Music and Street Theatre Weekend! And many Social Justice Opportunities

Written by Victoria Ross on May 10, 2019. Posted in Uncategorized

716-332-3904 5/10/19 wnypeace.org

Friends,

Many events this weekend, and opportunities to make your voices heard.

There was another failed coup attempted in Venezuela. Our friends fighting for peace in Venezuela, who are currently occupying the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC need our help. Their current requests are that people call Secret Service at 202-406-8800 and tell them to stop allowing the harassment of the people in the embassy, and to allow food and medicine in. Also to call the State Department at 202-895-3500 and contact your representative here: http://house.gov/representative/find-your-representative. More info found in this post online.

Our president wants to increase nuclear power in US submarines. Representative Ted Lieu, along with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Representatives John Garamendi, Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ed Markey have introduced the bicameral Hold the LYNE (low yield nuclear explosive) Act to stop this from happening. The legislation would prohibit the research, development, production, and deployment of low yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched missiles. People have been requested to contact members of Congress and ask them to support the Hold the LYNE Act. [https://secure.everyaction.com/PnjZkTxba0WUMeeRvLmK_A2]

Food & Water Watch is holding a webinar about manure-to-energy and why it isn’t a solution for either the climate crisis or our factory farm problem. The webinar, titled Bio(gas)hazards: Dirty Air, Factory Farms, and Climate Change, will be held May 15 at 8:00 pm EST. Please RSVP here<http://bit.ly/biogaswebinar> to join the conversation!

Those interested should join the campaign for the OFF Act for a lobby day at the State Capitol in Albany on Tuesday May 21 and testify at / attend the Assembly hearing on climate change in NYC on May 17. Please also submit letters to the editor in support of climate action.

Today marks the beginning of the 2nd Annual Music and Street Theatre Weekend, May 10-12, in Arkport, NY. 8614 Brown Road, Arkport, NY. (one hour south of Rochester, NY). Contact Peg Fink-Gefell at 607-295-7279 or peg.fink.gefell@gmail.com for more information and to register. The “Music and Street Theater Weekend” is a high-energy gathering of activists who want to increase their skills in integrating music and street theater in their social justice work.

You’re invited to join the Mayor and the DA at Building Stronger Communities Breakfast on Sat., May 11, 9-11am. Full breakfast and gathering at the William Emslie YMCA (corner of Emslie & William). Bring your determination for a stronger, more just and peaceful community. All are welcome.

Other events this week:

Poetry & Pizza Open Call/Rehearsal

Saturday May 11th at 5:00 pm

Raq’s Solidarity Space 322 Amherst Street, Buffalo NY 14207

Co-Hosted by: Buffalo Anti Racism Coalition & Buffalo Save The Kids

Contact: bflolovergirl@gmail.com

Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/434691973770997/

As part of the National Week of Action Against Incarcerating Youth 2019, and in honor of the birth of Malcolm X, community members of all ages are invited to come out to select and rehearse poems from Save The Kids’ powerful anthology, Poetry Behind The Walls, a collection of poetry written by incarcerated youth. The staged reading performance will be on Sunday May 19th at 4pm. All ages welcome, refreshments provided.

WNYPC Fund-Raising/Dinner Committee Meeting

May 13 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Come ahead to volunteer and help out with fund-raising events, including especially the Annual Dinner (to be 11/19). At the WNYPC, NRC Bldg, 1272 Delaware Ave (entrance and parking round back behind building).

Poor People’s Campaign Monthly Meeting

May 13 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Raqs Solidarity, 322 Amherst St., Buffalo NY. Join the Poor People’s Campaign in confronting the four evils of poverty, racism, militarism, and ecological devastation, as well as the distorted moral narrative of this country. The local PPC meets 2nd Mondays of the month at Raqs Solidarity. 6pm. https://www.facebook.com/wnypoorpeoplescmpgn

Resist Militarism! Taskforce Meeting

May 15 @ 7:00 pm

Regular monthly meeting, with agenda items including working on stopping war profiteers especially Lockheed Martin; possible Gaza flotilla; grounding the drones and ending the wars, etc. At Tipico Coffee, 128 Fargo, Buffalo.

“The Tent of Abraham”

May 16 @ 4:45 pm – 9:00 pm

Fourteenth Annual. OPEN TO ALL 7: 00 PM Islamic Center, 745 Heim Road, Amherst, NY. (Or join walk at any point and time listed below, incl starting point of North Presbyterian Church {300 North Forest Road, Williamsville, NY, 14221-5056}, gathering at 4:45pm) ***** At the Mosque: an evening of friendship and conversation of our shared values as we “break the fast” together. Enjoy an ethnic dinner with your friends and neighbors. In keeping with MPAC tradition, non-perishable food items and cash donations (matched by MPAC) will be collected for distribution in our community. mpac.org

Film Screening & Panel – Justice for Home Care

May 16th @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Isaias Gonzalaz-Soto Library, 280 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY.

A short film on home care workers’ struggles against working* 24-hour shifts for only 13-hour’s pay,* and panel discussion featuring home care workers and disability rights self-advocates. Light dinner will be served, childcare available upon request. Continue the #WomensWave by supporting the women workers of the homecare industry, and the members of our community who rely on this care!

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/528433297684528/ �Z

Many more events on the calendar!

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REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS in the One Movement, One Struggle:

Riverside-Salem UCC/DC – Progressive program followed by potluck. Sundays, 4-7pm. Environmental Cottage, 3449 West River Road, Grand Island. All are welcome.

Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY. Mondays, 1-4pm. Call-in show! Go to wbny.buffalostate.edu.

Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors/Nekanesakt. Indigenous support group/allies. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 6:30-8pm. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Ave. All are welcome!!

Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce – Wednesdays 4-5:30pm protest/vigils at the Erie County Holding Center (Delaware & Church). All are welcome. Please bring signs.

Racial Justice Taskforce – 3rdSundays, 1-2:30pm, Little Africa Culture Club, 356 S. Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY.

Interfaith Peace Network, 1stand 3rdThursdays, 9:15am at 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo NY 14209 entrance and parking round back.) Breakfast potluck, planning/publicizing, & discussion.

Vigil for Victims of ICE Terror – Thursdays, 5-6pm, ICE building on the corner of Delaware and Chippewa. Bring your signs and spirit of Solidarity. We will not stay silent! #EndICETerror #FamiliesBelongTogether #AbolishICE

Environmental Justice Taskforce – Vigil to Protest the Shipments of VERY Dangerous Radioactive Liquid from Canada coming over the Peace Bridge. Fridays 2-3pm, Front Park at Vermont & Busti, Buffalo. Signs welcome and also usually available.

Stop The Violence Coalition – 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month; 6pm, United Way Building, Delaware and Summer Sts.

Women In Black – Nonviolence vigil, Bidwell and Elmwood. Saturdays, Noon-1pm. Signs also available. (and you don’t need to be a woman or dress in black)

Many thanks, peace, solidarity, and yes – Love

We shall overcome #Unitethestruggles #Loveislove #PowerWITH-NOTPowerOver

No hate, no fear as we are #StillResisting. Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.

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More listings on calendar and in previous email posts.

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Please submit possible listings for consideration to weeklynews@wnypeace.org.

The time is now, and we are the people we’ve been waiting for.

And remember to tune in: DEMOCRACY NOW! IS NOW BEING BROADCASTMONDAY-FRIDAY, 8AM-9AM (LIVE) ON WBNY 91.3FM. Hear it over the radio or streaming live at wbny.buffalostate.edu.

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Below are

– more event listings (see also calendar & facebook page);

– Taskforce items and campaigns; and

– regularly scheduled events – all in that order.

No hate, no fear as we are #StillResisting. Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

* ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Next Poor People’s Campaign Monthly Meeting, 5/13, 6pm, Raqs Solidarity, 322 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY.

The WNY PPC meets 2nd Mondays, 6pm at Raqs Solidarity, 322 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY.

Visit us on facebook to stay up to date on events. https://www.facebook.com/wnypoorpeoplescmpgn

Please continue to support the Poor People’s Campaign. The Poor People’s Campaign confronts the four evils of poverty, racism, militarism, and ecological devastation, as well as the distorted moral narrative of this country. Current focus: Voter Registration and empowerment, guaranteed healthcare and criminal justice reform. Stay tuned for information on future events and ways to get involved. Also, visit and join the Poor People’s Campaign online: www.poorpeoplescampaign.org and on facebook (locally, statewide and nationally): Poor People’s Campaign WNY, NYS Poor People’s Campaign, Poor People’s Campaign.

* EDUCATION & HUMAN RIGHTS

We hope everyone voted for the Buffalo Board of Education ELECTION on May 7. This is a very important way we make our voices heard.

Our PeaceJam Leaders After School program began on Tuesday, April 9 and continues on Tuesdays for 11 weeks (through 6/25), 3-5pm (except when school is out) at the CAO Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Parents are welcome to register their children for this program. wnypeace.org.

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (aka DASA or The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. More information at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/

BOE Meetings

Board of Education meetings begin at 5:30 pm and are held in room 801 at City Hall, unless a venue change is previously announced. These sessions are open to the public. A schedule of upcoming board of education meetings can be found at https://www.buffaloschools.org/Page/85931.

More information on Buffalo Public Schools can be found at https://www.buffaloschools.org.

* ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

No Nuclear Waste over the Peace Bridge

Join us every Friday from 2 PM to 3 PM at the corner of Busti Ave and Vermont St. in Buffalo NY. Vigil against the shipment of high level LIQUID radioactive spent fuel from Chalk River Ontario to Aiken South Carolina. If any of it spills out, it will be next to impossible to clean.

Action Alert re Stone Dam Road Pipeline: go to wnypeace.org/environmental-justice/

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Today marks the beginning of the 2nd Annual Music and Street Theatre Weekend, May 10-12, in Arkport, NY. 8614 Brown Road, Arkport, NY. (one hour south of Rochester, NY). Contact Peg Fink-Gefell at 607-295-7279 or peg.fink.gefell@gmail.com for more information. The “Music and Street Theater Weekend” is a high-energy gathering of activists who want to increase their skills in integrating music and street theater in their social justice work.

Musicologist Sheri Bauer and Street Theater trainer Kathy Castania will lead workshops on developing creative, artistic, and inspirational actions, addressing issues of militarism, environmental destruction, and racism.

Peg Gefell and Paul Frazier will host the MUSIC WEEKEND at our homestead in the beautiful Allegany highlands, There’s bedrooms, a dorm, and lots of tenting space. We’ll provide tasty, vegetarian meals. The cost? Whatever you can afford.

Give us a call: 607-295-7279 for more information and to register.

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We have a powerful group of speakers who will cover several aspects of this issue:

* Ayo Wilson, NC Environmental Justice Network, will discuss impacts on those

living near factory farms and digesters.

* Phoebe Seaton, Leadership Counsel, will cover the failure of digesters to

address larger environmental, health, and climate impacts.

* Patty Lovera, Food & Water Watch, will present about the corporate control of

our food system and how biogas moves us away from developing effective policies

for sustainable agriculture.

* Dr. Mark Jacobson, Stanford, will discuss the pathway to 100% renewable with

clean renewable energy.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Association of Irritated Residents, Center for Food

Safety, Friends of Family Farmers, Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, Iowa

Citizens for Community Improvement, NC WARN, North Carolina Environmental Justice

Network, Leadership Counsel and Public Justice.

We hope you’ll join us for this important event. Please RSVP

here<http://bit.ly/biogaswebinar>, and we’ll email you the information to join the

webinar, and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Eric Weltman

Senior Organizer

Food & Water Watch<https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/> and Food & Water

Action<https://www.foodandwateractionfund.org/>

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Call Cuomo and Legislative Leaders to Demand Strong Climate Action

We need calls and emailsto the Governor and legislative leaders urging them to pass

the strongestclimate bill possible before the session ends in late June.

General message: We need NY to enact the strongest climate change agenda possible. We

should move to 100% clean renewable energy for all sources including transportation

and buildings as fast as possible, with a target date of 2030. We need to halt new

fossil fuel projects. We need to support a Just Transition and commit 40% of climate

funds to disadvantaged communities. We need enforceable detailed climate plans at the

state and local levels, with two-year benchmarks and annual review and updates. We

need to give citizens the right to sue to enforce the climate plans.

Other issues that could be addressed are a halt to nukes, a state carbon tax and

public ownership of the energy system.

Contact Info:

Governor Cuomo: 518474-8390;

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518-455-3791; Speaker@nyassembly.gov

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, (518) 455-2585; scousins@nysenate.gov

Assembly Environmental Chair Steve Engelbright – 518-455-4804; EngleS@nyassembly.gov

Senate Environmental Chair Todd Kaminsky – 518-455-3401; kaminsky@nysenate.gov

Join the campaign for theOFF Act for a lobbyday at the State Capitol on Tuesday May

21 and testify at / attend the Assembly hearing onclimate change in NYC on May 17.

Please also submit lettersto the editor in support of climate action.

Two big victories!!: Judge’s put a halt to two terrible proposed pipelines:
– Keystone Pipeline (proposed for entire North-South in Central US); and
– NAPL/Northern Access Pipeline (proposed to take fracked gas from PA through WNY).
We are overjoyed, yet ever-vigilant. Join us for:

* GENDER JUSTICE

Thank you to all who came out to Women’s March – Buffalo/WNY!!!! And also all supporting events, forums and discussions! Almost 500 people battled the cold weather to stand up for women’s rights!! Many signs from our sign-making party and others let our goals be known. Also, paying homage to International Woman’s Day both on Friday afternoon and at the Women’s March was truly an honor. We will continue to work year-round on the local goals we’ve established.

Also, there has been concerns about particular issues/banners/goals at the Women’s March. We practice inclusivity, and we don’t all think the same way. The women’s movement is intersectional, and we may not always agree or share beliefs, but we’re here in solidarity for all aspects of our community in the ways we can be, in combination with our own beliefs and values. We hope to continue to foster understanding of women’s rights and, as stated on our website, the rights of all oppressed people.

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If you believe that discrimination against all women should be eliminated, please support enacting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in the city of Buffalo. Follow this link for more information: https://cities4cedaw-buffalo.org/ and contact your district’s councilperson to urge them to support this ordinance too.

Darius G. Pridgen- Ellicott District- 716-851-4980
Christopher P. Scanlon- South District- 716-851-5169
David A. Rivera- Niagara District- 716-851-5125
Joel P. Feroleto- Delaware District- 716-851-5155
Richard A. Fontana- Lovejoy District- 716-851- 5151
David A. Franczyk- Fillmore District- 716-851-4138
Joseph Golombek, Jr.- North District- 716-851-5116
Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr.- Masten District- 716-851-5145
Rasheed Wyatt- University District- 716-851-5165

(Note all-male Common Council – symptomatic of issues!)

* IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE JUSTICE

Another Failed Coup Attempted in Venezuela

Peace Activists Occupy the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC to Protect it for

the Venezuelan People

On April 30, 2019, US puppet Juan Guaido made another failed coup attempt in

Venezuela. Guaido appeared with a small group of supporters, including some in

uniform and claimed this was the beginning of the end of the Maduro government.

Even some of the soldiers who were with him claimed they were duped and told they

were there for another mission. The Venezuelan military and the Venezuelan people

stood strong in support of their elected government. People mobilized in the streets

to defend the government and Guaido disappeared. Some of his supporters took refuge

in the Spanish and Brazilian embassies. US media played down the defeat and tried

to imply that the people of Venezuela opposed the government and that only the

military supports it. The people answered on the following day as they came out in

massive numbers for May Day celebrations and to celebrate the defeat of the coup.

Venezuelans march in cities across the country to celebrate May Day and the victory

over the US sponsored coup

Peace activist occupy Venezuelan embassy in

Washington, DC

Guaido’s only real power is outside of Venezuela and comes mostly

from the Trump administration and the Republicans and Democrats in congress. The US

has expelled the Venezuelan diplomats from the country and allowed Guaido’s

supporters in the US to claim they are the new representatives of Venezuela in the

US. So, peace activists have occupied the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC to

protect it for the Venezuelan people. Several activists are staying there day and

night and others have come to support them outside. Those occupying the embassy

call themselves the Embassy Protection Collective, which is modeled after the system

of “colectivos” set up throughout Venezuela as a mechanism of peoples power and

direct democracy throughout the country.

The DC police have allowed right-wing Venezuelans to come and harass the occupiers

at the embassy and supporters of the occupation have come to give support outside as

well. Members of the elected Venezuelan government have given their support to the

peace activists occupying their embassy.

The US government is in a quandary. If they enter the embassy and remove the

occupiers, they are in violation of international law, which makes the embassy of

any country the property of that country and the host country has no right to enter

it. If the police do enter the embassy and arrest the occupiers there could be a

legal battle with important international implications. Therefore, so far, they

have not tried to arrest the occupiers but have allowed them to be intimidated by

the right-wing crowd outside and have helped keep food and other necessities from

the occupiers in the hope that they will leave of their own accord.

Therefore, the people currently occupying the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC

need our help. Call Secret Service at 202-406-8800 and tell them to stop allowing

the harassment of the people in the embassy, and to allow food and medicine in.

Also call the State Department at 202-895-3500 and contact your representative here:

http://house.gov/representative/find-your-representative.

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Calls are still needed to your NYS Assembly Members to ask them to support NYS ASSEMBLY Bill #4050. IF SEAN RYAN IS YOUR ASSEMBLYPERSON, PLEASE CALL HIM! 716-885-9630! ALSO CO CLERK MICKEY KEARNS (716) 858-8785.

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The GreenLight NY program restores access to drivers’ licenses to all community members, to avoid abusive immigration enforcement. For more info, please come out to above mentioned event, or go to

https://www.facebook.com/GreenLightNY/; Green Light Petition

Vive la Casa, shelter for people awaiting documents and/or sanctuary, still desperately needs personal hygiene products and of course, CASH.

jrchc.org/vive

(Checks to Jericho Road/VIVE) 50 Wyoming St., Buffalo, NY 14211, 892-4354.

* LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY

Latin American Solidarity Committee website: http://www.lascwny.org/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LASC-wny/143873822377380/

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LASC holds Peace Coffeehouses on the 4th Monday of most months, usually at Canisius College’s Science Hall, Main St near Jefferson Avenue. The public is cordially invited. Speakers are persons who have recently visited the country or, in some cases, human rights workers from the countries themselves. Yearly events present national speakers and raise funds for humanitarian aid.

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