How YOU can make 2014 CJME's strongest year yet!
CJME Admin
Salaam, Shalom, and Peace,
First and foremost, Citizens For Justice in the Middle East (CJME) is just finishing up its tenth year of operation, and we would like to thank you for your continued support of our work and dedication to advocacy and education in the Kansas City area and beyond about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and America’s role. Kansas contributes $24 million annually, while Missouri sends $52 million annually to support Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine. These amounts are alarming and do not support an unbiased US role in the conflict.
Second, we are writing to invite you to our next meeting, which will be held at Village Presbyterian Church located at 6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208 on Monday, January 13 at 6:00pm in room 232 (go up the stairs to the second floor, turn right, and it will be the last door on the right) and our inaugural meet-up group on January 25, 2014 at 1:00pm at Jerusalem Cafe and Bakery. The topic for this meet-up will be "Palestinian Prisoners & Israeli Human Rights Violations." You are more than welcome to come to learn more about what we do and how you can get involved. Ahlan wa Sahlan!
Third, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrea Whitmore for her dedication, leadership, and continued support of CJME and to introduce ourselves to you as the new members of the CJME leadership team:
Kristine
In 2011, while researching economic development in the West Bank for my MA thesis at KU, I stumbled across the Citizens for Justice in the Middle East website. I had been feeling alone and misunderstood for my passionate interest in Palestinian-Israeli peace and justice and I'll never forget how happy I was to learn that this group of like-minded people existed in Kansas City. I was immediately welcomed with open arms and have been active in the group ever since.
Annie
As the daughter of a Palestinian father who was a refugee of both the 1948 and the 1967 wars, the realities of the pain and loss my family experienced and continues to endure has sprung me into action. Soon after moving to the Kansas City area in 2011, I joined CJME to be more involved. I have learned so much about the conflict, the role of the US, and the what ways I can help advocate and inform through the work of CJME.
John
I originally joined CJME in 2012 because after a year of self education and research on Global issues I felt completely disillusioned, lost, and overwhelmed. I discovered CJME at a KKFI ( Kansas City area’s independent, noncommercial community radio station) sponsored event that was held to encourage activism in local community. I knew little about the Palestine-Israel conflict at the time, but the CJME members I spoke to at the conference were more than willing to educate. Since then, I've been soaking up and spreading all the knowledge I can about the conflict and America's role in it.
Fourth, we are launching our new and improved website next month, so we would like to invite you to learn more about CJME by it at www.cjme.org. There, you will be able to find information on how to get involved, including our new statement rejecting all forms of racism:
CJME stands opposed to all forms of racism, including Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, or any other expressions of bigotry directed at any person or group. We also reject the charge of anti-Semitism when it is used spuriously to silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies and practices. We are committed to working with secular peace builders and peace builders from all faiths who work for a just peace in Palestine/Israel.
Fifth, Some of our top priorities in 2014 include expanding upon our growing membership, with people of all ages and all backgrounds. We also plan to add up-to-date action items on our Facebook page and website, start a monthly meet-up group to discuss pressing issues, and we will reach out to our partners in the KC area to plan an annual educational and fundraising event.
To learn more about Citizens for Justice in the Middle East and to learn how you can get involved, please contact us at: cjme.k...@gmail.com, http://www.cjme.org/ Find us on facebook at Citizens for Justice in the Middle East or https://www.facebook.com/groups/cjmenet/.
Sincerely,
Kristine, Annie, and John
Members of the CJME Leadership Team