Thanks to John Reuwer, we have a first hand account of the negotiations at the UN Conference to Negotiate a Ban on Nuclear Weapons.

Click here for the latest Peace & Justice Newsletter
Also in this issue:
PJC Educational Programs and Events
Reading Frederick Douglass Tuesday, July 11, 5:30-7pm, Burlington City Hall, Church Street side.

Fair Trade vs. Free Trade Presentation
Thursday, July 13, 12-1pm,  PJC. People are encouraged to join our New Volunteer Orientation at 11:30.

Banana Presentation
Saturday, July 22, 3:30, PJC. Learn about the oppressive banana industry. People are encouraged to join our New Volunteer Orientation at 3:00.
Tuesday, July 25, 12-1pm, PJC. This is happening on the 4th Tuesday of July, August and September. 
 
Songs for Hope
Sunday, August 6, 7pm,
Burlington. Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the PJC and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

How to Talk with Kids about Racism
Tuesdays, August 8, 15, 22, 6-8pm,
Richmond Free Library, Richmond. Led by Isaiah Hines and Jade Walker. Includes resources, role playing, and discussion. Register online.  

Free Trade Agreements Presentation
Saturday, August 10, 12:00, PJC. Explore how U.S. Free Trade Agreements, in combination with corporate greed and developmental inequity, has led to a devastating effect on the Global South. People are encouraged to join our New Volunteer Orientation at 11:30.
 
All programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. For more info on these events visit the Upcoming Events page on our website or contact us at 863-2345 x6 or [email protected]
Quick Links
ACLU job posting
The ACLU of Vermont just launched a search for a Director of Development. They will begin reviewing applications August 1, but the position will remain open until filled. Click here for the full description and more information.
Sisters of Mercy Peace Initiative Grant
Do you or your organization have a great idea for a peace-building project that just needs a little money to get off the ground? If so, the Sisters of Mercy Peace Initiative Awards Committee would like to hear from you. We are accepting initial-round applications until July 7.
         
For more info or to receive an initial application form, interested individuals should e-mail Laurie Gagne or call her at 802-338-0551.

Center Hours 

Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm

Hours are subject to change. Call 802-863-2345 x2 to confirm.
  
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront.
(Next to Skinny Pancake)
  
If you would like an event listed, please email [email protected]  
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June 14, 2017
UN Conference to Ban Nuclear Weapons
"I hope the news of the US shooting down Syrian jets and the Russians buzzing US military aircraft, our navy practicing attacks on North Korea right off shore, and Kim Jong Un threatening to nuke Seoul and Tokyo is enough to make you believe this is not a trivial matter. Remember Russia can have nukes in every major American city in the next hour if they so choose...." 
Special thanks to John Reuwer, MD (PJC member and collaborator, and representative of Physicians for Social Responsibility), for sharing his first hand account on June 21 of this critical gathering.
    
Frederick Douglass
In 1852, Frederick Douglass, one of our nation's greatest orators and abolitionists, was asked to speak at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  In his provocative speech, Douglass said, "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn."

Reading Frederick Douglass in Burlington, 2014
Reading Frederick Douglass in Burlington, 2014

Douglass's speech
remains emotionally powerful and thought-provoking more than a century and a half after he gave it. Join one of the community readings of this speech in 24 locations throughout Vermont. The PJC is hosting the one in Burlington on July 11. If you are interested in reading a section, please email Kina . See the full list of events the Vermont Humanities Council is sponsoring here.
Migrant Justice Update: Historic march followed by ICE arrests
In the early morning light, at 7am on Saturday June 17th, nearly 150 farmworkers and supporters gathered in front of the Vermont State House gearing up for what would be an historic day. The Peace & Justice Center was proud to support the action and join the 13-mile march. Read about it on Migrant Justice's website.

June 17 March from Montpelier to Waterbury

Horribly, two farm workers who lead the march, Yesenia and Esau, were arrested and detained later that same day. They are now facing deportation.

Rapid response protests over these arrests have already generated national headlines, but the fight to #FreeEsau and #FreeYesenia is just getting started.  Here are two  actions to take this week:
  1. Sign and share this petition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, then call the Boston ICE office demanding their release! 
  2. Write a handwritten note to Ben & Jerry's CEO Jostein Solheim. Mail the letter to Migrant Justice (294 N. Winooski Ave, Ste 130, Burlington VT, 05401) NOT to Ben & Jerry's. They are thinking about the right way to deliver these letters and that will depend on progress we make in the coming days 
The Migrant Justice facebook account has been deactivated!  We are working hard to get it back up and running; in the meantime, facebook users can stay up to date from posts on this past event page.
Community Events
This is a partial listing. See more events in our public calendar.
 
June 27, Tuesday    
  • 5:30-6:30pm Restorative Justice Forum at the Commons @ BALE, So Royalton.
  • 6-8pm SURJ-BTV (Showing Up for Racial Justice). First Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington.
June 28, Wednesday
  • 11:30am-12:30pm National Healthcare Day of Action: Save Medicaid!  Democracy Statue, 199 Main St, Burlington
  • 7-9pm Warehoused Screening, Studio A, 294 North Winooski Ave, Burlington (also showing on Friday)
June 29, Thursday
June 30, Friday         July 1, Saturday          
  • 10am-12pm Caroline Fund Pro Se Legal Clinic. Lawline of Vermont, 274 N Winooski Ave, Burlington. Every Saturday.
  • 11am-12pm Frederick Douglass Reading. 70 Village Green, White River Junction.
  • 12:30-1:30pm Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center Vigil at Four Corners, Bennington.
  • 2-3pm Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.  Clemmons Family Farm, 2122 Greenbush Rd Charlotte.
  • 6:30pm Get in the Way. Film about civil rights icon John Lewis. Cabot.
July 2, Sunday        
  • 9-10:30am Peer-Led Mindfulness Meet-Up for Teens. Stillpoint Center, 7 Kilburn St. Suite 305, Burlington. Every Sunday.
  • 12-1pm Vets for Peace live call-in TV show. VCAM, Channel 15.
  • 2-3pm Frederick Douglass Reading. 4588 Chester A Arthur Rd, East Fairfield.
  • 3-4pm Frederick Douglass Reading.Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh.
July 3, Monday          
  • 12-1pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Montpelier City Hall.
  • 5-6pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Aldrich Public Library, East Barre.
  • 6:15-8pm Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Committee meeting. Miller Center, 130 Gosse Ct, Burlington.
  • 7-8pm Frederick Douglass Reading. 289 Vermont Route 110 Tunbridge.
July 4, Tuesday      
  • 12-1pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, Randolph.
  • 2-3pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Landgrove Meeting House, Landgrove Rd, Landgrove.
  • 5:30-8pm Volunteer drop-in at 350VT Office, Burlington.
July 5, Wednesday          
  • 5-6pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Gilbert Hart Library, Wallingford.
  • 6-7pm Frederick Douglass Reading. South Hero Community Library, South Hero.
  • 6:30-7:30pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction.
July 7, Friday          
  • 5-5:30pm Peace Vigil. Top of Church St, Burlington.
July 8, Saturday          
  • 1-2pm Frederick Douglass Readings. Bennington Free Library, 101 Silver St, Bennington.
  • 9pm-1am SASS: A Monthly Queer Social And Dance Party. Higher Ground, S. Burlington.
July 9, Sunday          
  • 3-4pm Yours in the Cause: Faces of American Abolition. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh.
July 10, Monday          
  • 6-8pm Vermonters for Justice in Palestine meeting. PJC, Burlington.
  • 7-10pm Black Lives Matter VT Action meeting. Integrated Arts Academy, 6 Archibald St, Burlington.
July 11, Tuesday          
July 12 , Wednesday         
  • 6:30-8pm "A Woman, Ain't I?"  tells Sojourner Truth's story in her own words, speeches, and songs. 1625 Maple St, Hartford.
July 13, Thursday          
  • 11:30am-12pm New Volunteer Orientation. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
  • 12-1pm Fair Trade vs. Free Trade presentation. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
  • 5:30-7:30pm WILPF meeting. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
  • 7-8pm Frederick Douglass Reading. Hartland Public Library, Hartland.
 
Please email events for our google calendar and enews. 
Action Highlight - Medicaid not Millionaires!
Join Rights & Democracy on National Healthcare Day of Action for a rally and press conference to denounce the GOP attack on Vermonters' healthcare. Hear from the people most affected by the deep cuts to Medicaid.
The Senate bill would cut $800-plus Billion from Medicaid nationally, and wield a devastating blow to our state's Medicaid system, which covers 206,000 people- including nearly half of all of Vermont's children. 
 
To keep our promises to those residents-elderly, children, and low-income folks-Vermont will need to raise an additional $2 Billion over the next 10 years to maintain current coverage levels through our expanded Medicaid programs.

Here's how we can work to stop it: First, call Republican Gov. Phil Scott to sign onto a bi-partisan letter of US governors who oppose the Senate plan and want to see a more collaborative process to improve the health of their residents and hold their state budgets harmless. Scott has a chance to be a national Republican leader, like other Vermont Republicans before him. You can also join over 3,300 Vermonters and add your name to the petition.

Then, call the offices of US Sen. Patrick Leahy and US Sen. Bernie Sanders and tell them to do everything they can to stop this bill from becoming law. Let them know that we have their back to pull out the stops to halt this bill in its tracks.

Those numbers:
  • Gov. Phil Scott: (802) 828-3333
  • US Sen. Patrick Leahy: (800) 642-3193
  • US Sen. Bernie Sanders: (800) 339-9834
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