Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

Nancy Merritt
March 7, 2012

For the past year, the CA Peace Alliance has taken peace to the State’s Democratic party (CDP) with the goals of: 1) infusing the CA Democratic platform — its statement of values — with peace and peacebuilding, plank by plank; and 2) seeking the CDP’s endorsement of legislation to create a U.S. Department of Peace (DoP). At the 2012 CA Democratic convention in February, we did just that as the CDP incorporated most of our proposals into the platform and voted to study establishment of a federal cabinet-level DoP.

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For more information visit the Events page at www.SolomonForCongress.com

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA presents an evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS, Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine,

MICHAEL LIGHTY, Policy Director of the California Nurses Association,

and NORMAN SOLOMON, Co-chair of the national Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30.

WHERE: Guzman Hall, Dominican University; 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901.

Go here for a campus map

This is a rare opportunity to see these three dynamic leaders and speakers together in one room. Join us for an evening of community and celebration in support of Healthcare NOT Warfare!

No entry charge. Donations accepted. Wheel-chair accessible.

Cosponsored by the Expressions Program of the Humanities Department, Dominican University.

An Evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS
Washington correspondent for
The Nation Magazine

MICHAEL LIGHTY
Policy Director of the California
Nurses Association

and
NORMAN SOLOMON
Co-Chair of the national
Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign

September 15, 2011

Daniel Ellsberg, the renowned advocate for peace and the First Amendment who leaked the historic Pentagon Papers on the Vietnam War, endorsed congressional candidate Norman Solomon on Thursday (Sept. 15). Ellsberg will join the independent progressive Democrat on the campaign trail.

Once referred to by President Nixon’s adviser Henry Kissinger as “the most dangerous man in America,” Ellsberg is an enthusiastic supporter of Norman Solomon for Congress. The famed whistleblower will speak at a house-party fundraiser for the Solomon campaign in Marin County on Sept. 22, an event bringing together two generations of antiwar leaders.

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Norman Soloman – Donna Smith – and Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America join Thom Hartmann. The “Healthcare not Warfare” campaign is raising awareness about our deteriorating healthcare system that’s bankrupting millions of Americans and leaving them sick with nowhere to go. And while this is going on – our nation is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on endless wars in the Middle East. So the choice is simple – do we keep funding “black hole” wars – or start making Americans healthy again? Please sign “Healthcare not Warfare” petition at http://bit.ly/jZlPGZ

San Francisco Labor Council Resolution – Adopted unanimously March 28, 2011

Support April 9-10 Rallies and Marches:
Oppose the Wars against Working People
at Home and Abroad

Whereas, the wealthy and corporations now in control of our country continue to take more, while we get less, continue to destroy our environment, exploit our labor and reduce our services for ever-increasing profits, using half of our Federal tax dollars for military purposes, and our youth, under an economic draft, as cannon fodder to invade and occupy other countries, and

Whereas, the price of wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya is creating a permanent war economy draining the US of trillions of dollars that could be used for jobs, education, and social services, draining funds at the state and local level, while providing a convenient excuse for draconian cuts in services and extreme austerity measures resulting in the decimation of collective bargaining agreements now being carried out in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and other states.

Therefore be it resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council join the Bay Area Chapter of US Labor Against the War, and hundreds of social justice organizations, nation-wide, calling for an immediate end to these wars, and endorsing the bi-coastal marches and rallies occurring on April 9th in New York City and April 10th in San Francisco, sponsored by the United National Antiwar Committee.

PDA Press Release
March 15, 2011

Progressive Democrats of America and allies have planned vigils at congress members’ offices in districts all over the United States for midday Wednesday. They will be demanding an end to the war in Afghanistan the same day General David Petraeus is questioned by the House Armed Services Committee and the day before the House is scheduled to vote on ending the war (resolution HCR 28).

“People everywhere have been supporting the activism in Madison, Wisconsin, this week,” said PDA National Director Tim Carpenter. “We’ve seen a people’s movement compel Democrats to stand up straight and push back, a far superior outcome than continued ‘bipartisanship,’ in the view of most Americans. We’re taking that energy national this week to insist on a change in priorities. Our country is bankrupt morally, not financially. We need to move the money where it can do some good.”

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February 20, 2011

A bipartisan group of representatives discussed their legislation to swiftly end the war in Afghanistan on a press conference call, February 17, 2011. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-9) opened the call by welcoming the reporters. She thanked her colleagues Representatives Walter Jones (R-NC-9) and Ron Paul (R-TX-14) for joining the call, and “working for our troops [to] bring them home and end the war.”

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Norman Solomon
January 27, 2011, Marin, CA

Published by San Francisco Bay Guardian.

One of the most inspiring political leaders in recent decades, Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), famously declared: “I represent the democratic wing of the Democratic Party.” Today we need progressives in Congress who will represent the progressive wing of the Progressive Caucus.

That’s the largest caucus on Capitol Hill—but having 80 members on the roster won’t do much good if many cave under pressure.

For 18 years, the North Bay has been represented in Congress by Rep. Lynn Woolsey. Her strong antiwar voice and very progressive voting record have endeared her to a lot of constituents. Now she’s publicly saying that she may choose to retire instead of seeking reelection.

Read the Full Story Here

Monday, Feb. 7, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

The Peace Alliance will open 2011 Season for Nonviolence with Michael Nagler, who will help us move beyond adversarial communication toward a compassionate community. Professor Nagler founded the UC Berkeley School of Peace & Conflict Studies and the Metta Center Foundation, which offers nonviolence training. S Season for Nonviolence (Jan. 30 to Apr. 4) is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is set between the anniversaries of their deaths.

Santa Rosa Central Library, 3rd and E Streets, Santa Rosa

This event is open to the community free of charge on a space available basis.

This event is co-sponsored by a coalition of local non-profits seeking to help us all move beyond adversarial communication toward a compassionate community. Information – 992-0367 (evenings and weekends)

Medea Benjamin, Leslie Cagan, Tim Carpenter, Gael Murphy, Cindy Sheehan, David Swanson, Debra Sweet
December 2, 2010

With Wikileaks Revelations, Peace Community Redoubles Demand for End to Wars and Voices Support for Whistleblowers

While only a tiny fraction of the U.S. diplomatic cables scheduled for publication by Wikileaks have thus far been made available, some conclusions can already be drawn. These cables and the Iraq and Afghan War Diaries provide an opportunity for Americans to see our government for what it is.

Our government is seen here as controlling a global military and espionage empire that impacts every region of the globe and deceives its own population. Secrecy, spying, and hostility have infected our entire government, turning the diplomatic corps into an arm of the CIA and the military, just as the civilian efforts in Afghanistan are described by Richard Holbrooke, who heads them up, as “support for the military.” Secret war planning, secret wars, and lies about wars have become routine. The United States is secretly and illegally engaged in a war in Yemen and has persuaded that nation’s government to lie about it. The United States has supported a coup in Honduras and lied about it.

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David Swanson
November 18, 2010

Donate $75 or more and receive War Is A Lie
Enter War Is A Lie in the “special fund” box

I am about to publish a new book called War Is A Lie that takes on the lies that launch and prolong wars, and the lies that drive our war economy.

This is perfect timing, as PDA pressures Congress to end wars, cut military spending, invest in jobs and green energy, and leave our Social Security savings alone.

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On This Call…

David Swanson: 1. Don’t use the term “Defense” spending when referring to military spending. 2. No one lost any of their elections because they failed to support the wars. 3. Warned about the “Cat Food Commission” and 4. Made the good point that the best way to fix the budget is to shift expenditures from the military to the civilian side.

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Norman Solomon
October 8, 2010

Published by Marin Independent Journal.

Yesterday, the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan is beginning its 10th year, with 100,000 American troops in that country nearly a decade after the invasion started on Oct. 7, 2001.

When I returned home from a brief visit to Afghanistan a year ago, my life resumed in the pleasant, familiar surroundings of Marin. Yet my head was still in Kabul, with people whose voices are routinely drowned out by the foghorns of war.

Read the Rest Here

October 7, 2010
by Alice Chan and Anna Givens

Santa Rosa, CA — Progressive Democrats Sonoma County partnered with Sonoma County’s Living Wage Coalition, the Sonoma County Democratic Party, the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County, and the North Bay Labor Council, and held our October 2 rally at the Federal Building in Santa Rosa, California. Over 100 enthusiastic and responsive people turned out to rally in solidarity with the major One Nation March & Rally in D.C. and to take action locally for good jobs, peace, education and justice.

Speakers at the rally, which was Emceed by Lisa Maldonado of the North Bay Labor Council, included Davin Cardenas of the Graton Day Labor Center and North Bay Organizing Project, Susan Gorin, Mayor of Santa Rosa, Michael Allen, candidate for California’s Assembly in the 7th District, Marty Bennett of the Living Wage Coalition, Assembly Member Noreen Evans, who is running for California State Senate, and PDA’s own Norman Solomon.

PDA had a very strong presence in DC and around the country at One Nation. I was personally on the ground in DC and want to thank all of our members who showed up for our lobby day and reception on Friday and the rally on Saturday.

Read the Rest Here

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2 beautiful PDF’s, one B&W and one Color. And a plain Word Doc. Use these to help spread the word about Saturday’s Rally!
Thank you Robert Neuse for the PDF flyers.

Please join us on the ground in Sonoma County for not one but two local ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER 10.2.10 events.

Sonoma County Rally & Action Day! in Solidarity with the Major One Nation Working Together March & Rally in D.C. 10.2.10

JOIN THE ONE NATION GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT AND RALLY FOR CHANGE AND GOOD JOBS FOR SONOMA COUNTY!

Saturday, October 2, 2010.
Federal Building.
777 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa.
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10 to 11 AM: Rally & program; speakers include Lisa Maldonado, Master of Ceremonies, Michael Allen, Susan Gorin, Norman Solomon, Davin Cardenas, Marty Bennett.

ONE NATION STANDS FOR: FULL EMPLOYMENT NOW. PEACE AND JUSTICE
Federal Intervention to Create Good Jobs, Protecting Public Services, Making Wall Street Pay

JOIN THE ONE NATION GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT AND RALLY FOR CHANGE AND GOOD JOBS FOR SONOMA COUNTY

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Federal Building
777 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa

10 to 11 AM: Rally & program; speakers include Lisa Maldonado, Master of Ceremonies, Michael Allen, Susan Gorin, Norman Solomon, Davin Cardenas, Marty Bennett.

ONE NATION STANDS FOR: FULL EMPLOYMENT NOW. PEACE AND JUSTICE.
Federal Intervention to Create Good Jobs, Protecting Public Services, Making Wall Street Pay