Sunday, January 10th, 2021
We know we are all reeling and need to keep going in these troubled times – with our groundedness and balance. While we care for ourselves and one another, we know our work – in the right spirit – is more important than ever to make the changes that are so needed.
This afternoon at 4, please join this week’s Riverside Salem meeting as they’re hosting Christine Eber who’ll discuss her work along the US/Mexico border. This Buffalonian anthropologist has worked with the Weaving for Justice women’s collective in Chiapas for many years. Come for inspiration – all are welcome. Please see meeting details below.
Beginning tomorrow, please join Witness Against Torture for a full line-up of events including a fast, vigils, webinars, and solidarity actions. There will also be a vigil and press conference (with masks and physical distancing) at the Robert H. Jackson Courthouse (Niagara Square) on the need to close Guantánamo. Justice delayed is justice denied! Limited orange jumpsuits and black hoods will be used – see more below and on our website.
We are very sad to announce the passing of Jim Mang: beloved peacemaker, devoted activist, and the WNY Peace Center’s director from 1979-2000. His true commitment to peace and justice was deep and lifelong! Our deep condolences, gratitude, and love to the Mang family and the community. Calling hours (with masks, physical distancing, and capacity rules) are tomorrow, 1/11 from 3-7 PM at Ginnane Funeral Home – see below for details.
We’d like to remind you that the Women’s March WNY/MLK weekend is now less than one week away! Don’t miss this great opportunity to collaborate for our beloved community! #WomenLead – this time on Zoom, not in 65 MPH gale force winds (nor any COVID risks!). With music, poetry, and breakout sessions with local women leaders – see more (including featured speakers and co-sponsors) at bit.ly/wnypeace_WM2021.
Also get your pink WNYPC t-shirt as a membership gift in time for the Women’s March next week! Join at bit.ly/wnypeace_join (and also for our Membership Meeting in 3-weeks on 1/31)! Pick up your shirt during our office hours: M/T/R 2-4 PM or by appointment (email office@wnypeace.org).
Lastly, in these challenging times, please refer to our post-event offerings with Dr. Cornel West for continued inspiration. We are happy to share that we just recently added the full transcript of our 53rd annual event!
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, 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
