Peace and Human Rights Events in Detroit

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Here are some events for the year end and the opening of the new year. We ask you to read the invitation to support, or even join, an intentional community being formed in Detroit. The email we got from a friend who is also a member of the community is reprinted at the end of this mail. Please pass it on to any young people who may be interested.

In a few weeks we’ll observe another MLK Day. Because so much needs yet to be done it seems appropriate to recall these lines from his book Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, MLK, 1958, reprint published 2010:

“… any religion which professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the social and economic conditions that scar the soul is a spiritually moribund religion waiting for the day to be buried.  It has well been said: ‘A religion that ends with the individual, ends.’”

And :

“To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system….  Noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber.”

Peace, Mike and Carmen

Dec 27, Mon, 6:30 pm Free Gaza vigil outside Dearborn City Hall, remembering the victims of the Gaza massacre. Main Speakers : Huwaida Arraf & Adam Shapiro. The Free Gaza Movement is a coalition of human rights organizations and activists formed to challenge the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by sailing humanitarian aid ships to Gaza. The group has more than 70 endorsers, including Desmond Tutu and Noam Chomsky. The organizations participating in the Free Gaza Movement include the International Solidarity Movement. The activists participating in the effort include Jeff Halper, Hedy Epstein, Lauren Booth, and members of various Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious organizations.

Nour Saker & Ahmad Hasan will be speaking on behalf of the U.S to Gaza Organization & upcoming events. We will be selling U.S Aid To Gaza bracelets $3/ all proceeds will go to The U.S Boat To Gaza & We will be filming this event/ please come dressed in black we will provide face masks/ candles / signs. Any questions please call 313-492-8362

DEC 30, Thus, 6-10 p.m. THE DETROIT COALITION AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, WAR ZONES TO PEACE ZONES!! Holiday Kwanzaa Celebration. SHARED FEAST – PLEASE BRING A DISH. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4605 Cass, Detroit 48201 (Wayne State campus) in the parlor, entrance off Cass. FREE …DONATIONS WELCOME. Reports from families. Update on accomplishments and cases. Food, Entertainment, Music…CELEBRATION!! Please RSVP: DetCoalition@att.net or 313.963.8116.

Jan 2, Sun 7pm. Action by Presence invites you to Detroit Soup where they will present their mission of street retreats and seek to be voted by those present to receive a grant. Detroit Soup is a grass roots organization that provides mini-grants to local non-profits. Above Mexicantown Bakery: 4330 West Vernor, Detroit, Doors at 7:00pm; Dinner at 8:00pm. Pay $5 for a delicious soup dinner. Learn about creative projects happening in Detroit. Vote on which project to fund with the money raised from the meal that night. Hear brief presentations by groups and individuals trying to make a difference in Detroit. We hope you will consider supporting Action By Presence, more on their work is at www.ActionByPresence.com. More about Detroit soup at www.DetroitSoup.org.

Jan 8, SAT Noon WOMEN IN BLACK Silent Peace Walk, Grosse Pte., corner of Mack and Moross. Please wear black, women, men and children all are welcome. To subscribe to email notice of future WIB monthly walks: WIB-Detroit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

January 10, Monday 2011, 7:00 PM sharp. Steve Tobocman: The Future of Immigration in Detroit. Grosse Pte. Library – Ewald Branch, 15175 Jefferson, GP Park 48230 (between Lakepointe & Maryland). Steve Tobocman former Michigan House Majority Floor Leader, has been commissioned by the New Economy Initiative, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Skillman Foundation to study the impacts that immigration and global connectedness have on metro Detroit.  In his own words, “Nothing is more powerful for remaking Detroit as a center of innovation, entrepreneurship and population growth, than embracing and increasing immigrant populations and the entrepreneurial culture and global connections that they bring and deliver.” Pointes for Peace http://www.pointesforpeace.org, more information call Carol at (313) 882-7732 or Pointes for Peace@yahoo.com

Jan 17, Mon, 12 Noon RALLY & MARCH FOR JOBS, PEACE & JUSTICE Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. & The Spirit of Detroit. Central United Methodist Church, 23 East Adams at Woodward, Detroit (By Comerica Park ). Speakers include: Willie “Mukasa” Ricks, Field Secretary for SNCC, JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Councilwoman, and more. Indoor Rally, Spirit of Detroit Awards, Music,  Woodward March, Cultural Program, Refreshments. In the spirit of Dr. King’s call to service, please bring a donation of warm winter wear items for the Homeless Outreach Program at Central United Methodist Church.

Jan 20, Thus, 7pm, Movie showing: “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward”, by director Peter Joseph at the Royal Oak Main Art Theater. This film is a feature length documentary work which will present a case for a needed transition out of the current socioeconomic monetary paradigm which governs the entire world society. This subject matter will transcend the issues of cultural relativism and traditional ideology and move to relate the core, empirical “life ground” attributes of human and social survival, extrapolating those immutable natural laws into a new sustainable social paradigm called a “Resource-Based Economy”. The screening will start at 7:00 PM (ET) with a brief introduction prior to the screening. The tickets will be $5.00 for all attendees.  After the screening there will be a question and answer session to discuss the different viewpoints in the audience. The local chapter website is: http://zeitmi.blogspot.com/.

Attention kindred spirits,

We are a small group of friends currently trying to establish an intentional community on the east side of Detroit with a vision of combining spirituality/prayer from diverse traditions with social justice work We are looking to fill the remaining rooms of our big, old house with folks who can share this vision.  Our house is located a block away from the Boggs Center and is close to Belle Isle.    If you enjoy building community, learning about other faith traditions, sharing from your own tradition, being a good neighbor, contributing to a more just Detroit, working with your hands, working with power tools, cooking, gardening, walking a dog, or making things beautiful, then this would be a great place for you.  Currently, our community has three residents – Jessie, Jaimie, and Sandra – and 2 members-at-large – John and Deepti.  We hope to find two more residents, for a grand total of 5 or 6 at most.  Monthly contributions for household repairs, improvements, bills, and taxes vary depending upon means.  We would be happy to have someone contribute work on the house in lieu of some portion of this.  Although we would ideally prefer someone who will be staying around for some time, we are open to short-term residents as well.  If you’re interested, you can contact us at 734.926.8085