{news} Fw: Important Advocacy Actions for Peace and Social Justice in Connecticut
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From: AFSC Connecticut
To: edubrule at sbcglobal.net
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 6:00 PM
Subject: Important Advocacy Actions for Peace and Social Justice in Connecticut
American Friends Service Committee Connecticut
In This Issue: June 13 2008
. Take ACTION: Ask Congress to Stand by Colombia's Victims of Violence.
. Hartbeat Ensemble: Plays in the Park Series
. June 21: Protest launching of Nuclear Sub U.S.S. New Hampshire
. For Hartford residents: Call City Council & ask them to support immigrant rights
Take ACTION: Ask Congress to Stand by Colombia's Victims of Violence.
Take ACTION: Ask Congress to Stand by Colombia's Victims of Violence.
Last year you encouraged Congress to make many positive changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia and it did! It's time to make that call again. The foreign aid subcommittees in the House and Senate are set to "mark up" their respective bills in mid-July and we must urge them to stand by Colombia's victims of violence and continue to cut military aid.
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 today - or anytime in the next three weeks - to be connected to your representative or senators. When you call, ask to speak to their foreign policy aide. Here is a sample call script:
"I am a constituent calling to encourage Rep./Senator ____________ to ensure that this year's foreign aid bill stands by Colombia's victims of violence. Last year, the Congress moved U.S. policy in the right direction by reducing military aid. Now, reports linking the Colombian military to assassinations of civilians have surfaced. Congress must continue to cut military aid to Colombia. The U.S. can have a positive effect in Colombia if it continues to support those most affected by the conflict. Indigenous and Afro-Colombians are some of the most affected by the humanitarian crisis and we want to encourage you to support them by sharing your concerns with the chair of the foreign operations subcommittee before the aid bill goes to mark up."
Other Talking Points:
Afro-Colombians make up 30% of the 4 million who have already been made homeless by the conflict. In many cases the military working in tandem with paramilitary groups have caused the displacement of entire communities. Today, you can make a difference in this situation by voting to make cuts to U.S. military aid and sharing your concerns with the chair of the foreign operations subcommittee before the aid bill goes to mark up.
High-level corruption is part of a pattern of widespread human rights abuses in Colombia. Today more than 60 members of the Colombian Congress are under investigation for ties to right wing death squads. Former intelligence officer Rafael Garcia, himself imprisoned for his role in covering up the criminal histories of paramilitary leaders, testified that members of the armed forces and government ministries, too, are enmeshed with the illegal militias. Please cut military aid to Colombia and share your concerns with the chair of the foreign operation subcommittee before the bill goes to mark up.
We've already achieved some changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia, but we've got to keep building on our work! Thank you for your help.
www.tradeandwar.org
June 21: Protest launching of Nuclear Sub U.S.S. New Hampshire
Vigil in protest at launching of USS New Hampshire fast attack submarine
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Electric Boat Shipyard
Groton, CT
Protest the endless war and this machine built to wage it.
Meet at Fort Griswold State Park, 9:30 a.m.
March to Main Gate of Electric Boat, 10 a.m.
Directions to Fort Griswold
from the south, I-95, exit 85, Thames Street. Go straight at bottom of exit, through two lights, then second right, Park Avenue, two blocks to Fort Griswold
from the north, I-95, exit 87, Clarence Sharp Highway, follow to Meridian Street intersection, turn right,
follow to Mitchell Street intersection, turn left, then second right, Park Avenue, two blocks to Fort Griswold
Call 203-777-3849 or 860-724-7066 for further information
or email skobasa at snet.net
Nonviolence Guidelines (adapted from the Iraq Pledge of Resistance)
1. Our attitude will be one of openness and respect toward all we encounter in our actions.
2. We will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person.
3. We will not destroy or damage any property. We do nonetheless recognize that certain objects, such as nuclear weapons or other instruments of mass killing, cannot be considered property in any legitimate sense, and we fully support nonviolent actions of Ploughshares activists and others offered in resistance to such instruments or war.
4. We will carry no weapons.
5. We will not bring any drugs or alcohol.
For Hartford residents: Call City Council & ask them to support immigrant rights
We welcome immigrants into our neighborhoods and our workplaces. Generation of immigrants have made Hartford strong and we value our proud immigration heritage.
Let Hartford City Council Members know we want to live in a City of Hope, not a City of Fear. We want Hartford to be safe for everyone.
Ask them to act now to pass a law stating that Hartford city government will not concern itself with immigration status. Immigration laws are federal laws and not the business of our city.
Please call our elected representatives today:
City Council Member Phone Number
All calls are in 860 area code, but Hartford residents only please call.
Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson 757-9575
Assistant Majority Leader James M. Boucher 757-9578
Councilperson Luis E. Cotto 757-9573
Minority Leader Larry Deutsch 757-9577
Councilperson Kenneth Kennedy, Jr. 757-9571
Councilperson Matthew D. Ritter 757-9572
Councilperson Pedro E. Segarra 757-9579
Assistant Majority Leader Calixto Torres 757-9576
Majority Leader R-Jo Winch 757-9574
And join the effort to establish rights
for immigrants in Hartford:
Our next meeting is Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 5:30pm
@ Hartford City Council
For more information on the work of the Hartford Immigrant Rights Coalition please contact any one of these member organizations.
Organizations Involved:
ACORN
860-232-2675
Alianca Brasileira
860-236-0788
American Friend's Service Committee
860-523-1534
Center for
Callaborative Justice
860-692-3066
Connecticut Center for a New Economy
860-280-7320
Hartford Areas Rally Together
860-525-3449
Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice
860-548-1744
National Lawyer's Guild - CT Chapter
860-570-4638
SEIU Local 32bj
860-951-6614
UNITE HERE Local 217
860- 246-2561
Working Families Party
860-523-1699
Hartbeat Ensemble: Plays in the Park Series
free! plays about people and health care
family activities & live music at 4:00 pm
performances begin at 5:00 pm
Bring a picnic or buy food from local vendors!
Visit www.hartbeatensemble.org or call 860.548.9144 for more information.
In case of rain, performances will take place at
Hartford Children's Theater, 360 Farmington Ave.
july 12: pope park
with: Lorena Garay
july 13: goodwin park
with: Mixashawn
july 19: keney park
with: Richard McGee III
july 20: sigourney square
with: Abu and Company
july 26: blue back square
with: Stephen Haynes & Friends
july 27: elizabeth park
with: JUJU
www.hartbeatensemble.org
American Friends Service Committee
Connecticut Area Office
56 Arbor Street, Suite 213
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860.523.1534
Fax: 860.523.1705
Email: connecticut at afsc.org Visit AFSC CT Online
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