http://teachpalestine.org/http://teachpalestine.org/

MECA is very excited that our Teach Palestine website, a collaborative project by and for K-12 teachers and educators who are bringing Palestine into their classrooms, is now live and ready to use.

The site includes curriculum from elementary school through high school, a curated list of videos and articles about teaching Palestine in the US and education in Palestine.

Check out the resources and curriculum at teachpalestine.org. And please pass the word to all the teachers you know!

Our goal is for the site to become a community of progressive teachers sharing ideas about how to link Palestine to critical issues facing children and their families in the US; and discussing the successes and challenges they’ve faced teaching about Palestine, Islamophobia, and the Middle East.

Website access and materials are free.

Roanoke Peoples’ Power Network

Getchu any 3 of these badass RPPN buttons when you kick in $10 or more to the #RoanokeCommunityBailFund to help keep each other free and out of cages in #Roanoke🖤❤🖤

chuffed.org/project/rjs-bail-fund

Buttons (top left to bottom right):

“Cops Out Of Schools”
“Fewer Cops More Teachers”
“Strong Communities Make Police Obsolete”
“No Good Cops In A Racist System”
“End The Racist Drug War”
“Refugees Welcome Here”
“Borders Are Violence”
“Free Palestine”
“Black Liberation NOW”
“Smash White Supremacy”
“Workers Produce All Wealth”
“Seize The Means”
“Organize Your Coworkers”
“Crush Capitalism”
“Build Peoples’ Power”
“Protect LGBTQ Workers’ Rights”
“Either Capitalism Dies Or Mother Earth Does”
“Keep It In The Streets”
“Abolish Police & Prisons”
“Roanoke Community Bail Fund”

Volunteer Drivers Training

“While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” ― Eugene V. Debs

Dear family, friends, colleagues, and comrades,

It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved Rick Kissell on February 10, 2019 at the age of 63 from complications following surgery. A celebration of his life will take place on Wednesday, February 20, 4-7 PM, with the eulogy beginning at 5 PM, at the Bruskiewitz Funeral Home, 5355 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee. We request you bring your thoughts, prayers, and fondest memories of Rick over the years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Peace Action-Wisconsin, 1001 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212 or Voces de la Frontera, 1027 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204.

Rick was an intelligent, passionate, and caring person filled with purpose and a great sense of humor. His generosity, respect for all, and quick wit will be deeply missed. A graduate of South Milwaukee High School and a former student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was a pioneer in court interpreter services in the Milwaukee Area and dedicated three decades to his chosen profession. He was active in setting guidelines and training to improve interpreting and translation throughout the Wisconsin Court System. He was also very activein the peace, socialist, civil liberties, immigrant, civil rights, and labor movements. An avid reader, Rick loved discussing leftist politics, educating others on Milwaukee’s socialist heritage, communicating on his ham radio, enjoying live guitar concerts with his wife, and sharing donated books and documentaries with libraries and jails.

He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years Anna Maria “Annie” Espinoza, children René and Paul, stepson Lucas Alvarez, cousin James (Evelyn) Spice, aunt Virginia (the late William) Thomas, along with cousins, extended family, and friends.

“Signing off, WB9GYT.”

René: (414) 687-8457 or kisspinoza@gmail.com

__________________

Angela Walker, 2/14/19

When I was legislative director for ATU Local 998, I met a fellow who was an absolute treasury of information on Milwaukee’s socialist history. I believe my former union endorsed him in his bid for County Treasurer. This fellow, whose wit and plain speaking endeared him to me, convinced me to run against then-Sheriff David Clarke in 2014, which I would have never considered, had he not suggested it. He’s the reason a whole lot of y’all know me now, and his suggestion and support changed the course of my life.

My mentor and friend, Rick Kissell, passed from this life last Sunday. With his passing, an intelligent and fiercely justice-oriented spirit left this plane. May your family be wrapped in love, support and comfort, my friend. And may your fiery spirit be surrounded by light and joy. Journey well.

__________________

Latin American Solidarity Committee, 2/14/19

Today we mourn the loss of a good friend and activist who did a lot for us at LASC. Rick was a gifted interpreter and gave us many hours of his time interpreting for us when we had guest speakers from Latin America. He had a strong commitment to social justice. For that and many other reasons he will be missed. His death was a shock and he leaves behind a wife, a daughter and a son, and many friends. Rick Kissell, presente!

Pursuing Justice: Defending Human Rights Amidst Crisis in the PH

U.S. Hands Off Venezuela! Rally

12 NOON – 2 P.M., Wisconsin State Capitol. State Street Steps

#23Feb Weekend of International Actions

Demanding “regime change,” this administration is laying siege to Venezuela. Washington’s deepening of sanctions, a form of economic warfare, is solely aimed at worsening an ongoing crisis in order to impose powers in Caracas favorable to US interests. US actions have served only to deepen political divisions and decrease the likelihood of a peaceful solution, as they increase hardships and suffering of the common people.

Venezuela has world’s largest known oil reserves. And that fact has more to do with US demands for “regime change” and threats of further intervention than any concerns for “democracy” or “freedom” and the “defeat of tyranny.”

US efforts to overthrow the present government will only serve to further weaken any prospects for a peaceful, democratic resolution to the crisis and leave a bitter legacy in keeping with the long history of US intervention in the region.

The revival of “Yankee imperialism” at its worst must immediately be brought to a halt. People here in the US must once again come together to counter Washington’s aggression, overt and covert, in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America — the necessary precondition for peace, true democracy, and security. Join in opposition and voice demands for an end to US intervention and violations of Venezuela’s national sovereignty.

JOIN US! Bring signs, banners, and your friends!

-U.S. Hands Off Venezuela!
-NO to a “Regime Change” Coup!
-NO to sanctions, oil embargo and economic warfare!
-NO to military intervention by the U.S. and its regional proxies!

Endorsed by:
Womens’ International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) -Madison; Madison Socialist Alternative; Industrial Workers of the World -Madison; Party for Socialism and Liberation – Madison; Veterans for Peace, Chapter 25 – Madison; Family Farm Defenders; Peregrine Forum; Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars; International Socialist Organization – Madison; Democratic Socialists of America -Madison; White Rose Anti-Fascist Forum; Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, 4 Lakes Green Party; Union De Trabajadores Immigrantes (UTI); International Marxist Tendency – Madison; Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement. More to follow…

#HandsOffVenezuela

https://bit.ly/2E0z9xNhttps://bit.ly/

https://orinocotribune.com/

Elliot Abrams was questioned by US lawmakers in a hearing held last Wednesday, February the 13, by the Committee of Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives of the US Congress.

The hearing was very controversial, from Pink Code activists protesting  with the slogan “Hands off Venezuela” and “No Coup in Venezuela” through an intense questioning by Rep. Ilhan Omar about Abrams’s background of lying to Congress and organizing black operations to destabilize governments in Central America and the Middle East.

In the C-SPAN video of the hearing and its transcript there is a point in the mark 1:19:52 when Elliott Abrams is asked by Rep. Ann Wagner about the negotiation of an Office of Interests between the two countries. The answer from Trump’s official is evasive at the beginning but he clearly states that there is no negotiation of an Office of Interest at mark 1:20:43 and he clearly answers “NO” to that question.

On Friday 15, Jorge Arreaza, Minister of Foreign Affairs in an interview for Telesur reiterated that he participated in two meetings with US Diplomats and one of them was with Elliot Abrams in New York. The previous day, President Maduro in an interview with AP spoke about it and also about an invitation extended to Abrams for a meeting with Maduro of any format and anywhere.

In the Telesur interview Arreaza showed the diplomatic note issued by the US Embassy in Caracas requesting the initiation of a process to establish an Interest Office and also showed his most recent US visa clearly indicating that he was going to hold meetings with the Department of State….

https://orinocotribune.com/

‘Stand For Peace!’ action in Milwaukee, Wisconsin January 26, 2019.

https://bit.ly/2BKvbsG

Despite the winter chill in the air, the mood on the picket line outside the Matamoros Coca-Cola bottling plant was optimistic.

“We’re not fighting for ourselves, but for a better quality of life for our kids and their children. They won’t be screwed over or trampled upon by these kinds of people any more,” said Juan Luis Gaytán, 37, a mechanic at the plant, which is operated by Arca Continental, the world’s second-biggest Coca-Cola bottler.

Workers dressed in khaki uniforms brandished colourful homemade signs reading “We continue the struggle” and “20-32” – a reference to the strikers’ demand of a 20% pay hike and a one-off 32,000-peso bonus.

A wave of wildcat strikes has rolled across this Mexican border town, as thousands of workers walked off the job to demand better salaries, safer conditions – and union leaders who put members’ concerns ahead of company interests.

The strikes have closed or slowed production at dozens of maquiladora assembly plants and other factories located south of the border to take advantage of lower labour costs.

But more than two weeks after the strike began, companies are still underestimating the workers’ determination, Gaytán said. “They’re absolutely confident we will give in. But if we give in, then things will stay the same.”

 Employees of Autoliv Mexico, the world’s largest automotive safety supplier, strike in Matamoros. Photograph: STRINGER/Reuters

https://r29.co/2XesBVb

Pack The Court For Chrystul! (Prelim Hearing)