No Government Spying on Whole Populations.
Hands Off Snowden & Manning.
Close Guantanamo NOW.
Through an act of tremendous courage and self-sacrifice,
Edward Snowden has revealed the most massive government spying in
history into the communications and activities of billions of people on
the planet.
If you are outraged by these revelations, by the trampling
on fundamental rights, and by the war crimes being carried out in our
name — you need to be at Cooper Union this Wednesday night.
This
will be an evening of conscience, with speakers and performers. An
evening to deepen understanding of what is going and why… and to
declare that WE MUST RESIST.
We are at a potentially pivotal moment. People are raising
their heads and looking to express their opposition. But the powers
that be are now engaging in high-stakes damage control: to frighten
people into submission and to tell people not to worry, just go along
with “the new normal.” No, we will not be complicit, we do not consent,
we take responsibility to act.
On May 23, World Can’t Wait published the Close Guantanamo NOW message in The New York Times as a full page ad. It says, in part:
“In
the name of safety, fear, or revenge, American presidents cannot be
allowed to arrogate to themselves the power of judge, jury and
executioner. Actions that utilize de facto torture, that run roughshod
over the rule of law and due process, and that rain down terror and
murder on peoples and nations, amount to war crimes.
Such actions cannot in any way be morally justified in the name of
“protecting Americans.” The lives of people living here are not more
precious than any other people's lives.”
History demands that we follow through on this stand. Join us!
The Great Hall at Cooper Union 7 E. 7th Street
Doors Open 7:00 pm; donation requested, all welcome til the hall fills
Performances • New monologue by Mike Daisey, creator of The Agony & Ecstasy of Steve Jobs(download his monologue: Bradley Manning's War) • Excerpts from the play Bradass87 • Ray McGovern, former CIA agent • Special message from Maggie Gyllenhaal
Sponsored by World Can’t Wait (866) 973-4463nyc@worldcantwait.net
Co-sponsored by Continuing Education Department, Cooper Union
Free Bradley Manning NYC Pride Coalition
Granny Peace Brigade
Metro Raging Grannies
Revolution Books
I Stand With Edward Snowden
Stop Mass Incarceration Network Malcolm X Center for Self Determination, Greenville, SC
Doors open 7:00 pm. Donation @ door. No one turned away until hall is filled.
“Go
ahead and laugh at Detroit. Because you are laughing at yourself.”
Charlie
LeDuff: Detroit, An American Autopsy
I am naturally an optimistic person,
however, after the elections of 2012 when most of the small amount of people
who did manage to vote, voted for their oppressors of the Democrat or
Republican Parties, I was feeling a little hopeless. There were at least 25
other candidates to choose from and 98.4 percent the people chose War Party A
or War Party B.
After decades of propaganda and mass
marketing of politics, it seems like the American people have nearly lost the
ability to critically think and see through bullshit and that’s discouraging.
One of the goals of the Tour de Peace
is to encourage others to break free from the chains of partisan politics and re-connect with our
own values. Few people that we have met on this tour have the values of war,
economic oppression and environmental destruction, but they keep voting for
that. People not only vote for people that grossly deviate from their own
principles and essentially hand their power over to scoundrels, murderers, and
crooks. But, on Tour de Peace, I am thrilled to report that we have encountered
communities that are beginning to reject any kind of governmental oppression
and are turning away from it to each other.
We have been in countless of these fine
communities, but I have to think that Detroit is the best example of this. Who
would have thought that in Detroit my fountain of hope would be filled—and this
is not “hope” based on illusion, but reality-based hope.
Recently
(June 7-9), Charles and Sandra Simmons founders of Detroit's Hush House hosted
the Tour de Peace. The Hush House is a “Black History Museum” and community
center in Detroit’s District 8. Charles and Sandra have deep roots in the
community, and, in fact, the grandparents of Charles lived in the house that
has been set up to be this museum and community center. Our team stayed in two
bedrooms upstairs and we were treated to delicious vegan and gluten free
community meals that were catered by locally owned black chefs and caterers. As
soon as we arrived, we instantly felt like valuable and loved members of the
family.
Tour
de Peace left Ann Arbor, MI towards Detroit via Seven Mile Road. Until we hit
Grand River Blvd, the road was lined with McMansions and white suburbia.
Incredibly, we even saw a lawn jockey at the end of one driveway. Seven Mile
Road was mostly wide shoulders and clean roads once we hit Grand Mile, however,
that all changed.
Cycling
down Grand Mile Road was a wonderful experience of life and urban art. We came
across a miracle called the African American Bead Museum and I missed Oakland
where I used to live.
We
spent hours talking to “Baba and Mama” Simmons and other members of the family
about the attack against the poor in Detroit that has been ongoing for decades.
I
think most people understand the Detroit has “problems” but to sit with our
brothers and sisters and hear their stories, that weren’t unique, but systemic was
heartbreaking. Mothers with young children and breathing equipment who can’t
get the Detroit power company to restore electrical and gas power. In the
suburbs, gas and electrical are two different bills, but in Detroit they are
linked and both shut off with any delinquencies.
We
heard of a young mother of three who refused to vacate her home when it was
scheduled for demolition. In Detroit, after a home is condemned, it is often
burned down and entire neighborhoods are often slashed and burned. This mother’s
home was endangered by one such plan of urban “renewal” and she stood fast and
the fire department eventually helped her, but her children had to live with
debris and toxicity and she was forced to sleep in the living room with a gun
on her lap to ward off hostile invaders demanding that she leave.
Naturally,
the much-celebrated “bail-out” of the auto industry was accomplished off the
backs of the workers who were forced to make terrible concessions in order for
the top tier executives to not have to make any significant ones. With
unemployment at 65% the corporate unions are also diabolically quick to sell
out the workers.
The
voters in the city voted down the plan to have an Emergency Manager (EM) who
would co-ordinate massive police state collaboration between the FBI, state,
local, and private security and police forces called Detroit One. However,
governor Rick Snyder and Detroit mayor, Dave Bing, collaborated in some
political hanky-panky to foist it on the embattled citizenry, anyway. Along with
the EAA (Educational Achievement Authority that has long had this EM concept),
Detroit One is bringing the people together to fight it.
We
were told horrific tales of elementary school principals walking around with
baseball bats and chaining young children into their school cafeterias during
lunch in sweatshop conditions that is inviting trouble, not preventing it.
What
gives me hope in the midst of all this blight and oppression generated from
above is that through it all the embattled Detroiters refuse to become embittered.
The oppressed Detroiters refuse to be oppressed and turn toward each other as
they have discovered that the solutions lie in their churches and
neighborhoods, not in WashedUp, DeCeit or Lansing.
There
are almost no fresh food grocery stores in Detroit, so community gardens are
springing up. Children must walk to school past condemned buildings on
sidewalks bounded by weeds higher than them. Elders come out to make sure these
youngsters get back and forth to school safely. Women, wonderful women, are
running for office to be in city government. Some of the abandoned buildings
are being reclaimed for these revolutionary communities of compassion.
I
was profoundly honored to be invited to speak at the Historic King Solomon
church where Malcolm, Martin and the mother of Emmet Till have spoken. For the
leaders of that community to mention my name in the same breath and sentence
was very humbling. I never forget that we stand on the shoulders of giants and
our work must always strive to recognize and honor that.
Tour
de Peace was also welcomed at the Liberty Temple where I spoke during Sunday
services and was so sad for a mother there who had recently buried her son. I
was able to tell her that she would never “get over” it, but with the help of
her community and family, she would get through it. After I spoke, the dynamic
pastor told me that I was a “jewel” and a “gift” to this world. The love and
support extended to us combined with the tales of thrival (new word I coined in
Detroit) are some of the reasons that being in Detroit re-filled my hope tank.
Tour
de Peace was also able to share with the family in Detroit about how the
“great” experiment of the attack on the poor, privatization, and increased austerity is now being
extended into every community we have been in, but now we will also be able to
share with each community that we pass through how Detroiters are learning to
overcome their problems together, in community.
I
am not a huge church person, but when I see believers who are honestly engaged
in the work that is the ideal of Jesus of Nazareth, I don’t have a problem like
I do with the war-loving sects and their hypocrisies.
On
Sunday morning at the Liberty Temple, I was reminded of a song that I sang when
I was a youngster in Sunday school that is exemplified in the people whom we
were with in Detroit, but tragically rejected by most:
“Jesus
loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow; black
and white; they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of
the world.”
When
the struggle is long and hard, it’s very encouraging to be reminded of why we
are in it.
Tour de Peace arrives at the African Bead Art Museum in Detroit
Cindy speaking at the Liberty Temple
Press Conference at The Hush House
Cindy and Mama Sandra touring the neighborhood
Mama Sandra and Cindy
Grace Lee Boggs and Cindy at the Boggs Center
CINDY SPEAKING AT HUSH HOUSE
CINDY SPEAKING AT HISTORIC KING SOLOMON CHURCH
ALL PHOTOS AND VIDEO TAKEN BY DAN LEVY OF DAN LEVY PHOTOGRAPHY
Cindy
Sheehan and Company will be hosted overnight for two nights (6/7 and
6/8 by The Hush House Black Museum and Leadership Training Institute for
Human Rights Family, Dr. Charles Simmons and Rev Sandra Simmons, CEOs
and Directors The
Hush House is located at 6179 Wabash Detroit, Mi 48208 Contact Person
and Lead Coordinator, Ms. Sara Willis of Hush House and Pres. Womens
Aux. Of UAW, Itinerary 6-7-13Friday 6pm Guests, Cindy Sheehan & co., arrive to Detroit, hosted by The Hush House. Upon Arrival, There will be a light Vegan Supper served.
6-8-13Saturday 7am-8am Breakfast (Vegan/Vegetarian choices avail.) at Hush House 9 am Press conference at the Hush House –6179 Wabash Ave., Detroit MI 48208
9:30am Neighborhood Peace Walk to Historic King Solomon Church for
10:00
Cindy Sheehan Addressing National Action Network Weekly Rally (Rev.
Charles Williams, President (Local/State)-Pastor of Historic King
Solomon Bapt. Church
3pm Conversation with Grace Lee Boggs (Transport provided by Rich Feldman, Boggs Center Board Member
4:30pm Arrival at Hush House 5:00pm Dinner for invited guests (Vegan/Vegetarian/Reg.) 6:pm “Whose Peace Is It Anyway?” Round Table Discussions Moderated by Dr. Charles and Mama Sandra Simmons Filming Conversations and Interviews by HYMMM 6-9-13Sunday 7:45 am Cindy Sheehan Addressing Youth Day Celebration Liberty Temple Bapt. Church 17188 Greenfield Rd., Detroit, MI 48235 10am Depart to Toledo, OH Transportation arranged by Mike Ferner (Veterans for Peace)
** I haven’t gotten a confirmation on the time of arrival yet.
Thanks! Be Blessed Today! Sara Willis, Coordinator for the event 586.202.7966 Approved: Mama S. Simmons, HH .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: The Hush House: Sarah Willis
Tour De Peace makes final Michigan stop in Detroit June 8-9 at Hush House
DETROIT –Nationally
renowned anti-militarism activist Cindy Sheehan’s Tour De Peace
cross-country bike ride will stop in Detroit for the final leg of her
Michigan tour June 8-9.
The tour will be hosted locally by The Hush House Black World and
Leadership Training Institute for Human Rights and the Green Party.
Activities will include a press conference on Saturday, June 8 at 9 am at Hush House.That will be followed by Neighborhood Peace Walk at 9:30 amto a peace rally with the National Action Network at the Historic King Solomon Church.
WHO: Tour
De Peace, Hush House Black Community Museum and International
Leadership and Training Institute for Human Rights, Green Party of
Michigan, Boggs Center, National Action Network
WHERE: The Hush House at 6179 Wabash, Detroit, MI 48208
WHEN:Saturday, June 8 at 9 a.m. Press Conference: 9:30 a.m.Neighborhood Peace Walk at 9:30: 10 a.m. Rally with National Action Network: 6 pm ” Panel Discussion: "Whose Peace Is It Anyway? Detroiter's History of Survival"
The
theme of the Tour De Peace is “The Road Less Taken.” The goal is to
rally grassroots support to call on President Barack Obama and national
leaders to end U.S. wars, end U.S. immunity for war crimes, end
suppression of civil rights, end the use of fossil fuels, end
persecution of whistle blowers and end partisan apathy and inaction in
the U.S. Congress.
Following
the death of her son, Army Specialist Casey Sheehan during the Iraq War
in 2005, Sheehan gained national recognition for Camp Casey outside
then-President George Bush’s ranch in Texas. She has since gone on to
run for a California congressional seat in 2008 and as a Vice
Presidential candidate on the Freedom and Peace Party ticket in 2012.
The Tour de Peace began in Vacaville, California on the April 4
anniversary of Sheehan’s death. It has since through traveled seven
states stopping in cities like Sacramento, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Tulsa,
St. Louis and Chicago. In Michigan, the tour visited Kalamazoo and Ann
Arbor en route to Detroit. The tour will conclude July 3 with a press conference at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
In
Detroit, the Hush House and the Green Party link “The Road Less Taken”
to the ongoing struggles for serious alternatives to the offshoring of
the auto industry; the plans of the bankers and Emergency Managers to
privatize Detroit’s resources to benefit financial investors; and the
dismantling of public education through the Educational Achievement
Authority (EAA).
