San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club: News / Comments / Peace Fresno’s Peace and Justice Festival

Peace Fresno’s Peace and Justice Festival

March 9-

9^th Annual Rally in the Valley

Sunday March 21, 2010

Fresno Fairgrounds, Jr. Exhibit Building

1121 S. Chance Ave

Free admission and parking

12:30 - 5:00

www.peacefresno.org

Peace Fresno, the group featured in Michael Moore’s movie, Fahrenheit 911, will host the Peace & Justice Festival, and invites the public (free admission and parking).

The day marks seven years of U.S. war on Iraq. Participants will join people all over the U.S. in calling for an end to war and petitioning to bring the troops home. The festival will also celebrate the richness of the local peace and justice community. It will be an afternoon of live music, entertainment, food, information, and political action.

Musical entertainers are Blake Jones and the Trike Shop; the flamenco group, Ibicé; the Guitar Ensemble from Sanger Academy Charter School; singer, songwriter, guitar player Thomas Ian Nicholas; and the Raging Grannies.

There will be a “kids’ zone,” the creation of a mural during the festival, and a magician. Local artisans will sell their hand-made goods.

The keynote speaker will be Kathy Kelly, three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and co-founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She gives an impassioned call for action to end U.S. military and economic warfare. Kathy truly “walks the walk,” putting her life on the line on many occasions, including staying with the people of Baghdad during the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Also speaking will be Rick Reyes, a former U.S. Marine who was in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and is currently a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Rick, from East L.A., addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calling on them to rethink the occupation of Afghanistan.

Actor Thomas Ian Nicholas will be in character as Abbie Hoffman as he reprises his role from the upcoming movie, “The Chicago 8.”

The Peace & Justice Festival brings together a variety of Central Valley groups that are working toward a just, peaceful, and sustainable community and planet. Participants will have an opportunity to browse the informational tables of these groups and talk with their representatives.

Over 80 groups and vendors are expected. Co-sponsoring groups and individuals include: Fresno Center for Nonviolence, Central Valley Progressive PAC, Larry and Rena Mullen, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Fresno Free College Foundation/KFCF, Fresno County Democratic Central Committee, Philip and Sharon Erro, Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno Social Justice Committee, South Valley peace Center, Central Valley Alliance of Atheists and Skeptics, In memory of Berry Nishkian, Fresno Metro Ministry, Jesuit House, SunMt, Community Alliance Newspaper, www.ciafront.com, Sarah Whittington and Joseph Warkentin, Sierra Club Tehipite Chapter, Intermountain Nursery, Fresno Filmworks, California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus.

Peace Fresno is a local volunteer organization whose motto is “Action for social justice and alternatives to war.” Peace Fresno meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave. (across from Fresno City College).

For more information about Peace Fresno, the peace movement, and the Peace and Justice Festival go to www.peacefresno.org. Contact Camille Russell, president@peacefresno.org, 276-2592.