Des Moines Phil Berrigan Catholic Worker House 2018 report & 2019 beg …

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Frank Cordaro

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Apr 25, 2019, 3:40:28 PM4/25/19

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Phil Berrigan CW House 2018 report & 2019 beg …

*Attached Hard Copy for mailing

We will need around $12,000 to keep this house afloat in 2019, and by my reckoning, it’s the “Best Bang for your Peace & Justice Bucks!

Out line of beg...

1. Intro 15th Berrigan House beg

2. Occupy the World Food Price

3. DM Drone Command Center Campaign

4. SOMETHING NEW! US Army Billboard Campaign

5. Next Drone Witness: May 18 Armed Forces Day

6. THE BIG, SAD & GOOD NEWS @ Berigan House

7. 2019 in House Services Old & New

8. JESSICA REZNICEK, RUBY MONTOYA & JULIE BROWN

9. What your donations will pay for

10. Make checks out to:

11. Links to 2003 to 2018 Berrigan CW House Beg Letters

1) Intro 15th Berrigan House beg

Dear friends;

Another year ‘hat in hand’ with my other hand out begging for Berrigan House. This Year’s beg is the 15th since 2003. Trying to define who we ‘are’ at any given time is sometimes not easy to do, given our community’s yearly turnover of people. It’s far easier to just list the things we’ve done, from year to year. 2018 is no different. (See links to past beg letters below)

2. Occupy the World Food Price

The 2018 OWFP effort in Oct was our 7th annual effort. We occupied choice space on the State Capitol’s grounds, next to the entrance were our voices and music could be heard by all who were attending the World Food Prize ceremony inside. This was a great ‘free speech’ victory!
One problem though. No body showed up for the concert and rally.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/iowa-peace-list/owfp%7Csort:date/iowa-peace-list/ZiaLG24GLIQ/LRyf3R9iCAAJ

3. DM Drone Command Center Campaign

Our 2018 Drone Campaign efforts continue doggedly in a state were there exist a conspiracy of silence on all things connected to the DM Drone Command Center and its real time connection to US lead Drone killings in the Middle East. In 2018 we’ve started an annual calendar of events beginning in May with the 2nd annual Arm Forces Day Rally and Protest, followed by a 2nd annual Aug 6-9 Hiroshima Nagasaki vigil at St Ambrose Cathedral ending with rally and protest at the Drone site. And ending the year with our 2nd annual Feast of the Holy Innocents retreat and witness. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/iowa-peace-list/owfp%7Csort:date/iowa-peace-list/ZiaLG24GLIQ/LRyf3R9iCAAJ

The DMCW and the VFP also hosted the annual Midwest CW Faith and Resistance Retreat in DM over St Patrick’s Day weekend. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/DB6N-nyudHM

But little or nothing about our rallies and arrest in the local and state news media outlets.

4. SOMETHING NEW! US Army Billboard Campaign

In 2018, the "No Respect in US military” Iowa based billboard truth vs US Army Lies campaign got started.

On May 28th, I got an email message from an anonymous Concerned Christian Political Artist with a photo of an alter US Army billboard at 1600 Euclid Ave. The Army slogan “Earn Respect” and “earn a $40,000 joining bonus” with two military persons working on a drone was altered with in large hand painted letters “DRONES KILL” with this message:

Fellow Iowans,

The time has come to have a conversation about the use of armed drones in the backyard of Des Moines, IA. In fact, this conversation is well overdue. Iowans need to break the silence about the killing perpetuated at the Drone Command Center. By failing to publicly condemn an active war zone in which Iowans are committing war crimes are also failing to uphold basic human rights, the killing without due process. Although the US government claims to be assassinating “bad guys,” in the name of the “War on Terror,” reports from international press and human rights workers, as well as documentation from our own government, show that many innocent lives have been taken, families and communities brutally disrupted. In addition to being morally wrong, these actions only fan the flames of terrorism targeting the United States.

My added words, “Drones Kill,” expose the lie of respectability of drone warfare that this Army billboard is promoting. As a political artist and a believer in free speech, this act of truth-speaking and exposing lies is far more valuable than the cost of any sign.

Finally, I hope this piece of political speech will serve to enlighten my fellow Iowa Christians to wake up to this terrible drone warfare that we are part of and about which the majority of us have no clue. I wish to remain anonymous to be free to continue this important work.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/national-cw-e-mail-list/fLNNxqiwCVA

Than on June 10th we get another email from the same anonymous Artist with a photo of a 2nd alter Army billboard. We sent out a news release https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/c64n3bZYm90

The DM Reg ran a June 12 photo with this head line: Polk Co Sheriff "Graffiti on DM Sign Under Investigation" and below story:

The billboard depicts a soldier holding a United States flag next to the message, "Earn respect and up to $40,000 in bonuses if you qualify." Below it "NO RESPECT" is painted in large red letters with a peace sign embellishing it.

The person behind the message is remaining anonymous, but is in contact with Frank Cordaro, founder of the Catholic Worker Group, who put out a press release on the issue. Cordaro said the person identifies as a Christian Iowan and is highlighting the use of drones in war, which Cordaro described as "criminal."

In the statement, the anonymous person said the messages are in protest of the usage of drones by the 132d Wing in Des Moines, which is a part of the Iowa National Guard.

"As long as Iowa continues to accept being part of an active war zone through the Drone Command Center, there can be 'No Respect' for serving in the military in the state of Iowa," the statement reads. "Our Iowa Drone Command Center connects Iowa to war crimes committed every day."
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/GUcDYqJCmQQ

Two more altered billboard email messages and photos were sent to us:

July 20th
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/QgzsyO7I_Ac
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/7txiabJZST4

Sept 14th
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/QlWfMDINdmY
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/JqItrm9tLeM

Both were at the same site on Flour Drive. News media were sent photos and statements for both efforts. Both were replaced with in hours! Both were ignored by our local and state news media people!

How weird is that? I call it IOWA weird!

We have not heard from our anonymous Billboard Artist friend since Sept. I only hope it’s not the last we hear from ‘them’. Maybe ‘they’ will return this Summer! We can only hope and pray.

5. Next Drone Witness: May 18 Armed Forces Day

Our planned 2019 efforts are being made around these 3 yearly events beginning with this year’s May 18th Arms Forces Day Rally. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/zdxMgqv1EI4

6. THE BIG, SAD & GOOD NEWS @ Berigan House

The big news: I am no longer living at Berrigan House. I reported my move to Dingman House in the last v.p. https://frankcordaro.wordpress.com/2019/04/13/franks-historic-dump-by-fc-april-2019-via-pacis-p-9/

The sad news: the brothers Dan and Phil the Cats, are no longer there. Dan died this past summer and Phil retired to Rachel Corrie House when I moved out of Berrigan.

The good news: Jakob Whitson <jakobw...@gmail.com> and Ryna-Ria Ignacio <rpign...@gmail.com> are its new residents and care takers! These two young people come to us from Kansas! They are a couple. They are both ‘Faith based’, justice seeking and service motivated young people who sought us out. Timing is everything. Jakob and Ryna could not have showed up at a better time for Berrigan House. They bring a whole new spirit and perspective. We are very blessed to have them with us. Stay tuned …

7. 2019 in House Services Old & New

Weekly: Mon. Yoga @ 6 p.m., Fri. AA @ 4 p.m., Fri. Mass @ 7 p.m.

Monthly: DM VFP meeting every 1st Monday @ 5 p.m.

Peace & Justice Library. The whole house has gone through a deep clean and remake. The 1st floor book library has been cleaned out and sorted through. It is now in alphabetical order by way of authors!

8. JESSICA REZNICEK, RUBY MONTOYA & JULIE BROWN

Jessica Reznicek <jessica...@gmail.com> and Ruby Montoya <rkcmo...@gmail.com> joined DMCW Julie Brown <storm...@yahoo.com> for a six month “Time Out” period from October to March at Rachel Corrie House, next door to Berrigan House. All three came back to the Des Moines in bad shape.

For Jess and Ruby a year on the road, dropped out and out of sight was not easy and the threat of the FBI taking them into custody at any time did not let up. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iowa-peace-list/sbcuphbF_hA

Julie Brown returned early from her work in Kurdistan Iraq with Christian Peace Makers in need of some healing space. https://cptik.org/

I’m grateful we were able to give them the Rachel Corrie House for a six month safe space period. Melisa Fuller joined the three for the six month stay.

Julie Brown is back in Kurdistan Iraq with Christian Peace Makers.

Ruby returned home to start afresh with family and life.

Jess just started a three month immersion experience with the St Scholastica Monastery in Duluth MN. And has also signed on to work with Meta Peace Team formerly Mich. Peace Team http://www.metapeaceteam.org/

I’ve never known Jess to be happier than she is right now. I could not be happier for her! Stay tuned. My x girlfriend might become a nun!

9. What your donations will pay for

In light of all of the above, your donations will pay for the following: Utilities, gas and electric, bug service, internet, phone, property taxes, and upkeep for the physical space of 713 Indiana Ave. Plus, donations will go towards upkeep of an old van, gas, and car insurance, printer and printing cost. Any leftover funds will go towards the Berrigan programs, projects, and campaigns. Please be generous … though anything is appreciated!

10. Make checks out to:

Phil Berrigan Catholic Worker or Frank Cordaro

Mail to: 713 Indiana Ave., Des Moines, IA 50314

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