Old King Coal is a Lethal old soul: protest in DC, March 2

Dear fellow-healers of the earth and humankind --

Thousands of people will be taking part in a major protest against Coal Power that will be taking place in Washington DC on the afternoon of Monday, March 2.

The protest will include:  a prayer vigil for those who wish;  an effort  (again for those who choose) to block entrances to the coal-powered Capitol Power Plant through nonviolent civil disobedience;  and (for those who choose not to risk arrest), a support and protest demonstration. (More details below.)

The Shalom Center has endorsed this action and God willing/ im yirtzeh hashem/ inshallah, I will be taking part, with the intention  of joining with an expected 1500 other people, in the civil disobedience, arrest-risking part of the protest and in a  prayer vigil that will immediately precede it.   People of all ages, faiths, regions, and cultures will take part.

There will also be many people --  possibly thousands more --  taking part  in a major non-arrest support presence as  part of the protest.

From The Shalom Center's perspective, Old King Coal is one of the archetypal "pharaohs" of our generation, bringing oppression on human beings and "plagues" upon the earth.   (Mercury poisoning of children, destroying the mountains of West Virginia, pouring climate-shattering CO2 into the earth's atmosphere.)

If you are in or can get to Washington, I hope you will feel yourselves called to take part in the protest, one way or another.  If you cannot get there, I hope you will take the opportunity to write your members of Congress supporting the protest and calling on them to  close the plant.  (I'll send information on that just before March 2.)

The Capitol Power Plant, sitting just blocks from Capitol Hill, symbolizes the stranglehold that coal has over our government and future. It's not the largest or the dirtiest power plant in the country, but as the plant that is actually run by and for Congress, it
has become a symbol of what is wrong with  our country's energy and climate policy.

There have actually been efforts in Congress, led by Speaker Pelosi and the House of  Representatives,   to drop the coal plant; but two Coal-King Senators --  Byrd of West Virginia and McConnell of Kentucky - have prevented the Senate from joining in.

So organizers see this plant as the strategic target to address their concerns about our country's continued dependence on dirty energy.

For opportunities to participate in the Capitol Climate Action, with or without risking arrest: www.capitolclimateaction.org

Organizers are asking participants to "dress up" for the action, and to sign up and if you have not had experience in nonviolent actions and do want to take part in the civil disobedience aspect in this one, to attend a training in advance.

The Capitol Climate Action will be preceded by a prayer vigil offering an opportunity for people of various faiths to offer prayers for the success of this action and calling upon their spiritual resources to ground them in this important work for a cleaner, brighter, future for all of creation, in what Dr. King would call "the fierce urgency of now."

The Prayer Vigil will occur at the staging area for the action, at Spirit of Justice Park (about three blocks from the coal plant), C St. SE & New Jersey Ave. SE (two blocks west of Capitol South Metro), from 12:30 to 1 pm, on Monday March 2.  Banners from worship communities are welcome. Closest Metro stop: Capitol South.

The broader Climate Action  rally will then meet on March 2nd at 1:00pm in Spirit of Justice Park.  We'll be staging at Spirit of Justice Park for a brief rally, then moving towards the Capitol Power Plant facility,  where large numbers will risk arrest in a peaceful act of civil disobedience. and many  will choose not to engage in civil disobedience, and will be part of the overall event and rally.

We want to ensure a safe space for everyone, and ask all participants to maintain civility and respect for the diverse issues and communities that are a part of this action, and to follow the Action Guidelines. If you plan to risk arrest, please make sure you bring a government-issued ID ---  a driver's license or passport.  We also suggest bringing $50 - $100 -  which is the typical amount DC police usually charge for activist-related civil disobedience to release activists from jail and dismiss their criminal charges.  Nothing promised ---  but, often for many activists, bringing the money speeds up release time and resolves criminal charges.

Shalom, salaam, peace - Arthur

[Please remember: Forward this message to others who would be interested.]