SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2024

Weekend Reading

Dear John,
Today, people in Washington, D.C. and around the United States are flying kites to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. This event will echo an event held earlier this week in Gaza, where families flew kites to honor the more than 13,000 children killed by the Israeli military (see coverage from Al Jazeera [link removed] ). For decades, flying kites has been a tradition for children in Gaza and a symbol of hope and resilience. You can join us today by flying or displaying a kite and sharing a photo on social media with #KitesForGaza [link removed] .

On April 15, Tax Day, we also invite you to join us to take part in our national day of action to tell Congress “NO Tax Dollars for War Crimes!” Learn how to organize an event in your community. [link removed]

Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:

AFSC joins over 140 global Christian leaders in calling for a cease-fire: [link removed] The letter was released just one day after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. In the letter, leaders urged governments to halt all arms sales to Israel. “The United States and other nations’ further militarization of the conflict makes no one safer and instead prolongs suffering and causes more death and destruction.” (Religion News) Read the full letter. [link removed]

Health concerns mount for migrant children at open-air detention sites: [link removed] For months, AFSC and partners have protested Border Patrol’s practice of holding migrants outdoors, without access to basic services. Earlier this week, a federal judge heard arguments over whether the government must provide food, shelter, and medical care to minors as they await processing. “There is no logic if the most powerful country in the history of humanity, the country with the highest concentration of wealth, is not able to provide for basic needs of children,” says AFSC’s Adriana Jasso. (The New York Times)

Protecting New Mexico’s water democracy: [link removed] In New Mexico, acequias have long served as a lifeline in the desert climate. These irrigation canals bring water from rivers to homes and farms, nourishing gardens, crops, and wildlife. But this unique water democracy faces big challenges. That includes pressures from development and climate change-driven drought. Since the 1970s, AFSC has supported community members in defending their water rights. Read more from AFSC’s Angelina Lopez-Brody and Sayrah Namaste.

Sign the petition: Urge President Biden to act now on Sudan: [link removed] It’s been nearly a year since the start of the armed conflict in Sudan and no cessation of hostilities. This has had devastating consequences, with thousands killed and over 8 million displaced. Famine is looming with an acute shortage of humanitarian assistance. Now there are concerns another genocide is underway. AFSC and partners are urging President Biden to act to prevent further atrocities and loss of life. Please join us by signing our petition today!

Supporting tenants’ rights in Atlanta: [link removed] For the past six years, AFSC has organized alongside tenants facing horrific living conditions at Forest Cove Apartments. The low-income housing complex in Atlanta is owned by Millennia Housing Management. The city eventually evacuated hundreds of residents and condemned the property, which now faces demolition. “This is the end of an era that was defined by trauma and hardship for many residents,” says AFSC’s Foluke Nunn (Atlanta Civic Circle)

Sign the petition: Support rural communities in the next Farm Bill: [link removed] The same communities that produce most of our food in the U.S. are facing high rates of food insecurity. That leads to costly health issues, including chronic illness, diabetes, and depression. Congress can help by strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the next Farm Bill. Join AFSC, Daily Kos, and partners in calling on Congress to ensure more families have the nutrition they need to thrive.

Video: Caring for all people in times of war: [link removed] As we wrap up Women’s History Month, we remember Dr. Marjorie Nelson. During the Vietnam War, she worked at AFSC’s clinic in Quang Ngai, treating people in the community. In the course of her service, Marjorie was taken as a prisoner of war. But the accounts she shared of her experience reminded U.S. audiences of the value of recognizing the humanity in all people, even in times of conflict. (Instagram)

Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible.

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