Last week’s Wednesday Journal was such an outstanding example of the importance and power of community journalism. In its brief 36 pages, we had stories about the attacks on our immigrant community, our village government’s quick and strategic response to the federal government’s incursions into our town, and the cancelling/postponing of multiple events celebrating Latino culture and heritage due to heightened fears of attack in our increasingly xenophobic country. As we watch our mainstream media buckling under pressure from Washington, our support of local, on-the-ground journalism is going to be increasingly important in getting reliable and accurate data and information to us.
These and other attacks on civil and human rights are connected. Our movements for justice, human rights, the environment, democracy – all of them – must work together, strategically, to achieve all that needs to happen. So many of us look around and are overwhelmed by the enormity of what is confronting us, and don’t know what to do, where to put our efforts.
While every individual act may be helpful, working in coalition and across communities will make our efforts far more effective. Pick an issue – any issue that is compelling to you – and reach out to organizations that are already doing work in this area, and join up with them. Support folks as they are doing the work in other areas as well that are critical to our communities.
When these cancelled events are rescheduled and others are created, show up in solidarity and strength. We need to engage and to support each other.
To this end, on Thursday evening, Oct. 9, the Committee for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel (CJPIP) is hosting Art As Resistance, what promises to be an exceptional fundraiser for three movements: the movement for Palestinian Survival and Human Rights; the movement for Immigrant Safety and Human Rights; and the movement for LGBTQ+ Safety and Human Rights.
The evening will be a landmark event of art performances and exhibits unlike anything we have done before. Many artists from around the Chicago area are lending their talents to this event because they believe this event is meeting this moment. The event will take place at the historic and beautiful Nineteenth Century Club. Please come. Here is an opportunity to do something – to support organizations that are on the front lines of resistance. Buy your tickets now (last year’s event sold out) or donate if you cannot attend. Links to ticket sales and donations are available at http://tinyurl.com/artasresist.
Please direct any questions to artasresistance2025@gmail.com.
Rebekah Levin
Oak Park
