Past Events
Armistice Day — November 11th
Veterans For Peace, Chapter 161 is holding space with a traditional Armistice Day Observance on Zoom. You are invited to be there with us as we celebrate the peace that the world felt at the end of WWI and at the same time remember the fallen on all sides and recognize the victims of wars throughout the world. Fast forward 102 years to today. Although we cannot celebrate peace we can work towards it. We can recognize the victims of war throughout the world, including the damage to Mother Earth herself. Please join us at 10:45 AM CST for opening remarks. We plan to ring the bell 11 times promptly at 11 AM followed by a minute of silent reflection.
Many thanks to PEACE Iowa who arranged to have David Swanson, co-founder of World Beyond War deliver the concluding remarks. To register for the event and obtain the Zoom link please click the following:
lu.ma/ArmisticeDayinIowaCity
& Democracy Defenders Iowa
are sponsors of this action:
Voter mobilization
Car Caravan on 11-2-20
(the day before the election)
The COVID pandemic makes conventional ways of reaching out to voters one-on-one more problematic. We also realize there is a good deal of fear and uncertainty about the election and how polling places will be managed
We want to convey a positive, upbeat, hopeful message—that every vote is vital and that we and others will demand that every vote be counted before any result is confirmed.
We are organizing a public car caravan through key neighborhoods and public places in Iowa City to urge voters to go to the polls on November 3 (if they have not already voted) and make their voices heard.
1) We will gather in cars at the Mercer Park parking lot at 11 am on the Eastside Monday, November 2nd,. The day before the election!
2) Come with signs, banners, or messages on your car windows such as:
VOTE—you have the power
Vote like your life depended on it—It does!
Celebrate democracy—make your voice heard
We ALL belong here—we will defend each other
Create your own message that is positive and upbeat
3) Decorate your car with balloons or streamers—Make this a festive occasion
4) At Mercer Park, after a short welcome and explanation of the rules and guidelines for the caravan, we will proceed single file along a prearranged route (a map will be distributed.).
We will travel at a moderate pace, well within the speed limit.
We will obey all traffic signs and signals.
If part of the caravan is slowed by stop lights or traffic, we will try to safely pull over and wait for them to rejoin the caravan.
Calling out encouraging messages or moderate horn beeps are welcome, drawing attention to the caravan.
We will ignore heckling or disruptive actions.
In the event of such conflicts, we will always practice non-violent de-escalation. (We are not expecting any conflicts.)
5) We will return to Mercer Park between 12 and 12:30 pm.
If you are able to participate, please email or text
Shel Stromquist, shelann43[at]msn·com. 3l9·32l·9655.
If you have not already been provided with the Zoom link and want to attend
please register at: https://lu.ma/PEACE-Iowa-2020
PEACE Iowa and Veterans For Peace, Chapter 161 will hold a candlelight vigil in downtown Iowa City on Thursday, June 25, one month after the murder of George Floyd. We are vigiling out of lament for the loss of his life and so many others before him to racial violence; and out of gratitude for the light that shone through him and so many others.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
8:15 PM
Pentacrest, 21 N Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52242
Please be sure to bring a candle and make a sign or poster of remembrance. We ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Share this experience with friends by RSVPing
on Facebook.
This date was chosen because it marks one month since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. We want to lament the loss of Mr. Floyd's life — and of so many others' before him — to racial violence. And yet we want to honor his life for the light, the peace, and the love that shone through him and so many others.
Please gather between 8:15 and 8:30pm, when we will pass out candles to everyone who would like one (you may bring your own.) The mood will be quiet and thoughtful and reverential — no noise, no speakers. If we need to speak, it should be quiet and minimal. At 8:46 we will all take a knee and bow our heads for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, in honor and in remembrance of Mr. Floyd. (Those for whom kneeling is not possible may certainly remain standing.) Please remember to wear your masks, and to honor social distancing.
Contact: David Hempel 471-0896
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020 — 11am to 12pm
Iowa City Caravan for Peace
Mercer Park
We will mark both International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament (IWDPD) and Memorial Day by participating in a Caravan of Peace through Iowa City. Similar Peace Caravans and activities will take place in other cities all across the world. PEACE Iowa, along with the Iowa chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Veterans For Peace, Chapter 161 are proud to join with CODEPINK in honoring the many women and men (past and present) who have worked toward peace-building and disarmament.
Join us Monday, May 25th at Mercer Park, ready for the 11am start of the caravan to spread a message of peace throughout Iowa City. To participate, you should make your way to Mercer Park - just east of Southeast Junior High - by 10:50am where we will gather in the parking lot at the Dover Street side to get in position. Please come with your vehicle decorated with short messages of peace, such as: 'Peace', 'Global Ceasefire', 'No Sanctions', 'No War', 'HealthCare Not Warfare', 'War is Not Green', 'Divest from War', 'Sanctions Kill' — with symbols, such as peace signs, doves — hearts and flowers can also be used. You can use window paint, fabric or poster board signs, or any material you want. Feel free to be creative.
We will leave the parking lot at about 11am and circle through Iowa City toward downtown and then back to Mercer Park. In the event that anyone gets separated from the caravan please review the route map. We ask that everyone follow all traffic laws.
Organized by CODEPINK, and cosponsored by PEACE Iowa, the Iowa Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Veterans For Peace, Chapter 161.
PEACE Iowa happily co-sponsors ...
Night of 1,000 Dinners
A community celebration of International Women's Day
featuring an international buffet dinner and
honoring local organizations that promote
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Wednesday, March 11, 2019 -- 5:30 to 7:00 pm
at Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City
Tickets:
· General $25 in advance — $30 at door
· Students $10 in advance — $12 at door
PEACE Iowa, the University of Iowa Sociology Department,
and Prairie Lights Bookstore
present:
American Resistance: From the Women's March to the Blue Wave
Dana R. Fisher will talk about her research with activists
and her latest book
Friday February 21
12 to 1 pm
Prairie Lights Bookstore
15 South Dubuque Street
Downtown Iowa City
Dana R. Fisher is professor of sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her books include Activism, Inc.: How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns Is Strangling Progressive Politics in America (2006).
Professor Fisher has appeared on CNN and MSNBC to discuss her work on activism and protest. She has also published a series of pieces on this topic in the Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. Her research has been featured in media outlets such as the The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Science Magazine, various programs on National Public Radio, and on numerous podcasts, including the Politics Guys podcast, the Pantsuit Politics Show, and the No Jargon podcast of the Scholars Strategy Network. Fisher's research on protest was profiled in "The Collectors: Political Action," a documentary short by FiveThirtyEight and ESPN Films.
Fisher received her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees from the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her undergraduate degree is in East Asian Studies and Environmental Studies from Princeton University.
Coming together to promote peace ...
PEACE Iowa Annual Meeting
Saturday, October 26th
Congregational United Church of Christ
Rockwood Hall (ground floor)
30 North Clinton Street in Iowa City
12 pm · Potluck & live music with Old Cap String Band
1 to 3 pm · Program Including panel and discussion
Panel Topic: Coming Together to Promote Peace
This is a perfect event for learning more about PEACE Iowa.
For more information:
peaceiowa @ gmail·com
3l9-354-l925
Climate March
Uniting Iowa City and University of Iowa
Friday, September 20, 3:00 pm
City Hall
410 E Washington St, Iowa City
The March
All are invited to gather at City Hall at 3pm, and then we will go to the Pentacrest, where students will address the gathering. Bring signs, friends, kids, parents, all! Thanks for helping us unite UI with IC for climate action.
Meg and Ann were among the PEACE Iowa volunteers at the 2019 Johnson County Fair.
Fair visitors were asked to vote for the issues of greatest importance to them.
Step right up — for the People.
Sunday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 24
Johnson County Fairgrounds
3109 Old Hwy 218 S, Iowa City
The People's Coalition Booth returns to the Johnson County Fair again this year. PEACE Iowa, along with 100 Grannies, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Veterans for Peace, and United Nations Association are all contributing volunteers to the booth. This is your chance to have interesting and fruitful dialogues, meet lots of people, and help them answer our "corn poll". This year's poll question is about what we feel is most important for the new upcoming president to pursue.
For more information please contact: information @ peaceiowa·net
4th of July Parade, Coralville
The Peoples' Coalition is parade unit 97
The Parade is to start at 10 am, and folks are urged to get there by 9:30. It is a great time to visit, and even to lobby other entrants before taking off. Many thanks to Maureen McCue for making arrangements. There will be a large trailer, with straw bales. Yahoo Drummers!! New 1/4 pagers to hand out to parade watchers. This is a great time to visit, to network. Bring family, children, friends, to ride or walk. (water) Place is the parking lot to the west of HyVee parking lot on Hwy 6 in Coralville.
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Tacos for Peace
Trumpet Blossom Cafe Fundraiser |
Trumpet Blossom Cafe will donate a portion of proceeds for the evening to PEACE Iowa. Don't worry, you can still come and eat their lovely food even if you're not craving tacos that night. Bring friends and family to have a cocktail or some vegan food!
Each week in Coralville a group of "outside singers" joins a group of "inside singers" in a prison gym to form the Oakdale Community Choir. And for two hours on a Tuesday night nobody thinks they're in prison.
PEACE Iowa member, Andy Douglas,
will read from his new book:
Redemption Songs: A Year in the Life of a Community Prison Choir
Monday, April 15, 7 PM
at the Unitarian Universalist Society
2355 Oakdale Rd., Coralville
For six years, the author volunteered with the Oakdale Community Choir, a performing chorale composed of both volunteers and inmates and directed by University of Iowa associate professor of music education Dr. Mary Cohen, based in a correctional facility in Coralville, Iowa. Taking the reader inside the walls of this medium-security prison, the book offers a glimpse at how music and the arts are offering second chances to the incarcerated.
The United States incarcerates more prisoners per capita than any other country, with more than two million people in U.S. jails and prisons. In addition to exploring the role of singing as a rehabilitative tool, the book examines some of the pressing issues facing the criminal justice system.
In doing so, it reflects on several questions - how can music and the arts inspire prisoners to change? Should the underlying philosophy of our penal system be one of retribution or restoration? What can restorative justice offer to all those touched by crime and the criminal justice system?
Andy Douglas (andydouglas.net) received an MFA in Creative Writing from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, where he was the recipient of the Marcus Bach Fellowship for Writing about Religion and Culture. His first book, The Curve of the World: Into the Spiritual Heart of Yoga, was published in 2013.
Let's put issues of Middle East Peace front-center ...
CAUCUS 2020 PEACE PROJECT
Initial meeting to kick off this project
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Saturday, March 23rd, 1:00 pm |
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We are seeking individuals to participate in a coordinated effort to raise concerns and question candidates about peace in the Middle East and surrounding areas:
US involvement throughout the Middle East
Iowa Must Not Pilot
Reaper Drones!
Rally at the Iowa Air National Guard
132nd Attack Wing
featuring Kathy Kelly,
founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Sunday, March 17th, 1 pm
3100 McKinley Ave, Des Moines
The rally will include over 100 Catholic Workers from throughout the Midwest, Veterans for Peace from Iowa and other states, and peace-makers from many organizations and communities in Iowa.
For further information about the March 17th rally
contact: Gil Landolt 515·657·O354, peacevet @ hotmail·com
or Frank Cordaro 515·282·4781, frank.cordaro @ gmail·com
or visit website vfp161.org
Enjoy delicious Thai food menu, meet others committed to peace, and support the work of PEACE Iowa. We choose this day to celebrate the birth of a champion of Peace causes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Thai Flavors will donate a portion of their dine-in sales to PEACE Iowa on Monday January 21, 11:00-2:00 and 5:00-9:00. This is dine-in only, take-out and delivery sales are not part of the fundraiser.
Veterans for Peace is sponsoring
a peace vigil on New Year's Day
to express our hope and determination
to work for a more peaceful world in 2019
Tuesday, January 1, 6:00 to 6:30 pm
east side of the Pentacrest
Clinton Street at Iowa Avenue in Iowa City
Armistice Day Observance
Sunday, November 11th, 10:45 AM
Eastside of the Pentacrest
sponsored by Veterans For Peace Chapter #161
Armistice Day is a day to promote peace and to
remember the victims of war
both veterans and civilians.
Bells will be rung at 11:00 AM, as they were
rung around the world at the end of the
Great War, 100 years ago.
The event is free, and the public is welcome
More information at vfp161.org
Observance attendees are invited to a free lunch,
socializing and Open Mic at Old Brick, 26 E. Market Street
immediately after the public Observance, ends @2PM
Abraham's Walk #2
Iowa City, IA – At 12:30 pm on Saturday October 13th, all Iowans are invited to gather to participate in Abraham’s Walk #2 to bring awareness & raise funds for service organizations whose programs are vital to meeting the diverse needs of our community. This event, co-sponsored by Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, the UI Center for Human Rights, and the Iowa UNA, builds on the success of the first Abraham’s Walk which took place in January 2017.
Why now? This year marks the 70th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, many in our community still face intolerable challenges. Participants of the event will take steps to ensure members of Iowa City's diverse population not only feel welcome here, but enjoy their human rights to safe refuge, a living wage, affordable housing, health care, and food all within a life supporting environment.
Event Summary. Participants will meet at Big Grove Brewery for an opening rally where service organization representatives will be available to talk about the role and status of several Iowa City service organizations. Then they will walk along a 2-mile route with stops at local service organizations where representatives will talk with walkers about the importance of the vital services they provide to our community. Walking and talking together, walkers will recognize these service providers and determine ways each of us can assist them in raising their profile and support in the wider community. A small token of appreciation will be shared at each site.
12:30 pm — Meetup Rally — Big Grove Brewery 1225 S. Gilbert Iowa City
1:30 pm — Stop #1 — Center for Worker Justice 940 S. Gilbert Ct.
2:00 pm — Stop #2 — Crisis Center/Food Bank 1121 Gilbert Ct.
2:30 pm — Stop #3 — Mayor's Youth Empowerment Program 407 Highland Ct.
3:00 pm — Stop #4 — Shelter House 429 Southgate Ave.
3:30 pm — Stop #5 — Sudanese Community Center 536 Southgate Ave.
4:00 pm — End of walk
For More Information:
Contact Maureen McCue info[at]psriowa·org or
Greg Hamot gregory-hamot[at]uiowa·edu
Sponsored by
Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility
UI Center for Human Rights
Iowa United Nations Association
PEACE Iowa Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Lower City Park, Shelter 8
Iowa City
12 p.m. Potluck & music
Music featuring Joe Brisben
1 — 3 p.m. Program
Presentation by Mehrnaz Khanjani,
Iranian doctoral student in the mass communication and journalism department at U Iowa:
Iran Before and After the Islamic Revolution —
What the American Public Is Being Kept in the Dark About
Join us as we celebrate our work over the past year and enjoy good food, friends, and music.
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For more information: |
This Friday presents a huge and unique opportunity for local peacemakers. 18,000 RAGBRAI riders will be in Iowa City on Friday, and the east entrance to the Pentacrest and Old Capitol will be filled with folks we rarely or never see.
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Friday marks 65 years since the signing of the Korean War Armistice.
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Trump and Bolton have issued blood-curdling threats to Iran this week. (List the reasons we should go to war with Iran: ZERO).
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Children of recent immigrants are still separated from their parents, but Putin and Playboy bunnies have pushed that issue to page 5.
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The humanitarian disaster in Yemen gets worse. Aside from exceptional reporting by Jane Ferguson on NPR, and references on commondreams.org, the story has been shoved to page 7 or out of sight, although US is aiding and abetting that war.
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Israel has declared itself an apartheid state, and continues killing Gazans and West Bank Palestinians.
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#45 will be in Iowa tomorrow. Anyone going? It is bound to be a topic on Friday.
PLEASE COME ON FRIDAY, even if for just 15 minutes.
Join us at the Johnson County Fair
At the Johnson County Fairgrounds on July 22nd through 25th
Come visit the Peoples' Coalition booth, and bring a friend or family member to learn about our mission, play some fun games and earn a treat! PEACE Iowa will be there along with Physicians for Social Responsibility, Veterans for Peace Chapter 161, 100Grannies, and Iowa United Nations Association.
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Join us at Thai Flavors! |
March for Peace!
Join us at 9am on July 4th to march in the Coralville 4th Fest!
The People's Coalition will again march in the Coralville July 4th parade. The coalition includes PEACE Iowa, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Veterans for Peace, the Yahoo Drummers, and other groups. Anyone supporting peace, human rights, and sustainability is invited to walk with us.
This year's theme is "Coralville, Hub of Hospitality"
which we are turning into "Make the World a Hub of Hospitality."
We are number 50 out of 123. That's the closest to the front we've ever been!
The truck and trailer must be in our entry place by 9 am in the GEICO/McGregor's/LiFEchurch parking lot. For walkers and drummers, park in the HyVee lot and walk on over to the Geico Lot on Hwy 6 at the western end of Coralville. Please be sure to arrive absolutely no later than 9:30 to be in place with all your things organized including your water and sunscreen for the 2 mile walking and talking and bouncing to the drums. It goes without saying, wear comfy shoes!
The Group in front of us will be the Dream Divas and Flip Squad and Forever Green will be behind us. Should be interesting! For more information:
Check out website at www.coralville.org/310/4thFest, for the parade route and all of the spectacular events planned for 4thFest!
Veterans For Peace Chapter 161
is sponsoring an exhibit on the My Lai Massacre
Coralville Public Library, lower level
Friday through Sunday, June 15-17
Friday 10 am to 6 pm · Saturday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm · Sunday Noon to 4 pm
Join us in attending and learning about this tragedy
The exhibit panels on the American War in Vietnam and the My Lai Massacre provide a lens to face up to the tragic impact of our political and military actions on the people of Vietnam. Exhibit panels explore how our governmental and military policies and practices were developed, nurtured, implemented and then covered up in a campaign that led to the killing of 2 million Vietnamese civilians during the course of the war.
This year is the fiftieth anniversary of the civilian massacre of My Lai, the Vietnamese village that was destroyed by US forces during the Vietnam War. The My Lai Memorial Exhibit honors the Vietnamese who died in what they refer to as the American War. It is a strong, anti-war response to the Pentagon's campaign and is a way of assuring that the Vietnam War does not slip down the memory hole.
The exhibit, which is traveling the whole country, is a critical element in fulfilling the Veterans For Peace mission — to seek justice for veterans and the victims of war, expose the true costs of war, and to work for peace.
May 4th · 7 to 9pm
St Thomas More Catholic Church
3000 12th Ave, Coralville
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Jim Zogby: |
Jim Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute and Board Member of Our Revolution, will speak about "America and the Arab World." Zogby has been a long time advocate for Arab Americans and served on the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2017. Bernie Sanders designated Zogby as one of his representatives to the DNC Unity Reform Commission to lessen the power of super-delegates and make other reforms to the Democratic party process.
Sponsored by Johnson County Green Party, Our Revolution Johnson County, PEACE Iowa, Iowa Peace Network, Iowa UNA, Iowans for Palestine, Veterans for Peace #161, and others.
Join Us Monday
to Observe the 15th Anniversary
of the beginning of the Iraq War
Monday March 19th 5:30pm
Iowa City Pentacrest
PEACE Iowa and Veterans for Peace are co-sponsoring this observance
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Tacos for Peace |
Trumpet Blossom Cafe will be donating 20% of their sales (don't worry, you can still come and eat their lovely food even if you're not feeling tacos that night) from 5-9pm that night so bring friends and family to have a cocktail or some vegan food!
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Workshop on
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Facilitated by Karen Nichols—awardee of the PEACE Iowa scholarship to attend the Satyagraha Institute last summer—the event will take place on Saturday, February 10th, 1 to 5pm at the Wesley Foundation on 120 North Dubuque Street in Iowa City. Please call or email PEACE Iowa to register. There is no charge for this event.
