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January 12, 2003
Dear LUMC-ACTers,
The Outreach Committee pondered at its meeting this past week how the LUMC should respond to our forced march to war with Iraq. We decided that our efforts must involve the community and not just our congregation, and that we should join in support of a local group already functioning rather than start a new project of our own. Linda Rings and I attended a planning meeting of the Lexington Justice and Peace Committee, headed by Toby Sackton, on Saturday, January 11, and found them busy planning involvement in ten (10) peace events for the remainder of January! Their next planning meeting is to be at the LUMC on Saturday, February 1, at 9:00am. Please feel free to join in! Go to their web site first, www.lexingtonjpc.org, for the best information on local events. They have excellent connections through United for Justice With Peace (www.justicewithpeace.org) with 25 communities around metro Boston, and nationally through United for Peace (www.unitedforpeace.org). Please visit these sites for complete information about local Peace Vigils and the events listed below. Friday, January 17, 7:30pm: The Hyson Forum presents Chuck Turner speaking on The Fight Against Militarism, Racism and Poverty - The Life of Martin Luther King at the Boston Community Church, 565 Boylston St, across from Copley Square. Friday, January 17, 8:00pm: Dance Friday - Dance to World Music, a benefit for AFSC and UJP, at Phillips Congregational Church, (617) 924-3664, 111 Mount Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472 Saturday, January 18, 11am: NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON DC, NO WAR AGAINST IRAQ! ELIMINATE U.S. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. The scenario plan for Washington DC includes an opening rally (11 am) on the West side of the Capitol Building (on the National Mall, at 3rd St. and Constitution Ave. NW). This rally will include representatives from the diverse movements and organizations that oppose the war. Following the rally, we will hold a mass march to the Washington Navy Yard -- a massive military installation located in a working class neighborhood in Southeast Washington DC that parks warships on the Anacostia River. Sponsored by UJP, ANSWER, and Black Voices for Peace. There will also be a similar demonstration in San Francisco and a number of local vigils in support, including a Mass Vigil for all metro-west towns in Watertown Square from 10am to noon. Bus transportation is available from Boston and Manchester. From Boston, the cost is $50, and buses leave 11:30 pm Friday, Jan. 17 from Roxbury Community College Parking Lot (on street parking only) (Roxbury Crossing Orange Line T) return Saturday night/early Sunday morning 617 522-6626. email: ANSWERBoston@iacboston.org. See www.lexingtonjpc.org for more complete details. Sunday, January 19, 12 noon: Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by bringing his message of nonviolence to the White House. A short rally will be followed by a march to the White House and the offering of nonviolent civil disobedience to resist this drive to war. Details on www.lexingtonjpc.org. Sunday, January 19, 2pm: Martin Luther King event in Lexington. March from Battle Green at 2pm. Monday, January 20: Black Voices for Peace Call for Peace and Justice Events on MLK Jr. Holiday. Black Voices for Peace call for Washington, DC national event and local actions/commemorations nationwide on Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday, focusing on organizing for peace, racial and economic justice, and civil rights and liberties. The D.C. national event: "Fulfilling Dr. King's legacy: Organizing against war and militarism, racism, poverty and injustice--a national training workshop and conference for justice and peace." Local actions: BVFP calls on groups around the nation to incorporate a focus on organizing against war and militarism (for peace), racial injustice, and for justice and human needs into planned MLK holiday events and to organize other events with this specific focus. Where for national event: tentatively scheduled at Plymouth Congregational Church, 5301 North Capitol St, Washington, D.C. {There is a lot more to come, but enough for now! Peace, Bill} |