Speakout on Ethical Police Officers; FFF Traffic Stop Tool; Healing Buffalo
716-332-3904| June 2nd, 2020 | wnypeace.org
We grieve…. And struggle for Rev. Dr. King’s Unarmed Truth and Unconditional Love to have the final word in Reality.
The Truth is that we have and have had racist police brutality going on in Buffalo. True too that it is coupled with excusiology – as our dear (ex officio Board Member) Jim Anderson, PeaceAction NYS President and Citizen Action Vice President, puts it.
It is worsened by endless onslaughts from systemic racial (and general) injustice with a fascist criminal at the helm of our government, which is already the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world,” as Rev. Dr. King said. And now, our civil liberties are “paused” and our (limited) democracy being deconstructed.
We’ve been saying for the past few years of crisis, that Crisis = Opportunity. Well, we certainly have a crisis now. Ensha’Allah, we’ll be able to turn it into the opportunity for radical change that we need.
First, please be aware that with the curfew and unrest, people are very likely to get stopped and possibly – if DWB (driving while black), harassed. Join us of the Fair Fines and Fees Coalition, in sharing and using the traffic stop tool on your social media pages. Please also share our petition to eliminate the 13 new traffic fees.
Please join us in so many ways – pacing yourself of course and keeping yourself safe in the meanwhile. See below the noon Weds Rally for Racial Justice with People of Faith (organizer Voice Buffalo), the healing circle on Thursday (Jillian Hanesworth), Organizing 101 for YOUTH on Friday (Open Buffalo), and a 1pm Vigil in MLK park (Alia Williams), and more.
Our Speakout on Ethical Peace Officers, (on Zoom, organized by our Racial Justice Taskforce, including Kareema Morris and Heron Simmonds), Tues, 6/9 at 7pm, is an opportunity to begin real change. It will only happen if the problem is acknowledged – which it has yet to be. Mayor Brown’s office has said he or a rep will be there, and the police commissioners are invited.
Change will only happen if all of us persist, if all of us take the bold moves to stand up for each other. White people – if we’re not actively striving for the solution, we’re part of the problem. Time’s up – no more slow-walking it, or excusiology, from anyone.
We support real change, including but not limited to policy changes, and are working with many great allies and partners to make it happen. People of color, including numerous of our great Board Members, are leading the way.
We support Cariol’s Law. Cariol Horne, our Board Member, was fired and lost her pension for her courage preventing an Eric-Garner-type death from a violent and racist policeman (with repeated previous and subsequent violations). Cariol’s Law requires a police officer to intervene and stop imminent abuse, and protects them from retaliation. The Blue Line of Silence, the Police Union defending police brutality – both need radical change. Officers need to be held accountable for their silence, and supported in their whistleblowing.
Board Member Tanvier Peart is “leading” (pun intended 😉 – with Partnership for the Public Good – efforts toward LEAD – Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion; in which officers send people to programs re mental health, substance abuse, and economic hardship for people’s related infractions, rather than arresting them.
We push with PPG and other allies for real and widespread Community Policing, fix-it tickets, serious de-funding of the police the criminal “Justice” System (#moneyforlifenotdeath), and an end to qualified immunity for police officers. We need accountability!
We encourage all to join us, allies, and partners in working for the community and especially our young people of color, through Truth and Love, Courage and Collaboration, and a culture of real peace and true nonviolence.
#PeopleandthePlanet #OneLove
In our continued effort to limit digital overload, we are again highlighting only a handful of special events below, and then refer you to our website for details on our regularly scheduled events and ‘Helping Hands’ resources list. Please see details and much more – including campaigns and fundraisers – at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)! We update our Event Calendar often as we learn of new events, so please be sure to check back regularly!
And lastly, a reminder to pace yourselves. Do only what you can; no one call do it all. Let us know what kind of help you might need from the WNYPC!
Peace, thanks, solidarity and yes – love.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
WEDS, JUNE 3rd @ 12:00 PM: RALLY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE WITH PEOPLE OF FAITH
Meeting – adhering to physical distancing and face mask protocols – at the steps of City Hall for ~45 minutes of prayer, lament, and speaking (testimonial by people impacted). Then walking to the Erie County Holding Center, midblock of Delaware Avenue between Eagle and Church Streets. Organized by the Faith Leaders Caucus of VOICE Buffalo as an interfaith event.
THURS, JUNE 4th @ 9:30 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, JUNE 4th @ 4:00PM: ‘HEALING BUFFALO ’ PEACE GATHERING
Location TBA (please refer here for updates). Come participate in a peaceful sit-in designed to uplift black and brown communities by encouraging healing and wholeness. All who attend to adhere to social distancing protocols, including wearing a face mask. Initiated by poet Jillian Hanesworth. If you are willing to be a Marshall (just buffer keeping people safe, wearing a vest); help with providing food and water; donate; etc., please contact us or Denise Walden of Voice Buffalo at 716-465-2297.
THURS, JUNE 4th @ 6:00 PM: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TASKFORCE MEETING
To join this monthly meeting by computer: https://meet.jit.si/OrdinaryTenantsPaintUnder or by phone: +1.512.402.2718 PIN: 3572455174#. Regular monthly meeting to plan and organize to move ourselves on to renewable energy and off of fossil fuels. Bomb train resistance, no nuclear waste over the Peace Bridge and on public highways, etc. also often included in the mix of topics. All are welcome!
FRI, JUNE 5th @ 4:00 PM: OPEN BUFFALO’S ‘INTRO 2 ORGANIZING’ SEMINAR
This is an entry level seminar for those interested in learning about how to make change in their community. On Zoom. To save your spot (and for more details), please contact info@openbuffalo.org.
SAT, JUNE 6th @ 11:00 AM: VIGIL IN REMEMBRANCE OF KALIEF’S PASSING
Many of you will know of Kalief Browder, who was unjustly incarcerated at the Rikers Island jail complex – without trial – between 2010 and 2013 for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was unable to make bail and was in solitary confinement for two of these years; he committed suicide shortly following his release on the dropped charges. Following a celebration of what should have been Kalief’s 27th birthday on May 26th, please join us in recognizing the five-year anniversary of Kalief’s passing. Register for Zoom here.
SAT, JUNE 6th@ 11:00 AM: “I CAN’T BREATHE” SILENT VIGIL
At Bidwell Park. Organized by residents, please join this silent peaceful protest. If you can, wear a facemask that reads “I can’t breathe.” Will coincide with the regularly scheduled Women in Black nonviolence vigil. 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.
SAT, JUNE 6th @ 1:00 PM: VIGIL FOR GEORGE FLOYD & VICTIMS OF BUFFALO POLICE BRUTALITY
At Martin Luther King, Jr., Park. Community leaders will speak, along with a prayer and moment of silence. Everyone is welcome. Organized by Alia Williams, a proud resident of Buffalo, NY.
TUES, JUNE 9th @ 7:00 PM: SPEAK OUT ON ETHICAL POLICE OFFICERS
An open and honest virtual discussion on standards of conduct, use of force, and de-escalation. Mayor Brown, Commissioner Byron Lockwood, Deputy Commissioners Barbara Lark and Joseph Gramaglia, and community members are all invited. Hosted and organized by the WNY Peace Center’s Racial Justice Taskforce; cosponsored by We Are Women Warriors, SSJ Sr. Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, and more. On Zoom using Meeting ID 835 4443 7863 and password 683731.
SAT, JUNE 13th & SUN, JUNE 14th: 45th JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL OF BUFFALO
This year’s celebration will be featured online – additional details TBA.
SAT, JUNE 20th @ 4:00 PM: MASS POOR PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY & MORAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON
This year’s march is going digital! Join the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. Join by RSVPing at June2020.org.
#UNITE | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede!