1. "Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice"- June 26, 2007

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is joining the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and the Leadership Council on Civil Rights to sponsor a rally and lobby-day, "Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice," in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2007. You can find a flyer at http://action.aclu.org/site/DocServer/flyer-v2_sm_a.pdf?docID=1361. Two- to three-thousand people will gather for an 11:30 a.m. rally on Capitol Hill. In the afternoon, participants will lobby their Members of Congress to end torture and secret prisons, to restore due process and fairness to our treatment of detainees, and to reform the abuses of the Military Commissions Act (MCA) by enacting the Restoring the Constitution Act (RCA). We anticipate a strong turnout by the press.

This is an important NRCAT project, and we hope that each member religious organization will participate and invite their members to attend. Here are the details:

The Church of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office has joined our ecumenical partners and other communities of faith and faith-based organizations in endorsing the following statement by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT):

Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions hold dear. It degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable. Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now -- without exceptions.

Brethren have long understood from scripture that all individuals are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and therefore worthy of honor and respect by other human beings (1 John 4:20); and that Jesus calls us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12).

From the earliest Brethren statements we read, "We find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in any thing by which men's [and women's] lives are destroyed or hurt." These early Brethren dedicated themselves to serve all people "in every thing that can be helpful to the preservation of men's [and women's] lives." [Pennsylvania Assembly 1775].

2. Jubilee USA Conference in Chicago June 15-17

As we enjoy lengthening days and warm weather, graduations and the anticipation of summer, Jubilee USA hopes you will join us in a few weeks in Chicago for one of the key events of the Sabbath Year: Jubilee’s annual grassroots conference! The event will be held from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17 at Loyola University’s downtown campus. The cost of registration will increase on June 1, so be sure to Register Online Today to join us in Chicago for the low, low price of $35! A limited number of travel scholarships are still available as is free housing with local Jubilee supporters.

The cost of registration includes:

The Grassroots Conference opening event featuring Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and Tanzanian political cartoonist Godfrey “Gado” Mwampembwa is completely free and open to the public. Even if you can’t make it for the whole conference, plan to join us on Friday night, June 15th at 7 p.m. to hear Amy and Gado share their perspectives on journalism and economic justice activism North and South! For more information, visit www.jubileeusa.org.

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of 75 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental, labor, and community groups, including Brethren Witness/Washington Office, working for the definitive cancellation of crushing debts to fight poverty and injustice in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.