Eugene PeaceWorks invites public to film screening, Norman Solomon talk June 19

Presenter: Ten thousand protesters who marched at Eugene’s historic No Kings event June 14 were asked to take one more step: Become activists. From the Activist Coalition of Eugene Springfield (ACES), Stan Taylor:

Stan Taylor (ACES, June 14, 2025): So what I would like you to do today is to become an activist, to go to the tables that are here, pick an organization that you’re interested in, sign up and get active in that organization. The time for sitting on the sidelines is past. We need to begin to support the groups in our community that need our help.

[00:00:44] Presenter: One of those community groups appreciating Stan Taylor’s message is Eugene PeaceWorks. Here’s David Zupan:

[00:00:51] David Zupan (Eugene PeaceWorks): To have a speaker get up there and make that point is really important. It got results. I mean, even at the April (Hands Off!) one, we had people coming up to our table, and we were getting, quite, quite a large number of people signed up.

[00:01:08] We even found a experienced engineer who had worked for PBS, who’s now working with KEPW. So, yeah, you couldn’t ask for a better way of introducing the community to these different organizations. We’ve got so many different groups that have different missions, different approaches, different strategies, but we’re all working together for a common cause here.

[00:01:34] And that’s what makes this work so, so well. And Stan is excellent at articulating that vision to the public.

[00:01:41] Presenter: David said Eugene PeaceWorks was interested in joining the coalition because of Stan’s past track record.

[00:01:49] David Zupan (Eugene PeaceWorks): He for many years, ran the Peace Forum, which was a really well-organized speaker symposium, and so they would put on major, major speakers and events out there at Lane (Community College) and just had a real track record of excellent organizing.

[00:02:10] So based on my relationship with Stan, I knew that it would be a good coalition to be part of, and I’m really glad that PeaceWorks is part of it. It’s a really dynamic, exciting coalition to be involved with.

[00:02:26] Presenter: Eugene PeaceWorks is always looking for new volunteers, including board members. David Zupan:

[00:02:32] David Zupan (Eugene PeaceWorks): We’re always looking for folks who maybe have some background in an area that could be very helpful. Financial expertise, fundraising expertise… One of the main ways I help KEPW is as a board member of Eugene PeaceWorks.

[00:02:52] We’re working in the background, doing fundraising and supporting this vital project, and it’s so important to have this independent media source, especially as we’re seeing the threat to cut back on public radio, public television, it makes this resource even more crucial to protect.

[00:03:13] So we’re always looking for folks who have some background or expertise. Or if they don’t, would at least be interested in learning more about how to do it, and of course we can provide that training.

The same applies for the radio station, of course. The Youth Radio Project is another great example of that, how we’re taking young people who have no experience but are interested and able to put them with a group and train them in how to use the studio, how to produce shows.

[00:03:46] My great-granddaughter just got involved with that, Youth Radio Projects, and she’s just really enjoying it. She’s found a place to plug into the community through youth radio.

[00:04:01] We’re looking for board membership. Some of the people on there are looking for people to take their place, and so, that can’t be abrupt. It’s something where we have to have, like, a transition.

So, that would be a vital way that folks could contribute, by being a representative from the community who shares the vision of wanting peace, justice, and a sustainable environment and is willing to use nonviolent, effective communication in group process, group decision-making, consensus decision-making, in a grassroots organization.

[00:04:40] It’s a very exciting dynamic process. It’s difficult at times but so rewarding to be part of and to have others that you’re sharing these very difficult times that we live in to, to be part of something where we’re working to do the right thing and to push our leaders to do the right thing, for example, not to go to war with Iran.

[00:05:08] And we’re not alone on this. Many people on the far right are saying the same thing for different reasons, but they’re basically very critical of Trump. And his own CIA had said, ‘You don’t want to do this. This is a bad idea.’

[00:05:25] And he may or may not be listening, but the more people who are speaking out, of all political persuasions, the better. The sooner, the better to stop things from spiraling even more out of control than they already are.

[00:05:39] Presenter: Eugene PeaceWorks distributed flyers at the No Kings protest to let people know about a film screening Thursday, June 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Art House. David Zupan:

[00:05:50] David Zupan (Eugene PeaceWorks): We also were publicizing the screening of this documentary called Israelism after which Norman Solomon’s going to be speaking about biased media coverage of Gaza, and also taking Q&A (questions and answers). So it’s going to be a great evening. So we handed out hundreds of mini-flyers about that.

[00:06:14] The lead group in putting on this film is called People for Peace and Justice in Palestine, and it’s made up of Jews, Muslims, Christians—folks of all different persuasions—who are concerned about stopping this genocide.

[00:06:32] Starting this Thursday, it’s actually going to be part of a film series. They won’t all be shown at The Art House. Some will be shown out in the community. And it’s so important that more American citizens see these films, and that’s part of what this educational film series is about.

[00:06:50] And I would encourage folks to turn out Thursday, to see Israelism as the first in this series of educational films.

[00:07:00] Presenter: Eugene PeaceWorks invites you to take the next step and become an activist. Help keep the organization running with your talents behind the scenes on the board, or join the award-winning KEPW community radio.

[00:07:14] You’re also invited to attend a screening of the film, Israelism, Thursday 6:30 p.m. at The Art House, and bring your questions for Normon Solomon, who will speak on “How U.S. Media Hide Truths About The Gaza War.”

[00:07:28] For more information, see EugeneArtHouse.com.