WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR

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Tuesday, February 3, 6:30 pm – 9 pm, in person, Sinners, Free Film Screening at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. Sinners, by Director Ryan Coogler, is Southern Gothic horror with a sharp edge. Twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) face vampires, buried trauma, and hard truths in Jim Crow-era Mississippi. Warning:  Deeply political, but also bloody, with significant sexual content, and intense language, including frequent use of the F-word and N-word. Rated R.  Review

Thursday, February 5, 5 pm - 6 pm, virtual, Eyes on ICE: Document and Record.  Join this NO KINGS mass call to get the latest updates on ICE and CBP's out-of-control and dangerous operations.  NO Kings presenters will cover the tools to exercise your rights in a moment when federal agents are terrorizing our communities with excessive force.  Learn about your rights when documenting and recording law enforcement encounters.  Sign up for the Zoom link.

Thursday, February 5, 7:30 am - 8:30 am, in person, DEMOCRACY OVER AUTHORITARIANISM: Castroville Crack of Dawn Bridge Brigade at the Castroville Pedestrian Overpass at Geil Street and Salinas Street, over Highway 156 in Castroville. Organized by the Aromas Tri-County Indivisible.  Dress warmly.  Join the organizers for breakfast afterward at a local restaurant (TBD). Find more details and sign up for multiple dates in February HERE.  Connect with Aromas TriCounty Indivisible for local grassroots participation in Prunedale, San Juan Bautista, Hollister, and nearby communities.

Friday, February 6, 12 noon, in person, Break ICE Protest on the steps of the Otter Student Union building on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay, 3118 Inter-Garrison Rd, Seaside.  All are welcome.  Organized by Sunrise Monterey Bay.  

Tuesday, February 10, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, in person, Whistlemania at Edwards Hall, St. Mary’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th Street, Pacific Grove.  Volunteers of all ages are invited to assemble whistle kits for local community members to alert their neighbors when ICE is nearby. Sign up HERE.  Organized by Indivisible Monterey Bay's WhistleStop Campaign and St. Mary's by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Saturday, February 7, 1 pm - 4 pm, in person, Volunteer Bash:  Solidarity Network Monterey County Response, Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts, 1713 Broadway Ave. in Seaside.  Celebrate with food, music, and connection!  Learn ways you can get involved.  Workshops 3-4 pm, including Child Safety Plans and Legal Observer role-playing.  Please RSVP by Thursday, February 5th.

Tuesday, February 10, 7 pm - 8 pm, Virtual Workshop:  Yes You Can(vass)!  Thinking about canvassing, but don't feel quite ready? If you've never canvassed or just need a refresher, sign up for one of these workshops. They're offered on Tuesday dates starting in February through June. Learn how to register voters and to have deep, meaningful canvassing conversations with voters.  Sign up HERE. For more Bay Area Coalition actions, visit https://bayareacoalition.org.

Tuesday, February 10, 6 pm, in person, American Agitators, Free Film Screening at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel.  Narrated by Luis Valdez, the film traces the legendary organizer Fred Ross Sr., his legacy as a community organizer, his mentoring of César Chávez and the UFW, and the work of his son, Fred Ross Jr.  Presented by COPA, with a post-film panel featuring local organizer An McDowell and former State Senator Bill Monning, who both had the pleasure of working with Fred Ross. Refreshments provided.

Tuesday, February 10, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Join Swing Left: Write Postcards and Help Register New Voters in Swing States.  Meet at the Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific Ave., in Monterey.  Stay for the postcard and letter-writing party or pick up a packet to work on at home.  RSVP HERE so the organizers can anticipate supplies.

Wednesday, February 11, 11:30 am, in person, Strengthening Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Today’s Changing World. Jacinto Salazar III, Director IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Accessibility) at Monterey Peninsula College, will explore the current state of equity in higher education within today’s complex political climate. Drawing from campus leadership, personal experience, and national trends, Dr. Salazar will share practical insights on how institutions can sustain equity-centered work with courage, collaboration, integrity, and hope. A free talk presented by the League of Women Voters of Monterey County at their February “Lunch & Learn” meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd. in Carmel.  Doors open at 11:30 am for registration. Lunch is at 12 noon, and the presentation starts at 12:30 pm. 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, February 9.  Find more details HERE. Recording will be posted on the LWVMC website, under Videos.

Thursday, February 12, 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 a sign: Right to Resist; Disobey Unlawful Orders; No Troops on our Streets! For more info, visit www.vfp46.org or contact Justin Loza, Justin.Loza.vfp46@gmail.com

Friday, February 13, 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, February 13, 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.

Monday, February 16, Save the Date for a late-afternoon talk with Retired Lt. Colonel and Special Forces officer (Green Beret), Anthony Aguilar, who served active duty in the U.S. Army for 25 years.  In 2025, he became known as a whistleblower after he alleged misconduct and war crimes at U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF food aid sites in Gaza.  His disclosures sparked significant media coverage and official inquiries.  Free event.  Sponsored by Veterans For Peace, Chapter 46.  More details to follow.  

Friday-Sunday, February 20–22, 2026, in person, A Black History Month Celebration: Exploring and Restoring Our Path to Healing Through Empathy and Music, a weekend retreat at Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA.  LaVerne McLeod and Melanie DeMore will facilitate this transformative workshop.  People of all backgrounds are invited to explore shared experiences using empathy, songs, visualization, and movement exercises. Reserve your spot early; this event will fill up.  Registration is now open at http://bit.ly/41qjXpg. Special Offer:  Reduced rates are available for Big Sur and Monterey County residents who arrange their own lodging offsite.  Click the Register Now link for details.

Thursday, February 26, Ready, Set, Vote! Video Contest:  Submission Deadline February 26 (midnight).  The League of Women Voters of Monterey County is sponsoring a high-school video contest to inspire civic engagement and voter participation.  Students in grades 9–12 who attend high schools in Monterey County are invited to submit creative, eye-catching 30–60 second videos responding to one of two themes: “Ready, Set, Vote!” or “Voting is Democracy in Action!”  Selected videos may be used throughout the year to support voter registration efforts. Proof of citizenship is not required to participate.  Prizes include First Place (3 awards): $200 each, and Merit Prizes (10 awards): $75 each. For full contest rules, eligibility requirements, and the application form, visit: https://my.lwv.org/california/monterey-county/vote-video-contest

February 28, 2 pm - 4 pm - in person, March 4 Democracy: Sidewalk March at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave, Monterey.  This is part of M4D, a nationwide mobilization to defend democracy and confront corruption in our nation's capital.  Organized by 50501 Monterey Bay and Unite Monterey County.

Tuesday, March 10, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Join Swing Left: Write Postcards and Help Register New Voters in Swing States.  Meet at the Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific Ave., in Monterey.  Stay for the postcard and letter-writing party or pick up a packet to work on at home.  RSVP HERE so the organizers can anticipate supplies.

Saturday, March 28, Save the Date for the next NO KINGS series of demonstrations organized by Indivisible and the 50501 movement ("50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement") to protest against authoritarianism, immigration crackdowns, and the consolidation of power in a second Trump term.  This is the third "NO Kings" campaign, following the June 14 and Oct. 18, 2025 rallies.  Please watch for more details about rallies planned on the Central Coast.

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. 

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 pm - 5 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, Protest:  Defend Our Democracy and Constitution at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave., Monterey.  Sponsored by a merry band of five individuals. This is a nonviolent action to protest the Trump Regime.

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