Greetings!

Oppression gets magnified in times of crisis, so it's no wonder that COVID-19 is amplifying racism, xenophobia, and other issues.

-Kina Thorpe, Educational Program Manager
In This Issue (in order)
-POC Affinity Group
-COVID Impact on BIPOC
-Hussien Defense Fund
-Palestinian Child Prisoners>Gaza COVID-19 Mural>Israel Unity Gvnt.
-Action Highlights: Mayday Car Rally and Lift US Sanctions
Click here to for the quarterly Peace & Justice Center Newsletter
April 28, 2020
Join us for on April 30, 6-7pm via Zoom.

The focus of this month's meeting will be self-care during the time of COVID-19. With this virus fueling racism, disproportionately leading to the deaths of people of color, and leaving undocumented people vulnerable, POC are having a unique and tragic experience with this virus. In this meeting we will be sharing our experiences of COVID-19, how we've been coping, as well as learning some breathing and relaxation techniques for some self care.

The event will be happening online via Zoom. Click here to register for the event. Once you register you will receive the link for the call.

For questions email Kina Thorpe, PJC Educational Program Manager, at Program@pjcvt.org .
Image from the Burlington Free Press
-Moirha Smith, PJC Intern

This article is about the effects of COVID-19 on students of color and their mental health. Two students are first-generation college students. The pandemic has increased the vulnerability of minorities who are already unprotected. Interviews were conducted by a Black identifying student.

Interview #1
How has the pandemic affected you? As a student? As an employee?

Pandemic has effected me by not having in-person class. It is fine, since this is a pandemic. We all have a responsibility to keep the people around us safe. I had a job as an RA, but now we just do not have to do our job. A lot of my friends have experienced racism because they are Asian, it has affected my family from the start around end of January, since they live in Taiwan.

It effected my access to mental health by not being able to meet in person with my therapist. I am just scared to walk down the street sometimes, because I am afraid that people might attack me or hurt me.
 
Interview #2
How has it effected your family?

The coronavirus pandemic has affected my family because now that everyone is at home mostly full-time, it has definitely made us much closer, but it has also affected my work ethic. As I am working from home, I do find it hard to concentrate with my family around 24/7 –– I live in a Hispanic household so there is constantly noise and distractions. Other than that, it’s nice to have a support system at home and I rather have my family at home and safe than outside with the potential to contract the virus –– I know not everyone has that privilege of working from home and having their family with them.
Hussien Noor Hussien, his wife, children, and extended family are loved members of our Vermont community. Sadly, their family and work lives have been upended and all of them traumatized by Department of Homeland Security’s anti-Muslim racism. Hussien is in danger of being deported unless he can secure asylum status. Central VT SURJ is asking for your support for his legal expenses in this fight for his life.

Click here to read more about Hussein and his story and to make a donation so he can afford the lawyers he needs in order to fight for his right to stay in America with his family.
All of the events listed below are happening online. This is a partial listing of event. See more in our public  calendar . The PJC is not directly involved in all of these events. If you have questions about a non-PJC event, please reach out to the organization listed. 

Tuesday, April 28

Thursday, April 30

Friday, May 1

Sunday, May 3

Monday, May 4

Tuesday, May 5

Wednesday, May 6

Monday, May 11

Wednesday, May 13

Please  email  us events for our  google calendar  and enews
Upcoming Events

POC Affinity Group Thursday, April 30, 6-7pm, ONLINE. This program is led by people of color, for people of color. Join us for a calm quarantine. Share your experiences of COVID-19 and how you've been coping with it. Learn breathing and relaxation techniques. Click here to register . Once registered you'll receive the link for the Zoom call. FREE

Chocolate & Modern Slavery Saturday, May 9 2-3pm, ONLINE. This talk focuses on the issues of child slavery and human trafficking in the cocoa industry. It's designed to educate, brainstorm solutions, and create tangible action steps that fit each participant. Register here to receive Zoom call info . FREE.

Community Voices for Immigrant Rights , Monday, May 11, 6-7:30pm. ONLINE. Join us as we organize and work to amplify local organizing efforts in support of immigrant rights. Click here to register and join the call. FREE. Hosted by Community Voices for Immigrant Rights. Co-hosted by the PJC.

For more info on these events visit our website or contact  program@pjcvt.org
Want to see more of the PJC more often?

Follow us to see pictures, read articles, and be in the know about what we're up to, community issues, events, and more.
Don't forget that if you are someone with class privilege you can do something great by donating your stimulus check to organizations,
groups, or people who would benefit from the money. There are many places, locally and globally, to consider. If we are lucky enough to one of the places that you are considering, you can click here to find out how to make a donation.
Youth MOVE put together this list of resources for youth to who are looking things to do online while social distancing. Categories include Reducing Anxiety, Places for Learning, and Responsible News Sources. From entertainment to education, there are a lot of free resources listed. Check it out!
Palestinian Child Prisoners > Gaza COVID-19 Mural > Israel “Unity Government
-Mark Hage , VTJP

Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, Israel has stepped its arrest of Palestinian children in the occupied territories, a new report from Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) says. 

According to the report, released on Tuesday [April 21], 194 Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons and detention centers, marking a six percent increase from January. 

Using data released by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), DCIP found that as of March 31 only 28 percent of Palestinian child detainees were actually serving out sentences, while the rest, over 60 percent of them (117 out of 194) were being held in pretrial custodial detention. 

The data also indicated that the majority of the detainees were ages 16-17, while 30 were ages 14-15. Israeli forces have been documented as arresting Palestinian children as young as 12 years old. 

Center Hours 
(reached via email or phone)
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
CLOSED
 
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront
(Next to Skinny Pancake)  
Action Highlights
Primero de Mayo / May Day Car Rally for Essential Workers
May 1 is International Worker's Day. Join others in the Staples parking lot in Burlington (12:30pm) before taking off to make a number of stops to show solidarity with essential workers and lift up workers' demands in a time of crisis. This action will follow social distancing guidelines and take serious health precautions. Full route and more information coming soon.

Similar events are also happening that day in West Lebanon and Brattleboro .

--
Este primero de mayo habrá una manifestación de autos. Nos juntamos en el parking del Staples (por la salida 14W) y manejamos en caravana a diferentes paradas para mostrar solidaridad con trabajadores esenciales y apoyar a sus demandas en un tiempo de crisis. Esta acción seguirá las precauciones de salud y de distanciamento social. Pronto se publicará la ruta completa y más información.
Open Letter to the United Nations and the United States to Immediately Lift Sanctions
The global spread of COVID-19 has exposed the illegal and immoral practice of imposing unilateral coercive measures (economic sanctions) by the United States government against more than thirty nations. The government of the United States is now using the public distraction caused by the pandemic to intensify its military actions against the targeted nations.

The economic war against those nations had already resulted in unimaginable suffering of the people in the targeted nations even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the devastation of the global pandemic, the targeted countries — especially Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Zimbabwe — are finding it prohibitively difficult to protect and save the lives of their citizens in the face of the ongoing global emergency. These sanctions constitute crimes against humanity.

The US Peace Council has created a petition urging the government to put an end to the sanctions.
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 |  info@pjcvt.org  |  http://www.pjcvt.org
60 Lake St, Ste 1C
Burlington, VT 05401