Weekly Update: February 9, 2017

Our Mission
The Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center, a 501(c)(3) public charity, provides space for education and networking.  We create initiatives to promote peace, human rights, social and environmental justice.

Community concerns are being expressed about the effects of the presidential ban on immigrants from 7 Muslim countries. Many questions are arising: What are the different meanings of “sanctuary”? Is the county sheriff’s department legally bound to detain individuals which ICE officials request them to hold if there is no warrant for specific wrong-doing? What would the potential costs be to our county if ICE officials do not follow up within 48 hours (est $95 per day)? (The feds pay for only 48 hours of holding and this would not include weekend hours). 21 Iowa counties are now abiding by recommendations of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller: if person stopped for traffic violation and record found clean=no further action; if outstanding warrant discovered, person will be arrested and turned over to sheriff. How will the executive order ,i.e. “the ban”, if upheld, affect the foreign students attending Luther College on visas?

Two bills in our legislature would have bearing on the treatment of undocumented immigrants: House Study Bill 67 and Senate Study Bill 172, introduced Feb. 2, 2017. How would these bills impact employers? Our labor pool, esp. in pork, dairy, slaughtering facilities, and restaurants? Are our local police properly trained to act as surrogate immigration officials? These are some of the questions we
need to ask our representatives at their “listening posts”: Rep. Bergan and Hager will be at Postville bowling alley Feb. 11(Sat) at 9a.m.; Senator Breitbach will be at City Building in Decorah, Feb 18 (Sat) at 11:15 a.m. To read the substance of the two bills, you may go online and search for IAHSB67 and IASSB172 . -Julie

Let's Talk / P.I.E.S. Schedule: February
Thursdays, 9 a.m., NEIPJC
Feb. 16: Supervisor John Beard talks about CAFO siting and the matrix systems' needed change re: local control.
Feb. 23: Craig Mosher & students on Viking Economics: What have Nordic countries implemented to serve their populations and increase quality of life for all? 

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Fri. Feb. 10, 4 pm, United Methodist Church: JFON Legal Aid Clinic
Sat. Feb 11, 9 am, Hiway Lanes Bowling Alley, Postville, IA: Legislative Forum with Iowa Representatives Mike Bergan & Kristi Hager will hear from constituents and take questions on local and state government happenings.
Sat. Feb. 18, 11:15 am, City Hall: Mike Breitbach will be here for a "listening post". Come and discuss recent legislation with him.
Mon. Feb. 20, 7pm, NEIPJC: Protecting American Democracy Beginning February 20th, Craig Mosher and Lyle Otte will moderate a discussion series focusing on the principles and institutions of American Democracy. Each 90 minute session will begin at 7:00 pm on three Mondays, February 20, March 20 and April 17, and will be held at the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center (119 Winnebago Street, Decorah). Participants will have the opportunity to compare U.S. democratic principles with presidential actions and statements. Discussion will include appropriate citizen responses to his actions. A reading list of articles and books will be provided. Please contact either lyleotte@gmail.com or craig.r.mosher@gmail.com before the 20th so we can better prepare for the discussions, to be sure we have an appropriate sized space, and so we can add you to a list of people to receive links to suggested readings.
Tues. Feb. 21, 5:30 pm, NEIPJC: Board Meeting/Annual Meeting: Join us for the rescheduled Annual Meeting. We will seat new board members and hear reports on what the PJC has done in the past year. Join us for light refreshments. Open House at 5; meeting at 5:30.