For the most comprehensive link to  Progressive Events in the Greater Boston Area and a list of "left-leaning, progressive" radio programs, including RADIO with a VIEW,  check out: Act-MA (activism in Massachusetts)

This Week @ the
Community Church of Boston

565 Boylston Street, Copley Sq.

617-266-6710

commchurch@igc.org

"A Radical Pulpit In Action"

A Special Message from Reverend David Carl Olson, CCB Minister and Leader and President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

DIRECTIONS/PARKING

The Community Church is located at 565 Boylston Street in Copley Square, between Dartmouth and Clarendon Streets. By public transportation, the closest stops are Copley on the Green Line and Back Bay on the Orange Line.

Public parking is available on Sunday mornings at the Back Bay Garage. Entrances are on Clarendon Street and St. James Ave. A red coupon is available at the church for discounted parking ($3 until 1:30 p.m.).

CHILDREN'S SPACE 

There is space for children's activities, as well as arts and crafts supplies for children. Church volunteers can provide childcare supervision when needed -- please call the church office, in advance if possible, to let us know the names and ages of your children (617) 266-6710.

Reconstituted & Refurbished!

Community Church WEBSITE

Feb. 2004 CCB Newsletter
(PDF file)

** Sunday Speaker Platform Series for Winter 2004 **

WARD MOREHOUSE

Third address in the "Corporation Nation" Series:  "On Being a Gangster for Capitalism"

Ward Morehouse is president of the Council on International & Public Affairs, a research, education and advocacy group working on environmental and social justice issues. He is also a co-founder of the Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy and former chair of the Intermediate Technology Development Group of North America. He has written or edited some 20 books, including The Bhopal Tragedy, Abuse of Power: The Social Performance of Multinational Corporations, Worker Empowerment in a Changing Economy, Building Sustainable Communities and The Underbelly of the U.S. Economy.

Using Gen. Smedley Butler's infamous observation about his career in the U.S. Marine Corps as a starting point, Mr. Morehouse will examine corporate power and popular resistance in an imperial age. This will lead to an expose of the instuments of corporate rule, post-9/11 repression and penetration of the global political economy by the U.S. corporate empire.

Music by Patrick Keaney & Jonathan Dorsett

 Next week: March 21     Sharon Kennedy, "The Strike for Bread & Roses: Lawrence, 1912"
                                            Storyteller Sharon Kennedy returns to our platform with an intimate,
                                   moving rendition of the first successful strike of immigrant labor in U.S.
                                   herstory. Ms. Kennedy's performance stresses how the 1912 struggle
                                   broke down bitter hatreds among minority groups, making real the
                                   concept of a "melting pot". Women and children of different ethnicities,
                                   working together, forged a coalition of the most downtrodden,
                                   mistreated and powerless Americans.

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Activist On Trial:

Housing organizer Camilo Viveiros, a former  Boston resident who currently works in Southeastern Massachusetts, was arrested while protesting the Republican National Convention on  August 1, 2000.  Roughly 400 people were arrested in these protests, and Camilo was hit with particularly serious charges due to the  involvement of the police commissioner that could carry a sentence of 15 to 40 years if he's convicted. John Timoney, the Philadelphia police commissioner at the time, has used his handling of the RNC protestors to build his own career. 

Camilo is a long-term dedicated organizer. He works in the community where he grew up and  understands the interconnectedness of different issues. If he is sent to prison, it will be a  huge loss for the community.  Furthermore, if Camilo is sent to prison, it will send a chilling message to everyone who values the  right to protest against injustice.  In the current post-9/11 climate, protecting this right  is more important than ever. Huge protests against the FTAA are planned for early November in Miami, where John Timoney is currently police chief.  A conviction in Camilo's case could lead to more repressive measures there.

For more information about Camilo, see http://www.friendsofcamilo.org.
If you have questions, write to camiloboston@yahoo.com

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BOSTON is an independent -minded, radical religious community, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.

Join Puerto Rican poet and author Frank Morales from the Lower East Side of New York City and Gan Golan one of the first F.T.A.A. (Free Trade Area of the Americas) protesters to go to trial, for the politics and poetry of resistance to repression.

Mr. Morales is an ordained reverend and a social activist against police brutality and political repression. He is one of the cofounders of the New York based "Campaign to Demilitarize the Police" (http://www.demilitarizethepolice.netfirms.com).

Mr. Morales will present his research and perform poetry from the pages of his work published in the journal Covert Action (http://www.covertaction.org ) and in the book Police State America. Police State America is an anthology that details military and police efforts in the interest of corporate sponsored social control. He will share slides and short film excerpts followed by a discussion and a brunch to raise awareness and funds for the defense of Camilo Viveiros.

Gan Golan is an M.I.T. student who was one of the first of the Miami/FTAA defendants to go to trial. Along with many others he was gassed and beaten by the police while protesting the corporate backed F.T.A.A. The brutal behavior of the Miami police toward protesters has since become known as "the Miami model". Mr. Golan is a cofounder of the Boston based project "Beyond the Criminalization of Dissent" which seeks to generate public awareness about John Timoney's model of repression (Philadelphia & Miami).

Mr. Golan has also worked against Timoney's consulting role for the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

John Timoney was the police commissioner of Philadelphia during the Republican National Convention in 2000. Timoney is directly responsible for Camilo's charges. Timoney went on to coordinate police repression in Miami. John Timoney's law enforcement practices threaten not only Camilo's freedom but also all of our liberties. We will discuss the implications Camilo's case has for the upcoming protests during the Republican National Convention in New York.

The brunch will gather legal funds to defend Mr. Viveiros against trumped up charges stemming from protests countering the Republican National Conference in 2000. Camilo Viveiros is facing a 15-30 sentence if he is convicted on charges that are part of a coordinated strategy to villainize protesters as dangerous and violent. 

The brunch and presentations will include a discussion about attempts to limit civil liberties in Rhode Island. We will discuss challenges to our freedom of speech, assembly and expression. Join us for this important event. Stand up for your rights!

BRUNCH WILL BE SERVED 11am through 2pm at AS220 Frank Morales and Gan Golan will present at 2pm at AS220 A $10 Donation Requested Additional Donations are Welcomed Call Neal @ 401.831.9327/401.454.5865 for more information or see: http://www.friendsofcamilo.org

FROM The Bl(A)ck Tea Society: Next twice monthly meeting reminder: Mar 17, 2004

"This city belongs to the people of Boston, not the corporations or politicians. Let's defend it!"

Wednesday, Jan 21,  there will be another meeting to plan out the resistance to the DNC. Open to all anti-authoritarians. At the meeting we plan to (among other things): prepare for the February Consulta, continue to work on a convergence center, prepare for a Temporary Autonomous Zone and much more... If you are interested please attend.

We will meet on the steps in front of BU's Tsai Performing Arts Center (on Commonwealth Ave) at 7pm (Depending on the weather, people might also be waiting directly inside the main doors). Then go inside to find a room to use.

If you are interested but unable to attend please contact someone who is attending so that your ideas can be represented or at least drop an email at nodnc04@hush.com  For more information contact mailto:nodnc04@hush.com

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003 - Protest Against the War!

* Money for Jobs, Education Housing & Healthcare
   Not for Racism & War!

* Military Recruiters out of Our Schools and
   Our Communities!

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
(Act Now to Stop War & End Racism)

31 Germania St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

617.522.6626

www.iacboston.org/ANSWER
www.internationalanswer.org

Forum: How Best to Help the Homeless this Year

Tuesday Dec. 2, 2003 5-7:30 p.m.

Cambridge Senior Center, Central Square,
806 Mass Ave. Cambridge

What makes a program work successfully with the homeless? With severe state and federal budget cuts, how can we best donate to homeless service organizations. Since 40% of homeless work full or part-time, how can we abolish homelessness? Sponsored by Cambridge Action Fund, Inc., a 501 c3 where all operating costs are donated so 100% of donations go to help the homeless. For more information
http://www.cambridgeactionfund.org or mailto:doaneperry@yahoo.com
or 617-547-1413.

To donate, send tax deductible contributions to CAF, 1657 Cambridge St. #3, Cambridge MA 02138-4316. CAF, Inc. is a collaborative of businesses and citizens committed to sharing a portion of our income to improve the quality of life for ALL, especially the homeless. Simple refreshments provided.