Reflections on Windows and Mirrors

I’ve been riding the city bus a lot recently, so much so that I feel like I am on the bus more often than in the office, or anywhere else for that matter. In fact as I write this blog entry I am sitting on the bus, office bound and surrounded by strangers also on their way work. Coming from a rural, Ohio town to a southern city where the public transportation system is only used by a small segment of the community I have been given the opportunity to look around the seats. The untimely departure of my transmission has allowed me the time to experience my city from a different perspective and I am very thankful.

I often find myself wondering while on the bus; is it possible to make the WAM exhibit accessible and interesting to these hard working people, with their hour commutes in a relatively small city? Can we find a way to spark the interest of the average person riding the number nine every morning at 8 AM? These questions are almost immediately followed by my own answer in the negative. It is merely a pipe dream to think we could get these folks interested in a war being fought thousands of miles away, especially when there is so much to worry about here in Greensboro, NC.

It is this mind-set, this belief that we are not affected nor can affect things that happen so far away from home that has allowed so many wars to be fought, so many resources to be wasted, and so many lives to be lost. It becomes easy to forget that in this day and age we are more interconnected than we care to imagine. If we are battling daily to put food on the table and manage with meager resources it is not understandable, but expected, that we put little effort into learning about people in which education, food, and safety are not givens. Perhaps instead of spending three million dollars on a sending one US soldier to Afghanistan the woman sitting across the aisle on my morning commute could have access to more affordable health care? But this is not something that our elected officials advertise. Yes, the military plays a role in our economy, especially in North Carolina, deemed one of the most military-friendly states in the U.S., but is this war in Afghanistan really the best use of our resources?

I’m obviously a dreamer, young and idealistic. But I don’t think it is being unrealistic to think that those who we can reach through Windows and Mirrors can take the time to work for a change in the status quo. It is practical to hope that those who view these murals will leave touched and inspired to, if nothing else, sign an advocacy card on their way out the door. I also don’t think it is too much to hope that through continued efforts by organizations like AFSC and all our partners here in Greensboro we can continue to amplify the voices of the many who suffer in silence. It is only through education and awareness that true change will be realized.

I’m almost to my stop, and I can’t help but take one final look around the bus. What would it take for my fellow commuters to put the suffering of the citizens in Afghanistan on their already full plates? I don’t think there is an answer, but I do know that I can do my best to reach out to every part of my community. I can work to help others recognize the equality that spans all of humanity whether you are on a bus in Greensboro, North Carolina or a school house in Kabul.

Megan Fair

For more information on the exhibit Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan go to www.afsc.org/greensboro

Windows and Mirrors Volunteer Descriptions

Volunteer Job Descriptions

Tour Guides: Volunteers needed to provide assistance and information on mini “tours” of the mural exhibit and basic knowledge of current situation in Afghanistan. Information about Afghanistan and the mural exhibit will be provided in orientation. (We will prep you on this during the volunteer orientation and give you background materials.) Tours will be given on Saturday from 10am-2pm. Sunday from 12-4pm. Volunteers will work 2 hour shifts. We will also need tour guides who are available on-call, if we have a group that comes in during the week who would like a tour.
When Needed: 2 hour shifts on Saturdays 10-2, Sundays 12-4 from March 25-April 15.
How many needed: 10-20 volunteers

First Friday Volunteers: Volunteers needed to stand at a table in downtown Greensboro and advertise the exhibit and pass out flyers during 1st Friday Art Walk.
When Needed: Friday, March 4 evening
Friday, April 1 evening
How many needed:3-4 volunteers each evening

Event Greeters: Volunteers needed to guide, greet and welcome visitors during events and make sure people sign up as having attended.
When Needed: Opening Reception (Guilford Library) Fri, March 25, 6:30-8:30
Muslims in America (New Garden Friends Mtg) Thurs, March 31, 6:30-7:30
Christianity & War panel (Guilford Gallery) Tues. April 5, 7-7:45
How many needed: 2-3 per event

Youth Group Helpers: Volunteers needed to assist with youth group programming, tour and discussion. We also need volunteers who would be available on call to help with other youth groups not yet scheduled.
When Needed: Sunday, March 27, 4:30-7pm
How many needed: 3-4

Set Up: Volunteers needed to set up exhibit at the Guilford College library
When Needed: March 23,2011
How many needed: 3-4 people needed

Take Down: Volunteers needed to help take down the exhibit at Guilford College Library
When Needed: April 18th in the morning (with the potential for more help Tuesday, April 19th)
How many needed:4-5 people needed

Windows and Mirrors Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events

Opening Reception: March 25, 2011, 7p.m. Carnegie Room, Guilford College Library

Youth Group Tour & Discussion. March 27, 5p.m. New Garden Friends Meeting, 805 New Garden Road. (Attendance by special arrangement only)

Muslims in America and Islamophobia. March 31, 7p.m. New Garden Friends Meeting, 805 New Garden Road. Panel discussion featuring the director of Council on American Islamic Relations Nihad Awad from Washington, DC, local residents, and additional art by Todd Drake, "Muslim Self Portraits".

Christianity and War. April 5, 7:30p.m. Guilford College Gallery (Founders Hall). Panel discussion covering the spectrum of Christian responses to war.

The Economic Cost of War. April 15, 7pm Guilford College Library Atrium. Talk featuring Middle East expert Peter Lems of the American Friends Service Committee Peace Program, Philadelphia, PA

Exhibit hours: M-Th 7:30AM-Midnight, F 7:30AM-6:00PM, Sa 10:00AM-9:00PM, Su 12PM- Midnight

War, security blow a hole in economy

Article written by Betsy Crites and was published in the Durham Herald-Sun Newspaper. Crites is the director of NC Peace Action and has collaborated with AFSC Area Office of the Carolinas on a number of events.

By Betsy Crites

Herald-Sun guest columnist

It's budget time again, that contentious time of year when we argue about our priorities as a community, state and nation. We often hear from politicians that ordinary citizens know how to balance their checkbooks and that government needs to do the same.

The federal budget deficit is projected to be $1.5 trillion and the state budget deficit is projected at $2.7 billion. Deficits deserve to be a big issue. The question is how do we determine our priorities?

Everything is "on the table," we're told. That being the case, we can brace ourselves for a major debate over the military budget, which is 59 percent of discretionary spending (including the Department of Defense, war, Veterans Affairs and nuclear weapons programs). Will the Pentagon continue its favored status, immune from cuts? How does that affect us locally?

According to a study conducted by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC), affiliated with the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, average Americans can not only balance their own budgets, they are also able to balance the federal budget. Unlike conventional polls, PPC first presents respondents with information on policy issues and a range of options.

Steven Kull, director of PPC said, "When given information and a chance to sort through their options, most Americans do a pretty good job of dealing with America's budget problems -- better than most politicians."

Respondents came up with cuts and revenue increases that on average would reduce the deficit by $437.3 billion.

They made net spending cuts of $145.7 billion. The largest cuts were to defense, intelligence, military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the federal highway system.

(See www.worldpublicopinion.org for more information on the study.)

The study indicates that when presented with the same problem faced by elected officials, but free of the pressures of lobbyists and ideologies, people can find the ways to restore balance.

Although many elected officials use fear-based arguments to avoid looking at the biggest line item in the budget, not all politicians are dogmatic about maintaining high levels of military spending. A bipartisan commission known as The Sustainable Defense Task Force explored possible defense budget contributions to deficit reduction. They chose cuts that would not compromise the essential security of the United States and came up with the recommendation to cut the military budget by 25 percent.

In November the Defense Business Board, a Pentagon oversight body, said that major systemic cuts were necessary. Why? The Pentagon's budget is simply not sustainable.

Last May, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed "cutting" $100 billion over 5 years. These are not real cuts: The savings will be recycled back to the Pentagon.

In January he proposed actual cuts of $78 billion over five years. Given the size of the Pentagon budget, this would, in the words of President Reagan's budget director David Stockman, amount to "a pinprick." He further commented, "There are no real seriously armed enemies left in the world that can possibly justify an $800 billion national defense and security establishment, including Homeland Security."

On the state level, North Carolina taxpayers share of the military budget for 2011 is $19.9 billion. For perspective, the entire state budget is $19 billion. Durham City taxpayers' share is $487.3 million. Durham's total budget appropriations are about $345 million. In other words, 70 percent of what Durham citizens' pay for U.S. defense could cover the entire city budget.

As we watch the legislature cut jobs and funding for schools, healthcare, food programs and more, we must remember it is not for lack of money. It's just that the money, our money, is going to fund weapons and wars rather than to meet human needs.

To see our personal priorities in action, we can look at our checkbooks or credit card statement. We generally put our money where our values are, unless we are trapped in some addiction where we spend excessively without considering the consequences.

The same is true of our state and federal checkbook. For decades it has shown that we value warfare, now euphemistically called "security." This addiction is draining resources. Elected officials need to hear from us about priorities. Let's put our tax money where are values are.

Betsy Crites is the director of N.C. Peace Action.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - War security blow a hole in economy

Volunteers Needed!

AFSC Area Office of the Carolinas are hosting a national traveling mural exhibit entitiled "Windows and Mirrors." The exhibit will be in Greensboro at the Guilford College Library from March 25- April 15. This will be a powerful exhibit highlighting the human cost of war.

This will be a large project and volunteers are needed.

Volunteer duties include:
Greeters
Tour Guides
Set up
Take down

If you are interested in being a volunteer email Jessica Langley at jlangley@afsc.org or complete form here

Reflections on HKonJ

AFSC joins 5th Annual “HK on J” March on NC State Capitol

“Forward Together! Not one step back!” The words of the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the NAACP NC State Conference, echoed through the crowd of anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 attending the Historic HK on J (Historic Thousands on Jones Street) in downtown Raleigh. Several American Friends Service Committee staff, interns, and supporters attended the 5th annual march on the state capitol.

The protest began with a sea of signs bearing statements such as: “Keep our Schools Diverse”, “Execute Justice not People” and AFSC’s own creed: “No Human Being is Illegal”, in both English and Spanish.

HK on J has included support for immigrant rights as one of the priorities, and this year a large number of immigrants and allies marched together in light blue. “It was a beautiful day to march together for justice,” commented Lori Fernald Khamala, director of AFSC’s NC Immigrant Rights Program. “And hearing Loida (an undocumented immigrant student) speak was so moving; seeing such a diverse crowd support her was very powerful.”

Beginning in 2007, and led by the NC NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), HK on J brings together more than 90 groups, including AFSC, in support of a 14 point agenda which consists of:

1)the need for high quality diverse public schools
2)support for low income people (as well as the importance of livable wages),
3)health care for all,
4)a redressing of ugly chapters in North Carolina’s racial history,
5)public financing for elections,
6)the lifting of every Historically Black College & University,
7)the documenting and redressing 200 years of state discrimination in hiring and contracting,
8)provisions for affordable housing
9)the abolishment of racially-biased death penalties and mandatory sentencing laws
10)prison reform
11)environmental justice
12)the protection of immigrant rights
13)organization of civil rights enforcement agencies
14)the homecoming of war troops

There have already been steps made to put several of these points into action. For example, meaningful progress was made in North Carolina public schools in 2009, including the enactment of programs for at-risk students, reducing the drop out rate, and a Personal Education Plan for at risk children. North Carolina has also implemented groundbreaking laws in the public financing of elections in recent years.

Much work still remains to be done, however. One of the goals of the march was to emphasize this and demonstrate not only the importance of each one of the 14 points but also the fact that there is only one way to reach them - together, as a community dedicated to the core American values of equality and opportunity for all.

Action Alert: Help us stop Congress from cutting funding to refugees

Help us stop Congress from cutting funding to refugees:
Call your Members of Congress and urge them to support strong Fiscal Year 2011 funding for refugee accounts,

Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance
Below is background information on the budget situation, talking points to use during the call, and directions on how to get in touch with your Members of Congress. Please take a minute to make this call to your Senators and Representative, it is very important that we make our voice heard!

Background: Next week the House of Representatives will begin considering funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. While the details of the proposal are not yet known, it is likely that funding for many of the discretionary programs, such as refugee admissions and services to refugees in the U.S., will be decreased as compared to Fiscal Year 2010 levels. For example, the overall cap for the international affairs budget, which among other initiatives funds Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, has been set at 17 percent lower than Fiscal Year 2010. The overall cap for the Department of Health and Human Services has also been decreased.

What We Need to Do: Please call your Senators and Representatives and urge them to not cut and support strong funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance. Please call as soon as possible and no later than the end of next week. It is important that as many as possible call their MoCs. It is especially important for you to call if your Member is on one of two Appropriations subcommittees: Subcommittee of Labor, Health, and Human Services (funds ORR) and Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (funds PRM). Please see below for the list of Members.

Talking Points: - Hello, my name is [name] and I’m calling from [name of town/city]. I am the [position title] at [name of resettlement agency] in [name of city].
- I am calling to ask [Senator/Representative] to not cut and support strong funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance.
- My agency resettles and provides services to refugees in [name towns/cities in the member’s district]. [Describe what you and your community do to support refugees and discuss the impact of cuts on funding could have on refugees in your community]
- As a constituent, I deeply care about the fate of refugees in the U.S. and our humanitarian commitment to vulnerable people overseas. Cutting these accounts will have a devastating impact on refugees and the communities hosting them.
To find out who represents you in Congress: Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to find out who your Senators and Representatives are. Call Washington, DC. The Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 can connect you to the DC offices of your Senators and Representatives.
If you have any questions: Please contact Jen Smyers at jsmyers@churchworldservice.org.

Additional Talking Points - The current economic/fiscal context: we understand the current economic/financial situation and understand that Congress and the Administration have to make difficult decisions in relation to the budget. We believe that cutting current level of funding for refugees would have a devastating effect on refugees resettled in the U.S. and the communities that welcome them.
- Overall funding for ORR has been chronically insufficient: ORR funding has been stagnant for decades in many programs. That means that today ORR is serving an increasingly complex and diverse population with the same amount of resources that served a rather homogenous population several decades ago.
- Supporting the public-private partnership: one of the greatest characteristics of the URSP is the partnership between the U.S. government and private organizations. Voluntary Agencies, churches, local NGOs, community groups, etc. work together to welcome refugees across the U.S. We are committed to continue our support to refugees, but the work cannot be accomplished without strong support and financial follow-through on the part of the U.S. government.
- Federal funds release pressure on state and local governments: it is important that the federal government provides adequate resources for ORR, since severely cutting funding for the program would mean additional pressure for state and local governments to assist refugees with their already dwindling budgets.
- Smart investment: Providing adequate funding for refugees through ORR to fund employment services, case management and other upfront services will save resources in the long term, reduce reliance on welfare and promote early self-sufficiency. Refugees have proven that they will be successful and contribute back to their communities if given the proper foundation to rebuild their lives in the U.S.
- Life saving assistance: Programs funded by the U.S. Government through these accounts are life saving. Without these programs, refugees will not receive necessary food, water, and medical assistance. The economic crisis has had a profound impact on the United States, but it has also had a devastating impact on extremely vulnerable populations supported by these life-saving programs. For many of these people, the assistance provided by the international community is their only source of support and last option for relief.
- Stabilizing assistance: Humanitarian assistance programs funded through this account support communities in countries of strategic importance to the U.S., such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Funds go towards such programs as access to economic opportunities, keeping kids in schools, and protecting and empowering women. These all serve as a crucial stabilizing presence, giving people hope for the future and supporting broader U.S. foreign policy interests.

Community Dialogue on North Carolina Budget

Join us as we discuss the implications of the $3.7 billion budgetary shortfall on education, health care, and the economy, at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, NC.
"Stand up for North Carolina, A Community Conversation" will coincide with events in over 5 cities across the state of North Carolina. Join us as we tell the General Assembly and Gov. Perdue to remember the citizens of NC, as they decide which state programs will be cut.
*** To RSVP, email info@dah-nc.org. Seating will be limited. ***

WHAT: A Community Conversation about the North Carolina Budget
WHEN: Monday, February 21 at 10am
WHERE: International Civil Rights Museum,

For more info visit: visit www.dah-nc.org or www.togethernc.org

NC Bills of Interest

Weekly Legislative Report February 11, 2011
BILLS OF INTEREST
HB 11: No Postsecondary Education/Illegal Aliens: AN ACT prohibiting illegal aliens from attending North Carolina community colleges and universities. http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2011&BillID=HB+11&submitButton=Go
This bill was filed on 1/27/2011 by Rep. George Cleveland of Onslow County. It has been referred to the Committee on Education and if favorable, would be referred to the House Appropriations committee. The House Committee on Education met this week briefly on organizational business and will begin to take up bills next week (week of Feb. 14). As of today, this bill is not on the agenda for their next meeting.
Co-Sponsors: L. Brown; Current; Faircloth; Folwell; Frye; Guice; Hager; Horn; Iler; Ingle; Jones; Jordan;
Langdon; McGee; Randleman; Sanderson; Setzer; Torbett; H. Warren;
HB 28: DHHS to Provide Law Enforcement Information: AN ACT to require the department of health and human services to provide law enforcement officers and agencies with any information requested for the PURPOSE of locating individuals that are receiving any services from the department and for whom Law enforcement has an ACTIVE INVESTIGATION or any outstanding criminal process issued by a judicial official. http://ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/HTML/H28v1.html
HB 28 was filed on 2/1/11 by Burr; Guice; Ingle; Randleman. It has passed the first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary Subcommittee B. That committee will meet on February 16, 2011 at 10AM in 421 LOB and this bill is on the agenda.
Co-Sponsors: Cleveland; Faircloth; Hilton; Hurley; Jones; Jordan; Sanderson; H. Warren
HB 33: State Law to Provide for Acceptable ID's: AN ACT to provide that only identifications approved by the State may be used to determine the reliability of a person's identification for governmental and law enforcement purposes. http://ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/HTML/H33v1.html
HB 33 was filed on 2/2/11 by Hager and Cleveland. It has passed the first reading and was referred to the Committee on Government and if favorable will move to the Judiciary committee. No meeting is on the calendar yet for this upcoming week.
Co-Sponsors: Bradley; L. Brown; Burr; Current; Dixon; Faircloth; Folwell; Frye; Hastings; Hurley; Iler;
Ingle; Jones; Jordan; Justice; Langdon; McCormick; McGee; T. Moore; Randleman; Sager;
Sanderson; Shepard; Starnes; Steen; Torbett; H. Warren;
HB 36: Public Contracts/Illegal Immigrants: AN ACT prohibiting state and local government contracts with contractors who employ illegal immigrants and requiring contractors to verify and certify their employees' legal status or authorization to work in the United States. http://ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/HTML/H36v1.html
HB 36 was filed on 2/3/11 by H. Warren; Cleveland and Folwell; It passed the first reading and was referred to the Committee on Government and if favorable will move to the Judiciary Subcommittee A. No meeting is on the calendar yet for this upcoming week.
Co-Sponsors:
Bradley; L. Brown; R. Brown; Burr; Cook; Current; Dollar; Faircloth; Frye; Guice; Hager;
Hastings; Horn; Howard; Hurley; Iler; Ingle; Johnson; Jones; Jordan; Justice; Langdon;
McComas; McGee; T. Moore; Pridgen; Randleman; Sanderson; Shepard; Starnes; Steen;
Stevens; Torbett;
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
 Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ 5): February 12 @ 9:30 www.hkonj.com
http://www.facebook.com/notes/immigrants-allies/hk-on-j-march-with-us-saturday-immigrants-and-allies-united-for-justice/196444530381332
 42nd Annual Frank Porter Graham Awards Ceremony @ 5:30PM on February 12th http://www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/?q=events
 The House adjourned to reconvene at 6:30pm on Monday, February 14, 2011 and the Senate will reconvene at 6:45pm on Monday, February 14, 2011
 The Governor's State of the State Address will be on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 7pm in the Legislative Building. You can hear it live on http://www.voterradio.com
 Equality NC Day of Action at the General Assembly is February 15th https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=502
 "Crossover Deadline, the date by which a non-money bill must pass its house of origin in order to be considered by the second house during the 2011 session is May 12"
 House and Senate set bill deadlines http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2011/02/10/house-and-senate-set-bill-deadlines/
 Women's Advocacy Day is March 1
 People of Color Advocacy Day is March 9th
 Pilgrimage for Peace and Justice: Week of April 17-22nd

February 11, 2011

"I guess the revolution was televised" - Lori

All over the globe, millions watched as thousands of young Egytians call for Hosni Mubarak to resign as President of Egypt. This peaceful demonstration began January 25when a crowds began to move to Tahrir square to protest against Mubarak. The next day more people came to protest. This mainly peaceful demonstration lasted 18 days, then today February 11, 2011 Mubarak resigned as president.

Millions of Egyptians are celebrating and chanting "The people have toppled the regime." Watching Egypt celebrate I am absolutely overjoyed. Their victory is my victory. In 18 days, these young people toppled a regime through peaceful demonstrations! How powerful is that? I am truly inspired. The people in Egypt have exemplified that the will of people is the strongest force on the planet.

Window and Mirrors

Around Thanksgiving time I was beyond proud of how ahead of the game we seemed. Yes, bringing the exhibit Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan was a major undertaking but we had started the planning process at least six months in advance. We, at the AFSC: Area Office of the Carolinas, were ahead of the game, we were being proactive. But, alas, the months have flown by and the day that those forty some compelling murals arrive here in Greensboro seems to be fast approaching. Looking back at the past few months we have come a long way, in fact the entire exhibit has come along. As it has been polished, expanded, and deepened since I was first introduced to it in its inception period at the very beginning of the summer of 2010. It’s impressive to see the impact of the spirit in the works of so many over such a short period of time.

I was introduced to WAM through a test of my creative packing skills (which perhaps Mary or whoever received the murals in Chicago can attest are not very creative or effective). My first week interning at AFSC my area coordinator asked me to box up the four gloriously breathtaking murals that had been created at Guilford College that spring and ship them off to Chicago. After rolling, rolling and rerolling the murals with what was probably an excessive amount of bubble wrap the four murals, and the pride of the office, were shipped off to join the others as they were collected for the exhibit. Since then everyone in the office has been eager to see the return of these murals to Greensboro as they bring along their companion murals, all of the supplemental materials and hard work of so many across the country and the opportunity to dialogue with our community about Afghanistan and peace.

Skimming through the online images of the exhibit as they are on display in Philadelphia and New York, I’ve often thought about how the full exhibit will look here in Greensboro. Will the murals inspire viewers to do something for peace? Will the events currently being planned strike a chord, incite someone to ask “Why?” who has never before questioned the images of war they have seen on late night news? Will local students look at the work of their peers in Afghanistan and be motivated to work for change? I can only hope that Windows and Mirrors reaches its full potential here in Greensboro, leaving a lasting impact on our community. Our committee has worked tirelessly to provide the best space for dialogue, plan events that reach a broad spectrum of folks within North Carolina, and build lasting partnerships that we can continue to strengthen in our efforts to work for peace. I can only thank the countless groups and individuals that have made WAM what it is today, and hope that it continues to open eyes and hearts to the human cost of war. Our planning days are numbered; WAM opens in Greensboro, NC March 25th 2011! Look out for a detailed list of events soon!

Before You Enlist

Vigil for Immigrant Access to Education

[Greensboro, NC] Following in the footsteps of the four brave A&T students who helped launch the sit-in movement fifty-one years ago to the date, immigrant young people and their allies gathered at New Garden Friends Meeting and marched with candles to Guilford College for a prayer vigil on Tues, February 1, 2011. The group was protesting bill H. 11 introduced in the NC General Assembly, which would deny higher education to undocumented residents of the state, regardless of ability to pay, length of time in the US, or amount of taxes paid. The vigil was one of five organized across the state by the Adelante Education Coalition and allied groups including the American Friends Service Committee, FaithAction International House and the Latin American Coalition, lead groups in Greensboro.

Around 60 people gathered on the rainy Tuesday night to hear moving accounts of how this bill would affect students and our state as a whole. Jorge Zeballos, Latino Student Coordinator at Guilford College, talked about how this law will prevent students from achieving the education that every student deserves. Zeballos also noted that this year’s class at Guilford has one of the largest Latino populations yet; he emphasized that investing in education for Latinos is investing in our future.

Yazmin (last name omitted) shared a powerful personal account of arriving in the US at age 13. “Since the day I arrived this country, I made sure I was doing everything possible to adapt and prepare for college: adjust to the new culture, learn the language, and become an honor student.” She was discouraged at times, but never gave up, and was accepted into Guilford College. “Getting in was not easy, staying has been even more challenging. But I know that on May 7th [graduation] I'll be able to look back and see that all the sacrifices, worries, stress and things that come with being a Latina immigrant in college will be worth it, because I am gaining the skills and experience that will help me to better serve my community.” Yazmin encouraged everyone to “come together to make sure that students like me get the chance of going to college. As residents of NC we need to pressure representatives at the state level to do the right thing by not enacting bills that jeopardize access to higher education for all students. Education should not be a privilege, but a basic human right for ALL."

Rev. Julie Peeples, pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ explained that admitting undocumented students into NC campuses not only makes financial sense for our state, but it is also morally the right thing to do. She urged NC policymakers not to pass the destructive legislation.

From this point there was a candlelight march of solidarity beginning at New Garden Friends Meeting and ending at Dana Auditorium on the Guilford College campus, with steady and solemn drum beats in the background. Even though gusts of wind forced the candles out, the march was carried on with solidarity and a force of its own.

Upon reaching the Moon Room of Guilford College, where the College Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday, participants wrote short messages to local legislators reflecting their own hopes and prayers for our state, and then shared them aloud. Messages included, “There should be no laws banning immigrants who are not citizens from educating themselves. An educated public is a smart, responsible public which will desire to do good for the society they live in…” and “Please have the generosity of spirit that allows you to see the best, not the worst, of our guests. Welcome them, grant them the opportunity for an education. Our future may well depend on our generosity,” and “I wish that everybody can go to school in this state.” (from Bella, age 5).

The evening’s events closed with final remarks by Guilford College Campus Minister Max Carter, who commented that some politicians claim to want to live up to “God’s standards.” But “God’s standards” are best described in Micah 6:8, where we learn that what is required of us is “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” and in Matthew 25, when we learn that in the end, God will judge us by how we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, visited the prisoner, and welcomed the stranger. These may not be the standards the politicians were referring to, but if we strive to abide by these standards, our community and our world would be a better place.

The gathering ended with participants feeling a renewed commitment to fight the bill denying higher education to undocumented immigrants, and to work for the rights of all immigrants and give them the same rights that everyone deserves, regardless of culture, faith, immigration status or family background.

The Birth of the Sit-In Movement

On February 1, 1960 four African-American freshmen (Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr. (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond) from North Carolina A&T State University sat at the segregated lunch counter at Woolworth's in Greensboro,NC.The lunch counter staff refused to serve the students and the store manager asked them to leave. The four students stayed until closing.

Word of the sit-in travelled across the city; The next day, more than twenty African American students from other campus groups joined the sit-in. White customers harrassed the black students and the lunch counter staff continued to refuse service.

News reporters began to cover the second day of the sit-ins and others in the community learned of the protests. On the third day, more than 60 people came to the Woolworth's store. The sit-in movement spread to cities across North Carolina and eventually across the country.


As I reflect on the birth of the sit-in movement I am amazed that one seemingly small non-violent gesture sparked nationwide attention and aided in the end of segregation in the United States. This reminds me of how important AFSC's work is in the community.