SPOTLIGHT ON: Pete Hamill

Very few writers have had the kind of career PETE HAMILL has had. He was born in Brooklyn of immigrant Irish parents from Belfast. In the mid 1960s, he began his journalism career as a reporter with the NY Post, and over the following decades he would establish himself as one of the most powerful journalistic voices in the city. As a columnist for the NY Post, the NY Daily News, the Village Voice, and Esquire magazine, Pete wrote about everything — politics, crime, music, cultural affairs. His point of view has always been that of a humanist and a poet, and he never lost touch with the rhythm of the streets and the soul of the common man. Pete served as an editor for both the Post and the News. He has published over 20 books: memoirs (A DRINKING LIFE) non-fiction books (WHY SINATRA MATTERS) and best-selling novels (FOREVER). As a writer, Pete is a true Renaissance Man, and as a human being, he is, as they say in the Old Country, a real mensch.

Of Hamill’s many interests, one of his most enduring subjects is his affection for Mexico. As a young man, he studied art in Mexico, and for a time in the early-1990’s he was editor of an English-language newspaper in Mexico City. He continues to live in Mexico for extended periods of time and has written often in travel magazines and other publications about his bond with the place.

Which is partly why we at IAW&A are so excited to have Pete Hamill as one of the featured speakers at THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE, an evening of Celtic & Mexican music, Chicano & Irish poets, all to raise money for THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS. To learn more about this event please check out previous posts on this blog page….

We hope that you and your friends will turn out to hear Pete Hamill speak, to experience some great Irish and Tex-Mex music, and contribute to a worthy and important cause.

WHEN: December 8, 2010, Weds., 7-11 pm.

WHERE: Connolly’s Pub, 121 W. 45th St., Manhattan

PRICE: $30 (suggested donation)

Multi-cultural solidarity in action

THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE is for real. Here, founders of the Alliance, T.J. ENGLISH (left) and BRENDAN FAY (2nd from right) present a check on behalf of IAW&A to NYC city council members Julissa Ferreras and Danny Dromm, to go to the Victor Mejia Fund. Victor Mejia is a Mexican immigrant who was beaten nearly to death while delivering pizza in Jackson Hts, Queens, currently in a coma, with no medical insurance. His immigrant wife and family need help with the bills…

History in action

THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE: Robert Kennedy and César Chávez break bread.

The Irish-Mexican Alliance is not a slogan; it really exists. It’s roots can be traced to the San Patricio Brigade, a battalion of mostly Irish American immigrants who fought on behalf of the Mexican people in the U.S.-Mexico war of 1845-48. More than 100 years later, the Irish-Mexican Alliance was present in the work of the late Robert F. Kennedy, who, together with labor organizer César Chávez, stood tall with Chicano migrant workers in California. It is this spirit we are attempting to harness with THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE, an evening of Celtic & Irish music, Chicano & Irish poets, Irish & Mexican beer. Sponsored by IAW&A, the event is a fundraiser for THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, who are trying to bring attention to and provide legal support for Mexican journalists who are being killed, intimidated and forced to seek asylum in the U.S. for DOING THEIR JOB i.e. reporting on the Narco War in Mexico. We urge you to support this important cause by spreading the word and coming out for what promises to be a historic night of multi-cultural solidarity in NYC.

SPOTLIGHT ON: The Irish-Mex Alliance

An evening of Celtic & Mexican music, Chicano & Irish poets, Irish & Mexican beer.

All to raise money for the COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS, who are seeking to bring attention to and provide legal assistance for journalists in Mexico who are being murdered, intimidated and forced to seek political asylum in the U.S. for DOING THEIR JOB, i.e. reprtng on the Narco War in Mexico.

WHEN: December 8, 2010, Weds. from 7-11pm

WHERE: Klub 45 upstairs at Connelly’s Pub, 121 W. 45th St., Manhattan.

SUGGESTED DONATION: $30

Please revisit this page as the date approached for more info on who will perform.

THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE

Earlier this year, IAW&A had great success with ISLAND PEOPLE SUPPORTING ISLAND PEOPLE, a fundraiser event of music and readings in support of earthquake relief for Haiti. We raised $108,000 on behalf of Concern Worldwide, a Dublin-based charitable organization that used the money to address the immediate humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Well, now there is another crisis that demands our attention…

A group known as the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) has been seeking to draw attention to the issue of journalists in Mexico being murdered, intimidated and forced to seek political asylum in the U.S. for doing their job, i.e. reporting on the Narco War in Mexico (click to view incredible CPJ report at mexico).

As an organization devoted to freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of expression for all artists, we at IAW&A wholeheartedly support the efforts of CPJ.

We have formed THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE, a group of writers, artists and their supporters, who are in the process of organizing a night of Celtic and Mexican music, Chicano and Irish poetry, etc., all to raise money for CPJ.

Flag of the San Patricio Brigade.

Among other things, we are hoping to summon the spirit of the San Patricio Brigade, a group of Irish Americans who fought on behalf of Mexico in the mid-19^th Century.

WHEN: December 8, 2010, Wednesday, 7-11 pm

WHERE: Klub 45, upstairs at Connolly’s Pub, W. 45^th St. (btwn 6^th Ave & Bway).

You will be hearing more about this event in the weeks ahead. If you would like to make a charitable donation to this cause, which will help greatly with the planning of the event, please go to the Home Page of IAW&A website (i-am-wa.org) and click the DONATE button….  Your donation is tax deductible and will be earmarked specifically for THE IRISH-MEXICAN ALLIANCE.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR IRISH PRIDE BY SUPPORTING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT.