Dear Peace Trotters,
Registration is open for the 12th Annual Peter De Mott Peace Trot (PDPT)! While we have decided to run this event virtually one more time given the current state of the pandemic, we are also organizing 4 in-person, group runs on several dates near Father’s Day (June 20, 2021). More on that in coming email.
We hope and pray this finds you and your loved ones well and finding a way to navigate these challenging times with joy and grace. While the pandemic has brought so many challenges, especially for folks who were already vulnerable and living without job security, decent housing, access to health care, and freedom from fear of police violence, it has also brought many unexpected gifts.
The gift of sight – White folks eyes are seeing the violence and inequitable treatment that indigenous people have experienced since the first white Europeans stole this land for themselves. We see the slow clearing away of the veil that has clouded white people’s view of the daily violence that black people receive from police and from the perpetuation of white supremacy and it’s practices, including the modern day lynching of George Floyd. We see racially targeted violence against Asian people such as the fatal shooting of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, at spas in the Atlanta area in March.
The gift of action – Upon finally seeing what has been there all along, many have spoken out against racist policies within policing, courts and prisons, schools, work places, health care - every part of life. We have uplifted so many non-white folks running for office locally and beyond. Finally, but not last, we have acted to remove our complicity with the pentagon death machine, understanding that there is a critical connection between this nation's weapons of mass destruction and guns of the police on the street, both used 24/7 to enforce systems of White Supremacy and Global Capitalism.
The gift of community – Folks have organized and participated in mutual aid, reduced our consumption of material goods, and used the money we saved to help others. We have raised funds for the traditional Cayuga people, the essential work of Black Lives Matter, and local organizations serving people of color.
The gift of the natural world – Many have found a deeper appreciation for the natural world as we walked, ran, biked, and hiked outside to keep ourselves sane.
The Ithaca Catholic Worker community has found its’ niche in the work of harvesting the gifts of this pandemic time, too, by …
We are grateful for your past participation and support of the PDPT! This is our main fundraiser to support our house of hospitality and center of nonviolent, compassionate action to create peace and social justice for all. Thank you in advance for registering online for the Peter De Mott Peace Trot. In addition to your registration donation, we are encouraging all participants to ask friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family, etc. to sponsor your run. Please see our website to register and for more information on finding sponsors.
In the spirit of Peter De Mott, please keep working for a more peaceful, just and loving world.
Blessings,
The Peter De Mott Peace Trot Committee
Registration is open for the 12th Annual Peter De Mott Peace Trot (PDPT)! While we have decided to run this event virtually one more time given the current state of the pandemic, we are also organizing 4 in-person, group runs on several dates near Father’s Day (June 20, 2021). More on that in coming email.
We hope and pray this finds you and your loved ones well and finding a way to navigate these challenging times with joy and grace. While the pandemic has brought so many challenges, especially for folks who were already vulnerable and living without job security, decent housing, access to health care, and freedom from fear of police violence, it has also brought many unexpected gifts.
The gift of sight – White folks eyes are seeing the violence and inequitable treatment that indigenous people have experienced since the first white Europeans stole this land for themselves. We see the slow clearing away of the veil that has clouded white people’s view of the daily violence that black people receive from police and from the perpetuation of white supremacy and it’s practices, including the modern day lynching of George Floyd. We see racially targeted violence against Asian people such as the fatal shooting of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, at spas in the Atlanta area in March.
The gift of action – Upon finally seeing what has been there all along, many have spoken out against racist policies within policing, courts and prisons, schools, work places, health care - every part of life. We have uplifted so many non-white folks running for office locally and beyond. Finally, but not last, we have acted to remove our complicity with the pentagon death machine, understanding that there is a critical connection between this nation's weapons of mass destruction and guns of the police on the street, both used 24/7 to enforce systems of White Supremacy and Global Capitalism.
The gift of community – Folks have organized and participated in mutual aid, reduced our consumption of material goods, and used the money we saved to help others. We have raised funds for the traditional Cayuga people, the essential work of Black Lives Matter, and local organizations serving people of color.
The gift of the natural world – Many have found a deeper appreciation for the natural world as we walked, ran, biked, and hiked outside to keep ourselves sane.
The Ithaca Catholic Worker community has found its’ niche in the work of harvesting the gifts of this pandemic time, too, by …
- offering hospitality and support in our house to a sweet man recently released from ICE detention
- hosting a food share site sponsored by Mutual Aid Tompkins and the Friendship Donations Network
- standing in solidarity with the Kings Bay Plowshares Seven (https://kingsbayplowshares7.org), particularly our own Clare Grady, as they serve their prison sentences
- striving to hold ourselves, others and our elected officials accountable to the work of undoing militarism, racism, income inequality, and the degradation of the environment.
- holding a weekly anti-war vigil every Saturday
- participating in protests at the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base with a coalition of people
- from a wide variety of peace and justice groups
We are grateful for your past participation and support of the PDPT! This is our main fundraiser to support our house of hospitality and center of nonviolent, compassionate action to create peace and social justice for all. Thank you in advance for registering online for the Peter De Mott Peace Trot. In addition to your registration donation, we are encouraging all participants to ask friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family, etc. to sponsor your run. Please see our website to register and for more information on finding sponsors.
In the spirit of Peter De Mott, please keep working for a more peaceful, just and loving world.
Blessings,
The Peter De Mott Peace Trot Committee