Category Archives: American Friends Service Committee
Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families
The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (H.R. 2590) was recently introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04). This legislation would prohibit the use of U.S. funds to support the military detention … Continue reading
Making New Worlds
This week the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has been offering a series of online events related to “Making New Worlds – Pursuing Peace with Justice.” What does it mean to dismantle systems to create justice? What is the Quaker … Continue reading
#NoDAPL IOWA 7 years
I am grateful for the video at the end of this that my friend Christine Nobiss and the Great Plains Action Society created about the work of so many to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). A decision is expected … Continue reading
A Community-Centered Response to Violence Against Asian American Communities
I was glad to find this collective statement by Asian Americans who are suffering this violence. To hear how they are doing and what they are asking us to do to support them. They rightly point out violence against their … Continue reading
AFSC Quaker Social Change Ministry
This is the fifth in a series of articles I’m writing that has several goals. One is to tell stories of my experiences with spirit led social justice work. Quakers believe we should speak from our own experiences. The ultimate … Continue reading
More related to Black History Month
You can follow local information on the Des Moines Black Lives Matter Facebook page: (2) Des Moines Black Lives Matter | Facebook You can follow and support Des Moines Black Lives Matter leader Mate Farrakhan Muhammad (Matthew Bruce) TheBlackArtivist In … Continue reading
Out of the Meetinghouse
Yesterday I wrote about Peace in a Culture of Violence, which began ‘this country’s culture of violence has taken dramatically new forms that we haven’t adapted our work to address. ‘ And ended with ‘in light of all this, what … Continue reading
NATIVE AMERICANS TEAR GASSED, ARRESTED ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY
I was blessed to attend a beautiful, yet solemn Indigenous People’s Day celebration at the State Capitol in Des Moines. The main organizer was the Great Plains Action Society: greatplainsaction.org There was an undercurrent of sadness as many were reminded … Continue reading
Indigenous People’s Day, Des Moines, 2020
Yesterday’s gathering at the Iowa State Capitol to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day was a beautiful and yet somber occasion. Ralph Moisa sang and played the drum. My friend Christine Nobiss spoke about the petition (below) to abolish monuments, names and holidays … Continue reading
Institution-Building Critical To True Change
I am very glad to see the two articles discussed below. I’ve known the authors, Diop Adisa and his father, Imhotep, for seven or eight years. As Diop writes below, he, his father, mother, Miss Fair and Alvin Sangsuwangul have … Continue reading