M*A*S*H* Comes To Brooklyn

May 27, 2008

Actor and activist, Mike Farrell, - the loveable B.J. Hunnicutt of TV's M*A*S*H*, came to Brooklyn last night. The occasion was the Spring fundraiser for Brooklyn For Peace.

On one of those beautiful and balmy Spring evenings, close to eighty BFP supporters gathered at a Dekalb Avenue hot spot, the South African Madiba Restaurant. They came to dine, drink and socialize and to listen to Farrell, author of a new book, Just Call Me Mike, talk about his views on questions of peace and social justice. These are issues dear to BFP members and friends as they continue to demand an end to the war in Iraq, to prevent a new war in Iran and to fight for a more just society at home.

Madiba Restaurant on Brooklyn's Dekalb Avenue, is a hot, multi-cultural restaurant featuring South African cuisine.

Registered guests are checked in at BFP's Spring Fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

Molly Nolan of BFP's Israel-Palestine Committee and BFP's Co-Chair, David Tykulsker, worked hard to make the fundraiser a huge success. Thanks!

Eleanor Preiss (center), BFP's Treasurer, put in many hours that guaranteed the success of the evening at Madiba. Thanks, Eleanor!

David Tykulsker, Co-Chair of the organization, began the evening by greeting the guests and reviewing some of the recent work of Brooklyn For Peace. From its Iraq Committee's work against the war to the Israel-Palestine Committee's work for peace in the Mideast to the counter-recruitment activities in local high schools carried out by BFP's Anti-Militarism Committee, Tykulsker depicted an organization deeply involved in community work for peace and justice.

David Tykulsker, Co-Chair of Brooklyn For Peace, greets the crowd at the Spring Fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

Next up was the very entertaining and very funny Dave Lippman who kept the crowd in stitches as he portrayed George Shrub, the singing CIA agent. Lobbing rapid-fire missives and malaprops, Lippman satirized and skewered George Bush and his disastrous policies to the delight of the audience.

Dave Lippman as George Shrub, singing CIA agent, entertains at the Brooklyn For Peace Spring fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

Following Lippman, Rusti Eisenberg, Co-Chair of Brooklyn For Peace, gave a summary of the fight in Congress to end the war in Iraq. Talking about the historic "no" vote against funding that passed the House several weeks ago, she called on people to keep the pressure on Congress because the Senate reversed that decision and granted Bush the money to continue the war.

Rusti Eisenberg, Co-Chair of Brooklyn For Peace - "I know it seems that you've been calling Congress more often than you call your best friends. But it's time to call again."

Part of the crowd attending BFP's Spring Fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

Finally, the evening's guest, Mike Farrell, took the mic. Farrell has mixed a successful career in film and TV with an unbending dedication to social activism. He was in the forefront of struggles for peace and against repression in Latin America and has been a leader in the fight to abolish the death penalty. He told the audience that he sees human rights as the common thread that connects the movement for peace in Iraq with questions such as opposition to the death penalty and a desire to save our world from enviornmental disaster. His remarks were well received and a question and answer period followed his talk. Farrell also took time out to personally sign copies of his new book that were distributed and sold at the dinner.

Mike Farrell speaks and takes questions from the audience.

Farrell: "Human rights is the common thread that runs through all the struggles for peace, justice, saving the environment...."

Guests overflowed the main dining room at BFP's Spring Fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

Brooklyn For Peace successfuly mixed dining, drink, socializing and politics at its Spring Fundraiser at Madiba Restaurant.

The Spring Fundraiser was a huge success. It brought together friends and fellow peace activists in a cozy and sociable surrounding. And it raised money - not an unimportant matter - that will enable Brooklyn For Peace to continue the fight for a better world.

By the way, Mike Farrell wrote up his experience in Brooklyn in his own blog on the Huffington Post.

Read it here: Mike's Blog and then scroll down to "DAY SIXTEEN, May 26, 2008."