Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace
PO Box 363 Geneseo NY 14454 <www.gvcp.org> 585-624-3673
“Human Race Not Arms Race”
October 24, 2007
NEXT GVCP MEETING: Sunday, November 18th, 1:30 PM (Lunch), 2:00 PM (Meeting). Omega Restaurant, 4182 Lakeville Rd, Geneseo.
WEEKLY SATURDAY MORNING VIGILS FOR PEACE: 10:30 – 11:30 AM in Honeoye, Richmond Memorial Park, Route 20A. (Not Honeoye Falls.) [Judi Taylor 585-229-4963 <jsalsburg@monroecc.edu>] Sponsor: Honeoye Concerned Citizens.
SAVE THE DATES: “US Interventionism: From Guatemala to Iraq.” Tom Melville and George Mische are members of the Catonsville Nine. (The Catonsville Nine were nine peace activists who nonviolently opposed the war against Vietnam. On May 17, 1968, they went to the draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, took 378 draft files, brought them to the parking lot, dumped them out, poured homemade napalm over them, and set them on fire. The nine also included Frs. Daniel and Philip Berrigan.)
It’s sad that in 2007—almost 40 years later—we again are faced with a cruel and dishonest President, and an endless war that is aimed mostly against civilians. Tom Melville and George Mische will discuss U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Latin America, and the Middle East. Both men have worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the American public regarding U.S. entanglements throughout the world. They will speak in Rochester on Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00 PM, at Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 North Fitzhugh St, & Thursday, November 8th, 7:00 PM, Newton Hall 204, SUNY Geneseo. [Sponsored by Rochester Committee on Latin America/Latin American Studies Program and seven academic departments at SUNY Geneseo.]
" THIS MONTH’S LETTER: Say No to Torture! According to the Justice Department, the U.S. is legally allowed to do things to prisoners that any honest, reasonable person would consider torture. In a 2005 secret legal opinion that still defines government practice, the department said that painful physical abuse—including head-slapping, simulated drowning, and frigid temperatures—is not cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and isn’t torture. The U.S. needs to end the word games and secrecy. Congress needs to shine a light on what the CIA is doing to U.S. detainees by restoring the courts’ power to independently review the way our government is treating every single person it holds against their will. Our Senators can help to open a window on torture by supporting and championing the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (S. 185). Habeas corpus is the right of all prisoners to have a court consider why they are in prison and how they are being treated. As of mid-October, 32 senators have cosponsored this legislation, and 56 senators voted for the bill on the Senate floor in September. But, in today’s partisan Senate, legislation needs 60 votes to come to a vote and avoid a filibuster. Sen. Clinton has co-sponsored the bill and voted for it. She should be thanked, and urged to push forward vigorously to obtain the 60 votes needed to override a veto. Sen. Schumer has voted for the bill, but not co-sponsored. He needs to be urged to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation. Address is: Federal Building 100 State St. Rochester, NY 14614. [Excerpted from material supplied by Friends Committee on National Legislation.]
Peace,
Arnie Matlin for GVCP
GVCP is proud to be affiliated with Peace Action New York State.