Ciara Durkin -- How Can One Year Have Passed?

CPL. Ciara M. Durkin
1977-2007
Website created, owned, and operated by the Durkin Family.
Latest News
Last updated September 24, 2008
The Durkin Family participates in the Quincy Medical Center's Cancer Walk.
Since September 28, 2007, the Durkin Family has been involved in several memorials in Ciara's name.


As many of you know, each year our family and friends participate in a walk to raise money for cancer prevention. Our mother, Angela, and our sister Deirdre, are both breast cancer survivors, but we had been doing this walk for many years before Deirdre's diagnosis. In fact, it was this Medical Center that detected Deirdre's cancer early which prevented it from spreading.

This year, the walk is especially dear to our hearts because it coincides with
the first anniversary of our darling sister Ciara's passing. Ciara died in Afghanistan
on the 28th of September, 2007. While Ciara was in Afghanistan, she made an online donation with the dedication: "I give because I learned to stay strong
here in Afghanistan because of your courage. I love you".

In honor of Ciara, the hospital's Cancer Resource Library is being renamed
the "Ciara Durkin Resource Center."

Joining our team of walkers this year is our mother. She is
participating in the walk for the first time in memory of Ciara.


We hope that you will visit our webpage at http://www.firstgiving.com/positivethinkers (link below) and make a donation for this very worthy cause.
The Durkin Family to Participate in the
2008 Quincy Medical Center's Cancer Walk

On October 11th of 2008, the Durkin Family will have an anniversary mass for Ciara at
Saint Gregory's Parish in Dorchester, MA (see link below for a map).

This mass will begin at 4:00pm, and all are welcome to attend.
Anniversary Mass for Ciara

Aifreann chinn bhliana i dTeach Pobal Bhantiarna Lourdes agus Naomh Colm Cille, Leitir Móir, Dé Sathairn, 4 Deireadh Fómhair, ag 7.30 i.n.
Aifreann Chinn Bhliana do Chiara


We have heard from some members of Ciara's "army family," and their stories and reminiscences have brought us great comfort. We look forward to hearing from other soldiers who served with Ciara, especially those soldiers of whom she spoke often and with such fondness. Any communications will be treated with confidentiality. Please email info@ciaraweerabrat.com if you wish to contact the family.
Ciara's "Army Family"
We've added some information on Ciara's interment at Arlington National Cemetery.
Click here to see the page...http://www.ciaraweerabrat.com/


Most of the above is an excerpt from an email I received from Ciara Durkin's family...The technical errors in this post are my fault, NOT the fault of her family.

Love is somehow...(MLK, Jr.)

Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to the ultimate reality.

from The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. selected by Coretta Scott King and published, in her book of that name, by Newmarket Press.

Rhode Island --- Mississippi Connection ---Protect Us From Hard Working People

ICE Detains Hundreds in Workplace Raid


Monday, August 25, 2008

After answering the phone, Bill Chandler, director of MIRA! (the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance, based in Jackson), blurted out, “The ICE raid is in progress right now at Howard Industries, in Laurel, Mississippi.” Laurel is a small town of about 18,000 people; Howard Industries employs about 800 workers.

Earlier this morning, Department of Homeland Security agents began descending on different work sites in Mississippi to unleash another brutal immigration raid. According to Mr. Chandler, DHS began renting hotel space over the past few days, indicating the presence of hundreds of Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

MIRA also reports ICE placed the Southern Hens poultry plant under lockdown, which employs nearly 2,000 people in Mossell, Mississippi. Mossell is between Hattiesburg and Laurel on I-59.

And on Sunday night ICE set up roadblocks near the Wal-Mart in Hattiesburg, an illegal detentive stop to check for immigration status of passersby’s.


ICE agents have already gone into the Howard Industries plant in Laurel, where some 800 workers manufacture ballast for office lights, neon tubes and transformers. Approximately half the workers there are Latinos. Howard Industries has three plants; one in Laurel, Magee and Ellisville. ICE also raided Howard corporate offices in Ellisville.


ICE has arrested so many workers at the Laurel Howard plant that operations have been shut down. MIRA has already received reports of scores of children being left behind without their parents who ICE arrested at the Howard Industries plant.


ICE Raid, SB 2988 and MS’s Inglorious Present


The brutal ICE raid now taking place in Laurel and other parts harkens back to Mississippi’s shameful past of Jim Crow segregation, police brutality and violence. The current state laws, the national anti-immigrant climate and hangovers from Mississippi’s inglorious past made Jones County ripe for ICE to conduct their usual raids that trample on constitutional rights and communities.

Laurel has the distinction of being located in Jones County, headquarters for two notorious racist and anti-immigrant groups, the KKK and MFIRE, the Mississippi branch of FAIR, the national anti-immigrant group.

Earlier this year the Mississippi legislature passed and the Governor signed into law Senate bill 2988, the most draconian employer sanctions law passed to date in the U.S. that further criminalizes workers, especially immigrants, and opens the door for employers to discriminate against Latinos and others.

SB 2988 makes it a felony to work without authorization in Mississippi. SB 2988 imposes a one to five year prison sentence and hefty fines of $1,000 to $10,000. No one has yet been charged under SB 2988.

Today’s ICE raid however opens the door to using both federal and state laws, including SB 2988, in a new way. This has everyone on edge. Mr. Chandler added, “Now we are all waiting to see what will happen to people being arrested at Howard Industries.”

Support Needed to Counter ICE Raid Impacts

Mr. Chandler said, “We had been expecting the raids, either on the coast or in Hattiesburg. We were getting information that ICE was in hotels in the coast and other preparations were going on in Hattiesburg.”

MIRA began holding community meetings on the Mississippi coast and Hattiesburg areas all last week, getting the word out for the last ten days that an ICE raid was underway. MIRA advised workers of their Constitutional rights, to remain silent if arrested, and to prepare for the crackdown.

Now MIRA is seeking the help of lawyers. There is deep worry among the community about the raids and their aftermath.

MIRA has prepared social services and legal help for all persons, including families and others, affected by the ICE raid.

Bill closed by saying, “Most of what we are getting today is that ICE is focusing on Jones County; but haven’t had calls from all areas. We have had calls from chicken plants in and around Laurel. We had expected the raids to occur at chicken plants; it was a surprise, it’s a different industry. Howard Industries gets state and federal funding to operate.”

Support MIRA: Stop the ICE Raids

MIRA is now in meeting with families affected by the raid to assess what their needs are and also working with lawyers to deal with arraignments of workers swept up in the raid. MIRA needs attorneys to volunteer their services and help the detained workers.

Please visit the MIRA website to make an on-line donation at:

www.yourmira.org



Send in a check or money order, payable to “MIRA,” write in the memo “Relief for families affected by raids” and mail to:

MIRA!

PO 1104

Jackson, MS 39215



To support MIRA’s legal project, call (601) 354-9355

For media inquiries, (601) 968-5182.


Take Action to Stop the ICE Raids

Call or fax the following officials, demand an END to ICE raids and to stop the attack the rights of immigrant families, workers and communities



Mississippi Congressional Delegations:

House: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=MS



MS Gov. Haley Barbour

Tel (601) 359-3100 * Fax (601) 359-3741

governor@governor.state.ms.us



Call your Congressional delegation:

Find your Senators telephone and fax numbers at:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm



Find your Representative’s number at:

http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html



Tell them: Stop all immigration detentions & deportations, end raids:



· ICE raids traumatize families, undermine worker’s rights and violate the rights of citizens and non-citizens.

· Immigration collaboration with local, county and state police and other public agencies undermine community trust and make our communities vulnerable to abuse, violence and exploitation.

· ICE raids and enforcement operations destabilize our communities and disrupt the economy.

· The problem with ICE raids is so fundamental that Department of Homeland Security should end all such enforcement operations.

· Congress must stop the raids and hold hearings on the impact on DHS/ICE on immigration raids and enforcement operations. Restore due process rights and make our communities safe!



To file a complaint against ICE agent on ICE abuses during enforcement operation or immigration raid:

Call the Joint Intake Center ATTN: Duty Agent

Fax (202) 344-3390 and (202) 927-4607

Toll-free: 1 (877) 2INTAKE (1-877-246-8253)



_______________________________________________________

Arnoldo Garcia

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Red Nacional Pro Derechos Inmigrantes y Refugiados

310 8th Street Suite 303

Oakland, CA 94607

Tel (510) 465-1984 ext. 305

Fax (510) 465-1885


www.nnirr.blogspot.com

www.nnirr.org



Join HURRICANE: the human rights immigrant community action network -- help build community power for justice & human rights!

Unete al HURACAN: la red de accion de comunidades inmigrantes para los derechos humanos -- construyendo el poder de las comunidades por la justicia y los derechos humanos!

Regarding Mr. Hiu Lui (Jason ) Ng, a Victim of Our Fears/ICE

This is a legal petition of Habeus Corpus (?) submitted by the attorneys of Mr. Hiu Lui Ng, who died August 5 (6?), 2008 in Rhode Island while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A related article by a New York Times reporter was "dugg" recently.

read more | digg story

Dark Meat

David McReynolds always sends me important articles...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/opinion/06herzfeld.html?ex=1375761600&en=11

A Message from Martha (AFSC, New England) on the Immigration Raids

Greetings Friends

Many of you have followed the news of the immigration raids in Rhode
Island recently. 31 people were apprehended in the most recent one,
which means 31 families are suddenly without income. Heroic efforts
have been made to locate people (ICE moves them often, making the task
more difficult) and get lawyers and bonds posted. Several are getting
out of jail this week, joining the 12 who have already been released.
Most are monitored constantly and all are prohibited from working. The
earliest court date that I have seen is in September, which means there
is an extended financial crisis for many families.

However you feel about immigration, I hope you will both support people
in this country, however they got here, having due process (many of the
individual situations are complex) and humane treatment. In addition,
there are families in need of assistance. They need money to cover rent
and utilities, food assistance (rice, beans, milk, meat, vegetables,
fruit, tortias, etc) and household products (shampoo, toilet paper,
diapers, soap, etc). I write asking you to do what you can to collect
supplies and deliver them to St Teresa's Church in Olneyville (on Manton
Ave up the hill, toward Atwells) or to send funds. Make checks payable
to English for Action, PO Box 29405, Providence RI 02909 with the words
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY FUND in the memo. EFA is a non-profit, so
donations are tax deductible. If you want your gift to remain anonymous
please add a note to that effect. You can also deposit money directly
at any Citizens Bank to account #00163005 by visiting any branch office.

There also may be need for assistance with transportation. Many folks
are unable to drive, which makes getting to appointments with attorneys
or court a challenge. Please call Shannah Kurland if you are able to
volunteer driving. Spanish nice but not necessary. 439-0518.

Thanks Martha

Martha Yager

AFSC-SENE

33 Chestnut St.

Providence RI 02903

401-521-3584

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still
dark. Rabindranath Tagore

Library Rally Today: Location Change Due To Rain.

Today at 5:00 p.m., the Library Reform Group will hold a press conference in the former Benny’s building at 1380 Broad Street.

Rally for the Libraries of Providence, 7/24/08

The following is from Patricia Raub of the Library Reform Group (link is on the list at the bottom of this blog). RI prides itself on tourism and so any call or email or letter to any of the decision makers is valuable.

Jul 21 (23 hours ago)
Dear library advocates,

The Library Reform Group, (LRG), has spent the weekend reviewing the terms of the Agreement for Library Services recently negotiated by the Mayor’s Office and PPL and ratified by the PPL Board of Trustees last Thursday. We are relieved that the 2008 proposed Agreement provides for maintaining the existing level of library services and the current number of branches through June of 2009, providing most library staff with job security for another year and suggesting that library patrons will not experience any reduction in services or branch closures for eleven more months. However, LRG is deeply concerned about what could occur after June 30, 2009.

The provisions of the 2008 Agreement cover a four-year period from 2008 through 2012. However, after one year, PPL can make the transition into a library system which operates with drastically fewer branches and a lower level of service and programs. BECAUSE THE 2008 PPL AGREEMENT OBLIGATES THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO PAY $3.5 MILLION annually over the term of the Agreement, the City and Patrons of the Library will have no recourse but to accept less in library services and branch locations for the same amount of City funding.


DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WE DON’T THINK SO.

Currently, the 2008 Agreement does not provide for the City to terminate or to re-negotiate the Agreement, should PPL decide to drastically reduce branches, staff and/or library services.

CALL THE MAYOR at (401) 421-7740 and demand that he add an escape clause to the Agreement for Library Services BEFORE the City Council votes on this agreement next week.

Demand, as well, that he and PPL commit to re-opening the Washington Park Branch Library in its original location NOW. The City has spent taxpayer dollars to repair and renovate the structure and the Library has failed to resume operations in the Washington Park building.

We invite you to attend our press conference at 5:00 p.m. this Thursday, July 24, at the former Washington Park branch library (1316 Broad Street) to call upon the Mayor and PPL to FIX THIS FLAWED AGREEMENT.

La Lucha Continua and Small World Stories

The Providence Journal reports that 70 people rallied yesterday, in front of Providence's 'Garrahy' Building [family court,etc.] supporting the 31 arrested.[see my amber alert of 7/17]

I will try to post the link soon.


Please visit the Rhode Island Future website
http://rifuture.org/

and http://www.oceanstateaction.org/
the site for Ocean State Action

for updates.

On a cheerful note: I had occasion to speak with 2 women in two departments of a giant pharmaceutical company. No need to give any advertising to this company. The women were in Pennsylvania and Missouri.

The second woman, Judy and I began talking about baseball. I have few opportunities to speak with anyone from that area, so naturally I ask questions about the St. Louis Cardinals. Judy's affection for her team was powerful. She shared that her brother John ( # 41, RHP) played for them for two years.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=fulghjo01

If he played against the Mets at Shea, I might have been in attendance...

***

Karen in Pennsylvania has the last name "Sherlock". She did not realize that a wonderful man named Paul Sherlock advocated and legislated for RI's children with special needs for many years...His name is revered and his death was mourned by many.

Amber Alert -- We are being arrested -- Not Joking

Dozens Arrested in raids at courthouses 08:25 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 BY KAREN LEE ZINER and FELICE J. FREYER Journal Staff Writers Leonardo Tornes waits outside the ICE headquarters building in Providence last night. > The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez PROVIDENCE — Federal immigration agents and state police raided six Rhode Island courthouses yesterday, arresting dozens of people employed by two contractors hired by the state. The detainees are all believed to be maintenance workers. The raid led to a noisy demonstration by at least 100 people outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office at 200 Dyer St. last night. Police officers arrived as the crowd grew; at one point the police pushed a line of demonstrators across the parking lot. Some in the crowd were relatives of the arrestees. Others included clergy and at least one state representative, Grace Diaz, and members of immigrant advocacy groups. Leonardo Tornes said his sister, Francesca Tornes, an undocumented worker from Mexico, was arrested at the Kent County Courthouse. "She has two children — one and five years old," he said through an interpreter. "A friend who worked with her called, and said they have taken everyone," he said. Craig N. Berke, spokesman for the Rhode Island judiciary, said the raids occurred simultaneously at 5 p.m. at all six Rhode Island courthouses. He said a "substantial" percentage of employees of two contractors hired by the state were taken into custody. Berke declined to name the contractors, however relatives of some of the detainees identified one company as the Tri-State Enterprises employment agency on North Main Street. Berke said those who were arrested "are not state employees. They are not employees of the judiciary." He said "dozens" of people were arrested but he did not have an exact count. "The investigation was initiated by the judiciary," Berke said. "In early June, we forwarded evidence to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Rhode Island State Police. The judiciary has been cooperating with that investigation on a daily basis since then." Berke declined to say what the evidence was. "I also know that there was at least one courthouse –– I'm not sure if there was more than one –– in which no employees of the vendor were taken into custody," Berke said. "They were screened but not taken into custody." In the two Providence courthouses, the workers were just starting their shift at 5 p.m. and would have normally stayed till 9 or 10 p.m. In the other courthouses, the workers come in earlier and are normally done by 6 p.m. Asked who will clean the courthouses today, Berke said, "They'll be cleaned. Not every employee of the vendor was taken into custody today. And we also have daytime maintenance staff who will have to do double duty" today. Berke said that as of last night the two contractors were still employed by the judiciary. The courthouses that were raided are: the Garrahy Judicial Complex and the Licht Judicial Complex, both in Providence; the McGrath Judicial Complex in Wakefield; the Murray Judicial Complex in Newport; Kent County Courthouse in Warwick, and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston. Paula Grenier, an ICE spokeswoman in Boston, said an enforcement action had been carried out "as a result of a joint investigation by federal and state authorities." Grenier said the action "is part of an ongoing criminal investigation." She would not confirm that the courthouses were raided, or say how many people were detained. The raids occurred during the first meeting of a governor's advisory panel, charged with monitoring any "unintended consequences" of Governor Carcieri's executive order cracking down on illegal immigration. The order issued in March requires that state police be deputized with certain immigration enforcement powers. News of yesterday's raids spread rapidly as courthouse workers phoned relatives, friends and community leaders. Demonstrators assembled outside the ICE building in Providence at about 8 p.m. As police arrived, the group divided and people rushed to doors at the front and rear of the building. Juan Garcia, organizer for Immigrants in Action at St. Teresa Church in Olneyville, said his cell phone began buzzing at 4:45 p.m. as he was driving toward Newport from Providence to discuss fallout from an immigration raid there several weeks ago that led to 42 arrests at stores, restaurants and apartments. He said he learned the arrests had occurred at the Kent County courthouse "and right here in Providence," he said pointing to the Garrahy Judicial Complex across the street from ICE headquarters. Some of the women who were arrested "have little kids, bigger kids," he said. Garcia said, "This is the consequence of the governor's executive order. All companies receiving money from the state will review the legal status of people." (The order requires using a federal E-Verify system for all new hires, but not current employees). Monica and Jacqueline Lorenti said their stepfather was arrested at Superior Court. "His boss called. He said he couldn't do anything, nothing — everybody had the handcuffs on." Forward

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Fireworks Postponed Due To Plovers

Fireworks cannot be exploded within 3/4 of a mile of a known plover nest, and two pairs of plovers selected the private beach club on Boston Neck Road to set up housekeeping. A set of chicks has already learned to fly, so they could flee in the event the sky explodes at dusk. But the two chicks of a second pair won’t be ready to fly until July 14.

read more | digg story

June 12, 1982

June 12, 1982 became one of the most joyful and important days of my life. I hope to remember it always. Early in the morning I took a train from Long Island into Penn Station (Manhattan) and then met people at an assigned street. My friend Sharon was probably on that train with me.

I had attended a training about 2 weeks earlier to be a volunteer "peacekeeper" during a rally for an International Nuclear Freeze. The training included preparing for medical problems, pickpockets and people trying to incite violence. Not one of those things occurred on my watch.

I was given some fliers and assigned to meet the busloads of people arriving from Minnesota or North Dakota or ? Idaho?, some distant foreign part of the U.S. All told there were a million of us that day. Some people spent two days on buses. I did briefly encounter some of my relatives from Connecticut, including my grandmother (Bubbe)'s baby sister, Virginia, and two or three or maybe all four of her children. My cousin Michael was present, but I didn't see him until the following day.

I greeted the busloads of people and asked them to wait and face a certain direction. We waited for hours, sharing water and stories. This was in the days before cell phones. Before pagers, even. At one point I was given the word, that my block would begin marching within half an hour. Our meeting place was Central Park. I alerted the crowd. Bear in mind, that I was 18 and a week away from graduating high school. The vast majority of marchers were my parents' age and older. And even the college students were my senior. Shortly after I conveyed the message. I learned that we were, in fact, facing the wrong direction. It was embarrassing to ask the friendly assemblage to turn around 180 degrees. Everyone thought nothing of it. There was a sense of vulnerability and intimacy and warmth. I loved (and still love) every single person I met that day.

There were construction workers, police officers and others on duty. Many of them donned Nuclear Freeze buttons. Some wore the old peace sign (the one Britain's CND gave the world) or accepted flowers for their lapels. They accepted water and shared theirs as well.

During the day I saw several of my teachers including Tom Murphy and Dr. Maureen Joy. Sharon was the only classmate, I know for sure, participated. Probably Grace Paley was there. The Bread and Puppet Theatre was there. I don't know if Marsh Z. West was there or Harold Rogovin. Wouldn't surprise me one whit to learn they were.

I am one of thousands who made it to Central Park after the speeches and songs were over. No matter, we spent about three hours filling garbage bags with any remnants on the ground.

Then I walked with someone from Pennsylvania ( possibly named Tom or John or James?) all the way to Bubbe's apartment in Greenwich Village. Why I didn't take a bus or subway, I don't recall. I may have had a slight infatuation with James (or Tom or John) and we talked about life as we walked. New Yorkers all over had banners and flags hanging from their windows.

I love New York. I love the work that went into that day. I believe that we can (and must) live without nuclear weapons. This we owe to our children and grandparents. Peace is possible. Love is powerful.

Sabiduria Oxlajuj Noj: Out of Hardship Came Strength and Hope

I belong to the Massachusetts Immigrant And Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. This post includes an excerpt from email they sent me (2 days ago). If the link, doesn't work in this post, I will add it below or to another post soon. Sabiduria Oxlajúj Noj: Out of Hardship Came Strength and Hope On March 6, 2007, the largest immigration raid in Massachusetts' history sent chaos and confusion throughout the halls of a New Bedford textile factory. The raid resulted in the detention of over 350 workers, many of Guatemalan decent, in Texas, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The last of these workers was finally released from detention in March 2008. As the ensuing months of fear and uncertainty gripped the New Bedford Guatemalan community - and the immigrant population as a whole - a group of five courageous women pulled together to form a sewing collective called Sabiduria Oxlajúj Noj, which translates to the artistic connotation of the thirteenth day of the Mayan calendar. Since its formation, Sabiduria Oxlajúj Noj has produced beautiful and intricately detailed children's clothing and women's handbags. Please visit http://sabiduriaoxlajujnoj.googlepages.com to view products and get in touch with Sabiduria Oxlajúj Noj. Comments, collaborators, and business/marketing suggestions are warmly welcomed. Tomorrow is the AIDS Walk in Rhode Island, sponsored by AIDS Project Rhode Island, an organization which I have enormous respect for. Years ago, I never failed to walk or volunteer (often, for some reason, standing on a street corner)...but there is so much happening that pulls me in different directions... This blogs readers are mostly, I believe, not in Rhode Island, but no matter where you are, you can find an AIDS Service Organization to support. On my list of "missing links" below, there is APRI's link. It has wonderful information within. Featured Article Donate to the New American Fund Save the Date! Give Liberty a Hand 2008 11 June 2008 Quick Links... Welcoming Massachusetts MIRA Homepage Become a MIRA Member! Donate to MIRA Truth About Immigrants in Massachusetts Job Listings List of MIRA Members Recent Press Detention and Deportation Resources

Thank You,Luke & Everyone at Social Justice Night

I received this wonderful email from Luke. There were links of all the participating groups, but I fear botching this post, so I will add them to my list below. For the same reason, I am including the paragraph of my own words which he thoughtfully included.

It is so glorious to be at a gathering of activists and NOT know everyone present. i.e. finding new energy, building stronger coalitions...

Anyone remember the Dorrwar Bookstore?


Report back from Social Justice Night

About a week ago, Wednesday May 28th, was the third and largest event in
a recent effort to have a monthly gathering for Providence activists,
organizers, and interested people. The evening had a great positive
energy, and a lot of information was exchanged and connections made.

We're still finalizing a date and location for the June gathering. Sign
up to the announcement list to be sure to hear about it:
http://lists.danky.com/listinfo.cgi/ppp-danky.com

A couple pictures from the night:
http://socialjusticenight.blogspot.com/

-

A little news:

PIPS
June 11th, Wednesday night special that will involve a bonfire on the
shoreline somewhere.
email joan.m.wyand@gmail.com for more info.

Armory Park Farmer's Market, on Parade Street.
Red Planet joins forces with Cityfarm and Big Train to form the Little
City Growers Coop.
Every Thursday afternoon 3-7pm, June 12 - November.

Check out the RI Green Party web calendar:
http://www.greens.org/ri/events.html

AS220
Saturday, June 7
1:30pm - 3pm, Ralph Nader Book Signing.
Suggested $10/$5 student/low-income, no one turned away.

Apeiron Sustainable Living Festival
This weekend, 7 & 8th
http://www.apeiron.org/slf_fest_2008/slf_web_08_home.html


And many comments:

Thanks for putting together a great event. So many cool people in one
room; I'm surprised (a) there wasn't an explosion and (b) there wasn't a
National Security raid. :-)
'Til next time, and I'll definitely be there next time,"
-Eric Siegel, Co-Chair, Green Party of Rhode Island

There are a few groups that weren't there that I'd like to see there
that weren't, especially PrYSM. I'd also like to see a bit more time
for dialog, coming up with shared events and projects, etc. Maybe in the
future 1/3 of groups could present each time or something. I think
having everyone present was good this time though.
-Michael C

I've been meaning to write and say what a great event Social Justice
night was. Super organized - particularly for such a large unwieldy
crowd with so many things to say, and excellent all-around vibe. Good
food too!
I'm the kind of lady who wells up with tears during any sort of
demonstration or rally or march - not out of sadness for the given
topic, but for the overwhelming sense of empowerment displayed through a
group of people coming together to seek justice. Thankfully I've never
noticed other rally weepers as that would really fuck up the movement.
But I was nervous that the assembling of so many radical wonders on
Social Justice night would elicit my usual moment of verklemptness. It
didn't. Instead, the evening was a solid planning meeting for the
future. Like you said, no complaining or ranting, just action and
getting shit done. Thanks for letting me be a part.
-Deb D

Well... let's see. My own thoughts are that in general the event this
past Thursday re-confirmed for me how much I love AS220. I've been out
of the loop for a long time, but I can see that the idea of intellectual
freedom still shines.
On the topic of Social Justice Night I was struck by the general good
nature of the audience. Also the fact of having all those groups
presenting information at one time was nice, condensing and intensifying
while simplifying the process of information gathering.
-Paul P

One thing that stood out was how relatable and compelling the
presentations were by people directly affected by what they spoke on.
Really inspiring. I guess the perspective epiphany that it encouraged
in me was realizing if you strive for equality then everyones issues and
concerns affect everyone else and should be taken seriously and weighed
the same. I guess the movement towards solidarity and awareness of
community issues were what struck me the deepest, the respect was so
palpable, I cannot recall attending any such event elsewhere before.
-Muffy B

What did i get out of this recent gathering? apart from getting those
"inspiration chills" every third speaker or so, i learned a tremendous
amount. i found the library reform lecture particularly useful. seeing
my friends (Jenine, Chris, Luke, Muffy, others) in this environment was
strengthening. i can't think of a better word. i feel more aware and
hopefully more plugged in.
-Justin K

It really did feel positive and collaborative in a way that I haven't
experienced in a long time. I was really glad to be there.
One suggestion of folks to include next time - The Wiley Center. They
are based in Pawtucket but do work for poor people all over RI. Right
now they are working on actions re: utilities shut offs. Fighting the
good fight every day, and their good work should definitely be a part of
this coalitions of folks.
Thanks again. I'll be at the next one for sure.
-Sara A

I was really excited about the night- everything was really nice. the
atmosphere of excitment and mutual support was really encouraging.
I was personally really struck by Jean and Juan (my NUA family) sides
of them that I hadn't really seen before came out (jean shy and juan
preacher man) so to see a transformation happening just by this event
alone was really wonderful.
I was also excited by the food and to see people eating together food
that was collected and made by everyone there. Though I have to admit
I was a little bummed that people were not recycling things so much
and there wasn't a compost... maybe i can help with that sort of thing
next time.
-Jeff H

It's Jose` just wanted to reply and say it was pretty awesome I met new
people, Learned new things I didn't know about the Community, and Got
Involved with some people to help ^.^
-Jose` M

It was great to see and reconnect so many folks that have been
organizing in Providence for a long time, and great to see new faces. I
also was excited to learn about what people I have seen around are
doing. I am definitely pysched to see this grow into a strong network in
providence..
thanks for organizing!
-mary blue, Farmacy Herbs

I asked to present early because I usually am in bed by 10. But come
10:15, I was still glued to my seat! I loved the diversity of causes and
personalities, from punks to librarians. Two people approached me at
break and asked if they could volunteer for our organization. Thank you
for organizing Social Justice Night. I was very impressed by your
thorough and thoughtful planning. I hope I can participate next month.
Some kind of more structured discussion sounds interesting.
-Rachel, RI HUD Tenant Project

a major thing i got out of the event was meeting Alicia from english for
action. Alicia agreed to connect me with a spanish speaking member of
the providence community trying to learn english, so that both of us can
work on our second languages.
I also liked that there was a lot of informational literature
circulating the event- the presentations were a lot to take in, and it
was good to be able to go back and read about these organizations later.
I think that anything that can be done to bridge the gap between the
spanish speaking and english speaking communities of providence would
make future events that much more successful. Perhaps having some
translators on board for publicity, informational literature, and
translation of the actual event is the best way to do this.
-Mary B

We were very happy to participate and would like to be part of future
gatherings.
Thank you for the hard work! Be in touch with us...
Laughter,
-Alicia EFA

The social justice night at AS220 was amazing. I had to leave when it
was barely half over, but was able to sign a few petitions, see many
unfamiliar faces, see dear Alex Svoboda, and several Library Reformers,
long-haired men, short-haired women, people with only facial hair or
with none! Hearing about different groups working in parallel ways for
justice and health care and civil rights...was inspiring. Some folks
don't use the internet. Imagine!
Thank you, friends, for that evening and all the labor that went into
it...La Lucha Continua.
-Nomi H
http://neverdied.blogspot.com/

I just wanted to say thanks for a great event. It was really good to
hear what all these organizations are doing and meet the respective
people involved.
-Mike Eng, RAB

relive childhood fears --no, have fun & Love Libraries

Not About The Buildings

http://www.notaboutthebuildings.com/

This event is promising. I am a very good speller. I can spell words I've only seen once and which I certainly cannot define or use correctly. This is one of the benefits of studying Latin for six years.

Richard Walton's birthday celebration/fundraiser for Amos House and the Providence-Niquinohomo Sister Cities Project is this coming Sunday afternoon. It is a potluck, but don't let that stop you from showing up. And there is no set amount of donation expected. Usually there are dogs and babies, sometimes baby dogs and one year baby bunnies.

There is always music. Music from some of those present. And ice cream.

The social justice night at AS220 two nights ago was amazing. I had to leave when it was barely half over, but was able to sign a few petitions, see many unfamiliar faces, see dear Alex Svoboda, and several Library Reformers, long-haired men, short-haired women, people with only facial hair or with none! Hearing about different groups working in parallel ways for justice and health care and civil rights...was inspiring. Many of the groups I link to below ( "missing links") were represented. Some folks don't use the internet. Imagine!

Thank you, friends, for that evening and all the labor that went into it...La Lucha Continua.

From Victoria Huang: China Earthquake Relief Cmte. of RI

> VICTORIA HUANG <admin@riforchinaquakerelief.org> 5/29/2008 9:20:51 AM >>>

Dear Mr. Vincent,

Good morning.

My name is Victoria Huang. I am contacting you on behalf of China Earthquake Relief Committee of Rhode Island.

This committee was established on May 18th in response to the devastating 8.0 magnitude earthquake that happened on May 12th in Southwest of China. Our goal is o raise as much as possible to help the victims. So far we have raised more than $120,000 with huge support from government officals, local Chinese community and RI public. We have a website:

www.RIforChinaQuakeRelief.org reporting our progress and news briefing about

the situation in China.

One of our donors told us that you have access to a large number of people and you have a name in helping non-profit organizations. This is exactly what we need now in order to reach our goal. Could you please take a look at our website and advise if you can help ?

I can be reached at 401 965 1140 any time.

Thanks for your time and attention.

Victoria Huang

A Loyal Jewish Soldier in General J.C. Christian's Army

I am. (see title above).

Jesus' General has some mighty fine links, all firmly Heterosexual and Manly.
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/

Read the comments for detailed analysis, footnotery, et cetera.

Soldier once warned family: Investigate if I die

Ciara Durkin warned her family before returning to Afghanistan, "If anything happens to me, you guys make sure it gets investigated."What seemed a joke at the time could have been eerily prescient as Durkin, a National Guard specialist, was found dead, shot once in the head, within the fortified walls of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

I wish that I'd met Ciara Durkin--I've read many detailed accounts about her life. How her family, her teachers, friends and co-workers all adored her...

I imagine talking about the Red Sox and the Mets. We could have gone to a PawSox game ( the triple-A affiliate for the Boston Red Sox is in Providence, Rhode Island).

Ciara's love for others, and her sense of joy inspire me.

I check her family's website, http://www.ciaraweerabrat.com/index.html regularly for updates and am now on the mailing list for news. We all deserve to know who killed her and why.

read more | digg story

Social Justice Night: May 28 @AS220 in Providence, RI

This looks like an entirely promising important event.
I tried to post the webpage and the email about this. I tried 4 times. The results were 4 sets of empty pages.

Here's the link, I hope. My guess is that this site will be updated between today and May 28...more folks coming on board.

http://socialjusticenight.blogspot.com/

My trouble with posting successfully is somehow related to my lack of owning a computer currently.

Thank you dear patient readers and anonymous commenters.

Grace Paley Documentary Needs Funds!

I'm sending this short note to pretty much all my lists. For those of you getting this, I was able to

watch an 18 minute beginning to a film about Grace Paley, to be called: Grace Paley: Collected Shorts.

For those who don't know who Grace Paley was (she died last August), visit your

bookstore. Grace's voice was unique - as was her life. Many of us in the peace

movement and the women's movement count it as a privilege to say we were

arrested with her.

Lilly Rivlin needs to raise more than a half million dollars to get the film finished. I'm sure she will

do that - provided she has help. This is not a fund appeal letter - it is an appeal for anyone who

knew Grace and her work to think of people who do have funds. People in the literary world, in the

world of film, of art. And of course, if you want to help directly with a check you can send it to

Lilly Rivlin made out to "Women Make Movies", % Lilly Rivlin, 463 West St., Apt. 510 A, NYC 10014.

You can also visit the website: www.LillyRivlin.com.

So put your thinking caps on. The remarkable Grace, who meant so much to so many of us

(there must already have been six different memorials). Grace was a whole and complete human

being who saw no way to draw a clear line between art and protest. So, if you have any idea on

sources that can help with funding, get them to check in with Lilly Rivlin. Meanwhile, judging from

the 18 minute segment I saw, all of us will have a great film to look forward to, and a means to

introduce a whole new generation to the life and work of one of America's greats.

David McReynolds

I received this from David today (less than 2 hours ago!). I don't know Ms. Rivlin, but the address above is the same one Suzanne and Peter Ruta live in, so I could have passed her in a corridor.

Grace Paley and Marsha Z. West are surely celebrating the Marriage Victory in California with Ancestors. Harold Rogovin might be chuckling.