American Friends Service Committee (5-4-19)

On May 1, AFSC joined with communities and organizations from California to New Hampshire for a series of May Day actions. The wave of protests were part of the large and growing resistance to the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration – and a powerful reminder of how important it is that we continue to demand policies that protect the rights and dignity of all people.

This week we are also celebrating one year of Weekend Reading! We remain inspired by this community and all the ways you take action, week in and week out. Thank you for your supoprt and for all you are doing to bring about a more just and peaceful world. 

Here are this week's resources to help you stay informed and support your activism.   

Four ways to support Muslim friends and family and counter Islamophobia during Ramadan: As Ramadan rolls in, Muslims continue to face dangerous threats, trauma, and fear – now is the time for meaningful solidarity.

Reflections on the Poway synagogue shooting, history, and resistance: "Like police brutality against people of color, Trump's Muslim ban, and concentration camp-like incarceration of immigrants who are no less desperate than Jews fleeing pogroms in the past, these atrocities are all deeply rooted in the country’s racist and colonial settler culture," writes AFSC's Joseph Gerson.

New push to stop U.S. funding of Palestinian child detention: The legislation builds on a 2017 bill that was the first in U.S. history to call for accountability and transparency for aid to Israel. (Electronic Intifada)

Watch and share this Facebook video: Help others learn more about the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (H.R. 2407). And take action today by contacting Congress to support the bill. 

If Congress wants to keep America safe, the last thing it should be doing is funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP): "I have met and witnessed thousands of people who have faced brutality at the hands of border agents, and who have languished in detention facilities” – and it’s time to put a stop to it, writes AFSC’s Pedro Rios. (Newsweek)

Why my son and I joined a migrant caravan: Morena Mendoza shares the story of how she fled El Salvador for the U.S. and found refuge and a welcoming community with Miami Friends Meeting and support from AFSC.

In Guatemala, breaking down barriers through art: A first-of-its-kind program in Guatemala is helping young people in prison escape violence and build new lives.

Finding a home within Quakerism: “One of the reasons I strongly identify with Quakerism is the testimony of integrity, which also for me means honesty – being honest with myself about whether I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” says AFSC’s Nikki Richards.

Show your support for AFSC: Visit AFSC’s online store for mugs, tote bags, t-shirts, and more that promote messages of peace and justice.