Four Years Too Many

Mar 19, 2007

Today marked the fouth anniversary of the unprovoked invasion, occupation and sacking of a small, poor and broken country, Iraq, by the mightiest country on earth, the United States. Four years of an unjustified, immoral and horrible war that has resulted in the loss of over three thousand American lives, cut short in their youth, the maiming of thousands more, the death of countless thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens and the utter destruction of their country. A war effort, steeped in corruption, that has plundered our national wealth to enrich a handful of crony corporations. A war launched on a platform of lies and distortions against a country that was never a threat to us nor that could harm us even if the intent had existed. A war promoted by men who never fought in war and whose purpose was to remake the Middle East and thus make its oil wealth easily available and safe for looting by American oil companies.

Thus did thousands of New Yorkers march through the streets of Manhattan yesterday to protest the war launched by this president ... the worst president ever; A man who sits atop the most corrupt administration in our country's history. New Yorkers were joined by tens of thousands in cities throughout the country and around the world.

The New York Times, which boasts that it is the "paper of record," ignored the patriots who marched in its own city yesterday. Instead of a headline on the front page, "New Yorkers March by the Thousands to Protest the War," they saw fit to bury any mention of the outpouring on page five of the second section. It was one of nine bulleted entries in its Metro Briefing along with such earth-shaking events as "Off-Duty Officer Catches Suspect," and "Brooklyn: Carbon Monoxide Forces Evacuations." So much for all the news that's fit. Apparently, the justified criticism of its supposedly objective journalism which supported the war in the run-up to the invasion has not made much of an impact on its policies. And so its blackout on news coverage of popular protests against the continuing Bush debacle.

Click picture for a larger view (then hit back to return).

Thousands marched in New York yesterday, braving the cold and snow, to protest the war. Message to the media: This is real news not the diversionary Anna Nicole dribble.

Today Bush pleaded for patience. The chutzpah! We should be patient with a policy that has had such disastrous results for Americans and Iraqis alike? Patient with the lies? Patient with the dying? Patient with the waste and corruption? As Bush, himself, once said, "Fool me once, shame on you...." Oh, never mind, you know what that fool said. The time for patience is long past. It's time for Congress to heed the mandate of November's election and put an end to the war now.

Just trust him one more time. Um, I don't think so and neither do most Americans.

Tonight I attended two candlelight vigils called by Moveon. The weather was cold, dreary and wet, yet folks came to stand in the cold on the steps of Brooklyn's Borough Hall and give witness to the tragedy of this terrible war. The names of fallen soldiers were read and written passages from parents and friends describing their loved ones were recited solemnly and with great dignity. It was quite moving.

Gathering at Brookln's Borough Hall to mourn four years of war.

Candles to mourn those whose lives have been cut short.

People came out in freezing rain to say NO to Bush and NO to his surge.

Later, my friend Sam and I went to another vigil, this one on Strong Place in Cobble Hill. I questioned why they would hold a vigil on a quiet, residential block instead of on a major thoroughfare where more people could witness it. But after, moved by the vision of a group of neighbors standing with their candles in front of a house on a peaceful Brooklyn street, I thought to myself that if this scene were repeated in block after block and neighborhood after neighborhood, the impact would be immense. It takes courage to stand up and proclaim your resolute opposition to your government's policy in front of your neighbors. But if each of us who oppose this war did it instead of retreating to the comfort of silence, might not the war have been over by now? Dr. King said it so eloquently:

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Let us hope that, come a year, we will not be standing vigil with candles once again.

Singer Dan Zanes reads the names of lost Americans, young victims of Bush's endless war.

Reading the names. Pictures of deceased Brooklyn soliders hang above the vigil.

This coming Sunday, March 25th, is the date for a Brooklyn Peace Parade. It's remarkable in that it is being organized by a young, single mom who has not been an activist. Just a mother so upset by the war that she felt compelled to take action on her own. In a few weeks, it has mushroomed into a major community happening. Those of you who live in Brooklyn (and those of you not lucky enough to live here) are invited to participate. This is a kid and family-friendly event. You're invited to bring musical instruments, drums, signs, banners and ballons and, most of all, "your voices for peace" as the flyer urges. By clicking on the image below, you can download a pdf version of the flyer which you can print and distribute for your contacts. Help make this a big Brooklyn turnout for peace! (Details on time and location for the parade are on the flyer. Just click on the image below).

Click on the image above to download the flyer (details on time and location are on the flyer). Print it out, cut it in half - there are two to a page - and distribute to friends and family.

The Greatest Generation

Mar 18, 2007

I came of age in the 1960's. It was then that I cut my eye teeth in the political struggles for civil rights and the fight to end the war in Vietnam. The 60's were just 30 years out from the terrible times of the Great Depression and a mere 15 years from the end of World War II. Today Vietnam is a distant memory and if you asked young people about the Depression and the second world war, many would be hard pressed to give you much insight into either. To a large extent that's a product of our corporate-controlled mass media and culture which would have us forget our history. As they say, those who ignore the lessons of history are bound to repeat it. The Great Depression holds lessons for today's struggles against economic injustice, just as the echoes of Vietnam reverberate from the walls of Baghdad.

I learned important lessons from my parents and incorporated their values into mine. They were of that generation who were the sons and daughters of the immigrant waves who poured into this country in the early part of the 20th century and their parents gave them a keen awareness of economics and politics, having fled the hard times and repression of Europe and other parts.Their parents also imbued them with a sceptical eye critical of the promised blessings of American capitalism where the streets were said to have been paved with gold. More often, those streets were home to those out of work and hungry for a bit of food. They quickly learned that in America they had to stand together or they would die apart. And so they organized. The built the mighty trade union movement and with that came other victories: social security, unemployment insurance, a 40-hour work week, health insurance. Without a knowledge of history and the sacrifices of those who came before, these social benefits have often been taken for granted by the generations that followed (perhaps not so much any longer in the age of Bush) not knowing that they were the fruit of many a bitter struggle and were not given from on high but instead wrested from the political establishment and the corporate power that had run the country without a care for those who worked for a living.

And then that generation went to war as an evil fascism decended on the world. They understood the danger and rose to the challenge and, with great loss of life and limb, defeated it. It's no wonder they were called the Greatest Generation!

It was with this appreciation that I attended, yesterday, the 90th birthday celebration of a dear friend, Ann Yellin. Friends of my parents, forever it seemed, Ann and Jack Yellin were residents of the same Manhattan Beach community that I grew up in. Jack, who died many years ago, was an electrician. He was one of those brave band of so-called premature anti-fascists, joining the redoutable Abraham Lincoln Brigade to fight in Spain where Franco, with Hitler's help, was trying to overthrow the democratically-elected government.

Ann was a registered nurse. But she was also a consummate activist, participating in and leading every struggle that confronted the people from civil rights to health care. And she was always, always active in the fight for world peace, be it the movmement to end the war in Vietnam or joining with tens of thousands of others to end the threat of nuclear armageddon. To this day, she remains active in these wonderfully humane activities. So this was not just a celebration of a 90th birthday, an important accomplishment in its own right, it was also a celebration of a wonderful and meaningful life - one dedicated to helping people, caring about people, caring about our planet. If there is anything more eloquent that can be said about a person's life and its meaning, I don't know what it is.

Happy Birthday to you Ann and thank you for all that you've done. May we all appreciate Ann Yellin and others of her generation that stood up to be counted when it mattered most. May we all learn from her generation and use that knowledge as we face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Here's to you, Ann!

Happy Birthday, Ann!

To see all my photos of Ann's party just click here.

I'm The Decider. You're The Decider. We're The Deciders!

Feb 22, 2007

The elections of November 2006 marked a historic turning point and produced a sea change in our country's political landscape. It heralded the beginning of the end of the Bush nightmare; the end of an administration that has been the most destructive and most evil in our country's history. The worst President, ever!

Contrary to Bush's juvenile assertion that he's "the decider," when it comes to our country's future and that of the world, the American people, in their votes, stated the truth - We, the people, are the deciders, not the leaders and misleaders of governments, not Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rice and Blair. The future course of the world, the history that is yet to be written, depends on the world's people. All the military might and destructive force at Bush's command cannot change that elementary fact. And so it has been throughout history. And so it will be now.

That doesn't mean it'll be easy. Bush and Cheney are consummate bullies -- they won't give up even if the tide turns against them. It takes the committed unity of people opposing them and putting pressure on the new Congress to stand up on behalf of the people - to finally put the kibosh on the Bush presidency.

And therein lies the battle: to pressure the new Congress to take definitive action. It has begun with so-called non-binding resolutions. But non-binding merely plays into Bush's hand; it shows cowardice and an unwillingness to challenge, head-on, the bullies in the White House. Non-bindng to Bush means "we don't agree but go ahead and do it anyway." And he will!

More decisive action lies in the likes of House Resolution 508, authored by Representative Lynn Woolsey of California and co-sponsored by 45 other members, which would mandate the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the region within six months of its enactment. It would also repeal the authorization (read "blank check") given to Bush by the Congress in 2002. And it puts teeth behind its assertions by cutting any funding used to continue deployment of troops to Iraq (i.e. Bush's surge). In addition, it contains strong language that provides money for reconstruction in Iraq to attempt, in some small way, to undo the horrendous damage done to that country by Bush's unprovoked and immoral war.

So it was with the idea of pressuring Congress that a group of some 30 residents met last night, in a Park Slope home, with their newly-elected Congresswoman, Yvette Clarke.

To her credit, Clarke has joined the Congress' Progressive Caucus as well as its Out-Of-Iraq Caucus, two of the institution's most progressive groupings. In addition, she has signed on as a supporter of the above-mentioned resolution 508. She also stated forthrightly that she intends to vote against the supplemental budget request to further fund the Iraq and Afghan wars (adding still another $93 billion to the $369 billion already spent on Bush's terror-fying wars!)

Residents peppered her with questions about Iran (she stated that she's firmly opposed to military action against Iran), impeachment (she's in favor) and other issues that were on their minds. She stated emphatically that her constituents, who, she said, are in great need of health services, new schools and affordable housing, cannot expect any help from government as long as the war continues in Iraq and the billions being spent there continue to be diverted from the social needs of people.

It was a good start, I thought, for a freshman congresswoman to be so bold and outspoken on these urgent issues. Would that our two U.S. Senators were as principled and forthright! In concluding, Ms. Clarke urged those in attendance to keep pressing her on the issues of peace and economic justice and that we would find her responsive. Time will tell, but the promise was made and we must make sure to follow up on it.

~~~~~

That was yesterday. Today was witness to another action on the same agenda: i.e. pressure on the Congress. The effective and impressive internet-born organization, Move On was delivering thousands of letters, nationwide, to Congress Members, telling them - "You're the decider. You must stop the escalation in Iraq." In Brooklyn, as part of that effort, dozens of citizens gathered at the corner of Remsen Street and Court Street. This was outside the offices of Congressman Edolphus Towns, who represents Brooklyn's 10th C.D. Just the day before, members of Brooklyn Parents For Peace had met with Towns and he was ambiguous on opposing the supplemental budget request, coming before Congress in the days ahead. But today, apparently, with this visit of two peace delegations in two days, he changed his mind when I asked him again -- "Yes, I intend to vote against it," even though he complained of the Republican/Media's attempt to smear funding cuts as, somehow, undermining the troops. The truth is -- and it was pointed out to the Congressman who then agreed with us --that keeping the troops in Iraq is truly undermining them and putting them in harm's way. Bringing them home, safe and alive, is the only way to support the troops.

And so to return to my point: unremitting pressure brought to bear on the Congress (friends and foe alike) is not only urgent, but a necessity, if we are to succeed in ending the war and preventing further bloodshed in Iran. The month of March represents the fourth anniversary of this debacle, of this war launched on lies. Demonstrations in New York are scheduled on March 18th and other dates. We should make these as big as possible so that Congress gets the message: In November, we voted for peace...now you must listen! We are the deciders!


Hundreds pass the busy intersection of Remsen and Court Streets as peace demonstrators stood outside Congressman Ed Towns' office - "Congress - you are the decider!"


Many stopped to listen and look and nod their heads in agreement.


Vietnam veteran Hugh Bruce made an impassioned speech and many passers-by stopped to listen.


"Hey Congress - are you getting the message??!!"


After the street corner rally about 20 or so people took the elevators to the 15th floor and crowded into Congressman Towns' office.


Democracy in action: citizens demanding answers and action. Congressman Towns vowed to oppose the war, said he would most certainly vote against Bush's supplemental request for more billions and would oppose Presidential diktat when it came to escalating the conflict with Iran.

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

You might think you're simply looking at a bus travelling down an interstate highway. But, in reality, it's so much more than just a simple bus. What you're really looking at is people on the move - a movement that is shaping history and changing the course of our country.

~~~~

At 5:30 on a frigid Brooklyn morning, over 300 people waited on the dark sidewalks alongside the borough's Central Library. Sipping free coffee (courtesy of our neighborhood coffee shop, Prospect Perk), they stood shivering, chatting and waiting for the buses that soon arrived and which they quickly boarded. That scene was repeated in many neighborhoods throughout the city and in many cities throughout the country. Citizens were preparing to gather in their nation's capitol. Their aim -- to demand that the new Congress, elected in a historical vote in November, respect and act on the results of that election. The people had spoken in November, loud and clear. They wanted out of the nightmare that their foolish President and his cabal of extremists had deceived them into in Iraq.

Enough! The people had spoken and now they wanted their elected servants to listen! And so, hundreds of thousands were descending on Washington D.C. to make sure that November's election was not forgotten just a few months later in January.

What started out as a frigid morning quickly changed to a glorious, sunny and warm day in Washington and the protesters' mood matched the weather. Like the sun, people were shining from the warmth of their purpose and the unity with each other that they felt as they marched through the streets. In our six buses from Brooklyn, the fruit of many weeks of intense activity on the streets of our communities, were a cross section of Americans. There were parents and grandparents, who had marched in many peace parades, bringing their children, some of whom were on their very first peace march. There were clergy from various Brooklyn churches as well as Christians, Jews and Muslims, united in their desire for peace. There were students from a local high school brought along by their teachers. There were African-American veterans from Black Veterans For Social Justice, a Brooklyn group that helps returned soldiers who have fought in war and know, firsthand, the terrible toll it takes. There were people of all colors and nationalities and ages and it was a beautiful thing.

An early morning break for coffee and bathrooms in Maryland.

The Metro entrance was jammed with people arriving for the demonstation.


We've arrived! Here, one of six buses organized by Brooklyn Parents For Peace arrives in Greenbelt, MD and prepares to board the Metro for the half-hour ride to downtown Washington.

There's an old saying that's emblematic of these times:

"The people shall lead and the leaders shall follow."

We had an election and pro-war office holders were swept from office. Anti-war candidates were elected. However, no sooner then they took office did they begin to back pedal. We were told by an assortment of Democrats that "impeachment is off the table," and "cutting the funding for the war is not an option."

In the face of Bush's proposed escalation of the war, an action opposed by a huge majority of Americans, it is simply incredible that the Congress can only manage to come up with timid non-binding resolutions as if they were scolding a naughty child. What's needed, in fact, are bold actions to hold the Bush gang responsible for the terrible crimes they've committed over the last six years. The question begs to be asked: "If not now, then when?" Congressional inaction only sets the stage for more high crimes down the road. It's breathtaking to view the damage that this administration has caused:

• Launched a war, based on lies, that has killed and maimed thousands of American soldiers and untold numbers of innocent Iraqi citizens.
• Broken or ignored numerous international treaties to slow global warming and protect the environment.
• Abrogated treaties that were written and signed to slow the nuclear arms race.
• Subjected prisoners to horrible torture and degrading treatment, outlawed by the Geneva accords.
• Held citizens and non-citizens in jail for years without charging them or allowing them access to judicial system.
• Kidnapped innocent people and had them sent to other countries to be tortured on behalf of the United States in order to extract information for Bush's so-called war on terror.
• Spied on American citizens and others without court orders, in direct violation of our constitution.

If our representatives don't consider these crimes against our democracy and constitution for which the culprits must be held accountable then they need a drastic refresher course in the basic laws and principles on which our republic was founded. To ignore those crimes is a crime in itself as our elected officials are sworn to uphold the Constitution.

That is precisely why the protesters came to Washington - They were pushing Congress to act to end this illegal and immoral war. And more - they want Congress to defend our democracy and to demand accountability for the misdeeds that have been done. Accountability -- A simple demand but nothing is more important if our freedom is to survive. Indeed, the dramatic action unfolding before our eyes daily in Congress is a result of the people leading and the leaders following. The lesson to be learned? There can be no progress without struggle. Pressure must be brought on those in power if we want to change our world.

Code Pink, the creative women's peace group, was there and set up a very moving exhibit featuring thousands of shoes and boots that symbolized the many people, American and Iraqi, lost to Bush's war.

The Brooklyn Parents For Peace contingent was very spirited and represented a wonderful cross-section of Brooklynites marching together for peace. They were often greeted by applause as they marched up Constitution Avenue.

Our congressman, Major Owens (now retired), marched most of the way with the Brooklyn contingent...and we were very proud to have him by our side!

A fabulous slice of Brooklyn marched in the Brooklyn Parents for Peace contingent.

Thousands came to demand action to end the war now.

Special mention and deep gratitude goes to the many members of Brooklyn Parents For Peace who worked for weeks to make our participation in this national action a huge success.

Night And Day Becomes A Biscuit

Restaurants come. Restaurants go. I never had an opportunity to sample Night And Day , a nice looking place on Park Slope's restaurant row. Too late. It has now closed and reopened as Biscuit, whose tag line is "authentic Brooklyn BBQ." The chef is Josh Cohen, well known to foodies and chowhounds as the owner of the now-defunct Biscuit BBQ joint on Flatbush Avenue. Josh is the son of Mary Cohen who is the owner of Prospect Perk, a great neighborhood coffee shop that I visit almost every morning for the best espresso americano in these parts. She also stocks Bagel Hole bagels which resemble the small, knotty bagels of my early years not the oversized, over-caloried, air-filled and humongous bagels of today.

I used to drop into the old Biscuit because Josh served up some really good barbecue. I particularly loved his Mr. Brown, a sandwich made of pulled pork but blending some of the well-done (thus, "brown") ends of the pig mixed in with the regular morsels. Yum.

So I biked over to Fifth Avenue and President Street for today's grand opening. And I wasn't disappointed. Besides the requisite ribs and chicken, there are sandwiches, wings, salads and a full, and nice looking, bar. Some western music was playing, interspersed with pop and I had my pulled-pork sandwich with very delicious barbecue sauce (Josh's own) and coarsely cut cole slaw on a semi-hard bun ... just like they serve it in the Carolina's. So they can tout it as Brooklyn Barbecue but it definitely has a southern-Brooklyn accent.

Highly recommended.

Biscuit is creating a buzz in a neighborhood with a dearth of bbq joints.

The bar at Biscuit.

Part of the menu at Biscuit.

It's BBQ time at Biscuit -- 230 Fifth Avenue at President Street.

The Lessons of the Chris Owens Campaign

I realize I've left people hanging. "What happened with the Owens campaign, Matt?", they wanted to know. "You worked so hard and Chris came in last. Are you depressed, demoralized?"

Yes, I am disappointed. But depressed, demoralized, defeated? Not! This was a complex race with a lot of variables that make it hard to precisely analyze and arrive at specific conclusions. The campaign never had illusions about winning. Some thought it was possible, but perhaps not probable, that Chris could win. Others were not so sanguine, more realistic regarding the forces we were up against. Immersed in the campaign and believing in it, I, and many others, worked hard, very hard.

The night before the election at an Owens rally at the YWCA, peace activists Sam Koprak, Evelyn Abelson and Georgia Guida, pose with progressive Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Maxine and me.

Three great, progressive members of Congress: Major Owens, Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters.

More than anything else, this was a campaign that went up against the power of big money. The developers, like Ratner and others, have their eyes on Brooklyn. Those eyes have dollars signs in them. In yesterday's Times, an article about Atlantic Yards notes that "in Brooklyn ... candidates who had campaigned strongly against the project were defeated by candidates supporting it." But the story behind the story (the story the Times conveniently leaves out) is the part about big money and how it pollutes our country's politics. The favored candidate of the big developers, David Yassky, came in second (thanks to Chris' good performance in predominantly liberal, white Park Slope). His campaign was fueled by a war chest of $1.5 million (Chris raised a total of $300 thousand) and put out a dozen slick, glossy mailers in the course of the weeks leading up to the election. Never mentioning his support of Atlantic Yards, he pictured himself as an advocate of affordable housing and an crusader for peace, thus deluding unsophisticated voters that he was worthy of their vote. Yvette Clark, the African-American Councilwoman (and the victor in the election) also had money, remnants of the Brooklyn political machine and the power of Congressman Anthony Weiner's organization. She, too, campaigned as a fierce opponent of the war (not having been a leader on the peace issue during her tenure in the City Council) and kept mum on her support of the Ratner development which will surely wreak havoc on her constituents who are overwhelmingly poor and people of color as they are inevitably driven out of the area by gentrification and rising rents.

Add to the politics of big money, the disunity and yes, opportunism, among some leaders of the labor movement. Many unions threw their weight behind Clark and Carl Andrews, the other African-American in the race, sadly, deserting Chris, son of Major Owens who was, perhaps, labor's most steadfast friend in Congress. They opted, instead, to back a perceived "winner," rather than support the Owens candidacy, one that was genuinely progressive and unstintingly pro-labor.

A third big problem was the split in the Black community: three candidates campaigning for the African-American vote with a white interloper (Yassky) hoping to win on the back of that disunity. The Owens campaign did not have sufficient strength or organization in large parts of that community that, coupled with its very decent performance in the white neighborhoods, would have guaranteed victory.

Were there problems with the campaign itself? Of course. More money would have meant better organization, more literature, a more experienced staff, etc. But that's always a problem with a "people's" candidate who has to do battle against the well-endowed campaigns of the mainstream candidates backed by big business. The lesson to be learned here is that if we have to depend on people instead of money, then we better have lots of people. That means people in motion: a movement or movements. And that was the fourth big obstacle. While this section of Brooklyn is known as a bastion of liberal sentiments, that doesn't translate into powerful movements. Yes, we have a good and active peace movement. There is a strong organization that is fighting the Atlantic Yards, the skyscraper city that big real estate would impose on this neighborhood. And there are progressive Democratic party clubs that have been active here for years. It takes all of those and the power of labor as well to build a movement that can wield political power. In a previous post, during the height of the campaign, I complained about the lack of interest on the part of progressive activists in this campaign. I opined that progressives should have embraced this campaign as their own and put their blood and sweat into it. Some did, particularly those involved in the anti-Ratner movement. But many who should have, did not. Instad, they stood on the side and did not participate. There is a historic antipathy to electoral politics in the Left and I think the apathetic approach to the Chris Owens campaign demonstrates it very clearly. Many activists I spoke to were uninformed and very confused about the race and the various candidates, not seeing clearly the connection to big money or indeed to the very future of progressive politics in our community as wealther, more conservative forces move into Brooklyn and more dependably-progressive (poor and working class people and people of color) are forced out.

Ethel Owens (Chris's mom) outside PS 282 in Park Slope on election day.

Someone stuck a perceptive sticker on a Boyland campaign poster. Untrammelled development was a big issue in this campaign. Chris, and a handful of other candidates, stood up to Ratner to defend the community. Most others accommodated themselves to the power of big money.

On election day, I worked with my friend Bobby Greenberg and others as poll watchers. Bobby and I were in charge of the district's largest polling place, PS 282 on Sixth Avenue in Park Slope. The enthusiasm for Chris of the voters on their way to vote was palpable. It was so great and vociferous that we actually thought, out loud, that he was on his way to an upset victory. And, therein, lies a lesson to be learned: One in five voted for Chris (he garnered 20% of the vote to 31% for the winner, Yvette Clark). But unlike the other voters, those 20% were energized and enthusiastic voters. They knew who they were voting for and why and they said so! The other candidates' voters were merely going through the motion of voting for Yassky or Clark or Andrews. You might even say their votes were purchased by lavish outlays of money and a deluge of phony election propaganda. The excited and enthusiastic Owens voters form the basis of a grand and powerful movement that can be built and must be built if we are to be victorious in the next election ... indeed, if we are to win any of the battles that lie ahead - in the ballot box or in the street. And that's why I'm not demoralized. The biggest mistake we can make now is to let those supporters fade away back into their individual lives and homes. Contacts must be maintained and built upon. The potential for victory is there. We just have to go out and build on it. And so, depressed? Hell no! Onward, to building that new movement!

Chris greets supporters on election night. Tired but uplifted by the hundreds who participated in the campaign, he vowed that the fight will continue.

Jim Brennan, Brooklyn Assemblyman, at Chris' election night gathering. Brennan was among the few elected officials to stand on principle and endorse Chris' campaign for its progressive content. That's a Democrat with SPINE!

Park Slope Turns Out To Hear John Murtha But Gets To Hear From Chris Owens, As Well.

The race for Congress in Brooklyn's 11th Congressional District is heating up. As readers of this blog will know, the contest pits progressive Chris Owens against three other candidates: David Yassky, Yvette Clark and Karl Andrews. You can read my other posts for more background-- click here and here.

The 11th district encompasses a vast area running from Cobble Hill on the west to East New York on the east. In between are diverse neighborhoods such as Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Park Southwest and Windsor Terrace. Chris has hit hard against the war in Iraq and the proposed mega-development known as Atlantic Yards at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.

Large sections of this district are known for their liberal and activist voters. So it's no wonder that the three other candidates have, of late, become born-again peace advocates and fighters for "affordable housing" by meekly criticizing the size of Ratner's skyscraper city (while still supporting it). It wasn't always so.

The latest incarnation of these newly self-proclaimed fighters for peace came in a "Stand Against The War In Iraq" rally, featuring Congressman John Murtha and called by Congressman Anthony Weiner and Councilwoman Yvette Clarke. Weiner recently annointed Clark with his endorsement in what is widely viewed as a quid-pro-quo for his expected run for Mayor in 2009.

Now don't get me wrong. It's a good thing that politicians are calling meetings on behalf of peace. It shows that people are fed up with the war and that political leaders are feeling the pressure and the need to respond. In fact, that's what we've been workng so hard for: to push the Hillarys of this world to move away from their pro-war positions; to move them to oppose the war and call for a speedy return of U.S. troops.

Weiner has had a mixed record on the Iraq war. He initially supported it and voted funds for it. This year, however, he has voted against Bush's request for more money, joining most of the Brooklyn Congressional delegation in opposing any more spending on the debacle in the Mideast. He also signed on to the Murtha resolution which would rapidly "redeploy" U.S. troops out of Iraq. Good for him! Clark, too, has opposed the war but has never been known as a vocal advocate (in the City Council) or shown leadership on the question of peace.

So action on peace is good and very important and Murtha was welcomed, by those on all sides, to speak out against the war. But I'd be wrong not to also take note of what I believe to be quite a cynical maneuver -- that in the very last weeks of this campaign for Congress, Weiner and Clarke, who, to my knowledge, have never, ever participated in an organized peace event, decide that now is the time to call a peace rally! By the way, you might ask, did they then call to invite the participation of any local peace activists? Did they reach out to any of the leaders of the very strong peace movement in downtown Brooklyn? Um, no. It was as if a peace movement in this district was non-existent. I'm compelled to make the observation, therefore, that this was more a campaign rally for Yvette Clarke, in search of liberal votes, than a rally to genuinely advance the cause of peace.

People did turn out: the meeting, at the Park Slope Methodist Church, was packed with people eager to hear what Murtha had to say. By the way, this church is in Representative Major Owens' district, not Weiner's - a not-so-subtle snub of a Congressman who is, indeed, a long-standing ally of the peace movement and an uncompromising foe of Bush's war. Major insisted on attending the meeting. After all, he is the bona fide Congressman of the district. To her credit (or because she felt compelled to), Clarke introduced Major Owens who, in turn, introduced Murtha.

Chris Owens also attended the meeting. So did dozens of his supporters - who stood outside, calmly and with dignity, with their signs, flyers and buttons. They were there to support the cause of peace but they also insisted on letting residents know just who the real peace candidate is in this race; the candidate who has genuine peace credentials built from many years of participation in the fight against war and militarism; the candidate who is a member of his local peace organization; who has marched in peace marches; who has spoken at peace rallies; who takes his stand on the issue, not as just another point on a flyer that can attract liberal voters, but as the very kernel of his race for Congress.


Here's the flyer, distributed last night, at the Murtha Rally. Click on the image for a legible, pdf view of it.


Chris greets supporters and residents ouside the Park Slope Methodist Church.


Interviewed by the press, after the Murtha speech.

Why The Owens Race Really Matters - And Why YOU Really Matter.

The race for Congress in the 11th C.D. has been widely written about in the press and discussed on TV. This is a very clear cut race that pits a genuine progressive, on the one hand, against real-estate developers' money and corrupt Brooklyn clubhouse politics, on the other. The progressive community knows Chris Owens and what he stands for but that knowledge has not translated into the extraordinary support and activity that's needed to guarantee victory on September 12th.

These are terrible times we're living in. People are worried and demoralized. But these are also the days of Ned Lamont's victory in Connecticut and court rulings against King Bush and his wiretapping violations of our Constitution. So, to my point of view, things are looking up. But it takes action on the part of each and every one of us to translate hopefulness into victory. It's not too late. Each of us must make a determination to come out and participate so that voters of this sprawling district can hear the message and learn the vast difference that exists between Chris's campaign and those of the other candidates.

In case I haven't woken you up to the importance of the Chris Owens campaign, I'm gonna state it again ---

Chris is the one and only genuine progressive running. Thus, should progressives heartily embrace his campaign as their own. Thus, should every progressive actively support this race with every fiber of their being.

Yesterday, I stood on the steps of City Hall with some 100 other supporters as Chris held a press conference to showcase new endorsements. Assembly members Jim Brennan and Deborah Glick gave Chris strong endorsements. They saw a clear difference between Chris's campaign and that of the others running: Chris's consistently progressive credentials and positions on the issues: the war, runaway development, civil rights, democracy and so on.


Chris Owens addresses the press at City Hall.


Chris receving the strong endorsement of Assemblyman Jim Brennan.


Assemblywoman Deborah Glick giving her endorsement.

Other endorsers were present: the Sierra Club, the Brooklyn/Queens chapter of the National Organization of Women, One Hundred Black Women For Chris Owens, Develop - Don't Destroy (the leaders of the anti-Ratner/Pataki/Bloomberg plan for mega-development in downtown Brooklyn), labor leader Henry Foner and others from labor, activists from Brooklyn's peace movment and so on.

Later that evening, I attended an event at the Picket Fence, a new restaurant on Cortelyou Road. The Cortelyou Road Merchants Association had called a candidates' night. Some 60 people or so, some dining, some sitting around, filled the restaurant's pleasant back yard. Chris and his opponent, David Yassky (Carl Andrews came later) gave opening statements.

You could call me biased in Chris's favor but, trying to be objective, there was absolutely no contest. Chris scored a knockout in the first round! Amazingly, Yassky, though depicting himself in campaign literature as a supporter of peace, never once mentioned the most important issue facing the country: the war in Iraq. Not once! But he did point proudly to Chuck Schumer (who has a distinctly pro-war position) as his mentor. He rambled on, dwelling on what he said were his achievements in the City Council (hybrid taxis) and touted his support for affordable housing along the waterfront in north Brooklyn. Just how he could be a champion of affordable housing while, at the same time, receving vast financial support from big real estate developers was not mentioned.

Chris, on the other hand, was eloquent and passionate. His first point of reference was the war and how it has robbed the district of desperately needed funds for health and education. It was clear that he had a very firm grip on the issues and he was warmly received by the audience as he discoursed on questions of democracy, civil rights, impeachment (he's for it; Yassky said it was a diversion), women's rights, marriage equality, housing, etc.

It was clear to me that this man would make a great member of Congress...one who, once elected, would not waffle on the issues. In just these few minutes it was apparent that Yassky would be "just another Democrat" in the mold of Senators Clinton and Schumer and that Chris was offering a different vision: a fighting Democrat who would stand on principle and on behalf of people's needs.

But the huge chasm, in quality and position, between the Chris and the other candidates is not the obstacle in this race. The obstacle is getting the people of the district to see and hear those differences. The problem, of course, is money - which Yassky and Andrews have plenty of. Folks living in the district have been blanketed, over and over, with slick, glossy, color ads touting Yassky's benefits (and hiding his defecits).

Chris doesn't have the big bucks. The only thing that he has going for him is people. That's why it's so vitally important that each and every one of us pitch in to help this campaign. If it means a contribution, that's a good start. But, more important, it means bodies - leafleting, postering, canvassing, phoning - in short, reaching out to the people of Brooklyn's 11th C.D. and to get out the vote. Our participation can and will make a difference. But if we let someone else do it - it isn't going to get done and we lose the voice of a progressive fighter in Congress. It's as simple as that. Are you ready? Call to volunteer now: 718-604-7500.


Chris, last night, at the Picket Fence. Carl Andrews, left, wtih hands on hips and Davis Yassky, seated, right.

No Child

Do you do theater? You do? Good ... I got a play for you.

If you're a public school teacher, you're gonna love this play.

If you're a NYC public school student, you're gonna love this play.

If you're a parent of children in the NYC school system, you're gonna love this play.

If you attended a NYC public school, you're...oh well, by now you get the point. I can't think of anyone, even those who have nothing to do with NYC public schools, who is not going to get supercharged and blown-away by Nilaja Sun's one-woman show at the Barrow Street Theater.


Great theater that should not be missed.

Nilaja Sun is a young Black woman playwright and actor who has written a play based on her teaching experience in the Bronx's Martin Luther King, Jr. High School. That school is considered one of the city's toughest.

In an exceptional performance, Ms. Sun transforms herself, in front of your very eyes, into many different characters. The first thing that amazed me was the sheer elasticity of her face. This is a very attractive young woman, but what she does with her face in becoming an aged African-American janitor, a novice Asian teacher, a Carribbean school security guard, an Irish principal and an assortment of down-and-out kids is nothing short of incredible. And, of course, it's not only the face. Her voice, intonation, posture and personality change as well - instantaneously and back and forth.

The kids belong to the school's "worst" class. Poorest of the poor, from broken families and mean streets, they have been categorized in advance, by everyone in authority, as dregs, incapable of learning or behaving. The play takes this notion head-on but even the idealistic and energetic Ms. Sun gets beat up by a system that is literally falling down all around her and failing miserably in its goals of educating NYC's children.

There is a play within a play. Ms. Sun has been hired as a drama teacher who tries to mold this class of "misfits" into thespians. The goal is to produce a play for parents, friends and the rest of the school within the space of several weeks.

When we saw the play, the audience was quite diverse and there were quite a few Black youngsters who found the impersonations of the students very accurate. How do I know? From the tears of unrestrained laughter that were running down quite a few cheeks. Stacey, retired from teaching art at a city school, identified personally with the depictions performed by this brilliant actor.

This is a play that is hilarious at the same time that it is sad, depressing, angry and uplifting. It's a strong critique of government, both local and national, that has been dismembering public education under the obfuscating slogan of No Child Left Behind. I strongly urge you to see No Child. Take your kids, your family and your friends. Not to worry -- this is a play without the Broadway glitz and spectacle, but you will get to see more fabulous acting and drama in a short 70 minutes than you'll see in an entire season on Broadway.

Reduced price tickets are available on TDF (if you're a member) or, even better, on WBAI on David Rothenberg's program - Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 10:30.


Do not, under any circumstances, miss this exciting theater experience.

Why I'm Supporting Chris Owens For Congress

Actually, the title of this post should read - "Why I'm supporting and Working For Chris Owens For Congress." That's what I've been doing on many hot days this summer. And it's been a worthwhile endeavor. I recommend it to you.

Brooklyn's 11th C.D. was shaped, in large part, to guarantee representation in Congress to African-Americans, Latinos and other minorities who had been kept un-represented by means of gerrymandered districts and other devices. And so, in 1968, the fighting Black Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm was elected to office to the newly-created district and represented her constituents, splendidly, for many years. Later, Major Owens, the current representative of the11th, continued in Ms. Chisholm's path. He has been one of the most consistently progressive members of Congress, in the forefront of struggles on behalf of labor, public education, civil rights and peace.

Major Owens announced his retirement this year and the race was thrown wide open. Progressives did not want the seat lost to "just another Democrat" who sees compromise and accommodation as their modus operandi. "Don't we have enough of them already?" they asked. They saw in Chris Owens, a man of principle molded in the same fighting spirit that motivated Chisholm and Chris's father, Major Owens.


Chris Owens for Congress. YES!!

The race has been a tough one. Other African-American candidates are in the contest - candidates who've been around, and sometimes inside, the fetid swamp of Brooklyn clubhouse politics. Their presence in the race has opened up the distinct possibility of a vote split among the Black candidates. And that has led, in the view of many, to a cynical endeavor by a fourth, white candidate, David Yassky (a councilman who didn't even live in the district) who would pluck the district out of the hands of its constituents on the back of a divide and conquer strategy. Yassky is heavily funded by the big real estate developers. And that's of particular interest, since Downtown Brooklyn is a huge target of big real estate. The proposed Atlantic Yards mega-development by Forest City Ratner, a land-grab of huge proportions that would overwhelm the surrounding low-rise brownstone communities, lies on the border of the district and is supportd by each of the candidates with the exception of Chris Owens. Yassky, if victorious, can be expected to strongly support the construction of this destructive project. You might imagine that he is not emphasizing his support of Ratner (or his financing by real estate moguls) as the project is widely hated in the liberal communities of Park Slope and Prospect Heights. Rather he attempts to hide his real agenda by emphasizing a liberal facade, parading as a born-again peace candidate and champion of affordable housing (huh??).

But it's Chris Owens, and not David Yassky and the others, that I have seen not just talking about peace, but marching for peace, time and again, with his kids, in peace protests. It's Chris Owens and not Yassky and the others, who speaks out, strongly and unbendingly, against out-of-scale, out-of-context mega-development, demanding instead measured development that would blend with, and offer aid to, the surrounding neighborhoods rather than destroying them and sending poorer folks fleeing the higher rents and unbridled gentrification that will inevitably result.


Chris Owens - he won't waffle on peace.

Out-of-control development and the fight in Congress against Bush's unending war - those are the two most important reasons I've devoted my spare time to the Owens campaign. But there are many other points that compel me to see his campaign as an urgent one for progressives to support:

• Chris Owens stands for a single-payer health care system. Even while almost 50 million Americans are without health insurance, this crucial question has taken a back burner instead of being seen as the national scandal that it is.

• Chris Owens stands for public education. He understands that public education is the backbone of a true democracy and must be funded and expanded, not belittled and cut to the bone. With his background on the local school board, you can expect him to be a leading spokesperson in Congress on behalf of our public schools.

• Chris Owens is a civil rights fighter. He sees that the fight for equality is incomplete. Recent Times articles document the decrease in enrollment by Blacks and Latinos in the leading colleges of the City University - a dramatic illustration of the attack on civil rights during the Bush/Giuliani/Bloomberg era. Chris believes, from the fabric of his soul, in the full equality of all Americans, regardless of their race, ethnicity or sexual orientation and he'll be a strong fighter in Congress for that concept of equality.

And on and on --- be it the environment and global warming or labor and opposing the free-trade agreements -- Chris is on the right side of each and every issue that matter to us so much.

This race is so important, in this the year that we want to recapture the Congress, that besides being out on the street, I've sent fundraising letters for Chris to all my friends and contacts, knowing that the Owens campaign doesn't have access to the millions that come from snuggling up to big real-estate. I succeeded in raising close to two thousand dollars (thank you my friends). But if you haven't yet sent a contribution, I'm urging you to do it now - it's the very least you can do to help advance democracy during these crucial times.

You can contribute on line by clicking right here: CONTRIBUTE TO CHRIS OWENS FOR CONGRESS

This election is on Tuesday, September 12th. That's soon! But you still have time to be helpful. If you've lolled away the summer that's great! But I'm asking you - my friends, to come to Brooklyn and give an hour or two or four. Not a lot...just a little. It'll make a difference and you'll feel a lot better because you will have been participating in helping to turn our country around.

You can volunteer by calling the CHRIS OWENS FOR CONGRESS headquarters at (718) 604-7500 or visiting the WEBSITE. JUST DO IT!


Chris, at work - One District, Many People.