Hear First-Hand Accounts of Guantanamo and Talk to Mahvish Khan, author & graduate of University of Miami Law School.
WHEN: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 5pm-6pm
WHERE: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables
SIGN THE GUESTBOOK: www.mahvishkhan.com
Mahvish Khan is an American lawyer, born to immigrant Pashtun parents in Michigan. Outraged that her country was illegally imprisoning people at Guantanamo, she volunteered to translate for the prisoners and eventually began representing an Afghan detainee. She spoke their language, understood their customs, and brought them Starbucks chai, the closest available drink to the kind of tea they would drink at home. And they quickly befriended her, offering fatherly advice as well as a uniquely personal insight into their plight, and that of their families thousands of miles away.For Mahvish Khan the experience was a validation of her Afghan heritage—as well as her American freedoms, which allowed her to intervene at Guantanamo purely out of her sense that it was the right thing to do. Mahvish Khan's story is a challenging, brave, and essential test of who she is —and who we are.
South Florida Protests Against the War in Iraq. TODAY! 5-8pm
Commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the War in Iraq: PROTEST!
SOUTH FLORIDA: TWO LOCATIONS
MIAMI LOCATION : Torch of Friendship (Biscayne Blvd)
by Bayside (Downtown Miami); When: 5pm--8pm
FT. LAUDERDALE LOCATION: Federal Building
299 East Broward Boulevard; When: 5pm--8pm
On March 19, 2008, people around Florida will mark the fifth anniversary of the illegal, unjust invasion of Iraq by the U.S. government with continued resistance in demonstrations on campuses and communities after work all around the state. Protests are being organized in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Gainesville. All of these demonstrations are being organized under the banner to end the war now: our united presence will be felt
throughout the state on this day.
"More than 70% of the people stand in opposition to the continued
occupation of Iraq, yet most of our political officials turn a blind
eye to the wishes of the majority. We are demonstrating in solidarity
with the Iraqi people and people all around the globe who oppose this
war that has killed a million Iraqis, thousands of U.S. soldiers and
left millions of Iraqis displaced as refugees," said Chris Ernesto and
organizer from St. Pete for Peace.
"Foreclosures are up 158% in Florida, tens of thousands have inadequate housing, healthcare, jobs and access to education while every resource—$400 million per day, nearly $5,000 per second—is being pumped into this racist war where the military-industrial corporations and big banks are reaping huge profits," said Muhammed Malik, an ANSWER organizer in Miami.
"In addition to the call to immediately end the war and our solidarity with the people fighting occupation in the Middle East, we want to initiate a larger call to bring the war home, to fight these same corporations and bankers, and their representatives in the Democratic and Republican Parties, in their war against working and poor people in the U.S." said Michael Prysner, and Iraq war veteran and
presenter at the March 15 and 16 Winter Soldier Hearings in
Washington, D.C.
For more information about local actions, please visit: http://www.answerfl.org
Visit http://5yearsofwar.com/ for all Tampa Bay actions on the 19th
Contact:Muhammed Malik, ANSWER-Miami @ 786-357-0326
e-mail address: [email protected]
IF NOT US, THEN WHO? IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS!
Student and community groups in the Miami area are organizing a candlelight vigil in support of lifting the blockade on the besieged civilian population in Gaza. The vigil will take place outside the Israeli consulate, 100 N. Biscayne Blvd. Miami(across the street from Bayside), Sunday January 27, 2008 @ 6:30 pm.
Demonstrations are taking place around the U.S., in Washington D.C., New York City (NY), Chicago (IL), Anaheim (CA), San Francisco (CA), Cleveland (Ohio) Costa Mesa (CA), Seattle (WA), Tampa (FL), North Carolina, South Dakota, & many other cities across the United States & the world. Last week, Israel tightened the blockade, cut off vital fuel supplies and sealed off Gaza's entry and exit points. Israel claimed that these actions were taken because of Palestinian rocket attacks on its southern towns. Yet, Israel rejected Hamas' recent call for ceasefire negotiations and has since killed dozens of Palestinian civilians and wounded hundreds more. As Gaza City has no electricity at night and doctors have begun to examine patients by candlelight, the Miami community lights candles with them, in the hopes that Israel will soon end this futile and brutal policy. Join Us @ the Israeli Consulate for a Candle Light Vigil & Stand with Gaza! At the vigil, organizers plan to read statements from residents of Gaza suffering under the blockade. For more information on the siege of gaza, visit: http://www.end-gaza-siege.ps
Sponsoring Organizations:A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition Florida, Amnesty International(FIU), Florida Palestine Solidarity Network, Council on American Islamic Relations, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights, Muslim American Society, Muslim Law Student Association, OASIS--Umiami, Association of Muslim Americans of North America, and concerned citizens from Homestead to
West Palm Beach. Muslims, Jews, Christians, People of all faiths, Atheists, People of all races/ethnicities United in Solidarity to Stand Up for Gaza!
Sunday, December 23rd: Fight the Burger King Bosses! Support Farmworkers Demands! After historic march on November 30th, its time to turn the heat up on Burger King and Florida Tomato Growers Exchange!When: December 23, 1-3pm
Where: Aventura Burger King on US 1 and Miami Gardens Drive
Who: Coalition of Immokalee Workers, ANSWER Coalition, Interfaith Worker Justice Coalition, Miami for Peace, St. Maurice, South Florida Peace and Justice Network.
As the U.S. government spends $5000 a second to occupy and oppress the people of Iraq and Afganistan, farmworkers are struggling and fighting against oppresion in Florida's fields, demanding one penny more per pound from the fast food giants that profit from the tomatoes they pick. Only through a unified struggle can we beat back the same warmongers and bosses that oppress the people in every part of the world. No Justice, No Peace!
Miami: Come to THE Human rights Benefit-Concert/Art Show of 2007!Admission is $10; proceeds donated to fight human rights abuses!
Featuring: Local Poets, Bands, Activists, Human Rights Advocates!Spoken Word: SILENT K (National Finalist from Broward)Coalition of Imokalee Workers (Worker's rights as Human Rights)Human Services Coalition (Freedom from Poverty as a Human Right)Michael Prysner (Iraq War Veteran & ANSWER Organizer: Human Rights & War)A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Corporations' role in human rights abuses)Health Care for All (Universal Health Care as a Human Right)Imagine Miami (Connecting Activists and Artists in South Florida)Live Band: Oso (http://www.myspace.com/osotheband)Live Band: Amnesty (http://www.myspace.com/amnestyfl)
On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the growing movement to free the Jena 6 will face an important challenge. On that day, four of the Six -- Theodore Shaw, Robert Bailey, Bryan Purvis, and Mychal Bell -- are expected in court for pre-trial hearings. The ANSWER Coalition is calling on all progressive and anti-racist forces to come together for rallies in front of local courthouses across the country with the demand to free the Jena 6, and drop all the charges. Demonstrations are already confirmed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and New Haven (CT).Here in South Florida, A.N.S.W.E.R. Florida has called for a demonstration in Ft. Lauderdale on the corner of Sistrunk Blvd and 7th Ave at 9:30am.
Rally at FAU, to Protest Daniel Pipes@ FAU, UC, Live Oak
Tuesday, October 30th 2007
7:00PM-10:00PM(the event begins at 7pm but we are asking students to come earlier)Daniel Pipes has been known for his controversial views about Muslims. He is one of the many speakers in the recent week long "Islamo-Fascism awareness week," which demonized Muslims and rallied people to embrace bigotry.When he comes to FAU on TUESDAY, OCT. 30th, We shall speak out! We Shall unite and send a message that South Florida is united against his racism, xenophobia, and reductive language.Students and community organizations from all across south Florida shall unite against Racism and Xenophobic speech and speak as one!Please Contact:A.N.S.W.E.R. Florida (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
Muhammed Malik, [email protected], 305-761-6843FAU Student Contact & Local Boca Raton A.N.S.W.E.R.
Emmanuel Lopez: 305-710-3189FIU Law Student, Lana Shehadeh: [email protected]
Organizers from around the state of Florida are mobilizing for a march and rally on the streets of Fort Lauderdale on October 27. We will meet at 204 SE 24 St at 11:00am, and then march to Welcome Park for a rally that will include speakers from Iraq Veterans Against the War, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, South Florida Impeachment Coalition, the Take Back the Land Movement, Muslim Student Association, and other leaders of local movements. The crowd that will descend to Welcome Park will represent the communities that are hit hardest by the Iraq War: from veterans to those demanding that the $3 billion a week spent on the illegal occupation be spent on housing, education, and jobs.Around the nation, people will be using the example and the momentum of the Sept 15 March on Washington to escalate the anti-war movement. Through this nation wide mobilization, many more will begin to realize that protesting is not enough, that it will take a unified movement of the people getting in the way of the war machine to bring the troops home now.In April, the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition put forth a proposal for the anti-war movement for a demonstration next year that would bring a million people to the streets of Washington, the largest demonstration of this type in the history of the United States. It is through these efforts that we can build towards this goal, building a movement that can wage a broad struggle to radically change this country.
Iraq War Results & Statistics as of Sept 12, 2007: Iraqi Civilians Killed, Estimated - A UN issued report dated Sept 20, 2006 stating that Iraqi civilian casualities have been significantly under-reported. Casualties are reported at 50,000 to over 100,000, but may be much higher. Some informed estimates place Iraqi civilian casualities at over 600,000. 3,777 US Soldiers Killed, 27,848 Seriously Wounded. Troops in Iraq - Total 179,685, including 168,000 from the US, 5,500 from the UK, 1,200 from South Korea and 4,985 from all other nations. US Troop Casualities - 3,777 US troops; 98% male. 90% non-officers; 80% active duty, 12% National Guard; 74% Caucasian, 10% African-American, 11% Latino. 18% killed by non-hostile causes. 51% of US casualties were under 25 years old. 70% were from the US Army. US Troops Wounded - 27,848, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries (total excludes psychological injuries). US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home. U.S. Monthly Spending in Iraq - $12 billion, in 2007. U.S. Daily Spending in Iraq - over $200 million, in 2007. Cost of deploying one U.S. soldier for one year in Iraq - $390,000.
WHEN: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23RD @ 5-7:30PM
WHERE: LIBERTY CITY: the corner of 15th Ave. and NW 62nd Terrace(Martin Luther King Blvd.)Take Back the Land cordially invites you to attend a rally in commemoration of the one year anniversary of the founding of the Umoja Village Shantytown. The rally starts at 6:00pm on Tuesday, October 23,2007, on the corner of 15th Ave. and NW 62nd Terr., in the Liberty City section of Miami, FL.On October 23, 2006, Take Back the Land seized control over public land on the corner of 62nd St. and NW 17th Ave. in Liberty City, building the Umoja Village Shantytown, providing housing for as many as 53 otherwise homeless people at one time, and close to 150 people in all. Residents of the Village did not live in opulence, but they
did live in dignity, with their own shanties and running the village themselves in a direct democracy. The Village survived numerous attempts by government officials to shut it down.On April 26, 2007, just three days after its six month anniversary celebration, the Umoja Village burned to the ground in a suspicious fire. While the physical structures burned, the Umoja- Swahili for 'Unity'- we built cannot be destroyed.The crisis of gentrification and housing which spurred the creation of the Village rages on today. During the rally, Take Back the Land will announce future plans to address the crisis. The event will include food, music and speakers from numerous organizations. We are also accepting donations for our political work and for the former residents of Umoja Village.for general information: http://www.takebacktheland.blogspot.org
THE A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION & THE WALLFLOWER GALLERY PRESENT: LYRICAL REVOLT: Loud Voices Against War!Fundraiser & Cultural Event for Upcoming Ft Lauderdale Anti-War March & RallyThursday, Oct 18 7:30pmThe Wallflower Gallery10 NE 3rd Street, Miami$7 Pre-sale / $10 at the Door
In the tradition of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition's Lyrical Revolt in New York City and San Fransisco, A.N.S.W.E.R. Florida will premier the event in Miami this Thursday, October 18, at the Wallflower Gallery. The night of spoken word, art, music, and culture from the vast array of talent in South Florida will serve as a fundraiser for the October 27th anti-war march and rally in Fort Lauderdale that will coincide with regional and local demonstrations taking place that day across the nation.
Featured artists will include spoken word poets Alonso, Silent K, Connie Mac Oliver, Alex McAnarney, the music of Sir! No Sir!, Suddenly, the Great Outdoors and more. Every and all artists around South Florida are encouraged to come and participate.
Help support the Florida anti-war movement and the local art and music scene! This fundraiser and cultural event will serve as a kick off to the mass effort to mobilize for the October 27th anti-war march and rally in Fort Lauderdale, a demonstration that will bring together the communities most affected by the criminal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.
For tickets call:
305-910-6282 (Adriana) or 305-761-6843 (Muhammed)We need volunteers and donations to build this march—contact us today to get involved!Action Now to Stop War and End RacismMiami: 305-910-6282Broward: [email protected]
http://www.answerfl.orgDonations can be made out to ANSWER/Florida:ANSWER/Florida1005 SR 84, Suite 116
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33315
Promises Film Screening: Monday, October 15, 2007 7pm -- 10pm @ Florida International University (University Park Campus)
Host: Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights (S.U.P.E.R.). Proceeds will be donated to the Bethlehem Christmas Project
Address: 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199.
Place: GC (Graham Center) -- Middle Ballroom.Contact Email: [email protected]
Qs? Call Muhammed Malik (Public Relations: S.U.P.E.R.) @ 305-761-6483"PROMISES follows the journey of one of the filmmakers, Israeli-American B.Z. Goldberg.B.Z. travels to a Palestinian refugee camp and to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, and to the more familiar neighborhoods of Jerusalem where he meets seven Palestinian and Israeli children.Though the children live only 20 minutes apart, they exist in completely separate worlds; the physical, historical and emotional obstacles between them run deep.PROMISES explores the nature of these boundaries and tells the story of a few children who dared to cross the lines to meet their neighbors. Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in PROMISES offer a refreshing, human and sometimes humorous portrait of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.PROMISES, a film by Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and co-director and editor Carlos Bolado, was shot between 1995-2000."All proceeds will be donated to The Bethlehem Christmas Project - a project aiming to build bridges of understanding and bring hope to Palestinian children. * Gifts are given to both Muslim and Christian Palestinians. *RECOMMENDED donation is $5 per person. Refreshments will be served. Please contact us if you have questions/concerns.
FIGHT AGAINST OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION, FROM IRAQ AND PALESTINE TO MIAMI AND IMMOKALEE!Join the CIW in their campaign against Miami based Burger King Corporation for one penny more per pound from the tomatoes picked by Florida farm workers. As the U.S. government spends half a trillion dollars in their occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, farm workers in South Florida must pick 2 ½ TONS of tomatoes to make $50 dollars a day . Only through the united efforts of those most affected by the exploitation of the warmongers and the big bosses can we wind justice for everyone!
Come to a Palestinian Bazaar!
And help raise money to rebuild Palestinian homes!Date: Saturday, September 29
Time: 5:00PM
Address: Miami Shores Presbyterian Church
602 NE 96 St
Miami Shores, FL 33138Music, Middle Eastern food and sweets, Palestinian fair trade items, Palestinian children’s Photo Exhibit, Speakers and a slide show about home demolitions in the Occupied Territories.Funds raised will go to ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and PCWF, the Palestinian Children’s Welfare Fund. Entry by donation, food and fair trade items for sale inside.Contact: Evelyn at [email protected]
..
Softkey Left
softkey Right
..
September 15 — Turn Up the Heat in Washington DC!Many organizations are joining together to sponsor a large protest in Washington DC timed to coincide with the report by General Petraeus on the "Surge" in Iraq. There will be counter-recruitment actions around DC and protests in the halls and offices of Congress in the days following the September 15 Mass March and Die-In.
GO TO WWW.SEPT15.ORG FOR MORE INFO.
On the 40th anniversary of Israel's illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, join the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation in Washington, DC, June 10-11, 2007 for a protest, teach-in, and lobby day.On Monday, June 11, join the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, United for Peace and Justice, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee for a joint grassroots lobbying day for peace in the Middle East.For more information, visit: http://www.endtheoccupation.org/index.php
sign the online-petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/TakeBacktheLand/index.htm
l
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROTEST, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail
&eventid=167607.1188&Mytoken=75D28D1C-9D45-4C9C-AD0D
E18C242DF58024079717
..
Call to Action: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th @ 12pm
Where: Torch of Friendship (Bayside), off Biscayne Blvd.
Bring your family and friends. Protest War in Iraq!
about me (in spanish): yo soy un idealista pragmático.mi color preferido es verde. amo GATOS .amo los sushi y la cerveza oscura.deseo ser abogado para luchar la buena lucha.pienso que los carros del helado está fresco. y antes de que bese los cielos, deseo hacer amor a la tierra.
sobre mà (en inglés): i am a pragmatic idealist.my favorite color is green. i love CATS . i love sushi and dark beer. i am critical of organized religion but i believe in God, a deity that--by the way--i believe has a sense of humor (example: platypuses). i would like to become a lawyer in order to fight the good fight. i think ice-cream trucks are cool. and before i even kiss the heavens, i want to make love to the earth.
i like candles .
"l'encre d'un disciple est plus sainte que le sang d'un martyre."
***************************************************
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics; to appreciate beauty; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--that is to have succeeded."
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.â€
[Bishop Desmond Tuti]
****************************************************
WAR ON APATHY: RESIST THE URGE TO DO NOTHING
SOME FAST FACTS ABOUT WORLD POVERTY.You won't believe this! Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day. Today, across the world, 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day; 3 billion live on under two dollars a day; 1.3 billion have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to electricity The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn't happen. The wealthiest nation on Earth (United States) has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation. The lives of 1.7 million children will be needlessly lost this year [2000] because world governments have failed to reduce poverty levels. A few hundred millionaires now own as much wealth as the world’s poorest 2.5 billion people. According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death. That is about 210,000 children each week, or just under 11 million children under five years of age, each year. The richest 50 million people in Europe and North America have the same income as 2.7 billion poor people. The slice of the cake taken by 1% is the same size as that handed to the poorest 57%. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. There are around 2.2 billion children in the world and 1 billion of them live under poverty. What can you do to help: 1) donate to organizations, such as UNICEF 2) dedicate your studies to economic development and/or seek employment with international groups that focus on this issue 3) spread awareness through small group discussions with friends and family, mosque and church and synagogue discussions. 4) If it's your thing, PRAY (but take action, too).
