[pjw] REPORT BACK: Indicated!!: Friday rally #158 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello PJW supporters
Before you wonder about the apparent typo in the subject line, I am in 
that statement (and at the rally) quoting Donald Trump, who wrote on his 
own social media that he had been "indicated" by a New York grand jury 
(see story link, below).

So... last night's Friday Rally for Peace and Justice was attended by six 
people carrying signs; one stayed for the rally but not the march and one 
arrived in time to march after the rally. A seventh person hung around on 
the corner and mumbled things at us but didn't keep the fact sheet we 
handed them or really seem supportive of our message, but came on the 
march anyway. We didn't get terribly wet, as the "rain" (heavy 
precipitation) had given way to "showers" (unpredictable on and off liquid 
from the sky). All these years seeing the weather I had to look up which 
was which.

We had several supportive folks walk or drive by, but it felt like less 
than usual, probably the weather.

So here's what we talked about:

--Yes, Donald Trump was the first former US President indicted on criminal 
charges. Lots of people are excited (or angry) about this. I cautioned 
those who are too optimistic that he's been right about one thing: he 
could kill someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it.

  https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/trump-rages-about-being-indicated-in-social-media-post-about-his-indictment-says-the-usa-is-now-a-third-world-nation/ar-AA19i3Is

--General Milley wants to target Iran for its alleged use of drones 
against the US in Syria. Biden gave his own message, "We won't stop." 
Real great way to de-escalate.

  https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/top-us-general-advocates-targeting-irans-irgc-quds-force-after-syria-drone-attack

--The World Court has found that some of the Iranian funds the US 
froze were not subject to seizure, thus the illegal act must be undone by 
repaying their rightful owners. Unfortunately the Court said Iranian 
_government_ funds were fair game.

  https://www.reuters.com/world/world-court-rule-iran-us-frozen-assets-claim-2023-03-30/

--Israel bombed Syria two days in a row, killing and Iranian officer and 
wounding others. How many times do we have to ask, when is someone going 
to stop Israel from bombing Syria, which hasn't attacked them?

  https://thecradle.co/article-view/23144

--As noted earlier this week, the Iraq war authorizations of 1991 and 2003 
passed a vote of the Senate toward repeal, awaiting a House vote, with a 
66-30 tally. I hadn't heard that a proposed amendment to repeal the 2001 
"war on terror" authorization failed 9-86 (!!!).

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/03/29/senate-votes-to-repeal-iraq-war-aumfs/

--Probably because the US gets whatever it wants, the United Nations voted 
not to investigate whether America was responsible for bombing Russia's 
Nordstream pipeline.

  https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/security-council-probe-nord-stream-blasts-98161741

--Questionable Congressperson Matt Gaetz introduced a new War Powers 
resolution this week-- this time to get the US out of Somalia. It has to 
be voted on, but likely will have the same fate as his Yemen resolution.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/03/28/rep-matt-gaetz-introduces-bill-to-withdraw-from-somalia/

--Rep. Rashida Tlaib is circulating a petition among Congress to get 
charges against Julian Assange dropped. It's a letter, not a law, but is a 
good step forward.

  https://theintercept.com/2023/03/30/julian-assange-congress-rashida-tlaib/

--Thousands in Yemen marched to denounce the Saudi war on the (gulp) eight 
year anniversary this week.

  https://thecradle.co/article-view/22970/yemenis-flood-streets-to-mark-eight-anniversary-of-saudi-led-war

In local news, the Portland Police quietly posted the Directive (policy) 
around body cameras, a development they knew would be controversial, 
without sending out email notification or giving their required second 
chance for review. The proposed policy from 2016 prompted a protest at 
City Hall where cops ended up pushing people down concrete stairs, pepper 
spraying and batoning them. They claim they don't have to follow their own 
rules on seeking input because the police association ("union") is taking 
the city to arbitration on this issue. Proving the point Portland Copwatch 
has made all along, that the cops have more say in this policy than the 
public. Their automatic email system stopped working when the Bureau 
shifted their website to the City's. People who visit their news releases 
regularly would have seen this on March 1. I found it on March 25.

  https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=462763

Sorry for that long explanation, it's just irritating. FYI Portland 
Copwatch did get comments turned in before the deadline of March 31.

Along the march route, I noted that Israel suspended its plan for judicial 
overhaul due to the thousands of let's say liberal (not progressive 
enough to include Palestinians in their cause) people protesting. This 
prompted thousands of right wing protestors to demand the changes be made.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-netanyahu-suspends-judicial-overhaul

And as we came to the end of the march, I let people know that the poor, 
sad US Army which was bracing for funding cuts actually got a 5% boost in 
the new budget, in part thanks to the war in Ukraine. I hear people's 
"food stamp" benefits, and free COVID tests are being cut. Hmm.

  https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/03/27/did-ukraine-funding-spare-the-us-army-from-budget-cuts/

The Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign stayed on as we rounded the corner 
by the Apple Store, then went out again. Speaking of which, I noticed 
that the reason they took most of their fencing away is that they put a 
_second layer of giant windows_ in front of the giant windows that got 
broken in 2020. A zoo, a prison, a shrine to capitalism.

Folks who want to join us are welcome to come down any Friday at 5 PM to 
SW Yamhill and Broadway. Mask up, march on, make peace.

thanks
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group