WNYPC’s 53rd Annual Event: An Evening w/Cornel West; Hertel Hurdle (BLM); LASC/ROCLA on COVID in El Salvador
Thursday, August 27th, 2020
We hope you’re making time to rest and recharge. This is such a difficult time, as is evident by ongoing injustices around this country, and there’s so much work to be done. So please be good to yourself! As you have time, there are vital campaigns that you can put some energy into as you can and will. But please remember to pace yourselves, as no one person can do it all. We are at a fork in the road of the future of this nation, and we recognize the importance of collaborating, strategizing, and also resting when needed. Remember, “Unarmed Truth and Unconditional Love will have the final word in reality…” as Rev. Dr. King said!
We are extremely excited to announce our plans for the WNYPC’s 53rd Annual Event: An Evening with Dr. Cornel West! On Monday, November 9th at 7pm, please join us for a live, virtual and/or big screen keynote by Dr. Cornel West. He’ll address the vital question: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Our current plan is to host this talk both on Zoom and projected at North Park Theatre, with North Park doors opening (and tabling, etc.) from 5:30pm. You’ll have the option to view online or join us at the theatre, in person, with masks and physical distancing in place. (The theatre option depends on the COVID-status, etc., at the time, of course.) There will be a live Q&A session after the lecture. TICKET DETAILS AND OPTIONS COMING SOON! Please refer to our event page for more details and updates.
Tomorrow at 5 PM, please join the WNY Liberation Collective and the WNYPC for the Hertel Hurdle, a Black Lives Matter march standing with Washington, D.C. on the anniversary Rev. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington. We’ll meet outside Illos Piano Restorations, 2490 Main St. (at Hertel), Buffalo 14214. Help us continue to make the noise that is being heard all around the city, bringing awareness one day at a time to ongoing societal issues of racial justice and police brutality. Bring your masks, your friends, your signs, voices, hearts, and minds. Wear black. Stay safe, vigilant, and hydrated (water will be provided). #WeThePeople #WeTheChange
Next Wednesday at 7 PM, please join the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC, a task force of the WNYPC) and Rochester Committee on Latin American (ROCLA) for a joint virtual event “El Salvador in the TIme of Covid-19: A Rights-based Analysis of the Drivers and Triggers of Forced Migration.” Featuring guest presenters Magda Lanuza and Jeanne Rikkers speaking on-line from El Salvador. On Zoom – register at https://rocla.org/events/el-salvador-in-the-time-of-covid-19/.
We also want to mention that the WNY Liberation Collective and WNYPC will continue instruction of our biweekly series First Steps: Collective Nonviolent Direct Action Study. These will be hybrid events every other Sunday at 2pm (next on September 6th), taking place in person at Niagara/Liberation Square with masks and physical distancing; the sessions will occasionally be livestreamed as well. (The 8/23 initial session’s recording is on our Facebook page and is on our website).
Lastly, we are coming to the end of the generous matched grant from the Fr. Joe Bissonnette Fund for the WNYPC, and closing in on the $5,000 limit (we’re at ~$4,500). This fund sustains our on-going work and helps prepare for strong social justice activism coming out of quarantine. The Fr. Joe Bissonette Fund has committed to match any donation of $100 or more made between July and August. If you would like to make a donation, please see our fundraiser page.
Please, too, see details and much more below, including other special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity and yes – Love!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
THUR 8/27 @ 8 PM – VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON: OPENING NIGHT (THE CALL)
RSVP at 2020march.com. Hosted by NAACP, the 2020 Virtual March on Washington is asking everyone – from protesters in the street to elected officials at all levels of government – to commit to pursuing a new agenda that prioritizes equality, justice, and opportunity for all. Opening remarks, Live Every Voice, reflections, greetings, remarks, musical performance, and panel discussion. Additional events tomorrow, 8/28 include:
– THE MARCH @ 11 AM: Livestream commitment march convened by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, the Commitment March will gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to restore and recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined in 1963.
– THE CHARGE @ 9 PM: Commitment march highlights, music performance, and keynote.
FRI 8/28 @ 7 AM – INTERNATIONAL PEACE BUREAU’S HISTORY OF THE PEACE MOVEMENT III: ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PEACE MOVEMENT
On Zoom (Meeting ID 915 0216 4598, Passcode: 718932). Peace movements have struggled to create a world without war for over a century. Nonetheless, conflicts persist and some argue that the world is in a more dangerous state than ever before. How do peace activists understand the work of the past century and how does this influence their activism moving forward? Join for a panel discussion across generations of peace activists who will reflect on what the movement has accomplished and what lessons we can learn moving forward.
FRI 8/28 @ 5 PM – THE HERTEL HURDLE
See above.
FRI 8/28 @ 6 PM – 57TH ANNIVERSARY MARCH ON WASHINGTON: WOMEN, THE SOUL OF AMERICA
Streamed live on The King Center’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Join Bernice A. King, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, God-is Rivera, and others to honor Black women who powered the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on its 57th anniversary.
FRI 8/28 @ 7 PM – THE BLACK NATIONAL CONVENTION: BUILDING POWER & POLICY IN DEFENSE OF BLACK LIVES
Watch live at BlackNovember.org. The Movement for Black Lives and the Electoral Justice Project will unveil one of the boldest political platforms our country has ever seen – the Liberation Platform – which is the collective vision that has come to fruition from many years on the front lines.
SAT 8/29 @ 8 AM – RADICAL REGISTRATION TELETHON
Register at radicalizethevote.org. Hosted by the Indigenous Peoples Movement, join incredible performers, artists, and speakers coming together for 12 hours to get out the vote in Indian Country. Celebrate our people’s thriving through adversity and navigating a system that was never set up with us in mind. Every Indigenous vote counts.
SAT 8/29 @ 3 PM – MARCH FOR TRANSIT JUSTICE
Gathering at Ferry Circle to march along what was once the route #7, a bus line that served multiple west side neighborhoods for more than 120 years, dating back to the days of streetcars. The entire route was slashed on May 24th, along with the #29 Wohlers, #54 Military (in Niagara Falls), and two additional commuter routes, the #68 George Urban and #79 Tonawanda. These bus routes matter – and its time riders demonstrate we’ve had enough cuts! Join us at 2pm to help make signs! If you cannot walk or march, you can drive or ride along and still be a part of the event. We ask that cars follow behind us and bikers ride along the sides. All participants must wear a mask.
MON 8/31 @ 5PM – JUSTICE FOR ERIC MARTIN JR. PROTEST AT SPEEDWAY
At Speedway, 535 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo. (Please do not park in the Speedway lot.) Please see this Challenger article detailing Eric Martin Jr.’s experience at this Speedway location: https://thechallengernews.com/2020/08/protesting-an-almost-george-floyd-moment-on-kenmore-avenue/
MON 8/31 @ 8PM – SURJ ELECTION DEFENSE CAMPAIGN “DEFEND THE ELECTION: FIGHT FACISM!” LAUNCH
On Zoom – register at bit.ly/FightFascism. We are launching a national campaign to recruit & develop 1,000 grassroots SURJ leaders who move 100,000 people to take sustained and meaningful action to protect the right to vote, and the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. We are looking for 200 Election Defenders to be the heartbeat of this campaign. Join us in this webinar to launch this campaign and learn more about how you can be involved in this work!
TUES 9/1 @ 2 PM – WNYYCC’S CLIMATE RESOLUTION MEETING
On Zoom. The WNY Youth Climate Council invites regional organizations, community members, and fellow activists to join in a finalization of their climate resolution draft before presenting to the Common Council! Please share your input and hear from other organizations leading the climate justice movement here in WNY! See you VIRTUALLY there!
Register here and sign the Declare a Climate Emergency petition.
WEDS 9/2 @ 7PM – LASC/ROCLA: EL SALVADOR IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
See above.
CALLS TO ACTION
1. Tuesday, Sept. 1st at 2pm is the next Common Council meeting and a resolution directing the Law Department to Draft Cariol’s Law is on the agenda. We need to ensure Cariol’s Law moves forward AND continues to bare her name.
– ANYTIME this week – send a 30ish sec video of yourself to Phylicia with why you support Cariol’s Law and conclude with this: “Cariol’s Law protects good police. Removing Cariol’s name from the law that she created removes her legacy. Anything less than naming Cariol’s Law in her honor is erasure.” (shopblackmonarchy@gmail.com / https://www.facebook.com/PhyNomenal).
– Mon. Aug. 31st Share and POST Cariol’s Law Flyer Calling on the Council and Tag any Council members you want. (they respond more right now to social media than calls).
– Tues. Sep. 1st @ 2pm – Tune in online to the meeting and make Comments
– After the meeting – We each will send an email to ALL the Council Members (or any) saying Why we support Cariol’s Law and urge them against removing her name. (dpridgen@city-buffalo.com, darivera@city-buffalo.com, jferoleto@city-buffalo.com, rwyatt@city-buffalo.com, bbollman@city-buffalo.com, mnowakowski@city-buffalo.com, uwingo@city-buffalo.com, jgolombek@city-buffalo.com, cscanlon@city-buffalo.com)
2. Support the repeal of 50-A, a NYS secrecy law that blocked police misconduct and disciplinary records from being released to the public, including victims of police brutality. This legislation is under attack from police unions across the state, including the Buffalo Police Department (BPD) union.
– Send a copy of the petition calling for open access police misconduct to your legislators by texting SIGN YKNGJA to 50409
– Join the Amicus Brief opposing the police unions’ effort to shroud police records in secrecy by signing here: https://bit.ly/PoliceRecordsNow
– Call your local legislators (contact info here) and ask them to join the fight for police transparency.
– Join the social media campaign calling for police transparency and records justice! #RecordsJustice #StoptheShadowRepeal #PoliceAccountabilityNow
3. Free the People WNY 6 Weeks of Action: Week 4: POLICE-FREE SCHOOLS
We’ve seen how Buffalo police treat grown adults – it’s clear that cops do not belong near children! Use our toolkit to call your Board of Education representative. Click here to get started! Thank you for taking action for our kids!
4. Support the demand that the police budget is defunded to invest in traffic calming infrastructure and take BPD out of traffic enforcement all together. Please fill out the questionnaire shared by Fair Fines + Fees to participate in a budgetary process that aims to make positive changes to the City’s budget.
#UNITE | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede!