St. Pete for Peace Home

The following writeup is from Pax Christi Tampa Bay

June 1, 2009

Pax Christi Tampa Bay E-mail Newsletter
 
NEWSLETTER ITEMS

1. Peace First new location
2. Ending violence in Bartlett Park
3. New legislation to close the SOA/WHINSEC
4.  Exonerating Troy Davis
5. Peace mediation
6. Activist Cindy Sheehan in St. Petersburg
7. Nonviolent Communication Workshop
8. Studio@620 social justice awards
9. Sarasota Youth Violence and Racism forum
10. Gay Pride Festival
11. Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton
12. Peacemaking Conference
13. Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombing remembrance
 
Good folks,
 
    Below are updates and new items, including the June Peace First location, information on campaigns to end violence in the Bartlett Park neighborhood, new legislation to close the SOA/WHINSEC, exonerating a man from death row, and more.  The Weekly Calendar follows at the end of the newsletter.
 
Pax Christi Tampa Bay
 
SINGLE EVENTS
 
PEACE FIRST: Peace First will demonstrate for peace from 5:00-6:00 PM at the corner of 38th Avenue and 4th Street in St. Petersburg on every Wednesday in June.  Participants usually gather afterwards at a nearby restaurant for dinner.  For more information (FMI): SMcCown@tampabay.rr.com
 
ENDING VIOLENCE IN BARTLETT PARK:  Within the past year two young girls were killed in the Bartlett Park neighborhood of St. Petersburg, including the recent gun death of 8-year old Paris Whitehead Hamilton.  Residents have mobilized to stop the violence, which has gone on for a generation.  They are asking for support from those living outside the neighborhood.  Upcoming events are below.  FMI on the events, go to http://www.bartlettpark.net/ or call (727) 826-9774 10:00 AM -2:00 PM Mon-Fri.
 
Bartlett Park Crime Watch Meeting- 6:00 PM on Tuesday June 2nd at the Community Resource Center, 642 22nd South. FMI: http://www.bartlettpark.net/2009/05/neighborhood-association-meeting.html

Salt Creek and Neighborhood Cleanup- Join the Bartlett Park and Harbordale Neighborhood Associations, the Bartlett Park Community Resource Center, and the Harbordale YMCA to clean up Salt Creek and the surrounding neighborhood from 8:00 AM-10:30 on Saturday June 20th.  Meet at the Bartlett Park Community Resource Center, 642 22nd Ave S.  Wear work clothes, and clothes that can get wet if you plan to work in Salt Creek. Snacks and drinks will be provided.  FMI: http://www.bartlettpark.net/2009/05/salt-creek-and-neighborhood-cleanup-day.html

Garden Benefit- A benefit for the Bartlett Community Garden will be held at the St. Pete Shuffleboard Court, 559 Mirror Lake Drive from 7:00-11:00 PM on Saturday, June 13.  A $5 donation includes food, music and shuffleboard.

March Against Violence- For a story on WMNF Radio 88.5 FM about the March Against Violence: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/march-in-st-pete-to-stop-gun-violence
For pictures of the march protesting violence: http://www.bartlettpark.net/2009/04/thank-you-to-all-who-came-out-this.html 
 
SevenX7- A campaign uniting 49 churches in south St. Petersburg to end violence.  FMI: http://www.sevenx7.com/Home_Page.html
 
CLOSING THE SOA/WHINSEC:  On May 21st, 2009, Representative Jim McGovern introduced new legislation in the House of Representative that would suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC U.S. sponsored terrorism school and would investigate the torture and human rights abuses associated with the school.  The bill, HR 2567, has 42 original cosponsors.

SOA Watch is campaigning to generate more cosponsors and support for HR 2567.  Visit the Legislative Action Index on the website to learn more about how you can get involved and add your cosponsor as a supporter of this legislation. Use their Online Action to send an automatic email or fax to your Member of Congress or access their sample call script and the toll-free congressional switchboard phone number.  An updated list of cosponsors is at the bottom of the Legislative Action Index.  To sign a petition to President Obama asking that he close the SOA/ WHINSEC by executive order, click here

For more information, please contact the Legislative Coordinator of SOA Watch, Pam Bowman at pbowman@soaw.org or (202) 234-3440.
 
EXONERATING TROY DAVIS:  The facts in the case of Troy Davis, who has been on Georgia’s death row since 1989, indicate that he is almost certainly innocent: Convicted and sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of Officer Mark MacPhail, an off-duty police officer, Davis’s case lacks any physical evidence, and no murder weapon has been found. The only evidence against Davis is the testimony of witnesses. But seven of the nine non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their trial testimony. Of the two witnesses who did not recant, one is an alternative suspect.

Click >>Act now to join the international campaign for Troy Davis.  Write Chatham County District Attorney Larry Chisolm and ask him to reopen the investigation of Troy Davis.
 
PEACE MEDITATION:  People will gather around a campfire to meditate for peace at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 24 at Sacred Lands, located at the Sacred Lands’ Narvaez/Anderson Native American Mound at 1700 Park Street North in St. Petersburg.  Admission is free; a potluck will follow.  If the weather is bad, the meditation will take place in the greenhouse on site.  FMI: www.sacredlands.info or (727) 347-0354.
 
CINDY SHEEHAN: Activist and author Cindy Sheehan will be in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, June 17.  Sheehan has authored three books and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  The death of her son in Iraq inspired her 2005 vigil at the doorstep of George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. She is the author of Not One More Mother's Child, Dear President Bush, and Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache to Activism.  She will discuss her recently published Internet booklet "Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution" at two venues in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday, June 17.  Both events are free and open to the public. 

The evening will begin at with a talk and book signing at 6:00-7:45 PM at NOVA 535, 535 MLK Jr. Blvd, N.  Appetizers and a full bar are available.  Sheehan will then be at Cafe Bohemia, 937 Central Ave. from 8:00-9:00 PM for a casual mix and mingle, followed by a question and answer session with Cindy from 9:00-9:30.  Both locations are in St. Petersburg.  Local musicians will provide the evening's music.

This event is being co-sponsored by St. Pete For Peace, WMNF 88.5 FM, Veterans for Peace (Tampa Bay), and Refuge Ministries.  FMI: (727) 864-1535 or Dwight@stpeteforpeace.org  To hear Sheehan, go to www.cindysheehanssoapbox.com.
 
Speak from Your Heart WORKSHOP:  This workshop, based on Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) process, teaches the foundation of NVC and fosters respect, attentiveness, empathy.   It provides tools for communication the participant can use immediately.  The workshop, facilitated by NVC trainer Mercedes Frace, will be on Saturday, June 20th from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Venice Unity Church, 125 Jackson Rd at E Venice Avenue. Suggested contribution is $40.  FMI and to pre-register: (941) 492-9279.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARDS FROM STUDIO@620: As part of a month-long observance of its fifth anniversary, the Studio@620 will celebrate the Social Justice Pioneer Awards Gala at 6:20 PM on Saturday, June 20 at the Mickett/Stackhouse Studios, 1499 Beach Dr. SE in St. Petersburg. This fundraising event will celebrate five social justice pioneers.  Admission is $100 per person, corporate tables are available.  FMI on this and other fifth anniversary events: http://www.studio620.org/620/e_hfats.php

Sarasota Youth Violence & Racism Forum:  In response to recent youth shootings, a public forum on youth violence and racism in the community will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1565 First Street in downtown Sarasota.  The forum will include presentations by the Mayor, a high school assistant principal, and police officials.  In addition, cadets from Sarasota Military Academy will speak about changes they are planning to create a more peace-related campus.  The forum is sponsored by The Coalition for Inclusion & Diversity and Southwest Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice.  It is free and open to the public.  FMI: ttj2@comcast.net

GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL: The St. Petersburg Pride Street Festival and Promenade is Saturday, June 27 along the Grand Central District of Central Avenue.  FMI: http://www.stpetepride.com/

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THOMAS MERTON: Join the Franciscan Center Retreat Team for a two month series of weekly discussions of “Discovering the Hidden Ground of Love,” one of the Bridges to Contemplative Living booklets drawn from the writings of Thomas Merton.  Merton was a deeply spiritual man who was also deeply connected to the world in which we live.  The booklets are designed to lead participants toward a more contemplative and peace-filled life.  Participants will meet each week for sharing, prayer and ritual around the readings from the “Hidden Ground of Love.”  The series will be at the Franciscan Center, 3010 Perry Avenue in Tampa on Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 PM (July 6, 13, 20, 27; August 3, 10, 17, 24).  Cost is $100 and is due by June 29.  Cost of the booklet is included.  FMI: (813) 229-2695; francntr@tampabay.rr.com or http://www.franciscancentertampa.org/index.html

PEACEMAKING CONFERENCE: The National Catholic Conference on Peacemaking will be held in Chicago from July 16-19.  Keynote speakers include Ernesto Cortes, Jr., a community organizer and Southwest Regional Director of the Industrial Areas Foundation; Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices in the Wilderness/Voices for Creative Nonviolence; Rev. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly; Claudette Werleigh, Secretary General of Pax Christi International; and Bishop Leroy Matthiesen, this year's recipient of the Teacher of Peace Award. FMI click here.

HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE:  A remembrance of the atomic bombings of Japan will be held from 3:00-4:30 PM on  Sunday, August 9th (the 64th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki) at the Stimson Gate (Highway 40 and Kings Bay Road) of the Kings Bay Trident Submarine Base in St. Marys, Georgia (on the coast just north of the Florida/Georgia border).  A closing circle and dinner at a local restaurant will follow.  Bring posters and banners for the vigil and readings, musical instruments, etc. for the closing circle.  Sponsored by Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice. FMI: btancig@gmail.com  or (352)214-1778
 
WEEKLY CALENDAR

JUSTICE RADIO: Overnight Underground is a new radio program featuring lively socially conscious and politically provocative music, announcements of local peace and justice events, good news about those in the struggle for peace and justice, and listings of social services in the Tampa Bay area.  The show is broadcast from 1:00 AM-4:00 every Tuesday morning on WMNF 88.5 FM.  Each show is available online for the week following the broadcast at http://wmnf.org/programs/329

Dunedin peace cornering: Cornering is at Alternate 19, in front of the Dunedin Marina in Dunedin, 4:30-6:00 PM on Wednesdays; parking is available at the Dunedin Marina. This demonstration has had counter-protesters, so organizers would like the support of the local peace community.  For more information (FMI): Melissa or Kim

PEACE FIRST: Peace First will demonstrate for peace from 5:00-6:00 PM at the corner of 38th Avenue and 4th Street in St. Petersburg on every Wednesday in June.  Participants usually gather afterwards at a nearby restaurant for dinner.  FMI: SMcCown@tampabay.rr.com

WEEKLY PEACE DEMONSTRATION: The Pasco County Peace Vigil is held at US 19 and Ridge Rd. in Port Richey every Friday from 7:30-8:30 AM. Participants meet at Denny’s afterward for breakfast. FMI: www.flpan.org or bettejo@flpan.org

SILENT PEACE VIGIL IN SARASOTA: Join the Southwest Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice for a silent vigil for peace on Fridays from 4:00-5:00 PM at the Sarasota Bayfront (near Marina Jack's) off Route 41, just after the Ringling cutoff.  FMI: http://www.swfcpj.org/

FRIDAY PICNIC AND SHARING IN ST. PETE: At 7:00 PM each Friday the St. Petersburg Friends sponsor a picnic  that provides food for between 50 and 125 people each week.  The picnic is at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 719 Arlington Avenue N. on Mirror Lake Drive St. in downtown St. Petersburg.  Volunteers, supplies and food are needed, especially food that is easy to carry and slow to spoil, such as peanut butter sandwiches, cheese and crackers, etc., as well as T-shirts and blankets.  Toiletries, clean t-shirts, jeans or work pants, and blankets are needed. FMI and to help: Ed at (727) 327-1954 or Dottie at (727) 647-6929.

PEACE DEMONSTRATION: Join the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice at the corner of U.S. 19/Commercial Way and State Road 50/Cortez Boulevard from 10:00 AM-12:00 noon every other Saturday in Spring Hill.  FMI: brianmor@tampabay.rr.com or (352) 686-9936.

BRADENTON PEACE GATHERING: Join the Green Bridge Patriots to protest the war every Sunday at the base of the Green Bridge beginning at 11:00 AM in Palmetto.  FMI: alvinlevie@hotmail.com or (941) 747-0941.

STAND FOR PEACE:  The Social Concerns Committee  and the Youth Group at Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists in Odessa is sponsoring a Stand for Peace at the intersection of Tarpon Springs Road and Burrell Road  on the third Sunday of every month from 12:45 - 1:45 PM. FMI: http://www.spiritoflifeuu.org/
 


 
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