What You Doing This Sunday?

Mar 16, 2006

Been riding my bike around Fort Greene with my friend Sam. Been pasting up flyers and asking storekeepers in the neighborhood to post flyers in their window. This, in prepration for this Sunday's meeting at a local church. Sponsored by Brooklyn Parents For Peace, Black Veterans For Justice and the office of Congressman Major Owens, the meeting will allow local residents to hear first-hand testimony from NYC veterans who have returned from Iraq.

They've returned to face nightmarish conditions: unemployment, homelessness, health problems and, most outrageous of all, cutbacks to veterans services. Sent by the President to fight his war, they fulfilled their obligations only to find themselves ignored or abandoned by the President, Congress and the Media.

The organizations sponsoring Sunday's meeting decided to bring these serious issues to the community. Wanting to penetrate the curtain of silence that surrounds the problems of returning soldiers, the meeting will feature opening remarks by Congressman Owens, who has opposed the war from day one because it has robbed funds from services for his constituents and devastated the communties he represents. Also speaking will be Job Mahariki, the founder of Black Veterans For Social Justice. This group serves returning soldiers as they try to re-integrate into society. They provide job counselling, guidance and help finding services that the veterans so desperately need.

The high point of the afternoon will be testimony from returned soldiers who will relate their stories to the assembly so that people can hear, first hand, some of the severe problems they have to confront.

If you're in Brooklyn or nearby, this is sure to be an interesting and informative several hours that you shouldn't miss.


Fort Greene has been plastered with notices for Sunday's meeting.


A closeup of the flyer for Sunday's meeting.

BACK FROM IRAQ

NYC VETS SPEAK OUT

SUNDAY, MARCH 19th, 2pm

at the LAFAYETTE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(corner of South Oxford Street and Lafayette Avenue - Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

Don't miss it!