SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024
Weekend Reading
Dear Friend,
Earlier this week, an Israeli military strike killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen, a vital humanitarian relief organization working in Gaza. Over the past few months, AFSC has worked with WCK to set up open-air kitchens and has since served meals to more than 253,906 displaced people. Read AFSC’s statement denouncing the killings. [link removed]
As the crisis in Gaza claims more lives by the day, we must keep up the pressure on elected officials for a permanent cease-fire. Join AFSC and people around the U.S. on Tax Day, April 15, for our NO Tax Dollars for War Crimes day of action. We’ll visit the offices of our representatives and senators to demand a cease-fire and an end to U.S. funding for Israeli attacks on Gaza. Organize or find an event in your community. [link removed]
Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:
Victory! Federal court ruling affirms that children held in open-air detention sites are in CBP custody: [link removed] For over a year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has detained migrants in open-air detention sites, without access to basic services. Earlier this week, a judge affirmed that children held at these sites are indeed in CBP custody. That means CBP must comply with standards to ensure the safety and welfare of children at these sites. The ruling comes after nearly a year of efforts by the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which includes AFSC, to document and protest dire conditions at these sites.
Stewarding the land in California’s Central Valley: [link removed] More than one-quarter of all food grown in the U.S. comes from California’s Central Valley. It’s also a region where, for decades, immigrants and refugees of diverse backgrounds have been building a small farming movement. Earlier this year, AFSC brought together these farmers to discuss what it means to be stewards of the land. Read more from AFSC’s Myrna Martinez Nateras.
A Conversation with Jose Antonio Vargas (April 11, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT): [link removed] AFSC welcomes Jose Antonio Vargas as the keynote speaker for our 2024 Corporation Program. Jose is a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants as well as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated theatrical producer. He is the founder of Define American. The organization promotes diverse and nuanced storytelling about immigrant experiences. Register to join us online or in person in Philadelphia.
Sign the petition urging President Biden to act now on Sudan: [link removed] Thank you to everyone who called on the president to strengthen diplomatic efforts to end the war in Sudan. On April 15, AFSC and partners will hold a rally in Washington, D.C. [link removed] and deliver this petition. If you haven’t already, please add your name today!
“The Movement and the ‘Madman’” film screening and panel discussion (April 13, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT): [link removed] The documentary examines how two major antiwar protests in 1969 stopped President Nixon from escalating the U.S. war in Vietnam. It draws from firsthand accounts from movement leaders, including AFSC alumni. After the film, join us for a panel discussion with some of these leaders: Robert Levering, Wendy Batson, Michael Simmons, and Jerry Elmer. Register to attend in person in Philadelphia or online.
Apply by April 15: AFSC’s Reparative Justice & Healing Fund: [link removed] AFSC has launched a new fund to support Black and First Nations-led social justice organizations and projects in the United States. Inspired by Quaker beliefs, the fund is part of AFSC's ongoing support for organizations working with historically marginalized communities. To apply, submit this brief questionnaire by April 15.
Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible.
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