Jewish Alliance
for Law and Social Action -
www.jewishalliance.org.
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: 617-227-3000 fax:
617-227-3453
1 Iyyar 5764 April 22, 2004
Update on Week's Activities
Dear Friends:
We hope that all of you going to Washington, DC this weekend come back inspired and full of energy to protect women's lives and reproductive freedom. We hope you'll email us and let us know that you are attending. We are including with this email a list of many of the activities and gatherings that are taking place. See the end of today's list -- #5 -- or go to the following address: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000071.htm. Sheila Decter
1. JALSA and COALITION MEETINGS
NO CLSA this week
Our Friday -Committee on Law and Social Action will not meet this week
because many of us are off to the March in Washington.
March for Reproductive Freedom Information
See the bottom of this email for a list of activities in Washington this
weekend.
JALSA Board
Wednesday, April 28, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
JALSA Executive Committee
Tuesday, May 4, 12:00 pm (Note earlier start time)
JALSA Office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
Citizens for Public Schools, Mass Coalition for
Equitable Education
Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
Meeting with Paul Grogan, Boston Foundation
Chair of Governor's Task Force on State Intervention in Underperforming
Districts
Report: Partners in Progress:
A Framework for Raising Student Achievement in Underperforming School Districts.
Tuesday, May 4, 12:45 pm
ACLU-Mass Office, 3rd Floor, 99 Chauncy Street, Boston
Committee on Law and Social Action
Friday, May 7, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
JALSA Young Social Activists
Steering Committee Meeting
Tuesday, May 18
Cafe Nicolas, Dinner at 7:00 p.m., meeting at 7:30 pm
YSA -May 23 meeting on sweatshops.
YSA - June 13 event on stem cell research.
Citizens for Public Schools, Mass. Coalition for
Equitable Education
Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
June 8, 12-2:00 pm
JALSA office, Suite 320, 18 Tremont Street, Boston
Guest: Tom Scott, new Exec. Director, Mass.
Association of School Superintendents
2. LEGISLATION
Oppose Expansion of the Death Penalty under the PATRIOT Act
Despite being stymied, thus far, in its efforts to push a successor
to the USA Patriot Act through Congress, the Bush Administration
is urging the U.S. House to pass a piece of this legislation
that would dramatically expand the federal death penalty,
including expansion based on the PATRIOT Act's infamous "domestic terrorism"
provisions.
Not only would this proposed legislation create 23 new death penalties in one
stroke,
the bill also creates an unprecedented "catch-all" death penalty for any crime
that meets the PATRIOT Act's overbroad definition of terrorism.
JALSA hopes the US Congress will re-examine the PATRIOT Act,
not increase its power by dramatically expanding the death penalty.
Take Action!
Urge Congress to oppose expansion of the death penalty
under the provisions of the infamous PATRIOT Act.
Act Now to Prevent Passage of an Unfair
Federal Budget
Tell Congress: "Get Your Priorities Straight - No More Tax Breaks For
Millionaires"
Congress is returning from its spring recess with unfinished business.
Thanks to the hard work of a broad number of groups, congressional leaders
have so far been unable to push through a reckless and unfair budget.
Confronted with conflicting House and Senate positions on rules limiting tax
cuts,
and the resolve of key Senate and House members who stood up for
balanced and effective budget rules, congressional leaders have thus far
been unable to finalize the FY 2005 budget.
Talking Points
Tax breaks don't come for free.
America's working families have already been forced to pay for massive tax
breaks for the wealthy.
Include responsible limits on future tax cuts! The Senate passed a
budget that restores rules
restraining the deficit by requiring any new tax breaks to be offset now,
and not charged to the federal government's "credit card" that future
generations will have to pay off.
The budget deficit is expected to reach a whopping $477 billion this year and
to total more than $2 trillion over the next ten years.
Make sure the final budget includes the responsible limits included in the
Senate version!
Protect public services and investments! While the richest Americans would
enjoy
billions of dollars of new tax breaks under the proposed budget,
poor and middle-class Americans would face larger class sizes, dilapidated
schools,
rising health care costs, fewer police in their communities, and a less secure
retirement.
For instance, with nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance and
with 1.2 to 1.6 million Americans already kicked off Medicaid in the last two
years,
the budget would cut between $2 billion and $11 billion more from that program,
virtually guaranteeing that more Americans would lose health insurance.
***Action Needed***
In phone calls, faxes and e-mails, please urge your Members of Congress
to oppose a FY 2005 budget conference report that includes massive tax cuts that
are not paid for; House budget cuts in Medicaid and other entitlement programs,
and deep cuts in essential domestic discretionary spending.
Tell your Members of Congress that the budget conference report is likely to
offer little help
to millions of hardworking families and does considerable harm to important
programs.
Call the toll free number 1-888-508-2974 to speak with your Members of Congress.
For more information please contact RAC Legislative Assistant Sheryl Shapiro at
202.387.2800
or go to the following websites: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities,
www.cbpp.org/. Coalition on Human Needs,
http://www.chn.org/jobs/.
JALSA hopes to direct readers to several informative
websites next week as
groups comment on the proposed House budget.
Join with the Massachusetts Sierra Club and other
environmental groups
in an expansion of the Massachusetts Bottle Bill via the Budget process.
Write your state legislators and urge they support an expansion.
Also write the administrator of the EPA --Michael Leavett on Earth Day and urge
a national bottle bill. Go to
www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/5299.php. to send a letter to him. If you
want your letter to go to Leavett and begin to get email on the state bottle
bill expansion campaign, address that letter to:
desired.recipent@jalsa.org.
3. COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Workers Memorial Day Rally
Monday, April 26, 12:00 1:15 PM, City Hall Plaza, Boston.
Honor workers killed, injured or suffered from illness on the job last year.
Take part in the unveiling of Senator Kennedys Workplace Safety Protection
Bill.
Demand strong workplace health and safety protections for all workers.
For more information, contact Tolle Graham at 617-825-7233 x19 or Marcy
Goldstein-Gelb x15.
Sponsored by the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH)
and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
Public Meeting and Forum: Brown vs. Board of Education
Decision: 50 Years Later.
Wednesday, May 5
10:00 am. -12:30 pm
UMass Boston Campus Center Ballroom 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA.
The William Monroe Trotter Institute and
The Africana Studies Department University of Massachusetts Boston
Present a Public Meeting and Forum: Brown vs. Board of Education Decision: 50
Years Later.
Keynote Speaker Judge Charles E. Walker, Jr. Former Chairman, MCAD
Respondents Gerald Gill, Professor of History, Tufts University
Monique Brinson, Teacher, Boston Public Schools
Jean McGuire, Executive Director of METCO
RSVP for continental breakfast from 9:30 - 10:00a.m. (617) 287-5885 - Trotter
Institute
SEIU
Are you a parent of a child or adult receiving services
from the Department of Mental Retardation?
If so, SEIU Local 509 would like to hear from you!
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 509, is a labor union of
Massachusetts human service workers.
They represent case managers at the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and
service coordinators at the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR),
as well as direct care workers at state-funded private agencies.
SEIU has a long history of advocating for quality jobs and human services
to meet the varied needs of families, including helping to advocate for the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
They want to talk with parents of children or adults with developmental
disabilities
receiving DMR family support services to hear about how the DMR system
could best support family and childrens needs.
Please contact Becca Gutman at SEIU Local 509 if you are interested
in sharing your experience receiving and advocating for DMR services.
1-800-509-7348 ext. 541, or write to
rgutman@509seiu.com.
Save the dates:
Project Bread's Walk for Hunger begins at the Boston
Common
Sunday, May 2
Bridge March for Health Care for All
Sunday, June 19
Be one of thousands marching to demand an end to the Health Care Crisis!
Boston is one of 15 cities that will be marching on this day!
Opening Our Eyes: Jews of Color Speak to Progressive
Communities
An evening with Loolwa Khazzoom
Thursday, April 22, 7:00 pm
Brookline Community Center for the Arts, 14 Green Street (in Coolidge
Corner),Brookline
Sponsored by Tekiah
From the Israeli-Palestinian peace camp to the American anti-racism movement,
from texts on Middle East history to events in the Jewish community,
the faces and voices of Jews of color are invisible.
This evening's program will share stories of women from North African and Middle
Eastern Jewish heritage, revealing how to incorporate Jewish multicultural
consciousness into our social justice work.
Acclaimed author and educator Loolwa Khazzoom
has just edited an anthology
entitled "The Flying Camel: Essays on Identity by Women of North African and
Middle Eastern Jewish Heritage". Angela Davis praises the book, writing, "A
provocative collection that attempts to untangle complicated webs of
anti-Semitism, racism, and misogyny, The Flying Camel presents a challenging
introduction to complex struggles around issues of identity and community."
350th anniversary of Jewish immigration to America
May 2, 3 pm
Hebrew College's Berenson Hall, 160 Herrick Street, Newton Centre
(T-accessible via the Green Line's Newton Centre Stop).
The event will feature Karla Goldman of the Jewish
Women's Archive
An overview of the history of Jewish immigration
and one-dozen immigrant-related songs performed by
A Besere Velt (A Better World),
the Yiddish Community Chorus of the Workmen's Circle.
There will also be a call to action from Tekiah,
called "Standing up for Today's Immigrants."
Co-sponsored by American Jewish Historical Society, Jewish Women's Archive,
Workmen's Circle, and the Greater Boston Jewish Community Relations Council.
Call: American Jewish Historical Society at 617-559-8880.
Mass Senior Action "Spring Into Action" Awards Dinner
May 7, 5:30 - 8:30pm
Boston Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester.
Enjoy great food, camaraderie and terrific speakers. This year's lineup
includes:
Kathy Casavant- Mass. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer - Keynote Speaker
Awards presented to:Senator Jarrett Barrios - Legislator of the Year
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner - Community Leader
Peggy O'Malley - MassCare Chair & MNA board member - Health Care Champion
BLACK ADVOCACY DAY at the Statehouse
May 4
4. SUPPORT THE JEWISH ALLIANCE
The Jewish Alliance for
Law and Social Action----
dedicated to continuing a strong, progressive, inter-generational voice
inspired by Jewish teachings and values for social justice, civil rights, and
civil liberties.
Membership is open to all who wish to work for progressive goals in the development of public policy. Join us!
Please keep us in mind so that we can continue to make a difference.
Visit www.jewishalliance.org. and fill out the online donation form today!
Volunteer Opportunitites.
The Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston is the
proud host of the 2004 JCC Maccabi Games.
Today's Jewish Athletes...Tomorrow's Jewish Leaders.
For more information, please visit
www.MaccabiBoston.org. ,
or call their hotline at (617) 558-6447.
Study Opportunities
Dont miss an opportunity to invigorate your spring mornings with text study
with
Rabbi Alan Ullman, Dr. David Starr, Or Rose, Dr. Bonna Devora Haberman and Deena
Aranoff.
These 8-week courses, sponsored by the Adult Learning Collaborative of Combined
Jewish Philanthropies
and Hebrew College, begin the week of April 27 and will be held 7:30 am. 8:45
am.
throughout the Newton, Cambridge and Boston areas.
5. March for Women Programming
Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights Events
Prayer Vigil
Communities of faith support reproductive rights.
The Coalition's 24-hour prayer vigil starts at 10 a.m.
Saturday, April 24 at the Capitol Reflecting Pool area,
between 1st and 3rd Streets NW
and Maryland and Pennsylvania Avenues NW.
This is the west side of the Capitol.
Please volunteer to take part.
Clergy and lay leaders welcome.
More information is at www.rcrc.org. ;
click on the link to prayer vigil.
Friday lobby congressional representatives with
Faithful Choices.
Registration is required. Email info@rcrc.org.
United Church of Christ Hospitality.
Justice and Witness Ministry Office, Methodist Building,
110 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 207.
Saturday, 9 am
Unitarian Universalist Youth and Young Adult Conference,
National Cathedral School of Washington, DC
Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) protest at the
Vatican Embassy
4-6 p.m. WATER Open House, 8035 13th Street, Silver Spring, MD.
www.hers.com/water. .
5:30 p.m. North American Federation of Temple Youth
program.
5-7 p.m. Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
open house
RAC, 2027 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
Metro: Dupont Circle Station, Q Street exit.
All day Saturday. Official
March Kick-Off.
The DC Armory will be JAMMIN starting at 10 a.m.
RCRC will have a table throughout the day, starting at 10 a.m.
The kick-off event starts at 8 p.m., with VIP
speakers,
celebrities, performers, and more.
Admission is $20 per person.
There will be snacks and a cash bar (no alcohol).
The Armory is conveniently located at the Stadium/Armory Metro
stop on the Orange and Blue lines.
The Reform Movement and the National Council of Jewish
Women
will have a Havdalah Service,
Saturday evening, 8 p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial.
Sunday
9 a.m. National Council of Jewish Women.
Capitol Reflecting Pool Area.
Jewish Women International gathering on the mall.
9:50 am Unitarian Universalist service.
Special guest Rev. Rebecca Parker.
All Souls Church, 1500 Harvard Street NW, Washington DC.
9:30 a.m. Reform Movement breakfast and 10 a.m.
program
has reached room capacity and will not be able to
sell tickets at the door. If you have reservations: -
Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
For information: http://rj.org/choice/.
RCRR: The Religious contingent staging area is at
the
Capitol Reflecting Pool area,
between 1st and 3rd Streets NW and Maryland and
Pennsylvania Avenues NW.
This is the west side of the Capitol. This is also where
the main stage will be located.
Our Interfaith Service will be held here starting
at
9:30 a.m. with inspiring and energizing choral music.
The multi-faith service begins at 10 a.m.
We will march as a group from here.
Further information: info@rcrcofma.org.
Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood Dupont Circle
Pre-March Festival
Dupont Circle - Washington, DC
10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 23
10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 24
Help us kick off the pro-choice march of all marches..
The March for Women's Lives!
Enjoy music, local comedians, poetry, dance performances,
games, and more.
Speakers include: Gloria Steinem Martha Burk
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Special invited guest, Ann Richards.
25th Annual Take Back the Night Rally
Dupont Circle Washington, DC
Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
Sponsor: DC Rape Crisis Center
"Stand Up! for Choice SM" Extravaganza
Warner Theatre, 13th & E Streets, NW Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring: Dan Bern Ani DiFranco Jatrice Martel Gaiter
Judy Gold A.J. Jamal Nellie McKay Moby
Caroline Rhea Susan Sarandon G.E. Smith (SNL)
Phoebe Snow Gloria Steinem Wanda Sykes
Kathleen Turner, and many more.
Sponsors: Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC,
Self Magazine, and Working Assets.
Tickets are available in-person at the
Warner Theatre Box Office
TicketMaster Phone Charge: 800.551.SEAT, or via the Internet.
Planned Parenthood After-March Thank You Party
9:30 Club, 815 V St., NW (intersection of 9th, V, and
Vermont Streets)
Doors will open at 7:00 p.m.
Featuring: Joan Jett and The Black Hearts & Sandra Bernhard
w/ The Casual Dots The Clicks The Lascivious Biddies
The Whips Hosted by The Poem-cees.
Tickets are available online.
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