State House Watch with AFSC’s Maggie Fogarty.
For the last State House Watch radio edition of 2020, Maggie reviews the remaining
legislative schedule, and then spends the hour with her co-host Arnie Alpert as he begins his retirement after nearly 40 years with AFSC-New Hampshire.
Maggie discusses covid-19 related NH Government response State House resources,
and the Governor’s commission on law enforcement, and more on the Governor’s activities.
The NH Senate will be taking up omnibus bills, which will then move to the House on
Tuesday. How many will the Governor veto?The State House Watch Newsletter will sum up the week’s legislative action, and later will be back with a wrap up of the 2020 session.
Special State House Watch feature interview: Arnie Alpert’s retirement.
Arnie’s first ever visit to Concord was in the aftermath of his Seabrook arrest in the 1970’s. He
met over a thousand other activists as a member of the Clamshell Alliance, which brought
him back to New Hampshire after college, where he eventually hooked up with the AFSC.
The Clamshell alliance, a no nukes movement, was more than just a single issue movement,
it had a local focus but a global reach. Music was a big part of the movement, as Charlie King was there, who went on to create Bright Morning Star, and the People’s Music Network.
Song: — Charlie King: “Acres of Clams” —
Experiencing the discipline and trust among thousands of Clamshell activists previously
unknown to each other inspired Arnie to spend his career deeply involved in active non-
violence. Women played an active and visible role in the movement.
Clamshell’s founding document was the “Declaration of Nuclear Resistance”.
Arnie served as Communications Coordinator for the Martin Luther King Day movement in New
Hampshire. His tireless activism is based on relationships among people.
Song: –Lillian Buckley (of the Red Brick Baptist Church, Exeter) – “When in the Granite
State.” —
Arnie’s Role as an individual, and AFSC’s role.
Arnie’s learning about the operation of the Legislature, in service to others’ advocacy.
AFSC’s is based in Quaker values.
Just a few of Arnie’s highlights include work with youth activists; Bird Dogging at the New Hampshire Primary; Immigrants’ rights movement.
Song — Woody Guthrie’s “I Guess I Planted” with Billy Bragg & Wilco —
Song — John McCutcheon’s “Know When to Move” — Rebel Voices.–
Arnie retires during a time of extreme perils, and potential.
Act on short term goals while keeping an ‘over the horizon’ perspective.
Song: — “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”, Mavis Staples–
Closing song: — “There’s a Bright Side Somewhere”, Ry Cooder, and finally Rev. Gary
Davis.
