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• Sunday May 11 - MOTHER'S DAY PEACE STROLL. Join the GPB and other peace groups in a walk for peace through Central Park. We set off from the park side of Columbus Circle (near the statue) at 11:00AM. We'll be joined by CodePink and the Raging Grannies.
  More about Mother's Day below.
• Tuesday, May 13, Do join our PHONE-A-THON noon - 1:30 PM near the northwest corner of Union Square just north of 16th Street. The message: "STOP THE WAR BY STOPPING THE FUNDING." No phone? No problem. Hand out flyers and talk to people about the issues. If we have to cancel because of rain, we'll post a notice here by 10:30AM Tuesday.
• Sunday May 25th - VETERANS FOR PEACE NYC Chapter 34 will hold an 11:00AM vigil at 55 Water Street. After the vigil we will walk to the East River to throw flowers into the water.
• Wednesday May 28th, 7:30PM - Eric Etheridge will talk about his book, "Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders." Original mug shots of over seventy of the Freedom Riders appear in the book alongside striking contemporary portraits. GPBer Joan Pleune a Freedom Rider featured in the book will take part. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street
  (more info below)
• Thursday May 29th, 7:00PM - Video documentary about GPB member Betty Brassell, Tishman Building, 66 West 12th Street between 5th & 6th Ave. Admission free
• November 9, 2008 Save the date, for The GPB's Third Teach-In.
• Hold your very own Phone-A-Thon (recipe)
• Work on counter recruitment with us or with a group near you.
• Tell your local press what you are doing.
• Join our legislative campaign. Call your Senators and your Representative. Send them peace-mail messages regularly.
• Join or start a peace group in your area.
• Contribute to a peace organization of your choice.
• Keep us informed about what you are doing.

Celebrate the TRUE meaning of Mother's Day
In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, as a response to the carnage of the Civil War, called on women to commemorate their dead and to find "the means whereby the great human family can live together in peace..." It's true. Mother's Day was NOT invented by Hallmark. Or by 1-800-Flowers or even Sees Candies. In fact, Julia Ward Howe the woman credited with initiating Mother's Day in 1870, would have been appalled by its crass commercialism. Were she alive today, Julia probably would have told her kids to dispense with the roses and chocolates, and instead join her in an anti-war. rally. Yes, Julia Ward Howe was a peacenik.

Etheridge tracked down over seventy of the Freedom Riders who were arrested and served prison time for challenging Mississippi state segregation laws in the spring and summer of 1961. Etheridge's contemporary portraits are striking, and there was a feeling amongst the Freedom Riders that the mug shot photographer was a wannabe pro and that he also took great care with their photos.

In 2004, Etheridge discovered these mug shots in the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission Files, whose purpose was to “perform any and all acts deemed necessary and proper to protect the sovereignty of the state of Mississippi.”  They were made public in 1998 after a lengthy court battle and are now housed at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

This event is part of The Thalia Book Club Series which brings writers and readers together to discuss books. Joan Pleune, who was one of the original Mississippi Freedom Riders will be in attendance to talk about her experience. Tickets available at www.symphonyspace.org or by calling 212.864.5400.

"GRANDMOTHERS AGAINST THE WAR: Getting Off Our Fannies And Standing Up For Peace"
Author: Joan Wile
Pub. Date: April 29, 2008
Publisher: Citadel Press
This brand new book, tells the story of the Granny Peace Brigade from the point we were arrested when we tried to enlist at the Times Square recruiting center through our trial, our travels to Washington DC and abroad, our innovative protests, our performances in our own shows, with bios of each of the 18 arrestees.