SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023

Weekend Reading

Dear John,

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day this weekend, we also mark the 60th anniversary of “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Dr. King wrote the letter in April 1963 while jailed for leading a nonviolent demonstration against segregation. AFSC published the letter, distributing hundreds of thousands of copies in advance of the March on Washington. Read more. [link removed]

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

As Denver seeks to aid migrants, immigrant rights activist speaks out against ‘inhumane’ U.S. policy: [link removed] Since December, the city of Denver has assisted more than 4,111 migrants who arrived in the city. U.S. intervention in Central and Latin America has long fueled instability in the region, forcing people to flee, says AFSC’s Jennifer Piper. And President Biden’s policies, like Title 42, reject people seeking safety, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. “For people who’ve made it to us, I think of them as people who are very resilient and strong and creative, and also folks who need support and safety,” she says. (Rocky Mountain PBS)

Tell Congress: Oppose Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and schools: [link removed] Just days into the new year, the Israeli military demolished several Palestinian homes, water tanks, and olive groves in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank. The destruction is part of Israel's planned evictions of over 1,000 Palestinians—half of them children—in the West Bank. And it advances Israel's policies of forcibly displacing Palestinians from their land and homes. Urge Congress to speak out today!

Join us for The Black Quaker Lives Matter Film Festival & Forum (Feb. 4-April 9): [link removed] Next month kicks off this special series of events, co-sponsored by AFSC, to celebrate Quakers of color who have courageously worked for a more just, peaceful world. The festival will host screenings every other Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on Zoom followed by a Q+A with special guests. See the list of upcoming films and register today. [link removed]

‘We should not have to live in fear’: [link removed] For many immigrants like Fidelina Alfaro, it was a huge relief when President Biden extended Temporary Protected Status for people from El Salvador. TPS protects from deportation people who are from countries afflicted by war, natural disaster, and other dangers. In this op-ed, Fidelina, who works closely with AFSC, shares her story. She also urges Congress to provide permanent protections for all immigrants. (NJ.com)

Tell Congress: Cut Pentagon spending and keep social programs: [link removed] It’s been more than 60 years since President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of the dangers of the "military industrial complex." Since then, the Pentagon budget has grown at an astronomical rate. As Congress considers spending cuts, join AFSC, Win Without War, Daily Kos, and other partners in lifting your voice. Urge Congress to cut the Pentagon budget, NOT social programs.

Above occupation, beyond survival: [link removed] Last year, AFSC helped bring the voices of Gaza to the U.S. and international audiences with the anthology “Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire.” Palestinian writer Nadia Elia says the book is “a unique opportunity to hear the pain, frustration, and anger of the writers, but also, above all, their refusal to be defeated.” In this article, she highlights some of her favorite passages.

Take our survey: [link removed] Thanks to everyone who responded to our survey to help AFSC learn and grow in 2023! If you haven’t yet had a chance, we want to hear from you.

Be well and take care



American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
United States

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