WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR

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Friday, March 27, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, in person, In the Wake of Gaza, West Bank Palestinians Build Self-reliance.  An in-depth conversation with Dr. Sharat G. Lin.  While Gaza dominates the headlines, another story is unfolding daily in the West Bank, one of families pushed to the brink, homes threatened, and communities under siege. Dr. Lin, having recently visited the West Bank, shares stories of resistance and resilience you're not hearing about anywhere else. Free event at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside.  RSVP on Eventbrite.

Friday, March 27, 6 pm, in person, Safe Ag Safe Schools monthly meeting at El Michoacano Restaurant, 5 El Camino Real, Greenfield. SASS organizer, Yanely Martinez, will facilitate discussions on Spray Days, PFAS “forever chemicals”, air monitoring, the April 24th EJAC meeting, and the upcoming meeting with Ag Commissioner Hidalgo.

National Day of Solidarity:
Saturday, March 28, 2 pm – 4 pm, NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Mass Rallies. We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.  The Peace Coalition of Monterey County endorses this nonviolent day of action to confront authoritarianism, organize resistance, and build a mass movement fueled by joy as a tool for dissent.

No Kings Aromas Tri-County:  Three events scheduled.
Aromas, 9 – 10:30 am, Bridge Brigade, San Juan Rd/Hwy 101 Overpass, Sign up
Aromas, 11:30 am – 1 pm, Rally and Singing at Aromas Town Square, Sign up
San Juan Bautista, 2:30 – 4 pm, Rally and Highway 156 Visibility Event, Sign up

No Kings Marina:  10 am – 2 pm, Intersection of Del Monte Blvd. & Reservation Rd.

No Kings Big Sur: 11 am – 1 pm, Pfeiffer Beach Rd., Pfeiffer Pullout, Sign up.

No Kings Pajaro Valley:  12 – 2 pm, Watsonville Plaza, 358 Main St., Sign up

No Kings Salinas: 12 – 2 pm, South Main Street & Blanco Road, Sign up

No Kings King City: 12 – 2 pm, 530 Canal Street,  Sign up.

No Kings Monterey: 2 – 4 pm, Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Blvd., Sign up  Keynote Speaker is award winning author, Claudia Melendez. ALL-IN Monterey County will collect laundry detergent, cleaning products, shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper, and nonperishable/unexpired food items.

Saturday, March 28, 1 pm – 3 pm, in person, Free film screening of The Bomb, a critically acclaimed documentary that places viewers at the center of the story of nuclear weapons. The screening will be followed by a conversation with filmmaker Smriti Keshari, moderated by Dr. William Potter, Founding Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Location: McCone Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey, CA. More details HERE. Contact Masako Toki  mtoki@middlebury.edu

Saturday, March 28, 2 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Topaz Stories: Echoes in the Present, moderated by Ruth Sasaki, with selected stories told by Topaz survivors and descendants.  Free event. JACL Hall, 424 Adams St., Monterey.  More details HERE.

Sunday, March 29, 2 pm – 5 pm, in person, Ghosts of Adelanto & the Rise of Abolish ICE. A film that examines the human and political landscapes surrounding the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, the largest immigration detention facility in California. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside.  More details HERE.  Organized by Sean Dougherty for Congress.  MPJC is a 501c3 nonprofit and does not endorse political candidates or parties.

Mondays, April 6 through June 1, 4 pm – 6 pm, in person, Empathy in Action: Spring 2026 Series. Enroll today for the 8-week Spring 2026 cohort. Each weekly session (excluding holidays) is held at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Each 30-45-member cohort will meet weekly with individuals incarcerated at CTF to explore issues like societal trauma, racism, domestic violence, and drug abuse.  An initiative of the Transformative Justice Center based in Monterey.  To sign up, complete the contact form HERE or email mmcdrew@transformativejusticecenter.org

Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Postcard/Letter Writing.  Join Swing Left Monterey Peninsula to help register voters in two swing districts.  Meet at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Please RSVP here so the organizers can plan supplies.

Tuesday, April 7, 3 pm - 6 pm, in person, Even the Rain, free film screening at CSU Monterey Bay, in the CAHSS Amphitheater - Room 1401.  Mexican filmmakers on location in Cochabamba, Bolivia, find their film project about the Columbus conquest colliding with real-life locals who are rising up against the privatization of their water. Social time with refreshments starts at 3 pm; film begins at 4 pm. Stay for the bilingual discussion afterwards with panelists from Tierras Milperas, a Watsonville-based campesino collective.  Spanish language with English subtitles.  Runtime: 1h 44m.

Tuesday, April 7, 5:30 pm – 7:15 pm, in person, Branding the Enemy: Terror List, Venezuela, and the Fight Over 'Antifa', program and book signing with Jason Blazakis, Director, Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute.  Irvine Auditorium, McCone Building, 499 Pierce St., Monterey.  RSVP and more details HERE.

Tuesday, April 7, (and other dates through June 30th), 7 pm - 8 pm, Virtual Workshop:  Yes You Can(vass)!  If you've never canvassed or just need a refresher, sign up for one of these workshops. Learn how to register voters and to engage in meaningful canvassing conversations with voters.  Sign up HERE. For more Bay Area Coalition actions, visit https://bayareacoalition.org.

Wednesday, April 8, 12:30 pm, in person, Efforts Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Wetlands in the Monterey Bay Region with Paige Siegel, a NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellow with the Central Coast Wetlands Group (CCWG) of San Jose State University.  Free talk presented by the League of Women Voters of Monterey County at their monthly “Lunch & Learn” meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd. in Carmel.  Presentation starts at 12:30 pm.  Optional Lunch (Mediterranean fare) is $25 per person, payable at the door with cash or check. Contact Beverly Bean at (831) 236-1611 or beverlygb@gmail.com to make your Lunch Reservations by Monday, April 6.  Find more details HERE. The recording will be posted on the LWVMC website under Videos.

Thursday, April 9, 2:45 pm – 4 pm, in person, Operation North Star, a monthly action at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Sloat Ave Gate, organized by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 to call on Naval officers to follow their conscience and reject unlawful orders. Bring signs of encouragement, support, and education. For more info, visit www.vfp46.org or contact Justin Loza, Justin.Loza.vfp46@gmail.com

Friday, April 10, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, in person and on Zoom, Monthly Meeting of Veterans For Peace, Monterey County Chapter 46.  Members and allies are invited to attend the meeting in person at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  Or join via Zoom, directly HERE.  Passcode 678017.  For more info, contact Chapter President Justin Loza at justin.loza.vfp46@gmail.com. Chapter 46 meets on the second Friday of each month at 3:00 pm at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Seaside (Optionally on Zoom).  Visit the website and blog at vfp46.org. Follow on Facebook JohnSteinbeckIV and on BlueSky Social vfp46.bsky.social

Friday, April 10, 6 pm - 7:30 pm, in person, MC Million Rising Gathering at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. Meet on the 2nd Friday of each month to explore creative and nonviolent ways for ordinary folks to resist today's authoritarian threats to our freedoms and civil liberties, especially in Monterey County. Notes from past meetings. To stay informed, send your name, email address, and how you heard about the group to mcmillionrising@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 11, 2 pm – 4 pm, in person, Ralph B. Atkinson Celebration of Civil Liberties honoring Adriana Melgoza, a visionary leader and tireless advocate for civil liberties on California’s Central Coast.  A cornerstone of her legacy is her role in the Solidarity Network - Monterey County Rapid Response, training legal observers and providing essential resources to fortify the civil rights of immigrants during times of crisis. Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel, CA.  Free event.  Reception with refreshments 2 - 2:30 pm. RSVP is suggested - email: pfashing@gmail.com or phone: 831-776-1514

Saturday, April 11, 5 pm - 9 pm, in person, Together with Love Fundraising Dinner at the picturesque Club at Pasadera, 100 Pasadera Dr. in Monterey. The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center (MCRCC) invites all who believe in their mission -- supporting survivors of sexual violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.  Prize bundles will be raffled at the event; prizes include gift certificates to hotels, restaurants, and wineries, as well as spa services, whale-watching tours, and other fun or relaxing activities.  You won't need to be present. Raffle tickets may be purchased on the website even if you can't attend the dinner. Dinner and raffle tickets are on sale HERE.

Saturday, April 18, 11 am - 1 pm, in person, Palenke Arts presents the 3rd annual Moonflower Festival, a free celebration of AANHPI culture, music, and dance at Seaside High School, 2200 Noche Buena St. in Seaside. Featuring over 100 performers, including Shinsho Mugen Daiko (Japanese Taiko), Nā Haumāna (Polynesian Drum and Dance), VietSteps (Vietnamese Dance), and the Seaside High School Pacific Islander Club Dancers. Artisans, community booths, art activities, and food vendors, too! All are invited.  More info.

Saturday, April 18, 5:30 pm – 8 pm, in person, The Earth’s Greatest Enemy, free film screening at the Marina Library Community Room, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Directors Abby Martin and Mike Prysner investigate the environmental footprint of the Pentagon, widely considered the world’s largest institutional polluter. The film reveals how military operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, water contamination, and ecological destruction worldwide, often operating outside the scope of international climate agreements and public scrutiny. Q&A after the film. Reserve your spot. Sponsored by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46. https://vfp46.org

Sunday, April 19, 1 pm – 4 pm, in-person,  Seaside’s 15th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Laguna Grande Regional Park – Lakeside, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, in Seaside. This free community event features over 30 exhibitor booths, speakers, live music, children's activities, a free raffle, and $2 tomato and basil starts.  Bring your old laptops and mobile devices to the e-Waste collection.  Arrive early to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Laguna Grande Regional Park JPA, with additional activities starting at 10 am. More JPA 50th details HERE.

Tuesdays in May (May 5, 12, 19, and 26), 6:30 pm – 8 pm, virtual series, Organizing for Climate Resilience: with Cherice Bock. Help build climate resilience in our communities.  Explore how faith communities can serve as hubs for connection and steward their land to heal local ecosystems. Click to Register.  Sliding scale cost.  Offered by the Ben Lomond Quaker Center.

Saturday, May 2, 9 am, in person, NAMI Walks at Toro County Park, 501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 in Salinas.  It’s a day where individuals, families, and communities come together for one powerful purpose: Mental Health for All.  Every dollar raised funds NAMI’s free programs, support groups, and advocacy efforts here in our community.   Sponsorships are needed to make this event possible. Questions: contact Maria Zamudio Garcia at 831-422-6264 or mzamudio@namimonterey.org, or visit the website.

Mondays, 6 pm – 7:45 pm, English Second Language Classes at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  No registration necessary.  Walk-ins welcome. For more information, text or phone Alex Stampher at 831-899-7322.

Thursdays, 5 pm – 7:30 pm, English and Spanish for Citizenship, ESL and español para la ciudananía at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  Practice basic language skills in English and Spanish.  Conversations vary depending on participants' English proficiency levels and interests. No registration necessary.  Walk-ins welcome. For more information, text or phone Alex Stampher at 831-899-7322.

Thursdays, 24-hour Economic Boycott!  Let your economic power send a message to the big corporations that exploit workers, fuel militarism, suppress unions, or abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion. Demand accountability and justice. Try to shop locally, if you must spend. Resources: WagingNonviolence.org and ChooseDemocracy.us/boycott-central/

Fridays, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm, Peace Message Fridays at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, organized by the Peace Coalition of Monterey County.  Contact Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com for more information.

Saturdays, 1 pm - 3 pm, Defends of Democracy: Protest at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave., Monterey.  This is a nonviolent weekly action to protest the corrupt and fascist Trump Regime. We the People Will Not Be Silenced!

First and Third Sundays of each month, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, Vigil For Peace at the Star Market parking lot, corner of S. Main and Blanco Road, Salinas.  This vigil intends to bear witness to the prospects for peace everywhere. It is guided by Quaker testimony and Dr. King's historic Principles of Nonviolent Action: fearlessness, community-building, pursuit of direct action for the cause, aversion of internal spiritual violence, as well as external violence and injustice. Sponsored by the Live Oak Friends Meeting.  Email John Silva at roycamp39@gmail.com for more information.

Sundays, 3 pm - 5 pm, No Rest Until Liberation for Palestine, at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave in Monterey.  Activities include information sharing, art, street protest, music, community, and food. Rain or shine. Signs are available, or bring your own. Organized by Monterey Palestine Solidarity.  More info, email montereypalestinesolidarity@gmail.com