Ramona Africa to Give Closing Address at GARC!

Africa is a member of MOVE, which has a thirty-year history of animal and other activism. In the 1970s, MOVE staged peaceful demonstrations at zoos in Philadelphia and the Bronx, and at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

In May 1985, Philadelphia police bombed and destroyed the house and the entire block where MOVE lived. Eleven people were killed, including MOVE’s founder, John Africa. Ramona Africa was the only surviving adult, and she was sentenced to--and served--seven years for conspiracy, riot, and multiple counts of simple and aggravated assault. Although a special commission was established that heavily criticized the Philadelphia police for their actions, no one was indicted.

“John Africa taught us to respect and revere life," says Africa, "based on that belief, members of MOVE don't see ourselves as superior to any form of life because we understand that all life comes from one source, is coordinated by one source . . . whether you call it ‘Allah,’ ‘Jehovah,’ ‘Jesus,’ or whatever. Because of this, we protect the air, we protect the water, we protect the soil, we protect animals. We don't allow anybody to abuse animals around us. We don't allow anybody to abuse babies around us, or the elderly. We confront industry that poisons, pollutes our air, our water, puts toxic waste in our soil.”

GARC will be held ***Thursday, March 31 - Sunday, April 3*** at the Holyrood Episcopal Church, 715 W. 179th Street, New York, NY. ALL activists are welcomed. Below is a confirmed list of speakers and topics. FREE housing for out-of-town visitors and vegan meals will be provided, and low-cost or free (with waiver) registration. (First-come, first-served for free housing and meals.) The conference site is handicapped-accessible.

For more information,
http://www.grassrootsar.org


All attendees are asked to pre-register:
http://www.grassrootsar.org/conference_registration.html

See you at GARC!
Hillary Rettig
Organizer

FINAL LIST OF GARC WORKSHOPS
(subject to change)
For program click here: <http://www.grassrootsar.org/program.html>http://www.grassrootsar.org/program.html

GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM
Building Regional Coalitions for Grassroots Community Groups - Jim Van Alstine Global Grassroots - The SHAC Campaign - Kevin Jonas National Grassroots Campaigns- Alex Hershaft National/Grassroots Relations - Angi Metler, Alex Hershaft

MOVEMENT STRATEGY / PHILOSOPHY
Animal Issues for Newcomers - Harold Brown, Erica Meier (3 hour intensive training) Animal Liberation Philosophy - Dale Jamieson Commonality of Human and Non-Human Animal Oppression - Dr. Charles Patterson, Marjorie Spiegel, pattrice jones Defending Wildlife - Bob Leonard, Stu Chaifetz, Anne Muller, Johanna Clearfield How Societal Change Happens - Alex Hershaft Population, Consumption and the State of Animals - David Hayden, Adam Weissman Socialism and Anarchism and Animal Liberation - Greg Pason, Sachio Ko Yin, pattrice jones Speciesism in the Animal Rights Movement - Karen Davis, Adam Weissman Strategic Action for Farmed Animals - Nathan Runkle, Dr. Anteneh Roba, David Cantor, Strategic Visions for the Movement - pattrice jones, Richard Schwartz, Adam Weissman Using Law As A Tool to Protect Animals & Empower Advocates - Christine Morrissey, Garo Alexanian Yes, But ...What'll We Do With All the Cows? - Lawrence Carter-Long

DIRECT ACTION / NONVIOLENCE
Direct Action Skills - Cindy Rosin (3 hour intensive training) How to Run a Successful Investigation - Lance Morosini, Garo Alexanian, SarahJane Blum, Ryan Shapiro (3 hour intensive training) Humane Trapping of Wildlife and Feral Animals - Shawn DeLeo, Karen Davis Fomer Political Prisoners: Personal Reflections - Jen Greenberg, Andy Stepanian, Benjamin Persky, Sachio Ko Yin Strategic Nonviolence - Marjorie Spiegel and Pete Cohen

ALLIANCES AND COALITION BUILDING
Animal Activism from the 'Burbs to the Bible Belt - Angi Metler, Doll Stanley, Patrick Tyrrell Beyond the Environmentalism - Animal Rights Divide: Making Alliances - David Cantor, Marti Kheel, Karen Davis Coming Out for Animals: Queer and Animal Liberation -- Marti Kheel, pattrice jones Cross - Movement Alliances That WORK - pattrice jones, Andrea Lindsey, Sachio Ko Yin Why Do They Hate US? Social Justice and Environmental Activists' Antipathy for the AR Movement – Andy Stepanian, Homefries, pattrice jones, Adam Weissman

FIGHTING THE POWER
Fighting Corporate Rule: Understanding and Undermining Their Power - Mary Zepernick, Pernilla Dixit Fighting Fire with Fire: Using Business Skills to Beat the Enemy at its Own Game - Hillary Rettig (3 hour intensive training) Legislative Activism-Practical Models--Julie Lewin, John Phillips, Peter Muller (3 hour intensive training) Resisting State Repression: Knowing the Legal System and Importance of Prisoner Support - Christine Garcia, Jamie Moran, Melissa Jameson, David Hayden (3 hour intensive training)

REACHING OUT TO SPECIFIC AUDIENCES
Animal Advocacy to Targeted Audiences - Erica Meier Cultural Evolution Toward No-Kill: Memetherapy; Changing Minds About Animals in NYC Susan Brandt, Jane Hoffman Humane Education for a Humane World- Carol Moon, Matt Wildman (3 hour intensive training) Outreaching to Students and Youth - Andy Stepanian, Tracy Basile, Jon Camp Race and the Movement - Sheila Hamanaka Reaching out to Faith Communities - Jan Fredrichs, Richard Schwartz, Saurabh Dalal, Lawrence Carter-Long

MESSAGING AND MEDIA
Delivering an Uncompromised Message to the Mainstream: Using Peaceable Kingdom -- Jenny Stein, James LaVeck Designing Your Message, Powering your Message - Josephine Bellaccomo Effective Vegetarian Advocacy and the Psychology of Meat - Dr. Melanie Joy Images of Liberation: Comics, Cartoons, and Graphics - Richard De Angelis Making Attractive Activist Visuals: Fliers, Banners, and Costumes – Mike Everson Maximizing the Media System- Nathan Runkle, Lawrence Carter-Long (3 hour intensive training)
TV: Innovative Ways to Use the Boob Tube for Animals - Nathan Runkle, Garo Alexanian

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Avoiding Activist Burnout - Hillary Rettig, Michael Greger, Lawrence Carter-Long (3 hour intensive training) Fundraising & Membership Development – Lorri Bauston (3 hour intensive training) Planning Your Organizations Mission, Vision, and Campaigns - John Phillips, Adam Weissman, Tim Keating (3 hour intensive training) Organizing a Vegetarian Festival - Caryn Hartglass Recruiting, Managing and Motivating Interns and Volunteers– Elizabeth McNulty, Adam Weissman Running Effective Meetings – Speakers TBA

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