Urban Action 5/2

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This week's calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.)

Talking ourselves into war

The Flying Squirrel will show the documentary "War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death" for its Monday Mayhem event on May 7. Actor Sean Penn describes how presidents from Johnson to George W. Bush led the US into war, aided by media. David Dornford, a longtime local peace activist and member of Veterans for Peace, will lead a discussion following the film. The event takes place at 285 Clarissa Street, at 7 p.m. Donation: $5.

Explaining the Poor People's Campaign

Interfaith Alliance of Rochester will present "Hope for the Poor and Vulnerable: Poor People's Campaign," a talk by social-justice activist Emily McNeill on Sunday, May 6. McNeill is director of the Labor-Religion Coalition and co-chairs the New York State Poor People's Campaign. McNeill will describe the Poor People's Campaign's plans and discuss how showing poor people how to organize can increase their political power. The event will be held at the Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Behind the #MeToo movement

The Atheist Community of Rochester will present "The #MeToo Movement: It's No Joke," a talk by Barbara Moore on Sunday, May 6. Moore, who is a former president of the Greater Rochester Chapter of NOW, will give an analysis of the movement and the changing public attitudes about sexual harassment and assault. The event will be held the Irondequoit Public Library, 1290 Titus Avenue, at 1:30 p.m.

Medical aid in dying

The Finger Lakes Guild of the Catholic Medical Association will hold a day-long conference on "Catholic Perspectives on Modern Day Health Care" on Saturday, May 5. Among the programs will be two discussions of "Medical Aid in Dying" by attorney Wesley Smith, who opposes assisted suicide, euthanasia, and human cloning (9:40 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.) The conference will be held at the RIT Inn and Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: http://www.fingerlakescma.org/2018-meeting/.

Deportation and the impact on families

The Moving Beyond Racism Book Group will discuss "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided" on Tuesday, May 7. The memoir by actor Diane Guerrero, tells her story of living in America with parents who were undocumented immigrants and were deported when she was 14. The event will be held at Barnes and Noble, Pittsford Plaza, at 7 p.m.