Community Events and Events Affecting the Community

Stop the Drones Activity

By Susan Schwartz, TMO

The StopLAPDSpying coalition, familiar to readers of The Muslim Observer, has announced two events which will address the current hot button topic of Los Angeles Police Department drones. The first will be a general coalition meeting to be held at a location yet to be announced on Tuesday October, 21st at 6:30 pm. The organization’s web site is: www.stoplapdspying.org and can be accessed for the venue.

On November 8th a Community Town Meeting on the LAPD’s drone program will be held at CARACEN, 2845 W 7th Street in Los Angeles. The meeting will take place from 3:00 to 5:00pm.

As of this date 1000 signatures have been collected against the LAPD drone program. The petition is available on the above referenced web site.

The Coalition has addressed the larger issue of the Israelification of American Law enforcement. The state of Israel, in pursuit of its occupation and its siege, has implemented methods and procedures that are incompatible with the democratic values we cherish. The interaction between American and Israeli officials from the law enforcement community and from the governments have left the United States with a dangerously invasive set of law enforcement protocols.

At present in Los Angeles law enforcement personnel are broadening the parameters of information that can be legally obtained from citizens who have been arrested and even from citizens subject only to traffic stops for minor infractions. Known as Next Generation Identification System, this information may be obtained through mobile telephones carried by police and can include iris scans and palm prints.

At present the LAPD is second only to the FBI in its collection of date, but other municipalities are expected to follow them.

Block the Boat – LA Activity

By Susan Schwartz, TMO

On Saturday October 18th there will be a picket against a ZIM ship in Long Beach harbor. Readers of The Muslim Observer will be familiar with the Block the Boat campaign which recently had successful actions in the port of Oakland and the port of Long Beach.

ZIM ships are Israeli owned and therefore have played a significant role in the occupation and siege of Palestinian land by Israel. In addition the ship brings Israeli military hardware to other parts of the world.

The Block the Boat – LA Coalition which called for and organized the picket includes, but is not limited to: American Muslims for Palestine; US Palestinian Community Network; Jewish Voice for Peace – LA; ANSWER (Act Now to stop War and End Racism); AL-AWDA (The Palestinian Right of Return); Code Pink, and Students for Justice in Palestine-UCLA.

The group will assemble at the corner of Pier A Way and Pier A Plaza, Port of Long Beach, at 6:00 am.

Motivational Speaking Event

By Susan Schwartz, TMO

The Muslim Women Speakers Summit will sponsor a motivational event to teach women the optimum way to tell their significant stories in a manner that will optimize their effectiveness and inspiration. The organizers believe that each woman has a life impacting story to tell but most have not done so in a manner devoted to impacting others. The event will be held in The Pink Studio, 6733 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Ste 160 in Los Angeles on November 15th. It will take place from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Soraya Deen, a spokesperson for the organization, is an attorney, an author, and a motivational speaker. She believes that women impact the world one person at a time by enhancing their abilities to communicate effectively and persuasively. Every woman has a story – but does she tell it and, if she does, does it have the optimum impact?

The event will includes journals, food and other events in addition to the lessons of motivational communication and, most important, deep and lasting friendships will be formed.

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