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"Any oppressive social condition, before it can be changed, must be named and condemned in words that persuade by stirring emotions, awakening the senses." – Martin Espada. Latino poet and educator Martin Espada speaks of language as an instrument of power. As this February issue was coming together, we on the editorial collective, were noticing that it has been a particularly lively month for people speaking out and using their voices to challenge, educate, relay, inform, report, share, alert, stir and awaken to reclaim power in a variety of ways. At the Brown Vs. Board of Education event, many attendees, particularly those that lived through segregation, passionately shared their stories to inspire those who have not shared similar experiences. At the Activist Videofest, Pittsburgh Indymedia presented a documentary they made about the historic Pittsburgh peace convergence in January 2003 – a compilation of images and voices of local anti-war folks. At the Art Space in Homestead, local artist Biko continued to share stories of the true American history by collecting memorabilia that documents racial struggles of the past and present so that we will not forget. Other poets and educators at the Art Space have been passing on the African tradition of oral storytelling. On Valentines Day, anti-nuclear weapons activists spoke out to remember the bombing of the Ameriya civilian shelter in Iraq, continuing to raise awareness about the direction our country is headed as Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute continues to research and develop weapons of mass destruction right here in our hometown. At the end of the month, a Jewish woman made a stop in Pittsburgh on a tour across the country to tell her stories of being kicked out of Palestine and Iraq, her witness to the daily humiliation of those under occupation. She is speaking out to amplify the unheard voices. Also in this issue, a local elderly man speaks out about senior citizen scams, an issue close to his heart, to alert others and offer tips on avoiding victimization. Members of the School of the Americas Watch get the word out that one of our very own representatives actively supports terrorism. Many uninsured local citizens continue to raise their voices to make sure healthcare becomes a national issue of concern. And so we ask you, readers, to become active contributors - to speak out and raise your voices. The NewPeople is your paper, your forum for progressive social change. We want to cover a wider range of the work being done for peace and justice in our city and our world. Let us know about the issues closest to your hearts. What struggles are you working to overcome? What movements are inspiring you? What is being overlooked? Send us your stories, your reports, your experiences…in your words.
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