People’s Peace Conference to focus on solutions

A People’s Peace Conference, entitled “The Grassroots Speak” and focused on the war against poor and oppressed people at home and abroad, will be held on Jan. 19 at Rutgers Law School in Newark, N.J.

The conference is being sponsored by the Peace and Justice Coalition, a year-old formation of more than 120 organizations working to end the war and promote social, racial, economic, health and environmental justice.

The event’s Web site says the conference this year will build on issues raised during the People’s March in August 2007 and “will focus on solutions, with workshops intended to help us move beyond marching (although we will still march) to grassroots efforts.

“Panelists will address not just what is happening but also lead discussions of what we can do together to stop this runaway train that is destroying democracy, wreaking planetary environmental chaos, stealing and killing our children, stealing from our communities, and stealing our future.”

Amongst a distinguished list of speakers, Dhoruba Bin Wahad will talk from personal experience about being a political prisoner. Monica Moorehead, coordinator of Millions for Mumia, will talk about the criminalization of youth and Mumia as a political prisoner. And poet icon and revolutionary activist Amiri Baraka will speak in the general session.

Workshops will include such topics as privatization, cutbacks and the economics of war; violence against women; the prison-industrial complex and police brutality; building the peace and justice movement among young people; global warming and environmental racism; and more. Healthcare Now and the N.J. State Industrial Union Council are sponsoring a breakout room on health care. A video speakout will be recorded that will be broadcast on popular Web sites, including YouTube.

The event will also feature a “People’s Primary.” Vickie White, coordinator of the Peace and Justice Coalition, explained: “Last year, the People’s Peace Conference was attended by over 500 people. Since this year is a presidential election year we figured we’d add the People’s Primary to give participants an opportunity to voice and vote their issues and concerns.”

In addition, the conference will feature performances from hip-hop artist and activist M-1 of Dead Prez, hip-hop artist and activist Tha Truth (see workers.org for an interview with this artist), Columbia High School’s Martin Luther King Memorial Choir and the New Jersey Industrial Union Council Solidarity Singers.

The event is free but participants are encouraged to register early. Visit peaceandjusticecoalition.org or e-mail [email protected].