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CLICK HERE: 'No Kings June 14 Day of Defiance'. . . - submitted by Mary Sprunger Froese

The Justice & Peace eWeekly is a weekly survey of upcoming events, local news and activism opportunities. Feel free to forward this to anyone you know who might be interested.

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June 2, 2025



      Youth Activist Training Registration
Ramps in Final Month



Team Prepares Podcast, Tables at Major Events

PPJPC Youth Activist Training Co-Director Marzia Sadat and Chair Loring Wirbel went to Studio 809 May 28 to record a podcast with Dave Gardner, providing history of the program, now in its fourth year, as well as Sadat’s own history, growing up in Afghanistan and taking part in the inaugural year of YAT. We’ll have the link to the podcast soon.

The final month of registration for YAT will see YAT representatives staff tables at upcoming events such as YouthPride on June 7, Pridefest and No Kings rally June 14-15, and Juneteenth the weekend of June 20-22. Watch for us, and help our partners support these events!

YouthPride was organized by Inside Out Youth Services as an alcohol-free event aimed at teenage LGBTQ+ teens and their allies. While PrideFest welcomes teens, organizers of YouthPride felt that teens wanted a place and a festival to call their own. Look for PPJPC’s booth this coming Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hillside Community Center. Hillside also will be the home of the Pink Pony Disco, the Queer Prom, set for this Saturday, May 31, from 6 to 9 p.m.

On the following weekend, PPJPC will share a table with All-Souls Church at the PrideFest, scheduled for Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15 at the Alamo Square Park adjacent to Pioneer’s Museum downtown (north of Vermijo between Nevada and Tejon). Hours will be 10 to 7 p.m. on both days. A PrideFest parade will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, beginning at Acacia Park and ending at Alamo Square. PPJPC also will be sharing YAT information at the No Kings Day rally and march on Saturday, June 14, from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. outside City Hall at 120 N. Nevada.

On the weekend of June 20-22, PPJPC will host a table at the Juneteenth celebration at the Citadel Mall parking lot. It will kick off at noon on Friday, closing at 8:30 p.m.. Juneteenth will open at 8 a.m. Saturday, closing at 9 p.m., and will open at 10 a.m. Sunday, closing at 8 p.m. Hope to see you at some of our locations in June! We’ll share podcast links later, as well as a special eWeekly later in June describing day-to-day YAT curriculum details.

Concrete Couch Announces Summer Camp Programs

Concrete Couch announced its schedule for weekly summer camps at Concrete Coyote Park. The $75 registration fee will be refunded at the end of the camp. Ages depend on the class, with some taking youth down to 9 years old, and others aimed at teens 13 and above. All day camps run from 9 a.m. to noon. The scheduled classes include Construction Camp, ages 13+, from June 9 to 12; Art Camp, ages 9-12, June 9-19; Clay Camp, ages 9 and up, June 23-26; Creek Science, ages 9-12, June 23-26; Mosaic Camp, ages 9 and up, July 7-10; Animation Camp, ages 13 and up, July 14-17; and Cooking Camp, ages 13 and up, July 21-24. Registration is open now, and do not delay, as many camps fill up quickly! Go HERE for more information, or call Thomas Pantoja at 719-217-6933.

Beth-El “Cultivating Peace” Summer Speaker Series Begins June 1

The first two programs in Beth-El Mennonite Church’s summer series, which PPJPC co-sponsors, are coming up June 1 and June 8. On June 1 at 9:30 a.m., Beth-El activist Merv Birky will speak. Merv Birky’s formative years in the mountains of Puerto Rico and the prairies of Illinois introduced him to the richness of variant cultures. Ministering for over 45 years as a high school teacher and a pastor, in both rural and city contexts, further broadened his understanding of the challenges and riches of interpersonal relationships. Seeking to find ways to foster wholesome relationships for all has been a persistent goal throughout his life and ministry. Those experiences have become parables for understanding the work of non-violent peace-making. Merv and his wife, Venita, have four children and eight grandchildren, which provides further learning opportunities.

On June 8, there will be an Artists’ Workshop on the Art of Peacemaking, also at 9:30 a.m. All events in the series will take place at Beth-El’s main location at 4625 Ranch Road, near Union and Academy. Other speakers featured this summer include Yuliana and Luciana of Roca de Refugio, Jackie Jaramillo, Randy and Edith Woodley, Ched Myers and Elaine Enns, Rachel Harding, Osheta Moore, Mike Martin of RAW Tools, Michael Williams, Father John Dear, and Shane Claiborne. Keep an eye out for specific details on each week and send us a message with any questions!

Arts Uprise Festival Planned for Millibo June 20-22

Arts Uprise producers Warren Epstein, Kathy Paradise, and MJ Hafter are announcing the first of what they hope will be many events sponsored by Arts Uprise. The inaugural events will be at Millibo Arts Theater, 1626 S. Tejon, at 7:30 p.m. on June 20 and 21, and at 2:20 p.m. June 22. Tickets are available at themat.org.

Here’s how the sponsors describe this new effort:

Original theatre, art, music and spoken word, giving voice to the voiceless and standing against tyranny. A fundraiser for an arts organization facing threats to its essential grants. When the tide retreats, you know a giant wave is on its way.

Welcome to The Arts Uprise Festival, a creative tsunami of original plays, music, art, and spoken word that take on climate change, hilarious religious hypocrisy, the future of history and much more. Out of more than 30 original script submissions, judges selected five that capture the angst and insights of this twisted Twilight Zone moment in America. Some of the finest actors and directors in the region will bring these stories to life, and their work will be accompanied by original poetry by Springs Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius, original music by singer-songwriter John Spengler and visual art curated by the Auric Gallery. This is the first of what we hope will be many Art Uprise events.

What is the Arts Uprise? It’s both a movement and an invitation – a movement to express what we feel about this moment in America, and an invitation to other creatives to make their own Uprise. Uprise began with a meeting of mostly theater people at the Manitou Art Center. It began with a collective need, a collective rage, a collective drive to DO SOMETHING. The need to channel our creative expression to both keep ourselves sane and to provide some comfort to others who feel the same way. One of the concerns at this initial meeting centered on the obvious question: “Aren’t we just preaching to the choir?” Yes we are. But you know what? Our choir has been taking a beating these past six months, and they could use some comfort, some laughs, some insights and some entertainment. We hope that this first Arts Uprise does that for you.
This production is a fundraiser for The Millibo Art Theatre, which, like so many arts organizations, faces threats to their funding from national and regional foundations. We thank you for coming and we encourage you to stop on your way out today to donate a bit more. And we thank Auric, Craft Production, and our musician, poet, artists, playwrights, actors, and directors who made this happen.

Democracy Roundtable Postponed Until June 26

The Democracy Roundtable, originally scheduled for May 31, has been postponed until June 26, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Citizens Project, Colorado Common Cause, League of Women Voters, and New Era Colorado are sponsoring the round table at Penrose Library downtown. Among the speakers will be Colorado Springs Council Member Nancy Henjum, D-11 School District Director Julie Ott, State Rep. Amy Paschal,and El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schlieker. You can register for this free event HERE.

No Kings June 14 Actions Include Mile-Long, High-Altitude Protests

50501 has set June 14 as a “national day of resistance” to counter Trump’s call for a military parade in Washington. When told his desire to hold a $50 million parade on his birthday would lead to bad PR, Trump chose Flag Day as an alternative. As a response, dozens of organizations around the country have planned activities around the “No Kings” logo. Here in Colorado Springs, the No Kings action will take place from noon to 2:30 outside City Hall, 120 N. Nevada. Organizers are hoping for two unique aspects to the protest: a “longest line” protest that spans from City Hall to Colorado College; and a “highest national protest” as hikers will summit Pikes Peak on June 14 carrying a “No Kings” flag. Local progressive veterans also are planning a June 6 anti-Trump rally to commemorate D-day.

The actions come just as nations around the globe, allies and adversaries alike, have pledged not to buy any U.S. products because of Trump’s tariff wars. This summer could bring matters to a head, as the U.S. economy teeters as the result of its own self-imposed isolation. Trump spent his recent visit to the Middle East freely accepting gifts, such as a Qatari plane, that are not permitted under emoluments laws. As Trump continues to issue executive-order “edicts” as though he was a monarch, it is time to make a push to end executive branch power that overrides Congress and the courts.

Judith Mohling, Presente!

Colorado Springs peace activists were surprised last week to see an invitation from our friends at Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center to attend the memorial event May 31 honoring Judith Mohling, a long-time Boulder peace activist. According to RMPJC, she died January 12, though this was news to the peace community here. Judith played a key role in drumming up statewide support for many PPJPC and Citizens for Peace in Space actions in the 1990s and early 2000s. She will be missed by many for her unflagging spirit.

Panel on Medicaid Cuts on June 10

Indivisible and Mobilize will hold a panel June 10 to discuss the massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that are planned in the Omnibus spending bill that passed the House of Representatives last week. The panel will be held at IBEW Local 113 Hall, 2150 Naegele Road. The event is free, but space is limited, so be sure to register HERE

Citizens Project Breakfast Set for July 12

Citizens Project will hold its annual fundraiser breakfast on Saturday, July 12, at 8 a.m. at The Carter Payne, 320 S. Weber. The theme this year is “The Work Continues.” You can register HERE.

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