SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023
Weekend Reading
Dear John,
This Monday, Nov. 13, people across the U.S. will join AFSC for our day of action, “NO Tax Dollars for War Crimes.” [link removed] Congress has sent billions of dollars to Israel to buy the bombs that have already killed more than 11,000 people in Gaza, including over 4,500 children. On Monday, we’ll visit the local offices of our senators and representatives and demand an immediate cease-fire and an end to U.S. military funding for Israel.
Visit our website [link removed] to host a local event in your community or search for existing events. You’ll also find a toolkit for organizers, a guide to protesting, and free posters to download and take with you. We hope you can join us!
Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:
AFSC’s emergency relief in Gaza: [link removed] Last week, AFSC staff and partners began distributing food, women’s hygiene products, and other essentials to people displaced in Gaza. So far, we have provided food parcels to over 500 families in shelters and distributed 250 hygiene kits. In the coming months, we plan to reach 5,000 displaced households. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far to make these efforts possible!
Tell Congress: Stop government violence in border communities: [link removed] Every tax dollar that goes to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is money that harms our community members and people seeking refuge. As Congress considers a new funding bill for FY24, we must urge them to stop funding detention, deportations, and other forms of state violence. Instead, tell them to invest our tax dollars in education, health care, and other programs that help families and communities.
Drawings by North Korea kids displayed at rare event in Los Angeles: [link removed] For over two decades, children from North Korea and South Korea have been writing to one another, despite living on a divided peninsula. They've shared introductions, self-portraits, and their hopes and dreams for the future. The “Drawing Hope” art exhibit, co-sponsored by AFSC, showcases this artwork shared across borders. (The Mainichi)
Stop Cop City: The issues at the heart of the movement (Nov. 14, 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT): [link removed] AFSC and partners are launching a webinar series that takes a deeper look at why we’re working to stop Cop City in Atlanta. This month, we explore the long-standing environmental issues that have been brought to the forefront by this project—and the history of how those in power have harmed our communities. Join us to hear from grassroots activists and learn how you can join us to protect people and the planet.
Tell Congress: Extend the child tax credit and earned income tax credit: [link removed] We’re just days away from the Nov. 17th deadline for Congress to fund the government or risk a shutdown. Some members of Congress are using this moment to propose cuts to vital services. Our representatives must hear from us today! Tell Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution that protects funding for human needs, extends the Farm Bill for one year, and extends the child tax credit and EITC to help millions of low-income people.
New podcast: Quaker leaders on activating for a just, peaceful world: [link removed] Earlier this year, Quaker leaders from the U.S. and the United Kingdom gathered in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic. They prayed and reflected on the world we live in—one that has changed dramatically since the last time they met. Together, they explored how Quakers and all who are dedicated to nonviolence can respond in these times of crisis.
Remembering Bayard Rustin: [link removed] A new biopic, “Rustin” is now in movie theaters and will be available for streaming Nov. 17. The film chronicles the work of civil rights leader and Quaker Bayard Rustin as he planned the 1963 March on Washington. Bayard also had a long history with AFSC, which began when he took part in an AFSC-sponsored training in 1937. Read more in this 2016 profile written by his longtime partner Walter Naegle.
Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible.
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