[pjw] REPORT BACK: turning point?: Friday rally #212 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

IAG supporters

At this week's Friday rally for Peace and Justice we had the largest crowd 
so far this year: with just 7 at the rally, rally we had 10 people on 
the march with a total of 11. But there were also 25 people there for 
the annual Palestine solidarity rally that happens on the last Friday of 
Ramadan every year (see for example report on week #160). Attendees 
included someone who'd been out with health issues for a few weeks, a 
Veteran For Peace we hadn't seen for many months, and two people who 
joined as we headed out on the march.

It was difficult to sort out how many of the many honking horns were for 
us or the solidarity protest or both, but we're all in it together. There 
were lots of supportive folks during our march too, including one who took 
a selfie to send a friend in Qatar. At the Square we got one detractor who 
groused "terrorist sympathizers" as she quickly walked by. One of our 
regulars had a great response which of course the person didn't hear: "But 
I don't support the US."

Despite weather predictions otherwise, there was barely a drop of rain 
during the rally and march, which helped keep our spirits up. We were able 
to give out at least another 35 fact sheets.

I had also hoped to give out a report back on the JROTC hearing at the 
School Board, which I'll try to do more in depth later this week, but in 
the meantime here's a link to the video of the roughly 15 minutes the 
Board spent on it, with no public input:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6k5g9JJIwo&t=16260s

In short, Director Michelle DePass spoke passionately against the ROTC due 
to the experience of her father, a Panamanian immigrant; the student member 
Francesca Silverstein reported that most students they talked to were 
against the military program, and Vice Chair Herman Greene railed against 
people's unwillingness to let the military provide "opportunities" saying 
"I don't care about your opinion." (NICE!, Dan says, sarcastically.)

OK, so here is what we DID talk about yesterday:

--The US approved 2000 more bombs to Israel on the day before...
  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/03/31/us-approves-billions-in-more-bombs-and-fighter-jets-for-israel-to-support-gaza-slaughter/

---(1) the US-backed Israeli IDF killed seven World Central Kitchen 
workers in airstrikes described by the group's founder as targeted against 
the vehicles one by one:

  https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world/chef-jose-andres-says-israel-targeted-his-aid-workers-systematically-car-by-car/ar-BB1l26kh

----Late night talk show host Stephen Colbert has been very muted talking 
about the war but since Jose Andres is a frequent guest he finally spoke 
out, telling Netanyahu that if this is the kind of thing that just happens 
in war (which Netanyahu said), it's time to stop the war.

  https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/stephen-colbert-spotlights-world-central-082543158.html

---(2) also on April 1 Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Syria, 
killing 13. Unlike many of the previous strikes on Syria, this one is 
generating some backlash internationally.

  https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/641795/World/America/UN-calls-for-restraint-following-Iran-consulate-attack-in-Syria

--Meanwhile, Afghanistan says US drones have been violate their airspace 
since late March and want them to stop.

  https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188102

--And a report came out saying the US and UK have bombed Yemen 148 times 
from January to March.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/04/04/us-and-uk-have-bombed-yemen-148-times-since-january/

---but wait, make that 149 since they also bombed on April 1. Wake up 
Congress, there's another illegal war going on and you are the ones who 
can stop it!

  https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/new-us--uk-aggression-targets-yemen-s-hodeidah

--Don't be too excited that the US declared its opposition to NATO heading 
up a group arranging for weapons to go to Ukraine; it's not to stop 
fueling the war but so the US can control the planning, which involves 
many countries who aren't part of NATO.

  https://thehill.com/policy/international/4572464-white-house-opposition-nato-weapons-group-ukraine/

--In Iraq, Turkey bombed Kurdistan again, and... I'm thinking the Iraqi 
response is now muted on these attacks because they want to outlaw the PKK 
(Kurdistan independence fighters).

  https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/020420241
(from March 15:)
  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240315-iraq-bans-pkk-labelling-it-a-threat-to-the-country/

In local news, Mayor Wheeler has announced a new version of the City's 
anti-camping ordinance because the Oregon Supreme Court refused to take 
their appeal of an injunction while a lower court considers the November 
version's constitutionality. Early signs are that this is just another 
vaguely written law that will let police decide whether a person has a 
"reasonable" option to stay at a shelter, even if there may be rules or 
reasons they don't want to stay at one.

  https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/04/portland-leaders-plan-to-drop-restrictive-camping-ban-propose-outlawing-camping-only-when-shelter-is-available.html

Along the march route, as I often do, I added to the Israel/Palestine news 
by pointing out how this so-called "democracy" really functions. They 
passed a law to allow them to ban Al Jazeera from reporting, claiming it's 
stoking opposition to their decimation of Gaza. Uh, also known as "telling 
the truth."

  https://news.antiwar.com/2024/04/01/israeli-knesset-passes-law-allowing-government-to-ban-al-jazeera/

And as we headed back to the Square I reported that the National Guard Air 
force wants 12 new warplanes at a cost of $1.35 Billion. That doesn't 
sound like a way to defend the US, maybe they should ask for that money to 
go to housing, education, health care and other human needs instead.

  https://www.ngaus.org/newsroom/guard-chief-asks-congress-find-money-more-fighters

This week the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign did not freeze 
up until we were by the Pioneer Place Mall, stopping on the 
words "Justice 4" (the police accountability message). It's 
ok, almost as good as "US Out." It will be weird if it freezes 
on "Gaza" without the "Ceasefire now" part scrolling though. 
It went out completely again by the Apple Store.

Maybe as the weather gets better a few more folks will come on out an join 
us? We still request (but don't require) masking up and distancing for 
COVID safety. We always hope that those folks who join us for the first 
time will return-- we do have a 1/4 page leaflet promoting the rally we 
hand them... when we remember. Which reminds me I should probably post 
that online so others can share it too!

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