KBP7 Webinar w/ Cornel & Medea; HALTSolitary; PeaceJam & 1 Billion Acts of Peace
Thank you to those who attended the Annual Meeting on Saturday. We would also like to congratulate our newest board members! Please help us welcome them – you can find their details on our updated Coordinating Board page.
This week we would also like to highlight a few very important upcoming events:
– Tomorrow at 10AM, join the car action in Buffalo to call on the state legislature to reconvene and pass the HALT Solitary Confinement Act! People in Rochester, Albany, Yonkers, NYC, and Long Island will be doing the same thing at the same time. The event will be streamed as a single, statewide event narrated by our own Jerome Wright. Please come in your car with members of your household; your presence will matter and it should be a fun chance to get out of the house to do something meaningful, safely. Please register at ly/HALTsolitaryMay6
– Tomorrow at noon, join PeaceJam in the first in this series of powerful (online) conversations hosted by the One Billion Acts of Peace Campaign and four Nobel Peace Laureates with young people from around the world to talk coping, taking action, and creating a vision for the future. Featured Laureates include: Jody Williams (USA, 1997), Rigoberta Menchu (Guatemala, 1992), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia, 2011) and Shirin Ebadi (Iran, 2003). Register here (space limited).
– On Saturday, the Kings Bay Ploughshares 7 will speak with special guests Medea Benjamin, Code Pink co-founder, author, and global activist; Cornel West, Harvard Divinity School, author, activist, and social critic; and Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept co-founder, investigative journalist, and author. Moderated by Norman Soloman, RootsAction co-founder, author, and political columnist. The panel will discuss the need for civil resistance disarmament actions such as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, the continued build-up of militarism, and the destitute condition of our world before and during the pandemic. They will also speak on divesting military funding to serve human needs during COVID-19 and beyond. The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 are facing sentencing on May 28 and 29 for their nonviolent symbolic disarmament action at the largest nuclear sub-base in the world, on April 4th, 2018. Kings Bay Naval Station houses one-quarter of the US deployed nuclear weapons. Watch the webinar live on CODEPINK’S YouTube channel or via Zoom from 12-1PM.
Lastly, today is #GivingTuesdayNow! We cannot do this important work without you, and we truly appreciate all of your support. If you are able to contribute to our continuing work, please donate here.
Please see details and much more below, including special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)! *** And lastly, a reminder to pace yourselves – do only what you can without engaging in digital overload. No one call do it all. Let us know what kind of help you might need from the WNYPC; please feel free to reach out!
Peace, thanks, solidarity and yes – love.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
SPECIAL EVENTS
TUES, MAY 5 (ALL DAY): GIVING TUESDAY
Every day, our committed staff works to support the community we serve. Now, they need our help. Our organization is committed to ensuring that our employees are able to maintain financial stability and provide day-to-day necessities for their families during the coronavirus. We kindly ask that you join us in supporting our dedicated employees. Your gift will help provide immediate financial support; help keep our employees safe and healthy so they can continue their work serving our community. Your contribution also applies towards your WNYPC membership! We can’t do this important work without you! THANK YOU! #HelpTheHelpers
TUES MAY 5 @ 6:30 PM: NEKANEHSAKT ZOOM MEETING
Indigenous support group working for sustainability, Indigenous rights, and more. This is a recurring meeting (1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 PM). This week, we’ll be on a phone conference: call the number and use the code below. Please if you plan on coming to be on time to the call as it is harder to keep the call going if not everyone is there on time or misses each other. Phone Number: 605-475-4825. Access Number: 1075707. May 5th is the National Day of Awareness to Commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. For more information, visit CSVANW.
WEDS, MAY 6 @ 10:00 AM: HALT SOLITARY CAR RALLY
See above for details. Please register at bit.ly/HALTsolitaryMay6
WEDS, MAY 6 @ 12:00 PM: PEACEJAM WEBINAR – BUILD THE WORD YOU WANT
See above for details.
THURS, MAY 7 @ 8:00 AM: INTERFAITH PEACE NETWORK (IPN) ZOOM MEETING
You’re invited to the upcoming meeting, now once each month (1st Thursdays). All are welcome! We are intense and transformative times; it makes our faith journeys even more vital. To join the Zoom Meeting, use Meeting ID 6087005163 and password 938401. To call in by phone, dial 1-646-558-8656.
THURS, MAY 7 @ 6:00 PM: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TASKFORCE MONTHLY MEETING
We will view Jeff Gibb’s “Planet of the Humans”. To join this meeting: By computer: https://meet.jit.si/OrdinaryTenantsPaintUnder By Phone: +1.512.402.2718 PIN: 3572455174# To view “Planet of the Humans” in advance of the meeting.
SAT, MAY 9 @ 12:00 PM: DISARM & DIVEST DURING COVID-19 (WEBINAR)
See above for details.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS W/PHYSICAL DISTANCE GUIDELINES (& bring your own signs)
MONDAYS: TALKING PEACE ON WBNY (91.3 FM)
This week, a special COVID-19 / Mother’s Day Show. With special guests Dr. Mike Niman, Professor of Communication at Buffalo State College, and Deidra EmEl, community leader and mom (and also our Office Manager and Coordinator!). 91.3 FM also streams online at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
WEDNESDAYS: PRISONERS’ RIGHTS VIGIL – NO MORE ECHC DEATHS!
At the Erie County Holding Center, Delaware Ave between Church & Eagle Streets, Buffalo. Join the Prisoners’ Rights taskforce for their weekly vigil/protests on Wednesday from 4-5:30 PM. The ECHC has significantly higher deaths than similar facilities. The Sheriff’s Department has misreported and been determined to have committee homicide by medical neglect per the DOJ! The Sheriff’s Administration is already a public health emergency, and even more now! #ReleaseInmates *** All are welcome; please practice proper physical distancing and bring your own signs. # *** Also, please call Governor Cuomo at 518-474-8390 to urge him to remove Sheriff Howard as he is clearly not up to the job.
THURSDAYS: IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE JUSTICE – #IRJtoRally
On all social media platforms. Every Thursday, IRJ will rally online to show our support for immigrant and refugee communities! Please take a photo of yourself holding your rally sign with a message of support and share it all over social media using the hashtag #IRJtoRally!
THURSDAYS: IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE JUSTICE VIGIL – END ICE TERROR!
Outside of the Delaware North Building (which houses the Buffalo ICE field office), NW corner of Delaware and Chippewa from 5-6 PM. Show support for immigrants and asylum seekers detained by ICE at the Batavia Federal Detention Facility, especially in the times of COVID-19. Bring your signs and spirit of solidarity (and remember to practice proper physical distancing!) – we will not stay silent! ##DetentionisDeadly #ReleaseThemNow #FamiliesBelongTogether #AbolishICE #CloseTheCamps #NeverAgainIsNow
FRIDAYS: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE VIGIL – NO NUCLEAR WASTE OVER PEACE BRIDGE!
At Front Park (Vermont & Busti), Buffalo. Join the Environmental Justice taskforce every Friday from 2-3 PM to protest shipments of VERY dangerous radioactive liquid transported from Canada over the Peace Bridge. Due to the public health emergency, please practice proper physical distancing and bring your own signs. You can also call Governor Cuomo’s office to DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY! Phone: 518-474-8390, press 1 when the recording begins. Script: “Governor Cuomo, please declare a climate emergency for the state of New York, which means an immediate ban on all new fossil fuel infrastructure. I’m calling from zip code xxxxx.”
FRIDAYS: WNY YOUTH CLIMATE COUNCIL #DIGITALSTRIKE
Due to the public health emergency, the WNYCC had to cancel their in-person Buffalo Climate Strike on March 20th. The goal of the strike, to ask our Common Council members of Buffalo, is to pass a Climate Resolution. The strike has now become a weekly (every Friday!) digital strike – please join them by sharing selfies and pictures with your rally signs and posters for the Buffalo Climate Strike to Declare a Climate Emergency on social media, and use the hashtags #DIGITALSTRIKE #WNYYOUTHCLIMATE #DECLAREACLIMATEEMERGENCY
SATURDAYS: WOMEN IN BLACK VIGIL
Nonviolence vigil at Bidwell & Elmwood; Saturdays, noon – 1 PM. All are welcome; you don’t need to be a woman or dress in black. Please practice proper physical distancing and bring your own signs due to the current public health emergency.
FUNDRAISERS
WNY Peace Center: We work hard for the community and give virtually everything away for free. We support many other organizations as well, and work to serve the community. Donating will also re-up your membership.
Network of Religious Communities (NRC) Food Pantry, an organization of religious communities (denominations, congregations and religious organizations) serving Western New York. They represent Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Unitarian communities. Please support their food pantry, a mainstay for many Buffalo families. Please write a check payable to NRC with “Food Pantry” in the memo. 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, 14209.
FeedmoreWNY is working diligently to react to the ever-changing developments of the COVID-19 outbreak and to prepare for the potential expansion of illness throughout our community. You can donate and/or volunteer!
Fight COVID-19 in Erie County by Providing Critical Aid to Incarcerated People: This unprecedented time emphasizes the already egregious conditions of our county jails and failure of the Timothy Howard to care for people in the custody of his office. We are showing support for people who are incarcerated by raising funds for all of their commissaries and continuing to call for these groups to be released. Organized by SURJ with WNYPC and others cosponsoring.
Friends of Democracy Now! WNY: Democracy Now! is an independent news show hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. Amy Goodman was the speaker at our 50th annual dinner and we are actively working to support independent news stations like Democracy Now! who focus on news stories that do not get airtime in popular media. We desperately need this type of journalism and are thrilled that Democracy Now! is being broadcast in Buffalo! M-F, 8-9am on WBNY 91.3FM. You can catch it streaming online at wbny.buffalostate.edu or http://tunein.com/radio/WBNY-913-s27549/. Go to their website and donate, subscribe to their daily digest, and call local stations to encourage them to pick up Democracy Now!
#NYUnitedFund: Help the NY Immigration Coalition to ensure the health and safety of NY’s 4 million immigrants, a critically important task.
CAMPAIGNS
TELL CONGRESS TO DOUBLE THE CDC BUDGET & #MOVETHEMONEY: The spread of COVID-19 has exposed a rot at the center of American society: that we siphon 55% of our discretionary budget into the Pentagon — $738 billion — while we allocate only 1.5% of that — $11 billion — to the Centers for Disease Control. Tell Congress to double the CDC’s budge by cutting money to the Pentagon.
END SANCTIONS: #SANCTIONSKILL: At least 1,800 Iranians DEAD. Over 23,000 INFECTED. AN ESTIMATED 3.5 MILLION MAY DIE. Urge Congress to introduce COVID19-related legislation to lift sanctions on Iran. And please urge your congresspeople to end all sanctions! #SanctionsKill #SanctionsSpreadCOVID19
PEACE AND DIPLOMACY LOBBYING: Demand peace, diplomacy, and sane domestic and foreign policies from your Senators and/or House Representatives.
RELEASE AGING PEOPLE IN PRISON: Join RAPP and concerned community members across New York State for a day of action and virtual press conference. New York State has the eighth highest rate of people serving a life sentence in the country—roughly 9,200 people. More than 1,000 of them are serving Life Without Parole or virtual life without parole—with a minimum sentence of 50 years—sentences. 75 percent are People of Color. Long and life sentences combined with few opportunities for release have created a crisis of aging, sickness and death in New York State prisons. There are now more than 10,000 people in NYS prisons—20% of the prison population—aged 50 or older; most are Black and Latinx. While the prison population in NYS fell by 27% between 2000 and 2016, the number of incarcerated older people more than doubled. Older people, especially those who have been convicted of the most serious crimes, pose little if any risk to public safety. In fact, when released, many formerly incarcerated older people engage in work that enhances public safety and community health. COVID + PRISON = DEATH! #CUOMOLETTHEMGO
#DEMANDJUSTICE #HOUSINGJUSTICE: Hold District Attorneys across New York accountable to ending mass incarceration, plus fighting against tenant abuse, homelessness, environmental violence, and racist housing policies.
LET MY PEOPLE GO: Support the campaign to free our immigrant and refugee neighbors from detention facilities during the current public health crisis.
FAIR FINES + FEES JUSTICE CENTER Policy Recommendations and Reform Tracker on COVID-19: Support evidence-based policies that jurisdictions around the country should take
to help stem this public health and economic crisis.
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
Buffalo Mutual Aid Network: Buffalo Mutual Aid Network is a social action group for peer-to-peer organizing, humanitarian assistance, and reliable information sharing developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH) provides occupational safety and health services through information, education/training and outreach to eliminate health and safety hazards in the workplace. For up-to-date information on the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), and what workers can do to protect themselves, their coworkers and families.
International Institute of Buffalo’s Resources for Vulnerable Populations: This list has informational resources, community need resources, and resources to help students who are out of school continue to learn! We will continue to update these lists as more information becomes available. If you have resources to add, please send them to us at: awhitehorne@iibuff.org Remember that we are stronger when we work together!
Headspace for A NY State of Mind: New York has been hit hard by the current global crisis. In partnership with Governor Cuomo, Headspace wants to be here for you — to help you find some time and space as you weather this storm. From Buffalo to Long Island, Albany to the Lower East Side, this special NY collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises are here to support you through stressful and challenging times. Helping you — and your fellow New Yorkers — stay strong and be kind to yourselves, with a New York state of mind.
Afghan Peace Volunteers’ Global Days of Listening: Fear is widespread across the globe – there is a pandemic. Medical supplies and needed equipment are in very short supply. In war zones like Afghanistan, food and job security are even more at risk. The Afghan Peace Volunteers ask for: Deeper relationships and peace during a pandemic. During our Global Days conversation, we’ll continue to explore global responses to the COVID-19 as a human family. Listen via thelivestream monthly on the 21st or 22nd. (You can also check out their website at ourjourneytosmile.com.)
#UNITE | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede!