Posts tagged with "ceasefire"

Celebrating Mom’s as a Call to Action

This Mother’s Day CODEPINK is going to Congress to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza and a free Palestine.

“If you google the history of Mother’s Day, the internet will tell you that Mother’s Day began in 1908 when Anna Jarvis decided to honor her mother. But “Mothers’ Day”—with the apostrophe not in the singular spot, but in the plural—actually started in the 1870s, when the sheer enormity of the death caused by the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War convinced writer and reformer Julia Ward Howe that women must take control of politics from the men who had permitted such carnage. Mothers’ Day was not designed to encourage people to be nice to their mothers. It was part of women’s effort to gain power to change society,” wrote Heather Cox Richardson in her piece titled, Letters from an American

The Conception of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates mothers and motherhood. It is observed on the second Sunday of May each year.

The idea of a Mother’s Day originated in the United States in the early 20th century. In 1908, Anna Jarvis, a Philadelphia woman, began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. She was inspired by her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had been a peace activist during the Civil War.

Mother’s Day – Founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. First officially observed in 1908, it honored motherhood and family life at a time of rising feminist activism. An early supporter was John Wanamaker, whose store stood opposite. Mother’s Day was given federal recognition in 1914. (Historical marker located at S. Juniper and Market Sts. Philadelphia PA – Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 1998)

Jarvis’s campaign gained support from a number of women’s groups and civic organizations. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution of Congress designating the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day quickly became a popular holiday in the United States. It is a time for families to honor their mothers and show their appreciation for all that they do. Traditional Mother’s Day activities include giving gifts, cards, and flowers, as well as spending time together as a family.

Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Grafton, West Virginia

Mother’s Day is also a time to reflect on the role of mothers in society. Mothers are the primary caregivers for children in most families, and they play a vital role in shaping their children’s lives. Mothers also often work outside the home, and they face many challenges in balancing their work and family responsibilities.

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of mothers and to recognize the importance of their role in society.

Protests Continue to Shape the American Experience and Culture

Anti-Israel protesters blocked major thoroughfares across the US Monday, creating traffic jams for drivers trying to reach Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge according to multiple major news outlets. It’s been reported that organizers of the protest said their goal was to send a message to Boeing, because the corporation sells weapons to Israel to be used in its war with Hamas.

“On this Tax Day, when millions are paying taxes which fund the ongoing US and Israeli bombardment of Gaza, protestors seek to take dramatic action,” the group Chicago Dissenters wrote in an Instagram post. “O’Hare International Airport is one of the largest in the country, and there will be NO business as usual while Palestinians suffer at the hands of American funded bombing by Israel.”

 

Protests – fiercely exercised and protected by the First Amendment – have played a significant role in shaping American culture throughout history. They have been a powerful force for social and political change, and have helped to bring about important reforms and advances. These on-going global protests aim to end the genocide and deliberate starvation efforts in Gaza that started as a was between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The groups, including many journalists, White House staffers, State Department officials and Union leaders are also calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza and other impacted regions of Palestine. 

Here are some of the ways in which protests have shaped American culture:

  • Raising awareness of social issues: Protests have helped to raise awareness of important social issues, such as civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. They have also brought attention to environmental issues, economic inequality, and other pressing concerns.
  • Mobilizing people for change: Protests can mobilize people to take action and demand change. They can create a sense of community and solidarity among protesters and build momentum for social and political movements.
  • Influencing public opinion: Protests can influence public opinion and put pressure on policymakers to address certain issues. They can also help to shift the national conversation and shape the way people think about important topics.
  • Promoting social justice: Protests have been a key factor in promoting social justice and equality in the United States. They have helped to challenge discriminatory laws and policies, and have contributed to the advancement of civil rights for all Americans.
  • Preserving democratic values: Protests are a vital part of a healthy democracy. They allow people to express their dissent and demand accountability from their government. They also help to protect democratic values such as freedom of speech and assembly.

March for Gaza: Thousands Rally in DC for Global Day of Action

Thousands rallied at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., Saturday as part of a global day of action calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel killing about 1,300 people.

Since the start of the war, Israel has launched an aggressive bombardment of Gaza and other parts of Palestine in response, sending shockwaves across the world. More than 23,350 people have been killed – mostly children and women – during its retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. 

Last week South Africa brought a case against Israel accusing it of committing the “crime of all crimes: genocide.”

Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are to decide whether Israel, in its war in Gaza, is guilty of an attempt to “destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part,” as defined by the 1948 Convention on Genocide.

Freedom Plaza overflowed onto Pennsylvania Avenue with marchers chanting the popular “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as they waved a sea of flags in support of the Palestinian people who remain under siege.

Some marchers prayed on mats in the crowd, and outside the FBI building. Some of the speakers shared stories of losing hundred of people in their families and waiting helplessly for word on relatives surviving the night. The Biden administration has not called for a ceasefire in spite the urging of the international community, including the United Nations.

House Democrats Write Letter to Biden and Blinken Urging Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

As Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people, including the taking of 240 hostages, a group of lawmakers wrote a letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken on Wednesday expressing their concern about the escalating violence in the region. They site the growing civilian casualties writing, “the Israeli Defense Forces have killed over 11,078 Palestinians, nearly half of whom have been children.”

The two dozen members write that, “without an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a robust bilateral ceasefire, this war will lead to a further loss of civilian life and risk dragging the United States into dangerous and unwise conflict with armed groups across the Middle East. Further, we write urging clarity on your strategic objectives for achieving de-escalation and stability in the region.”

The letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was signed by the following Members of Congress:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Betty McCollum 

Mark Pocan 

Rashida Tlaib 

Cori Bush 

James P. McGovern 

Mary Gay Scanlon 

Raúl M. Grijalva

Pramila Jayapal 

Joaquin Castro 

Delia C. Ramirez

Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr.

Greg Casar 

Jesús G. “Chuy” García 

Bonnie Watson Coleman 

Nydia M. Velázquez 

Ayanna Pressley

Jonathan L. Jackson 

Barbara Lee 

André Carson 

Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. 

Summer Lee 

Veronica Escobar 

Ilhan Omar 

ISRAEL’S BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA IS A GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

The images and horror stories coming from the Middle East are unbearable. Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Palestinian people is not just a humanitarian crisis of global proportion, it is a genocidal act of revenge and hate, reminiscent of WWII. Please listen to this very important dialogue between Tucker Carlson and Colonel Douglas MacGregor on the serious and real risk this recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas poses to the rest of the world.

We must all do what we can to pressure our elected officials to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Tucker Carlson Interviews Col Douglas MacGregor: