WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR
October 16, 2025
Monterey County
October 16, 2025
Monterey County
Historic "NO KINGS" Nonviolent Nationwide Mass Rally
Saturday, October 18
Quote of the Week:
“If your First Amendment rights are under attack, and you decline to show up because of those threats, you don’t have First Amendment rights”. ~ Ezra Levin, Executive Co-director of Indivisible
All events are Pacific Time. New items are in blue.
CALENDAR EVENTS
Thursday, October 16, 6 pm to 7:30 pm, in-person lecture, “Advancing California’s Climate Goals Through Nature-Based Solutions.” Join the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies for a talk with Clesi Bennett, Nature-Based Solutions Program Manager at the California Natural Resources Agency. His lecture will provide an overview of California’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals and highlight the role of nature-based strategies, especially ocean and coastal “blue carbon” approaches within the state’s Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets. Location: Morse Building, room B105, 426 Van Buren Street, Monterey. Free event, open to the public. Find the details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.
Peace Pick of the Week!
Saturday, October 18, times vary, in person, NO KINGS: Nonviolent Mass Rally. More than 2,500 events are planned across all 50 states, as well as in Europe and Canada. This is a coordinated, peaceful mobilization, bringing together people across the United States to stand in solidarity against the assaults on our democracy. Find a Rally near you:
Aromas: 12-2pm Stoplight at The Alameda and Highway 156 in San Juan Bautista
www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/842532
Big Sur: 11am-1pm Pfeifer Turnout. Sign up for more details.
www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/858409
Monterey: 2-4pm, at Windows on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave.
www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/839891
Visit 50501 Monterey’s SignUp Genius portal to sign up for volunteer roles.
Support All-In Monterey County. Bring an item to donate for the Kindness Closet
Salinas: 12-2pm corner of S. Main St. and Blanco Rd.
www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/842277
Pajaro Valley: 12-2pm at 358 Main St., Watsonville
www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/844578
Santa Cruz: 10am- 12pm at 137 Dakota Ave.
www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/847022
Saturday, October 18 · 7 pm - 8:30 pm, in person, Tiffany Austin Jazz Quartet: The Love Epoch, in concert at the Palenke Arts Studio, 1713 Broadway Ave. in Seaside (behind Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts). A jazz vocalist from the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin made a remarkable debut on the national scene in 2015 with her album Nothing But Soul. Her emergence as a prominent artist was even more impressive, considering she had just graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Law. Doors at 6:30pm. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite. Proceeds benefit Palenke Arts multicultural arts organization.
Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, in person, An Enemy of the Pueblo at the Western Stage Theater, 411 Central Avenue in Salinas. Playwright Josefina López’s modern adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s, An Enemy of the People, explores the clash between modern pressures and traditional knowledge. In a border town called Milagros, a curandera (healer) warns of poisoned springs, but her community refuses to listen since their livelihoods depend on attracting “gringos” back with the promise of pure water. Purchase tickets HERE.
Tuesday, October 21, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Write Postcards & Letters to Voters with Swing Left at PG Meetinghouse, 599 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove. Join the postcard and letter-writing party or pick up a packet to work on at home! Urge Pennsylvania voters to turn out for the November 4th election for state Supreme Court justices. RSVP HERE for info about how to participate. Each packet of 25 postcards, stamps, and labels or 20 letters, envelopes, and stamps is $17. ($2.50 without stamps).
Wednesday, October 22, 7:30 pm (doors open 7 pm), in person, "A Song for All Of Us,” a celebration of song and belonging. Golden State Theater, 417 Alvarado St., in Monterey. Wholehearted Chorus, led by Lisa G. Littlebird, and Special Guests, MaMuse (Sorah Nutting and Karisha Longaker) present 16 songs steeped in folk and gospel traditions to heal the wounds of division present in our world today. Click HERE for tickets.
Thursday, October 23, 6 pm - 7:30 pm, in-person lecture, “Listening to a Changing Ocean: From Signals to Solutions” with Dr. Megan McKenna, marine scientist, educator, and policy expert. The ocean is alive with sound, revealing animal behavior, weather, climate, and human impact. Dr. McKenna will share how ocean sound monitoring can guide action for a healthier planet, exploring what animal sounds teach us about resilience, the benefits of quieter seas, and how “listening” connects communities to the ocean. Location: Morse Building, room B105, 426 Van Buren Street, Monterey. Free event, open to the public. Find the details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.
Friday, October 24, 4 pm – Sunday, October 26, after lunch, in person, Resisting Authoritarianism with Love and Power, at the Ben Lomond Quaker Center, 1000 Hubbard Gulch Rd, Ben Lomond, CA. Join award-winning author, speaker, and Quaker activist Eileen Flanagan for a weekend workshop that blends strategy and spiritual grounding to help us face today’s political and ecological crises. Whether you are a Friend (Quaker) or a friend of Friends, come draw wisdom and strength from the Quaker tradition of resistance rooted in love. Find more details, including suggested cost ranges, and Register HERE.
Friday October 24, 5:30 pm - 7:15 pm, in person, From the Andes to Afghanistan: Conflict, Cuisine, and Change: A Conversation and Book Signing with Michael Shaikh at MIIS. Middlebury Institute alum Michael Shaikh is a writer and human rights investigator who has worked for 20 years in areas marred by political crisis and armed conflict. He has worked at Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the New York City Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. McCone Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Open to the Public. Register HERE
Friday October 24, 7:30 pm, in person, In To America is a powerful story 400 years in the making. Drawn from personal diaries, letters, journals, and oral histories, this theatrical work traces the journey of America’s immigrants from Jamestown to today. This moving performance by Chicago’s Griffin Theatre Company spans time and culture to illuminate the diversity and shared humanity of the American experience. Find tickets HERE.
Wednesday, October 29, 6 am - 1 pm, virtual event, The Peace Begins at Home Summit: One-day Global Event produced by the Center for Partnership Systems. Inspired by the work of Dr. Riane Eisler, it brings together global leaders and changemakers; to explore how early patterns of domination shape our world, and how shifting to partnership can build lasting peace. Insights will feed into a post-summit Peace Begins at Home Handbook, shared globally to drive impact beyond the event. Learn more and register HERE.
Wednesday, October 29, 7 pm – 9 pm, in person, Screening: Everything You Have Is Yours hosted by the Global Studies and Ethnic & Gender Studies programs at Cal State Monterey Bay. Q&A with producer Brighid Greene and CSUMB Associate Professor Sara Salazar Hughes follows. The film follows NYC choreographer Hadar Ahuvia as she reexamines the Israeli folk dances and family stories she grew up with, revealing layered questions of heritage, identity, and mythmaking. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments at 6:15 PM in the CAHSS Amphitheater. Location: Lecture III Screening Room 1401, CAHSS (Bldg. 504), 3050 Divarty St., Seaside. Closest parking: Lot 508. Free parking passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis! Email Sara Salazar Hughes (sahughes@csumb.edu) to claim your parking permit. Parking passes are also available from the kiosks in the parking lots for $5/day. Co-sponsored by the MPC IDEAA Office. Find more info HERE.
Thursday, October 30, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in-person, “Fatal Watch: Film Screening & Discussion.” Four marine observers disappear at sea under suspicious circumstances and a global investigation follows. This gripping exposé uncovers the mystery. Filmed across four continents, Fatal Watch reveals corruption, cover-ups, and violence within the global tuna trade. Followed by a live Zoom discussion with filmmaker Mark Benjamin and Captain Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd. Environmental Justice and Sustainability Speaker Series. Location: Morse Building, room B105, 426 Van Buren Street, Monterey. Free event, open to the public. Find the details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.
Friday, November 7, 6 pm - 7:30 pm, in person, Million Rising Gathering at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. Take part in dialogue, community building, and connection-making through the advancement of creative and nonviolent ways for ordinary folks to resist today's authoritarian threats to our freedoms and civil liberties, especially within Monterey County. If you can’t attend this time, but want to continue receiving information, contact Suzy, Dave & Lauren at MCmillionrising@gmail.com
Friday, November 14, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, in person or on Zoom, Monthly Meeting of Veterans For Peace, Monterey County Chapter 46. Members and supporters 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). VFP is open to all veterans and supporters. Visit the newly launched website and blog at vfp46.org. Follow on BlueSky Social vfp46.bsky.social and Facebook JohnSteinbeckIV
Friday, November 14, in person, Monthly Discussion Groups at the Peace Center:
· United and Informed, 5:30–6:30 pm (doors open at 5:00)
· Unidos e Informados, 7:00–8:00 pm
Join us every second Friday for community, conversation, and connection. Come as you are. No homework required! Each month we dive into short readings and lively dialogue on issues that matter most right now.
November 14 Topics:
· United and Informed: Understanding Nonviolent Conflict
· Unidos e Informados: Exploring Changes in Immigration Regulations
Be part of the conversation at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 pm – 7:45 pm, ESL Classes at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside. No registration necessary. Walk-ins welcome. Find more information, text or phone Alex Stampher at 831-899-7322.
ONGOING PEACE VIGILS
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. Email John Silva at roycamp39@gmail.com for more information. Sponsored by the Live Oaks Friends Meeting (Quakers).
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.
Fridays, 4:30 pm - 6 pm, Vigil For Peace: Salinas Palestine Solidarity, at the Star Market parking lot, corner of S. Main and Blanco Road, Salinas. Email Dick Strubbe at dickstrubbe@sbcglobal.net for more information. Co-sponsored by MPJC.
Saturdays, 12 pm – 2 pm, Protest Elon Musk's Illegal Government Takeover. Nonviolent Rally to protest Elon Musk and lobby for economic divestment by local organizations. Gather along the sidewalk (without blocking it) in front of the Tesla Dealership, 1901 Del Monte Blvd, in Seaside. Click HERE for more info. Contact Erim at ef@erim.net
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
ACTION AND INFORMATION
Action: Economic Boycott on Thursdays! Avoid doing business with corporations that sacrifice people and the planet for profits. If you must buy on a Thursday, pay in cash and support businesses that support the community. Imagine an economy that measures success not solely by profit margins, but also by how well it uplifts people and protects the planet. That’s our vision. Visit the new website, StopTheShop.org
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Action: Know Your Rights Training. Take time to watch the ACLU’s new video for protest safety and de-escalation training. Or read the ACLU Know Your Rights Guide
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Action: YES on PROP 50 - Temporary Redistricting Proposition on the CA Nov 4th ballot.
· Canvassing:
Virtual Canvass Training (every Tuesday): RSVP HERE
Monterey: RSVP HERE
Pacific Grove: RSVP HERE
Salinas: RSVP HERE
Seaside: RSVP HERE
· Phone banking:
Virtual phone banking (CA Dem): RSVP HERE
Salinas in-person phone banking: RSVP HERE
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Protester Resources from Unite Monterey County: In light of recent military intervention and escalation by the Trump regime, protesters are encouraged to take safety precautions at upcoming rallies and protests. Remember, these are Peaceful events. Do not engage with the opposition, and be respectful of law enforcement. Suggestions: Always have a buddy, charge your phone (you may want to disable tracking), and bring an American/US flag (it’s ours too). Other flags are welcome too. Remain calm and peaceful. Links to some Safety Guidelines:
Indivisible Safety Guide
KQED How to Stay Safe Guide
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Local Activism: Unite Monterey County is a coalition of organizations and networks in Monterey County that was formed to counter the Trump agenda.
Sign up to receive the Unite Monterey County email newsletters.
If you represent a group or organization, sign up as a "Participating Organization/Group" on the Unite Monterey County website.
Be listed as an individual supporter of Unite Monterey County; contact Elena Loomis at erloomis@gmail.com
Check out the Unite Monterey County website.
Stay informed about 50501 Monterey Bay actions at linktr.ee/50501montereybay
Sign up to volunteer at events at 50501 Monterey.
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Resource: Check the Social Justice Calendar, a comprehensive listing of actions and events around Monterey County (and beyond, if virtual). Avoid scheduling conflicts when planning your local actions and events. Help make this a meaningful tool for the community. Contact Anita Crawley at acrawley@comcast.net about adding your organization’s events to the calendar.
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Action: Please call the local media about local events and protests. Send your high-resolution photos and videos of events.
KSBW - Email news@ksbw.com or upload them onto ulocal. Call: 831-422-8206
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ksbw8/
KION - 831-784-6397. Email to newstips@kion546.com.
MC Weekly - Phone: 831-394-5656, Fax: 831-394-2909. INSTAGRAM @montereycountyweekly. Tip Line (jotform.com)
Monterey Herald - mheditor@montereyherald.com 831-726-4351, Fax 831-372-8401
KAZU (local NPR) - Phone: 1-831-582-5298 Email news@kazu.org
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Action: Stay engaged and resist the Trump administration’s illegal seizure of Congressional powers and its violation of Constitutional, civil, and human rights. Contact your legislators, issue by issue, persistently - and organize!
Contact all members of Congress:
U.S. Senators by phone: (202) 224-3121
Congress members by email: Congress.gov
Congress members by mail: Representatives / Senators
Congress members by fax: Representatives
Contact all your officials at once by Resistbot: Resist.bot/officials
Contact the White House or other federal agencies:
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Action Alerts: Visit FCNL’s Action Center for a list of action alerts and pre-formatted/editable letters to members of Congress. Hosted by Friends Committee on National Legislation Action Center (FCNL).
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Whites for Racial Equity eBlast. Find an online version of the e-Blast.
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IndyBay Event Calendar. Independent open-publishing newswire serving California.
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Local Advocacy: The Monterey County Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) welcomes your membership in an international women’s peace organization that has advocated for peace for more than a century. Learn more about WILPF HERE. Download a copy of the WILPF membership application HERE.
PEACE COALITION INFORMATION
The Peace Coalition of Monterey County (PCMC) is a coalition of eight Monterey County organizations working for nonviolent solutions to world conflicts since 1991. If world peace is one of the concerns of your organization, consider joining the Coalition. Contact Co-chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.
The Weekly Peace Calendar is a project of PCMC. The calendar evolved in the early 2000s to facilitate networking among Peace Coalition organizations. The Peace Calendar may be viewed on the Monterey Peace and Justice Center website at tinyurl.com/Weekly-Peace-Calendar.
Please send information about peace, nonviolence, social justice, democracy, and environmental sustainability-related events in Monterey County to Catherine at cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net.
The Weekly Peace Calendar is dedicated to the memory of Joyce Vandevere, who compiled and published this calendar for many years. Joyce died at the age of 94 on February 17, 2021. She is remembered for her lifelong peace and justice activism. Visit the Peace Center in Seaside on Wednesday afternoons between 1 pm and 5:30 pm to view the memorial quilt created to honor Joyce’s memory.
Direct your questions about the Peace Coalition of Monterey County to Chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott, sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.
MONTEREY PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER
The Peace and Justice Center at 1364 Fremont Boulevard has reopened and if staffed Wednesdays, 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Wi-fi is available and regular cleaning services have been arranged to ensure the health and safety of guests. Contact Alex Stampher (831) 899-7322 to arrange venue scheduling and for any questions or concerns about using the Center.
Volunteer Opportunities: To learn about tasks for the Center, leave a message about volunteering at 899-7322 or email montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.
History: The Monterey Peace and Justice Center was envisioned and founded by Valori George in 2004 as a venue to support the activities of Monterey Peace Coalition organizations. Since opening, it has been a networking center and resource center for those groups and others who were working for similar purposes. MPJC moved to its present Seaside location at 1364 Fremont Boulevard in 2008.
The mission of the Monterey Peace and Justice Center is to inspire and mobilize the people of Monterey County to cultivate peace, social justice, nonviolence, democracy, and environmental sustainability in our community and the world through education and advocacy. MPJC presents a wide spectrum of topics to stir up conversation about the issues. The MPJC board does not necessarily endorse the views of every speaker or film. We aim to stimulate civil discourse around the issues and encourage participants to become engaged as change-makers for a just society.
Contact us by email: montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com
Website: https://peacecentral.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montereypeaceandjusticecenter/
Donations: Thanks to the continuous generosity of caring people in Monterey County, MPJC is able (when gatherings are allowed) to provide a venue for a host of allied community groups. If you wish to support MPJC’s education and advocacy, you can do so by sending a check to MPJC at P.O. Box 1823, Seaside, CA 93955. Or you can donate securely by PayPal or credit card on MPJC’s website, PeaceCentral.wordpress.org.
Direct your questions about the Monterey Peace and Justice Center to Alex Stampher, 899-7322 or montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.
For more information about events listed, contact the sponsoring organization. The events and actions listed here are not necessarily endorsed by the Peace Coalition nor any of the Coalition organizations other than the sponsor of the listed item. The listings are provided as a community service. PCMC cannot guarantee the accuracy of listed items. To ensure this Peace Calendar is not bounced, add cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net to your address book or whitelist.
Click to Subscribe to the Weekly Peace Calendar. Or - send an email request to cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net