Sunday, April 29, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of April 29, 2018


UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

Please note: The most amazing thing has happened this past week! There is a peace treaty to end the long-standing Korean war (declared a truce in 1953) between North and South Korea. Please join me in carefully watching our corporate media, US agencies and their agents, and US politicians to make sure they do not mess this up. Speak out is you see any moves or comments in this direction. This peace treaty includes the decision to remove all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula, which includes US nuclear weapons in the region. US troops will have to leave South Korea and this is a very good thing. This is the most amazing step towards peace that I have seen in my lifetime! And, the US “defense” industries lost $10 billion dollars in stock value just last Friday, which is also promising. 

04/30/18 EARLY VOTING CONTINUES
Early voting for North Carolina's May Primary Elections has started.  The main site for Buncombe County is Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. It is open every day 10 am - 6 pm except Sundays. Last day of early voting is Saturday, May 5, all sites 8 am - 1 pm only. Library sites at Black Mt, Enka-Candler, North Asheville, West Asheville are available Saturday, April 28 to Saturday May 5, 10- 6 pm, including Sunday, April 29 1-6 pm. Weaverville Town Hall is available April 28--May 5, but not including Sunday April 29. One-Stop Voting, including voter registration, can take place during early voting at any of these voter registration sites. Election Day is Tuesday, May 8.  On this day, you may only vote at your assigned precinct.  

04/30/18 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. 

04/30/18 VIGIL FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE
Asheville, NC: Vigil to Demand Justice and Change is from 6:30 to 9:30 PM on Monday, April, 30th. Location is Pritchard Park. Come and join The People’s Congress of Resistance, in conjunction with the Western North Carolina Aids Project (WNCAP), in downtown Asheville at Pritchard park to hold a vigil in solidarity with those affected by the opioid epidemic and the war on drugs. We must make our voices heard. We demand justice for those who have been deemed criminal or have had their lives stolen from them and their families; and to demand accountability from big pharma. Hosted by People's Congress of Resistance. No contact information.

05/01/18 MAY DAY COALITION CELEBRATION
Asheville May Day 2018 - Hosted by Asheville Mayday Coalition. Join us Tuesday, May 1st as we celebrate International Workers’ Day in downtown Asheville. Únete a nosotros el martes 1 de mayo para celebrar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores en el centro de Asheville. Location: Pritchard Park. 4pm: Pre-rally/setup; 5pm: March; 6pm: Rally. No contact information.

05/01/18 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY EVENT
First Tuesday: May 1,from 6 - 8pm. Perspectives on Climate over a Pint at New Belgium at 21 Craven Street in Asheville. Time to talk over a pint of pale ale! First Tuesday to support a local brewer (who signed CCL's Leaders Letter) - no agenda; just good conversation. No contact information.

05/01/18 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. 

05/01/18 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.

05/01/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Healthcare for All-WNC is hosting Physicians for a National Health Program leader Dr. Ed Weisbart who will speak on “What Does ‘Medicare for All’ Mean for Medical Practice, Physicians, Patients and the USA?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM at All Souls Cathedral Assembly Hall, 9 Swan Street, Asheville. Dr. Weisbart has published articles in both national medical journals and local media regarding the healthcare needs of the uninsured. A question and answer time will follow at this free brown-bag lunch event. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.

05/01/18 FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE  EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Friends of the East Asheville Library and Healthcare for All – WNC are co-sponsoring Dr. Ed Weisbart, Chair of the Missouri Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, who will be speaking on “For-Profit Healthcare: Is It Healthy?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Beverly Hills Baptist Church, 777 Tunnel Road, Asheville. This free special program has relevance in light of the proposed acquisition of Asheville’s Mission Health by Hospital Corporation of America. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.

05/01/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Tuesday, May 1, 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Location: Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Southside Kitchen, libations from local companies, connect with member organizations from WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition, experience storytelling as an anti-racism response, and sign the Stand Against Racism Pledge.

05/01/18 PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNCA
The Challenges of Long-Term Humanitarianism: Lessons from the Palestinian Experience – World Affairs Council Talk by Ilana Feldman. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will present a talk, The Challenges of Long-Term Humanitarianism: Lessons from the Palestinian Experience, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. Admission is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. The speaker, Ilana Feldman is professor of anthropology, history and international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. A cultural and historical anthropologist, Feldman focuses her research on the Palestinian experience, both inside and outside of historic Palestine, examining practices of government, humanitarianism, policing, displacement, and citizenship. She is currently working on a project tentatively titled Life Lived in Relief: Palestinian Experiences with Humanitarianism since 1948, which involves fieldwork in and about Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. Feldman is the author of three books, Police Encounters: Security and Surveillance in Gaza under Egyptian Rule; In the Name of Humanity: The Government of Threat and Care, co-authored with Miriam Ticktin; and Governing Gaza: Bureaucracy, Authority and the Work of Rule, 1917-1967. Her visit to Western North Carolina is sponsored by the Institute for Middle East Studies at The George Washington University. The World Affairs Council lectures at UNC Asheville are presented in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. There is an admission fee. For more information about OLLI programs and events, Events in this series: China on Screen: Politics, Commerce and Identity - World Affairs Council Talk by Jinhua Li. Contact for this event: OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140

05/02/18 PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNCA
Topic is “Housing and Race in Asheville.” Andy Barnett, executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will offer this free public talk as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors Hot Topics series. Date: 5/2/18 and Time: 11:30 am. Location: Reuter Center - Manheimer Room. Free. Andy Barnett, executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will offer this free public talk as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors Hot Topics series. As part of the College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Events in this series: The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past and The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville. Contact them at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140 for more information.

05/02/18 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. 

05/02/18 CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
This group meets on the first floor conference room at the Public Works Building at 161 South Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 5 PM. Free. For more information, contact City of Asheville at 251-1122.

05/02/18 INDIVISIBLE COMMON GROUND - WNC MEETING IN SYLVA
General meeting, free to attend. Held at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 286 Forest Hills Road in Sylva. Time is 6:30 PM. Held on the first Wednesday of the month. No contact information.

05/03/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club May 3: Wildflowers, Trees & Critters. The Sierra Club has an outstanding program planned for May: “Wildflowers, Trees and Critters,” featuring guest speaker Scott Dean. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. Scott Dean offers a program that focuses on “Wildflowers, Trees & Critters” and how they work together in the natural environment. He’ll look at three seasons in the southern Appalachians, previewing what will be happening out in the woods over the course of the next six months. Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018. Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. This event is free and open to the public. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. A former First Vice President of the Friends of the Nature Center, he developed curricula and teaches field classes for the Blue Ridge Naturalist program at the N. C. Arboretum. For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, (828) 683-2176.

05/03/18 SAVE OUR VETERANS ADMINISTRATION STANDOUT
From Bruce Macdonald, member of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099: A Save Our VA standout at Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC, has been scheduled for Thursday, May 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in front of the hospital.Rep. Mark Meadows, NC-11, is a co-sponsor of the Veterans Empowerment Act (H.R. 4457) which will dismantle the Veterans Health Administration and move the VA toward an insurance-based system. The Save Our VA standout at Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC, has been scheduled for next Thursday, May 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in front of the medical center/hospital. These are the times when I think we will get the maximum traffic in and out of the hospital - and Tunnel Rd is a busy street. I met today with Christine Surrette, President of AFGE Local 446, the union that represents Charles George employees. She is very happy we are doing this and will encourage her members to join us. AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) is a partner with VFP in conducting these Save Our VA demonstrations around the country. Plus we will have a banner from Carolina Veterans Peace Coalition, a new veterans group that has formed in Hendersonville. To hold the banners and flags (US, NC and VFP) we will need a critical mass of 9 people. Of course, the more the better. We have flyers to hand out. And if you can't make both morning and afternoon standouts, I hope that you can make one of them. Of course, friends and supporters are welcome and appreciated. Rep. Mark Meadows is a co-sponsor of the Veterans Empowerment Act (H.R. 4457) which will dismantle the Veterans Health Administration and move the VA toward an insurance-based system. This action on May 3 is our first salvo. I think it will be a real morale boost for VA employees. For more information, contact Bruce Macdonald at bmacd47@gmail.com.

05/03/18 BENEFIT FOR CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Proceeds from the trivia contest “are you smarter than an elementary student?” will benefit Children First/Communities in Schools. $300-420 per team of 4 to 6 people. $30 cheerleader ticket. Held at New Belgium Brewery at 21 Craven Street in Asheville. Time is 6:30 PM. No contact information. 

05/04/18 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA
“Beneath the Veneer,” a documentary about opportunity, success and inequity which focuses on the local program My Daddy Taught Me That, will be screened as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's More Than a Month series. Date: 5/4/18 and time: 2:00 pm. Location: Reuter Center. This is a free event, open to everyone. 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 for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

05/04/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
OLLI More than a Month series - Tranzmission Presentation. Date is 05/04/18 and time is 2:00 pm-5:00 pm. Location is the Reuter Center. Free. The More Than A Month series created by members of OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville, who have come together to promote and celebrate inclusivity at OLLI, develop partnerships with people of all backgrounds, and raise awareness among fellow OLLI members and the greater Asheville community of issues of concern to minority communities. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

05/05/18 RIVER CLEAN UP WITH SIERRA CLUB
River Clean Up Saturday, May 5, 1 pm. Contact: Richard Kark at karkra@uwec.edu. Canoes & equipment provided. We will be cleaning an area of the French Broad River near New Belgium brewery for roughly 2-3 hours, and then celebrate Cinco de Mayo! All you need is a water bottle and suitable clothes/shoes for the river & mud.

05/06/18 FORUM ON FOSSIL FREE LIVING
Sunday, May 6, 3 - 5:30 pm, Habitat Tavern, 174 Broadway: “Go Fossil Free!” - 350 Asheville, our local chapter of 350.org, invites the public to a free forum, with speakers from local solar companies and weatherization specialists on how to go renewable. Also learn about “NC CleanPath 2025” a blueprint for getting NC off fossil fuels; updates on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline; and the movement to get the city of Asheville's money out of fossil fuel investments. For more information, contact Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com.

05/08/18 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA

05/08/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past, presented by Seth Kotch,is a free event open to everyone. Date: 5/8/18 and time: 9:00 am. Location is the Reuter Center. The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past, presented by Seth Kotch,is a free event open to everyone. Seth Kotch is assistant professor of digital humanities in the Department of American Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He and Professor Elijah Gaddis direct The Red Record project that, with undergraduate historians, creates a web-based record of lynching in the South. This Hot Topics presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's Race in Black and White programming for the spring term 2018. As part of OLLI's College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

05/09/18 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ACTIONS MEETING IN ASHEVILLE
Want to learn more about local, state and national environmental issues? Join us for our monthly Environmental Issues & Actions Meetings, the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, upstairs at The Wedge Foundation Brewery, 5 Foundy Street, next to 12 Bones Restaurant in the River Arts District in Asheville. Contact Ken at kenbrame10@gmail.com or 828-423-8045 for more information.

05/11/18 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EVENT
For the 11th year, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are engaging women nationwide to work together to build Habitat homes during this year’s National Women Build Week from May 5-13, 2018. On Friday, May 11th Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s will host a special volunteer work day where volunteers will work alongside future homeowner Ashley Blankenship on Women Build House #13 and then celebrate together. At 12noon, they’ll share a potluck lunch and there will be a short speaking program, which will include remarks from renowned cookbook author and homesteader Ashley English of Small Measure. Ashley’s messages relating to the power of home, sustainable living, and self-reliance, echo the work of Habitat and the belief that home is the key to building strength, stability and self-reliance. The media is invited to attend.

05/11/18 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM NIGHT IN ASHEVILLE
On Friday, May 11th, we are screening an important environmental documentary “The Age of Consequences,” at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. “The Age of Consequences” investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration, and conflict through the lens of US national security and global stability. Through unflinching case-study analysis, distinguished admirals, generals and military veterans take us beyond the headlines of the conflict in Syria, the social unrest of the Arab Spring, the rise of radicalized groups like ISIS, border walls, and the European refugee crisis - and lay bare how climate change interacts with other socio-political factors to exacerbate societal ten- sions and spark conflict. Environmental & Social Justice Film Night Friday, May 11th, at 7 PM. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at One Edwin Place in north Asheville. There is no charge for viewing the film. Donations are welcome. Contact Charles Wussow at 612 860-6628 for more information. 

05/12/18 MOTHERS DAY FOR PEACE GATHERING
Mothers' Day for Peace Gathering - Proclaiming the Original Meaning of the Holiday. Sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099. “Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience” by Julia Ward Howe - poet, author, abolitionist, advocate for women suffrage (1819-1910). Date is Saturday, May 12th at 11 AM. Location is Veterans’ Memorial at the Northeast Corner of Pack Square Park. A gathering to proclaim and remember the original meaning of Mother's Day and to unite/empower women in their efforts to eliminate war and the causes of war. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, an abolitionist and the poet who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” worked to establish a Mother's Peace Day dedicated to the eradication of war. Her proclamation calls on all women to arise, demanding disarmament and an end to war. Today, many parts of the world are engulfed in wars. Since the founding of the United States in 1776, our country has been at war during 214 out of its 242 calendar years. All humanity is in dire need of better ways to resolve conflict. Militarism is killing us and the interdependent web of all life on Earth. The program will include: Reading of the original Mother's Day proclamation; Reflections of a mother whose two sons served in the U.S. Infantry; Presentation of the “Lost Children Project,” honoring children around the world who have been victims of war; and thoughts of a father striving to instill peacemaking skills in his children and a call to action – what each of us can do to end the scourge of war. Join with others who dream of and work for a more just and peaceful world. Mothers, wives, sisters and daughters have a powerful love for humanity, a strength Julia Ward Howe understood more than a century ago. The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the observance will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Signs and banners promoting peace are welcome as are hand outs about local efforts for justice and peace. Bring your own folding chair if seating is needed. For more information on this event, contact Rachael Bliss, VFP member, at 828-505-9425.

05/14/18 AUTHOR EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
John Dear will present “They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace & Nonviolence in a Time of Climate Change.” May 14, 7-8:30pm at First Presbyterian Church at 40 Church Street in Asheville. Gather with others to hear John Dear discuss his new book. Books will be sold and signed at the event - no tickets required. Co-sponsored by FPCA & Creation Care Alliance of WNC. In this landmark work, author, activist, and Nobel peace prize nominee Father John Dear connects the way of active nonviolence with solidarity with Creation, and shows how our global epidemic of violence and war could only lead to catastrophic climate change. He cites Jesus’ third Beatitude as the basis for his meditation: “Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.” Thomas Merton said “meekness” was the biblical word for “nonviolence” (in the Gandhi/King sense), so Dear reflects how Jesus connected nonviolence with oneness with creation, how he practiced nonviolence and lived at one with creation, and how we need to do the same. For more information, contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at Scott@creationcarealliance.org.

05/15/18 NAKBA DAY COMMEMORATION AND PROTEST OF EMBASSY MOVE TO JERUSALEM
This will be from 4 to 7 PM at Vance Monument. Groups sponsoring this include Just Peace Israel/Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. More information to come. 

05/15/18  UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION - WEST NORTH CAROLINA
6:30 Socializing, 7 - 8 pm meeting.  Our mission is to support the United Nations efforts working for a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world and to promote local understanding of this important international organization.  UNCA Zageir Hall 243 - parking is readily available and free. For more information contact Dot at dsulock@unca.edu. 

05/15/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury. Date is 05/15/18 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Location is the Reuter Center - Manheimer Room. The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury – with Susan Barringer Wells, author of A Game Called Salisbury: The Spinning of a Southern Tragedy and the Myths of Race; and with Dwight Mullen, UNC Asheville professor of political science, is free and open to everyone. Susan Barringer Wells, in her book A Game Called Salisbury, weaves century-old news reports and oral history into a family saga of tragic proportion. Her teenaged ancestor Addie Lyerly discovered the gruesome scene of her family’s murder. For the crime, Jack Dillingham, Nease Gillespie and teenager John Gillespie were taken from a jail cell to an oak tree in Salisbury, North Carolina, where they were lynched and mutilated. The heinous act spawned a children’s game of ropes and make believe. What actually happened on the night of August 6, 1906, may have been the game’s first folly. Come learn from the author about a relatively unknown chapter in North Carolina’s history. We will also consider the lasting legacy of lynching with special guest speaker Dr. Dwight Mullen, professor of political science at UNC Asheville. This Hot Topics presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's Race in Black and White programming for the spring term 2018. As part of OLLI's College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

05/19/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
Annual Meeting Announced by LWV Admin. The League's annual luncheon is a two-fold event: There is a speaker event open to the public and then the League will hold its annual membership meeting to vote on budget, priorities and governance matters for 2018-2019. You can attend just the speaker portion. Keynote speaker is Leann Melton. Buncombe County public defender Leann Melton will speak on punishing the poor: people who remain incarcerated due to an inability to pay court fees. NC fees are among the most daunting, even with a constitution that says “there shall be no imprisonment for debt” and a prohibition against “punishing a person for his poverty.” Most states bar courts from using fees to raise revenue for government more broadly. Leann has been active in the fight to prevent the ongoing cycle of the modern day debtor's prison. Agenda- 11:30 am is Check-in/Registration & open buffet, opening remarks followed by presentation of the Yvette Wessell Award and then introduction of the keynote speaker, Leann Melton. There will be a short break and then the membership meeting starts at 12:50 pm. Event Details- Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 11:30-1:30 pm at Doubletree Biltmore at 115 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Cost: $25. Please RSVP by emailing us at info@lwvab.org to let us know that you will be attending and pay when you arrive, or go to the website for the LWV Asheville-Buncombe and register and pay there. You do not need to let us know if you will only be attending only the speaker portion.

05/20/18 NC JUSTICE CENTER FUNDRAISER 
Join Us! May 20 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The Justice Center’s mission is a simple but daunting one: the elimination of poverty in North Carolina. The strategy is smart and comprehensive, employing a multi-issue, multi-strategy approach to ensure the creation of an economy that works for everyone. This includes education in order to increase public and political will to advance progressive, inclusive policies that advance equity and opportunity. Please join us in Asheville for a reception to support the work of the NC Justice Center. Featuring Rick Glazier, Executive Director of the NC Justice Center at the home of Senator Terry and Ted Van Duyn in Asheville, NC. Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Please contact Kim-Marie McLellan at kim_marie@ncjustice.org with any questions.

05/24/18 ACLU EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
This is on Thursday, May 24 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Location is Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College at 340 Victoria Road in Asheville. Right to discriminate? It’s about more than cake. Join the ACLU of North Carolina, the Cato Institute, and the law firm of Deutsch and Gottschalk for an important conversation about LGBTQ equality, the First Amendment, and nondiscrimination laws. ACLU of North Carolina Legal Director Chris Brook and Cato Institute Chairman Bob Levy will debate the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which asks whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate. No contact information.

06/02/18 COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS KICKOFF
Saturday June 2nd 2018 7pm-10pm. Community Bill of Rights Kick-Off Party. Join us to celebrate the launch of Asheville’s first Community Bill of Rights. Stand with us in taking back our power, asserting our rights for local self-governance and building a world where People and Planet come before Profits. The Community Bill of Rights is a City ordinance that will: enable citizens to prohibit the activities of corporations that pollute our water, air and soil, allow us to make ongoing decisions about where we live, without interference from the State and accelerate the equitable transition to 100% renewable energy. Join us for great music, food, drinks, silent auction and information about how you can get involved in this grassroots movement. $20 suggested donation at the door. Everyone welcome. The Wedge at Foundation. 5 Foundry Street, Asheville. No contact information, but there is a Facebook event.

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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. 
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. Also Tranzmission Prison Project meeting to send packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the US. 
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.
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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From Will Griffin's The Peace Report:

Since the Korean Peace deal has been announced, weapons manufacturers have been losing money. America’s five largest “defense” companies lost over $10 billion on just Friday alone. Here’s a short list companies and numbers:

Lockheed Martin: -2.5%
Northrop Grumman: -3.4%
General Dynamics: -3.8%
Raytheon: -3.6%
Boeing: -1%

No one else is talking about this, certainly no corporate media outlets.

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Be a Leader for Racial Equity. Join the City of Asheville’s Human Relations Commission 

MountainTrue is committed to advancing racial equity and we encourage eligible MountainTrue members to join the City of Asheville’s new Human Relations Commission. Download the flyer to learn about Commission duties, selection criteria and the application process. The deadline for applications is Monday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants must submit both a regular commission application and the Human Relations Commission form. For more information contact Sarah Terwilliger at sterwilliger@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 259-5839.


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Friday, April 27, 2018

A bible quote

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies: because you did trust in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
Hosea 10:13 King James Version

Therefore shall a tumult arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces on her children.

Hosea 10:14 King James Version

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I think it speaks to the country of my birth - the USA. 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Abuses of History

Nietzsche identified three approaches to history: monumental, antiquarian and critical, the last being “the history that judges and condemns.”


“The monumental is the history that glorifies the nation-state that is represented in monuments that do not question anything about the society,” Foner said. “A lot of history is like that. The rise of history as a discipline coincided with the rise of the nation-state. Every nation needs a set of myths to justify its own existence. Another one of my favorite writers, Ernest Renan, the French historian, wrote, ‘The historian is the enemy of the nation.’ It’s an interesting thing to say. He doesn’t mean they’re spies or anything. The historian comes along and takes apart the mythologies that are helping to underpin the legitimacy of the nation. That’s why people don’t like them very often. They don’t want to hear these things. Antiquarian is what a lot of people are. That’s fine. They’re looking for their personal roots, their family history. They’re going on ancestry.com to find out where their DNA came from. That’s not really history exactly. They don’t have much of a historical context. But it stimulates people to think about the past. Then there’s what Nietzsche calls critical history—the history that judges and condemns. It takes a moral stance. It doesn’t just relate the facts. It tells you what is good and what is evil. A lot of historians don’t like to do that. But to me, it’s important. It’s important for the historian, having done the research, having presented the history, to say here’s where I stand in relation to all these important issues in our history.” 

The rest of the story is here.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Quote from Wilhelm Reich




“Under the influence of politicians, masses of people tend to ascribe the responsibility for wars to those who wield power at any given time. In World War I it was the munitions industrialists; in World War II it was the psychopathic generals who were said to be guilty. This is passing the buck. The responsibility for wars falls solely upon the shoulders of these same masses of people, for they have all the necessary means to avert war in their own hands. In part by their apathy, in part by their passivity, and in part actively, these same masses of people make possible the catastrophes under which they themselves suffer more than anyone else. To stress this guilt on the part of the masses of people, to hold them solely responsible, means to take them seriously. On the other hand, to commiserate masses of people as victims, means to treat them as small, helpless children. The former is the attitude held by genuine freedom fighters; the latter that attitude held by power-thirsty politicians.” ~ Wilhelm Reich, The Mass Psychology of Fascism

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of April 22, 2018


This was posted on Facebook by the Women's March on the Pentagon group. I reposted in honor of Earth Day. If we want to save the planet, we have to stop the US government and US military. The US military puts more carbon in our atmosphere than 160 countries combined.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

04/23/18 EARLY VOTING CONTINUES FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION
The early voting site for Buncombe County is Wesley Grant Southside Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. More sites will open on April 28, 2018. 

04/23/18 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: April 23: Gentrification (big picture locally), April 30: Roundup of Housing issues explored

04/23/18 LECTURE AT UNCA
Christians, Muslims, and the Death of the Ottoman Empire - Talk by Christine Philliou on 04/23/18 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm at Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA. Christians, Muslims, and the Death of the Ottoman Empire is a free public talk by Christine Philliou, associate professor of history at University of California, Berkeley, at 7 p.m. on Monday April 23, in UNC Asheville's Humanities Lecture Hall. Description from Samer Traboulsi, UNC Asheville professor of history: The story of ethnic violence and state-sponsored genocide in the final years of the Ottoman Empire is a familiar one, and has determined the assumptions we make about Muslim-Christian relations in the Ottoman Empire as a whole. I will discuss the perspectives of Muslim Ottoman intellectuals who saw things differently, and who continued to see things differently as the empire disappeared from the map in 1922. I will trace their literary depictions of Christians and Muslims before, during, and after 1922 so as to explore the complexity and changing possibilities for coexistence in the 20th century. Christine Philliou, Associate Professor of History at University of California, Berkeley, specializes in Ottoman and Modern Middle East/Balkan History. Her first book, Biography of an Empire: Governing Ottomans in an Age of Revolution (2011), was about the crisis and transformation in Ottoman governance in the first half of the nineteenth century, as seen through the lens of an elite of Orthodox Christian functionaries of the Ottoman state. Her current project is about the history of political opposition in late Ottoman and modern Turkish life. She was recently awarded a Burkhardt Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies, which she will use for a larger project on the history of the Post-Ottoman World. Contact for this event: Department of History at history@unca.edu or 828.251.6415.

04/23/18 COMMUNITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT DOCUMENTARY IN ASHEVILLE
We The People 2.0 Screening on April 23 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Interested in Community Rights and why Corporations have more rights than we do? This film showcases the work of CELDF and the Community Rights movement across the US. “We the People 2.0” is about the loss of democracy in the United States. The story unfolds through the eyes of rural people and sacrifice zones in urban communities who have faced decades of toxic dumps, drilling and mines in their communities. These people come to understand that the reason they can’t stop the destruction is that the US has become an oligarchy, run by the corporate few who ignore the rights and will of the people. These people are frontally challenging our corporate state; thereby saving nature and themselves. Thomas Linzey, a nonprofit attorney’s inspiring words shows how, we, the people, can turn this around and lay claim to our democracy. This movement is building as you read this, not just in this country but around the world; this film shows how and where it all began. Thomas Linzey will be offering a workshop in Asheville in May. More info soon. Organizer: THE BLOCK off biltmore. The venue is THE BLOCK off biltmore at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. Phone: 828-254-9277 for more information.

04/24/18 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. 

04/24/18 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.

04/24/18 FORUM FOR DEMOCRATIC SHERIFF CANDIDATES
Forum for Democratic Sheriff Candidates on Tuesday April 24th from 6pm – 8pm. Location is AB-Tech Community College, Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Road in Asheville. Description: The Democratic Men's Club of Buncombe County invites all registered voters in Buncombe County to attend a moderated forum for the Democrat Sheriff candidates. The candidates are, in alphabetical order: R. Daryl Fisher, Rondell Lance, Quentin Miller, Randy Smart & Chris Winslow. Contact: David Anders at dranders@charter.net for more information.

04/24/18 INDIVISIBLE ASHEVILLE MEETING
Indivisible AVL General Meeting: April. April 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Join us for Indivisible AVL’s April meeting. We’ll be giving an update on our extensive interviews with U.S. Congressional candidates for Districts 10 and 11, and will continue our Voter Registration and Outreach push with a new WNC project working in neighboring counties to get out the vote. We’re very excited to announce that security consultant Jonathan Tetzlaff will join us for our April meeting. Jonathan will speak about what may be ahead for 2018 in U.S./North Korean relations. Jonathan has worked for the U.S. government and for private corporations as a foreign affairs analyst and has made numerous trips to North Korea over the last several years. Learn more about what’s really happening in this secretive state and whether the international response has been, or can be, effective. Indivisible general meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month. Each month we’ll give updates on recent and future actions and highlight opportunities to get involved, and we’ll also focus on learning more about our elected representatives in Raleigh and Washington, or hearing from candidates who are seeking election, or learning more about a particular issue, or sharing tools for active engagement. Email info@indivisibleavl.org for more information.

04/24/18 PIGEON RIVER STATE OF THE WATERSHED IN WAYNESVILLE
April 24 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Frog Level Brewing Company at 56 Commerce Street in Waynesville. Join Haywood Waterways and partners for a discussion about Haywood County’s watersheds, water quality, wildlife, and the conservation work being done for their protection and improvement. Free. Haywood County has abundant clean water but there are issues, particularly in response to changing land use and population. Guest speakers include: Neil Carpenter, Maggie Valley Sanitary District – Water supply watershed and drinking water protection; Luke Etchison, NC Wildlife Resources Commission – Aquatic diversity of the Pigeon River watershed; and Trey Talley, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy – Land protection work in Haywood County. RSVP at 828-476-4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

04/24/18 CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FILM SERIES IN ASHEVILLE
Climate and environmental film series: “Climate Stories” a documentary film screening regarding North Carolinians who have been affected by climate change. $10/$20 per family. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and location is The Collider at 1 Haywood Street, Suite 401, in downtown Asheville. 

04/24/18 PUBLIC EVENT AT UNCA
“Pollination Celebration” tour of UNCA Bee Hotel, the pollination gardens and a display of solar wax melters. Registration requested. Free. Held at UNCA from noon to 3 PM. Contact UNCA for more information.

04/25/18 CONSERVING CAROLINA SPEAKER SERIES IN BREVARD
“Bee City USA: Making the World Safe for Pollinators, One City At A Time” presentation by Phyllis Stiles of Bee City USA. Time is 6:30 to 7:30 PM and location is Transylvania County Library at 212 South Gaston Street in Brevard. Call 828-884-3151 for more information.

04/25/18 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.

04/25/18 CITY BUDGET ADVOCACY 101 IN ASHEVILLE
Wednesday, April 25 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the YWCA of Asheville. Location is 185 South French Broad Avenue. Description: Elected officials from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County will be making big decisions about government budgets in the next few months. This workshop will help you be an advocate for good community investment. Co-sponsored by Just Economics of WNC, BeLoved Asheville, Children First CIS of Buncombe County, MountainTrue, and  YWCA of Asheville this evening will be a time to come together in community to learn more about how we can help to shape budgets that impact our lives every day. The event will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room at the YWCA. A family dinner will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the workshop. Childcare is limited. About the workshop: Budgets tell us much about what we value collectively and how we invest community dollars significantly impacts people and issues that we care about. In this interactive workshop, we will learn about the content of budgets from the local, state, and federal levels. We will learn about the timelines and process for budget decisions. And we will learn the best ways to advocate for change in terms of budget priorities and government spending. Organizer: Voter Engagement Coalition Events. Contact alanapie@gmail.com for more information.

04/25/18 RALLY AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN WAYNESVILLE
Time is 5:30 PM and location is Waynesville Historic Courthouse on Main Street in Waynesville. This rally is against domestic violence and sexual assault with speakers and music. Sponsored by the Haywood County Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force. Free. Call 828-456-7898 for more information.

04/25/18 EVENT AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
Reel Appalachia: Films at the Ramsey Center on April 25 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. First Language, speaker TBA. Over fourteen thousand Cherokee remain in their ancestral homelands in the mountains of North Carolina, but few among them still speak their native language. Recognizing its imminent loss, the Eastern Band of Cherokee are now taking extraordinary steps in a fight to revitalize the Cherokee language. The Cherokee Indians were once the dominant power in what is now the Southeastern United States. This Emmy Award-winning film follows this Cherokee community as it comes to terms with a heritage that predates the United States by thousands of years. Admission to Reel Appalachia is free and open to all. Location is the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies at 147 Bailey Street in Mars Hill, NC. This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call (828) 689-1115 or email lweinstein@mhu.edu.

04/25/18 VOTE PROTECTOR TRAINING IN HENDERSONVILLE
Join the team helping protect voters during the May 2018 Primary — attend Vote Protector Training on April 25, in Hendersonville! Help ensure that your neighbors have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process in 2018 by getting trained as a Vote Protector (poll monitor) for the May 2018 Primary. Wednesday, April 25, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Location is Hendersonville Community Co-Op (60 South Charleston Lane, Hendersonville). Being a Vote Protector (poll monitor) is a critical way to help your community vote (and make sure those votes count)! Poll monitors will be asked to serve a minimum three-hour shift at a precinct on Primary Election Day, May 8th. Following a Vote Protector training, you'll have a better understanding of the obstacles voters face in your community, training to connect voters to nonpartisan experts who can help them with their election questions or concerns, and a unique opportunity to engage with voters that need assistance at the polls during the 2018 Primary. RSVP and let us know to save you a seat. Contact JaNesha Slaughter with questions and instructions on how to register at (828) 417-4296 or janesha@democracy-nc.org. 

04/25/18 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE EVENT IN CULLOWHEE
Loving our Neighbors and Creation: Dinner and Conversation is on Wednesday, April 25th, from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Cullowhee United Methodist Church at 416 Central Drive in Cullowhee. Join for a conversation with Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri, an ordained Christian Church pastor and Director of Creation Care Alliance, about the ways we can love our neighbors and God's creation and how these acts of faith intersect with one another. We will also learn about other congregations that are leading the way in creation care in Western North Carolina. Contact scott@creationcarealliance.org for more information.

04/25/18 ALL ABOUT RECYCLING EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
April 25 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church at 5 Oak Street in Asheville. Can I recycle my plastic egg carton? Join us to get all of your questions about recycling answered. Christine Brown of Asheville GreenWorks will be leading this workshop teaching us the value and the process of recycling. We will be meeting in the Sherman Center Room 210. This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome.

04/25/18 CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
“Local Responses to Global Climate Change” event featuring local artists, environmental groups, presentations, speeches by students and teachers and local officials. Food trucks. Organized by the students at the Franklin School of Innovation. Free. Time is 7 to 10 PM and location is Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. No contact information.

04/26/18 MOVIES AND MEANING FESTIVAL IN ASHEVILLE
This April 26-28, 2018, at the lovely Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville, North Carolina, we will gather and hear from special guests Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Color Purple” and Brian McLaren, author and theologian and Gareth Higgins, film critic and Irish peace activist. We’ll screen seven movies, hear seven stories, and participate in seven activities proven to nurture community, restore hope, and build a bridge to the kind of world so many of us seek. We’ll do it in the setting of one of the most beautiful and creative small cities in the world, in a lovely theatre, surrounded by fantastic restaurants, places to stay, and the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. We’ll make new friends, see astonishing big screen art, and pick up fuel for the journey of living more whole in uncertain times. Epic and intimate, serious and funny, inspirational and relaxed: this community is ready to welcome you. Movies & Meaning was founded in 2015 as a gathering of people around art and activism—those who desire to heal our personal and cultural wounds as a diverse community, laugh and cry around the “campfire experience” of great movies, and gain tools for constructive, respectful, and thoughtful dialogue across boundaries of religion, class, race, and age. At Movies & Meaning, we experience story and light as the building blocks of community, pairing screenings of iconic, overlooked, and new films with special guest appearances, conversations, connecting with one another, and gaining tools for social change. Standard Registration is $299, but there are options for lower cost and day tickets are $135. For more information, including how to register, contact moviesandmeaning@gmail.com.

04/26/18 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ASSOCIATION EVENT
 Youth Celebration on Tuesday, April 26, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Location is Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech campus. Free and open to the public. Youth Awards Celebration. In late April the MLK Association honors area high school and middle school students who have demonstrated leadership, intellectual, and community engagement skills. In addition to receiving recognition awards, up to three students each year are awarded a scholarship to the university of their choice. Date: April 26, 2018 at 4 PM. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Inc. is a registered nonprofit organization chartered in the state of North Carolina in the year 2000. Call 828-335-6896 for more information.

04/26/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT
Join Building Bridges of Asheville for a special screening & discussion of the film “The Blood is at the Door Step” at the Grail Moviehouse on Thursday, April 26 at 7 pm. In partnership with YWCA's Stand Against Racism, Building Bridges, in collaboration with Grail Moviehouse, is excited to announce a special screening and post show discussion of “The Blood is at the Doorstep.” This film premiered at SXSW ‘17 and received a critics pick from The Hollywood Reporter. The film intimately follows the family of Dontre Hamilton shortly after he is shot 14 times and killed by a Milwaukee police officer responding to a non-emergency wellness check (Dontre was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia). Filmed across three years, the film offers a painfully realistic glimpse inside a movement born out of tragedy and is an explosive look behind the scenes at one of America’s most pressing social issues. 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. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased through Grail Moviehouse website. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Building Bridges of Asheville. 

04/26/18 CONGRESS WATCH TEAM MEETING
Congress Watch Team: Monthly Meeting. April 26 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Monthly meeting of the Indivisible AVL Congress Watch Team. If you interested in joining or finding out more, contact Cindy at congress@indivisibleavl.org. Location is Habitat Tavern and Commons at 174 Broadway Street in Asheville.

04/26/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT
Thursday, April 26 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Location: Grateful Steps Publishing. A discussion with Ron Eddings, a Grateful Steps author and co-author of the screenplay “From My Eyes: The Ron Eddings Story” about the racism he and his friends and family suffered while growing up in Asheville, the downward spiral his life subsequently took, and his triumph of recovery through faith. From YWCA website.

04/26/18 TO 04/29/18 CREATION SPIRITUALITY COMMUNITY GATHERING IN ASHEVILLE
Please go to the Mountain Express for full details on this conference at Jubilee!

04/27/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Public Event on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. An interactive all-ages presentation by Charles Waters, poet and co-author of the new children's books “Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship” which has this as its premise: A fifth grade boy and girl have to work together on a poetry project, and they're not sure what to write about . . . at first. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to present paired poems about topics including shoes, sports, music, stereotypes, and much more. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, this relatable collection explores different experiences of race, and how we talk about it in twenty-first century America. Free event with book signing to follow. All ages welcome. Location is the YWCA of Asheville Multipurpose Room at 185 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. An interactive all-ages presentation by Charles Waters, poet and co-author of the children's book “Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship” hosted by Spellbound Children’s Bookshop.

04/28/18 VOTER PROTECTOR TRAINING IN ASHEVILLE
April 28 | Vote Protector Training | Asheville. Join the team helping protect voters during the May 2018 Primary — attend Vote Protector Training on April 28, in Asheville. Help ensure that your neighbors have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process in 2018 by getting trained as a Vote Protector (poll monitor) for the May 2018 Primary. This is on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Location is Unitarian Universalist Church at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. Being a Vote Protector (poll monitor) is a critical way to help your community vote (and make sure those votes count). Poll monitors will be asked to serve a minimum three-hour shift at a precinct on Primary Election Day, May 8th. Following a Vote Protector training, you'll have: a better understanding of the obstacles voters face in your community, training to connect voters to nonpartisan experts who can help them with their election questions or concerns, and a unique opportunity to engage with voters that need assistance at the polls during the 2018 Primary. Please RSVP at Democracy NC website. Have questions about these events? Contact me at darlene@democracync.org.

04/28/18 RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
“Inclusion, Diversity, and Inclusion” Public event on Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Location is Warren Wilson, Canon Lounge, in Swannanoa. An information session about the March For Our Lives movement followed by a panel with the high school organizers of the Asheville march, and a round table discussion. For more information, contact Clarissa Harris at 8034104416. 

04/28/18 PROTEST AGAINST THE ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE
No Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Fracked Gas. Join us in downtown Asheville to stand up for our sustainable future, transition from fossil fuels and be in solidarity with our neighbours in the east of our state who are directly threatened by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is a 600-mile pipeline that would cut through West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, carrying fracked gas from West Virginia. This pipeline poses a grave threat to the climate, and to the land, water, and safety of those living along the proposed route. The ACP would be responsible for nearly 68 million metric tonnes of climate pollution annually, equivalent to 20 coal plants or 14 million vehicles. And Duke Energy are using our money to build it. Meet at Street Theater and Puppet Club (37 E. Larchmont St.) to collect our banners and meet and greet each other and then we will car pool into town. No contact information.

04/28/18 INFORMATIONAL SESSION ABOUT MARCH FOR OUR LIVES AT WWC
Wilson Inclusion, Diversity, and Inclusion. Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Location: Warren Wilson, Canon Lounge. An information session about the March For Our Lives movement followed by a panel with the high school organizers of the Asheville march, and a round table discussion. For more information, contact Clarissa Harris at 803-410-4416.  

04/29/18 SOULS TO THE POLLS MARCH IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Sun, Apr 29, 2018 from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM. April 29 | Souls to the Polls March | Buncombe County. Join us for Sunday afternoon Early Voting at the West Asheville Library and take literal steps to mobilize local congregations to vote together this spring. Location is West Asheville Library at 942 Haywood Road in Asheville. Please RSVP at Democracy NC website. Contact Darlene at darlene@democracy-nc.org and (828) 216-3430 with any questions.  

04/29/18 DOCUMENTARY ON HEBRON - SHOWING IN ASHEVILLE
“Hebron” is a documentary that examines to what extent human rights are realized in a Palestinian community under Israeli occupation. Through provoking footage and interviews, this 40-minute film depicts Palestinian civilians attempting to exert their fundamental human rights, such as education, religion, movement, and dignity. Filmmaker Yousef Natsha grew up in Hebron and began documenting the struggles and resistance of his community at the age of 19. Natsha has worked with local and international human rights organizations and with various forms of media - including radio, photography, and film - to tell the story of his community. This event will be held at Asheville Friends Meeting at 227 Edgewood Road off Merrimon Avenue. Free, donations accepted. Time is noon to 1:30 PM. For more information contact Yousef at yousef.m.natsheh@hotmail.com.   

04/29/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT 
This year’s Stand Against Racism, in conjunction w the Stephens-Lee Alumni Association, focused on “Celebrating the Legacy of African American Education Pioneers.” Held Friday, April 29, at the Stephens-Lee Center–the Castle on the Hill–in Asheville’s historic East End, the program presented panel discussions on: Early African American Educators, the Legacy of Isaac Dickson, the Legacy of Lucy Herring, the History of Stephens-Lee & other Feeder Schools, and the First African American Students at Mars Hill College. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Inc. is a registered nonprofit organization chartered in the state of North Carolina in the year 2000. Call 828-335-6896 for more information.

04/29/18 MOVING TOWARDS ZERO WASTE EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
April 29 from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at 40 Church Street in Asheville. Join MountainTrue's Creation Care Alliance to learn how Asheville can work towards zero waste. Free. Recycling isn’t the only way to lower your carbon footprint. Now composting is a viable option in the Asheville area. And don’t forget about reducing consumption and reusing what we have. Come for a light lunch from 12:30 – 1:00, followed by zero waste children’s activities and games for kindergarten though fifth graders and their parents. Adults and kids will learn what is recyclable and compostable and how to cut down on trash that isn’t either. The Recycling Education Vehicle will be on site for further information and entertainment. Adult classes from 1:00 – 2:00 will focus on moving toward zero waste at home, living simply, and reducing our carbon footprints by using less energy. In addition, exhibitors in the foyer will provide information and products to make these changes easier. Parking is free in the Aloft garage on Lexington for the first hour and $1.25/hr thereafter. Enter the church by walking up the driveway from Aston St. Contact Jane Laping janelaping@sbcglobal.net or 828-772-0379 for more information.

04/30/18 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: April 30: Roundup of Housing issues explored

05/01/18 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. 

05/01/18 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.

05/01/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Healthcare for All-WNC is hosting Physicians for a National Health Program leader Dr. Ed Weisbart who will speak on “What Does ‘Medicare for All’ Mean for Medical Practice, Physicians, Patients and the USA?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM at All Souls Cathedral Assembly Hall, 9 Swan Street, Asheville. Dr. Weisbart has published articles in both national medical journals and local media regarding the healthcare needs of the uninsured. A question and answer time will follow at this free brown-bag lunch event. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.


05/01/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Friends of the East Asheville Library and Healthcare for All – WNC are co-sponsoring Dr. Ed Weisbart, Chair of the Missouri Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, who will be speaking on “For-Profit Healthcare: Is It Healthy?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Beverly Hills Baptist Church, 777 Tunnel Road, Asheville. This free special program has relevance in light of the proposed acquisition of Asheville’s Mission Health by Hospital Corporation of America. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.

05/03/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club May 3: Wildflowers, Trees & Critters. The Sierra Club has an outstanding program planned for May: “Wildflowers, Trees and Critters,” featuring guest speaker Scott Dean. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. Scott Dean offers a program that focuses on “Wildflowers, Trees & Critters” and how they work together in the natural environment. He’ll look at three seasons in the southern Appalachians, previewing what will be happening out in the woods over the course of the next six months. Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018. Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. This event is free and open to the public. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. A former First Vice President of the Friends of the Nature Center, he developed curricula and teaches field classes for the Blue Ridge Naturalist program at the N. C. Arboretum. For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, (828) 683-2176.

05/06/18 FORUM ON FOSSIL FREE LIVING
Sunday, May 6, 3 - 5:30 pm, Habitat Tavern, 174 Broadway: “Go Fossil Free!” - 350 Asheville, our local chapter of 350.org, invites the public to a free forum, with speakers from local solar companies and weatherization specialists on how to go renewable. Also learn about “NC CleanPath 2025” a blueprint for getting NC off fossil fuels; updates on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline; and the movement to get the city of Asheville's money out of fossil fuel investments. For more information, contact Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com.

05/08/18 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA

05/14/18 AUTHOR EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
John Dear will present “They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace & Nonviolence in a Time of Climate Change.” May 14, 7-8:30pm at First Presbyterian Church at 40 Church Street in Asheville. Gather with others to hear John Dear discuss his new book. Books will be sold and signed at the event - no tickets required. Co-sponsored by FPCA & Creation Care Alliance of WNC. In this landmark work, author, activist, and Nobel peace prize nominee Father John Dear connects the way of active nonviolence with solidarity with Creation, and shows how our global epidemic of violence and war could only lead to catastrophic climate change. He cites Jesus’ third Beatitude as the basis for his meditation: “Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.” Thomas Merton said “meekness” was the biblical word for “nonviolence” (in the Gandhi/King sense), so Dear reflects how Jesus connected nonviolence with oneness with creation, how he practiced nonviolence and lived at one with creation, and how we need to do the same. For more information, contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at Scott@creationcarealliance.org.

05/15/18 NAKBA DAY COMMEMORATION AND PROTEST OF EMBASSY MOVE TO JERUSALEM
This will be from 4 to 5 PM at Vance Monument. Groups sponsoring this include Just Peace Israel/Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. 

05/15/18  UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION - WEST NORTH CAROLINA
6:30 Socializing, 7 - 8 pm meeting.  Our mission is to support the United Nations efforts working for a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world and to promote local understanding of this important international organization.  UNCA Zageir Hall 243 - parking is readily available and free. For more information contact Dot at dsulock@unca.edu. 

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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. 
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. Also Tranzmission Prison Project meeting to send packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the US. 
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.
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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POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN

In the Triangle, the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will include six consecutive Monday actions, as follows:

May 14: Women, youth, the disabled, children in poverty and the right to education
May 21: Connecting systemic racism and economic justice, voting rights and just immigration
May 28: Veterans, our war economy, and militarism 
June 4: The right to health, ecology, justice and health, water, extreme extraction, climate change and health care
June 11: Living wages, guaranteed income, housing and social services
June 18: Challenging our nation’s distorted moral narrative; a fusion movement rising up

The Campaign will end with a Mass Mobilization in DC on June 23.

ALSO FROM THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN:

Join the NC Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival for 40 days of moral action this spring to challenge systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and militarism, ecological devastation, and our nation's distorted moral narrative. 

In the spirit and tradition of ordinary people of conscience engaging in nonviolent direct action to expose and engage as moral witnesses against injustice, we will conduct a mandatory training statewide. The next training is, 1- 5 pm  April 21 in Asheville for people interested in participating in nonviolent moral fusion direct action this spring.

Attending this training does not mean you must participate in the 40 days of action Nor does it mean you are committing to engage in civil disobedience. This training can be a great step in connecting with others in the campaign and learning about the opportunity to join the action. We would love for you to join us!

Also note that we will offer more trainings before the 40 Days of moral action kicks off and during the 40 days.

Please register to reserve a spot in the training. Your training location as well as more detailed information will be sent out to you.

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY APRIL 20TH, SO SIGN-UP NOW! For information on how to sign up, you can contact  northcarolina@poorpeoplescampaign.org or leslie.boyd@gmail.com.

If you do not receive an e-mail with the location by Friday, please e-mail Leslie Boyd at leslie.boyd@gmail.com for that information.
*Please note when the Google Form asks, "In What City will you attend the Training Part A?" the answer is Asheville

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Hood Tour Tickets

An interactive tour focusing on Asheville’s African American resilient history and future in the arts, environmentalism and entrepreneurship. The tour visits neighborhoods with existing and active green spaces, art, and grassroots initiatives. Tours run most Thursdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 3 PM, and by appointment for groups by emailing info@hoodhuggers.com. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person. Tours begin at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue.

Hood Huggers International, LLC offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.

DeWayne Barton is the founder/CEO of Hood Huggers. A sculptor and poet, Barton has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. He serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the City of Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Board. 

Please call (828) 275-5305 or email blove@hoodhuggers.com for more information including how to register for these tours. 

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FROM WNC SANCTUARY:

Yesterday, 12+ community members were detained and their families were ripped apart.
Today, your help is needed.

This weekend, Buncombe and Henderson County communities were raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which resulted in the detention of at least 14 of our loved ones. The families in the Asheville, Flat Rock, Marion, Hendersonville and Mitchell County communities are reeling at the sudden loss of their friends, neighbors, and family members. Can you imagine having your spouse, child, or sibling taken by armed agents while going to the store or taking out the trash? And you weren't told where they were being taken? It could be two days before you find out where they are, let alone speak with or visit them.

Our community is fighting back. Over 200 people mobilized quickly to support the Latinx community Saturday at a rally downtown. Early Sunday morning two ICE vehicles were reported and verified at the Brownwood Mobile Home Park. Carloads of activists arrived within minutes and parked within site of the ICE vehicles. The ICE agents left the community shortly after without making arrests.

This is a testimony to the power of community presence when ICE is preying on our community.

The next steps in this process are daunting. Bonds are often set at over $10,000 for each detained person and it costs $0.25 per minute just to speak with a family member in custody. The process is intimidating to say the least - but that is why we have community to support each other.

It is hard to put this experience into words. From a community member whose husband was taken - “I don’t know what I’m going to tell my kids tonight. They’ll say ‘daddy’s car is in the driveway, where is he?’”

We hear from ICE that they are only targeting criminals. ICE is targeting our families and community. Human beings are valuable and have rights regardless of their criminal record. They have families to provide for, they have illnesses that need to be taken care of. Even if a person has a past DUI, that is not grounds for having your life forcibly destroyed. ICE is also detaining people that they are interacting with in the process of searching for the people they’re targeting.

These families deserve to be back together. Let’s get our community members home.

Your support is crucial and we can’t do this without you. On top of legal fees and bail, many of the folks who are detained are the primary earner of their family. Financial support will ensure families can pay their rent and buy groceries while they handle this process.

Please donate today.

CIMA and the WNC Sanctuary Movement believe in creating communities where everyone is welcome and where folks stick up for each other no matter where they are from. We all deserve to be able to provide for our families and live without fear. Thank you for your donation to help bring our families back together.

 Contact  WNC Sanctuary at sanctuary.wnc@gmail.com for more information and instructions on how to donate.


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