Axis of Friendship Festival Calls for Peace, Not a War Against Iran

By Elaine Pasquini


	DeMarillac Academy schoolchildren hold their hand-made peace signs at the Axis of Friendship Festival in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza (Staff photo P. Pasquini).

SEVEN YEARS ago, on Sept. 12, thousands of Iranians in Tehran spontaneously lit candles in solidarity with the Americans and other nationalities who lost loved ones in the tragic attacks the previous day. In memory of the lives lost on 9/11, and in unity with thousands in Iran who support peace and dialogue, an Axis of Friendship with Iran Festival was held this past Sept. 12 in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza.

An array of individuals addressed the crowd on the importance of reclaiming the “axis of friendship” with Iran, preventing future wars and achieving global peace. Speakers included Iranian-American writer Amir Soltani, Dr. Jeff Ritterman, Nooshin Razani of Military Families Speak Out, Michael Batchelder of Jewish Voice for Peace, and San Francisco immigrant rights commissioner Dr. Elahe Enssani. Holding hand-made posters, children from the nearby DeMarillac Academy read poems of peace.

Just as Axis of Friendship supporters around the world lit candles at sundown, the San Francisco event ended with the lighting of candles.

Festival organizers included Rita N. Brock of Faith Voices for the Common Good, Nilou Nouri of the Bay Area Iranian American Voter Association, and Margot Smith of the Berkeley Gray Panthers.

“Indict Karl Rove”


Protesters outside Sacramento’s Convention Center denounce the speaking appearance of Karl Rove (Staff photo P. Pasquini).

Karl Rove’s Sept. 19 appearance at the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s annual speakers forum drew a small but spirited group of peace activists to the capital city’s downtown convention center. More than 2,500 people attended the event, which also featured speeches by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Deepak Chopra and others.

Protesters greeted attendees arriving for the morning program with signs such as “Jail Rove for Contempt” and “Arrest Rove for Contempt of Congress.” These were a reminder of the disregard by Pres. George W. Bush’s longtime political guru and former deputy chief of staff of a House Judiciary Committee subpoena, and of Rove’s refusal to testify at a July 10 hearing regarding the administration’s role in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and the prosecution of former Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama.

Protesters also denounced the involvement of Rove, now a Fox news commentator, and Vice President Dick Cheney in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, as well as Rove’s alleged wrongful linking, in a July 19, 2007 “Meet the Press” interview, of the 9/11 attacks with Saddam Hussain in order to justify the Iraq war.

As one college student who attended the “Perspectives 2008” forum on a donated $245 ticket explained, “Even if Rasputin is speaking, you might want to hear what he has to say.”

“Right Rights for All People”


	Count Sangirardi of Wardal displays a quote from President John F. Kennedy’s speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Sept. 25, 1961 (Staff photo P. Pasquini).

“Right Rights for All People,” Count Federico Sangirardi of Wardal’s powerful one-man drama about global peace and the need for individuals to rally for human rights and dialogue among nations, debuted Sept. 5 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. The benefit performance for the Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action was well-received by the diverse audience. Written and performed by Sangirardi—a protégé of the iconic Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini—the unique production will also be staged in Rome and Cairo for the benefit of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The play incorporates statements by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others throughout history who have championed human rights and the goals of achieving justice for all and peaceful coexistence.

Leyla Al-Qadr Observed

On Sept. 27, San Francisco’s Al-Tawhid Mosque observed Leyla Al-Qadr (Night of Power), a special night of Ramadan which occurs in the last 10 days of the holy month and commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Hassan Al-Jalal led some 1,000 celebrants in prayers, after which guests enjoyed a traditional fast-breaking iftar dinner. Honorary Consul of Yemen Mansoor Ismael and his consulate staff, along with mosque members, organized the evening event. The popular mosque also serves as a community center for the approximately 7,000 Yemenis who reside in the Bay Area.

Prez in the Fez at Petaluma’s Progressive Festival


Khalil Bendib contemplates his campaign strategy between signing books at Petaluma’s Progressive Festival (Staff photo E. Pasquini).

Political cartoonist Khalil Bendib’s presidential campaign was in full swing Sept. 28 as he kicked off the 11th Annual Sonoma County Progressive Festival in Petaluma’s Walnut Park. While satirical on the surface, as far as his enthusiastic audience was concerned the Prez in the Fez’s platform was precisely accurate.

“On how to bring peace to the Middle East,” Bendib explained, “I have three words to our Israeli friends: END THE OCCUPATION—withdraw from all of the occupied territories: Gaza, the West Bank, and Washington, DC!”

On torture, the country’s first Muslim presidential candidate declared, “Be clever and cute, don’t electrocute—amuse, not abuse!”

Throughout the daylong festival, Bendib, whose political cartoons appear regularly in the Washington Report (see p. 74), signed copies of his book, Mission Accomplished: Wicked Cartoons by America’s Most Wanted Political Cartoonist, available from the AET Book Club.

The Petaluma Progressives hosted the festival, which featured speakers, entertainment and informational booths. Co-sponsors included KPFA radio station and Sonoma County’s Committee for Immigrant Rights and Peace & Justice Center.

Elaine Pasquini is a free-lance journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area.