Current Actions & Events

Sidewalk Tabling for a Ceasefire in Maplewood

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Senate Approves Iran Nuclear Deal!

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On Thursday September 10, 2015, the Senate voted to uphold the Iran nuclear deal by blocking a Republican effort to submit a bill to reject the deal.

Republicans needed 60 votes to move the bill forward, but they only got 58 votes because 40 Democrats and 2 independents voted No -- against "cloture" which ends debate and moves the bill to consideration by the Senate.

There will be no rejection by Congress and the deal will go into effect.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/us/politics/iran-nuclear-deal-senate.html?_r=0

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Rally in Maplewood Celebrates
Senate Approval of Iran Deal

Two hours after the Senate approved the Iran nuclear deal, South Mountain Peace Action held a rally to celebrate the deal's approval and to thank Senator Cory Booker and Representative Donald Payne, Jr., for supporting the deal.

Letter from Rep. Payne read at rally

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photo by Mary Gallagher

Here's the media coverage so far:

Village Green article:
Peace Groups Rally in the Rain

Maplewoodian video:
Rally video

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SUPPORT THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

Urge Our Representatives to Support the Deal:

Call Senator Menendez: (202) 224-4744
Email Senator Menendez here:
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/?i=DEF

Call Senator Booker: (202) 224-3224
Email Senator Booker here:
http://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=contact

Call Congressman Payne: (202) 225-3436
Email Congressman Payne here:
http://payne.house.gov/contact/email-me

Critique of Senator Schumer's
Statement Opposing the Deal

Critique of Senator Menendez's Statement Opposing the Deal

Critique of Rabbi Boteach's Criticism of Senator Cory Booker's Endorsement of the Deal

Graphics below from:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/iran-deal

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Support a Nuclear Agreement with Iran

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South Mountain Peace Action has sent the following letter to President Obama with cc's to Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressman Payne. Please copy and email your endorsement of this letter to the three officials at the links above.

[See exchange with Senator Menendez HERE]

The White House Washington DC
November 18, 2014

Dear President Obama,

South Mountain Peace Action of Maplewood and South Orange NJ would like to express its strong support for your efforts to negotiate an agreement with Iran that would assure the world that its nuclear program remains peaceful.

We agree with the president of the Arms Control Association, Darryl Kimball, who endorsed your goals for a nuclear energy agreement with Iran that would:

-- increase international inspections in Iran
-- reduce Iran's enriched uranium stocks
-- prevent Iran from enriching uranium to weapons-grade
-- reduce in half Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity
-- increase the time to about a year that Iran would need to enrich enough uranium for a nuclear weapon -- should it decide to break the agreement.

We agree with Darryl Kimball that such an agreement would be a good deal for America and the world.

Thank you for your efforts to negotiate a realistic, responsible and verifiable agreement with Iran that would make America and the world a safer place.

We are hopeful that such an agreement can be reached by the upcoming deadline of November 24, 2014.

Sincerely yours,

Paul Surovell, Chair
South Mountain Peace Action

Cc: Senator Menendez, Senator Booker, Congressman Payne, Congressman Pascrell.

Attachment: Daryl Kimball's article on the Iran nuclear talks:

http://www.armscontrol.org/ACT/2014_11/Focus/A-Good-Deal-in-the-Making

A Good Deal in the Making

November 2014

By Daryl G. Kimball

After extending talks on Iran's nuclear program beyond the original July 20 target date, Iran and six world powers are closing in on a long-term, verifiable, comprehensive deal. Such an agreement would block Iran's potential uranium and plutonium paths to nuclear weapons, removing a major threat to international security for many years to come.

Iran and the six-country group -- known as the P5+1 because it comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- have worked out solutions on several key issues, including some that appeared to be intractable just a year ago. They agree in principle that the design of Iran's Arak heavy-water reactor project can and should be modified to drastically cut its output of weapons-grade plutonium and that Iran shall not build a reprocessing facility to separate that material from spent reactor fuel.

Iran is amenable to implementing and ratifying measures that would strengthen International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection authority. With the option of short-notice inspections of undeclared sites under the terms of an additional protocol to its safeguards agreement and with regular inspections of Iranian centrifuge workshops, the international community would have the capabilities necessary to promptly detect and disrupt an effort to pursue nuclear weapons in the future, even through a potential clandestine program.

Both sides understand that the ongoing IAEA investigation of past Iranian activities with possible military dimensions will continue after a comprehensive nuclear agreement is reached. At the same time, it is clear that key sanctions, including UN Security Council measures tied to the issue, will not be removed until and unless the investigation is resolved.

The members of the P5+1 agree that the goal is not to extract an admission from Iranian officials that their country engaged in nuclear weapons-related work in the past, but to ensure that the IAEA has sufficient information to determine that no such efforts are taking place now or in the future.

On uranium enrichment, the two sides agree that Iran should limit its enrichment of uranium to normal reactor-grade levels: 5 percent or less of fissionable uranium-235. They agree that Iran's underground Fordow enrichment plant need not be closed, as the P5+1 originally demanded, but shall be limited to a research-only role.

But as the negotiators have stressed, "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." With less than a month before their current Nov. 24 deadline, the two sides still need to hammer out technical understandings and make important decisions on at least two major issues in order to get to "yes."

Until recently, Iran has sought to maintain its current number of operating centrifuges -- approximately 10,200 -- with the option to increase its uranium-enrichment capacity over time to provide fuel for potential new power reactors. The United States and its P5+1 negotiating partners want Iran to cut the current number of operating centrifuges for several years and to disable machines that are installed but not yet operating.

Given Iran's past actions, suspicion over its nuclear intentions is justified, particularly when its uranium-enrichment capacity exceeds its needs on the ground. Iran should be willing to accept a reduction in its enrichment capacity for a period of several years. This capacity could be allowed to expand in the future if Iran's needs for enriched uranium increase.

Reducing Iran's current enrichment capacity by half, combined with a significant reduction in the size of the country's enriched-uranium stocks or removal of those stocks to a third country, would increase the time it would take Iran to produce enough weapons-grade enriched-uranium gas for one nuclear weapon to nine to 12 months or more. That is more than enough time to detect and disrupt any effort to develop nuclear weapons.

In exchange for a significant reduction in Iran's uranium-enrichment capacity, the P5+1 will likely need to agree to allow limited research and development on more-advanced centrifuges. It is unrealistic to expect Iran to agree to a deal that limits it to using only first-generation centrifuges, which are inefficient and unreliable. The agreement can and should put in place verifiable restrictions that block Iran from manufacturing advanced centrifuges for production-scale enrichment for the duration of the comprehensive agreement.

Iran's current practical needs for enrichment are limited, but to assure Tehran that its needs can be met for the duration of an agreement, the P5+1 may also offer nuclear fuel-supply guarantees, including the shipment of several years' worth of fuel for Iran's one operating light-water power reactor, at Bushehr.

To enhance Iran's incentive to meet its nonproliferation obligations under the agreement, the two sides agree that the P5+1 will phase out and later lift nuclear-related sanctions as Iran meets its nonproliferation obligations and the IAEA investigation of Iran's nuclear program is concluded.

Policymakers in Washington and Tehran need to recognize a good deal when they see one. An effective, verifiable, comprehensive P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran is within reach. Such a deal is critical to guard against a nuclear-armed Iran and an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and it is the only way Iran can obtain relief from further international isolation and sanctions.

Working for an Israeli-Palestinian
Two-State Solution

J Street Annual Conference, Gala and Advocacy Day September 28-October 1
Washington DC, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Information and Registration: Click HERE

J Street Meeting at Maplewood Library
May 1, 2013

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J Street New York area field organizer Amy Levin addresses the crowd.

For more photos click here.

Here are excerpts from the article in the New Jersey Jewish News:

J Street rep praises Arab League initiative
by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Staff Writer

May 8, 2013

J Street's new regional field organizer urged local followers to seize on current headlines to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Amy Levin's May 1 appearance at Maplewood Memorial Library on behalf of the "pro-Israel, pro-peace" group came during a week in which the Arab League endorsed a Middle East peace plan allowing for agreed-upon land swaps.

"Your timing is kind of amazing. In the last two days, there has been a sea change in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process," said Paul Surovell, chair of South Mountain Peace Action, which hosted her talk. "Last week, the two-state solution appeared to be dead; today it is more alive than ever."

Levin, who lives in Brooklyn and is based in New York, called on those present -- about 40 people, most of them Jewish -- to press for the renewal of the two-state process.

"Change comes from the ground up," she said. "Don't be afraid to speak out."
[...]
In her talk, Levin stressed the importance of "engaging with those whom you disagree with" and conducting a "vibrant but respectful debate" with regard to Israel.

"Strong and vibrant debate has characterized the Jewish tradition for millennia," she said. "That's why we believe it is necessary to engage with those with whom we disagree. We're bringing more pro-Israel, pro-peace activists into the community."
[...]
"I know that many of you are here because you are committed to peace, in all of its forms and contexts," she said. "Let's not stay silent when our president is calling on us to take action. Change, he said, lies in the hands of the people, especially young people."
[...]

May 1, 2013 J Street Meeting

May 1, 2013
Maplewood Memorial Library
7:30 to 9:00 PM

Amy Levin, J Street NY-NJ Field Organizer
will speak on:

"J Street's Program for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and a Two-State Solution."

Free and open to the public.

Watch President Obama's Speech in Jerusalem

Text of President Obama's Speech in Jerusalem

President Obama's Remarks in Ramallah

Download PDF version of flyer here

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January 19, 2011

Video of meeting is on Maplewood Online.

Click button above to view video on MOL.

::Video by Jamie Ross. ::Photos by Mary Gallagher and Maggie Surovell.

CLICK FOR SMPA ACTIONS AND EVENTS ARCHIVE

Petition to Bring Troops Home Rebuild America

SMPA launched the following petition at Maplewoodstock on July 9, 2011:

Petition
to President Obama, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Congressmen Payne and Pascrell

Bring Our Troops Home and Rebuild America

It is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq, reduce nonessential military programs and redirect the resources saved to rebuild America. In this manner, we urge you to enact military spending cuts totaling $2.3 trillion over 10 years, as provided in the "People's Budget" of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and to use the funds saved for job creation, education, the environment and deficit reduction.

To sign the petition, copy the above and paste it into an email and send to:

paul@beaboutpeace.com.

Matt Hoh Speaks on Afghanistan at Maplewood Library

January 19, 2011

Video of meeting is on Maplewood Online.

Click button above to view video on MOL.

::Video by Jamie Ross. ::Photos by Mary Gallagher and Maggie Surovell.

CLICK FOR SMPA ACTIONS AND EVENTS ARCHIVE

"Budrus" Shown at Maplewood Civic Center June 25, 2011

Photos of Matt Hoh Meeting 1-19-11

Obama Drops Call for Settlement Freeze

On December 10, 2010, Hillary Clinton outlined the new approach of the Obama Administration to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
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Obama Calls on Israel to Extend Settlement Freeze (9-10-10)

Please Send a Message of Support To:

President Obama (email) http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ (phone message) 202-456-1111

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Israeli Embassy in DC) info@washington.mfa.gov.il (phone) 202-364-5500

President Abbas (PLO mission in DC): info@plomission.us (phone): (202) 974-6360
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ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE FORUM
at MAPLEWOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
MARCH 24, 2010

Video of forum Part-1

Video of forum Part-2

Transcript of forum

Article in Jewish News of New Jersey

Article in News-Record of Maplewood and South Orange, NJ: Download file

Click for three pages of photos:

page 1 :: page 2 :: page 3

Commendation by
Congressman Donald Payne
in the Congressional Record

Ori Nir, spokesman for Americans for Peace Now

Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine

Debbie Schlossberg, Central NJ representative
of J Street

photos by Mary Gallagher

Click for background info: ::1 ::2

Letter by SMPA chair Paul Surovell
on Pres Obama's Call for Settlement Freeze

Be About Peace Day 2010

Photos-1 Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum 3-24-10

Photos-2 Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum 3-24-10

Photos-3 Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum 3-24-10

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Forum 3-24-10

Be About Peace Day May 30, 2009

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Click for SMPA Statement on Be About Peace Day, Posters and Proclamations by Maplewood and South Orange

Click for Photos of Be About Peace Day at the Burgdorff Center: 1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 :: 6

Click for Photos of Ceremony for Major Dwayne Kelley: 1 :: 2

Click for Maplewood Online Video
of Be About Peace Day by Jamie Ross:

Ceremony for Major Dwayne Kelley, 5-30-09: Part 1

Ceremony for Major Dwayne Kelley 5-30-09: Part 2

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-1

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-2

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-3

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-4

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-5

Be About Peace Day 2009 Photos-6

SMPA in Maplewood Memorial Day Parade 5-25-09

Commemoration of Iraq War Anniversary 3-21-09

Calls for a Gaza Cease-Fire by Jewish-American & Palestinian-American Groups

Maplewood Memorial Day Parade 2008

MoveOn Report on Recession
and Iraq War Delivered to NJ Senators

Be About Peace Day, March 29, 2008

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-1

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-2

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-3

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-4

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-5

Be About Peace Day March 29, 2008 -- Photos-6

MoveOn Vigil for 5th Anniversary of War in Iraq - Part 1

MoveOn Vigil for 5th Anniversary of War in Iraq - Part 2

Tell Democrats: No More Blank Checks for Iraq War

Seton Hall Forum: Can Liberals & Conservatives Find Common Ground on Iraq 12-05-07 / Part 1

Seton Hall Forum: Can Liberals & Conservatives Find Common Ground on Iraq 12-05-07 / Part 2

Seton Hall Forum: Can Liberals & Conservatives Find Common Ground on Iraq 12-05-07 / Part 3

Seton Hall Forum: Can Liberals & Conservatives Find Common Ground on Iraq 12-05-07 / Part 4

Paul Mulshine and Fred Profeta to Speak on Iraq
at Seton Hall Forum 12-05-07

Peace March in NY City October 27, 2007

Delegation Urges Senators to Take Leadership to End the War

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On September 26, 2007, a delegation from Maplewood and South Orange urged representatives of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez to stand firm and oppose any Iraq appropriations that do not have a binding timetable for withdrawal.

The group also urged the Senators to take a stronger leadership role among their colleagues to encourage Congress to use its constitutional powers to end the war, and to support diplomacy rather than military action to resolve differences with Iran. A plea was made for global peace and for using resources for human needs and the environment instead of war.

Click here for documents presented by the delegation to the Senators.

SMPA launches letter-writing campaign at NJ Senators in August 2007

Mayor Profeta and TC Member De Luca Speak at Cities for Peace Day in DC

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More Photos-1 of Cities for Peace Day

More Photos-2 of Cities for Peace Day

MoveOn Vigil Aug 28, 2007 Launches Letter-Writing Campaign to NJ Senators

August 16, 2007 Vigil on Cost of War in Iraq

Three Local Events in August 2007

Thursday August 16th
MoveOn.org Local Costs of the War Report-Release.

Click here to sign up.
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Saturday August 25th

Newark March for Peace and Justice

Lincoln Park, Newark 12:00 noon

Click here for details.
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Tuesday August 28th

MoveOn.org Nationwide Vigil to End the War

6:00 pm Ricalton Square, Maplewood Center

Click here to sign-up.

House passes bill on 7-12-07 to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq; Senate votes on similar bill next week

South Mountain Peace Action's Letters to Senators and
Congressmen on Recent Votes on Iraq

Rally to Protest Veto at Maplewood Town Hall 5-2-07

Veto Protest Rally 5-2-07 Photos-1

Veto Protest Rally 5-2-07 Photos-2

Veto Protest Rally 5-2-07 Photos-3

SMPA Sends Letter to Congress with 1,337 Signatures

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-1

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-2

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-3

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-4

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-5

Be About Peace Day 2007 Photos-6

Be About Peace Day 2007 Evening Photos

Be About Peace Day 2007: Program

Maplewood and South Orange Designate March 24, 2007
'Be About Peace Day'

MoveOn Events at Payne and Pascrell Offices 2-22-07

Photos from Jan 27 Rally in DC -- Part 1

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Some of the riders on South Mountain Peace Action's
bus at the Greenbelt, Md, Metro station.
Courtesy Joel Simpson.

Photos from Jan 27 Rally in DC -- Part 2

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courtesy Joel Simpson.

Photos from Jan 27 Rally in DC -- Part 3

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Five photos from Kathy Grady.

Bus to DC for Jan 27th Peace Demo

To reserve a seat on South Mountain Peace Action's bus from Maplewood, NJ to the Washington DC rally on January 27th, or for further information, call SMPA chair Paul Surovell at
973-763-9493 or email him at paul@BeAboutPeace.com or paul4sure@aol.com.

Candlelight walk for 3,000 soldiers killed 01-02-07

Petitions Delivered to Congressmen Pascrell and Murtha

Petitions Delivered to Senators Lautenberg and Menendez

Peace Candidates Who Need Your Help

Maplewood and South Orange, NJ, have Congressmen (Donald Payne and Bill Pascrell) who are strong opponents of the war in Iraq. Here are some other key peace candidates who need help in 2006:

September 16th Rally in Summit | NJ Senators Vote

Petition for Withdrawal from Iraq

South Mountain Peace Action is circulating a petition called "A Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq," which is co-sponsored by Families of the Fallen for Change Click photo for full-size version.

One of the first signers of the petition was Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, pictured here as SMPA member Agnes Brophy and Jamie Ross look on.

The Petition seeks legislation in Congress to combine the FoF proposal for negotiations with all Iraqi factions, including the insurgents but not Al Qaeda, and Congressman John Murtha's resolution to end US military deployment in Iraq "as soon as practicable."

The petition follows the February 8, 2006 Forum in Maplewood: "A Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq," co-sponsored by SMPA and FoF, which featured reports on 5 categories of Iraq withdrawal proposals as well as the President's "National Strategy for Victory."

Here's the text of the Petition:

Petition for A Responsible
Withdrawal from Iraq

to Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez;
Congressmen Donald Payne and William Pascrell

The undersigned residents of New Jersey, noting that 72% of US troops in Iraq want all United States troops to be withdrawn in 2006*, urge you to work for legislation in the Senate and House to implement a responsible US withdrawal from Iraq as follows:

(1) The US commits to ending its military deployment in Iraq and disavows any desire for permanent military bases there;

(2) The US immediately offers to negotiate with all Iraqi factions, including the insurgents but not Al-Qaeda, to reduce US troop levels to zero in stages, in exchange for reduced levels of violence, and to increase US economic assistance in exchange for protection of Iraqi minority rights;

(3) After six months if such negotiations fail to take place or do not achieve reduced troop levels and reduced violence levels, the US will then proceed to end its military deployment in Iraq as soon as practicable.

* Zogby-Le Moyne poll

If you'd like to help circulate the petition call or write SMPA chair Paul Surovell at 973-763-9493 or paul@beaboutpeace.com