March 13th RAPP Movie

[anni]

A message from Jeanne:

Greetings Friends,

Then Jesus said to him,
"Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
                                                                                                               Matthew 26:52

With the humility of a lay person, I offer the above words as a succinct symbol of what has been going on with the War on Drugs. Have our legal policies and postures in the last several decades improved the situation or have they fanned the flames and come back to bite us?

RAPP's next film will examine the economic and moral failure of the War on Drugs. "The House I Live In" is a powerful documentary that melds the ideas forwarded by author Michelle Alexander and journalist David Simon. If you have read Alexander's The New Jim Crow or seen any of Simon's work on HBO ('Homicide: Life on the Street," 'The Wire" ) you may be familiar with the knowledge that the attempted suppression of drug use in America has been an assault on poor communities of color and has not reduced the consumption of drugs. Simon describes the injustice and toxicity of the war as a "holocaust in slow motion."

RAPP (Read and Practice Peacemaking) and The Montrose Peace Vigil are joining with Progressive Christians Uniting, Justice Not Jails, and Learning Works Charter School to present this important documentary. After the film, we will have a panel of individuals with first hand experience on the front lines of this unnecessary but very real battle. Learning Works provides educational opportunities in Pasadena for youth who are vulnerable to economic and legal injustice. They will have some successful graduate/leaders present on the 13th to share their perspective. Justice Not Jails works to correct the injustice of mass incarceration. They will have some representatives with personal experiences of the struggle with drugs and justice.

Here in La Crescenta, we are familiar with the misuse of drugs and the harm that it can bring to individuals, families, and communities. We hear and read about much more severe symptoms in inner cities. Are our problems and theirs connected by the same laws and policies? Would it be possible to respond in unity to create healthy solutions? This film and panel discussion afterwards will look into these questions and will be an opportunity to learn and connect with other caring people. If there is a slow motion holocaust taking place, don't you want to know and find out what you can do to reverse it?

I hope you'll join us on the 13th. Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church is at 2700 Montrose Avenue, Montrose. Doors open at 7. Film at 7:30. 

[Sharon W]

I copied and printed this message to take to the CV Alliance meeting this morning. I gave a copy to Pastor Bill Flanders who hosted the meeting at the First Baptist Church of La Crescenta and verbally invited everyone during the annoucements at the end. Hope it makes for a good turnout!

[Brian]

That is so cool, Sharon!  Thanks for telling us.

Here is the official trailer for "The House I Live In."

[Brian]

More details from Jeanne about this documentary and the program afterwards:

Greetings Friends,

This Friday night will be the screening of "The House I Live In," a powerful look at the War On Drugs. You might be surprised by the historical perspective the film presents on the origins of this never ending, ever escalating war. And you might be enlightened by points of view offered by law enforcement agents who have become disillusioned after years of performing their duties in the war. After the film, there will be an inspiring and informative discussion led by a panel of representatives from the Learning Works Charter School of Pasadena and the Amity Foundation. They are individuals who have been working directly with young people caught in the crossfire of this conflict. There is much we can learn from them about this "slow moving holocaust."

This screening of "The House I Live In" is sponsored by RAPP (Read and Practice Peacemaking), The Montrose Peace Vigil, Progressive Christians Uniting, and Justice Not Jails. Thanks also to the participation of Learning Works and Amity Foundation. That's a lot of concerned activists who think it is important for you to see it. We hope you'll come out Friday and meet other concerned, caring members of the community.

March 13, 2015
Doors open at 7.
Film at 7:30.
Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church
2700 Montrose Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020
www.cvumc.org/

From Jeanne's latest e-mail:

Previous emails have had details of panel participants and other sponsors. Dominick Correy was a guest speaker after "Stories from an Undeclared War" about the Freedom Writers (the October 2014 RAPP movie).  He's a chaser at Learning Works. Carlos Cruz will be another one. Timothy Murphy, the Director of Progressive Christians Uniting will be there. They are cosponsors and are publicizing it on their website. Peter Laarman is the retired director of PCU and is now leading the Justice Not Jails movement. He will moderate the panel.

We'll be remaining upstairs after the film. The hall downstairs will be used by another group that night. So we'll be having coffee and snacks in the sanctuary.

[Jeanne]

i missed having Brian and anni with us Friday night and that means we won't be getting Brian's usual report. I'll try to communicate some of the good things that went on. "The House I Live In" is a well made, powerful documentary. Through personal stories and a bundle of interviews of scholars, judges, police officers, prisoners, and family members, we gain perspective on the injustice of the criminal system. It has racist roots and there are aspects of it that align with the four phases of a genocide.

Isolation - singling out a population and blaming them for society's problems.

Confiscation - taking rights away, such as right to vote and to live in public housing.

Concentration - ghettos, redlining neighborhoods, imprisonment.

Annihilation - we're not all the way there, but Ferguson, etc. could be seen from this angle. It was a chilling moment in the film for me when a police officer suggested "spaying" the drug offenders to save a lot of trouble.

The panel was great. Dominick and Carlos from Learning Works are shining examples of some who have made it through the barriers and are helping others. Anthony and Thomas are two clients of the Amity Foundation. They have been out of prison for a few months and are learning how to navigate the world outside. They are getting used to the idea that pay phones aren't very common and learning to use cell phones.They expressed gratitude for a chance to be around "normal" people.

And that brings me to some thoughts about our society. Since I read The Hunger Games, I notice that we are not so far from that dystopia. The zones that are designed to keep different parts of the country isolated from each other are a way of dividing and conquering. So every time we bring different groups together and we get to know each other and learn from each other, we are eroding those barriers and developing strength through unity.

So thanks to everyone who attended. Thank you Sharon for inviting Ana. Sorry to be hurrying here. The working week beckons.