Meeting notes for People for Peace, Justice, and Healing
October 29, 2005
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing met at 10:00 a.m. at Associated Ministries, 1224 South "I" St., Tacoma, on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. Present for check-in: Sharon, Arthur, Catherine, Vivi, Scott, Mark, Sara, Laura.
AGENDA
1. 13th Annual Northwest Regional International Day of Solidarity with Leonard
Peltier -- March & Rally for Justice, Sat., Feb. 4, 2006 (Arthur).
On Sat., Feb. 4, 2006, there will be a march for justice starting from Portland Ave.
Park (on Portland Ave. between E. 35th and E. Fairbanks Ave.) at 12:00 noon and a 1:00
p.m. rally for justice at the U.S. Federal Court House at 1717 Pacific Ave.,
Tacoma. PPJH agrees once again to prepare and serve a meal for the marchers,
as we did on Feb. 5, 2005. (This year, Arthur says, a youth group called 'The
United Nations' will have the stage; Arthur considers that their participation
makes this year's event even more significant in building the future of the
movement for social justice.) We will contact First United Methodist Church to
verify availability of the church's kitchen and basement on Feb. 4, 2006. -- Arthur
again expressed appreciation to PPJH for past support and said the group's support
has been helpful in opening doors in the community. -- For more information on
the march and rally, contact Tacoma-lpsg@ojibwe.us or bayou@blarg.net and for
updates and notices on helping Leonard Peltier, please sign up on the NW Peltier
Support e-mail list by sending an e-mail
to nwpeltiersupport-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. -- For background on Leonard
Peltier, see www.freepeltier.org/ as
well as the films Michael Apted's
"Incident at Ogala" (1992)
(narrated by
Robert Redford), Frank Pierson's "Lakota
Woman"
(1994); see also, for deeper background, "Broken
Rainbow," a documentary
film made by Maria Florio and Victoria Mudd in 1985 about, in New York Times
reviewer Walter Sullivan's words, the "long history of injustice and neglect on the part of a
U.S. bureaucracy that seems only to respond to public pressure in correcting its
transgressions."
2. "In This Life" (Scott)
Scott played as a tribute to PPJH an ineffable song entitled "In This Life,"
by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
(1959-1997) from his 1996 album "In Dis Life." (Thank you!)
3. Conversation Cafe (Mark)
Good discussion last week. Question the next conversation cafe, to be held at the
Mandolin Cafe, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, on Tues., Nov. 1, at 7:00 p.m.: "Who says
so?" Either Ted or Karen are to moderate.
4. Progressive Roundtable (Laura)
The Progressive Roundtable is a forum for progressive activists in the area that meets
on fourth Fridays at 7:00 a.m. at Shakhabra Cafe. Report on the Oct. 28 meeting.
5. Possibility of making a video of Arthur talking about Leonard Peltier (Vivi)
Catherine will try to follow up on her idea of making a video of Arthur Miller talking
about Leonard Peltier and the movement supporting him.
6. UFPPC delegation to speak to Adam Smith's staff on U.S. torture policy (Mark)
On Tues., Nov. 1, at 3:00 p.m., a small delegation from United for Peace of Pierce
County will meet with Sean Egan of Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA 9) at Smith's offices at 3600
Port of Tacoma Rd. UFPPC has adopted a number of statements on the matter, most recently
on Oct. 20. Discussion of how to
address legislators.
7. Sgt. Kevin Benderman (Mark)
Kevin Benderman is a U.S. Army sergeant who was convicted this summer of “missing a
movement” when he refused to redeploy for a second tour in Iraq after having filed for
conscientious objector status. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and given a
dishonorable discharge; he is now being held in the Fort Lewis stockade. David Lynn, a
local activist, has written that Benderman was recently set up on a bogus assault charge
and there is growing concern about the mistreatment to which he is being exposed.
Discussion of the need to bring his case to the attention of members of Congress. For
more on the case, see here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. The Jobs with Justice 2005 Honoree Dinner and Silent Auction will be held at SeaTac DoubleTree Hotel on Sat., Oct. 29, 2005, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This year's honorees are: Father Bill Bichsel; Federal Workers and their unions (American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and Bremerton Metal Trades Council; and the Washinigton STate Legislature's Labor Caucus. Dinner seating is $45 ($50 after Oct. 22). RSVP by calling Erica at the JwJ office, 206-441-4969. (Laura)
2. Tom Rawson will perform a benefit concert for an interfaith camp for local children now being planned for next summer; the concert is at the Antique Sandwich Company at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 5, 2005. Tickets are available for a minimum donation of $10; call 253-383-3056 ext. 106 for more information; see also http://www.tomrawson.com. From the flyer: "Join Tom for some humorous stories, user-friendly songs, and acoustic folk philosophy that's guaranteed to leave you smiling. Armed with a long-necked banjo and other weapons of mass delight, Tom will have you singing along in no time. Tune up your vocal chords -- you'll need 'em!" (Mark)
3. On Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:00 p.m., United for Peace of Pierce County will continue Digging Deeper XI: The Road to Abu Ghraib, a study circle, at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA. Three books will be read, shared, and discussed: Mark Danner, *Torture and Truth: America, Abu Ghraib, and the War on Terror* (New York Review Books, 2004); Seymour Hersh, *Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib* (HarperCollins, 2004; paper, HarperPerennial, 2005); Karen Greenberg & Joshua Dratel, eds., *The Torture Papers: The Road to Abu Ghraib* (Cambridge University Press, 2005); books are available for borrowing or purchase. Goal: to address the question, "How are we to understand the willingness of the United States Government to embrace the use of torture?" Books available for borrowing or purchase. Call Mark Jensen at 253-756-7519. (Mark)
Respectfully,
Mark