"Where Do We Go From Here?"
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15TH
6:00 - 8:30 PM
HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
2900 VAN NESS ST. N.W.
(OFF CONNECTICUT AVE.)
CLASSROOM # 4
(2ND FLOOR, HOUSTON HALL)
WASHINGTON, D.C.

(Connect to L2, L3, or L4 buses; near red line Metro stop; parking
available beginning at 6:00 pm)

Following up on the overwhelming response of the Black
community nationally and locally to the October 16 "National Black
Community Dialogue on War, Terrorism and Peace" held at the
Howard Uniiversity School of Law, the Black Voices For Peace
movement will gather again for a working briefing and discussion to
plan next steps and update the community on the current situation
in the nation and world from a progressive, pro-peace Black
community perspective. VIDEO PRESENTATION ALSO
FEATURED.

Every segment of the Black world has been negatively impacted by
the tragic and horrible events of September 11. We cannot stand
by and simply have informational forums on the issue--valuable as
these might be. We must educate and organize our community
and others, and build a massive movement for peace with justice
here and abroad.

Come out on Thursday night and be a part of the solution. War is
not the answer. Peace with justice is! We must clearly define what
that means within the current national and global reality.

SPREAD THE WORD NOW & PLAN TO ATTEND:

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2002
THE NATIONAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION
2:30 - 5:30 PM
(VENUE LOCATION SOON TO BE DETERMINED)
BLACK VOICES FOR PEACE WILL HOST A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ORGANIZING GATHERING:

WASHINGTON,D.C.

2002 + VOICES: TO PLEDGE, WORK AND PRAY FOR PEACE

DRAFT PARTIAL LISTING OF BLACK VOICES FOR PEACE
CONCERNS:

* Remember the victims who died and were wounded on
September 11 and since (including the postal workers and other
victims of anthrax contamination). Pray for them and their loved
ones and survivors. Let the survivors and wounded know that we
remember and love them in their hour of tremendous grief, pain,
fear and anxiety. Contribute to appropriate relief and victim
assistance programs.

* Find out all who committed the crimes of September 11; produce
and reveal the evidence to the American people and the world;
bring the accused to trial and render appropriate punishment if
found guilty.

* Stop the bombing and war in Afghanistan. It has already killed
many innocent civilians. Moreover, it has worsened and created
more problems (such as a widespread hunger and a huge
humanitarian and refugee crisis for the children and people of
Afghanistan, and others in Pakistan and the south Asian region).
There is more human suffering because of the war.

* Address world problems such as racism and racial oppression;
sexual abuse and oppression; suppression of democratic freedoms
and repression; human rights violations and national oppression;
colonization and illegal occupation of nations, land and people;
poverty and economic injustice; and violence and terrorism in all
forms by promoting a new U.S. foreign policy based on support for
democracy, peace, human rights and racial/gender equality.

Failure to promote such policies by the U.S. and other countries--
including many in the current "anti-terror coalition" organized by the
Bush Administration--has provided potent fertile political ground for
the creation of violent fanatics such as those who carried out the
murderous attacks on innocents on September 11. Historical and
continued United States support for terrorism by brutal regimes
around the world--including support for the repressive and violent
Israeli policy in Palestine and the Middle East and U.S. support for
autocratic, repressive regimes in the Middle East and South Asian
region in pursuit of oil resources and world military dominance--is
perhaps the most destabilizing factor in contemporary world
relations.

* End racism and racial profiling against people of African and
Middle Eastern/Asian heritage, Latinos, Native Americans and all
people of color. Black people know racial profiling well. We are the
victims of it everyday when we are stopped and/or murdered by the
police or denied equal opportunity and justice in all aspects of our
lives because of the color of our skin.

When the Bush administration boycotted the World Conference
Against Racism it sent a message to Black people and all the
victims of racism here and abroad that the United States is
insensitive and unconcerned about the suffering and plight of
people harmed by the violence, scourge and cancer of racism.

* Restore democratic freedoms by repealing the recently passed
anti-terrorism legislation which severely curtails constitutionally
protected rights. Non-violent Black freedom fighters such as Martin
Luther King Jr.and others were the victims of illegal spying and
surveillance and violent attacks because of the activities of the FBI,
CIA and federal/local/state intelligence and police agencies. If
history and racism is any indicator, the anti-terrorism legislation, in
the name of fighting terrorism, will be used against us and other
progressives working for justice, peace and democracy.

(prepared for discussion by human rights and peace activist Damu
Smith, founder of Black Voices For Peace)

CONTACT: 202-232-5690