CONTENTS: 
PHILLY & PA AREA ACTION:
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
===========

Building Bridges Not Walls . . . Grandparents (Bubbies & Zaydes) for
Peace in the Middle East

"The good life is not a passive existence where you live and let live.
It is one of involvement where you live and help live."
Isaac Bashevis Singer. Polish-Jewish writer, Nobel Prize laureate in
literature (1904-1991)
- Join us this Friday at 19th & JFK Blvd as we continue to call for
justice and equity in Palestine/Israel!
_________________________________________

* "WAGING PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OCCUPATION" - Saturday May 2nd 7:30 P.M
- Mishkan Shalom - 4101 Freeland Ave. (corner of Shurs Lane) Roxborough

Daoud Nassar , Palestinian Farmer and Peacebuilder
The Nassars seek coexistence with their Jewish neighbors and are
committed to nonviolence. Through the Tent of Nations, they provide a
place for young Palestinians to affirm the centrality land and identity
in their struggle for self-determination. Tent of Nations has become a
gathering place for visitors from all over the world who come to plant
trees, learn about the history of the land, and work for justice.
__________________________________________________________________

* THE U.S. ISRAELI MILITARY CONNECTION -- Learn More on April 28th!

Tuesday, April 28, 6 pm - University of Pennsylvania - Ben Franklin
Room in Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street.
Jimmy Johnson, from the International Coordinator of the Israeli
Committee Against House Demolitions, and a well known activist for
justice in Palestine/Israel, will be speaking about U.S.-Israeli weapons
development. He will present results of ICAHD's ongoing investigation
into the U.S.-Israeli collaboration on development and testing of high
tech weaponry in Occupied Palestine, along with data about the
developing global marketplace in national security machinery and
equipment.
________________________

* Gala dinner and concert by renowned Lebanese musician, May Nasr
Sunday, May 3rd 4-9pm - ACE Conference Center 800 Ridge Pike Pk
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
Main Switchboard: 610-825-8000
Adults: $85/ Children, Seniors, Students: $50
dinner, raffles, silent auction, children's activities, music,
community, awards, and more
http://www.playgroundsforpalestine.org/news.php?ID=46
Or call 267.391.5386
____________________

* EYEWITNESS REPORT FROM GAZA
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Aulenbach House, 29 W. Tulpehocken St. 12:00-3:00 pm
ANNUAL POTLUCK LUNCHEON
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE & FREEDOM Philadelphia branch
Regina Birchem, former president of International WILPF, recently
returned from Egypt and Gaza on a delegation organized by Code Pink,
Women for Peace. She will share her experiences meeting with women in
Gaza on International Women's Day, March 8.
The U.N. Relief and Works Agency had invited the delegation.
To hear more about the trip, join us at the spring luncheon. To make a
reservation at $5.00 a person (and a favorite dish to share), please
r.s.v.p. Sheller@yahoo.com. 215 848 3544.
_______________________________________


MAY DAY USA - A DAY TO HONOR ALL WORKERS
FRIDAY, MAY 1 - NOON TO 2 PM
Elmwood Park @ South 71st St. and Buist Ave. in Southwest Philly
COME JOIN US TO:
Support Labor and the right to unionize!/ Support Immigrant Rights!
Support Health Care for All, and Single Payer Health Care!
Support the movement against the wars in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan!
- Speakers and Music
Guest Speakers:
Pat Eiding - President, Philadelphia AFL-CIO
Tom Paine Cronin - Director, Comey Inst. Of Industrial Relations,
St.Joe's Univ./Pres.(Ret.), AFSCME DC 47
Cathy Brady - SEIU Healthcare PA/Friends of Elmwood Park
Kathy Black - President, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW,
Philadelphia Chapter)
T.J. Buonomo/ Aaron Hughes - Iraq Veterans Against the War
Rev. Chester Williams - President, National Alliance of Postal and
Federal Employees Local 509
Royce Adams - International Longshoreman's Association ( ILA) Local
1291.
-Sponsored by The Pennsylvania Labor History Society (PLHS) and the
Philadelphia Area Project of Occupational Safety and Health (PHILAPOSH)
Website: Http://www.maydayusa.org/ Call Jim Moran for more information:
215-301-2633
____________________________________________________________


Current plan for May 2 at Army Experience Center

Momentum for Protest at Army Experience Center Continues to Grow
Hundreds to descend on Philadelphia shopping mall on May 2nd to decry
virtual recruiting tactics.

Organizers of the May 2nd protest at the Franklin Mills Mall in
northeast Philadelphia are calling on protesters to congregate between
noon and 1:30 pm on the parking lot of St. Luke's United Church of
Christ, 11080 Knights Rd in Philadelphia. St. Luke's is less than a
mile from the mall. Step off from the church parking lot at 1:30 and
proceed on Knights Rd to the Army Experience Center.

The Pentagon's top brass is committed to establishing Experience Centers
in malls across the country. The 14,500 square foot facility at Franklin
Mills Mall boasts dozens of PC's and X-Boxes with various interactive,
military-style shooting games as well as Apache helicopter and Humvee
simulators that allow teens to simulate the killing of Arabs and
Afghans, or "Haji's" and "Ragheads" as local youth refer to "the enemy."


They're teaching 13 year-olds to kill and we are committed to stopping
this sinister practice.
___________________________________

Philadelphia - 6th Annual INTERFAITH WALK FOR PEACE and RECONCILIATION

Walking Dialogue among Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikh, Buddhists,
Baha'i, Hindu, and Others. Come walk in peace, wear white as an
expression of unity.

Celebrate with Prayer, Music, and Sharing
SUNDAY, MAY 3,2009- 2:00pm
OPENING GATHERING: Philadelphia Cathedral [Jewish Prayer and Music]
(3723 Chestnut Street)
Walk west on Walnut; south on 46th to Lancaster
FIRST STOP: Philadelphia Masjid (4700 Wyalusing)
Walk east on Lancaster
NEXT STOP: Millcreek Baptist Church (641 N Preston between 40th/41st
at Lancaster)
Walk east on Lancaster; south on 38th
CLOSING GATHERING: Philadelphia Cathedral (3723 Chestnut Street)
(Food and Fellowship)

PRE-WALK GATHERING- 12:30pm- Al-Aqsa Islamic Society
1501 Germantown Avenue (3rd/Jefferson)Free parking; bus available to
Cathedral and return
PLEASE WEAR WHITE AS AN EXPRESSION OF UNITY
A bus will follow walkers for those who need to ride part of all of the
way. Emergency medical assistance will be available.
Parking available - Market Street between 38/39 ($3.00 contribution
requested)
No political banners, please.
DETAILS/MORE INFORMATION: www.interfaithpeacewalk.org
__________________________________________________________________


National Equality Rally

Event Date: May 3, 2009
Event Time: 3:30 PM EDT
Venue Name: Independence Hall, City: Philadelphia State: PA
Website: nationalequalityrally.com/
Agenda:
Join organizations, grassroots activists and straight allies from across
the nation as we demonstrate at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell -
the site where the Gay Pioneers launched our movement with protests each
Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969.

Call on Congress and our new president for:
- Equal benefits for same-sex families
- Passage of trans-inclusive hate crimes legislation and Employment
Non-Discrimination Act
- Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA)
- Same-sex marriage Equality
- Support for GLBT health issues
___________________________________


A Benefit for Philadelphia Jobs With Justice at Wooden Shoe - May 7

Open Mic Night @ Wooden Shoe- A Benefit for Philadelphia Jobs With
Justice
Host:Wooden Shoe Books Collective (Staffers, Friends and Alumni!)
Thursday, May 7, 2009- 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Wooden Shoe Books, 508 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Phone:2154130999/ Email:sabot@woodenshoebooks.com
Description- $5 or more suggested donation
This Open Mic will benefit one of Philadelphia's scrappiest, fightingest
organizations, Jobs With Justice. Philadelphia Jobs With Justice is a
coalition of labor unions, community organizations, religious and
student constituency groups building a movement for worker's rights and
social economic justice on the principles of solidarity, reciprocity,
militancy and direct action. Philadelphia Jobs With Justice is dedicated
to winning victories that matter for working people.---IF YOU CAN'T MAKE
IT TO THIS EVENT: You may also make individual or organizational
donations by calling Philly Jobs with Justice at (215) 670-5855. If you
need more information, call Warren at (215) 264-3553, or email
gunnired@gmail.com.
___________________________


"Bring Peace Home on Mother's Day"

Sat., May 9, 2009, 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Arch Street United Methodist
Church, 55 N. Broad St., Philadelphia. Highlighting peace message of
Julia Ward Howe's Mothers' Day proclamation in 1870, United for Peace
and Justice will host a gathering at Arch Street United Methodist
Church, 55 N. Broad Street, Phila. Workshops, speakers, music and poetry
will focus on women in unions, immigration, environmental injustice,
domestic abuse, street violence and war. An inspirational conclusion
will prepare participants with vision and strategy for the journey
toward peace. Light lunch provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted.
www.ufpj-dvn.org 215-528-6130
________________________________

Join the ACLU of Pennsylvania's Greater Philadelphia Chapter for a frank
discussion about the state of LGBT rights and what we can do to ensure
equality for ALL Americans.

Featuring:
Anthony Romero, Executive Director, National ACLU
Stephen Glassman, Chair, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
- When: Monday, May 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
You are invited to attend a wine and cheese reception before the program
beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the same location.
- Where: The Hub, Cira Centre , 2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia
(across from 30th Street Station) Directions and parking information
Free & open to the public. No RSVP needed.
Questions? Contact us at aclupa@aclupa.org or 215-592-1513 x122.
________________________________________________________________


From: Committee of Seventy: Volunteer on Election Day!

With less than one month to go before the May 19, 2009 Primary Election,
your chance to get involved is now!
Help Keep The Election Clean and Fair. Volunteer with Committee
of Seventy on Election Day! Our volunteers visit polling places on
Election Day to help voters with problems and questions they have while
voting. No experience necessary! Help out for as little as a few hours,
in an area of your choice!
Want to learn more? E-mail Miguel Williams at mwilliams@seventy.org or
by phone at 215-557-3600, ext. 109.

Hear From The Candidates- City Controller Candidates Debate
Monday, May 4th at 6:30 pm
University of Pennsylvania, Class of '49 Auditorium
Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street
Moderator: Dave Davies, Reporter, Philadelphia Daily News
Co-sponsored by the Philadelphia League of Women Voters, the Fels
Institute of Government of the University of Pennsylvania

Don't forget to vote on May 19th!

=================================


From: Cindy for Congress [mailto:Cindy@CindyforCongress.org]
/Cindy Sheehan for
Congress needs a Bailout!
Last year I waged one of the toughest battles of my life against the
two-party system and machine politics here in San Francisco. We lost in
the end but we fought quite the battle.With your generous support, we
raised over 600 thousand dollars; which was spent in maintaining an
office, staffing, campaign literature and advertising (since we got
little free publicity). However, even with your help we still have
campaign debt to pay off.
I don't have an office any longer nor do I have any staff. My campaign
overhead is zero now and this is an itemized list of outstanding debt:
10,000.00 in employment taxes
7,100.00 to PR firm (Cause & Effect)
2,400.00 back rent
800.00 in loans from family
450.00 for a newspaper ad taken out May 2008
300.00 in past due utilities.
3000.00 to pay to complete FEC (Federal Election)
That is a whopping 24,050 dollars!.
I need your help to get OUR campaign out of the hole and I have to keep
asking until the debt is paid off.
Thank you for your support and your confidence.
Peace & Love - Cindy
PS: For every donation of 20.00 or more, I will send an
autographed campaign shirt if you also send me an email with your
address and size request to:
Cindy@CindySheehansSoapbox.com
_____________________________________

Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Decemberists To Play 50th Anniversary Newport
Folk Festival Daniel Kreps Rolling Stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/17/pete-seeger-j
oan-baez-decemberists-to-play-50th-anniversary-newport-folk-festival/
For its 50th anniversary, the Newport Folk Festival has
recruited two artists who took the stage at the inaugural 1959 event:
Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. Newer acts like Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, the
Decemberists, Neko Case and Breaking artists the Low Anthem will also
take part in "George Wein's Folk Festival 50," scheduled for July
31st-August 2nd at Newport's Fort Adams State Park. Tickets go on sale
May 6th.
_______________________________________________________________

AIPAC scandal

An AIPAC-related intrigue has come to light. The National Security
Agency (NSA) recorded a conversation that took place several years ago
between a suspected Israeli agent and Rep. Jane Harman (a Democrat from
California). In the conversation, Harman agrees to pressure the Justice
Department to "reduce espionage related charges" against two AIPAC
officials. In return, the suspected Israeli agent would help get Harman
appointed chair of the Intelligence Committee.
The deal was ultimately unsuccessful, from the standpoint of the
players involved: Harman never got her committee appointment after all,
and the two AIPAC officials (Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman) still
face trial (in June) - lest we be tempted to draw conclusions about the
omnipotence of AIPAC. What happens next remains to be seen.
- There is lots of information about this at:
http://innovation.cq.com/liveonline/54/landing
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/us/politics/21harman.html?hp
Judith Norman, Jewish Peace News archive and blog:
http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com
Jewish Peace News sends its news clippings only to subscribers. To
subscribe, go to http://www.jewishpeacenews.net

* WHY IMMIGRANT WORKERS WILL FILL THE STREETS THIS MAY DAY By David
Bacon
http://www.truthout.org/032709A

* California Towns Fight Back Against Justice Department Suit to
Overturn Youth Protection Act
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/14/california_towns_fight_back_agains
t_justice

Supplements:

Please include the following information re two upcoming events on your calendars. Thanks
 
Warren Davis
 
215 264-3553
gunnired@gmail.com

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Warren
To: 
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:44 AM
Subject: [Philly Solidarity] Fwd: Protest Military Recruitment- US Out of Iraq and Afghanistan!



-- Please forward --
 
Contents:
1. Saturday, May 2 Protest at Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills Mall
2. Thursday, May 7 Protest at Military Recruitment Center 1600 N. Broad, Philly
 
 
1.
Momentum for Protest at Army Experience Center Continues to Grow

Hundreds to descend on Philadelphia shopping mall on May 2nd to decry virtual recruiting tactics.

"Honestly, we were walking by and were like, 'What is this place?'" the teens said. Now, with two years of college and big worries about the job market, they were heading home from an unplanned trip to the mall with a plan for the future. "They started talkin' to us and I guess we're probably gonna join the Army now!"                   
- NBC Nightly News, January 7, 2009

Organizers of the May 2nd protest at the Franklin Mills Mall in northeast Philadelphia are calling on protesters to congregate between noon and 1:30 pm on the parking lot of St. Luke's United Church of Christ, 11080 Knights Rd in Philadelphia. St. Luke's is less than a mile from the mall. Tentative plans call for a march to step off from the church parking lot at 1:30 and proceed on Knights Rd to the Army Experience Center.

The Pentagon's top brass is committed to establishing Experience Centers in malls across the country. The 14,500 square foot facility at Franklin Mills Mall boasts dozens of PC's and X-Boxes with various interactive, military-style shooting games as well as Apache helicopter and Humvee simulators that allow teens to simulate the killing of Arabs and Afghans, or "Haji's" and "Ragheads" as local youth refer to "the enemy." They're teaching 13 year-olds to kill and we are committed to stopping this sinister practice.

www.shutdowntheaec.net

Pat Elder


###############################################################################
2.

 Stop the War!

Protest

 

Where: Armed Forces Recruiting Center,

1600 N. Broad St, Philly

When: Thursday, May 7 from 4PM-6PM

 

o        US Out of Iraq and Afghanistan!

o        Money for Jobs and Education, Not War and Occupation!

o        No Economic Draft --Create good paying jobs in the US!

o        Stop Attacks on Civil Liberties!

o        No targeting Immigrants and Muslim people!

o        No US Attacks on Pakistan,  Iran and Latin America

 

  For Information contact: phillyagainstwar@gmail.com  

 

Sponsored by:  Philly Against War: http://phillyagainstwar.org/


 

Breaking News: Penn. Sen. Arlen Specter to Switch Parties :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042801523.html?hpid=topnews

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Dear Progressives,

 

Below is the Newsletter for the past week. Since AOL , Yahoo, and Hotmail block emails with certain words, or beyond so much capacity, I have chosen to post the news articles under the different headings and list  them on different web pages.

 

Not only does this elimate the problems with the above mentioned listservers , but it makes it easier for people to send the individual links to others.

 

I don’t pretend to know everything going on in this country but I do think I try hard to keep everyone informed , and if you read my emails, you might be able to at least inform others of what truly is happening out there.

 

Thank you for all you do….

 

In peace and solidarity

Joanne ONeill

 

NEWSLETTER

April 28, 2009

 

I. What’s Up in New Jersey

 

         Now This is What I Call Change !!!! Real Change !

 

We need more of this across the State of NJ….. more across the USA.

 

I have dreamt of accomplishing the same thing in South Jersey, to no avail.

 

But I hope the grassroots movement taking place in New Brunswick will encourage others

to attempt the same , proving we can actually change things, but it means getting involved.

 

A group of 50 residents, called Empower our Neighborhoods,  have joined together ,

under the slate of  “Democrats for Change” . Please read what they have been up against

and the extraordinary energy being exerted by them in their fight against the political machine .   

 

To find out more about this group and other News and Action Items . Click Link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/pda-nj/web/whats-up-in-nj---04-28-09

 

II. Health Care not Warfare – Medicare for All :

News and Action Items . Click Link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/SJ-Dist1/web/newsletter-04-26-09?hl=en

 

III. Accountability and Justice

            News and Action Items . Click Link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/NJAJ/web/accountability-justice-newsletter-04-27-09?hl=en

 

IV. Economic Justice

            News and Action Items . Click Link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/pda-nj/web/economic-justice-04-28-09

 

  V. Other Must Read  News:

            News and Action Items . Click Link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/PDSJ/web/other-must-read-news-04-28-09

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

PDA / DFA Progressive Democracy South Jersey

Websites:

Local Chapter:  http://groups.google.com/group/PDSJ   or  http://democracyforamerica.com/groups/775

 

State:     http://groups.google.com/group/pda-nj/   &  http://www.pdnj.org/  or  http://www.njfordemocracy.org/

 

National:  http://www.pdamerica.org/   or  http://democracyforamerica.com/  

 

 

For more info on the different PDA National Issue Organizing Teams :

http://groups.google.com/group/PDSJ/web/pda-national-iot-groups

 

 

Local & State IOT Groups:

Healthcare4All-Dist.1-         http://groups.google.com/group/SJ-Dist1 

Environment-                        http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PDSJ-E/

Accountability & Justice -          http://groups.google.com/group/NJAJ

 

 

Contact: Joanne O’Neill – PDA State Coordinator - ProgressiveDemocracySoJersey@gmail.com – 856-858-4997