June 3rd, 2020
We are grateful to already be able to share a hopeful update to yesterday’s newsletter. We understand that yesterday afternoon Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood joined protestors in Niagara Square to listen to and speak with them. He has also agreed to another more formal talk with the organizers later this month. Their protest ended shortly after.
We hope Commissioner Lockwood will consider doing the same for our Speakout on the 9th. We want greater accountability from the Buffalo Police Department and see this as a positive step in that process for our city. We appreciate County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s presence yesterday and support for ending racial injustices both in Buffalo and around the nation. Please see also Mayor Byron Brown’s frank talk yesterday about racism.
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love.
June 2nd, 2020
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
May 27th, 2020
In an effort to limit ongoing digital overload, we are continuing to highlight just a few important items and special upcoming events and then refer you to our website for details on our regularly scheduled events and COVID-19 ‘Helping Hands’ resource list.
We at the WNY Peace Center are extremely alarmed at the recent video of two Buffalo Police officers repeatedly punching a captive man in the head, coupled with the many terrible stories of aggressive, unreasonable, and/or racist behavior on the part of Buffalo Police Officers, as told by attendees at the Buffalo Police Advisory Board Meeting of 05/20/2020. We have sent out a press release to that effect, publicly inviting Mayor Brown, Commissioner Lockwood, and Deputy Commissioners Gramaglia and Lark to join us in a Speak-Out for Ethical Peace Officers – on June 9th at 6pm (or at a mutually agreed upon time). We, of course, also invite you to attend for an open and honest virtual discussion on standards of conduct, use of force, and de-escalation. More details will be shared as they are confirmed.
In response to the current $14 billion COVID-related budget crisis, Governor Cuomo is withholding authorization of NYS contracts beginning July 1st. This affects all operations – in particular, the funding of social programs like food banks and SNAP (food stamp) programs. The Network of Religious Communities (NRC) is one of 45 agencies currently receiving funding to provide SNAP education and assistance in NYS counties, and their Nutrition Outreach program is one of the programs dramatically impacted. We are asking friends of the NRC and those who recognize the importance of the SNAP program – especially during the current public health crisis – to contact their NY State Representatives and Senators urging them to have the Governor authorize vital state contracts for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. Please visit our Campaigns page for more details.
New sentencing dates were announced for the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 – June 8th, 29th, and 30th – per the request of the defendants in order to accommodate their right to be sentenced in person in an open court, witnessed by the public. As they wait for their sentencing, each of the KBP7 continues to serve their communities as human needs grow exponentially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Please see their recent webinars on disarmament and divestment here and here. If you would like to write to Judge Lisa Godbey Wood in support of the defendants, you may do so here.
Lastly, on Saturday the WNYPC hosted a special episode of Draw and Talk with Valentino Dixon (one of our newest board members!) and featured a discussion with local social workers. You can watch and participate in the drawing session yourself – at home, at your leisure – and send us photos of you work to share! You can check out more of Valentino’s drawing lessons and discussions on YouTube and Instagram.
Please see details and much more below, including special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more 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 without engaging in digital overload. No one call do it all. Let us know what kind of help you might need from the WNYPC; please feel free to reach out!
Peace, thanks, solidarity and yes – love.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
