A forgotten narrative from our (anti) colonial past

Before Lexington and Concord, there was Worcester, where in 1774 militia from 37 surrounding towns seized control of the county court in defiance of the British, who had revoked the Massachusetts charter, and by extension, the authority of individual town meetings, in retribution for the Boston Tea Party. What citizens in Worcester did was quickly copied in other Massachusetts shire towns, except in Boston, where British troops guarded the courthouse.

In this TEDx talk, historian Ray Raphael asks why this early story isn't better known and asks who decides which stories are told. If we, the people, are the stewards of our own history, are we too focused on the narratives that come from established authors (Emerson, Longfellow), featuring individual and heroic leaders (Paul Revere on his midnight ride), blood and thunder (the shot heard round the world), and Davids overcoming Goliaths? What stories have we missed? What kinds of resistance might they inspire?

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2-day workshop on Kingian Nonviolence

This workshop comes highly recommended! Check it out if you're in the Phoenix area.

Core Introduction to Kingian Nonviolence: a 2-day workshop
Saturday, September 18, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, September 19, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Held at the Sunlight Alliance Healing Center, 4640 W. Redfield Road, Glendale, Arizona
Sponsored by the Namaste Center, Sunlight Alliance, and the Arizona Department of Peace Campaign

This interactive and inspirational training presents introductory information about nonviolence as a courageous way of life and a powerful strategy for social change. Special emphasis is given to the Six Principles and Six Steps of Nonviolence according to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and their use during various civil rights campaigns.

All trainers have been certified by civil rights pioneer Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., who worked closely with Dr. King for eleven years.

Cost of the workshop is $40, which includes a workbook, essays, snacks and an invaluable experience among a community of earnest people seeking a dynamic solution to today's violent world. Scholarships are available.

To request a registration form and/or for questions, please contact Nicolas Katkevich at 480-363-2120, Mark Klym at 602-799-4572 or email phoenixNonviolence@gmail.com

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Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country!

The business of America is business, and that includes overturning democratically elected governments, assassination, and military invasion at a level unmatched in history, all in the name of cake for the elite and crumbs for the rest of us.

Video by William Blum and Charles Mauch, animated by Neema Sky, and based on Rogue State and Killing Hope, both by William Blum.

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Arrests at Aetna: "We know people are dying every day... people are fed up with being abused by insurance companies."

More protests are coming--www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org.



Write-up and additional video at MRZine/Monthly Review.

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United for Peace with Justice asks for action to prevent escalation of US-Iranian conflict

The violent suppression of election protests by the current Iranian government should not be used as an excuse for cancelling direct talks between the US and Iraq. The official White House position supports these talks, and United for Peace with Justice asks that you call and sign an on-line petition to keep communication on track and to emphasize the protesters' calls for non-interference in Iran's internal affairs.

1] Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and let it know that you want Obama to stick to his promise of direct talks with Iran.

2] Sign-on to Just Foreign Policy's petition to President Obama, which urges him to keep to the principle of non-interference in Iran's internal affairs.

And to show solidarity with the people of Iran and their elementary right to protest their government's actions, UFPJ urges supporters to join up with the non-partisan United For Iran Global Day of Action, for a national rally July 25--check the website to see if there is an action near you. (Blog editor's note: The web address is http://united4iran.com, but we couldn't access the page today.)

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Petition on depleted uranium munitions from Veterans for Peace

Veterans for Peace chapter 116, in Boonville, California, is asking people to sign on to a call to Congress for a moratorium and ultimate ban on the use of depleted uranium munitions. If you'd like a copy of the petition, please email the office at afd@thealliancefordemocracy.org, or call 781-894-1179.

John Pitts, chapter president, and John Lewallen, chapter vice president, write:

Depleted uranium munitions (DU) is an illegal weapon and its use by the US Military and other countries must be stopped. We are gathering signatures on a petition to Congress to call for a moratorium leading to a ban on the use of depleted uranium munitions. The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for a ban, the United Nations has declared depleted uranium an illegal weapon and we are now asking our Congress to call for a moratorium leading to a ban.

We are asking all veterans groups and all organizations and individuals that cherish life and want to protect our planet to join in collecting signatures on the enclosed petitions. ... We will amass and forward petitions to the proper congressional committee demanding they begin hearings... thank you for your help in obtaining signatures. We also encourage you to mail a copy of this letter with blank petitions to other organizations, your friends and family.

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RNC update

We received an email this morning from United for Peace and Justice on the situation in St. Paul. Briefly, demonstrators there have been met with a heavily armed and aggressive police presence. Police have on occasion deliberately provoked peaceful protesters, used excessive force, harassed people simply walking along the street, stopped and searched vehicles for no clear reason, and raided houses used by organizers.

Leslie Cagan, UFPJ national coordinator, writes:

On Tuesday afternoon, they literally pulled the plug and turned off the electricity at a permitted outdoor concert. The timing of this led to a situation where hundreds of understandably angry people ended up joining a march being led by the Poor Peoples Campaign for Economic Human Rights, a march that organizers were insisting be nonviolent. In other words, the police set up a dynamic that could have turned ugly, but the skill of the organizers kept things calm and focused.

All of this - and much more - needs to be understood in the context of the overwhelming presence of police. Police from all around the Twin Cities have been put to work, and they have also brought in police units from around Minnesota and from as far away as Philadelphia, PA. The National Guard and state troopers are in the mix, to say nothing of the Secret Service, Homeland Security and who knows who else from the federal government!

Clearly our rights to assemble, protest, and speak freely are under attack. With two more days of convention scheduled, UFPJ urges everyone to take two actions:

First, to call the Mayor of St. Paul, Chris Coleman, at 651-266-8510. Tell him you are watching events and that he must stand up for Constitutional rights and reign in the police.

Second, this is a story that's gotten scant play in the media--call the mainstreamers and tell them you have had enough of the Sarah Palin show. Demand they tell the real story of what's happening in St. Paul this week.

For background, UFPJ recommends Marjorie Cohn's Counterpunch article, "Raiding Democracy in St. Paul."

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News from Portland Alliance for Democracy

In September and October, Portland Alliance for Democracy will be showing a series of films on non-violence, and hosting Ohio election expert Richard Hayes Phillips--and co-sponsoring a forum on fair trade--and continuing to campaign for Instant Runoff Voting...oh, and organizing a conference on water.

Here's the details: "Movie Nights" kick off Wednesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. at the Bridgeport United Church of Christ, 621 NE 76th Ave. The series, "A Force More Powerful", focuses on non-violent resistance as one of the most important but least understood means of overcoming oppression and authoritarian rule. The first films look at the life and work of Gandhi, and the sit-ins and boycotts that desegregated downtown Nashville. Future film topics include Yugoslavian resistance to Slobodan Milocevic (Sept. 24), Danish resistance to the Nazis and the Polish Solidarity movement (Oct. 15) and anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and anti-Pinochet organizing in Chile (Oct. 29).

Richard Hayes Phillips will speak Wednesday, September 17, at the First Unitarian Church, Eliot Hall, SW 12th and Salmon Streets, Portland. No one turned away, but a $5-10 donation is appreciated. The church's Democracy Action Group and KBOO community radio(90.7 FM) are co-sponsoring.

Phillips began investigating the Ohio election when he received an e-mail containing obviously erroneous election results from Cleveland. He quickly found that hundred of votes in certain precincts had inexplicably shifted from John Kerry to other presidential candidates. His investigation is detailed in Witness to a Crime: A Citizen's Audit of an American Election..

Next moonth, the Trade Forum will take place on Tuesday, October 14, at 7 p.m. at Portland's First Unitarian Church (note--new date! If you copied the original Sept. 24 date onto your calendar change it now!). Representatives of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign will discuss past failures of "Free Trade" agreements, examine the Trade Act of 2008, and hopefully get commitments of support for the bill from the two candidates running for Oregon's open Senate seat. Candidates Gordon Smith (R-incumbent) and Jeff Merkley (D) have been invited. Mr. Merkley has accepted and will be present. No word yet from Smith.

Good news, too, on IRV--the chapter's Instant Runoff Voting campaign has commitments from both their state senators and representatives to introduce local option IRV into both legislative chambers when they convene next year.

Lastly, the chapter is planning a water conference for October 17-18 at the First Unitarian Church--details to follow!

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September 11: The 100th Anniversary of Gandhi's Launch of Satyagraha

Plan an event on Sept. 11th or thereafter during this Centennial Month or Year of Gandhi's launch. There is another way.

Dave Lewit, New England Alliance for Democracy writes:

September 11 is the 5th anniversary of the bombings of the World Trade Towers in New York City and the Pentagon. It is also the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's launch of Satyagraha--Truth Force, or strategic nonviolence in Johannesburg, South Africa. I see a contrast here--the 2001 events spell mendacity and death; the Gandhi event spells truth and life. Can the revived courageous event displace the fear-ridden event? How can the Gandhi event be commemorated? Should it be a day of reminiscence and honoring the man, or might it be a day of resolve to build a movement of nonviolence to bring justice and new society to our world?"

Dave's description of how to create Gandhi Circles for study leading toward building a movement of nonviolence to bring justice and a new society to our world in posted at the New England Alliance chapters' website. There is also a series of Group Readings and Discussion on Strategic Nonviolence to print out. Also, read award-winning journalist Bob Koehler's "Twenty Ghandis: Reclaiming 9/11 through Satyagraha" here.

You may wish to contact Dave at dlewit@igc.org. The Boston/Cambridge chapter has
organized a group reading on September 20. Or consult with Jean Maryborn (maryborn@earthlink.net) who has organized an event for Sunday, September 10 in Sandpoint, Idaho, for tips on publicity and a striking event flier.

We also recommend:
"A Force More Powerful," a three-hour documentary series (6 stand-alone segments), explores one of the 20th century's most important but least-understood stories: how nonviolent power overcame oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world. Narrated by Ben Kingsley, it premiered on PBS in September 2000.

"Bringing Down A Dictator," a one-hour documentary, is the inside story of how Milosevic was brought down--not by smoke and flames, but by a courageous and risky campaign of political defiance and massive civil disobedience (with US help). Narrated by Martin Sheen, it premiered on PBS in March 2002.

For more information and to order see www.aforcemorepowerful.org
.

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