2024 Highlights (see newsletters too)

We held our annual Stone Soup Supper at Kathy's new house, and collected donations for Oxfam.

Kathie offered her home for MVPP’s annual Stone Soup event on Saturday mid day, November 23.

MVPP had written to support Senator Bernie Sander’s Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block a $20 Billion weapons transfer to Israel (which also seemed to violate U.S. and International laws).

MVPP decided to not endorse a letter by National Iranian American Council (NIAC) against expanding war in the Middle East. It was suggested that letters from specialized lobbying organizations be circulated among the members for their consideration before asking for a vote. There are many new special interest groups to be aware of.

Newsletters were sent.

At the Bread and Roses Festival, we had good conversations and picked up a couple of new members.

The Keep Space for Peace vigils will be on 10/6 at Shawsheen Square) and 10/10 at Raytheon. Lou Bernieri was awarded the 2024 Bread and Roses Hall of Fame award.

Individuals will call Senators Markey and Warren urging them to sign on to the Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block additional arms sales to Israel, as introduced jointly by Sen. Bernie Sanders with Senators Welch and Merkley.

MAPA joined MVPP members for the weekly Raytheon Vigil, September 19. The vigil was reported by The Eagle Tribune and Andover Townsman.

Allan asked us to consider picking up some of the tasks of Ian Harrington (AFSC) whose untimely death we are mourning. This would include working with the Friends Committee for National Legislation in lobbying Congress.

The meeting ended with a conversation about the wars in the Middle East, the Newton, MA shooting and the elections.

We planned for summer outreach events:.
-Lowell Folk Festival
-The Hiroshima Vigil at Old Town Hall in Andover, August 6..
-Bread & Roses festival on Labor Day
-MVPP will not participate in Andover Day.

Masood reported on protests against Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington, DC visit to address the US Congress. There were local and national protests reported and planned.

Our annual meeting was held at Kathie's house.

At our meeting, we committed to our summer activities: Lowell Folk Festival, Hiroshima remberance, and Bread and Roses.

Phil and Brian participated in the Veterans for Peace Memorial Day commemoration.

April 2024

Phil had a banner printed, derived from Picasso's Guernica. It brought positive and negative responses from cars passing at Raytheon.

We learned that there was a standout for an Israel/Hamas ceasefire in Lawrence, at Union and Canal Streets, 1st &3rd Sundays at noon.

Michael notified us that Veterans for Peace said Israel's illegal nuclear weapons and testing program makes it ineligible for any military aid or assistance from the US (The legislation passed soon after this anyway).

Ruth exposed to us how Social Security Supplemental Income Security (SSI), uses out of date criteria to cut off those it is supposed to support.

Palestinians from Lowell joined the Raytheon vigil.

Masood joined Palestinian and MAPA demonstrations locally and in Washington, DC.

Vigils focused on preventing a massacre in Gaza.

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