On July 1, 2014 the Redwood City Police Department received a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle from the Department of Defense's “1033 program.” This program distributes excess military equipment to civilian police departments. The range of material is wide, including medical equipment, tractors, MRAPs, and weapons. Many people do not think that vehicles and weapons designed for war belong with civilian police departments, believing instead that officers in Redwood City and beyond are first and foremost peace officers.

There is already a movement to end part of the 1033 program. Congresswoman Jackie Speier is a co-sponsor of Representative Hank Johnson’s Stop Militarizing of Law Enforcement Act (HR 5478). This act would, among other things, “end the transfer of certain weapons grade military equipment to local law enforcement,” according to a letter from the Congresswoman in early October. Rep. Speier also writes that she is, “deeply troubled that the Pentagon has billions of dollars in excess inventory to give away in the first place.”  

Redwood City officials refer to the MRAP Redwood City received as a rescue vehicle, and state that this vehicle would only be used in extreme circumstances -- citing the tragic movie theater, school, and shopping mall shootings we have seen unfold in recent years. It is difficult to imagine how one would effectively navigate a MRAP inside a movie theater, however.

Read more to find out how you can do something about this issue. 

Saturday, November 1, 10am-12noon
Trinity Episcopal Church, 330 Ravenswood, Menlo Park, 94025

Speakers:
The Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms
Carissa Phelps, author of Runaway Girl
David Batstone, founder of Not for Sale
followed by book sale and shared trade market place

Sunday, November 2, 2014
7-8:30pm
Friends Meeting House
957 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto

Our nation seems to be committed to another war in Iraq, in the air if not (yet) on the ground. At the same time we remain militarily engaged in Afghanistan, while we send armed drones into Pakistan and other countries of the Middle East. What convinces our leaders that these actions will result in a just and lasting peace?  What alternatives to military action exist, and why is it so difficult to employ them effectively?

Come meet with fellow citizens who are concerned about these issues. The evening will begin with short prepared statements from a variety of points of view about the current status and history of American involvement in the Middle East. The major part of the evening will be a conversation in the form of a "Quaker dialogue" in which everyone present is given a chance to speak.

Click here to download the flyer with more information

Dennis Kucinich on
Redefining National Security
Sunday, Oct. 19, 7pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto

Hear Dennis Kucinich, one of our nation's leading advocates for peace, speak about the need to redefine "national security" to include food security, health security, water security, economic security, education security, environmental security -- and peace! 

Kucinich will also address America's latest escalation of war in Iraq and Syria. "ISIS is a western creation to ensure a continuation of perpetual war. We are losing our country to wars based on lies. The Constitution is being destroyed. We need to build a viable, informed and politically aware national movement." -- Dennis Kucinich

Please note: Doors open at 6:30pm.  There is no reserved seating, so arriving early will ensure you get a seat. 

What a great follow-up to our Campaign Nonviolence Week of Action!  When Kucinich heard about Campaign Nonviolence he personally called John Dear, one of CNV's founders, and said, "This is great! What can I do to help?" Read more here.

Carry the Vision Conference
Sunday, Oct. 19, 10am-4pm
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center
14855 Oka Road
Los Gatos, CA

Keynote Speaker: Fr. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.

The conference includes inspiration from community leaders, interactive workshops and panels, community dialogue, youth leadership summit (high school age), and a lunch provided by Jain Center of Northern California and San Jose Sikh Gurdwara.

Click here to download a flyer with more information.  To purchase Boyle's book (it is great!) from Reach and Teach, one of our local, independent bookstores, click here.

Tickets: $15 for students; $30 for adults

After a week full of study, action and prayer, here are some "next steps" already in place to keep the momentum going to transform our world!

The Violence of Incarceration: Our Prison System and the New Jim Crow - October 3-5 at the Ben Lomond Quaker Center.  Click here to download a flyer with all of the details.

Carry the Vision Conference: Awakening the Heart of Compassion - Sunday, October 19, 10am-4pm in Los Gatos.  The keynote speaker will be Fr. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Click here to download a flyer with more information.  To purchase Boyle's book from Reach and Teach, one of our local, independent bookstores, click here. You can also visit the Carry the Vision website.

From September 20-28, several peninsula congregations displayed a Campaign Nonviolence banner, to build a growing awareness that we can create a world of peace, justice and environmental healing!

The photo at the left shows the Campaign Nonviolence banner that was also hung on the overpass on Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto.

Peace Potluck Picnic
Sunday, September 28, 4-6:30pm
First Congregational Church
1985 Louis Rd., Palo Alto, 94303

~share what we have learned
~discern how to move forward together
~enjoy food and friendship
~hear inspiring stories of creative nonviolence in Afghanistan
~begin - now - to build another world of peace, justice, and environmental healing

Cosponsored by Peninsula Peace & Justice Center, Pacific Life Community, American Muslim Voice, and the Network for Spiritual Progressives

Featured Speaker:
Kathy Kelly
"Moving Forward with Campaign Nonviolence and Afghanistan"

Peace activist Kathy Kelly has just returned from the summer in Afghanistan as a guest of the Afghan Peace Volunteers. Grounded in her Catholic upbringing, her courageous actions have long demonstrated a deep passion for peace, justice and human kindness.

Kelly and others lived in Baghdad during the 2003 "Shock and Awe" attack. In 2009 she lived in Gaza during the final days of the Operation Cast Lead bombing. Later that year she was part of a small delegation that went to Pakistan to learn more about the effects of U.S. drone warfare on the civilian population. She continues to join activists in various regions of our country to protest drone warfare. 

Kelly is co-founder and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV). She is the author of Other Lands Have Dreams: From Baghdad to Perkins Prison (2005). She and VCNV believe that nonviolence necessarily involves simplicity, service, sharing of resources and non-violent direct action in resistance to war and oppression.

Sunday, Sept. 28
Poverty and Structural Violence, Adult Forum led by Joe Haletky, 9:15-10:15am, First Lutheran Church of Palo Alto

Worship with Peace Activist Kathy Kelly Preaching, 10:30am at First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto

Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises & a Revolution of Hope Adult Spiritual Formation Class, 11:15am, First Baptist Church of Palo Alto

Youth Workshop Exploring Conscientious Objection, second in 2 part series for ages 14-18, 12noon-2pm, First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto

Eco-Justice for Kids, 11am, Unitarian Universalist Church, Palo Alto

"A Cubic Mile of Oil" Adult Forum, 12:15-2pm, Unitarian Universalist Church, Palo Alto

MVPJ Peace Potluck Picnic "Campaign Nonviolence: Another World Is Possible" - 4-6:30pm, First Congregational Church of Palo Alto. Featuring peace activist Kathy Kelly (just back from Afghanistan) as special speaker. We will share what we have learned and look to where we go next.