Some June events and anniversaries

More events will probably be added later and events may be listed for interest rather than with complete endorsement. 

Justice, Sovereignty, Resistance:  Indians take back Robeson County

UNC's Wilson Library is hosting an exhibit June 2nd to July 2nd on the hostage taking that took place at The Robesonian newspaper February 1, 1988, protesting corruption in the sheriff's office, discrimination, and poverty.  The physical exhibit is in a room off the main lobby at the north entrance to Wilson Library, and there is an online exhibit at:  exhibits.lib.unc.edu/exhibits/show/indians-take-back-robeson

Saving the River One Song at a Time:  The Eno River Festival Legacy

Wilson Library is also hosting an exhibit (June 2nd to September 22nd, on the 4th floor) on the effort to save the Eno River when the City of Durham proposed drowning it for a drinking water reservoir in the 60's.  This led to the formation of what is today the Eno River Association, Eno River State Park in 1973, and the annual Eno River Festival, first held in 1980 and happening  July 1st and 4th this year (listed further down).  For more information, see:  blogs.lib.unc.edu/news/index.php/2017/06/eno-river-festival-exhibit/

A movement tried but failed to save the New Hope River (erased from the map today) and lower Haw River from the Federal dam project that created what is today Jordan Lake, and today people are trying to reduce the reservoir's pollution problems, which were predicted before the dam was built.   

Student Action with Farmworkers 25th anniversary

Student Action with Farmworkers, based in Durham, was organized in 1992 and is hosting anniversary exhibits and events throughout NC and in Washington, DC this year.  There will be an exhibit at FLOC's office in Dudley May 26th to December 31st.  There will be an event August 5th 6-9:30pm at the Power Plant in Durham's American Tobacco complex.  Duke's Center for Documentary Studies will host an exhibit June 22nd to November 11th, with a reception September 10th 2-4pm.  For details, see:  saf-unite.org/content/saf-2017-exhibits-events

NC NAACP and Forward Together Movement press conference June 8th at NCCU

From their press release:

"North Carolina NAACP & Forward Together Moral Movement to hold a News Conference to discuss recent voting rights victories at the North Carolina Central University Law School.   In the past few weeks, the United States Supreme Court has handed down four straight voting rights victories for the NC NAACP, Forward Together Moral Movement, and the Fusion Electorate of North Carolina, affirming that the laws of our land will not tolerate the improper racial motives and discriminatory impacts of the voter suppression tactics employed by the Berger-Tillis-Moore extremist leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly. 'These egregious injuries to the efforts of the NAACP and its co-plaintiffs to eliminate racial discrimination from the voting rolls and practices of North Carolina call for tough, well-crafted remedies. For over 7 years we have had an unconstitutionally constituted legislature passing unconstitutional laws. It’s time for this to stop,' said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of NC NAACP and Convener of the Forward Together Moral Movement. The NC NAACP, allies, and their lawyers will hold a press conference to discuss the recent Supreme Court victories and lay out next steps and issue demands. Click here to watch this event live. WHO: NC NAACP & Forward Together Moral Movement WHAT: News Conference to discuss recent Supreme Court voting rights victories WHEN: Thursday June 8th, 2017 at 10:00 am WHERE: Great Hall at North Carolina Central School of Law 640 Nelson Street, Durham, NC THE PUBLIC IS INVITED Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II http://www.naacpnc.org/

North Carolina NAACP · PO Box 335, Durham, NC 27702, United States

World Oceans Day

This annual day for increasing awareness about the oceans and keeping them healthy will be June 8th (see:  www.worldoceansday.org/ ).    

50th anniversary of Israel's attack on the USS Liberty

The Israeli air force and navy attacked the USS Liberty in international waters off Egypt, killing 34 and injuring 171, during the 1967 war, on June 8th. 

Ajamu Baraka, former Green Party VP candidate, speaking in Durham June 9th

From the NC Green Party:

"Ajamu Baraka—the Green Party 2016 vice presidential nominee, human rights activist, and national organizer of Black Alliance for Peace—will be speaking 6-8pm this Friday, June 9, at the Vault in Durham (1104 Broad St.). NCGP co-chair Tony Ndege will open the talk for Mr. Baraka. We'll wrap up with a Q&A.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations to the NCGP are encouraged at our Donate Page.

Baraka's talk will kick off the NCGP's Spring Gathering, our statewide meeting of NCGP members and allied people, which is slated for the next day (Saturday, June 10) at the Seedbed in nearby Mebane, North Carolina. Friday evening, immediately following Baraka's talk in Durham, the NCGP is holding a potluck dinner, also at the Seedbed venue in Mebane—more details below on that. (Directions from the Vault in Durham to the Seedbed in Mebane.) To sign up to contribute to the potluck the evening of Friday, June 9, in Mebane at the Seedbed, contact Jan Martell at ninth.st (at) frontier (dot com) or (919) 286-2056.

Subject of the talk: Baraka will address the urgent need for an independent party of the left to challenge the right and provide a true progressive electoral alternative, accountable to its voters and membership base, which is something the mainstream corporate-funded parties have repeatedly failed to do. The 2016 elections revealed more than ever the deep crisis that the United States and humanity are facing, which has been decades in the making. It's become clear that the institutional levers of political and social power that are being offered to Americans as the only way to express their demands and grievances are under the complete corporate control. More and more people are realizing that the parties and organizations that serve the oligarchy, in an age when a handful of people own a majority of the global wealth, are incapable of being reformed. The only way forward is to build our own institutions and political organizations of alternative power, overturning the present system and forging a path toward a global society that puts people, planet, and peace over profit. The time to build that people power is now."

To RSVP, see ncgreenparty.nationbuilder.com/ and go to events and the Facebook event page is at:  www.facebook.com/events/268622460267509/ 

NC Green Party Spring Gathering June 10th

The NCGP's 17th Spring Gathering will be Saturday, June 10th 9am-4:30pm at the Seedbed in Mebane (just inside Alamance County, west of Hillsborough), and non-members are welcome.  For details, see ncgreenparty.nationbuilder.com/spring_gathering_2017 or www.facebook.com/events/433699956990372/ 

From the NCGP:  "In the aftermath of the 2016 elections, we meet in a time of awakening among US citizens. The stark reality of the failure of the two-party system is on display for the world to see, and the need for alternative political views has never been as widely recognized as now. The Green Party is bustling—we're building locally and statewide and are uniquely positioned to challenge the status quo parties in North Carolina and across the country. Come to celebrate, join, and plan with us to move North Carolina toward a lasting social and economic system that respects humanity, abhors war, and understands our fundamental relationship to the natural word in which we all live."

Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad!

The United National Antiwar Coalition ( www.unacpeace.org/home.html ) will have a national conference, Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad:  Building a Movement Against War, Injustice and Repression!, June 16-18 and the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia (403 North 3rd Street).  The webpage is at:  www.unacconference2017.org/p/registration-form.html, and there is a Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/events/1208020632638814/?notif_t=plan_user_joined&notif_id=1485905602475965 

Al-Quds Day Protest in Durham

This is supposed to be an annual vigil, June 23rd, 5:30-7pm at Five Points (corner of East Chapel Hill Street and West Main Street, in front of the 9th Street Bakery).  For more information, see: www.facebook.com/events/460747520940363/

National Pollinator Week - June 19-25th 

National Pollinator Week was established by Congress a decade ago, but is now an international week to promote awareness of the vital role of the animals that pollinate wildflowers and our crops, some in decline.  For more information, see www.pollinator.org/pollinatorweek/ .  Durham's first Pollinator Garden Tour, with 13 participating community gardens, will be Saturday, June 24th ( keepdurhambeautiful.org/our-events/durhampollinatorgardentour/ ) .  There will also be local events in Chapel Hill and Oxford. 

The City of Durham became an official Bee City June 6th, pledging to take steps to conserve honey bee and native bee populations, and pollinators in general ( keepdurhambeautiful.org/programs/durhambeecityusa/ ).

Earlier this year the rusty patched bumblebee was listed as endangered, the first time a bee has received this attention in the continental US.  It was once found across the Eastern US and upper Midwest, but has vanished from 87% of its historic range just since the late 90's, and other pollinators are also slowly disappearing, such as the regal spangled fritillary butterfly, at least historically found in northwestern North Carolina, and the related diana.  The petition to list it was submitted by the Xerces Society (xerces.org/2017/01/10/rusty-patched-bumble-bee-protected-as-an-endangered-species/ ), named for the Xerces blue butterfly, the final nail in its coffin being the expansion of a military base in California during WWII, apparently now parkland. 

Charlotte Construction Workers' Press Conference on Contractor Abuses

From the NC AFL-CIO:

"Workers, community, faith, and labor groups will hold a press conference at Charlotte City hall on Monday, June 26th to urge council to pass a policy that encourage developers to disclose their contractors employment practices. While Charlotte’s construction industry is booming, Charlotte workers have yet to reap the benefits.

Come out Monday evening in Charlotte to show your support for these courageous construction workers!

What: Press conference to urge Charlotte City Council to protect workers

When: Monday, June 26 at 6:00 PM

Where: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center (steps outside S. Davidson St. entrance), 600 E. 4th street, Charlotte, NC 28202

RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/building-a-better-charlotte "

June 28th is the 8th Anniversary of Honduran military coup supported by the US
 
In 2009 Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown with the support of the Obama Administration, especially then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in part to isolate Venezuela, where the US government is probably hoping for a military coup this year.  After the Honduran coup progressive activists were assassinated and thousands of citizens fled the country, many trying to cross into the US without authorization.  One of those killed was Berta Caceres, a native environmentalist.  HR 1299, the Berta Caceres Human Rights Act in Honduras would end military/security aid to Honduras until these deaths are fully and credibly investigated (see witnessforpeace.org/bertacaceresact/ ).

Stand Up Fight Back for Health Care! rally

The NC NAACP is organizing a rally in front of Senator Thom Tillis' Raleigh office (310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 122) June 29th at 10am against "Trump  Care."  The email announcement notes that member of Congress have excellent health care, but deny it to those who elect them.  To RSVP, see www.facebook.com/events/2065296660366389/ .


Biodiversity and Conservation in the Holy Land

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD, founder and director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity Research, will speak at the NC Museum of Natural History's Science Café (121 West Jones Street, Raleigh) June 29th, 7-8:30pm.  Qumsiyeh was director of Duke Medical Center's Cytogenetics Services from 1994 to 1999.  This free event is sponsored by the Charles M Jones Peace and Justice Committee of the Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist (www.c3huu.org) and the Coalition for Peace with Justice (www.cpwj.org), and endorsed by the Abrahamic Initiative on the Middle East, Balance and Accuracy in Journalism, and Jewish Voice for Peace, and is part of the Palestine Nature and Peace Studies Tour.   

Boot the Braids from UNC Rally

There will be a protest demanding that UNC boot Wendy's, in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, June 30th, from 1:45-2:30 at the Student Union (northwest corner of Raleigh Street and South Road, but I assume the rally will be on the other side of the Union, by The Pit).  For more information, see:   www.facebook.com/events/141142056442843/

Northstar Compass' final print edition content deadline June 30th

The Northstar Compass Signature Edition is coming out in October for the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, and that will be the final paper edition, but the magazine, which covers communist organizing and news in the ex-Soviet states and other left news, mainly in Eastern Europe, including many photos, along with some articles on theory and Slavic culture, will continue online at:  sovietcompass.today/ and will post news from the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with the Soviet People (of which US Friends of the Soviet People is a part).  Content for the final issue is due by June 30th, but preferably before then, and can be sent to sovietcompass at [gmail dot com] (also copy to bwz [at] [bell dot net]) or by mail to:
 
Northstar Compass
280 Queen Street West 2nd floor [I'm not sure that "2nd floor" is unnecessary]
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5V 2A1    

They are specifically looking for short inspirational personal anecdotes about the many achievements of Soviet socialism and greetings to the Friendship House in Canada or the new online effort.  They are also looking for articles for the October issue and ideas for the website. 

38th Annual Festival for the Eno

The Eno River Association's annual Festival will be July 1st-4th at West Point on the Eno in Durham.  For details and tickets see:   www.enofest.org/

July 4th celebrations

WILPF will table at Carrboro's event, Tuesday, July 4th 10am-4pm, I assume at the Town Hall. 

Local elections coming up

People can register to run for office in the City of Durham July 7-21st, for the elections October 10th and November 7th this year.  The Durham Board of Elections website is: dconc.gov/government/departments-a-e/board-of-elections and the State Board is at:  www.ncsbe.gov/ 

Election results are on at State Board's website and they are broken up by precinct Durham's website; in Durham County 535 (0.34%) write-in votes were registered for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, while there were 2000 (1.28%) miscellaneous write-ins, and Libertarian Gary Johnson got 3,999 (2.56%) votes. 

Witness for Peace Southeast seeking donations for youth delegation to Nicaragua

"Dear Friends and Supporters of Witness for Peace Southeast, 

I’m writing to ask your support to meet my goal of raising $2,000 for youth scholarships for our annual Fair Trade Youth Delegation to Nicaragua!

This delegation will take place from July 3rd to July 12, 2017, 

and includes 15 participants, including 3 sponsored by Movement of Youth (http://movementofyouth.org/), 1 from a Catholic Worker community (http://www.catholicworker.org/), and 4 Latinx teens from Greensboro, NC. 

The youth delegation was first organized by Witness for Peace Southeast co-founder Gail Phares in 1991, and they have educated hundreds of young people about the impacts 

of our government’s foreign policy and trade agreements.

 

Here are some of the activities of the delegation:

·      Learn about Nicaragua’s history, politics, and economics, and how that is connected with US foreign policy. 

·      Understand the impact of trade agreements such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement

Continue reading, including requests from youth who want to go this year, 

and make a donation at: https://www.youcaring.com/witnessforpeace-772549# "

NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture hearings

There will be hearings investigating North Carolina's role in extraordinary rendition and torture November 30th and December 1st in the Raleigh Convention Center (for more information about the NCCIT, see www.nccit.org/ ).  The hearings are free and public, but registration is encouraged (email info (at nccit dot org).  This month, June 26th was the UN's annual International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.