[Peace] AWARE Minutes, July 17

[David Green]

AWARE Minutes, July 17, 2005

Facilitator: Bob Illyes
Time: Wendy Edwards
Minutes: David Green

1. News of the Week (posted separately): the meaning
of the Plame/Rove issue to the distinction between
liberals and the left.

2.  Introductions: 20+ present

We were visited by Zayd Leseman his wife Hibba,
members of the local Muslim community, and their
friend Hillary, a lifelong Urbana resident who has
spent much time recently in Gaza, Palestine, with her
Palestinian husband. Hibba reported an ugly incident
at the Wal-Mart on July 3rd, when her appearance as a
Muslim woman was disparaged by a local couple, who
turn out to be Alan and Linda Kurtz. Linda Kurtz is a
ward captain for the Democratic Party, and Alan has
taken action to keep both Green Party and Social
Equality Party candidates off of the ballot in the
recent election. 

Hibba’s complaint to legal authorities was not ruled
worthy of pursuing, although it is of note that Julia
Reitz, the state’s attorney, is also listed among the
Democratic Party officials, so there may be a conflict
of interest here worthy of being raised. 

It was suggested that AWARE Presents plan a forum for
Muslim women to relate their experiences locally, and
inform the public regarding their religious practices,
etc. An article in the Public I was also suggested. 
Hibba was interviewed for Channel 15 news by Lauren
Petty regarding this incident, etc., which aired this
past Wednesday.

At the end of the meeting, Hillary commented regarding
what she sees as a potentially violent situation for
Palestinians in Gaza during and after the withdrawal
of Israeli settlers next month. These fears are
confirmed by Israeli observers.


3. New ideas:

There was a discussion regarding both the United for
Peace and Justice and ANSWER planned demonstrations in
Washington D.C. on September 24th. It was proposed
that we support both, and encourage cooperation, per a
proposal by Tom Hayden, presumably among many others.
It was suggested that an AWARE group to travel to D.C.
be organized, and that transportation alternatives by
investigated. Mort Brussel will respond to UFPF’s
request for support.

UFPJ is a broad, grassroots coalition of local groups
focused on the Iraq War. ANSWER is a more sectarian
left-wing group focused on a broad variety of issues,
with speakers representing various issues given a
platform during their rallies.

Carl Estabrook reported that a former member of AWARE,
Wilhelmine Bennett, contacted him from Iowa regarding
the working of our Mutual Aid pact. This reminder fit
in with the concerns about harassment of local
Muslims. James Treat referred to a program called “Not
in our Town”: http://www.pbs.org/niot/

Al Kagan, who is most familiar with our Mutual Aid
pact, was not present at the meeting to comment on the
current status, if any, of this project.


Randall Cotton briefly discussed a plan in the works
to revamp local cable access television, being worked
on by Danielle Chynoweth and others, in relation to
the negotiation of the cable franchise in CU, which
would offer increased opportunities for citizens to go
on air. A petition will be circulating, including at
the AWARE Farmers Market Table, etc., regarding this
issue.

More on this issue at future meetings.


4. Working Groups:

Finances: $3165 (not including the $100+ change in the
Farmers Market jar).

Farmers Market: Need more yard signs, bumper stickers,
magnets, etc. 
A sheet was passed around to order basic AWARE
T-shirts (in a variety of attractive colors) form
Weiskamp. (Darrin Drda will be submitting a logo, but
that’s a separate fashion statement for now).

Main Event: 32 attended on Saturday evening from 6 to
8, slow car traffic, more foot traffic. Some younger
protestors joined the group, and met some nastiness
with reported aplomb. It was agreed to do an afternoon
protest on August 6th, and another evening one on
August 20th.

Counter-recruitment: Carol Inskeep has submitted to
Parkland College the application for a scholarship to
award to a Parkland student interested in peace and
justice in the face of increased militarism and
recruitment pressures.

AWARE Presents: A forum at the Vineyard regarding
Muslim issues was broached, along with previously
suggested ideas for Mohammed al-Heeti, Prince Myshkins
(named after the protagonist in Dostoyevsky’s novel,
“The Idiot”) and a forum on responses to the
occupation of Iraq.

Indoor Market in Square: Durl Kruse will be writing a
proposal to mall management (which has not yet been
hired) to make the indoor winter market a political
public square for diverse views, including AWARE’s, of
course. Durl has agreed to take the initiative in
leading us all down the slippery slope to a society in
which political speech is not viewed as being in
inherent conflict with marketplace civility and
material consumption (editorial comment).

Hiroshima Day Events: (message from Charlotte Green)

Here are the most up-to-date details about the
Hiroshima/Nagasaki observance, which is being
cosponsored by several churches in C-U.  
 
There are two events planned.  The first will be a
lecture by Fred Lamb on Friday, August 5 at 7 PM at
the Physics Building, corner of Green and Goodwin,
Urbana.  (The place is not absolutely firm...we're
still working on this.)  Fred Lamb is a physics and
astronomy professor at UIUC and an expert on nuclear
weapons and arms control.  He is co-founder of the
Illinois Alliance to Prevent Nuclear War.
 
The second event will be more family-oriented and will
take place on Tuesday, August 9.  It will begin at
6:30 PM at the First United Methodist Church,
Champaign with the showing of a thirty-minute film,
"Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" about a
Japanese girl who comes down with leukemia as a result
of radiation from the atomic bomb.  Following the
film, participants will be able to choose from several
activities, including making peace lanterns, making
paper cranes, and more.  At 8 PM, the participants
will process to West Side Park where they will float
peace lanterns in the pool of water.  (The fountain
will be turned off.)  The floating of lanterns, based
on a Buddhist tradition, will be a way to remember the
victims of the bombings and to send forth prayers for
peace.


5.  Events of Past Week: No report on meeting with Tim
Johnson aide.

Good letters in N-G regarding parade, London bombings,
etc. from Paul King, Meg Miner, Carl Estabrook,
Meredith Kruse.

6.  Upcoming Events:

Citizen Police Review Board: Tuesday, July 19th, 8
p.m., IDF.

Also, check-out Brian Hagy’s improve group at Café
Verdi, Thursday, 8 p.m.


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