Indy Peace/Justice Events for this week
Tuesday, November 1st
[Muncie: BSU] Feminists for Action will meet at 6:00 pm in the Burkhardt building Room #220. For more info, email feministsforaction@gmail.com.
[Franklin] A Search for Meaning in an Age of Terror: Monastic Reflections on 9/11 – A Conversation on Peace Be With You by Dr. David Carlson. The event will begin at 7:00pm in Richardson Chapel at Franklin College. For more info, contact Habibe Ali at 317-839-8157 ext. 824 or email habibe@isna.net
[Muncie: BSU] Free the Slaves will meet at 9:00 pm in Bracken Library Room #301. For more info, email cloutcalt@bsu.edu.
Wednesday, November 2nd
Bread for the World (downtown) will hold its monthly lunch meeting at 11:30 am at Downtown Bazbeaux Pizza, 334 Mass. Ave. For more info, email Dave Miner at dminer145@aol.com.
[Bloomington] Bloomington Peace Action Coalition’s monthly Peace Demonstration on the Square takes place, 5-6:00 pm, at Monroe County Courthouse Square at the intersection of Kirkwood Ave. and Walnut. For more info, email Timothy Baer at timothybaer2003@hotmail.com
Thursday, November 3rd
The NAACP will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 pm on the second floor of the Julia Carson Government Center, 300 E. Fall Creek Blvd. For more info, contact Chrystal Ratcliffe at celliott@indynaacp.org.
Friday, November 4th
The Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network will hold its monthly meeting over breakfast at 8:00 am at the Urban League, 777 Indiana Ave., sponsored by the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. For more info, phone 317-327-3625.
Women in Black will gather at 11:30 am at Monument Circle. WIB stand together to call for the end of the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and to mourn both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost. For more info, email Judy King at timothy_a_king@hotmail.com.
[Bloomington/Monroe County] Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold an important meeting regarding whether to proceed with the building of I-69 through Monroe County. This meeting will begin at 1:30 pm at the City of Bloomington Showers Complex, Council Chambers 401 N. Morton St. For more information call: 812-825-9555 or email carr@bluemarble.net
The weekly vigil protesting warfare will take place, 4:30-5:30 pm, in front of the Federal Building, North and Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Bring an appropriate sign or we will provide you with one. For more info, phone Gilbert Kuhn at 317-926-3068 or email Ron Haldeman at ronjane@igc.org
Saturday, November 5th
Community, Faith and Labor Coalition will meet at 10:00 am at the Unleavened Bread Cafe, E. 30 and Central. For more info, email Nancy Holle at nancyholle@communityfaithlabor.org. Or phone John Gibson at 525-1856 or Jay Carrigan at 317-283-2273.
Annual Alternative Christmas Fair will take place from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm at Northview Church of the Brethren 5555 East 46th Street. Shop with Principle, Purpose, Pleasure. Delicious lunch will be served from 11:30-1:30, Freewill donations for lunch will benefit but not required. For more info, please call 317-547-7293 or visit: http://tinyurl.com/4xxb2gu
[Fort Wayne] There will be a Peace Rally, 12-1:00 pm at Allen County Courthouse Green, Main and Clinton, sponsored by Fort Wayne Peace Action. For more info, visit fwagitator.org or phone Tim Tiernon at 260-478-9106
[Nashville] There will be a Peace Vigil on the theme “War Is Not the Answer!” at 6:00 pm at Brown County Courthouse, Main and Van Buren Streets sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Brown County branch). For more info, contact Tom Hougham at 317-878-4210 or annntom@hotmail.com.
Monday, November 6th
[Muncie: BSU] OXFAM America meets weekly at 5:30 pm in the Whitinger Business Building Room #140. For more info, email oxfambsu@gmail.com
[Muncie: BSU] The Social Justice League will meet at 6:00 pm in the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, 310 N. McKinley Ave. For more info, email sjl@bsu.edu<mailto:sjl@bsu.edu
If your organization has a Peace / Justice related event in the Indianapolis area that you would like us to publicize; send an email to Jim Wolfe at jwolfe@uindy.edu and/or K.A. Lamm at teneothyvox@gmail.com. PLEASE provide contact information for the public and preface the subject line with [pjf] so that we will notice it easily.
PEACE!
Kristy
Happenings this week October 25 – 31
We invite you to join us for our fall fund-raising phone-a-thon on Mon, Tues and Wed. Oct. 24-26, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, at our IPJC office at Earth House (237 N. East). We are in need of additional volunteers. You can sign up with Lindy Stafford at melinda_stafford@sbcglobal.net (or just show up). You will be supplied with a calling list and a script. Bring your cell phone.
Tuesday, October 25
[Muncie: BSU] Free the Slaves meets at 9:00 pm in Bracken Library Room #301. For more info, email cloutcalt@bsu.edu.
[Muncie: BSU] Feminists for Action will meet at 6:00 pm in the Burkhardt building Room #220. For more info, email feministsforaction@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 26
Indiana State AFL-CIO asks for your support for a final time at 9:00 a.m. in the State Senate Chambers when The Indiana General Assembly meets on Interim Committee on Employment, on right to work and banning project labor agreements. It is expected the committee will vote and make its final recommendations to the General Assembly at this hearing.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will begin hearings at 9:30 a.m. in Room 222 of the PNC Center, 101 W. Washington St. on Duke Energy’s request to charge its customers $530 million more to pay for the $3 billion coal-gasification power plant it is building in Edwardsport. They are expected to continue for at least two weeks and probably longer. If you can show up on any day of the hearings, between 9:00 to 5:00 p.m., you will help send a message that Indiana should stop burning coal and start promoting clean, renewable sources of energy. For more info, visit: hoosier.sierraclub.org
Thursday, October 27
Christians for Peace & Justice in the Middle East will meet at 6:00 pm at the home of Dottie Gerner. Bring a sandwich. For more info or directions, phone Dottie Gerner at 283-7175.
The Food Stamp Challenge Kick-Off will begin at 7:00pm in the Krannert Room at the Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42 with a screening of the film “Food Stamped“For more information about the conference please contact Charlie at charlie@centerforinterfaithcooperation.org
Friday, October 28
Muslim Alliance of Indiana is hosting its annual Interfaith Luncheon on at the Hilton Hotel downtown, Ohio and Meridian from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm. For more info, email Shariq Siddiqui at siddiquisa@gmail.com.
The weekly vigil protesting warfare will take place, 4:30-5:30 pm, in front of the Federal Building, North and Pennsylvania sponsored by the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Bring an appropriate sign or have one provided. For more info, phone Gilbert Kuhn at 926-3068 or email Ron Haldeman at ronjane@igc.org
Saturday, October 29
[Nashville] There will be a Peace Vigil on the theme “War Is Not The Answer!” at 6:00 pm at Brown County Courthouse, Main and Van Buren Streets sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Brown County branch). For more info, contact Tom Hougham at 878-4210 or annntom@hotmail.com.
Monday, October 31
[Muncie: BSU] OXFAM America meets at 5:30 pm in the Whitinger Business Building Room #140. For more info, email oxfambsu@gmail.com
Peace! Kristy
The American Death Penalty – Video worth checking out
By: Kristy Angeline Lamm
The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center is committed to providing information that will educate and motivate our community to take action for a more peaceful and just world. One of the many issues that our network organizations advocate is the unjust nature of the current American Death Penalty.
I believe that it is absolutely impossible for our jurisprudence system, comprised completely of people, to be absolutely right or fair in every instance; we are all fallible human beings. With that said, it is also worth exploring whether the death penalty should be used in any instance in a so-called civilized country such as ours. Should our Government acting on behalf “of the people” have the authority to premeditatedly put an American human being to death? Putting aside the obvious misery caused to innocent Americans by criminals who should without a doubt be punished; the question remains: should “we the people” continue the state sponsored practice of “an eye for and eye”?
This important issue garnered significant attention when Troy Davis was executed but it has since virtually disappeared from main stream media. On September 22, 2011 Lawrence O’Donnell discussed the American Death Penalty in a different light, with different questions that are worth thinking about. I hope that you will take a moment to check this video out, it is well worth it.
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” – Gandhi (Mahatma), Mahadev Haribhai Desai, (1957), The Story of My Experiments with Truth; Beacon Press
http://thelastword.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/22/7908814-rewriting-the-american-death-penalty
Peace and Justice Events for October 18, 2011
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[Muncie: BSU] Free the Slaves meets at 9:00 pm in Bracken Library Room #301. For more info, email cloutcalt@bsu.edu.
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[Muncie: BSU] Feminists for Action will meet at 6:00 pm in the Burkhardt building Room #220. For more info email feministsforaction@gmail.com.
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The BREAD/North chapter of Bread for the World will meet at 6:00 pm at the MCL, 2121 E. 62. For more info, contact Roger Howard at 431-5071 or Roger@RogerHoward.com.
- A meeting of Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center (IPJC: Yep that’s usJ) will occur tonight at 7:00 pm at Earth House, 237 N. East. Agenda items for the meeting will include: office
relocation update, the movement year end issue and website/blog,
bylaws discussion. For more info, contact the Pres., Dave Scott at indydisciple@gmail.com or 460-7940.
Slave Image Brings Citizens out – Part 2 w/ Speech Excerpts
By: David Scott
The response, to the Glick Foundation’s Cultural Trail intentions of erecting an image of an African Slave, partially, duplicated from the image on the west side of the Monument on the Circle, named E Pluribus Unum, created by New York African-American artist, Fred Wilson, has been mixed and murky. As controversial as this issue is, given the state of Indiana’s racial past, community awareness has been slow in developing. Protesters of this public display harbor notions of why the reaction from the community has been delayed. Donna Stokes-Lucas, a community organizer of Community Against Slave Image, C.A.S.I. contends,” There were promises made, by The Central Indiana Community Foundation, CICF, with regard to the Cultural Trail, that community discussions and dialogue would be scheduled. They weren’t delivered, early enough in the process. Even national art critics, who view this image as the most important art piece in the country, concur that C.I.C.F. mishandled the marketing of this display, poorly.”
There are those who respond to this exclusion at the decision-making table, for the African American community, as the art community desiring to give an inanimate object a voice, while refusing to listen to the living descendants. This perpetuates wrong definitions and misrepresents historical culture. The inherent difficulties in dealing with history and people of color derive from the intentional exclusion of this necessary part of American History in school text books. This reality causes even the most educated people of color to be at a disadvantage, when it comes to slave history and its implications, imperceptibly accomplished by lack of exposure to the composite knowledge of their people.
On August 21, 2011, The Indy Star ran a column in the Conversation section, written by Carlton M. Waterhouse, University of Indiana, associate professor and dean’s fellow, where he states,” ..But why should I or anyone be ashamed of the millions of enslaved Africans who made the United States of America possible?” Since the image in question doesn’t acknowledge being a pillar of American society, these comment set off a fire storm in the African American community. Waterhouse has since sought to clarify his comments to oppose the image.
Yet, this is not just a racial, pivoting point. The awful history, on which the state of Indiana rests, has an opportunity to be properly addressed and overcome. C.A.S.I. held a protest on July 30, 2011, on the south steps of the State House Building. Even though attendance was fair yet, the racial diversity of the speakers was evident. This image can become a mean-spirited precedent. Stokes-Lucas continues,” Should commissioned artists be allowed to display anything, anywhere, even on public property? The slave image would be more appropriate on the acreage of Indiana Museum of Art, where private discussion and appreciation is expected. “As this debate continues, more of the community voice is needed and can be included at: http://www.wix.com/1slave_enough/inindy.
Indiana is allowed to pursue a renewed image of it to display to the world. May the archives of American History, not include, comedian, Jeff Foxworthy joking about Indiana, saying,” You know your state is Redneck if: It’s 1st image erected on public property, dedicated to the African American Community is a slave statue. Go Big Red!” Not funny at all!
Excerpts of I.P.J.C. President David Scott Speech at C.A.S.I. Protest:
“…I concur with all of the previous comments from our distinguished speakers that this statue has the ability to demean, denigrate and diminish the honor and accomplishments of people of color as well as set race relations in Indianapolis back 100 years…If my recollection of history serves me correctly, the African slave wasn’t the lone participant in the godless melodrama of the founding of our nation, through slavery. Upon extensive, personal reflection, the only exception, where this, mind-poisoning, depiction should be allowed on public property, is if it is accompanied by images of the other significant players, who participated in slavery’s perpetuation.
So, we have to have an image of Massa Charlie, with a bible in one hand and a whipping stick in the other, used to brutalize slaves into submission…An image of Willie Lynch, with pamphlets in hand, peddling his system of abuse, to plantation owners, where they would take the biggest and strongest African male and rip him to pieces in front of the others, to humble the community. He even guaranteed that, if done right, the affects would last 300 years…There needs to be an image of George Washington, who said,” Free my slaves? Over my dead body!”…We need a statue of honest Abe Lincoln, who agreed the Africans were three-fifths human and never his social equal…
To Read Part One Click here: https://indypeaceandjustice.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/indy-slave-image-brings-citizens-out-part-1/
Indy Slave Image Brings Citizen’s Out, Part 1
By: David Scott
It is the year 2011 and slavery is still an issue in our city. This time, though, it doesn’t involve the, actual, deprivation of American rights and human dignity towards African people, brought to this land of freedom against their will, in order to provide free-labor in building the infrastructure of this nation, that has since, celebrated global supremacy and boundless prosperity. No, this conflict, isn’t the brutal, physical abuse, senseless torture and inhumane annihilation inflicted upon countless victims, which were trapped in the godless American institution called slavery. This current issue involves a replica of the slave image attached to the Monument Circle, artistic, rendering that was chosen to be placed by the Glick Foundation’s Cultural Trail cascading through the Indianapolis downtown for biking and walking. Additionally, it was concluded by the organizers that a separate slave image, reposition to hold a flag, would be an excellent addition to the downtown landscape, erected on the south lawn of the City-County building, facing the Marion County Jail 1 facility. The decisions to develop this image was approved within the Art and Museum community and an, out of state, artist, Fred Wilson, NY, was commissioned to begin work on the piece, entitled, “E Pluribus Unum”. It was then, that word began to spread into the African-American community of the intention to erect this statue.
Donna Stokes-Lucas heard of this plan and began to ask questions and do her own research. Stokes-Lucas attended several meetings but, noticed those gatherings were not open to dialogue to challenge the completion and placement of the statue. She says,” The arts community entered into an agreement before they approached the real community leaders. This is disingenuous for them to decide to erect their image without having a clue to the backlash.” Stokes-Lucas found that other concerned citizens were perplexed by how such decisions get made. ” Private groups and owners dialogue just to place art. Often, they contribute to the discussion about race but, aren’t challenged in those discussions by the right diversity,” she says.
After another under-attended and under-represented meeting at Cripus Attucks Medical Magnet School in April 2010, Stokes-Lucas began to pursue tools to empower others to have a say in this proposed action. Citizens Against Slave Image (CASI) was born to organize the opposition and give voice to the concerns of such an insensitive and, potentially, reckless move, in response to the 1st public art piece dedicated to the black commuity. There was a website built, a petition developed and an email invitation offered to gather questions and concerns. This would give all people in the city an opportunity to speak, as individuals, and record their response. go see: http://www.wix.com/1slave_enough/inindy.
There was a meeting called on October 19, 2010, at the Madame C.J.Walker building to bring all interested parties together, in order to find a civil way forward. The meeting was disruptive and divisive. From foundation representatives, city and government officials, ministers and celebrities, media and neighbors, this confrontation made things clear, no easy solution would be found. Even, when Wilson attempted to express his intention and explain his art form, he was silenced by an unruly crowd. Negotiations for who would speak for the community were tedious. And there was very little patience and tolerance for the Glick representatives. An outside mediator was present and was incapacitated by the restlessness in the hall. It became apparent that race relations in this city are in need of difficult undertaking and painstaking work.
All the while, Stokes-Lucas has continued to build a coalition of objectors. In her dialogue with the organizers, they were convinced that opposition to the project was minimal, because they only had received a few direct responses. Yet, she was ready to demonstrate the real opposition. She continues,” Images of this type, a black man sitting and doing nothing, not fully clothed, helps some people to deny rights to those represented by such portrayals. And this particular image already has a history, which remains with us… This is no different than the Confederate flag being flown over government buildings in the south.” This opinion mirrors what was printed by The Indianapolis Recorder, September 3, 2010, ‘Image Art Imitating Art on the Cultural Trail’, from retired Educator, Leroy Robinson wrote to the Editor stating,” (Slave Image), was a modern day Lawn Jockey. This depiction caused the issue to go viral… (Stay tuned for Part 2 – to read about the protest on the steps of the State House building)
Noa Baum, Storyteller: Using the Art and Practice of Storytelling to Connect, Communicate, and Collaborate
By Dorothy Mack
Noa Baum, an internationally acclaimed Artist and Storyteller, is returning to Indiana this month. In A LAND TWICE PROMISED, Noa weaves the stories of herself, an Israeli, and a Palestinian woman friend, and their mothers. Noa will present her compelling one-woman show twice in Indiana. Here in Indy, on Thursday October 13th at 7 PM, she will perform at the Interchurch Center, 1100 w. 42nd Street. Admission is free. The show appeals to adults and ages 12 and up. The next day, Noa will present A LAND TWICE PROMISED again at the annual meeting of the American Folklore Society in Bloomington. The overall AFS meeting theme is War, Peace, and Folklore and Noa will represent the National Storytelling Network.
Noa began a heartfelt dialogue with a Palestinian woman while living in the United States, and weaves together their memories and their mothers’ stories. She creates a moving testimony illuminating the complex and contradictory history and emotions that surround Jerusalem for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Noa offers a unique approach to storytelling in communities and organizations. Since 1982, she has inspired and educated audiences of all ages with her performances, keynotes, and workshops.
Noa holds a BFA in Theater from Tel Aviv University and a Master of Arts in Educational Theater from New York University (NYU). Noa received a Graduate Fellowship to work in inner city schools from C.A.T., the Theater in Education Company of NYU. She combined storytelling and drama while working in a school for emotionally disturbed boys in Tel-Aviv. Noa also taught early childhood and special education teachers at several colleges.
Noa has been living in the U.S. since 1990 and touring internationally. She has presented at hundreds of venues including: The World Bank, The Mayo Clinic, The Kennedy Center, The US Defense Department, GWU Law School, Brandies and Stanford Universities, and Hebrew University.
In Noa’s Words:
“Storytelling is the intersection of my work as a performance artist, educator, and diversity specialist. For me, story is both performance art and tool for change. I love connecting with people through stories. I use storytelling to entertain, build bridges of understanding, and offer pathways to dialogue and peace. Storytelling is an interactive art form that invites listeners of all ages to participate and use their imagination. I enjoy telling stories from cultures around the world as well as my Jewish heritage. Storytelling serves as a powerful tool for building community, facilitating transformation, and healing divisions between groups.”
A few years ago, I experienced A LAND TWICE PROMISED brought to Butler University by the International Interfaith Initiative. I was so moved, and vowed to bring her back again so that more people in Indy could hear her story. As we started the process this year, I discovered that Dee Anne Moore, of IPJC, had felt moved in the same way as I. We have collaborated with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation to bring Noa back again this year.
And we plan to bring her back yet again in a couple of years with venues for her to offer some of her workshops. In businesses, schools, and organizations, she uses stories to harness the power of workplace diversity, foster collaboration, and promote innovation. She says she loves to witness the transformational power of a workshop and experience the energy shift in a room full of executives as they discover the power of stories.
Come see for yourself! – Thursday October 13th, 7:00 PM, at the Interchurch Center.
Events for Today Oct 7th
Women in Black will gather at 11:30 am at Monument Circle. WIB stand together to call for the end of the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and to mourn both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost. For more info, email Judy King at timothy_a_king@hotmail.com.
The weekly vigil protesting warfare will take place, 4:30-5:30 pm, in front of the Federal Building, North and Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Bring an appropriate sign or have one provided. For more info, phone Gilbert Kuhn at 926-3068 or email Ron Haldeman at ronjane@igc.org
Peace! Kristy
NAACP of Indy Monthly Meeting Tomorrow – 10/06
The NAACP will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 pm on the second floor of the Julia Carson Government Center, 300 E. Fall Creek Blvd. For more info, contact Chrystal Ratcliffe at celliott@indynaacp.org.
Peace n Justice! Kristy
Free Public Seminar on Immigration Tonight
Free public seminar and discussion: “Immigration 101: Is our immigration system broken?” 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Krannert Room/Interchurch Center 1100 West 42nd Street. Angela D. Adams, Board President of the Immigrant Welcome Center and immigration attorney with Lewis & Kappes, P.C., will provide an overview on the basic avenues for pursuing lawful immigration status and a discussion about the complexities and challenges of our current immigration laws. Please RSVP at rsvp@immigrantwelcomecenter.org or call (317) 808-2326
Peace! Kristy
IndyPeaceandJustice 