GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY TRAINING

At the Expose AIPAC Mobilization
Washington, DC

March 2, 2013


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
(may be subject to change)

PLEASE NOTE: To attend the Grassroots Advocacy Training on March 2, you must register for the Expose AIPAC mobilization. Your payment covers your participation in the events of March 2. All other events are free (unless otherwise noted).


SATURDAY, MARCH 2: Official Events

Location:
Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church
900 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

Click here for full bios of presenters and workshop leaders

 


8:30 – 9:15: Registration

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


9:15 – 9:30 AM: Welcome


9:30 – 11:00 AM: Policy Panel

AIPAC and the Politics of the Present: Assessing Strengths, Weaknesses and Alternatives

  • Jamal Abdi - Policy Director at the National Iranian American Council
  • Philip Farah - Co-founder of Palestinian American Christians for Peace and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace
  • Rebecca Vilkomerson - Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace
  • MODERATOR: Medea Benjamin - Co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange

 

11:00 – 11:15 AM: Morning Break

 

11:15 – 12:45 PM: Workshop Session 1  

Workshop 1A: Palestine/Israel Track
Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions 101: An Introduction to Strategic Organizing

  • Ramah Kudaimi - Membership and Outreach Coordinator at the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Workshop 1B: Palestine/Israel Track
Ending Military Aid to Israel: Mobilizing for Policy Change in Your Community

  • Josh Ruebner - National Advocacy Director at the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Workshop 1C: Iran Track & Palestine/Israel Track
Moving the Ball in Washington Against AIPAC: What Are the Israel Lobby's Objectives and How Can We Promote Different Policies?

  • Robert Naiman - Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy

Workshop 1D: Iran Track
Stories from Iran: How Are Iranians are Suffering and Resisting?

  • Presented by Havar - The Iranian Initiative Against War, Sanctions and State Repression

12:45 – 2:30 PM:  Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 PM:  OPTIONAL PARTICIPANT LED WORKSHOPS
Coming to the event? Bring your workshop idea and sign-up early before spaces are filled!

 

2:30 – 4:15 PM:  Workshop Session 2

Workshop 2A: Palestine/Israel Track
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaigns in Progress (spotlight on TIAA-CREF, SodaStream, and more)

  • Rebecca Vilkomerson - Executive Director at Jewish Voice for Peace
  • Shelley Cohen Fudge - DC Metro Chapter Coordinator of Jewish Voice for Peace and organizing committee member of national Interfaith Boycott Coalition

Workshop 2B: Palestine/Israel Track
Translating Experience into Action: Using Your Trip to Palestine/Israel to Launch or Deepen Your Activism

  • Mike Daly - Program Coordinator at Interfaith Peace-Builders
  • Emily Siegel - Delegations Coordinator at Interfaith Peace-Builders

Workshop 2C: Palestine/Israel Track
Advocacy Training: Constituent Lobbying for Peace in Palestine/Israel
This workshop is required for anyone planning to participate in the Palestine/Israel Track of the Constituent Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 5.

  • Mike Coogan - Legislative Coordinator and Manager of Finance & Administration, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Workshop 2D: Iran Track
Advocacy Training
This workshop is required for anyone planning to participate in the Iran Peace Track of the Constituent Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 5.

  • Leila Zand - Director of the Task Force on the Middle East at the Fellowship of Reconciliation


4:15 – 4:30: Afternoon Break

4:30 - 6:00 PM:  Keynote Address

Is A New US Role in the Middle East Possible?
Can We Put Principles Before Special Interests?
By Phyllis Bennis

RESPONDENTS:

Jonathan Kuttab - Human Rights lawyer and co-founder of Al-Haq, the Palestinian Center for the Study of Nonviolence, and Sabeel

Robert Naiman - Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy


MODERATOR:

Jacob Pace - Communications and Advocacy Coordinator at Interfaith Peace-Builders


bennis
Phyllis Bennis is a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies where she directs the New Internationalism Project. She has been a writer, analyst, and activist on Middle East and UN issues for many years. In 2001 she helped found and remains on the steering committee of the U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation. She also co-chairs the UN-based International Coordinating Network on Palestine, and since 2002 has played an active role in the growing global peace movement. She continues to serve as an adviser to several top UN officials on Middle East and UN democratization issues. Phyllis is the author of eight books, among them a series of Primers on US interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia including: Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer (2009); Ending the Iraq War: A Primer (2009); Understanding the US-Iran Crisis: A Primer (2009); Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer (2010). She is co-editor of Beyond the Storm: A Gulf Crisis Reader (1991) and Altered States: A Reader in the New World Order (1993).  Phyllis is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.

 

6:00 – 6:15 PM:  Mobilization Logistics and Reminders

Where To Be and What To Expect During Mobilization and Street Protests

  • CODEPINK organizers

 

6:30 – 9:00 PM:  Social Event and Fundraiser

New Perspectives on Peace with Justice:
An Evening with Interfaith Peace-Builders

Join Interfaith Peace-Builders for an inspirational evening of words and music headlined by recent members of IFPB delegations to Palestine/Israel. These recent delegates bring years of experience working in Irish American, African American and Palestinian American communities.

Musical guests draw on the deep folk traditions of African American and Arab communities.

Location:
The Goethe Institut
812 7th St NW  
Washington, DC 20001

Requested Donation: $30 - $100
Food and Beverage provided

Great Raffle Prizes including:
Scholarships for an IFPB delegation, a private yoga class,
debka (Palestinian folk dance) lesson, a case of local wine, and more!

Featured Speakers:

  • Father Sean McManus – Founder of the Irish National Caucus, author of “My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland. . . and the Holy Land”, and initiator of the McBride Principles and the Holy Land Principles.
  • Reverend Carolyn Boyd - Adjunct Pastor at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, former national Co-Chair of Black Voices for Peace, author and the host of “Spirit In Action” on WPFW radio.
  • Hanan Idilbi - Palestinian-American attorney, Board Member of Interfaith Peace-Builders, and member of the US Palestine Community Network.

Musical Guests:

  • Feras and Ehab - Playing modern oud compositions rooted in the deep cultural traditions of Palestine
  • Luci Murphy -  a D.C.-based vocalist and community activist in the peace and social justice movement, singing songs of freedom

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 3: Mobilization and Protest Actions

Location:
Washington DC Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW  
Washington, DC 20001

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM: CODEPINK Mobilization and Protest Actions

Click here to Sign-Up for Actions

Click Here for Further Information

 

MONDAY, MARCH 4: Mobilization and Protest Actions

Location:
Washington DC Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW  
Washington, DC 20001

7:00 PM: CODEPINK Mobilization and Protest Actions

Click here to Sign-Up for Actions

Click Here for Further Information

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 5: Constituent Lobby Day

Location:
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

Participants are responsible for scheduling their own lobby meetings in one of two tracks. The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is coordinating asks related to Palestine/Israel; the Fellowship of Reconciliation is coordinating asks related to peace with Iran.

Participants will be provided with packets and information for meetings with Congressional Representatives. Click Here for More Information.



REGISTER TODAY TO GAIN IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR YOUR ACTIVISM!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE FLYER

This event is sponsored by:
Interfaith Peace-Builders, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, CODEPINK, and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

endorsed by:
Jewish Voice for Peace, Adalah - New York, American Muslims for Palestine, Jews Say No, Palestine Media Project, and more

 


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