Announcements: Jan. 5, 2017

Written by Victoria Ross on . Posted in Environmental Justice, Human Rights & Peace Education, Latin American Solidarity, Resist Militarism!, Talking Peace News, Urgent Appeal

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the many of you who came out today (in the biting cold ), and to you all for all of your activism, support, and solidarity!!

As you’’ll have noted, there’s a lot going on! More every day! We must stop the drumbeat toward more hate,  war-mongering, and injustice. So here’s a supplemental (and slightly tweaked )weekly update including a few newly popped up events:
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Sat, Jan 7, 3-5pm, Free Leonard Peltier!– Watch Movie, Sign Petitions, etc. all at Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St., Buffalo. Come watch “Warrior– The Life of Leonard Peltier” and sign petitions, send post cards to urge Pres. Obama in his last moments to grant Clemency to Leonard Peltier! Also, you can go to http://www.freepeltiernow.org/ for more info.

You’ll also hear about the censorship and bad faith that threatens a statue of Leonard placed at the American University, and do something about this as well. Working for Leonard’s freedom now before President Obama leaves office is critical. Please come out, or go to the online petition above.
**
Sun, Jan 8, 3:30pm, Warrior’s Call: The Fight to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline, Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave (@Tupper), Buffalo. A one-day only storytelling event featuring US Vets who stood at Standing Rock, with special guest Lakota Akicita Warrior and leader Michael Mato Tanka. Moderated by actor/producer Trazz Johnson, this event includes the journeys of veterans Neil Conway, Matthew Crane, Joseph George, Brandee Paisano (also Pueblo-Laguna native), and Mark Sanderson (also Purple Heart Recipient). Free and open to the public.
**
Mon, Jan 9, 2pm, Rally: No Northern Access Pipeline! @ Cuomo’s State Address @ UB North Rally outside Gov Cuomo’s State of the State Address to say NO NAPL for WNY!! Stop the Fracked Gas Pipeline!! We need Gov Cuomo and the DEC to deny the DEC 401 Water Quality Permit for National Fuel’s proposed Northern Access 2016 Pipeline Project. For proposed pipeline updates and info, https://niagarasierraclub.com/issues/northern-access-pipeline/ We hope to see you at the above – or below (updated) – events, including especially the Buffalo Resistance Weekend!! And thanks for your help with the below campaigns! (Note calls to US Atty no longer wanted for Bflo25 –more to follow) We Shall Overcome!/Si, se puede!

Solidarity, Justice, Thanks, and – yes, Love. Victory!
***
Resistance Weekend (see Nonviolent Direct Action workshops below trips and events listings).

*Trips to DC:
For Fri and Sat events (see CodePink for DC details):
This trip is book up tho you could register your interest as we may be able to add a few seats; you’re welcome to come too for the send-off. Leaving 10pm Thurs Jan 19 at 1272 Delaware Ave (WNYPC/NRC Bldg, Pkg round back), connecting to bus in Syracuse. Overnight accommodations will be arranged (likely church sanctuary). Return after Friday Inaugural and Saturday Women’s March. $100; sliding scale also available. Call Russell at 716-570-5200.

For Saturday’’s Women’s March and Rally:
To book a seat, it is Rallybus.net. Put in the state and city. It will tell you cost and number of seats left. (This is not a WNYPC organized bus. Our trip is above.)

Or call the Unitarian Universalist of Buffalo (on Elmwood) at 716-885-2136 for info on their bus leaving late late Friday for the Women’s March in DC; or the Internat’l Action Ctr for another 2-day trip option.

*Buffalo & WNY Resists during: RESISTANCE WEEKEND

Thursday, Jan 19: Sendoff for two-day DC trip, 10pm, 1272 Delaware (round back). See above.

Friday, Jan 20: “No Trump, No KKK, No Racist USA” March, Niagara Square. (see Facebook). Coordinated by BARC (Buffalo Anti-Racism Coalition).

Saturday, Jan 21:
11am-3pm, “Buffalo Solidarity Rally” Hub, coordinated by Stronger Together WNY at The 9th Ward, Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave (crnr w Tupper). Groups are welcome to table and network at this event to connect with potential volunteers; recruit, network, publicize, etc. 12:30pm No Hate, No Mandate March and Rally, sister to the Women’s March in DC, from the 9th Ward, Delaware & Tupper, to Niagara Square Rally and return. WNY Peace Center coordinating. All events are cosponsored by BARC, Citizen’s Action, Interfaith Peace Network, Lawyers of the Left – Buffalo Edition, Stronger Together, WNY Peace Center, and more. Planning details still in process and new cosponsorships are welcome. The Nonviolent Direct Action training below is offered in conjunction with/preparation for the above events.

***

*TRAINING: Nonviolent Direct Action/De-escalation/Know Your Rights

Come get geared up for purposeful effective nonviolent direct action at rallies, marches, protests, etc; including de-escalation (of oneself and others, knowing your legal rights regarding protests, etc. The 3-hour training will include Gandhian/King’s principles, social work best practices, criminal law, civil rights. Collaboration between Lawyers of the Left – Buffalo Edition, Interfaith Peace Network, NYCLU, the WNY Peace Center, and more.

Sessions:
Wed, Jan 11, 6-9pm; WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Ave, Entrance & Pkg
round back.
Sat, Jan 14, 2-5pm; WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Ave, Entrance & Pkg
round back.

To register
Call 716-332-3904, or email victoryross9@gmail.com.

***
Campaigns

Cariol Horne Whistleblowers’ Fund

The WNY Peace Center has created a to support police officers who face reprisals from their department from choosing to strictly uphold their oath to protect and serve the community. The Peace Center has named this fund after Cariol Horne who saved the life of a citizen, but was fired just prior to earning her 20-year pension. Our goal is to encourage good police officers in following their moral conscience if and when it conflicts with the infamous blue wall of silence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_wall_of_silence). So far $565 has been raised in one day. Please go to https://www.gofundme.com/cariol-horne-whistleblower-fund to contribute.
Many Thanks!!

*Tell Congress Michael Flynn Cannot be Allowed to Serve

In the parade of bad appointments that is the new Trump administration, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn stands out. He’s one of the most egregious picks – and now he’s the most vulnerable. In August, Flynn claimed that signs along the U.S.-Mexico border written in Arabic were there for the express purpose of guiding terrorists into the United States. This is absurd, and a man with these opinions should have no voice on our national security. Please, write to your members of Congress today and ask them to
speak out and oppose Flynn’s appointment. – See more at: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/161/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20789#sthash.BMD1N2II.dpuf
*Buffalo 25

Update! – No more calls to the U.S. Attorneys’s office are wanted at this time.

Please send contributions for the Buffalo 25 and their families to: Trinity Episcopal Church (with #Buffalo25 in the memo line of your check), 371 Delaware Ave., Buffalo NY 14202. ¡Muchas Gracias! ¡Si, se puede!

*Standing Rock Water Protection

Tuesdays, 6:30pm Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors! Part of Nekanesakt; Friends of the Indigenous People, a coalition. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St., Buffalo. Alternate weeks (ie, Jan 10) the group focuses on No Pipelines (re NAPL, Enbridge).

People are still at the camp, as it’s not over ‘til it’s over. From “Honor The Earth”:

“The resistance camps at Standing Rock are more than just opposition to a pipeline – they are the embodiment of a historic resurgence of Indigenous Nations, and a blossoming, multi-racial, grassroots movement to protect our Mother Earth. It is essential that we carry the energy from this fight forward, to the many other places where fossil fuel infrastructure projects threaten our lands and water.”  You can donate through the Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors Group. Warm winter clothes especially outer garments can be brought to Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Ave. Or money can be donated through Riverside-Salem UCC/DC (on line at http://riversidesalem.org/ or via check payable to Riverside-Salem UCC/DC; sent to 3449 West River Road, Grand Island, NY 14072; in either case, be sure to specify “Standing Rock” on memo line of the check.)

***
Other regularly scheduled efforts in the One Struggle, One Movement:

Fridays 6pm: Stop The Violence Coalition, United Way Bldg, Delaware and Summer Sts.

Saturdays, Noon-1pm: Women In Black. Nonviolence vigil, Bidwell and Elmwood.

Sundays, 4pm Riverside-Salem UCC/DC progressive program and potluck. 3449 West River Road, Grand Island.

Mondays, 1-3pm, Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center radio show on 91.3FM, WBNY; with Avery Edwards, Vicki Ross, and special guests. Go to wnby.buffalostate.edu or http://tunein.com/radio/WBNY-913-s27549/.

Tuesdays, 6:30pm Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors! Part of Nekanesakt; Friends of the Indigenous People, a coalition. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St., Buffalo. Alternate weeks (ie, Jan 10) the group focuses on No Pipelines (re NAPL, Enbridge).

2nd and 4th Thurs of month: Resist Militarism! Anti-Weaponized-Drone Vigil at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, 3:30-4:30pm. Call Russell, 570-5200 for carpooling.

1st and 3rd Thurs of month: Interfaith Peace Network meeting and breakfast-luck, 8am-9:30am; NRC 1272 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.