Category: Issues

Protect “DREAMERS” by signing your support for the BRIDGE Act

Dear South Carolina Friends,

As you may know, Congress is reviewing the BRIDGE Act introduced by Senator Graham and we are calling for our South Carolina Congressional Members to work across the aisle and with the new administration to see that we support our Dreamers. This legislation will protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients. Continue reading “Protect “DREAMERS” by signing your support for the BRIDGE Act” →

Augusta – Screening of “13th” – Tue, Mar 14, 5:30 pm

The Central Savannah River Peace Alliance is hosting a screening of Ava DuVernay‘s documentary 13th on Tuesday, March 14, 5:30 pm, at the Headquarters Library, Room A, at 823 Telfair St in Augusta. The film explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans. Discussion to follow.

Admission is free and open to the public. Room is wheelchair accessible. Share on Facebook and Twitter.

Bill Attacking Free Speech on Palestine/Israel Now in SC Senate

SC State Rep. Alan Clemmons recently smeared the liberal Jewish peace group J Street as “anti-Semitic”, an extreme opinion that was widely panned.  But the SC House recently passed a bill sponsored Clemmons that would enshrine the same kind of smear tactics into SC law.  H.3643  invokes a controversial and vague State Department definition of anti-semitism to smear and  silence legitimate criticism of the state of Israel on campuses in South Carolina.  Language in the bill referencing a “What is Anti-Semitism Relative to Israel?” fact sheet is a direct attack on First Amendment protected political speech and intentionally blurs the line to conflate and equate legitimate viewpoints on Palestine/Israel with anti-Semitism, a backdoor form of censorship.  We’ve challenged the bill in both House and Senate subcommittees; both mostly ignored our concerns and rubber stamped the bill without discussion.  However, the bill was blocked in the last session by Senator Brad Hutto.  Now there is a rush now to get the bill passed with the new session in January of 2018.

TAKE ACTION: 

Continue reading “Bill Attacking Free Speech on Palestine/Israel Now in SC Senate” →

Refugee Task Force Holds Winter Clothing Drive

South Carolina is famous for its mild winters.  But we still have to bundle up for the cold, which can be a problem for those from even warmer climes…  or those forced to leave everything behind.

Carolina Peace’s Refugee Task Force is holding a Winter Clothing Drive for Refugees now through Friday March 10th.  Most refugees arrive with very few possessions.  Please donate winter clothes of all sizes.  We also welcome donations of children’s clothing.  Items benefit refugees resettled here in South Carolina.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

Redeemer Lutheran Church
WEDNESDAYS 6PM-8PM
(February)
525 St. Andrews Rd Columbia

2931 Blossom St.
Columbia, SC
Please leave items  in box on porch.
Look for sign saying REFUGEES WELCOME!

Reformation Lutheran Church
FRIDAY March 10th 10 am-Noon
1118 Union St. Columbia, SC
If you would like to give your donation directly to a refugee family, please join us 10am at Reformation Lutheran Church.

Another Location, Arrange a Pick Up
Text 817.881.8199 for Katrina.
____
Email: Refugee Task Force, rtf@carolinapeace.org
Facebook: South Carolina Welcomes Refugees

Kenneth Campbell on Black History Month

Each of the past few years, I have made presentations to youth groups celebrating African American history, particularly during the month of February, which we recognize as Black History Month. These groups include Scouts, mentoring programs, and church groups.

In each presentation, I make it a point to say that Black History is American History. If American History were taught as such, we would not need Black History Month or presentations. But, sadly, it isn’t.

Continue reading “Kenneth Campbell on Black History Month” →

A Thousand Protest Trump Executive Orders on Refugees, Travel Ban

On Tuesday January 31, the Carolina Peace Resource Center held a United We Stand: Immigrants and Refugees Welcome Rally at the South Carolina State House. The rally was a protest against the executive orders signed by President Trump that curtail refugee resettlement and indefinitely suspended resettlement of refugees from Syria as well as instituting a travel ban from seven nations into the United States.
Close to a thousand people attended the protest, forming an expansive sign line across the State House grounds. Carolina Peace provided materials for protesters to craft their own signs, and the finished products combined with signs brought by other attendees to make a visually stunning show of support for immigrants and refugees.

Carolina Peace President David Matos led the crowd in cheers that welcomed immigrants and refugees. After his initial remarks, the protesters lined Gervais St. to chant and hold signs for nearly two hours.

Local voices for peace attended the march, such as poet Nikky Finney, pictured above. The crowd made an impressive sight to passersby and vehicles driving by the State House.

As the sun began to set, the crowd relocated to the grounds in front of the State House grounds to listen to several informational speakers including a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union and Omari Fox from Simple Justice: Black Lives Matter.

The crowd continued to rally and cheer on the grounds and the overall mood was one of goodwill and acceptance. Several local press sources covered the event. Below are links to articles about the event:

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/01/31/donald-trump-statehouse-protest-sc/97289334/

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/crowd-of-about-gathers-in-columbia-to-protest-president-donald/article_690c23b4-e80f-11e6-b6d7-273522ccd18d.html

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article129896284.html

Overall, the event was an exciting show of support for immigrants and refugees and an inspiring event for Carolina Peace. We are grateful for the outpouring of support that was shown and are excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future.

50 Years Ago: Dr King’s “Beyond Vietnam” Speech Called Out Racism, Materialism and Militarism

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s Beyond Vietnam speech, delivered April 4, 1967. A passionate defense of nonviolence, King called out his own government as the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world,” condemning the Vietnam war, a war that was consuming resources needed to remedy poverty and injustice a home. King went “Beyond Vietnam” and warned we would be rallying behind similar causes for a generation unless we correctly diagnosed America’s problem.  King called for a revolution in values in America from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society that valued human beings above material gain.  Here are some resources to learn more: Continue reading “50 Years Ago: Dr King’s “Beyond Vietnam” Speech Called Out Racism, Materialism and Militarism” →