Annual Event tickets; Voting+Census; Season of Nonviolence
716-332-3904 | September 27th, 2020 | wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
The WNY Peace Center is especially excited to announce that TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE for our 53rd Annual Fundraiser: ‘An Evening with Dr. Cornel West’ on Monday, November 9th at 7pm! Please visit our event page bit.ly/wnypeace_cornelwest to watch the promo video featuring Dr. West, find additional details, and buy tickets to either the theatre or Zoom live broadcast! We know that come November, we will be in great need of his post-election guidance.
On a similar note, we recognize that many people don’t know how to feel as it is right now. We’re guessing that you, like us, are just stunned by all of the things going on. We get through this by reminding ourselves that it’s always the right time to do the right thing. Please try to not worry too much and consider the Serenity Prayer. Solidarity, truth, and love are going to see us through.
We again want to remind you of the importance of making a voting plan well in advance of Election Day. There is a great guide by ProPublica on making sure your vote counts during the pandemic. A few main points: 1. Make sure you’re registered to vote; 2. Plan how you’ll vote – by mail, in person during Early Voting, or on Election Day; 3. If you’re voting by mail, read the instructions carefully; 4. Track your ballot; 5. Check your state’s ID requirements; 6. Ask for help if you need information, and report any problems you encounter; 7. Make a backup plan; 8. Beware of misinformation; 9. Be patient when awaiting the results. Find the full guide here and check out our prior newsletter with all of the details specific to voting in NYS.
We also want to emphasize the importance of Collective Nonviolent Direct Action (CNVDA), especially as we prepare for the aftermath of an election with a president who has openly stated that he may not respect the results. First, we suggest you read this piece by Waging Nonviolence on how to stop a coup; it includes tips for coming together, preparing to deter a coup before the election, and acting quickly and nonviolently in the event of one. Secondly, we’d like to remind you of the WNYPC’s CNVDA study events and resources. We need this both now in our current crises, and as we enter the Season of Nonviolence while the national situation progresses. In recognition of Gandhi’s birthday month, we will host two biweekly sessions of the CNVDA ‘First Steps’ plus a special Women’s March day of action on the 17th (see details on each below).
To end on a positive note, we are grateful to the courts for barring the Trump Administration from ending the Census 2020 period early. If you have not yet completed your household’s census, you again have until October 31st – visit 2020census.gov to do so ASAP! (Read here about how a low census response could affect WNY.)
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
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Find more details and additional special events on our Event Calendar at
Tuesday, 9/29
11am-4pm – WNYPC volunteer opportunity! At Network of Religious Communities, 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo. We need help stuffing envelopes for our Annual Fundraiser member invitations at any time during this 5-hour period. We will be working in a large meeting room and observing proper physical distancing protocols, including wearing masks. Email office@wnypeace.org if you are interested.
Thursday, 10/1
1pm – Webinar: The US Role in Bolivia’s Coup What It Means for Latin America. On Zoom – register here. With elections scheduled in Bolivia for Oct. 18, Massachussetts Peace Action will look at how the Organization of American States (OAS) and U.S. government helped the Bolivian right to overturn the results of last year’s election and install a right-wing government. Despite its many military interventions, the U.S. arguably does even more damage and kills more people through non-military means like the Bolivian coup. It’s important for the peace movement to make this clear, because there is a strong current now among liberals which argues that we need to switch to “diplomacy” and non-military intervention, and “soft power”, while not changing regime change and interventionist goals.
Sunday, 10/4
2pm – #HALTsolitary / NYCAIC monthly meeting. On Zoom (Meeting ID: 942 909 6816, Passcode: Aubry). Agenda items include: 1. Hear about the NY Senate hearing of Sep 22; 2. Make plans for taking the replica cell to various places in October; 3. Hear what happens on Thu 10/1, when the county legislature will discuss a resolution in support of HALT, and plan next steps on the county front; 4. Discuss possibilities for influencing debates or candidate forums for state legislature (e.g. in races to replace outgoing Senators Jacobs and Ranzenhofer, and outgoing Assembly Members Ryan and Schimminger), or of being part of a coalition to organize one or more such debates.
Saturday, 10/10
2pm – Collective Nonviolent Direct Action biweekly study session with the WNYPC. At Niagara Square. Please review the preparatory materials at bit.ly/wnypeace_cnvda.
Saturday, 10/17
2 pm – Women’s March: Stop Violence Against Women, BIPOC, & the Planet. At Niagara Square, Buffalo. Will feature speakers, music, plus information about voting; more details to come…
UPCOMING REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS
Find more details and additional weekly/monthly events on our website at
wnypeace.org/wp/regularly-scheduled-events
Monday, 9/28
1-2pm – Talking Peace, WNYPC’s weekly radio show. On WBNY 91.3 FM or streaming live at wbny.buffalostate.edu. The return episode featuring Jim Anderson, National VP of Peace Action NYS and India Walton, Director of Fruit Belt Community Land Trust. With host Vicki Ross, Executive Director, WNYPC.
7pm – Latin American Solidarity Committee monthly planning meeting. Email LASC task force chair Dr. Terry Bisson at bisson@canisius.edu for the Zoom link.
Wednesday, 9/30
3pm – Weekly March Against the Death Penalty. From the Robert L. Jackson Courthouse to the ECHC.
4pm – Prisoners’ Rights weekly vigil: No More ECHC Deaths! at the Erie County Holding Center.
Thursday, 10/1
9:30am – Interfaith Peace Network of WNY monthly meeting. On Zoom every 1st Thursday of the month; all are welcome.
5pm – Immigrant & Refugee Justice (IRJ) weekly vigil: End Ice Terror! Outside the Delaware North Building.
Friday, 10/2
2pm – Environmental Justice weekly vigil: No Nuclear Waste over the Peace Bridge! At Front Park.
Saturday, 10/3
12 pm – Women in Black weekly vigil. At Elmwood & Bidwell.
CAMPAIGNS BY ISSUE/TOPIC
Find more details and additional campaigns and fundraisers at
wnypeace.org/wp/current-campaign
wnypeace.org/wp/organizing-in-wny
Criminal Justice and Policing
– This week, the Buffalo Common Council is expected to pass Cariol’s Law! Contact your local Councilperson to show your support for Cariol’s Law before their next meeting on Tuesday, 9/29. Meeting details here; Council contact details here.
– Contact ECDA John Flynn’s office urging him to drop all charges against Willie Henley! By phone: 716-858-2424 and by web: https://www2.erie.gov/da/. If you are able, please also contribute to Willie’s lawyer fee funds at gofundme.com/f/willie-henley-lawyer-fee
– Buffalo needs LEAD now! We recently saw a clear example of how the current way police respond to community members with mental health issues fails our community. This entire situation could have been avoided with Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), a program that offers an alternative to arrest or hospitalization: diverting individuals into intensive management so their underlying needs are addressed. Learn more about LEAD here and SHARE WIDELY!
– 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.
- Urge your local legislators (contact info here) and ask them to make sure that the City of Buffalo is strenuously working to uphold the repeal. The city is lukewarm, and the issues with the BPU are feeding the problem.
- Send a copy of the petition calling for open access police misconduct to your legislators by texting SIGN YKNGJA to 50409
- Join the social media campaign calling for police transparency and records justice! #RecordsJustice #StoptheShadowRepeal #PoliceAccountabilityNow
– 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.
– If you are a social worker or mental health professional, sign the WNY Agents of Change open letter to Mayor Brown re: working with the BPD
#UNITEtheStruggles | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede