Week of July 7








Peace & Justice Organizations


The complete East End Report is now at www.eastendrep.blogspot.com

Also see
www dot spv dot active dot ws
for links to the
Suffolk Peace Network Counter Military Recruiting Committee
and much more.


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The East End Report is heard on Bill McNulty's"Lunch on Thursday" 12N, Thursday WUSB
Stony Brook 90.1 FM and WUSB.org

East End Report excerpts on Jim Krivo's Long Island Report Wednesdays 6:45am on 'Wake Up Call' WBAI 99.5 FM NYC and WBAI.org

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The East End Report is compiled by Tony Ernst.
Comments and corrections may be sent to eastendreport@optonline.net

Justice for All

Last month the Shinnecock Nation of Southampton filed a land claim against the State of New York and the Town of Southampton. The suit seeks compensation for lands taken by the state in violation of federal law in 1859.


The East End Reporter visited the Shinnecock Reservation to get reaction to the land claim suit.


The Thunder Bird Coffee Shop is on Montauk Highway on the Shinnecock Reservation. A sign outside says “Justice for All.”

One of the customers inside was Bill from Sag Harbor:

"You can't steal things and not expect to have it returned. …. it's just a matter of entering reparations in to the tax base. ….. being African-American, I just didn't have the land, but if anybody deserves reparations it is these people."

Paul, from Calverton:

"..they really do deserve some sort of compensation or at least recognition. It is their land and it has been taken unjustly."


Aiyana Smith of the Shinnecock Community Health Worker Program for high risk pregnant women and their families:


"The land claim suit means to me the preservation of our land and our water rights, of our self- determination, our self-identity and .. the preservation of our culture, our heritage and our customs…."


Reverend Holly Haile Davis, a Presbyterian Minister, the grandaughter of Shinnecock Chief Thunder Bird, is the proprietor of the Thunder Bird Coffee Shop. She is also a musician and a member of the folk music group "Thunder Bird Sisters".



"When I think of the land claims I think of my great-grandmother, Cora May Hunter ….. who often began her sentences with "when we get the hills back .."

… so these thoughts and visions about re-gaining the Shinnecock Hills have been with us for many, many generations."


EER: What do you think outsiders know about the Shinnecocks?

"I think most non-natives have no idea how the Shinnecock people live. I think most of our neighbors are really uninterested and think that it doesn't relate to them that a portion of their community lives in poverty and is seeking justice …..

I'm hoping that this land case presents the opportunity for our outside neighbors to stop long enough to hear from us and perhaps learn a little about us."


EER: There are many neighbors here in Southampton, non-native, who understand the plight of the Shinnecock and want justice done, but local officials apparently have not seen this.
What would you suggest that supporters do?

"I am very thankful for our non-native neighbors who are seeking justice on our behalf and have been standing with us. I would encourage them to be as visible as they can, as vocal as they can. They are allowed entrance into places that my people are not allowed entrance to. They are often offered forums not available to us. Because they are people of good will they are seeking justice for all people. So I encourage them and thank them for their continuing support."

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A portion of these interviews was broadcast on the 6:30 local news on WPKN/89.5 and WPKM/88.7

Kathy Engel: July 4

No fireworks
This time

Day of Inter dependence
On the sidewalk
Next to the big store holiday sales
Voices strangled
Behind fabric
years
Blue red ink bleeds family secrets
(a flag by any other name)

Through blindfolds
Legs dragging metal, through distance
The contortion of staying alive

How many years
Which language
Letters home
Shreds

No fireworks
For me this year
No silence either
Each explosion a bomb
With a one syllable name
Incinerating places, people,
Ideas some official can't translate
In the name of something
Too mean to declare
Alphabet blown to bits
Declaration of omnipotence
No celebration of detonating earthshaking
Killfest --
place of worship
Skin too tender to touch
With hands
No please, no thank you
No oohs and aahs shooting grandiosity
Through the fast food hotshot skyline
No beach picnic, rooftop party

A friend on a reservation
said the fireworks
started early this year
someone couldn't wait
they heard
but couldn't see from their home
then remembered what they are
when the boom and shiver came
out of nowhere
during dinner

This time
We just speak
The unspeakable
Plant something
With our beings

What world of human life are we inhabiting that we need to declare torture wrong and illegal?

Isn't that a given? Whose truths are these?

This time
We will not watch the stunning multicolored strip strapping
Miraculous sky of possibility
No
Proliferation
Interrogation
No new name for dismantling the parts that make a person whole: legs, kidneys, lips, hope, faith,

thought, bread, family, love

No gorgeous lights in the sky
electric shock
Land mine years and years later
baby scream
No fireworks this year

This
Interdependence Day

The lights
This time
sizzle from the words we dare
Invent
Together
The way they work in our mouths
Syntax too complex and fascinating to pronounce
In a flash
In the sky
How we move
together
shimmer of memory
called justice
called community

We Hold These Truths
It is not too late
To claim
A legacy
Of meaning
Intelligent, attached
Love

Tell the story
Tell the story
Tell the story


With thanks to eve, center for constitutional rights, ufpj, military families speak out, the keepers of the stories and words and soul, all the brave ones holding on against odds….

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copyright Kathy Engel July 4, 2005

Peace & Justice Calendar Starting July 7, 2005

* July 11(Monday): Counter Recruiting Committee of Suffolk Peace Network meets in Huntington at 6:30pm

* July 13 (Wednesday): “I Do: Why Civil Unions Aren’t Enough" Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* July 17(Sunday): East End Women in Black Peace Vigil in Sag Harbor at 5pm

* July 23(Saturday): Reading: "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise" in Sag Harbor, 6 pm

* July 23 (Saturday): Counter Recruiting Committee Actions on Long Island 10am to Noon

* July 27 (Wednesday): Whose Life Is It? - Making Ethical End-of-Life Decisions: Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* Repeating Events: "Herstory" Writing Workshops in English and Spanish: Thursdays in East Hampton at 7 pm

Details follow:

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July 11(Monday): Counter Recruiting Committee of Suffolk Peace Network meets in Huntington at 6:30pm


The next counter recruiting meeting wil be on Monday, July 11th at 6:30-7:15 pm preceding the Suffolk Peace Network meeting at the Cinema Arts Centre, Park Avenue in Huntington. Anyone interested in helping with this ongoing effort is encouraged to attend.

contact Karen rksrc@optonline.net

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July 13 (Wednesday): “I Do: Why Civil Unions Aren’t Enough" Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

A discussion with Lauren Fortmiller and Pam Thiele. Part of the Series "Religion and Ethics" Every other Wednesday 7:30 to 9:00 at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Montauk Highway & Hayground Road, Water Mill

Contact: Rev. Rose Ann Vita (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
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July 17(Sunday): East End Women in Black Peace Vigil in Sag Harbor at 5pm

Join East End Women in Black to Vigil for an end to the occupations of Iraq and Palestine at the Sag Harbor Wharf at 5pm.

Info: www.eewib.blogspot.com or 631-831-4966

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July 23(Saturday): Reading: "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise" in Sag Harbor, 6 pm

Author Corey Dolgon, former Southampton College sociologist reads from his book "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America´s Paradise" at Canio's Books, 290 Main St. in Sag Harbor

More info at 631-725-4926
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July 23 (Saturday): Counter Recruiting Committee Actions on Long Island 10am to Noon

Saturday, July 23rd, is "Caution, Do Not Enter" day at all recruiting stations on Long Island.
We will have demonstrations in Lindenhurst, Patchogue, Coram, Hempstead and Freeport.

If anyone would like to coordinate efforts at the Riverhead recruiting station or would like to participate at any of the sites (tentatively scheduled for 10 am to noon) please contact Karen at rksrc@optonline.net or 631-875-8647 or rksrc@optonline.net

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July 27 - WHOSE LIFE IS IT? - Making Ethical End-of-Life Decisions: Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

A discussion with The Rev. Elsie Smith, Lutheran . Part of the Series "Religion and Ethics" Every other Wednesday 7:30 to 9:00 at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Montauk Highway & Hayground Road, Water Mill

Contact: Rev. Rose Ann Vita (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
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Repeating Events:

"Herstory" Writing Workshops in Spanish and English: Thursdays in East Hampton

Every Thursday women come together to share their writing with one another and receive feedback on how to structure and shape their lifewriting.The East Hampton workshop is open to East Hampton Town residents. Itmeets every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., at the Senior Citizens Center, 128Springs-Fireplace Road.

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Send event listings for next week's report to

eastendreport@optonline.net

by 5 pm next Tuesday.

Plain old text would be appreciated!

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