Essential Dissent

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This episode is “Reflections on the Berrigan Brothers,” a talk which took place in Anabel Taylor Hall on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, on October 9, 2024.

Berrigan scholars Bill Wylie-Kellermann and Brad Wolf spoke on the Berrigan brothers’ writings on war, peace, racism, faith, and why their work is still so relevant today.

Bill Wylie-Kellermann is a nonviolent community activist, author, teacher, and retired United Methodist pastor, most recently serving St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit.

His most recent book is "Celebrant’s Flame: Daniel Berrigan in Memory and Reflection".

Brad Wolf, is a lawyer and former prosecutor, director of Peace Action Network of Lancaster, PA, and co-coordinator of the Merchants Of Death War Crimes Tribunal.

Brad Wolf’s new book on the writings of Philip Berrigan is entitled “A Ministry Of Risk.”

This episode starts with a short introduction by peace & justice activist Clare Grady, of Ithaca Catholic Worker.

The talk was sponsored by The Berrigan Society, The Durland Alternatives Library, and Ithaca Catholic Worker.

The film to which the speakers repeatedly refer is “The Berrigan Brothers: Devout and Dangerous.”

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Presenters: Charles Xu, Danny Haiphong, Ju-Hyun Park, Dee Knight, Ken Hammond, Margaret Kimberley

October 1, 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, when Mao Zedong declared that "the Chinese people have stood up."

These unified events are monumental because of the enormous role China plays in the world today. The People’s Republic of China 75 years ago was a colonial holding looted by the world powers. China is now the economic powerhouse of the world providing hope for other developing countries of Africa and the Global South fighting for sovereignty against the forces of imperialism.

U.S. threats, military encirclement and hostile propaganda are escalating daily. In this consequential moment, it is paramount that socialist, anti-imperialist, and progressive forces join together to explain and defend the role of China today.

Discussions will include the ongoing processes of poverty alleviation and modernization; China's role in the struggle against climate catastrophe; China's contribution to Marxist thought; the significance of the Africa Summit and recent meeting of all the Palestinian organizations in China and more.

Organizers and Sponsors:

The New York City event is jointly organized by Friends of Socialist China and Workers World Party in coordination with Black Agenda Report, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Qiao Collective and the International Manifesto Group. Many other organizations and individuals known for their political contributions in analyzing the Chinese Revolution will participate.

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Strategies of Solidarity in the New McCarthy Era​

Moderator: Joshua Shurley

In the face of escalating efforts by the US government to marginalize peace groups, journalists, activists, and other dissenting voices, this timely panel discussion examines strategies to navigate the current landscape of censorship, repression and persecution. Our panel of activists—Jodie Evans of CODEPINK, Jesse Nevel of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement, and Allie Wong of Columbia University—share their firsthand experiences and insights with being targets of these malign efforts. From media smears to financial targeting to malicious legal prosecution, these tactics aim to silence those who challenge the status quo and manufacture consent for a wide range of despotic global and domestic policies that harken back to the bad old days of the Red Scare. What lessons can we draw from these experiences to strengthen our collective voice and protect civil liberties and the pursuit of peace? Together, we'll explore effective strategies for building solidarity, resistance, and resilience in the fight against this ongoing tyranny as we seek to build a culture of peace.​

Jodie Evans is the co-founder and a current board member of CODEPINK. She has been a visionary advocate for peace for decades, as evident through the numerous documentary films she has produced and the books she has written. Whether in board rooms or war zones, legislative offices or neighborhood streets, Jodie’s enthusiasm for a world at peace infuses conciliation, optimism, and activism wherever she goes. More recently, she and her group have been targeted by senior members of Congress for their calling out of US policies of genocide and reckless brinksmanship.​

Jesse Nevel became active in the movement for reparations to African people in 2010 when he met Chairman Omali Yeshitela and the African People's Socialist Party (APSP) in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has served as the National Chair of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement (USM) since 2014, building white solidarity with African Liberation and reparations, under the leadership of the APSP. In 2017, Jesse ran for mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida with the slogan, “Unity Through Reparations!” Along with Chairman Omali Yeshitela and Penny Hess, Jesse is one of the Uhuru 3 facing bogus charges of failing to register as Russian agents.​

***The 3 were since acquitted on that charge, but convicted on the less serious charge of conspiracy.***​

Allie Wong is a PhD student in communications at Columbia University in New York City, and one of the recent student organizers during the Justice for Palestine protest movement. Her research areas explore how dis/misinformation, conspiracy theories, and radicalization inform domestic extremism and foreign policy. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies an M.A. in International Affairs from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and a BA in Human Rights Peace and Nonviolent Activism from New York University. Allie has served as a consultant on Middle Eastern regional security issues to various think tanks, research institutes, and international NGOs.​

Joshua Shurley is the current national vice president of Veterans For Peace. In addition to teaching political science at Fresno City College, Josh is a former conflict researcher specializing in US foreign policy in Africa, is the the lead organizer of VFP Chapter 180 in Fresno, California, and is involved in several organizations, projects, and committees related to peace and resistance to imperialism. ​

Peace activist Jack Gilroy interviewed Cornell student Nick Wilson on September 24, 2024. Nick was previously briefly suspended by Cornell as a result of his pro-Palestine activism.

See these links for further info:

https://cornellsun.com/2024/04/27/wilson-i-was-just-suspended-by-cornell-university-heres-what-i-have-to-say/

https://cornellsun.com/2024/09/19/wilson-necessary-discomfort-on-the-sept-18-career-fair-disruption/

The Coalition for Mutual Liberation: https://cmlithaca.org/about-us

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A talk from the first annual Upstate Anarchist Book Fair, held May 4 & 5, 2024 in Binghamton, NY. The event sponsor and host was PM Press. https://www.pmpress.org/

David Van Deusen is a longtime libertarian-socialist thinker, organizer, and militant union leader. He has been President of the Vermont AFL-CIO since 2019 and is part of the progressive United! Slate. He is also a member of Democratic Socialists of America and a past member of Anti-Racist Action and the Green Mountain Anarchist Collective (NEFAC-VT).

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Award-winning war journalist turned climate crisis reporter Dahr Jamail reads from his new book The End of Ice: Bearing Witness and Finding Meaning in the Path of Climate Disruption, and discusses living on a planet that has been irrevocably changed. Jamail reported from Iraq for more than a year, as well as from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Turkey over the last 10 years, and has won the Izzy Award and the Martha Gellhorn Award for Investigative Journalism, among other awards.

Dahr Jamai's talk took place on 8/19/2019 at ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse, NY. http://artragegallery.org/

Sponsored by Beyond War and Militarism, a joint committee of the Syracuse Peace Council (SPC) and the CNY Solidarity Coalition.

http://www.peacecouncil.net/

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A conversation between Joel Whitney and Natasha Lennard, in which they discuss Whitney’s latest book, Flights: Radicals on the Run, which is published by OR Books: https://orbooks.com

They spoke on September 4th, 2024, at the Francis Kite Club in Manhattan: https://www.franciskiteclub.com

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A Zoom webinar from the Veterans for Peace 2024 Convention (August 16 -18)

https://www.veteransforpeace.org

Featuring Susan Schnall (moderator), Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows), Jenny Pacanowski, Marjorie Cohn, Margaret Kimberley, Joshua Shurley (Co-moderator), Harrison Mann, and Juan Bettancourt

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A panel from the 2024 Veterans for Peace Convention, held online August 16 - 18.

Moderator: Michael Wong

After the Cold War, the US neocon elite planed to dominate the world. The US attacked and wrecked multiple nations in the Balkans, Central Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. But China continued its peaceful development and is now helping these nations develop and/or recover. The US considers this alter-development a threat, and now China, Russia, and its allies have been designated "revisionist powers"--official enemies– and our Washington elite are attacking, sanctioning, & threatening everyone who will not join us against China and the rising multi-polar global south.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signed a secret order designating the US to be in "active combat with China." Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, has threatened to unleash "A magnificent symphony of death." General Minihan and Admiral Davidson expect war in 2025 and 2027, respectively. Will the US trigger global war for hegemony, or go gently into that good night? The planet is at stake.

Michael Wong is the vice president of Veterans for Peace, San Francisco chapter 69, serves on the VFP National Board of Directors, is a past national vice president of VFP, and is one of two coordinators of the VFP China Working Group. He is published in the book, “Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace,” edited by Maxine Hong Kingston, and appears in the documentary, “Sir! No Sir!” about the GI resistance movement to the American war in Viet Nam. He is a retired social worker with a Master of Social Work degree.

Matt Hoh is the Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network, an organization of expert former military, intelligence and civilian national security officials who seek to reach broad, cross-partisan audiences in diverse media outlets and among the American people – who increasingly sense that U.S. foreign policy today is not making them, or the world, safer. Matt is a former Marine Corps captain, Afghanistan State Department officer, a disabled Iraq War veteran and is a Senior Fellow Emeritus with the Center for International Policy.

Matt has been a prolific writer and speaker about issues of war and peace. Matt serves on the advisory boards of many peace organizations including Veterans for Peace and World Beyond War and is an associate member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.

Ken Hammond is a professor at New Mexico State University specializing in China and East Asia. He spent ten years living and studying in China, is fluent in Mandarin, holds a B.A. in History & Political Science from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in History & East Asian Languages from Harvard University. He is the author of several books and courses, and his latest book is "China's Revolution and the Quest for a Socialist Future," published by 1804 Books.

K.J. Noh is a peace activist, journalist, and scholar specializing in the geopolitics of the Asian continent. He writes for Asia Times, Counterpunch, Dissident Voice, and other publications. He is special correspondent for KPFA Flashpoints on the Pivot to Asia, the Koreas, and the Pacific. KJ Noh is a South Korean Army veteran and a member of Veterans For Peace and Pivot To Peace.

Interviews conducted by Jack Gilroy at the Isaiah Wall in NYC on August 12, 2024.

World BEYOND War, and a growing coalition of peace groups welcomes you to join a fast and days of action in New York City from August 10 – 15, 2024, as an assembly of peace activists delivers to various Missions to the United Nations an online email letter signed by thousands of people from around the world. We will gather each weekday across from the United Nations at the Isaiah Wall, (First Avenue and 41st St.) at 10:00 a.m. Please help spread the word about the action.

The world has watched in horror as Israel has unleashed its ferocious and unlawful assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza, with a declared intent, from the very beginning, to stop food, electricity, water, and other basic goods from entering this occupied territory.

On July 9, 2024, UN Experts declared that the recent deaths of more Palestinian children due to hunger and malnutrition leaves no doubt that famine has spread across the entire Gaza strip.

In the past seven months the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip has been systematically dismantled. According to OCHA, 24 hospitals in Gaza, Palestine are now out of service, while 493 health workers have been killed.

There is no telling what the indirect human cost in deaths and long-term injuries will be as a result of aid and treatment having been denied.

According to the United Nations, a staggering 1.7 million people, constituting approximately 75% of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, are internally displaced. This displacement has given rise to formidable challenges affecting the population and straining the humanitarian response, particularly in the areas of shelter, food, sanitation, and health.

The current climatic conditions in Gaza further exacerbate the hardships faced by displaced individuals trying to survive in tents.

Mindful of the suffering that Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank endure, we urge the members states of the United Nations to uphold the rule of law where the United Nations Security Council has failed. Member states of the General Assembly can and should enact the “Uniting for Peace” resolution 377 to end Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza