|
PEACE CENTER ACTIVIST ALERT
July 6th, 2026
| | |
TUESDAY, JULY 21st, 6 - 8 PM
CREEKSIDE COMMONS
1035 CAROL LANE, LAFAYETTE
Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center
hosts
MORGAN COOPER TOTAH
co-founder of
HANDMADE PALESTINE
and MASHJAR JUTHOUR
An American who has been living in Occupied Palestine for 20 years, Morgan is married to a Palestinian First Christian and they are raising two children in his ancestral town (now city) of Ramallah.
Their creation, Handmade Palestine, is a social enterprise that supports over 30 artisan groups in crafting and storytelling. This fair trade initiative is life sustaining for many across Palestine.
It also raises funds for another project, Mashjar Juthour, which is land Morgan and her husband transformed from degraded terrain into Palestine's first arboretum and sustainable nature preserve—a sanctuary for trees, wildlife, and community.
Morgan will share stories of their work on these projects and life in Palestine. She’ll also bring crafts to share from women practicing traditional tatreez embroidery.
Through cultural heritage and crafting, she will speak about the obstacles women face in generating a basic income and also about her own family's efforts to navigate life under Occupation.
Morgan is an authentic and passionate speaker who provides a unique perspective to the discussion on Palestine Liberation.
IG account: mashjar_juthour /
https://handmadepalestine.com
http://juthour.org
This is a FREE EVENT! Refreshments will be available. Registration is requested CLICK HERE
More info:
www.ourpeacecenter.org / (925) 933-7850 / info@ourpeacecenter.org
CLICK HERE for a shareable flyer
| | |
TUESDAY, JULY 7th, 9 AM expected
SAVE THE DATE! SEE BELOW
TIME SENSITIVE ACTION REQUEST
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
ATTEND IN-PERSON OR ONLINE
County Administration Building
1025 Escobar Street, Martinez
Contra Costa County
ICE Non-Cooperation Ordinance
What is it?
Our community-based, immigrant support coalition has asked the Board of Supervisors to prepare and implement a county ordinance to stop Contra Costa resources (especially the Sheriff’s Department) from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement (ICE), except where legally required. Most other Bay Area counties already have similar protections in place.
Why it matters
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Department currently lack the transparency and accountability that other counties provide. A strong, loophole-free ordinance would bring Contra Costa in line with neighboring counties, strengthening protections for immigrant residents as well as county workers.
At the June 15 Board of Supervisors’ Equity Committee meeting, Supervisor Ken Carlson (Committee Chair) and Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston (Committee Vice Chair) decided to send the current draft of the ordinance, which has been recast as a policy (i.e. not legally binding) and is heavily modified from what the community proposed, to the full Board of Supervisors without a vote. The document’s current state as a “policy” (as opposed to an “ordinance”/law) is ineffectual and lacks key protections that would safeguard our communities.
For additional background, please access the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA) toolkit, here.
We anticipate that the draft document will be placed on the Tuesday July 7 Board of Supervisors meeting agenda (to be confirmed by this Thursday, July 2, right before the holiday weekend). We want to be ready with robust community turnout to demand a strong ordinance. Please save the date and attend the meeting – in person or remotely - if you can! The start time is 9AM.
Board of Supervisors meetings take place at the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez
Remote attendance: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/81863939331
Call in: 1-855-758-1310.
IRCCimmigrantsupp@gmail.com
| | |
TUESDAY, JULY 7th, 5 - 8 PM
VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON
CALIFORNIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY HALL
21000 HACIENDA BLVD. CALIFORNIA CITY
SHUT DOWN CORECIVIC'S
ICE DETENTION CENTER
and END CONCENTRATION CAMPS!
Please RSVP to join virtually or in person by June 30!
Join other faith leaders and community partners at the City Council meeting.
CoreCivic’s ICE detention center in California City has been operating illegally for over 1 year. We are appealing! This hearing is a critical opportunity to show up with PEOPLE POWER and urge city officials to deny the incorrect permits CoreCivic has been using to operate ICE's largest detention center in California. For the first time, the California City Detention Center will appear on the City Council agenda, and we need a strong turnout to stand alongside families of those detained and California City residents to demand accountability.
Faith leaders and volunteers are especially needed to attend the City Council hearing and visit someone inside.
Transportation shuttles are being coordinated from the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles! (Please RSVP below)
RSVP to join virtually or in-person!Why does this matter? In the heart of California’s high desert, CoreCivic operates the largest privately run immigration detention center in California, which opened illegally last August amid a rapid expansion of detention. Despite ongoing concerns about conditions inside the California City facility and the strong opposition from local residents, CoreCivic continues to advance a system that separates families and profits from human suffering.
You can help by showing up, bringing members of your congregation or community, and helping spread the word. Please register as soon as possible so we can coordinate transportation and logistics.
Please fill out this RSVP form to let us know you are joining virtually or in person! If you don’t live in California City but want to join us, please indicate you want to ride with us on the RSVP form.
Can’t join us? Get involved and help spread the word:
RSVP to join virtually or in-person!Together, we can send a clear message: California communities reject the expansion of immigrant detention and stand for dignity, justice, and family unity.
Visit our website to learn more about us and events
www.im4humanintegrity.org
| | |
SUNDAY, JULY 12th, 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
ONLINE WEBINAR
JVP Health Advisory Council presents:
Palantir in Our Hospitals:
How the company powering the
Gaza genocide and ICE surveillance
is expanding into healthcare
Featuring speakers from American Friends Service Committee, No Palantir in the NHS campaign, and National Nurses United. The same company enabling Israel's genocide in Gaza and powering ICE's surveillance systems now manages 1 in 5 U.S. hospital beds. Join us to learn about Palantir's rapid expansion into the healthcare sector and what we can do to stop it.
Register Here
or use QR Code below
| | |
SATURDAY, JULY 18th, 6 PM
LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
584 GLENSIDE DR., LAFAYETTE
A FRONT PORCH MUSIC EVENT!
| | |
SUNDAY, JULY 19th
FIFTH ANNUAL RIDE FOR PALESTINE
and GATHER FOR PALESTINE
a MECA FUNDRAISER
It's a day of solidarity along the 14-mile scenic San Francisco Bay. The ride is designed to be enjoyable for cyclists of all skill levels and the post-Ride event, GATHER FOR PALESTINE will include delicious Palestinian food, music, dancing, and more.
All funds raised this year will support MECA’s work in Palestine–where the situation is dire and your support is more important than ever. Thanks to the efforts of our community, MECA’s 2025 Ride for Palestine was a huge success, raising more than $450,000 in support of our ongoing work in Palestine.
Help us reach our 2026 Ride for Palestine goal of $500,000 by registering today.
With your support, we can deliver food and other necessities and send a powerful message of solidarity to Palestine.
Ride for Palestinian Children. Ride for Solidarity. Ride for Return.
| | |
TUESDAY, JULY 21st
10:00 - 11:00 AM
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION COURT
1855 GATEWAY BLVD. CONCORD
Support Immigrant Neighbors - Vigils at the Concord Immigration Court
Over a quarter of Contra Costa residents are immigrants who come from all over the world. A large new Immigration Court, which handles deportations, recently opened in Concord, nearly doubling the deportation capacity of the Bay Area. Local organizations are working together to support our immigrant neighbors as they go through the process.
A LWVDV vigil supporting immigrants appearing for their court hearings at the Concord Immigration Court will usually be held on the third Tuesday of each month.
This is not a protest, it is a vigil in support of those entering the court for their hearings. We will provide the signs to use for this vigil.
Parking: DO NOT PARK in the Court's parking garage even if it's the 5th floor or above. We've been informed by the security guards that cars of "protesters" will be towed. Apparently, the 5th floor or above is for court "attendees" only. Best to park at Park and Shop on Willow Pass Road which is across the street from the Immigrant Court Building.
| | |
THURSDAY, JULY 23rd, time TBA
MILLBRAE, exact location TBA
Join teacher-organizers from across California to protest CalSTRS at their special off-site meeting on July 23rd in Millbrae, CA (exact location and time TBD).
We have been working to build pressure on the board and investment staff for nearly 2 years to get CalSTRS to divest from war, weapons, apartheid and the genocide of Palestinians. The teachers' state retirement system holds over $2.8 billion in equities that include hundreds of millions in Palantir and Lockheed Martin stocks, and tens of millions in Israel bonds.
Our demand for divestment from war and genocide has been endorsed by over a dozen teachers' unions, thousands of teachers, and dozens of organizations building towards a free Palestine and a liberated future.
We'll be rallying before the board meeting, giving public comment, and connecting with teachers from across the state. We need the masses to show that this demand is not only popular, but that it is both urgent and necessary for CalSTRS to take action.
RSVP- HTTPS://tinyurl.com/rally7-23
| | |
Are you seeking out
independent media?
Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center is collecting a variety of media including readings, documentaries, and podcasts on the topics of the day, to be read and shared.
Our goal is to educate, encourage discussion, and inspire activism.
NEW THIS WEEK:
GLENN GREENWALD: New Democratic Socialist Is the FIRST DEM to Oppose Funding Ukraine's War
NIMA ALKHORSHID interviewer: Larry Johnson: Iran Rejects Hormuz Deal, US Surges Forces, Israel Expands Targets
NIMA ALKHORSHID Interviewer: Prof. Ted Postol: "It's Over": Israel Faces Total Collapse if War Escalates
Here is the text [provided by a progressive oversight group] of NDAA 2027 section 219 [House version] and section 1217 [Senate version].In brief, these sections would formally integrate the US and Israeli intelligence/foreign policy/military/procurement establishments. It would concede effective US sovereignty to Israel.
No mention of who proposed these horrifying sections, which Dennis Kucinich addressed in a Consortium News story last week.
Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie [now a former Congress member thanks to AIPAC] are on the case.
We should stay on this one for as long as it takes to defeat it.
"As democratic socialists toppled establishment favorites this midterm cycle, the old guard of the Democratic Party picked up a preferred cudgel against insurgents: These people were propped up by white, urban, coastal, educated electorates — not the ones the Democrats were trying to reach, and certainly not the working class."
FROM LAST WEEK:
GLENN DIESEN interview of: Jiang Xueqin: Trump's World Order & Normalising Insanity
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PLEASE READ/WATCH and SHARE!
| | |
ARE YOU TAKING ACTION THIS WEEK?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
VOTE NO ON VOTER RESTRICTIONS!
Sign the petition: BLOCK the SAVE America Act
The U.S. House passed the SAVE America Act, an extreme “show your papers” voter suppression bill fueled by far-right propaganda and anti-immigrant conspiracy theories.1
Trump is trying to force through national voter ID at the polls. He’s demanding proof of citizenship to register to vote. The SAVE America Act will stop millions from casting ballots in the midterms.2 Our Senators must oppose Trump’s attempt to shred our constitutional right to vote.
Sign the petition: Block the SAVE America Act
Under Trump’s restrictive bill, people can’t register to vote or update their registrations without a passport or original birth certificate — documents that 21 million people don’t have ready access to. Tens of millions of women who’ve changed their last names after marriage and may not have a passport or birth certificate with their current last name would face additional burdens. And every single voter would need to show a government-issued photo ID with an up-to-date address and current name before casting a ballot.3
The SAVE America Act is yet another Trump attempt to interfere in our free and fair elections. There is no mass “noncitizen” voting that justifies any of this. The 2020 election was not stolen. But Trump, Stephen Miller, and Pam Bondi are counting on enough Republicans and MAGA loyalists to get behind these myths so they can rig the midterms. Steve Bannon even wants to send ICE to “surround the polls” come November.4
The Senate must reject the worst voter suppression bill in modern history.
Reject the SAVE America Act now!
Sources:
-
The Associated Press, "House GOP pushes strict proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters ahead of midterm elections," February 11, 2026.
-
Democracy Docket, "New version of GOP suppression bill would impose nationwide proof of citizenship, photo ID requirements," February 7, 2026.
-
ACLU Press Release, "ACLU Condemns House Passage of SAVE America Act as Dangerous Assault on Democracy," February 11, 2026.
-
Democracy Docket, "White House ‘can’t guarantee’ ICE won’t be at polls," February 5, 2026.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
| | ONGOING WEEKLY LOCAL PROTESTS | | |
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TUESDAY EVENINGS
Intersection of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road
LAFAYETTE
5:00 - 6:00 PM
A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING - THE WORK CONTINUES!
ADDING A WEEKLY FOOD DRIVE TO THE MIX!
Meet Local Activists, Bring your own signs or make one when you arrive.
AND A MESSAGE FROM THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS WEEKLY EVENT:
We are concerned with safety and have a monitor at each corner wearing an orange vest. They will help keep the crosswalks and sidewalks clear for pedestrians. If you have any questions or concerns, please let one of them or Gordon Lake, our main event organizer, know.
Our mission statement and some norms for our group: .
Mission:
We are meeting to collectively defend democracy and support and protect the institutions which are vital to the wellbeing of all of us, and which are now under attack. Our goals are to meet every week to express our values and ideas, to promote solidarity and mutual support within our protest community, and to encourage other like-minded citizens to join us.
Norms:
We are non-violent in word and deed. We will follow all laws and act in ways that ensure personal safety. We will not block crosswalks or walkways.
We will not respond to those in cars or on the street who express different views. We will contact monitors in orange vests if we have questions or concerns.
LAMORINDA PEACE & JUSTICE GROUP
NEED INFORMATION ON FOOD DONATIONS?
Food collected at this protest will go to the
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR FOOD PANTRY
CLICK HERE FOR SUGGESTIONS
| | |
WE THE PEOPLE PROTESTS
taking place on various days
WALNUT CREEK, LAFAYETTE,
MARTINEZ and OAKLAND!
CHECK THE SCHEDULE HERE
Organized by Indivisible ReSisters Contra Costa!
Join us for a rousing honk and wave visibility action.
Bring your signs and raise your voice for democracy and to protect our rights!
This is a nonviolent event. Stay within your rights, don’t break laws, stay safe, stay peaceful, and avoid any risk you don’t feel comfortable with. Don’t obstruct traffic, impede pedestrians, or commit any acts of property damage.
If counter-protestors appear, do your best to ignore them. When people shout from cars, just remember that we are standing for their rights, too. They just don't know it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
| | ADDITIONAL ONLINE SOURCES FOR ACTIONS and INFORMATION ON PALESTINE/GAZA and other MILITARY ACTIONS WORLDWIDE | | |
ACTIONS TO TAKE!
Continue contacting Congress to
demand they pass these resolutions:
Block the Bombs – Support H.R. 3565
Call on your member of Congress to support the
Block the Bombs Act (H.R. 3565), introduced by
Rep. Delia Ramirez, to stop U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/block-the-bombs-act
| | |
RECENTLY RELEASED!
2026 edition of Mapping Militarism
24 interactive maps to highlight
the state of war and peace on our planet.
Each map allows the viewer to spin the globe,
zoom in and out, scroll the timeline back through the years,
or switch from map view to list view.
TRY IT HERE!
| | |
World BEYOND War has
a DIVESTMENT campaign!
About the Campaign
Grassroots-led war divestment campaigns are springing up all over the world, from students organizing to divest university endowments, to municipalities and states coming together to divest public pension funds. Divestment means organizing to remove public and private assets from weapons manufacturers, military contractors, and war profiteers.
Public pension and retirement funds especially are often invested, directly and indirectly, in weapons companies. Teachers and other public servants whose interests lie with promoting human needs have their retirement security tied up with maintaining or enlarging the war industry. Every dollar currently invested in weapons and war is a dollar that could be better spent on job creation, education, housing, healthcare, food security, and so much more.
War profiteering is largely normalized today. We’re working to stigmatize the war machine. World BEYOND War assists divestment campaigns led by our chapters, affiliates, other coalitions, and individuals around the world.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN HERE
| | |
This website provides comprehensive information including events & campaigns
CHECK HERE FOR LINKS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!
| | |
Includes a frequently updated
calendar of local events
| |
Peace work in the Quaker tradition
American Friends Service Committee
| | |
BOYCOTT
DIVESTMENT and SANCTIONS!
CHECK OUT THIS HANDY APP!
| |
| | |
Peace is Possible!
Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center
at Creekside Commons
1035 Carol Lane
Lafayette, CA 94549
| | | | | | |
