Covid put a hold on some usual Fall activities (Peace Center, West Point, Drone Warfare). Attended an Immigration Rights rally last month and a Nov 5 rally to Count all the Votes. Picture of Immigration Rights marchers shows them in front of Minsell House, home of Media Historical Society. Fran is concluding her presidency of that organization at the end of the year. Simply keeping sane and healthy can be an accomplishment in these times. I have three sets of hiking friends that I see weekly, plus hiking and other activities with Fran. Missing some of the usual Villanova and Quaker activities. — ZOOM helps, but is not the same.
November 6, 2020
Surviving and thriving in Covid times
June 6, 2020
George Floyd and police justice
Coming out of quarantine for two actions in Media today. This morning a call for resignation/firing of a prejudiced police officer. This afternoon “We’re Done Dying,” a vigil for the lost. Morning at the Media FOP headquarters, afternoon at the Courthouse. Good attendance at both. Now for follow through to further. We are interviewed toward end of article.
April 24, 2020
Making war doesn’t stop for a pandemic. Neither do I.
Lockheed Martin, world’s largest weapons contractor, declares that it is open to meet its obligations to its “customers” (i.e. military contracts). Business as usual – how to make a killing, financially and literally. Our usual Good Friday demonstration was cancelled, but I felt called to be there nonetheless. This action has been an important part of my life for decades, so I arranged to do it safely and solo My sign read “Covid 19: Country is closed, Lockheed Martin is OPEN for war. Close it down.” I had a pleasant officer for police protection (I assured him there would be no CD today), and he wished me “Be Safe and God Bless You” over his patrol car loud speaker when I was leaving.
January 4, 2020
No War with Iran, no assassinations.
A major action at City Hall this afternoon followed by a parade around the city. Hundreds of us, mostly young people. We occupied the city plaza and streets (no permits for this one) – seizure by people power. During the parade I carried one end of the lead banner that read “NO WAR AGAINST IRAN,” The youthful activists did well to organized this event so quickly. Loud and a good ruckus at times, but always nonviolent.
May 19, 2018
Demand the Ban (on sale of assault weapons)
Fran and I participated (and were arrested) in the May 16 Demand the Ban (on the sale of assault weapons) nonviolent direct action outside Senator Toomey’s office in Philla. First an assault weapon was melted and re-forged into a garden tool, which we carried (more…)
January 31, 2018
Occupy PECO for green energy and local jobs
October 29, 2017
West Point Ethics of War and Peace conference
This weekend I attended a three-day conference entitled Ethics of War and Peace, held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I’m feeling both exhausted and energized/empowered to have once again been the sole pacifist at this annual conference co-sponsored by Villanova University. (more…)
June 12, 2017
Are liberals still relevant? If not, is reform possible? What is the role for peaceful revolutionaries?
My published Comment on NYTimes article telling supposed liberal readers to ‘Stop Pretending You’re Not Rich‘: “I agree with others who are surprised at the resistance and animosity shown to this article. I think it’s the word “rich” that can drive NYTimes “liberals” into a frenzy. Readers complain about working 60 hours a week (good point, I’ve been there, must take responsibility for one’s life) and their debts and costs that eat away at an income of 200,000 or 300,000. So they claim they are really just middle class and not part of the economic problem. Ridiculous.
April 17, 2017
War Tax Resistance letter to IRS explaining why they aren’t receiving the full amount we owe.
April 15, 2017
To the Internal Revenue Service:
We support our country in all its peaceful endeavors, but for reasons of conscience and religious faith we do not support our country in its preparation for war and in war making. We are deeply troubled by the fact that about half of the federal income tax that we owe the government is budgeted for military-related expenditures, (more…)
April 15, 2017
Confronting the face of war
Yesterday (Good Friday), in the spirit of Rabbi Jesus, a group of us assembled once again in front of Lockheed Martin (the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons contractor) in King of Prussia, PA, to confront the current face of war. Seven of us proceeded (more…)