Piedmont Friends meetings are engaged in may activities for Peace and Social Justice in their communities, in North Carolina, in the country and for the world.
This page is a “bulletin board” for sharing actions, resources and contacts for Friends in Action.
Friends from throughout Piedmont Friends gathered virtually on September 6 to share information about what peace and social concerns each of their meetings is carrying, to find common concerns, and to invite each other into common work.
The report from this meeting is here:
PIEDMONT FRIENDS- PEACE & JUSTICE GOOGLE GROUP
This PF Google Group invites Friends from through out Piedmont Friends meetings to participate in communications about Peace & Social Concerns actions and activities in the various meetings.
To sign-up: send email to clerkingcommittee@piedmontfriends.org
NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE
Friends are encouraged to share information, resources, and activities meaningful to meetings and individuals.
Nonviolent Resistance Resources is an “online white board” for verified users to post activities, resources, links, etc. which may be of interest and helpful to others.
To sign-up as a user: send an email request to clerkingcommittee@piedmontfriends.org
Piedmont Friends Fall Gathering
Slides for the presentation: Mass Nonviolent Noncooperation; Civil Resistance Against Authoritarianism, click link.
NOT NORMAL TUESDAYS
Because This is NOT Normal
Originating from an Eno Friend (Hillsborough) in response to the anxiety and uncertainty many are experiencing, Not Normal Tuesdays is an invitation for Friends to join in collective action to not normalize authoritarianism.
Queries for an Authoritarian Takeover Friends are invited use these queries, written by and shared with permission of Kent Wicker, Durham Friends Meeting:
“We Quakers have a practice of asking ourselves (collectively and individually) questions that we call “queries.” I feel the need of this practice right now, so I came up with the following questions for myself. I share them in case they seem useful for anyone else.”
Durham Friends Meeting – ACTION FOR PALESTINE: https://sites.google.com/view/dfm-action-for-palestine/home
DFM has compiled a list of resources to Learn More About Palestine: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZehI48qKcmvw3uWiMwwZ7qAjzatjonDVPefrEs6xUCE/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rwkaj1s37rfa
RESOURCES on STRATEGIC NONVIOLENCE
Margaret Rowlett, Greensboro, shared this compilation of resources for NonViolent Direct Action (NVDA). Margaret has trained in NVDA with Eileen Flanagan and Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT). Margaret also leads trainings, several upcoming in Greensboro.
The foundation for all of the programs Margaret is involved in presenting is a discussion of strategic nonviolence, i.e., nonviolent direct action. Examples of the specific topic areas that I can include are the four roles in social justice, lessons from historical and global movements, the dynamics of power, how to challenge the pillars of support, how to design an effective campaign, options for tactics and how to choose among them, the spectrum of allies, etc.
Margaret may be reached by contacting peace-justice@piedmontfriends.org.
NC COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY (NCCADP)
After nearly 20 years since the last state execution, NC has passed legislation toward resuming state-sponsored executions. The NCCADP is a state-wide coalition of faith communities and social justice organizations advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in NC.
A powerful 25-minute film, Racist Roots, outlines the origins of the NC death penalty. The fill is available for individuals and group showings, which meetings may use for forums and discussions. Learn more here: RACIST ROOTS: Origins of North Carolina’s Death Penalty
RED CARDS- Know Your Rights
These Know Your Rights Red Cards provide information in Spanish (or other languages) on one side and English on the other.
They are easy to handout and are available to nonprofits and religious organizations free of charge; up to $250 per week.
Order Information here:
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
Order form: ILRC Red Card Request Form
Friends Meetings are encouraged to order cards to share with:
-Food Pantries and Food distribution sites, for distribution
-Immigrant neighbors
-Restaurant servers and workers
BLUE CARDS- Know Your
Mary Ross, Durham Friends, shared this link to “Blue Cards.” Two Wake County activists created this card that combines know-your-rights information with resources, like hotlines or websites (NC focused).
View the printing specs here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WcFrTDRcLzK8ke_qY7ZFYhnbyLDvdVCP/view
NORTH STAR NETWORK
Pathways to Canada for migrants in the US
https://www.thenorthstarnetwork.com/
ETHICAL CONSUMER Boycott List: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts A listing of boycotts for various products and services.
An Urgent Call to the Religious Society of Friends went out in May 2022 inviting Friends into a national dialogue on the urgent threats to our democracy and what’s at stake. https://quakercall.net/
The national Urgent Call Steering Committee has identified Pennsylvania and North Carolina as two swing states where Friends may play a crucial role in protecting free and fair elections–our democracy.
Friends throughout North Carolina are coming together to provide resources and to invite Friends into discernment and ACTION, to become engaged in various ways to support the election and strengthen our democracy. Click on the link to join Quaker Call to Action-NC: QCNC Regisration.
You also can endorse the Quaker Call to Action-NC initiative.
SEPTEMBER UPDATE:
Dear QCNC Friends,
The election season is in full swing. Early voting in North Carolina begins October 17. Many opportunities exist to be engaged to support and protect the election.
News from Western NC Friends: Interfaith Voting Action Network now has 10 member organizations working with voter registration and tabling, canvassing training, working with Disability Rights NC and UU Justice NC providing transportation in Madison, Haywood and Henderson Counties for early voting,
Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV)
Some Friends meetings (Durham, Charlotte, Eno) have been engaged in Get-Out-The-Vote postcarding with Reclaim our Vote.
Phone Banking. Kate Fellman of YouCanVote (and who joined the QCNC state-wide call in May) invites Quakers to sign-up for their phone-banking effort: https://www.youcanvote.org/events?results=True&date_start=08-28-2024&event_type=322342
Starting October 17, these 2½ hour online sessions include training and procedures for making calls to new registrants to make sure they have all the information they need to make their voice heard this election.
Volunteering
Contact your County Board of Elections Office. The NC State Board of Elections has an online BOE contact info tool: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/BOEInfo/ so you reach out to see if volunteers are needed in your county for the election and for supporting poll workers.
Party Canvassing and Rides to the Polls. Through your political party of choice, you may volunteer to help with GOTV efforts, including helping voters get to the polls.
Poll Chaplain/Peacekeeper Training.
FAITHS UNITED to SAVE DEMOCRACY offers virtual training sessions on Sept. 30 and October 10. Sign-up here
Encourage EARLY VOTING
During Early Voting in NC, eligible individuals who reside in a county but are not yet registered to vote there may register during the in-person early voting period. After registering, the newly registered voter can immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.”
Also registered voters may correct any problems with their voter registration.
ELECTION VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Emily Provance, Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting, New York, has conducted several online sessions focused on Election Violence Prevention.
Much of Emily’s information in these sessions is available in shorter YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7m41Bpxv0fOpxsPz8B7RW5BvHjoAlg79
The North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe, and Secure Elections is putting together a strategic communications and rapid response team to share important messaging with NC voters leading up to the election. We need you and think you would be a perfect member of this team!
It will only take 10 minutes of your time each week to post prepared messages about issues ranging from election myths and important election dates to stories designed to lower the temperature and remind North Carolinians of the many things we have in common. You will also be on stand-by in the event of a need for rapid response to any incident that occurs around our NC elections. We hope we will not need to activate that messaging, but it could be in response to any violence or serious incidents that may occur this fall.
The network will be providing a one-hour webinar to learn about communications strategies:
How different levels of civic engagement correlate to different channels of news consumption.
What kinds of messages can best reach our target audiences.
What language and wording works best.
You may wish to review the QCNC Actions List for additional opportunities.
HOLDING the ELECTION in SPIRITUAL CARE
Save The Date: Sunday, November 3
The national Urgent Call Steering Committee is planning to host a nation-wide virtual meeting for worship, reflection, and preparation on Sunday evening, November 3 from 7-8 PM EST. You can register HERE. You will be receiving a separate invitation from the national Quaker Call for Action for this event soon.
Their Priority Actions To Support Democracy is available- CLICK HERE to download and share this with your meeting and with other people of faith in your communities to use in the weeks prior to the November 5 election.
Supporting Each Other Through Uncertainty and Concern. As the concern about potential election turmoil and violence—during and after the election—continues to grow, QCNC encourages meetings to hold forums and/or meetings for worship to support each other locally through possible tensions and uncertainty.
The National Urgent Call and QCNC will monitor the post-election period and be mindful of how Quakers may be called to respond through the time of votes being counted, verified and the outcomes determined.
Let us know ways Friends in your meetings are engaged and responding to concerns, and let us know how QCNC may facilitate broader support for Friends strengthening democracy.
Quaker Call to Action-NC State-wide Call, May 23, 2024. Zoom Recording: The recording of the first Call is available here: QCNC First Call- May 23, 2024
Use Passcode: 7v3K=.M4
Share the Quaker Call to Action-NC announcement with your meeting and Friends:
An Urgent Call to the North Carolina Religous Society of Friends is our statement of purpose–Who are we? Why now? What is the plan?
Check out the Protect our Election-Actions List to learn about ways to get involved and about organizations engaged in these shared concerns.
Resources for Hosting Get-Out-The-Vote Postcard Writing Events
From Durham Friends Meeting
Reach out to the Quaker Call-NC Steering Committee–send email to: QuakerCall-NC@piedmontfriends.org
QCNC Steering Committee
(Individual Friends are not appointed by their monthly meeting)
PAMELA SCHWINGL, Chapel Hill Friends Meeting
LIZZIE BIDDLE, New Garden Friends Meeting
VERNIE DAVIS, Raleigh Friend Meeting
MARGUERITE DINGMAN, Durham Friends Meeting
BOB LACKEY, Asheville Friends Meeting
WAYNE FINEGAR, Fayetteville Friends Meeting
SALLY FREEMAN, Eno Friends Meeting of Hillsborough
TIM LINDEMAN New Garden Friends Meeting
MARIAN BEANE Charlotte Friends Meeting
PAUL KLEVER, Eno Friends Meeting of Hillsborough
Clerk, Quaker Call to Action-NC
These people endorsed the Quaker Call to Action-NC initiative:
- Alice Carlton Chapel Hill
- Amy Mackintosh Raleigh
- Ann Ashford Guilford
- Barbara Reynolds Ashville
- Beverly Cowdrick Durham
- Bill west Chapel Hill
- Bob Lackey Ashville
- Bonnie Oulman Durham
- Casey Strange Raleigh
- Cesanne Berry Durham
- Chandlee White Charlotte
- Dan Read Durham
- Deborah Bromiley Raleigh
- Dennis Pipkin Raleigh
- Donna Allison Durham
- Dorothy Mason Greensboro
- Evan Richardson Asheville
- Hart Pillow Chapel Hill
- Jennie Boyd Bull Celo
- Jennie Ratcliffe Durham
- John Martinez Greensboro
- John Martinez Greensboro
- John Shuford Raleigh
- Katherine Metzo Charlotte
- Katie Hanzalik Raleigh
- Lizzie Biddle Greensboro
- Lou Gordh Greensboro
- Margaret Normile Ashville
- Marian Beane Charlotte
- Pam Schwingl Chapel Hill
- Sally Freeman Hillsborough
- Sandra Mueller Raleigh
- Sara White Greensboro
- Tim Allen Durham
- Vernie Davis Raleigh
- Wayne Finegar Fayetteville
- Wess Daniels Greensboro