ARIZONA LABOR IN ACTION

 

Presentation and Discussion with Fred Yamashita, Executive Director of the Arizona AFL-CIO

 

Saturday, January 18^th                 2:00  pm

 

Brother Yamashita will discuss some of the struggles facing organized labor and all working people as we resist Trump and delve into the 2020 election politics.  Will we see increased participation of unions and their members? As candidates?  Will we be able to also enhance our efforts to organize and support striking workers?

 

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PROTECTING DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

 

With State Senator Andrea Dalessandro, senior Democrat on the Arizona Senate’s Judiciary Committee

 

Saturday, February 1^st                2:00  pm

 

Arizona’s Governor and far right Republican Legislators are continuing their assaults on our democratic rights.  Governor Ducey has stacked the state Supreme Court and is now trying to undermine the Independent Redistricting Commission. The Judiciary Committee is the arena for the struggle to protect Clean Elections, oppose NRA advocating for loaded guns on campuses, advancing civil rights, and oppose attempts to reduce voter turnouts and inhumanity in the prison system. Sen. Dalessandro will discuss the 2020 legislative session and how we citizens can help advance a progressive peoples’ agenda. 

 

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CHICANO COMMUNISTS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

 

Presentation and Book Signing, with Enrique M. Buelna, Professor of History, Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz CA.

 

Saturday, February 15^th                    2:00 pm 

 

Professor Buelna examines the role Chicanx working class and radical labor activism in American history with a focus on the radical left and the Communist Party.  By mostly following the experiences of the Cuaron family he reveals the contributions made by an earlier generation of radical Mexican Americans to the struggles of the 1960’s and 1970’s

 

 

IS  RUSSIA  OUR  ENEMY? 

 

Presentation and Discussion with longtime peace Tucson activists Galina DeRoeck and John Mackoviak

 

Saturday, February 22^nd              2:00  pm

 

Galina and John will discuss their recent visits to Russia and Eastern Europe with comparisons to past visits going back to Soviet times.  A child of Russian exiles, DeRoeck spent part of her childhood in Eastern Europe, Taught Russian Literature at the UA and was an avid peace activist.  Mackoviak, a lifetime peace activist was involved in building Soviet/US friendship and reaching nuclear disarmament.  They will share their impressions of the changes that have taken place over the years. 

 

CHALLENGING  PRISON  EDUCATION 

 

Presentation and Discussion wirh Eva Carrillo Dong, Sunnydide school Board member amd President of Arizona Correctional Educators.  

 

Saturday, March 7^th                               2:00  pm

 

Sister Carrillo Dong will discuss the   dynamics between education and the bureaucratic prison system and how it can contribute to either recidivism or true rehabilitation.  How can an enlightened progressive movement help change Arizona’s backward prison and general education systems?

 

 

GREEN NEW DEAL

 

Community Forum with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Keith Bagwell from the AZ Sierra Club and Jobs with Justice Leader Steven Valencia

 

Saturday, March 21^th                      2:00  pm 

 

The proposal for a “Green New Deal” has captured the hopes and imagination of millions.  If the Democrats win the 2020 elections might we have a repeat of the 1930’s “New Deal” when Social Security, Unemployment Insurance and the NLRA were enacted to counter the great depression?  Will it help counter global warming while preserving decent jobs and social programs?  How can Tucson and Arizona contribute to this movement? 

 

NORTH COUNTRY

 

Film and Discussion

 

Saturday, March 28^th                       2:00 pm

 

In honor of Women’s History Month this 2005 film about the struggle of the first women miners hired on The Minnesota Iron Range against sexual harassment by male co-workers, abetted by management indifference and for dignity, respect on the job. 

 

EMPIRE OF BORDERS

 

Presentation and Book Signing with Tucson Author Todd Miller

 

Saturday, April 11^th                 2:00 pm

 

The Us is outsourcing its border patrol abroad and overseas.  Todd Miller's new book “Empire of Borders” details the expansion of US border far outside US territory in order to advance Washington's,  mainly corporate, interests.  Is it time for an expanded view of border policy?