---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 17:16:56 -0700
From: radtimes <resist@best.com>
Subject: 9.11.01 IBPFF Statement
From: redibis@hotmail.com
:
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 22:51:42 -0000
Subject: [BlackPantherFilmFest] 9.11.01 IBPFF Statement
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:
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The International Black Panther Film Festival (IBPFF) Newsletter
October 12, 2001
Volume 1 Issue 5
Visit the official website:
http://www.pantherfilmfest.com
Tell your friends to subscribe
to this free mailing list by sending an email to:
BlackPantherFilmFest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
**************
Inside today's issue:
# 9.11.01 IBPFF Statement
# Black Panther Reunion Postponed
# IBPFF Fund Drive Extends Through November
@ SIDEBAR: Black Woman in Congress Casts Solitary No Vote
*******
9.11.01 IBPFF Statement:
From the Executive Producer of the
International Black Panther Film Festival, Kathleen Cleaver:
The staggering destruction and death we saw visited on New York City
and Washington, D.C. left us dazed, incredulous, terrified. We share
the grief and fury of the thousands of families shattered by the loss
of loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, and friends. We mourn those who
have perished. We salute the generous people across the country who
have worked work tirelessly to aid the recovery efforts here in New
York.
Bobby Seale, former Black Panther Party Chairman, remarked that
"whoever bombed the Pentagon and the World Trade Center crossed the
line and stooped to the level of a Hitler. This mass killing has
nothing to do with fighting for liberation and freedom." The
incredible carnage has caused in some a hostility to reasoned
discussion of why this has happened and how best to respond. But
these painful days-- more than ever -- call for reflection and
reconsideration of what policies and actions led to such tragic
devastation.
In that spirit, below, we reprint an excerpt of from the statement
the Vietnam Veterans Against the War* (http://www.vvaw.org) issued in
response to the terrorist attacks. The IBPFF shares these sentiments:
We speak out of duty to our country and the world, solidarity with
those serving in the military and love of our families and friends
when we take this stand:
*We condemn the criminal attacks of September 11 and demand that
those responsible be held accountable and brought to justice.
* We mourn for the victims and offer our heartfelt sorrow and
sympathy for the families and friends of those we lost.
* We condemn bigotry and violence against Arabs, Muslims and
immigrants which threaten these communities because of their race,
nationality, and religion.
* We oppose efforts to curtail our basic civil liberties and
democratic rights and must defend the Constitution from those who are
undermining it.
* We do not believe that militarism and war will provide justice or
security and oppose major U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan
or other countries.
On a more fundamental level, our country has to address the reasons
behind the violence that has now come to our shores. The seeds of
this anger were sown over many years. . .
As long as U.S. foreign policy continues to be based on corporate
exploitation and military domination, we will continue to make
enemies in the poor countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. We
can achieve enduring security and lasting peace only through domestic
and foreign policies based on social and economic justice. That will
come about only when the American people demand it.
* National Office of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc.
P.O. Box 48859 Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 327-5756 vwaw@prairenet.org
*******
Black Panther Reunion Postponed
Originally scheduled for this weekend, the 35th Anniversary Reunion
and Conference of the Black Panther Party planned for Washington, DC,
has been postponed until April 2002. The It's About Time committee,
organizers of this reunion and other events, issued a statement last
month explaining the decision was made out of respect for those
supporters and comrades affected by the recent terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In addition, many of those
who planned to participate expressed reluctance to travel by air at
this time.
All registrations received to date will be honored at the rescheduled
April event. The program to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the
founding of the Black Panther Party is open to the public as well as
former Black Panthers and will feature workshops, exhibits, film
screenings, and social activities. For more information on the Black
Panther Reunion and Conference, please visit the It's About Time
website, http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com, send email to
itsabouttime3@juno.com or call 916.455.0908.
*******
IBPFF Fund Drive Extended Until November
Donators Eligible for Souvenir Program/T-Shirt/Poster
The International Black Panther Film Festival (IBPFF), a not for
profit corporation, is extending its fund-raising campaign through
Friday, November 30, 2001.
Donations have come from across the U.S. and one query from Japan
since the start of our campaign. In light of the postponement of the
Black Panther Reunion, t-shirts once reserved for that conference are
now available for this fund-raising campaign. Donations should be
made by check or money order payable to the International Black
Panther Film Festival and mailed to the festival office. Specific
details are below.
All donators of at least $10 or more during this campaign will
receive a souvenir IBPFF 2001 program and a 2001 festival poster
(while supplies last). Donators of at least $25 or more will receive
a
program and the collector's item IBPFF t-shirt (while supplies last)
from the May 2001 festival (These are 100% cotton shirts, black with
a white design. While you may suggest a shirt size, we will not be
able to guarantee you'll receive the size that you desire. You will
be
notified of t-shirt size availability by telephone and/or email.)
The design on our t-shirt and poster is similar to the IBPFF postcard
design that can be found at:
http://www.pantherfilmfest.com/2001postcard.html
Donations must be postmarked by Friday, November 30, 2001. Void where
prohibited by law. All donations must be in US dollars. Program,
Posters and T-shirts are only available while supplies last and are
not guaranteed for all donators. All proceeds raised during this
campaign will be used to support the IBPFF. NOTE: International
Black Panther Film Festival directors, organizers, advisors, and
volunteers may donate to this campaign but are not eligible for
t-shirt, program, or poster giveaways.
For this campaign:
1. Write a check or money order made payable to The International
Black Panther Film Festival. Do not send cash.
2. Print or type your full name, telephone number, mailing address,
and email address, on your check or money order or on a separate
piece of paper. (Donators receiving t-shirts will be notified by
email
or telephone call. Allow 2 - 4 weeks for delivery. If you wish to
donate, but exclude yourself from the t-shirt or poster giveaway,
write "NO SHIRT/POSTER" on your check or money order.)
3. Mail donations postmarked on or before November 9, 2001, to:
IBPFF, 580 Broadway, Suite 501, New York, NY 10012 .
[For questions about this fund-raising campaign, you can email the
festival office at bpfilmfest@hotmail.com]
@@@@@@@
SIDEBAR: Black Woman in Congress Casts Solitary No Vote
Passed unanimously in the Senate (98-0), the vote in the House of
Representatives for the September 14 resolution authorizing military
action in response to the bombing of the Pentagon and the World Trade
Center was 420-1. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) cast the one dissenting
vote. Her decision angered so many people that she now requires police
protection. Interviewed by Davey D, of daveyd.com and rapstation.com,
Congresswoman Lee explained why she believed the nation should not go
to war:
"First, our nation is in grieving, we're all mourning, we're angry;
there are a range of emotions taking place. Myself personally, I am
also grieving and I believe fully and firmly that the Congress of the
United States is the only legislative body that can say, "Let's pause
for a moment...and let's look at using some restraint before we rush
to action." Because military action can lead to an escalation and
spiral out of control. So, why I voted no, was one, the president
already has the authority to execute a military action. He doesn't
need Congress; under the War Powers Act he has that authority. But
Congress is the people's house, and the Congress is responsible for
providing checks and balances, and you cannot just allow the
administration to run ahead with a strategy without reporting back
and without having some oversight.
Now we must bring the perpetrators to justice. International
terrorism is upon us -- this is a new world and we cannot make any
mistakes in dealing with it. We do not want to see our reaction lead
to another reaction which could allow this to spiral out of control.
So while we grieve and while we provide assistance -- and I did vote
to provide assistance for the families and communities that have been
devastated and also providing funding for anti-terrorist activities
for securing our own country -- we've got to conduct a full
investigation and be really deliberate about how we move forward
militarily. We cannot make any mistake about this, this is an
unconventional war and we have to fight it in an unconventional way.
We don't know the real nature of terrorism in the true sense of the
word. We have not invested in combating terrorism the way we should
have, which involves many issues. It involves our foreign policy, it
involves multinational cooperation, it involves diplomatic efforts.
It involves pulling all of these very multifaceted areas together to
come up with a real way to deal with terrorism. I don't believe we
have faced the fact that terrorism is the new war that this country is
going to have to fight. We're looking at putting up billions of
dollars for national missile defense. Well, anti-ballistic missiles
-- that would not have saved the lives or prevented the horrible
morning that we saw last Tuesday, it just wouldn't have done it. So,
we're looking at putting military money into the wrong areas. We need
to look at what this means in terms of securing our country, securing
our world, and how to use our tax dollars toward that purpose. I am
convinced that military action alone will not prevent further
terrorist attacks."
For the full interview, visit:
http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles/articleP80.asp
Stay tuned for more news to come!
^^^^^^^
Group Publisher: Kathleen Cleaver
Group Editor: Deidra McIntyre
Group Homepage:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlackPantherFilmFest
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