Tuesday, January 5th, 2021
We hope that you were able to enjoy the holidays and that your new year is off to a nice start. There is a lot to look forward to in 2021 (the end to the Trump administration, the continued rollout of vaccines) but still a lot of work ahead of us, too.
With the continued alternate reality rhetoric and calls for violence from the top down, we need to remember to remain firmly rooted in non-violence. (Not pacifism – but assertive, strong truth and love.) This is a dangerous time in our nation when white supremacists and fascists are getting veiled encouragement from the highest levels, and even some public officials here in WNY. Tomorrow, please join the Refuse Fascism social media campaign, “Trump Lost! Fascists Get Out!” in an effort to transform this dangerous situation. Full details, including print and social media content, at our website.
Tonight, please join Nekanęhsakt: Friends of Ękwehęwę for their bi-weekly conference call for an update from MN on Line 3. There will also be an update on the push to rescind the medal of honor for Wounded Knee Massacre in the Niagara Falls war memorial. If you missed the Talking Peace episode featuring Agnes Williams, Joe Hill, and Nate Buckley, you can still catch that here. Please see full details below under events and campaigns.
Please tune in tomorrow evening to the first monthly LASC/ROCLA event of 2021, where Bill Jungels and Tom Potts will present on Chiapas (MX), COVID, dental projects, and autonomous communities there. As a documentary filmmaker, Bill recently co-produced “Maya Voices in a Smoking Mirror,” the culmination of his 15-year focus on Maya struggles in Chiapas. Tom is a dentist who founded a clinic in Chenalhó, Chiapas, with the help of a Tsotsil Maya committee. Each year, he volunteers there for 2 months. Tom will share the insights he has gained through his 25 years of volunteering in Chenalhó, and in particular the situation he found there during his recent stay. See below for more details.
And next week please join Witness Against Torture for a full line-up of virtual events beginning 1/11, including a fast, vigils, webinars, and solidarity actions. See more on below and on our website.
Please see details and much more – including special and regularly scheduled events this week – plus 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
Tuesday, December 29th, 2020
We hope that you are enjoying the remainder of this special season. There is still time to catch Buffalo Kwanzaa’s nightly virtual celebrations at 7pm; see all of their social media platforms (@buffalokwanzaa).
We also hope you are taking some time to rest and recharge for the work ahead of us in 2021. This includes the WNY Women’s March 2021 on January 16th! For everyone’s safety, this year’s event will be on Zoom and include breakout rooms with special discussion topics, feature guest speakers, music, and more! Interested in being a co-sponsor? Email assistant@wnypeace.org. Please check our website and social media accounts for this year’s themes, to register, and more details to come!
Please check out the upcoming Talking Peace episode featuring LASC member Bill Jungels – and possibly Tom Potts, D.D.S. – on their work in Chiapas, Mexico along with Heidi Jones on White supremacists in anti-maskers’ clothing. (And don’t miss Bill and Tom’s presentation next week at the ROCLA/LASC event where they’ll further discuss Chiapas.) Also featuring guest co-host (and newly appointed Gender Justice Task Force Chair!) Talia Rodriguez, J.D. Tune in tomorrow via Facebook live or on WBNY next Monday – full details on each below.
We’re also honored to announce that the WNY Peace Center is becoming the home of the Witness Against Torture program. We will be fundraising for them as they will fall under our 501(c) 3 umbrella due to the closing of the Washington Peace Center. Please see information on their upcoming events below.
In this season that reminds of us of the reverence for life and defending the sacred, we need to be strongly rooted in firm non-violence. Not pacifism, but assertive, strong truth and love. This is a dangerous time in our nation when white supremacists and fascists are getting veiled encouragement from the highest level. Appeal to your strengths that we will stand up when and where we need to, even at a national scale.
CALL TO ACTION: Call MN Governor Tim Walz at 651-201-3400 to urge him and other officials (e.g., Congressman Keith Ellison) to stop Line 3. Visit the Water Protectors website for information on needed donations and coming out to put your body on the line to protect Mother Earth, the waters, and the creation. Donations (physical items and/or monetary) also gratefully received at Burning Books (420 Connecticut St, Buffalo, 14213 – open daily, 11am – 7pm) or to Nekanehsakt’s PayPal. #DefendTheSacred #WaterIsLife
Please see details and much more – including special and regularly scheduled events this week – plus 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
Sunday, December 6th, 2020
We want to highlight our upcoming Zoom event: Speak-out on Erie County Holding Center. Join the WNYPC this Thursday, December 10th at 6:30 PM – on International Human Rights Day – for an opportunity to share your lived experience and/or perspective on the Erie County Holding Center, and to hear from authorities. Details to join are below.
– Superintendent – Jail Division, Thomas Diina will be attending, as will Miles Gresham, Esq., and Heron Simmonds, members of the Corrections Specialist Advisory Board.
– Heron, Racial Justice Taskforce Co-Chair, and other WNY Peace Center members, including its Racial Justice Taskforce and Prisoners’ Rights Taskforces, will also be involved. Other officials have also been invited (attendance TBD).
– Please come to tell your story and hear what current plans are. We’ll start with a Community Agreement to ensure we have a productive conversation, in truth and love.
Please also join us for the following preparatory events and activities TOMORROW:
– At 1PM, tune in to Talking Peace on WBNY. We’re thrilled, in the first hour, to have Medea Benjamin on, covering Cabinet appointments (tell Biden not to pick Flourney!), endless war, War Powers Act, sanctions, Cuba, and more; followed second hour by a conversation with community activist Myles Carter discussing the Speak-out, Erie County budget, and the vicious cycle of violence visited on BIPOC communities; please see more below.
– At 5PM, join the Racial Justice and Prisoners’ Rights task forces for a joint meeting on Zoom. We’ll plan for the upcoming Speak-out and explore other criminal justice and racial justice issues and campaigns. All are welcome; please see more below.
We also want to mention the recent NAPL victory. National Fuel was denied an extension of its deadline to complete a new pipeline carrying natural gas from PA to Canada through WNY. They’ve won every lawsuit over the pipeline so far, so this rejection is worth celebrating! Kudos to all those who worked on this, especially the Sierra Club and Diana Strablow. Now we need to be persistent on West Valley – please see more on that below.
Lastly, today is the final day of our Annual Fundraiser auction! We had many wonderful donations from our generous supporters, and there is still time to visit our virtual marketplace (Bidding Owl registration required) – perfect for holiday gift ideas! Includes items from great local businesses: El Buen Amigo, Burning Books, Black Monarchy, and more! Ends tonight at 11:59 PM!
Please also note that our campaigns below have been *updated* to include urgent items related environmental justice, antiwar foreign policy, and policing/criminal justice reform!
Please see details and much more below, including special and regularly scheduled events this week, plus 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
