Mon. & Tues., Oct. 19-20

Acclaimed author/journalist PETER BEINART & former Congressman ANDY LEVIN: ANTI-SEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA & THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY

Peter Beinart (and Andy Levin on late Tuesday afternoon and evening events) will explore the intersection of law, humanity, morality, racism and bigotry and how this knowledge can be used to oppose the rise of fascism and the dismantling of our civil rights and constitutionally protected freedoms.

MONDAY:

• Wayne State University Law School, 12:15-1:50 pm at the Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer Avenue in Detroit. Moderator is Political Science and Law Prof. Brad Roth. The event is presented by the WSU Law Students National Lawyers Guild

Zoom link for virtual attendance: Click here
Meeting ID: 918 7821 1624
Passcode: 478454

• University of Michigan, 4-5:30 pm at the Rackham Amphitheater (4th Floor), 915 East Washington Street in Ann Arbor. The event will include moderation by the H. Chandler Davis Collegiate Prof. Emeritus Alan Wald. The presentation is sponsored by The Department of American Culture, The Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Dialogue Mich., The Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, The Department of Political Science of the University of Michigan

• Temple Beth Emeth, 8 pm at 2309 Packard Street in Ann Arbor. Moderator is Karla Goldman, the Sol Drachler Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, and Professor of Judaic Studies, College of Learning, Science & Arts of the University of Michigan. The event is welcomed & hosted by Temple Beth Emeth.

TUESDAY:

• Oakland University, 12 noon-1:30 pm at the Oakland Center

Student Union/Gold Rooms B & C, 312 Meadow Brook Rd, Rochester. The event is sponsored by Departments of Political Science; Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work; Communication, Journalism and Public Relations; International Studies Program; Campus Alliance for Sustainability and the Environment

Andy joins Peter here:

• Michigan State University, 4pm at 943 Conrad Rd,

Rm 102, East Lansing, East Campus between Fee & Akers Halls

• Congregation T’chiyah & St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church present an Evening with Peter Beinart & Andy Levin, 7:30pm at St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s, 8850 Woodward Ave, Detroit. Welcoming and introductions: Rabbi Alana Alpert

Details will be updated at bit.ly/BeinartLevinTour RSVP to get updates emailed to you.

Peter Beinart is a renown Jewish-American journalist, political commentator, and professor known for his writing on U.S. foreign policy, Zionism, Jewish identity, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He will speak about the urgency to understand the issues and threats to our democracy in determining how to vote in the upcoming elections, but is not endorsing candidates. He is a New York Times columnist; professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York; editor and writer for Jewish Currents and numerous publications; political commentator for MSNBC, CNN, and other networks and programs such as Democracy Now; writer for the Beinart Notebook newsletter and podcast; New York Times best-selling author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza—A Reckoning.

Andy Levin is a union organizer, human rights activist, attorney, and politician who served as the U.S. representative from Michigan’s 9th congressional district from 2019 to 2023. Andy has served in leadership positions in the U.S. Department of Labor, the national AFL-CIO, and other organizations. A leader in the Michigan Jewish community, he helped to found Detroit Jews for Justice and has served in various roles at Congregation T’chiyah. As an expert on energy efficiency, water efficiency and renewable energy, he is Lean & Green Michigan’s Founder and Chief Strategist.

JVP Action Endorses

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for Senate! Join us on Sunday, October 18 to canvass or phonebank with us!

Join JVP Detroit to Canvass for Abdul El-Sayed for Senate with Jews for Abdul tomorrow, Sunday, Oct 18 at 1 pm or on other upcoming days.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Newcomers welcome!: https://go.abdulforsenate.com/jews-for-abdul-canvassing

Phone bank for Abdul and Will Lawrence on October 18 and other days: https://www.mobilize.us/sunrise2026/event/922954/?utm_source=jvp

Join us to phonebank for Will Lawrence and Abdul El-Sayed! Will is a Sunrise co-founder running in the district he grew up in, fighting against big tech data centers and the foreign wars. Abdul El-Sayed, is public health professional who wants to take money out of politics, put money in your pocket, and pass Medicare for all!

Let’s hop on the phones or knock on some doors and win this thing! We offer a training at every session, so no experience is necessary.

PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED

Tell the MEDC to end public funding to
the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator

Sign the petition & learn about upcoming actions!

Join us and the MI Money Out of MIBA campaign Tuesday, October 20th at 10 am at the next Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Executive Committee meeting to keep up the pressure to end public funding to the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA). As MIBA’s current grant period ends in December, the nonprofit will likely apply for new funding from the MEDC like business as usual. We can’t let that happen.

MIBA is aims to turn Michigan into a hub for Israeli weapons manufacturers.

Michiganders are outraged at the recent news that Israeli weapons manufacturer, Capture Systems, received $1 million in public funding from MEDC to set up shop in our state. This is in addition to another $2 million from two other public funding opportunities. How could this have happened? The answer is MIBA.

MIBA has received over $6 million in taxpayer funds in recent years to bridge business between Michigan and Israel. MIBA played a key role in helping Capture Systems, Rafael, and other Israeli companies establish themselves in our state.

Learn more at michigandivest.org/miba to speak in person or virtually.

We do not want Michigan’s economy to be one based in genocide, apartheid and war.

We need as many people as possible to give public comment opposing public funding to MIBA by demanding the MEDC Executive Committee terminate MIBA’s current $650k grant and refuse to award the nonprofit any future grants.

There are 3 ways you can give public comment at the 10/20 MEDC Executive Committee Meeting:

1) Attend and give public comment in-person.

MI Economic Development Corp. 300 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48913
Arrive by 10 am. Public comment is at the beginning of the meeting.
All speakers have up to 1.5 minutes for public comment.
Don’t wish to speak? Help us pack the room in solidarity. Wear a keffiyeh or something visible to show your support.

2) Register for virtual public comment.

You must register by 8:00am on October 20th to give public comment virtually. To register, complete this registration form. (Note: During the meeting, your name on Zoom must match the name you registered with).
Access the Zoom meeting link here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/events/medc-executive-committee/
Use one of these virtual backgrounds to make a visual statement.

3) Submit written public comment.

Submit a written public comment statement to the the MEDC Executive Committee by 3:00pm on October 19th by emailing: medccomments

Sign up to go to Lansing on October 20 to support an end to funding MIBA here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/join-our-press-conference-and-tell-the-medc-no-public-money-for-miba?source=direct_link&

MI Money Out of MIBA is a campaign by Michigan Divest, Engineers Against Apartheid, US Palestinian Community Network-Detroit, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit.

Category: LOCAL NEWS

Published by W

Wissam, Wesley, or simply W, is an educator, writer, entrepreneur, engineer, activist, ex-Imam, humanist, liberal thinker with interest and mediocre attempt at many takes of life. A modern confused Renaissance man, who uses doubt as a path for emancipation and science as a road towards enlightenment. View all posts by W