborhoods
Parts of the District have undergone rapid change in recent years, and some areas have experienced a dramatic influx of new residents. Less obvious are those who have chosen or been forced to leave, and the conflicts – over restaurant/bar zoning, "zero tolerance" policing, affordable housing and homeless shelters – that often erupt between neighbors or alongside new development.
Come hear from longtime community activists who will share their perspectives on the forces behind the changing human geography of the District and what conscientious residents can do to stay informed and contribute to preserving real diversity in our neighborhoods. The panel will be followed by an audience discussion. Childcare will be provided by the DC Childcare Collective; please contact willisa@gmail.com or 202/277-5262 if you will be needing childcare.
When: Tuesday, July 25, at 7 p.m. Where: La Casa (3166 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, Columbia Heights Metro)
If you'd rather focus on national issues Friday night, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), America's leading group of constitutional scholarship and activism, has developed a legal case for the impeachment of George W. Bush.
Now, in collaboration with Melville House Books and citizens across the United States, CCR is sponsoring a "National Teach-In." Here in Washington, the 30-minute, CCR-produced documentary "How to Impeach a President" will be screened, followed by a discussion with David Swanson and Steve Cobble, co-founders of AfterDowningStreet.org; Jamie Raskin, professor of constitutional law at The American University; Gael Murphy, co-founder of Code Pink: Women for Peace; and Andy Shallal, founder of Iraqi Americans for Peaceful Alternatives. A special guest will be online impeachment leader Kagro X, who will reveal his offline identity.
If you have a broadband connection, you can watch a 3 minute excerpt from "How to Impeach a President" below.
When: July 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Where: Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St. NW) More Info: David Swanson at 202/329-7847, www.articlesofimpeachment.net
Stop by and show your support for the Troops Home Fast. Codepink has been fasting in front of the White House since the fourth of July and will be there every day until August 15.
When: Public fasting: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., teach-ins, skills sharing and group activities: 5 to 7 p.m. Where: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW More Info: dc@codepinkalert.org.
The Community Coalition for Justice and Peace and the US Social Forum Organizing Committee of Washington, DC, invite you to an important discussion, "Movement Building in Washington, DC: What Will It Take and How Do We Move Forward?"
When: Tuesday, July 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. Where: St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton St. NW; dining room, lower level) More Info: Ilana Solomon at 202/835-1240 or ilana.solomon@actionaid.org
If you missed it last time at the E Street Cinema, the critically acclaimed documentary "Sir! No Sir!" will open this year's Foreign Policy in Focus Summer Film Series. "Sir! No Sir!" reveals the untold story of the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam. A discussion with a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War will follow the screening. This event is sponsored by Foreign Policy in Focus and the Institute for Policy Studies and is free and open to the public.
When: Tuesday, July 18, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Where: Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St. NW) More Info: 202/234-9382
Everyone is invited to a community action forum on the human and civil right to education in DC, with music, poetry, role playing by young artists and local activist groups, and Internet publishing training. The event is sponsored by the Plymouth Congregational Church Community Action Committee and the Peoples Media Center, a grassroots community center that seeks to empower oppressed and disenfranchised people in the Washington metro area through media production, education and civic services.
When: Saturday, July 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: People's Media Center at Café Alfishawy (4132 Georgia Ave. NW, 3 blocks north of the Petworth Metro)
George Bush's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is getting ready to deal a serious blow to workers' rights -- and you can help stop it. The NLRB is considering adopting new rules that would classify several broad categories of workers -- nurses, scientists, cooks, security guards and others -- as "supervisors" rather than workers. This would prevent them from being able to participate in their unions. According to a new study, this radical change would strip up to 8 million working people of their right to organize in the workplace.
Scores of union members will rally at the NLRB's headquarters to let the agency know that working people are watching as it make its decision. You can help by joining the rally. The greater the participation, the stronger the message we'll send together to the NLRB.
The Sparkle Kids Action Network presents the Chorus of Crayons Tour 2006, a four-week journey throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Canada by this troupe of independent thinkers, songwriters, artists and activists – in a converted 1987 veggie-diesel Mercedes.
Jacinta Bunnell, Michael Truckpile, Julie Novak and Dave End deal creatively with the themes of gender, politics, queer issues, and work and play.
The group makes quite a scene. Don't miss them when they come to DC for a night of gender-defying coloring book-making workshops, homespun entertainment from three solo acoustic troubadours, and fun and prizes.
When: Wednesday, July 12: DIY bookmaking at 7 p.m.; music at 8 p.m. Where: Brian MacKenzie Infoshop (1426 Ninth St. NW) More Info: www.girlsnotchicks.com/skan
Shelters are Not Surplus Property and the Homeless are Not Surplus People
The Franklin School property needs to be renovated to benefit its residents, not to subsidize a wealthy developer. Councilmember Jack Evans believes that the Franklin School property is too valuable to be used for an emergency shelter for the homeless. Indeed, the building is assessed at $10.3 million. Yet a 29-year lease has been signed with Western Development Corporation (WDC) to turn the shelter into a hotel at a rental rate of $9.76 per square foot: this is less than 25% of the average rate of $44.56 per square foot in this area of the city.
Why is Evans willing to subsidize a wealthy developer but unwilling to invest in District residents who work, pay taxes and vote? Herb Miller, the developer and managing member of WDC, used to be his neighbor. Since the councilmember doesn't know the shelter residents as well as he knows Miller, he may not know that about two-thirds of the 275 Franklin residents work. Many of them earn as little as $30 to $40 per day, and they spend their wages inside the District, benefiting local businesses and contributing to the city's tax base.
Efforts to revitalize the city have left behind many of the Franklin residents. If Evans met with them, he would find that they are the ones who are underutilized, not the rundown building that houses them. He would recognize the value of supporting investment in these people through redeveloping the property and providing services within the facility, including credit counseling and skills enhancement. The Franklin Shelter could provide a model for the entire country to follow, instead of becoming the third shelter in four years to be shut down, forcing more residents to sleep in downtown streets and doorways.
Call, email, fax or write Councilmember Jack Evans: Tell him to support investment in Franklin Shelter!
Jack Evans 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Room 106 Washington, DC 20004 Phone: 202/724-8058 Fax: 202/724-8023 email: jackevans@dccouncil.us
Show your support at a rally and march with the residents of the Franklin Shelter!
When: Tuesday, July 11, at 8:30 a.m. Where: Meet at 13th and K Streets NW; march to the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) for a 9 a.m. rally More Info: savefranklinshelter@yahoo.com
Africa Action is hosting a summer film series focused on HIV/AIDS in Africa. Films will be shown every other Thursday, followed by a speaker, and are free. The series, which will take place around D.C., offers an opportunity to watch critical films and hear from speakers who are leading the fight against HIV/AIDS.
It starts off this week with guest speakers Folabi Olagbaju from Amnesty International and Marsha Coleman Adebayo from the International AIDS network.
When: Thursday, July 6, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Where: Center of Concern (1225 Otis St. NE, Brookland Metro) More Info: 202/546-7961
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
