You can view the Meeting chat here.
Our panelists included:
Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Highlander Center
Loretta Ross, Smith College, 2022 MacArthur Fellow
Rev. Alba Onofrio, Soulforce
PG Watkins, The Boggs Center
More information is available at Professor Ross’ website, www.lorettaross.com.
We appreciate your point of view. Directly and indirectly Rev King’s speech touches on those points. We hope you will join us on June 14 when our Decolonization webinar will include discussion of the Papal Doctrine of Discovery and its ongoing impact. [Frank]
I certainly agree that capitalism and democracy are at odds with each other. [Don]
I agree that the peace movement must direct appeals to our US administration and Congress to 1.) withdraw from NATO, 2) Renew the nuclear weapons agreements between the US and Russia. We have no control over what the Russians or Ukrainians do and we have little control over the Biden Administration or Congress but we must use the power we do have.
Chrissy Stonebraker Martinez (they/them): Karen, you can thank another community member who forwarded it to me! Also look up, Becoming Abolitionist by Derecka Purnell. There are so many great resources around this topic coming out regularly. I’m looking forward to Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes’ new book, Let This Radicalize You
3. Chiquita Williams: Even King distanced himself from communism
RESPONSES
A.) Don Bryant (he/him): It was a different time then when King distanced himself.
B.) King and Breaking Silence Coalition: The FBI & others said that Dr. King was a Communist. When you read Dr. King’s speeches toward the end of his life, he spoke out against the capitalism practiced here in the US. His calling our country out on its Triple Evils, Militarism, Materialism and Racism. Many of us believe this is why Dr. King was assassinated!
MORE CHAT
4. For those in the Christian churches, we have to stop talking about military soldiers in the same way we talk about Jesus as a substitutionary sacrifice. I.e., they go and die so that we don’t have to. We send them with zero thought. And then, we call them heroes. I am a 20 year military veteran. I know.
5. Vietnam and Cuba had close relations with Ukraine and have not supported Russia. No one characterizes Russia and Putin as communist. A significant sector of the right, including Trump and DeSantis are carrying water for the Russians because they see them as an expression of white nationalism against the morally corrupt and sexually confused US and Europe. I agree that NATO’s expansion is a provocative factor. But remember that Russia and China for reasons of their own strategic interests provided indispensable aid to Vietnam against US aggression.
You can view the Meeting chat here. Join the Peace in Ukraine coalition.
Sign up at FORUSA.ORG to be part of the campaign we are building to conscientiously object to all forms of violence and hatred.
Connect with The Poor Peoples Campaign’s state coordinating committees by signing up online or texting MORAL at 38542.
Demand that President Biden used Executive Action to Cancel Student Debt. Organize local readings of Breaking the Silence.
You can find a toolkit here. Connect with organizations working on Transformative Justice in your community.
Listen to “The Nerve” podcast and discuss with friends. Join faith leaders from across New York on Feb 13th for Religion in a Time of Crisis.
2022 Virtual Gathering where well-known artists, organizers, and advocates were joined by grassroots organizers commemoratively read Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence” speech. It was an inspiring program with a moderated panel discussion, offering perspectives about the relevance of Dr. King’s speech to peace and justice work today..
Speaking at New York’s Riverside Church exactly one year before he was murdered in Memphis, Dr. King delivered a prophetic speech that caused him to be sharply rebuked by the establishment media and many former allies. King said that America’s war machine, then waging a bloody imperial war in Viet Nam, was blocking progress towards justice at home and choking democracy both in the U.S. and abroad. King’s address was called “Beyond Viet Nam: A Time to Break Silence.” The speech remains prophetic today, as resonant and relevant as ever..
Breaking the Silence is an intergenerational call for unity and action honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On April 4, host a local reading of King’s prophetic speech, “Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence,” in your community.
Breaking the Silence is an intergenerational call for unity and action honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On April 4, host a local reading of King’s prophetic speech, “Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence,” in your community.
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