Around Town

Watertown Citizens Gather with Immigrants for Peace and Friendship at Annual Potluck

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Project Literacy students sat down with members of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment for a potluck meal recently. The following piece was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

Watertown Free Public Library’s Savings Bank Room was filled with joyful bustle last week as Project Literacy students from around the globe gathered with members of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment to share food, culture and thoughts about peace. The Annual Potluck found people of all ages eager to share their memories, stories and dreams. After dinner, each table of attendees pondered their personal as well as the universal meanings of peace to share with the whole group. Poems and tales were crafted, including this one: “Walking in the forest with peace, listening to children playing, thinking of the world with no war, no conflict and equality for all.”

Others described beautiful sunsets, watching a baby sleeping, waking up to hear birds, and living with people of different cultures who all love each other. One table even decided to teach each other the song “Peace, Salaam, Shalom,” for which other tables later joined in singing.

Around Town

Youth Activism Celebrated at Watertown Citizens Annual Meeting

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The following piece was submitted by Deborah Peterson and Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin of Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment:

Now in its 39th year, Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment continues to lead and inspire community activism. On Sunday June 3, nearly 70 members filled Fellowship Hall at Belmont Watertown Methodist Church to enjoy potluck supper and hear a panel of young activists ranging from middle schoolers to post graduates. The fresh voices of Alex Thuene, Shivani Sharma, Kimia Tabatabaei, Yara Akkeh, Brenton Stoddart, Caitlin Forbes and Ari Stern were heard loud and clear as moderator Tod Gross probed deeply into their motivations and accomplishments.  The breadth of the issues on which these young panelists are working includes refugee crises, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, gun violence, racial justice and
environmental protection – mirroring many of the activities in which Watertown Citizens has been active for nearly four decades. Each member of the panel spoke eloquently about their inspiration. Privilege and oppression are not abstract concepts for them; rather, these are real, operational terms. Some told of personal journeys growing up, in which they witnessed brutal conditions encountered by others less fortunate.

Around Town

Watertown Residents Protest Hate, Rally in Support of Those Hurt in Charlottesville

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Watertown residents lined the Watertown Square Delta Monday evening to show support of those injured during the demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend, and to oppose racial and religious hatred. The candlelight vigil was organized by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment and its Watertown Citizens for Black Lives group. “Distressed by the bigotry and ensuing physical attacks in Charlottesville, and devastated by the deaths of Heather Heyer, Lt. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke Bates, old and young gathered with candles to mourn the victims of the hatred that exploded over the weekend,” Watertown Citizens announced. The event was organized with less than 24 hours notice. “It was clear that Watertown yearned to gather together and show its resolve to reject racial and religious hatred,” said Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, a member of Watertown Citizens.

Around Town

Watertown Group Bringing Anti-Nuclear Power Speakers to Town

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A Watertown group will host a community forum on ending use of nuclear power on April 12. 

Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment sent out the following announcement:
Please join Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment (watertowncitizens.org) for a very special community forum, “Working for Nuclear Free World: From Plymouth to Planet Earth” on Sunday, April 12 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Grace Vision Church, 80 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown (#71 Bus from Harvard Square). The program will feature, Diane Turco from Cape Downwinders and Dr. Joseph Gerson, from Peace and Planet Mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just and Environmentally Sustainable World. Ms. Turco will discuss the dangers posed by the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. Pilgrim is the same failed GE Mark I design as the 4 reactors destroyed at Fukushima.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Group Joins Organization Opposing Militarization of Police

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A group from Watertown has joined a coalition of organizations opposing what they call militarization of law enforcement in the Boston area. Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment has become part of STop Oppressive Militarized Police – STOMP. The group seeks to stop the “Police militarization” and “increased federal funding to state and local law enforcement for surveillance and repression” according to the STOMP Facebook page (click here to see the page). The group points to the lockdown in Watertown during the hunt for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspect is as one of the examples of militarization. STOMP will hold a community speak out and teach-in on May 4 in Boston.