WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR
WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR
May 28, 2026
Monterey County
Embedded Files
Quote of the Week:
“While US leaders are finally realizing that they do not have the power to intimidate and conquer the whole world, the American people are gradually understanding that we have an even greater power, the power to refuse to fight their criminal wars, and to insist on making peace and cooperating with all our neighbors on this small planet that we all share.” ~ Medea Benjamin and Nicholas J.S. Davies, excerpt from With Iran Deal in Limbo, Do US War Crimes Doom the World to Endless War?, CODEPINK on Substack, May 28, 2026
All events are Pacific Time. New items are in blue.
CALENDAR EVENTS
Thursday, May 28, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, in person, Safe Ag Safe Schools Monthly Meeting at El Alteno Restaurant, 323 Main St., Watsonville. Discussion items include Spray Days updates and AB 1603 (Schultz) Phase Out PFAS (Forever Chemicals) in California. Food provided. Facilitators: Yanely Martinez and Mark Weller
Friday, May 29, 7:30 am - 9:30 am, virtual, ICUJP Friday Forum featuring Salam Al Marayati, President and co-founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Al Marayati will discuss the surge of attacks on Islam and the unique and indispensable role U.S. Muslims play in today’s public discourse. A leading voice on Islam in the West, human rights, democracy, national security, and Middle East politics, he has spoken at the White House and on Capitol Hill, and appeared in major national media including The NY Times, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and C SPAN. Find more details and RSVP HERE.
Friday, May 29, 6 pm–8 pm, in person, Threads of Grief, Threads of Love: A Blessingway for Gaza’s Children will be held at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. The evening program, from 6:30–8:00 pm, centers around 36 handmade quilts created in remembrance of infants killed in Gaza. The gathering will include reflection, witness, art, and conversation with community members, including Palestinian playwright Mo Sati and Dr. Rolla Alaydi, who continues to advocate tirelessly for her family and community while enduring unimaginable loss. Giveaway tickets are $5, and participants need not be present to win. Learn more about the giveaway HERE. Event information and RSVP HERE.
Saturday, May 30, (and every Saturday), 10 am - 11:30 am, in person, Aromas Tri-County Indivisible San Juan 101 Overpass Bridge Brigade. Cole Road and San Juan Road, Aromas. Sign up, find a map and more details HERE.
Saturday, May 30, 1 pm - 3 pm, in person, Enduring Democracy: Japanese American on the Monterey Peninsula (WWII to Present). Free film screening followed by a panel discussion with Larry Oda, Tim Thomas, and Jeff Uchida. Marina Library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Click HERE to download the event flyer.
REGIONAL PROTEST!
Saturday, May 30, 3 pm, ICE OUT: No Concentration Camps in Gilroy, Dublin, and Beyond! Major Protest and March. Gather at Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose. Click HERE for details and more direct actions. Map.
Sunday, May 31, 2 pm - 4:30 pm, in person, 5th Annual George Floyd Community Engagement and Building Bridges Symposium: Next Steps. A community conversation in remembrance of George Floyd and those we have lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of structural racism. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave, in Seaside. Pre-Register at 5thannualgeorgefloydsymposium@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 2, 7 am – 8 pm, California Statewide Primary Election Day. Vote in person at a local polling place. Polling Place Lookup. Early Vote locations. Check your voter registration status. Sign up for Ballot Trax to receive notifications about the status of your ballot.
Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm, in person, Clemente, a free film screening at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea. Join Whites for Racial Equity and the UUCMP for this deeply emotional and beautifully crafted tribute that highlights the life of Pittsburgh Pirates legend and humanitarian Roberto Clemente.
Thursdays, June 4, (and each Thursday morning), 8 am – 9 am, Aromas TriCounty Indivisible Castroville Crack of Dawn Bridge Brigade at the Castroville Pedestrian Overpass at Geil Street and Salinas Street, over Highway 156 in Castroville. Dress warmly. More details and sign up for multiple dates HERE.
Saturday, June 6, 10 am – 1 pm, in person, Self Care in Chaotic Times: A Restorative Workshop by Trish Nelson and Natascha Bruckner. Commit to practicing self-care. Learn to calm strong emotions, re-frame instead of blame, begin anew from compassion, explore, sing, write, and transform within Sacred Community. Bring a notebook and an item for the community altar. Dress comfortably. Refreshments provided. Reserve your spot. Sliding scale donation at the door. No one will be turned away. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Ave., Seaside. More info (831) 899-7322.
Sunday, June 7, 11 am - 5 pm, 10th Annual Palenke Arts Festival, a multicultural celebration of Seaside, featuring world-class music and dance performances. Free, family-friendly event with food vendors, art booths, children’s art activities, and much more! Bring your lawn chairs. Laguna Grande Park - Lakeside, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. in Seaside. More details HERE.
Tuesday, June 9, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Join Swing Left: Write Postcards and Help Register New Voters in Swing States. Meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. RSVP HERE so the organizers can anticipate supplies. Email HERE to request more than one packet.
Thursday, June 11, 2:45 pm – 4 pm, in person, Operation North Star, a monthly action in front of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, at the Sloat Ave gate. Organized by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 to provide resources to Naval officers and encourage them to reject unlawful orders. More info at www.vfp46.org or contact Justin Loza, Justin.Loza.vfp46@gmail.com
Friday, June 12, 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 pm at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Seaside (and on Zoom). Website and blog at vfp46.org. Facebook JohnSteinbeckIV. BlueSky Social vfp46.bsky.social.
Saturday, June 13, 1 pm, in person, Celebrate Black history, culture, and community at the 7th Annual Monterey County Juneteenth Jubilee at Laguna Grande Park - Lakeside, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. Featuring local Black businesses, food vendors, speakers, live music, entertainment, a Kids Zone, a crowning ceremony, and a car club showcase. Bring lawn chairs. For more info, email: juneteenth.montereycounty@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 16 and 30, 7 pm - 8 pm, Virtual Workshop: Yes You Can(vass)! Learn the ABCs of registering voters and having deep, meaningful canvassing conversations with voters. Sign up HERE. For more Bay Area Coalition actions, visit https://bayareacoalition.org.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, in person, Silent Vigil and Witness for Peace. Join members of Live Oak Friends Meeting (Quakers) on the fourth Monday of each month on the steps of the Monterey County Courthouse, 142 W. Alisal Street, Salinas, near U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s office. Stand for negotiated peace instead of war. Stand for compassion, justice, and the protection of human life in Gaza, Iran, and other war zones. All are welcome.
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11 am – 3 pm, in person, Monterey Peninsula Pride invites the community to its annual Parade & Celebration. Join the LGBTQIA2S+ community along with friends, family, and allies for a day of visibility, joy, and connection. Parade begins at 11:00 am on Polk Street and proceeds down Alvarado Street, culminating at Custom House Plaza for festivities at noon. The celebration will feature local vendors and organizations, and a lineup of queer entertainers. To volunteer, sponsor, or reserve a vendor or information booth, click HERE or email info@peninsulapride.org.
Saturday, July 4, 10 am – 10:45 am, in person. Join the Peace Coalition of Monterey County in the July 4th Parade in Monterey. Show that peace has a strong presence in our community. Wear white to signify peace. Meet between 9–9:45 am in the parking lot behind Hartnell Professional Center (576 Hartnell St, across from the Post Office). Be in place by 9:45 am. Peace symbols and dove signs will be provided, or bring your own peaceful, nonpartisan sign. Questions? Email PCMC co-chair Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com. The Monterey 4th of July Celebration follows at Colton Hall Lawn, 570 Pacific St.
ONGOING PEACE VIGILS
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, 6 pm – 7:30 pm (new time), 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, Defenders 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
ACTION AND INFORMATION
Action: Sign the Petition: No New Detention Center near Gilroy! The petition will be delivered to local, state, and federal officials. Sponsored by Bay Resistance
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Action: Contact your Congress members, Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta. Your voice will help them build a case against ICE facilities. Click HERE for more details and actions.
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Article: Santa Clara County Leaders Say They’ll Fight Planned ICE Facility in Gilroy, by Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, May 15, 2026, for KQED.
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Article: Rape, Assault & Abuse Reflect Israeli Goverment Values by Ret. Army Col. Ann Wright, reporting on Global Sumud Flotilla survivors’ accounts of horrifying abuse by Israeli forces while captured as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. May 26, 2026, for Consortium News
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Social Justice Calendar, a comprehensive listing of actions and events around Monterey County (and beyond, if virtual). Use it to avoid scheduling conflicts when planning your local actions and events. Contact Anita Crawley acrawley@comcast.net to add your organization’s events to the calendar.
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Local Activism:
Join/Follow Indivisible Monterey Bay and Indivisible Salinas Valley on Facebook for timely notices about local, nonviolent direct actions.
Sign up for alerts from Unite Monterey County, a pro-democracy coalition of organizations and networks in Monterey County - formed to support direct, nonviolent actions to resist the agenda of the current administration.
Stay informed about 50501 Monterey Bay actions at https://linktr.ee/50501Monterey
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Contact your legislators - issue by issue, persistently.
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
The White House and other federal agencies: usa.gov/federal-agencies
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Whites for Racial Equity. To sign up for the e-blast, email whitesforracialequity@gmail.com
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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.
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Social Justice Calendar, a comprehensive listing of actions and events around Monterey County (and beyond, if virtual). To avoid calendar conflicts, please check it before scheduling your local actions and events. Contact Anita Crawley at acrawley@comcast.net to add your organization’s events to the calendar.
###
Local Activism:
Join/Follow Indivisible Monterey Bay and Indivisible Salinas Valley on Facebook for timely notices about local, nonviolent direct actions.
Sign up for alerts from Unite Monterey County, a pro-democracy coalition of organizations and networks in Monterey County - formed to support direct, nonviolent actions to resist the agenda of the current administration.
Stay informed about 50501 Monterey Bay actions at https://linktr.ee/50501Monterey
###
Contact your legislators - issue by issue, persistently.
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
The White House and other federal agencies:
###
Local Advocacy: Whites for Racial Equity. To sign up for the e-blast, email whitesforracialequity@gmail.com
Local Advocacy: 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 Monterey County organizations working for nonviolent solutions to world conflicts since 1991. For more information about joining PCMC, 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, peacecentral.wordpress.org.
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 the calendar for many years, up until she died at the age of 94 on February 17, 2021. She is remembered for her lifelong peace and justice activism. She was active in the leadership of the Monterey County Branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Monterey Peace and Justice Center until her passing. Representative Jimmy Panetta delivered a tribute to Joyce on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 8, 2021. View it HERE
MONTEREY PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER
The Peace and Justice Center at 1364 Fremont Boulevard has reopened and is staffed on Wednesdays, 1 pm to 5:30 pm. The Peace Center is available for meetings and events. Capacity is 60. Wi-fi, audio-visual equipment, including a projector and screen, and other resources are available. Contact Catherine Crockett at (831) 899-7322 to arrange venue scheduling.
Volunteer Opportunities: 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 the Peace Coalition organizations. Since then, it has been a networking hub and resource center for those groups and other social and environmental justice advocacy groups. 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 on critical issues facing society. We aim to stimulate civil discourse on the issues and encourage participants to become engaged as change-makers for a just, equitable, and healthy society.
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