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Dear WRL Supporter in Chicagoland:
This letter brings a special invitation to a dinner commemorating the launch of War Resister League’s new anthology, We Shall Not be Moved: Resisting Racism and Militarism in 21st Century America. See the WRL website at the WRL website for a description of the book and then plan to join us from 5:00 to 7:00 on Friday, April 12 for a special WRL Chicago event to meet one of the editors—Matt Meyer—who will be visiting from New York.
We’ll meet together and order individually off the menu at Hema’s Kitchen at 2439 W. Devon, just west of Western Ave. (A touch of Gandhi for the country’s oldest secular pacifist organization.) As we dine and listen to Matt and Rosalie report on WRL/WRI plans, we’ll also have a chance to connect with each other and plan other WRL events in Chicagoland. Please RSVP one way or the other by April 10. Contact Rosalie Riegle at Riegle@svsu.edu or call Charles Paidock at 312-842-5036.
Afterwards, we’re all invited for light refreshments at Cris Toffolo’s apartment, 7061 N. Kedzie Street, not far from the restaurant. (Her building is Winston Tower No. 3 located just off of Kedzie between Touhy and Pratt. For more information call Cris at 773-293-6256). There we’ll network around the future of peace studies, the way forward for the nonviolence movement, and the vital importance of work around the injustice of the growing prison industrial complex--highlighted by the cases of political prisoners Russell Maroon Shoatz and Oscar Lopez Rivera, both initiatives in which Matt Meyer is involved.
Matt will also be appearing on Thursday April 11 at 6:30 pm at Casa Puertorriquena at 1637 N. California, along with Jose Lopez, a contributor to the WRL anthology. This will be a joint event with Luis Nieves Falcon who will launch the book he edited, Oscar Lope Rivera: Between Torture and Resistance. (Dinner is $20 and includes a copy of the Rivera book.) And at 5:30 that day, Matt will be speaking about We Have Not Been Moved on a panel with Dr. Conrad Worrill and a representative from Que Onda Sola. This event will take place at Northeastern Illinois University in Room 214 of the Student Union. Call Cris Toffolo at 773-442-4761 to get a free parking pass.
We really hope you can join Chicago WRL on Friday but if you can’t, try to catch Matt at one of the Thursday events and identify yourself to Rosalie, Matt, and Charles as a WRL supporter from Chicago. Questions? Contact Rosalie at the email above or by calling 847-644-2281. Don’t forget to make a reservation and we hope to see you on Friday, April 12 at Hema’s Kitchen.
Yours for peace with justice,
Charles Paidock, Chair, Chicago WRL and Rosalie Riegle, WRL National Committee
Friday, April 12th, 5-7:00 PM
Hema’s Kitchen, 2439 W. Devon
Chicago
Dinner Commemorating the Launch of
War Resister League’s New Anthology
Jailed for opposing war, Henry Thoreau was asked by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Henry, why are you in there?” To which Thoreau replied, “Waldo, why are you out there?” For generations individuals and groups have been speaking out against war and advocating peace. In two books, Crossing the Line and Doing Time for Peace, Rosalie introduces those who have sacrificed personal comfort and even freedom to take a stand against violence and killing.
Joining Rosalie will be two Chicagoans who contributed to the project: Brad Lyttle and Fr. Bob Bossie, SCJ. Rosalie calls Crossing the Line her WRL book as it’s bookended with riveting interviews from two now deceased WRL stalwarts: Ralph Di Gia and Grace Paley.
Monday, April 15th, 6:00 PM
Seminary Bookstore, 1301 E. 57th St.
Chicago
Book Reading and Signing
with Rosalie Riegle Biography
Nonviolent Resisters Tell Stories for Peace
198 Methods of Protest and Persuasion
How to Engage in Conflict by Doing - or Refusing to Do - Certain Things Without Using Physical Violence
Meeting # 3,218 - Tim Bolger et al speak on ideas advanced by Gene Sharp, who says that: and "Nonviolent action empowers population groups by giving them the means to resist oppression and injustice. While nonviolent forms of struggle do not kill, injure, or destroy, they undermine an opponent’s social, economic, political, and military power by withholding and withdrawing the pillars of support required by an adversary to maintain its position and to achieve its goals. Rejection of a regime’s legitimacy may weaken and destroy the loyalty and obedience of the population. Economic boycotts and strikes can disrupt a regime’s economic power. Political noncooperation may nullify oppressive government policies. Disaffection and mutiny of troops facing nonviolent resisters can limit a regime’s military might."
Program will include a short video.
Saturday, April 27th, 8:00 PM
College of Complexes
Weekly Free Speech Forum
198 Methods of Protest and Persuasion
Lincoln Restaurant
4008 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago
