dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of March 11, 2018

Photo came from an email urging everyone to call their US Senators and have them support the Sanders and Lee bill on Yemen.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

STAND AGAINST RACISM

Announcing the 2018 theme for Stand Against Racism: Our Power, Our Mission, Our Future.

This year's campaign focuses on supporting full access and engagement for women and girls of color in the political process. Voting rights and civic engagement are, and have always been, core components of our racial justice work. This year's theme certainly comes at a pivotal time as civil rights continue to be attacked and eroded for communities of color. Save the dates for Stand Against Racism 2018: April 26 - 29. The YWCA's Stand Against Racism, in partnership with YWCA Associations nationwide, aims to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. This campaign is one part of our larger strategy to fulfill our mission of eliminating racism. For more information about Stand Against Racism, contact Gerry Leonard, Racial Justice & Outreach Specialist at gleonard@ywcaofasheville.org or by calling 828-254-7206 x 219.

03/12/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

Asheville SURJ Weekly Monday night meetings: 6:30-8:30pm at the UU Congregation (1 Edwin Place, corner of Edwin & Charlotte), downstairs main building. Every Monday, all are welcome to gather with others seeking to stay accountable in the work of dismantling white supremacy within themselves and the spheres they work, play, and live in. First Mondays are focused on exploring SURJ's Core Values and how we go about the work of moving from ally to accomplice in this work. Second Mondays are focused on a Calling In session where we brainstorm and role-play difficult situations and conversations around confronting racism and white supremacy, in ourselves and others. Third & Fourth Mondays are focused on Education with each topic being looked at nationally one week and then local impacts the following week. We are beginning this series with a focus on issues relating to Housing. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com. Specific dates & topics below:

Mar. 19: Urban Renewal (big picture/national history)

Mar. 26: Urban Renewal (local Asheville history)

03/12/18 PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County will meet on Monday, March 12 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Location is Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ at 951 Old Fairview Road in Asheville. Doors open by 6:15 for sign in and conversation. Meeting begins promptly at 6:30. Join us as we host a meet and greet for Democratic County Commissioner candidates. The purpose of Progressive Democrats is to encourage candidates and motivate voters while promoting the most progressive parts of the DNC platform: campaign finance reform, clean energy policy, universal healthcare, and much more. Come join us and help to turn NC Blue. Contact Kris Kramer at pdobPRESIDENT@gmail.com for more information.

03/12/18 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES MEET & GREET

The public is invited to Democratic County Commissioner Candidate Meet & Greet and brief monthly meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County on Monday, March 12 at 6:30-8 PM at Democratic Party HQ, 951 Old Fairview Road in east Asheville. Free. No contact information. This is also the Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County meeting.

03/12/18 ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING

Voter Engagement Coalition meeting on March 12, 2018 from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm. Location is 50 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville.

03/12/18 EXHIBITION AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY

Collaborative Exhibition: Artist Connie Bostic and MHU Women’s Studies. March 5 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Connie Bostic’s artwork focus is on women – young girls to women – and vulnerability and concerns about their sexuality. Her images contain symbols referencing her views as an 80-year-old mother and grandmother. (She has three daughters and three granddaughters.) This is a collaboration with Dr. Ann M. Peiffer and the MHU Women’s Studies Program. Bostic’s work will serve as a springboard for several conversations on campus that will discuss gender expectations, women’s health, violence against women, and identity development. In addition, our art therapy program will be hosting an opportunity for patrons to make art in response to Bostic’s work. Mars Hill University. Until March 13, but not open every day. This is at Weizenblatt Gallery, at 79 Cascade Street in Mars Hill.

03/13/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 4:30 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace.

03/13/18 ROOTS & WINGS SOCIAL JUSTICE SERIES

“LGBTQ Equality” persentation and discussion. Free to attend. Time is 7 to 9 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Call 828-255-8115 for more information..

03/13/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

ASURJ Do!scussion: Tuesdays, 10:30-12 am in the backroom of Firestorm, Road in Asheville. A safe space to come together and talk about issues relating to dismantling white supremacy and confronting racism with a focus on what we can do to make a change, in ourselves, our communities, and beyond. All are welcome. Led by Matilda Bliss. ASURJ Do-Session: Tuesdays, noon-2pm, at a member’s residence. Meet us at 12:30 PM at Kairos West (right below Firestorm) and walk with us down there. This is a weekly space to do something to support accountability partners in their work. Letter-writing, list-making, social media work are just a few examples of what we will do to show up for racial justice Tuesday at the Do-Session. Bring your laptop and phone and help us out. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.

03/13/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on March 13th with a talk on “China and America: the New Geopolitical Equation” with Julie Snyder, who worked for 30 years with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

03/13/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS CIVICS 101

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Pisgah Legal Services, and Children First/Communities in Schools have joined together to present Civics 101. This series provides an opportunity for any community to learn about the roles and decision-making processes of our local governments and how citizens can advocate and get their voice heard. This 4 week program will take place Tuesdays in March at the Arthur Edington Center from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Come to one or all sessions. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 will focus on Buncombe County Government. Presenters are Kathy Hughes – Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners and Al Whitesides – County Commissioner – District 1. Tuesday, March 20, 2018 will focus on Justice Resource Center & Family Justice Center. Presenters are Tiffany Iheanacho – Justice Resource Center Coordinator; Julie Klipp-Nicholson – Family Justice Center Coordinator; and Honorable Susan M. Dotson-Smith – District Court Judge. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 will focus on Advocacy Training. Presenter will be Pisgah Legal Services. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. Spanish interpretation is available. Please contact us by February 28th for childcare services. For more information or questions, contact civics101@lwvab.org or 828-333-0893.

03/13/18 ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE NAACP MEETING

Asheville-Buncombe County NAACP will hold its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Hill Street Baptist Church at 135 Hill Street in Asheville. The March program will feature Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams. Since taking office in 2014, he has been actively involved in creating the Child Advocacy Center, Family Justice Center, Justice Resource Center, Juvenile Misdemeanor Diversion Program, Veterans’ Treatment Court, Buncombe County’s first DA-led expungement clinic, and new first-offender, and drug diversion programs. All these programs focus on placing non-violent offenders on a path to employability and recovery without the stigma of a criminal conviction. For more information, email 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com.

03/13/18 PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

I am excited to extend an invitation to a public Peace Education Program (PEP) being offered in Asheville for the first time. It will begin Tuesday evening, March 13 at 7:30 pm at the North Asheville Community Center at 37 East Larchmont Road in North Asheville. Park on Long Street. The Peace Education Program, also known as PEP, is a series of interactive workshops based on excerpts from the international addresses of Prem Rawat, a man who has been speaking about personal peace as the basis for world peace for four decades and has been honored as an ambassador of peace worldwide. The Peace Education Program consists of 10 weekly sessions, each focusing on a particular theme. The themes are: Peace, Appreciation, Inner Strength, Self-Awareness, Clarity, Understanding, Dignity, Choice, Hope, and Contentment. It is hoped that people will want to attend all 10 sessions after they have experienced the first one. Everybody is welcome. Free. For more information, contact Jim Forward at JTFBuilder@gmail.com.

03/13/18 CREATING SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR LBGTQ YOUTH

Creating Supportive Schools, Homes, and Communities for LBGTQ Youth. A free community forum takes place Tuesday, March 13 to address how adults can support and care for LGBTQ young people. Local LGBTQ advocacy groups are joining together to host a panel discussion called “Creating Supportive Schools, Homes and Communities for LGBTQ Youth” to address how adults can support and care for LGBTQ young people, including those who may currently be questioning their sexual or gender identity, or who keep that identity hidden. This event will take place on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 6 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. The panel will feature Dr. Todd Rosendahl, Director of Youth Policy for Equality NC and Time Out Youth Center in Charlotte, who has trained thousands of K-12 educators on creating more welcoming schools for LGBTQ youth. The Campaign for Southern Equality, Equality NC, Youth OUTRight, Tranzmission, and the Blue Ridge Pride Center are hosting the event. Panelists include: Todd Rosendahl, Time Out Youth and Equality NC, JaNesha Slaughter, Asheville Writers in the Schools, Libby Kyles, Youth Transformed for Life, Adrian Parra, Youth OUTright, Jenny Vial, Buncombe Partnership for Children, Melissa Wilson, School-based counselor and therapist and Allison Scott, Campaign for Southern Equality (moderator). This free event is open to the public and intended for anyone who works with children and youth. There will be time for questions from community members.

03/14/18 STUDENT MARCH AT ASHEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

This is happening from 10 - 10:30 and is in support of students at Stoneman Douglas High School. This is a student march only, and only students and staff at AHS are participating. I totally support them and wish them great success in solving our extreme problems with both weapons and violence both domestically and in our foreign affairs.

03/14/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

International Socialist Organization - Asheville will hold our weekly branch meetings are held Wednesdays in Rhoades Robinson, room 106 at UNCA at 6:30 pm and are open to the public. Contact Asheville Socialists at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

03/14/18 MOVIE EVENT WITH BUILDING BRIDGES

Join Building Bridges of Asheville for a special screening and talkback of the film “Black Panther” at the Grail Moviehouse on Wednesday, March 14th, 7 pm and Thursday, March 15th, 7 pm. Building Bridges is excited to announce a community collaboration with our friends, Grail Moviehouse, for a special screening and talkback of the film, “Black Panther.” Representatives from Building Bridges will lead a facilitated discussion after the film for the following screenings: Wednesday, March 14, at 7 pm (Building Bridges representatives Danae Aicher & Gerry Leonard) and Thursday, March 15 at 7 pm (Building Bridges representatives Audrey Yatras & Michael Beech). Please visit the Grail Moviehouse website to purchase your tickets in advance and for additional information about their independent, locally owned theater. We look forward to seeing you at the movies!

03/14/18 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING

This meeting will be at 10 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Beth at elizakeiser@aol.com or 828-707-4271 for more information.

03/15/18 MOVIE EVENT WITH BUILDING BRIDGES

03/15/18 PANEL DISCUSSION ON FUTURE OF NANTAHALA AND PISGAH NATIONAL FORESTS IN SYLVA

March 15, 22, 27 & 29 - The Future of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests: An Expert Panel Event Series. In the interest of ensuring that the next 15 year management plan for our national forests is one that reflects our interests and priorities, MountainTrue is hosting this panel discussion to engage in constructive dialogue about working toward the common goal of a win-win forest management plan. Join the conversation. March 15 - Sylva, NC, Jackson County Public Library at 310 Keener Street in Sylva. Time is 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Contact Susan Bean at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

03/15/18 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

Time is 6:30-8:30pm and location is Kairos West Community Center (behind Firestorm Books & Cafe) at 610 Haywood Rd, West Asheville. We will have a different format for this meeting as well as a change in our monthly meeting schedule (every third Thursday of the month). The first half hour will be devoted to new members learning laser talks, tech talks, or answering questions they might have about Carbon Fee & Dividend and/or CCL. The next hour we will cover our latest accomplishments and then breakout into action teams to plan our strategy for the upcoming month, then listen to the monthly national call. Please attend and enjoy dinner while learning how to save the climate.

03/15/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB) AT MALAPROPS

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “Notorious.” This month’s pick is “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism” by Edward E. Baptist. This is at Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Call Malaprops for more information.

03/15/18 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE MEETING

Creation Care Convergence (this is our regular CCA meeting) is on Thursday, March 15 from 6 - 7:30 PM. Location is Jubilee Community Church at 46 Wall Street in Asheville. Come together to share compassion and ideas with other people of faith who care deeply about their neighbors and the environment. We will learn about the creation care work of our host congregation through a conversation and tour, hear about CCA and community events and work, as well as hear ideas from the Zero Waste Church Movement. If you are connected to a faith community, a green team or creation care team member, clergy, or are interested in learning more about Jubilee, Zero Waste or the Creation Care Alliance this meeting is for you. Contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org for more information.

03/15/18 DISCOVER DIVERSITY WEEK AT BLUE RIDGE COLLEGE

Discoer Diversity Week - Lecture by Madeline Delp, Ms. Wheelchair USA 2017. Free. Time is 11 AM to 1 PM. Held in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock at 180 West Campus Drive. Call 828-412-5488 for more information..

03/16/18 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING

Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 285-2599.

03/16/18 CLIMATE CITY IN ASHEVILLE

“Welcome to Climate City”: March 16-25. The weekends before and after ClimateCon 2018 – adding up to a full 10-day period – a community component called “Welcome to Climate City” will provide an immersive experience for all conference attendees to enjoy the soul of vibrant and eclectic Asheville, North Carolina. Expect museums, galleries, restaurants, breweries, shops, and attractions to feature climate-related events of their own, resulting in a conference experience like no other. ClimateCon 2018 includes The Business of Climate Forum, a summit for students and young professionals, an innovation showcase demonstrating climate solutions and products, and 10 days of climate-focused community events. ClimateCon is an important opportunity for forward-thinking leaders to interact directly with innovators. Collectively we can address the products, services, and information needed for better business decision-making in the face of climate change. Contact The Collider for more information.

03/16/18 WORKSHOP ON BEYOND PRIVILEGE FROM OLLI

Friday, March 16 from 1-2:30 p.m. “Beyond Privilege” is a workshop with Rev. Michael Carter, interfaith minister and anti-racism trainer. Free and open to everyone. Registration is required; call (828) 251-6188 to register or for more information. This presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's More Than a Month series. The series is organized by OLLI's Inclusion Committee, which promotes inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds in all OLLI programs and partners with people from diverse backgrounds to offer culturally rich programs, activities and events. The committee has planned “More Than a Month” programs to address issues of race and inclusion locally and nationally, with the understanding that we want to address these issues more than once a month. These programs are designed to provide meaningful ways to understand and respond to the issues of race that continue to divide us and to define our civic and political discourse. Contact OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140 for more information. Location is probably the Reuter Center, but check with them to be sure.

03/16/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING IN HENDERSONVILLE

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on March 16 at 12 PM in Hendersonville. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training. We’ll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Location is Hendersonville Community Coop at 60 South Charleston Lane in Hendersonville. RSVP to let us know you'll be there. For more information, including how to RSVP, place contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

03/16/18 POSTER MAKING PARTY & FUNDRAISER FOR MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

Asheville March For Our Lives: Poster-Making Party & Fundraiser. March 16 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Come help make posters/ postcards/ and other materials needed for the student-organized March for Our Lives event coming up on 3/24/18. Student speakers will be there to speak about the march, and the local band playing afterward, Cuddle in the Cosmos, will donate a portion of their proceeds to the cause. The Block off biltmore at 39 S Market Street in downtown Asheville. Contact The Block for more information.

03/17/18 MOUNTAIN TRUE STREAM MONITORING TRAINING

Mountain True stream monitoring training on Saturday, March 17, 2018 @ 9:00 AM. Location is Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Drive in Flat Rock. Bugs tell you a lot about the health and vitality of our rivers and streams. That’s why MountainTrue volunteers sample aquatic macroinvertebrates, or aquatic insects, to test for water quality. Register for our Spring training by March 15 at Blue Ridge Community College to learn how you can become a Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) volunteer, and how to collect and identify bugs, record data and use sampling equipment. Both new and returning volunteers are welcome! Must register - contact Regina Goldkuhl at 828-692-0385 ext. 1001 or email wqa@mountaintrue.org for instructions on how to register. Also contact her with any questions.

03/17/18 NAACP MEETING IN SYLVA

Jackson County Branch of the NC NAACP Membership Meeting. The Jackson County NAACP Branch's March Membership Meeting will convene at 10:00 am on Saturday, March the 17th at St. John's Episcopal Church at 18 Jackson Street in Sylva. The program presentation is "The Poor People's Campaign, Part II." Contact Lucy Christopher at 743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com for more information.

03/17/18 NC MED ASSIST MOBILE FREE PHARMACY

Community partners are bringing NC MedAssist’s free mobile pharmacy and health care resources to individuals in need. NC MedAssist will hold a Mobile Free Pharmacy Event in Asheville on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The event, held in collaboration with the NC Grange and Carolina Farm Credit, is open to any low-income individual or family needing free health screenings, education, and medicine cabinet staples. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center at 133 Livingston Street in Asheville. Identification is not required to participate. “NC Grange is pleased to partner with NC MedAssist on the Mobile Free Pharmacy event,” said President Jimmy Gentry. “The event is expected to have a huge impact on the community. NC Grange values the work they do in our community for those who are vulnerable and don’t have access to healthcare. We hope to educate participants on the healthcare resources available in Buncombe County.” Individuals will receive up to up to 10 medicine cabinet items for their family. Also offered are other free healthcare services like information on NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program and community health resources. NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden for those who must choose between buying food or needed medication.

03/18/18 WNC GREENS MARCH ROADSIDE PICKUP

WNC Greens March Roadside Pickup. Meet at White Duck Taco in River Arts. Sunday, March 18 at 10AM. We provide vests, gloves, bags. Usually about 60 min. commitment. Contact Ben Williamson at bdwilliamson1@catamount.wcu.edu for more information.

03/19/18 CONFERENCE AT THE COLLIDER

ClimateCon 2018 is North Carolina's first conference on the business of climate, where business and science professionals will come together to explore innovative climate solutions and business opportunities. ClimateCon will be held in the vibrant mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, with its developing reputation as “Climate City,” hosted by The Collider, a nonprofit center of innovation for a changing climate. The centerpiece of ClimateCon 2018 is The Business of Climate Forum, an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs & forward-thinking organizations. The Business of Climate Forum is March 19-21. The main event of ClimateCon 2018 is The Business of Climate Forum, where attendees can expect a collaborative experience with a wide variety of business and science professionals who come together to advance the development of data-driven products and services. We'll help you identify potential uses and needs for climate adaptation and resilience. Tickets are $699 – $999. The Collider is at 1 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Refunds up to 30 days before event. We’re now offering early-bird tickets to The Business of Climate Forum for $699 (a $300 savings). We hope you’ll join us this March and help uncover innovative solutions for climate change. Contact The Collider for more information or tickets.

03/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC (HISTORY BOOK CLUB)

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “Notorious.” This month’s pick is “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism” by Edward E. Baptist. Time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.

03/19/18 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING

CCL Monthly Meeting Location & Time Change. Now every 3rd Monday each month - March 19, 6:30-8:30PM. Location is Habitat Brewing Tavern & Commons at 174 Broadway Street in Asheville. At this meeting we will be learning about how to use the Climate Actuaries Index Report in our lobby meetings, learn what resistance talk is and how to roll with it. Do you want to help lobby bipartisan solutions on climate change? Or take the lead on talking to businesses about climate advocacy? Or how about being a public voice for climate engagement in politics? At our CCL-AVL chapter meetings, we dive into how we can use these strategies to build the political momentum for climate action to pass national bipartisan legislation on climate change. All political parties are welcome to join in this effort - conservative, liberal, progressive, libertarian, etc.

03/19/18 DEMOCRACY ASHEVILLE COALITION MEETING

Please join us for the next Democracy Asheville Coalition Meeting on Monday, March 19. We’ll provide an overview of what's happening in the state related to voting rights and of upcoming opportunities you can plug into. Please also bring a potluck dish to share if you are able and email us if you plan on doing so (vegetarian is included). Time is 6 PM. Location is Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. Please RSVP. Contact JaNesha Slaughter at 828-216-3430 or JaNesha@democracy-nc.org with questions and instructions on how to register. What is the Democracy Asheville Coalition? Our local coalition brings together organizational representatives and individuals who agree to work together to change and use the political system so it equips people to take action, promotes grassroots leadership, and serves “the good of the whole.” We want an elections process that is accessible, fair, and secure. And we want a government “of, by, and for the people,” that fosters equity, solidarity and justice.

03/19/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

Mar. 19: Urban Renewal (big picture/national history)

Mar. 26: Urban Renewal (local Asheville history)

03/19/18 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL

Transition Asheville Social. Date: 3/19/18. Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00pm. Place: Parish Hall, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St, Asheville, NC 28801 (parking in the lot next to the church off Evelyn Alley…north of the church or on the street). Presentation Topic: Leonardo diCaprio’s Film: Before the Flood. Description: From Academy Award-Winning actor, environmental activist, and U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonard DiCaprio, comes the 2016 account of the dramatic changes occurring around the world due to climate change, as well as the actions we as individuals and as a society can take to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet. Contact: Rebecca Mahan at 812-334-0176 or palmtree747@gmail.com for more information.

03/19/18 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA ANNUAL F-WORD FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville's 17th Annual F-Word (Feminist) returns with two days of screenings. These screenings are free and open to everyone in Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum. Monday, March 19th, 7 p.m. Directed by Jessica Devaney and Geeta Gandbhir, “Love The Sinner” is a personal documentary exploring the connection between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. “Love The Sinner” probes our responsibility to face bias in our communities and push for dignity and equality for all. Also showing a film by Hillevi Loven, Produced by Chris Talbott and Samara Levenstein. Executive produced by Susan Sarandon, “Deep Run” is a powerful verité portrait of trans life in rural North Carolina. Exiled by her family and rejected by an ex-partner, 17-year-old Spazz has no one to lean on for support. But when Spazz falls in love again and summons up the courage to become Cole, a strong-willed trans-man, his candid humor and steadfast, all-inclusive Christian beliefs counter the bigotry he experiences daily. A panel discussion made of faculty and students will take place after this film. Contact for this event is Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at lhorvitz@unca.edu or 828.251.6590.

03/20/18 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA FOR ANNUAL F-WORD FILM FESTIVAL

UNC Asheville's 17th Annual F-Word (Feminist) returns with two days of screenings. These screenings are free and open to everyone in Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum. Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m. “Whose Streets?” Directed by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis. Folayan will introduce the film and answer questions afterwards. Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Contact for this event is Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at lhorvitz@unca.edu or 828.251.6590.

03/20/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

03/20/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

On the third Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 5:45 PM and location is the Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and Market Streets in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.

03/20/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

ASURJ Do!scussion: Tuesdays, 10:30 AM -12 PM in the backroom of Firestorm, Road in Asheville. A safe space to come together and talk about issues relating to dismantling white supremacy and confronting racism with a focus on what we can do to make a change, in ourselves, our communities, and beyond. All are welcome. Led by Matilda Bliss. ASURJ Do-Session: Tuesdays, noon-2pm, at a member’s residence. Meet us at 12:30 PM at Kairos West (right below Firestorm) and walk with us down there. This is a weekly space to do something to support accountability partners in their work. Letter-writing, list-making, social media work are just a few examples of what we will do to show up for racial justice Tuesday at the Do-Session. Bring your laptop and phone and help us out. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.

03/20/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS CIVICS 101

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Pisgah Legal Services, and Children First/Communities in Schools have joined together to present Civics 101. This series provides an opportunity for any community to learn about the roles and decision-making processes of our local governments and how citizens can advocate and get their voice heard. This 4 week program will take place Tuesdays in March at the Arthur Edington Center from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Come to one or all sessions. Tuesday, March 20, 2018 will focus on Justice Resource Center & Family Justice Center. Presenters are Tiffany Iheanacho – Justice Resource Center Coordinator; Julie Klipp-Nicholson – Family Justice Center Coordinator; and Honorable Susan M. Dotson-Smith – District Court Judge. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 will focus on Advocacy Training. Presenter will be Pisgah Legal Services. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. Spanish interpretation is available. Please contact us by February 28th for childcare services. For more information or questions, contact civics101@lwvab.org or 828-333-0893.

03/20/18 INNOVATION IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE EVENT

Innovation in Climate Resilience: Ideas, Strategies, Examples. Time is 8 to 9 PM and doors open at 7:30 PM. This is at Lenoir-Rhyne University of Asheville Center at 36 Montford Avenue in Asheville. Join Kif Scheuer, climate and energy program director at the Local Government Commission, for a presentation and open discussion on climate resilience, adaptation and engagement. Free and open to the public. Call Lenoir-Rhyne for more information.

03/21/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

03/21/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT

Join Us for a #MeToo Panel Discussion. In honor of Women's History Month, we are hosting a panel discussion on the #metoo movement and how it affects our everyday lives. Speakers will discuss the law, HR issues and sexual violence in our community. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and here about how the movement affects our community. Join us! March 21, 2018 from 6 to 7:30 PM at the South Buncombe Library at 260 Overlook Road in Asheville. For more information, contact the organizer at communications.lwvab@gmail.com.

03/21/18 LETTER WRITING DROP IN EVENT

Beer & Politics Letter-Writing Drop-In on March 21 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Beer & Politics is an informal letter-writing drop-in open to everyone, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Drop by the Westville Pub at 777 Haywood Road in west Asheville after work on any first or third Wednesday, any time between 5:30 and 7:00, and make your voices heard. We provide the fact sheets, stationery, cards, pre-addressed labels, and stamps. If you can’t make it to Beer & Politics this week, be sure to call and write your elected representatives about issues that matter to you on a regular basis.

03/22/18 TRANSMISSION PRISON PROJECT IN ASHEVILLE

Tranzmission Prison Project Packaging Party. Help the Tranzmission Prison Project distribute free literature to incarcerated members of the LGBTQ community. Every fourth Thursday of the month volunteers meet from 6-9 pm, preparing packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the United States. Books have already been selected for each inmate, you just need to help get them wrapped and addressed. Tranzmission Prison Project is a volunteer run organization that works to support LGBTQQIA (Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and a-sexual) prisoners nationwide. They offer books, zines, information, resources and pen pals. They fully believe that every member of our fabulous community deserves access to support. As allies, they strive to let incarcerated LGBTQQIA folks know that just because they are out of sight does not mean they are out of mind. This event is at Firestorm in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm for more information.

03/22/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL - WNC DOCUMENTARY

Healthcare for All-WNC offers an eye-opening documentary film “Big Pharma: Market Failure.” Shocking facts about pharmaceutical costs and what we can do to reduce them. Discussion will follow the film. Date is Thursday March 22, 2018 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Lord Auditorium of Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville. Parking in City Garage -- entrance off Rankin Ave. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:15 PM. Hosted by Healthcare for All WNC (Local branch of Physicians for a National Health Program). For more info, please contact Frank L. Fox at ff725@yahoo.com.

03/23/18 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MOVIE

Pre-conference Film Screening - “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution” Friday March 23rd 6:30pm - 9:00pm. Location is Habitat Tavern and Commons at 174 Broadway Street in Asheville. No information on cost. Contact Asheville Citizens' Climate Lobby for information on cost and tickets at: asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

03/23/18 IMMIGRATION LUNCH AND LEARN IN ASHEVILLE

From Pisgah Legal Services: Immigration Lunch & Learn. Join Pisgah Legal Services immigration law experts for a lunch session to learn how changes to immigration policies and enforcement are affecting our neighbors. Friday, March 23rd from 12-1:30pm. Location is Trinity Episcopal Church at 60 Church Street in downtown Asheville. Suggested Donation: $10/person. Lunch provided by Green Opportunities. RSVP to Nora Frank by March 16 at (828)210-3774 or nora@pisgahlegal.org.

03/24/18 FAITH IN DEMOCRACY EVENT BY DEMOCRACY NC

Join us for a Faith in Democracy event in Asheville on March 24. Please join Democracy NC in rebuilding and defending “Faith in Democracy.” Each session will include answers to the following questions: Legally, what can faith communities and faith leaders discuss about the social/political issues? Morally, what are leaders feeling compelled to do? What are the real risks, especially to minority faith and non-faith groups? How is this work rooted in standing up for racial justice? Why is almost all current state and federal legislation so extreme? How does it threaten our own religious freedom? How can leaders enable their communities, both inside and outside of the church, to see “political” issues through the lens of faith and become advocates for the good of all, especially for “the least of these”? What does meaningful, ecumenical coalition look like? Time is 10 AM to noon. Location is St. James AME Sanctuary at 44 Hildebrand Street in Asheville. Please RSVP. Contact JaNesha Slaughter with questions and instructions on how to register at (704) 493-2042 or janesha@democracy-nc.org.

03/24/18 COMMUNICATION THAT WORKS - WORKSHOP IN ASHEVILLE

Building Bridges Across Divides; Communication That Works! Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, Peace & Earth Committee of Asheville Friends Meeting, and Steps2peace are excited to welcome you to register for our second day-long training in living and practicing Nonviolent (Compassionate) Communication and Consciousness. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a communication of connection rather than division, of authenticity and honest (even scary) self-expression, not fake pretense for the sake of the appearance of harmony. It is about finding your own voice and hearing others' voices. We are creating connections that value every person's humanity. Our facilitator, Roberta Wall, is now in the Middle East for six weeks where she is diving deeply into using Nonviolent Communication to build bridges among peoples – not just between the Israelis and Palestinians, but also between religious and secular people, and different groups and political affinities within each society. Time is 10 AM to 4 PM. Location is Friends Meeting House at 225 Edgewood Road in Asheville. Refund policy is refunds up to 7 days before event. Cost is $100. We want this workshop to be accessible to everyone in the community so please don't be shy and inquire about a scholarship, if you need one, directly to Roberta at info@steps2peace.com. You can pay by credit card at the Event Brite website, contact Karen at kayzey@gmail.com for information on how to do this. Also contact Karen for more information. To pay by check: Make your check payable to EHSA. Please add a notation that it is for NVC and mail to: Jim Tobin, EHSA Treasurer, 20 Stonebridge Drive, Asheville, NC 28805. Please note: All requested fees are suggested contributions. Contact Karen at kayzey@gmail.com for more information. All donations go to Roberta’s travels to the Middle East for NVC work there. Further information will be sent after you register.

03/24/18 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE BY CITIZEN’S CLIMATE LOBBY

2018 Southeast Regional Conference will be on March 24th & 25th at The Collider at 1 Haywood St, Ste 401, in downtown Asheville. Calling all climate advocates across the Southeast and beyond to converge in Asheville for the first greater Southeast Regional Conference. We will have a weekend full of education, skill-building and strategy and you will leave encouraged and inspired to advance federal climate legislation. The theme for the conference is “Walk a mile in their shoes.” Hear from card carrying Republicans on why they support climate action and learn how you can get your conservative neighbor to jump the fence. Learn about the intersection of climate change and climate justice and the importance of bringing all voices to the table. Ever wondered why folks in coal country haven’t embraced environmentalism? Maybe it’s us, not them. Come listen to retired coal miner Nick Mullins, of Breaking Clean, share how to effectively communicate climate change in coal country. What does climate change mean for main street? Come hear Sara Peach of the Yale Climate Connection share what she has learned from her reporting across the US on how climate change will impact us and the people we love. Registration fees are Early Bird Registration (through March 11): $55; Regular Registration (March 12-21): $75; Student Registration: $20. Registration Deadline is March 21. Asheville Citizens' Climate Lobby .

03/24/18 MARCH FOR OUR LIVES IN ASHEVILLE

Ever since Parkland, when we enter school we must acknowledge the fact that we might not come out alive. Fearing for our lives instead of pursuing our education is a widespread epidemic that we, the students, are ready to end once and for all. We are organizing March For Our Lives in Asheville, NC, on March 24th starting at 11:00 AM at 68 Haywood Street ending at Pack Square around the Vance Monument. For more information, contact MarchForOurLivesAVL@gmail.com. Asheville’s sister march for the national March For Our Lives is being organized and led by 10 local high school students and a new local chapter of Moms Demand Action, as part of a nationwide effort to end gun violence. Join us in supporting these amazing young people, who say, “Ever since Parkland, when we enter school we must acknowledge the fact that we might not come out alive. Fearing for our lives instead of pursuing our education is a widespread epidemic that we, the students, are ready to end once and for all.” The march will begin at 11:00 am at Pack Square around the Vance Monument, ending at MLK. In the words of the students, “Join us, be heard, and make a difference.”

03/25/18 WNC GREENS BOOK CLUB MEETING

The book we will be covering is “This Is an Uprising,” by Paul and Mark Engler. It is an incredibly informative, powerful, inspiring and timely book. We’re excited to dig even deeper into the book with the chapter and like-minded individuals outside of our group. By analyzing the characteristics, including successes and failures, of contemporary non-violent social movements and actions, the book serves as an invaluable guide to individuals and groups committed to making change in today’s complex socio-political landscape. It’s approachable, relevant and immediately applicable. This year is one of growth and outreach for the WNC Greens. But…we’re also always searching for opportunities for direct action. When those opportunities arrive, we want to be educated, organized, efficient and effective. This book club is a large part of that process. We hope you’ll join us and invite friends, as we are always interested in meeting and networking with like-minded people. “This Is an Uprising” Book Club Discussion – Session #1 – Sunday, March 11, 2018 6PM – Habitat Brewing and Commons (we’ll cover roughly the first half of the book). “This Is an Uprising” Book Club Discussion – Session #2 – Sunday, March 25, 2018 6PM – Habitat Brewing and Commons (2nd half – final lessons and applications). Contact Ben at williamsonb@ashevilleschool.org for more information.

03/26/18 SPRINGFEST SPEAKERS AT UNCA

The keynote speakers for UNC Asheville Springfest will be Audrey and Frank Peterman on Monday, March 26 in the Humanities Lecture Hall at 7:00pm. About the Petermans: With their last child graduating from college, Audrey and Frank Peterman embarked on a road trip around the country to “discover America.” Traveling 12,000 miles across 40 states from Florida to Washington State, they were transformed by the stunning natural beauty, history and culture protected in our National Parks and forests. Shockingly, they saw less than a handful of Americans of Hispanic, Asian, African or Native American heritage enjoying the Great American outdoors, or working in them. Recognizing that this problem stemmed from a lack of information, misconceptions and latent fears about being in the woods, the Petermans resolved to become a catalyst for change.

03/26/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

Mar. 19: Urban Renewal (big picture/national history)

Mar. 26: Urban Renewal (local Asheville history)

03/26/18 ART TRANSIT MASTER PLAN PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

In October 2017, the City of Asheville began working with the public on a Transit Master Plan, a guiding document for the City's ART transit system. The plan is designed to provide specific routing recommendations to improve service in the short-term, and serves as a long-term vision plan for future expansion and improvements. The City consulted the public during meetings in fall and winter 2017 and online through Open City Hall Asheville. Now a draft plan, informed by that input, is ready for review. The City and Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) invite the public to review the plan and give their input during a 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 26 meeting at the Public Works Building, Room A109, 161 S. Charlotte St. To help transport people to the meeting, a free shuttle will be provided from the ART Station to the Public Works Building. The shuttle will leave the ART Station every 15 minutes, starting at 6:15 p.m. and ending at 8:45 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from participants on the proposed changes to the ART bus network and to present the initial findings of the draft Transit Master Plan. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a brief PowerPoint presentation to explain the Transit Master Plan process, as well as show maps of the proposed changes to ART’s North, South, East and West bus routes. After the presentation, participants will be able to view, at their leisure, the proposed changes at four interactive stations and provide comments and/or mark up route maps with additional suggestions. Discussion tables will also be provided for participants to openly discuss the current bus network and proposed changes. Each table will have a facilitator to guide the discussion. The input will be used to assist the project team, led by Tindale-Oliver & Associates, in working with City staff to develop and prioritize transit service changes and update the 10-year Transit Master Plan. If you cannot attend the meeting, the same presentation will be made to the Transit Committee on March 27 and the Multimodal Transportation Commission on March 28. Everyone is welcome to attend. The goal of the Transit Master Plan is to establish a mobility vision and program of investments that have community consensus, support and approval for more effective and efficient ART public transportation services to meet the needs of Asheville and support our continued growth. For more information, or if you are unable to attend the meeting and would like to provide feedback, you may contact Elias Mathes directly via phone or email. Elias Mathes, Transit Planning Manager, City of Asheville, at 828-232-4522 or EMathes@Ashevillenc.gov.

03/27/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

03/27/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

ASURJ Do!scussion: Tuesdays, 10:30 AM to 12 PM in the backroom of Firestorm, Road in Asheville. A safe space to come together and talk about issues relating to dismantling white supremacy and confronting racism with a focus on what we can do to make a change, in ourselves, our communities, and beyond. All are welcome. Led by Matilda Bliss. ASURJ Do-Session: Tuesdays, noon-2pm, at a member’s residence. Meet us at 12:30 PM at Kairos West (right below Firestorm) and walk with us down there. This is a weekly space to do something to support accountability partners in their work. Letter-writing, list-making, social media work are just a few examples of what we will do to show up for racial justice Tuesday at the Do-Session. Bring your laptop and phone and help us out. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.

03/27/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS CIVICS 101

03/27/18 PANEL DISCUSSION ON FUTURE OF NANTAHALA AND PISGAH NATIONAL FORESTS IN BREVARD

March 27 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. In the interest of ensuring that the next 15 year management plan for our national forests is one that reflects our interests and priorities, MountainTrue is hosting a series of events across WNC called “The Future of Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests: An Expert Panel on the Forest Management Plan.” This event on March 27th will take place in the Rogow Room of the Transylvania County Public Library in Brevard, NC. It is free and open to the public and will feature panelists representing different forest interest groups, from recreational users to forest product industries to conservationists. The panelists will engage in constructive dialogue about working toward the common goal of a win-win forest management plan that balances the differing priorities of different user groups, followed by a Q&A with the audience. We hope you will come out and share this invitation with your friends and neighbors. Contact Susan Bean at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

03/27/18 TEACH-IN ON WHITE NATIONALISM AT MALAPROPS

Vegas Tenold presents “Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America.” This book takes readers to the dark, paranoid underbelly of America, a world in which the white race is under threat and the enemy is everywhere. Six years ago, Vegas Tenold embedded himself among the members of three of America's most ideologically extreme white nationalist groups-the KKK, the National Socialist Movement, and the Traditionalist Workers Party. At the time, these groups were part of a disorganized counterculture that felt far from the mainstream. But since then, all that has changed. Racially-motivated violence has been on open display at rallies in Charlottesville, Berkeley, Pikesville, Phoenix, and Boston. Membership in white nationalist organizations is rising, and national politicians, including the president, are validating their perceived grievances. “Everything You Love Will Burn” offers a terrifying, sobering inside look at these newly empowered movements, from their conventions to backroom meetings with Republican operatives. Tenold introduces us to neo-Nazis in Brooklyn; a millennial Klanswoman in Tennessee; and a rising star in the movement, nicknamed the “Little Fuhrer” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, who understands political power and is organizing a grand coalition of far-right groups to bring them into the mainstream. Event date: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.

03/27/18 TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING RESCHEDULED

The March Transit Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 27th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. The meeting will be held in the 6th Floor HR Training Room, Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. The meeting date and location were changed to accommodate a special presentation of the Draft Transit Master Plan. For meeting materials and more information, please contact Elias Mathes, Transit Planning Manager for the City of Asheville, at 828-232-4522 or EMathes@Ashevillenc.gov.

03/27/18 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION WNC MEETING

United Nations Association - Western North Carolina (UNA-WNC) meeting. Rachel Dunn will do a presentation on the Model UN Program at UNCA. Fellowship at 6:30 pm, meeting from 7 to 8 PM. Location is Zageir Hall, Room 243, University of North Carolina at Asheville. For more information email Dot Sulock at dsulock@unca.edu.

03/28/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

03/29/18 ERA-NC ALLIANCE MEETING IN ASHEVILLE

ERA-NC Alliance Districts 10 and 11 Action Teams will meet on Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 PM at the YWCA, 185 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Discussion will include background and status of the Equal Rights Amendment, communicating with legislators and finding allies in each County in WNC. Please join us! All are welcome. For more information, contact Ellen Perry – ellenjperry@gmail.com or Jimmie Cochran Pratt – jimmie.cochranpratt@gmail.com.

04/02/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

April 16: Gentrification (big picture nationally)

April 23: Gentrification (big picture locally)

April 30: Roundup of Housing issues explored

04/02/18 AUTHOR TEACH-IN AT MALAPROPS

Elisabeth Rosenthal presents “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back” at 6 PM at Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Join this NYT reporter and Harvard-trained doctor for a look at the US’s broken health care system and a productive discussion about what can be done to fix it. Call Malaprop’s at 828-254-6734 for more information.

04/03/18 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB AT MALAPROPS

Join host Bruce Roth for a lively discussion on topics of current interest including war and peace, the economy, the environment, and other hot political topics. This month’s selection is “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. Time is 7 PM. Call Malaprop’s at 828-254-6734 for more information.

04/03/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

04/03/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

04/04/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

04/05/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Sierra Club April 5: A Pathway to a Cleaner Energy Future for North Carolina. Dave Rogers will present highlights from the Sierra Club’s recent report, “A Pathway to a cleaner Energy Future for North Carolina.” Rogers is the North Carolina Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign. Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place in north Asheville. This report shows how Duke Energy can reliably meet the state's energy needs and save its customers money by shifting towards clean energy and away from coal and natural gas. This event is free and open to the public. Rogers’ main responsibility is to push Duke Energy away from dirty energy sources like coal and gas and towards such cleaner energy technologies as energy efficiency, wind and solar. He also works with the North Carolina chapter to promote the electrification of the transportation sector here in the state. Based in Durham, NC, Rogers has worked as an environmental activist and advocate for 17 years. Prior to joining the Sierra Club, he served as director of Environment North Carolina. For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, (828) 683-2176.

04/09/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

April 16: Gentrification (big picture nationally)

April 23: Gentrification (big picture locally)

April 30: Roundup of Housing issues explored

04/10/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

04/10/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

04/11/18 JAZZ FOR JUSTICE FOR PISGAH LEGAL

40th Anniversary Celebration at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel at 5:30pm. Opening remarks by Gene R. Nichol and Boyd Tinsley, Distinguished Professor of Law at UNC School of Law. This event is honoring Pat Smith with the Terry Van Duyn Community Volunteer Award; James Ellis with the Roy W. Davis, Jr. Award; Sarah Corley with the Karl H. Straus Board Emeritus Award and The Oliver Family with the Pisgah Legal Services Philanthropy Award. More information to follow. Contact Betsy at betsy@pisgahlegal.org for more information.

04/11/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

04/12/18 SPEECH ON BLACK HISTORY AND WNC RAILROADS AT MHU

“Between Slavery and the Want of Railroads: Reconstruction in Western North Carolina,” a talk with ETSU professor Steven E. Nash takes place on April 12, 2018. More information to follow. This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call (828) 689-1115 or email lweinstein@mhu.edu.

04/12/18 ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK STUDY IN ASHEVILLE

Community book study on “Drawdown” will be on Thursdays, April 12-May 17th from 6-7:15 pm. Location is Jubilee Community at 46 Wall Street in Asheville. Join this community wide book discussion on “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.” It is a great way to explore climate change, meet wonderful people, and learn about global and local solutions. If interested in joining this discussion, email facilitator Chas Jansen who will send out a schedule of assignments & guide the discussion sessions. His email is chas.jansen@mtsu.edu.

04/16/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

April 16: Gentrification (big picture nationally)

April 23: Gentrification (big picture locally)

April 30: Roundup of Housing issues explored

04/17/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

04/17/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

04/18/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

04/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB) AT MALAPROPS

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “notorius.” This month’s pick is “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” by Daniel Okrent. Time is 7 PM. Call Malaprop’s at 828-254-6734 for more information.

04/22/18 EARTH DAY VIGIL IN ASHEVILLE

Earth Day Vigil will be on Sunday, April 22 5:30-7:30 pm at the First Baptist Church at 5 Oak Street in Asheville. The CCA invites you to join us for a vigil celebrating God's creation and calling on people of faith to care for it. We will gather outside of First Baptist Church for an afternoon of song, reflection, and to hear messages of inspiration and action from local faith and community leaders. All are welcome. Contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org for more information.

04/23/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

04/24/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

04/24/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

04/25/18 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING AT UNCA

04/30/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING

05/01/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

05/01/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

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ONGOING EVENTS

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MONDAY

Asheville SURJ weekly meeting at 6:30 pm at UU Congregation in Asheville, downstairs

TUESDAY

Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument

SURJ Discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10:30 AM-12 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 12:30-2:30 PM Meet at Kairos West for later session.

Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women.

Gathering of people who like to stitch and otherwise puncture the status quo at 68 Haywood Street Outdoor Space at 9 AM.

Socialism! The Reading Group is at 6 PM at Firestorm on the second Tuesday of the month.

WEDNESDAY

Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville

French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.

Green Drinks meets at 6 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.

Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.

Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 every Wednesday at The Block Off Biltmore.

THURSDAY

Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.

Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM.

FRIDAY

Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.

Progressive Women of Hendersonville hold a letter/postcard writing to government representatives from 4 to 7 PM at Sanctuary Brewing Company at 147 First Avenue in Hendersonville.

SATURDAY

French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.

Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.

Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.

Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.

Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville.

SUNDAY

Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.

Political Prisoner Letter Writing Night at 5 PM at Firestorm on the first Sunday of the month.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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As the Trial of Omar Mateen’s Wife Begins, New Evidence Undermines Beliefs About the Pulse Massacre, Including Motive

by Glenn Greenwald and Murtaza Hussain

March 5 2018

NEWLY RELEASED EVIDENCE today calls into serious doubt many of the most widespread beliefs about the 2016 shooting by Omar Mateen at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which killed 49 people, along with Mateen himself. Because the attack occurred on the club’s “Latin night,” the overwhelming majority of the victims were Latinos, primarily Puerto Ricans. In particular, Mateen went to Pulse only after having scouted other venues that night that were wholly unrelated to the LGBT community, only to find that they were too defended by armed guards and police, and ultimately chose Pulse only after a generic Google search for “Orlando nightclubs” — not “gay clubs” — produced Pulse as the first search result.

Several journalists closely covering the Mateen investigation have, for some time now, noted the complete absence of any evidence suggesting that Mateen knew that Pulse was a gay club or that targeting the LGBT community was part of his motive. These doubts have been strongly fortified by the new facts, previously under seal, that were revealed by today’s court filing. Beyond changing how the public understands the motives for this attack, this new perspective is likely to play a major role in the criminal trial of Mateen’s wife, Noor Salman, that is now underway in an Orlando federal courtroom, with jury selection expected to last another 10 days. Salman is accused of having aided her husband’s June 12, 2016, attack on the Orlando LGBT nightclub. She is also accused of obstructing justice by lying to the FBI.

When the presiding judge denied the request of Salman’s lawyers that the trial be moved out of Orlando, he ensured that she would be tried by a jury chosen from a city that is still deeply traumatized and understandably enraged by that horrific massacre. With Mateen dead, the city — led by its LGBT community — is united in its eagerness that someone pay a price.

The prosecution of Mateen’s wife is highly unusual and troubling, riddled with evidentiary holes, and seemingly designed to feed, and exploit, community outrage that demands someone be punished for this massacre. The decision to prosecute Salman is particularly odd given the Department of Justice’s refusal to prosecute Marilou Danley, the girlfriend of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, despite far greater evidence suggesting her foreknowledge of his plans. Additionally, the DOJ refused to prosecute Katherine Russell, the white, ex-Christian wife of Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, also in the face of evidence of possible complicity that was far stronger than exists for Salman.

But independent of the problematic nature of Salman’s prosecution, numerous myths continue to persist about Mateen’s actions, particularly regarding his motives in why he attacked Pulse. As so often happens in the wake of mass shootings and terror attacks, media narratives emerge early on, when little is known, and never become dislodged from the public’s mind, even as the formal investigation reveals that there is little evidence to support those initial, still-common media claims — or, as is the case here, overwhelming evidence that strongly negates those beliefs.

Perhaps most importantly, Mateen’s alleged motive in choosing Pulse — that he wanted to target and kill LGBTs due to some toxic mix of self-hatred over his own sexual orientation and his fealty to Islam — has been treated as unquestionably true in countless media accounts, statements from public officials, and ultimately in the public mind. But ample evidence now affirmatively casts serious doubt about whether there is any truth to this widely accepted belief about Mateen’s motives in attacking Pulse. While some of this conflicting evidence has been reported in the same media outlets that originally disseminated the narrative that Mateen sought to target the LGBT community, it has been downplayed to the point where few in the public are even aware that the original theories about Mateen’s motives have been undermined.

By repeatedly emphasizing this anti-gay motive, U.S. media reports had the effect, if not the intent, of obscuring what appears to have been Mateen’s overriding, arguably exclusive motive: a desire for retribution and deterrence toward U.S. violence in Muslim countries. This highly dubious “anti-gay” storyline has also created a virtually unanimous climate in Orlando’s community that is demanding the punishment of anyone remotely connected to Mateen, a climate prosecutors have seized on to bring highly unusual, and very questionable, felony charges against Mateen’s wife that could send her to prison for decades despite scant evidence of her guilt.

MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE regarding Mateen’s motives has remained under seal and thus unavailable for public review. But this afternoon, Salman’s lawyers filed a motion to preclude the admissibility of certain evidence and, in doing so, provided a meaningful glimpse into many of the facts that are clearly at odds with the long-standing, prevailing view that Mateen’s motive, at least in part, was to attack a gay club and murder LGBT people. That includes searches on Mateen’s phones during the week of the attack, in which he was attempting to choose his target by searching generically for soft targets in the form of popular tourist locations or simply “nightclubs, Orlando” — not “gay nightclubs” or “LGBT clubs.”

Back in June of last year, the Orlando Sentinel referenced some of this vital evidence when it noted that Mateen was asking associates what would make people more upset: “an attack on downtown Disney or a club?” The paper added: “Mateen didn’t say ‘gay club,’ according to court records.” The motion filed by Salman’s lawyers makes clear that in the days leading up to the Pulse attack, and indeed on the day of the attack itself, Mateen scoped out and considered numerous venues — such as Disney properties and shopping malls — none of which had any connection to the LGBT community or gay life. Moreover, once Mateen decided to attack nightclub, his phone records reveal that he searched for “Orlando nightclubs” — not “LGBT clubs” or “gay bars.” The relevant facts from the motion just filed this afternoon makes clear how dubious the widespread beliefs are about Mateen’s motives:

BUT EVEN BEFORE this evidence began to come to light, there was already abundant convincing evidence suggesting that anti-gay animus was not a significant part of Mateen’s motive in choosing Pulse and perhaps played no role at all. This evidence begins with Mateen’s own words. As is true of most terrorists, Mateen was determined to ensure that the world knew the grievances and causes in whose name he was slaughtering innocent people. He accomplished this in multiple ways: a running stream of commentary during the shooting spree, multiple statements to law enforcement officials by telephone from inside Pulse, and Facebook postings he published shortly before the killings.

All of these statements contain numerous, now-standard grievances about U.S. foreign policy that are commonly cited by Muslims who attack Americans: specifically, the use by the U.S. and its allies of widespread violence against Muslim civilians in the Middle East, and the perceived need to bring violence back to U.S. soil as a means of punishing past violence and deterring future aggression. Many of Mateen’s statements are filled with the sorts of denunciations of U.S. violence in the region that are typically downplayed, if not outright ignored, when U.S. media examine why radical Muslims attack Americans. Mateen’s statements about his shooting spree contain pledges of loyalty to the Islamic State and praise for various radical groups. And some posts and statements professed that he was martyring himself on behalf of Islam. But they exclusively emphasized one cause: the ongoing killing of Muslim civilians by the U.S.

Critically, what is missing from all of Mateen’s comments — from his online decrees, his talks with police negotiators during the attack, and statements made to his victims and survivors at the club — is glaring and revealing: At no point during the hours of his attack on Pulse did Mateen even mention, let alone rail against, LGBT people. Even as he massacred 49 people inside a gay club, surrounded by gay people, there were no reports from survivors that he had uttered a single anti-gay epithet or homophobic remark, or in any way referenced LGBT people. None of his statements explaining his motives and cause for the attack make any reference to targeting the gay community or any judgments about homosexuality.

The same is true of his extensive conversations with law enforcement officials and his Facebook postings regarding the shooting spree: They were filled with pledges of loyalty to ISIS and other extremist groups in the region, along with denunciations of U.S. aggression in the region, but not a single word about LGBT people. “You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes,” Mateen wrote on Facebook. “Now taste the Islamic state vengeance.”

Indeed, while inside Pulse, his extensive discussions with police negotiators, who continually asked him what he wanted, focused exclusively on demands that the U.S., along with Russia, cease airstrikes and the killing of civilians in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. “Because you have to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. They are killing a lot of innocent people,” he said during his first call to 911. “What am I to do here when my people are getting killed over there. … You need to stop the U.S. airstrikes. They need to stop the U.S. airstrikes, OK? . … This went down, a lot of innocent women and children are getting killed in Syria and Iraq and Afghanistan, OK? … The airstrikes need to stop and stop collaborating with Russia. OK?”

Mateen’s complete lack of any mention or reference to LGBT people during his hourslong shooting spree is not, of course, definitive proof that this was not part of his motive in attacking Pulse. But it’s certainly relevant, probative, and worthy of serious questioning. Given Mateen’s commitment in multiple venues to aggressively expressing his motives and causes, it is difficult to understand why — in the midst of an attack on a gay club — he would be utterly silent about his views on homosexuality and LGBT people, even as he opined on a wide array of other political issues to justify his attack. It is, at least, equally difficult to understand why Mateen’s systematic murder of dozens of gay people was never accompanied by any casual anti-gay slur or homophobic sentiment of any kind.

Adding to these questions is that FBI investigators insist that Mateen, in the days and weeks leading to the attack, had scoped out numerous other potential venues — from Disney Parks to shopping malls. None had any connection to gay culture or LGBT people. Pulse seems to have been the only locale Mateen ever considered that had any connection to gay life.

All of this has left investigators, and especially Salman’s lawyers, strongly suspecting that Mateen chose Pulse not because he wanted to target LGBT people, but because he sought a soft target full of people. And he just so happened — perhaps without even knowing he was doing it — to choose a club that catered to the gay community.

Mateen never lived in Orlando; at the time of the attack, he lived in Fort Pierce, more than 100 miles from Orlando, a two-hour drive. There is no evidence he even knew that Pulse was a gay club. As for how he found Pulse, one patron present that night offered a plausible theory when she told reporters that she and her friends were strangers to the Orlando club scene and “picked Pulse because it came up first when they did a Google search for clubs in Orlando, with a five-star rating.” Mateen’s phone searches for the targets he considered attacking are part of what has remained sealed, but today’s filing strongly suggests that Mateen similarly chose Pulse in much the same way.

As the FBI investigation proceeded, some corrective reports in the U.S. media began to emerge, but they were often downplayed and given nowhere near the prominence with which the early, erroneous reports were hyped. Roughly one month after the shooting, the Washington Post, citing unnamed “U.S. law enforcement officials,” reported that “the FBI has found no evidence so far that Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people and wounded more than 53 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, chose the popular establishment because of its gay clientele.” The Post added, quoting a law enforcement official, that “while there can be no denying the significant impact on the gay community, the investigation hasn’t revealed that he targeted Pulse because it was a gay club.”

And now, almost 18 months later, as the trial of Mateen’s wife is beginning, that evidentiary absence remains unhanged. As the Orlando Sentinel put it in June of last year, “there’s still no evidence that the Pulse killer intended to target gay people.” And yet the popular belief persists — often finding its way into official pronouncements, LGBT group materials, and media discussions — that the Pulse shooting represented a deliberate, concerted attack — a “hate crime” — on the LGBT community due to homophobia. At least in part for this reason, the LGBT community, particularly in Orlando, has appeared to be virtually united in their intense desire to see Mateen’s wife prosecuted.

It should go without saying that none of these questions about Mateen’s motive remotely mitigates the evil of the attack. But it is crucial to understand the truth of what happened, and not to allow a politically valuable narrative — one that some have attempted to use to drive a wedge between Muslim and LGBT communities, and one that seems to be driving a desire to see Mateen’s wife punished — to continue to prevail if it is, in fact, false.

THE BELIEF THAT Mateen purposely set out to kill gay people emerged very early on in the media’s reporting on the attack. The Guardian, in the days following the attack, quoted one survivor: “My sense is that this man was a fundamentalist, and he just chose, for whatever reason, to go after the LGBT community – and to go on Latin night, so it was a two-fer.” Such sentiments were commonplace throughout media reports.

And back then, and still to a large extent now, one working theory was that Mateen himself was either gay or struggling with homosexuality. Likely due to his Muslim beliefs, he harbored self-hatred and disgust for his own sexual orientation that finally exploded with violence toward other gay people.

Within days of the attack, the media deluged the public with all sorts of claims strongly suggesting that Mateen was gay. Reports emerged that he had used gay dating apps such as Grindr to find sex partners. Several Pulse patrons insisted they had seen him at the club previously. His first wife, whom he had abused, speculated that he may be gay, telling Time: “He would take a long time in front of the mirror, he would often take pictures of himself, and he made little movements with his body that definitely made me question things. It definitely popped up in my head whether he was totally straight.”

That closeted gay men develop self-hatred which often finds expression in severe animosity and even violence toward gay people is well-established in the social sciences. It has become popularized in the discourse surrounding homophobia. As a result, this image of Mateen as self-hating gay man quickly resonated as a way of explaining an incomprehensible act of evil. That he was Muslim added to the seeming plausibility: It has become an increasingly common tactic among some Western anti-Islam commentators to insist that Muslim culture and gay rights are incompatible — all that despite polling data showing that American Muslims are more accepting of gay people and gay civil rights than several other large religious groups. ISIS, whose name Mateen invoked on several occasions during the shooting, added fuel to the fire that Mateen’s motive was to kill gay people when they issued a statement claiming responsibility and noting that “the victims were all in ‘a nightclub for homosexuals.'” Another ISIS statement declared he was one of its soldiers who had managed “to enter a crusader gathering at a nightclub for homosexuals.” Yet investigators could find no connection between Mateen and ISIS other than his pledge to the group during the shooting, and ISIS has notoriously claimed responsibility for attackers who, though “inspired” by their message, did nothing to coordinate or even notify the group in advance of the attack.

Bolstering this belief that Mateen deliberately targeted LGBTs were the well-intentioned statements of leading U.S. officials designed to comfort the gay community. “The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing, and to live,” President Barack Obama said in the days following the attack. Chad Griffin, the head of the largest LGBT advocacy group, Human Rights Campaign, said, “The maniac who did this was somehow conditioned to believe that LGBT people deserve to be massacred, that they are ‘less than’ in this society.”

Then-candidate Hillary Clinton said during her visit to Orlando that, while an act of terror, the Pulse massacre “was also an act of hate,” adding that “the gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month.” She vowed: “We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America.” Speaking in Orlando, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said that it is “a cruel irony that a community defined almost exclusively by whom they love [LGBT people] is so often a target of hate.”

That Mateen attacked Pulse as an act of anti-gay hatred was implicit in the discourse in the days following the traumatic attack. And that remains just as true today. But over time, as investigators scrutinized every aspect of Mateen’s in-person and digital life and tracked down every last lead, all of these claims about Mateen’s sexual orientation collapsed. FBI investigators ultimately concluded that there was no truth whatsoever to the theory that Mateen was gay — closeted or otherwise. To the contrary, they uncovered ample evidence that he was cheating on his wife with numerous women.

As the New York Times described on June 18, “Mateen used a dating website to seek a relationship with a woman in Fort Pierce. He churned through usernames — “makeitlovelylol” among them — and lied about his age, according to the woman, who requested anonymity but who provided photos that she had saved from his dating profile.” Indeed, “at one point, she said, Mr. Mateen’s pursuit veered toward stalking. He began messaging her to say he was nearby. He knew the color of her car and the general location of her place of employment.”

While there is extensive evidence of Mateen’s womanizing — including his use of a friend to hide his infidelities from his wife — there is no evidence regarded by the FBI as credible that Mateen was gay. Indeed, Mateen had never visited any of the gay bars near his home, as Time reported in mid-June: “Nobody recalled ever seeing him at TattleTails, a gay bar just a few miles from his apartment. In three gay bars in West Palm Beach, an hour from Mateen’s home, none of the bartenders or customers told TIME they remembered ever seeing him.”

Forensic investigations into Mateen’s computers and accounts revealed no online activity that would suggest any gay interests. The Los Angeles Times, on June 23, reported that “the FBI has found no evidence so far to support claims by those who say Mateen had gay lovers or communicated on gay dating apps, several law enforcement officials said. … In seeking to verify the reports, federal agents have culled Mateen’s electronic devices, including a laptop computer and cellphone, as well as electronic communications of those who made the claims. … So far, they have found no photographs, no text messages, no smartphone apps, no gay pornography and no cell-tower location data to suggest that Mateen — who was twice married to women and had a young son — conducted a secret gay life, the officials said.”

As the investigation proceeded, the original belief that Mateen was gay appeared less and less plausible, as the New York Times noted: “F.B.I. investigators, who have conducted more than 500 interviews in the case, are continuing to contact men who claim to have had sexual relations with Mr. Mateen or think they saw him at gay bars. But so far, they have not found any independent corroboration — through his web searches, emails or other electronic data — to establish that he was, in fact, gay, officials said.”

Indeed, the only evidence found linking Mateen to any gay people itself negated the theory that Mateen was filled with homophobia. As The Guardian explained on June 14: “His former classmate Samuel King, who also worked at the same shopping mall as Mateen after high school, said Mateen had known that he and many of his friends were gay but never expressed any disapproval. “He had to know it, but I never got any sense of homophobia or aggression from him,” he told the Washington Post.”

DESPITE THIS MOUNTAIN of evidence that strongly negates the original media-disseminated themes about Mateen’s life and his likely motive in targeting Pulse, the early myths remain lodged in the public mind and even in contemporary news reports. In part that’s because much of the evidence has remained under seal, in part because subsequent media debunking received a tiny fraction of the attention of the early, aggressively hyped inflammatory theories, and in part because there has been no political advantage to challenging the politically moving and useful narrative that the attack on Pulse was a hate crime against gay people.

As Salman’s trial is about to begin, it is thus commonplace to find these cleary debunked theories asserted as fact in the largest media outlets. Matthew Todd, writing in The Guardian just last month, explained that “self-loathing can turn deadly. Omar Mateen, who committed America’s most deadly homophobic attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016, pledged his allegiance to Isis but was also alleged to have made sexual advances towards men. His ex-wife said she believed he was gay.”

The LGBT journal The Advocate, in an article last week on the imminent trial of Mateen’s wife claimed that “searches of Mateen’s personal computer also indicate that he had visited the website for Pulse, and witnesses say he visited the club on numerous occasions.” Driven by this belief that the attack on Pulse was intended to target LGBT people, demanding severe punishment for Mateen’s wife has become a cause among many gay activists. Standing outside the Orlando courtroom where jury selection this week began was longtime activist Bob Kunst, who traveled from his Miami home to march with a sign demanding Salman’s execution: “’FRY’ HER TILL SHE HAS NO ‘PULSE,’” his sign said.

Mob justice is rarely just. When it is driven by fundamentally false beliefs, it becomes even more reckless, more dangerous. The trial of Noor Salman should ultimately be judged on the evidence, such as it is, as to whether she actually participated in helping her husband commit this atrocity.

But the way in which this attack has been depicted as a deliberate attempt by a Muslim radical to target LGBT people — a theory now almost certainly false — has played a major role in the climate that has led the DOJ to decide, in an abandonment of prior practices, to indict and prosecute her. Understanding what Mateen did and did not do is an imperative journalistically, for its own sake. But given the role these beliefs are playing in the attempt to send a possibly innocent woman to prison for decades, ensuring accuracy becomes even more vital.

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U.K. ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR SAUDI PRINCE ON ANNIVERSARY OF U.S.-SAUDI-U.K. CAR BOMBING THAT KILLED 83 CIVILIANS

Jon Schwarz

March 9 2018

MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, met with Theresa May on Thursday at the prime minister’s official government estate outside London. MbS, as he’s known, is the son of the current Saudi king and is widely seen as both the power behind the Saudi throne and its heir apparent. There’s been significant public outcry, during MbS’s three-day visit to the U.K., over Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen, which has been strongly supported by both the U.K. and the U.S. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labor Party, has said the British government is “colluding” in war crimes in Yemen.

What’s gone totally unremembered, however, is that Thursday was the 33rd anniversary of a notoriously grisly assault carried out by Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and the U.S. On March 8, 1985, a car bombing in Beirut aimed at assassinating the Shia cleric Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah missed its target but killed 83 other people.

The complete evaporation of this history is particularly notable given that the victims of the bombing were mostly women and girls, and the meeting between MbS and May fell on International Women’s Day. Moreover, Fadlallah was well known for promulgating relatively liberal views on the place of women in Islam. In 2007, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Fadlallah decried all forms of violence against women – physical, psychological, educational (i.e., not allowing women to pursue whatever level of education they want, “reaching to post-graduate levels”), and “not giving women equal pay for equal work.”

The western media often called Fadlallah the “spiritual mentor” of Hezbollah, the militant Shia political party that was founded after Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, although this was not really correct. Rather, Fadlallah was one of the region’s most popular Shia leaders and was an inspiration to many Shia, including prominent members of Hezbollah. In any case, according to the 1987 book “Veil” by Bob Woodward, the Reagan administration came to believe that Fadlallah was behind three attacks against U.S. targets in the Lebanese capital of Beirut that killed 329 people in total: The bombing of the U.S. embassy and a Marine Corps barracks in 1983, and the bombing of the U.S. embassy annex in 1984. This was likely not correct. Robert Baer, a former CIA operative stationed in Beirut at the time, later said, “I can guarantee you, and I have seen every bit of intelligence, that Fadlallah had no connection … He knew the people carrying out the terrorism acts, but he had no connection in ordering them.”

Officially the U.S. was engaged in “peacekeeping” at the time of the attacks, with American troops there to supervise the evacuation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The Reagan administration therefore saw the bombings as illegitimate terrorism. In the eyes of many Lebanese, however, the U.S. was intervening on the side of Israel and itself engaging in a brutal attack on Lebanon. Even Colin Powell understood this perspective, writing the following in his autobiography “My American Journey”:

[National Security Advisor Bud] McFarlane, now in Beirut, persuaded [President Reagan] to have the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey start hurling 16-inch shells into the mountains above Beirut, in World War II style, as if we were softening up the beaches on some Pacific atoll prior to an invasion. What we tend to overlook in such situations is that other people will react much as we would. When the shells started falling on the Shiites, they assumed the American “referee” had taken sides against them. And since they could not reach the battleship, they found a more vulnerable target, the exposed Marines at the airport.

A faction of the Reagan administration, led by CIA Director William Casey, wanted Fadlallah dead, but there were legal obstacles. In particular, a 1981 executive order forbade anyone acting on behalf of the U.S. from engaging in assassination. So, according to “Veil,” Casey arranged an off-the-books plan with Prince Bandar, then the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. The Saudis would pay the $3 million cost of the operation, and engage the subcontractors who would actually carry it out.

According to other reporting, the British government was also deeply involved in planning the hit. It was supervised by a former member of the British special forces, who organized different compartments of local agents to buy the explosives and the car, and trail Fadlallah. A CIA operative later explained about the British government generally at the time that “they had a willingness to do jobs I couldn’t touch. They basically took care of the ‘How to kill people department.’”

The car bomb was parked fifty meters from Fadlallah’s apartment building, and was set off as services at a nearby mosque were letting out. The explosion left a crater five yards wide and three yards deep; hospitals in the area were overwhelmed by the 200 wounded, and the Lebanese government appealed for blood donations. But Fadlallah had been nowhere nearby, and survived unhurt.

All in all, it’s a remarkable story suggesting that the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and the U.S. is not that different from large-scale organized crime. But of course that’s exactly why we’ve apparently decided to forget about it completely, even on a day when it should have been the most natural thing to remember.

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Sunday, March 11, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of March 11, 2018

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