UJP planning group, April 27, meeting at UU services office in Central Square, Cambridge
present: Cole (chair), Duncan (notes), Ann, Virginia, Carol, Paul, Shelagh, Renee
May 16 educational
title: New Hopes and New Dangers: Middle East and North Africa
questions to address: what's going on in each country, what is the US role and policy, what are the implications for Israel and Palestine, what are the implications for the peace and justice movement?
place: Friends Meeting House near Harvard Square
admission: $5-10, no one turned away
Egyptian doctor will lead off with slide show, then Phyllis Bennis and discussion
Publicity: send to UJP big list, etc.
Committee will decide remaining logistics, publicity etc. matters (Ann, Shelagh, Paul)
Majority Agenda Project support committee report
Paul described the various activities in recent months: 1) a post election for at E5 which was well attended; 2) a fundraiser with Chomsky and Bennis with Arlington UJP which was well attended and successful; 3) a March 16 forum featuring George Gresham at 1199 in Dorchester -- Gresham expressed affirmative view on pulling One Nation together and working with the peace movement, however, we have not heard anything about this since.
MAP has adopted a support campaign on cutting the military budget, funding communities -- hopes to help bring various organizations together statewide in context of MAP analysis. Has talked with Jobs with Justice and is monitoring AFL-CIO, SEIU 1199, budget crisis hearings. Paul wrote "War is Killing Massachusetts" op ed which was published in Somerville Journal and can be adapted for other towns.
Duncan proposed UJP invest in banners and signs that connect economic justice and war issues, and systematically show up at labor led rallies for a peace presence. Duncan will follow up.
Coalition for Social Justice Ad Book
$100 ad -- UJP will contribute $60 and ask 25% committee to contribute $40, since the message is about cutting the military budget.
Fall Conference
Chomsky's office continues to delay their response and we can't wait any longer to start organizing. Agreed that Duncan will contact Bill Fletcher to deliver a keynote speech; prioritize dates of October 01, Sept. 24, Oct. 29 and choose date if Bill agrees to one of them. When date is picked, Virginia will contact Kathy Kelly, Shelagh will contact Bacevich, Paul will contact Jeremy Scahill, Cole will contact Max Elbaum and a number of other ideas were suggested for speakers. (George Gresham, Bob Herbert, Nancy Murray, Center for Constitutional Rights, FF Piven, Move-on young person, White-Hammond, David Swanson).
Place -- 1199 declined to host on basis of renovations. When date is picked, Duncan will contact Simmons, Shelagh and Cole MIT, Shelagh - Tufts, Northeastern - Cole, Ann - church in Watertown
Anti-racism workshop. Cole and Mike Prokosch are attending, Duncan proposed 50% subsidy if they return with detailed report to UJP.
FBI visit - FBI has questioned a Boston-area Palestinian activist recently. "What to do if FBI visits you" materials need to be distributed.
Discussion of various local and Mass. anti-war initiatives.
next meeting: Duncan will facilitate.
