USACBI
is one of over 100 endorsers of the May 21-24 counter-conference and protest challenging the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (the largest Zionist lobby organization in Washington, DC) in Washington this weekend. Full details of the conference and protest may be found at moveoveraipac.org.
Note: Conference is full, but web livestreaming will be available at moveoveraipac.org from 10:30 AM (EST) to 3:00 PM (EST) to view the conference’s speakers and activities.
The schedule of events is below – please join in online or in person for these exciting programs and activities!
Friday, May 20: White House Protest of Netanyahu
12:00pm: Protest outside the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave), while Obama meets Netanyahu
2:30pm – 4:30pm: Art-making party at the CODEPINK DC office (1247 E St SE near the Potomac Ave Metro) to make visuals
5:00pm: Opening Action – Contact Rae if you”re interested in being part of this rush hour creative action
Saturday, May 21: Move Over AIPAC Summit, 8:00am – 7:00pm
Unless noted otherwise, all events to take place at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (900 Massachusetts Ave NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro) To attend the Summit you mustregister in advance. Contact Rae (415-994-1723) for any questions and not the Church.
8:00am – 9:00am: Registration
9:00am – 10:30am: Welcome with CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, human rights advocate Anna Baltzer and others
Medea Benjamin (click for biography)
Anna Baltzer (click for biography)
10:30am – 12:30pm: Unpacking AIPAC
Keynote Address with Professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, co-authors of The Israel Lobby
Mearsheimer and Walt are the nation”s foremost experts on AIPAC. Their groundbreaking book, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, published in 2007, made the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 19 different languages. The book focuses primarily on the lobby”s influence on U.S. foreign policy and its negative effect on American interests. The book created, and continues to generate, a firestorm of controversy, but their arguments are meticulously researched and superbly written. Mearsheimer and Walt are widely credited with having the courage to force into the open a subject that has for too long remained taboo.
Stephen M. Walt (click for biography)
John J. Mearsheimer (click for biography)
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch catered by BusBoys & Poets Note: Lunch included in registration cost
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Author”s Salon
America”s Misadventure – Chas W. Freeman (click for biography)
Breakthrough: Transforming Fear into Compassion – Rich Forer (click for biography)
Fast Times in Palestine – Pamela Olson (click for biography)
1:30pm – 3:00pm: Time for a New Foreign Policy
Panel and Discussion with Noura Erakat, Nadia Hijab, and Phyllis Bennis
It is time to wean U.S. policy away from AIPAC”s grip and towards an even-handed position that respects international law and the human rights of all people in the region. This panel discussion will outline a U.S. foreign policy that would be beneficial for the U.S. and region, and steps we can take to move in that direction.
Moderated by Felicia Eaves, a human rights advocate for almost 20 years, U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation Steering Committee member and former Vice Chair of Black Voices for Peace.
Phyllis Bennis (click for biography)
Noura Erekat (click for biography)
Nadia Hijab (click for biography)
3:15pm – 4:30pm: Workshop Session I (click on workshop names for details)
-Combating Misused Charges of Anti-Semitism
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
-Poster and Puppet-making
Tighe Barry
4:45pm – 6:00pm: Workshop Session II (click on workshop names for details)
-Flashmobs and Creative Actions
Rae Abileah, Max Blumenthal and Dave Lippman
-Poster and Puppet-making
Tighe Barry
6:15pm – 7:00pm: Closing Session and Next Steps with Ret. Col. Ann Wright (US Boat to Gaza)
Ann Wright (click for biography)
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Evening Event at BusBoys and Poets* (1025 5th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro): A Special Tribute to Peacemakers and Truthtellers for Justice in Palestine (click for details)
Sunday, May 22: Main Action Day
Unless noted otherwise, all events to take place outside the AIPAC Conference (corner of Massachusetts & 9th ST NW)
8:00am – 10:00am: Mass actions outside AIPAC Conference, Obama to speak to AIPAC
8:00am – 8:30am: Nonviolence Training
8:30am – 9:30am: Create Group Visual
10:00am – 12:30pm: Rally at the Convention Center
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch (click for dining options near Convention Center)
1:30pm – 1:40pm: Performance of Seven Jewish Children by Jewish Voice for Peace – DC
1:40pm – 3:30pm: Gathering of BDS Organizers
1:40pm – 3:30pm: Outdoor Learning Circles and Justice Festival (click for details)
3:30pm – 5:00pm: Breaking the Siege and Tearing Down the Wall – creative actions outside the DC Convention Center
6:00pm – 8:00pm: Evening Event at BusBoys and Poets* (1025 5th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro): Poets, Comedians and Dancers – Tears and Laughter for Palestine (click for details)
Monday, May 23: A Gala Affair
10:00am – 11:30am: Action at Department of Justice: AIPAC is not Above the Law!
AIPAC can steal tons of classified US national defense files to gin up a war with Iran, discredit rivals and twist policy. AIPAC can steal business and labor group information to win undeserved trade concessions for Israel. AIPAC can ignore repeat orders to register under the 1938 Foreign Agent Registration Act and violate US election laws with impunity, right? WRONG!
Join us at the Justice Department on the corner of 10th ST NW and Pennsylvania Avenue to demand that AIPAC be reregistered and reregulated under the 1938 Foreign Agents Registration Act.
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch and Discussion at BusBoys and Poets* (1025 5th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro): Palestinian Member of Knesset Haneen Zoabi – What does the real peace process look like? (click for details)
1:00pm – 3:00pm: Presentation at BusBoys and Poets* (1025 5th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro): Ending Military Aid to Israel – A workshop on how to organize to challenge U.S. military aid to Israel (click for details)
3:00pm – 5:30pm: Creative Action Preparations- Art Making & Non-Violence Training (Corner of Massachusetts & 9th ST NW)
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Creative Action Outside the AIPAC Gala Banquet (Corner of Massachusetts & 9th ST NW)
7:30pm – 9:00pm: Debrief and Dinner at Chan”s Mongolian Grill (Inside the Convention Center, 1207 9th St NW at N. St)
Tuesday, May 24: Follow the Money!
9:00am – 5:00pm: Lobbying Congress for a Just Peace in the Middle East (pick up Congressional packets in Rayburn House Office Building Cafeteria)
10:00am: Protest at Capitol Hill (New Jersey & Independence)
1:00pm: Press Conference: Responding to Netanyahu”s Congressional Address
featuring Haneen Zoabi, Medea Benjamin and Ret. Col. Ann Wright
6:00pm – 8:00pm: Evening event at BusBoys and Poets* (2021 14th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro) – The Attack on the Gaza Flotilla: One Year On
Professor Ahmet Dogan, the father of Furkan Dogan, Katherine Gallagher, attorney at Center for Constitutional Rights, Phyllis Bennis, and Ret. Col. Ann Wright. Sponsored by Center for Constitutional Rights, US Boat to Gaza, BADIL, US Campaign to End the Occupation and the New Internationalism Project of IPS.
* Note: While there is no admission fee for this event, it is located in a progressive restaurant and you are asked to purchase dinner/drinks there. Limited seating for program, first come, first serve.
