CALENDAR: Courageous Palestinian leader to visit Tacoma, show film -- Sat., Jan. 12 @ 5pm
- Details
- Written by Jewish Voice for Peace
ACTIVISM: Leonard Peltier clemency gathering in Tacoma -- Sat., Dec. 8, 12-3:00pm
- Details
- Written by People for Peace, Justice, and Healing (Tacoma)
Supporters of Leonard Peltier are urged to attend a clemency gathering at St. Leo Church in Tacoma at noon on Sat., Dec. 8, and add their voices to those of others seeking to pressure President Obama to grant clemency, long overdue, to Leonard Peltier, an AIM activist wrongfully extradited from Canada in 1976 and unjustly convicted at a federal trial in 1977 in Fargo, ND. -- Peltier, now 68, has been in prison for more than 35 years. -- This event is sponsored by the Tacoma Chapter of the Leonard Peltier Defense/Offense Committee (LPDOC) and co-sponsored by People for Peace, Justice, and Healing. -- More information below.[1] ...
LOCAL NEWS: VFP defies Auburn's attempt to exclude antiwar group from Veterans Day parade
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- Written by Abe DeJamminen
The ACLU has joined Veterans for Peace in seeking to overturn the decision of the city of Auburn to exclude the group from its annual Veterans Day parade, to be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Sat., Nov. 10, the Seattle Times reported Monday.[1] -- Although VFP has marched in the parade for six years running, this year the group was told that "the parade was becoming too large and the group's message ran contrary to the parade's purpose to 'positively honor' veterans," Mike Carter said. -- Attorney David Whedbee, who is working with the ACLU, "said that Auburn's rules for the parade are unconstitutional and that the city can't regulate speech at a public parade. . . . 'You cannot discriminate based on viewpoint.'" -- The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge James Robart. -- The Tacoma News Tribune's Christian Hill reported on the controversy Tuesday, noting that VFP member Michael Dedrick "called it an 'insult' that non-veteran groups such as the Classical Glass Corvette Club and Auburn Optimist Club are allowed to march while his group is not. There are 184 participants in this year’s parade, according to the city’s website."[2] -- The ACLU's statement on the case and its legal brief, filed Monday and arguing that the City of Auburn's decision is a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, are posted below.[3,4] -- The president of Greater Seattle Veterans for Peace has said that the group is "still planning to march in the parade."[5] -- ACTIVISM: VFP is encouraging supporters to "join us in Auburn."[5] -- Calls complaining about VFP's exclusion can be made to Auburn Parks Arts and Recreation Special Events Coordinator Kristy Pachciarz (253-931-3043), Auburn Mayor Peter Lewis (253-931-3041), Auburn Deputy Mayor Nancy Backus (253-261-1555 or 253-288-3132). -- BACKGROUND: See here for Auburn's web page about the parade....