Sunday, January 10th, 2021
This weekend is a special time to help us get insights and inspiration to help us through these very troubled and troubling times. “The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Rev Dr King. We will fortify ourselves in these days so we can fructify – bear wonderful fruits for the work – paraphrasing dear Brother Cornel West.
Remembering Rev. Dr. King, his life and works, his strength and character, his wisdom and teachings – will help us get where we need to go. We at the WNY Peace Center were founded as part of Dr. King’s Clergy and Laity Concerned, so we try to remember and emulate all year long.
At the Women’s March WNY, we’ll be working for #UnarmedTruth and #UnconditionalLove in a virtual gathering tomorrow/Saturday 2pm details below. #WomenLead, especially in Intersectionality. Join us to #DefendTheSacred – #PeopleAndThePlanet. Agenda and more are on the calendar event page on wnypeace.org. Register at bit.ly/wnypeace_WM2021 (upon which you’ll receive a link to the zoom room).
We are sad to announce, besides the passing of beloved Jim Mang (peacemaker, activist, and former WNY Peace Center director), community icon and leader, longtime pastor of Michigan St. Baptist Church, Bishop Henderson also passed on Monday, Jan 11. Our deep condolences, gratitude, and love to his family and all the community. There will be a public viewing held Sunday January 17, from 7-9 p.m. at Alan R. Core Funeral Home , 1933 Kensington Ave., with a private ceremony Monday January 18.
We are grateful for the educating, inspiring, and devoted community service of dearly beloved Father Bishop Henderson – and remember seeing him at so many MLK services – including last year. He’ll be with us when we see the Concerned Citizen’s following the Dream remotely on Saturday and Monday – details below. We were honored to submit a Women’s March Tribute to Rev Dr King for inclusion to the wonderful program.
We still, in these challenging times, refer you to our post-event offerings with Dr. Cornel West for continued inspiration. The full transcript of our 53rd annual event is a special treat! See more from beloved Brother West on our twitter feed @wnypeace.
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
Monday, December 21st, 2020
The Western New York Peace Center would like to wish you each a very happy holiday season – including those celebrating today’s winter solstice! We hope everyone had a nice Hanukkah and Shab-e Yalda, and will have a merry Christmas and a happy Kwaanza later this week!
To our current members, please keep an eye out for a holiday greeting card from the WNYPC. If you are not a member, there’s still time to join for 2020 (throughout 2021) here. Our memberships make a great gift and include your choice of lawn signs: Love is Love or #UNITE!
Speaking of gifts, if you need some last minute ideas, there are great local businesses to check out – including Stitch Buffalo, which was just featured on today’s episode of Talking Peace! (If you missed it, check out the video here for a tour of the shop featuring many of their beautiful items!)
We also suggest you tune in tonight from 10:30p to 1:30a EST for the Afghan Peace Volunteer’s monthly Global Days of Listening. Tonight’s episode will be on “build[ing] a critical mass of nonviolent relationships for a green & equal world without war.” See more – including the schedule for other time zones – below.
We would also like to announce that the caroling event at the Erie County Holding Center this week has been canceled – a decision made in order to keep people safe.
Lastly, please review the campaigns section below for great ways to support our community during this holy-day season. 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
Thursday, December 10th, 2020
Our Speak-out on Erie County Holding Center, originally scheduled for this evening, has been postponed by one week to next Thursday, December 17th at 6:30 PM. Please join us then for an opportunity to share your lived experience and/or perspective on the Erie County Holding Center, and to hear from authorities. See details including the Zoom link at bit.ly/wnypeace_speakout.
Please instead join the WNYPC in recognizing International Human Rights Day today by supporting the 24-hour Action to #HALTsolitary. This campaign will mark the day with a twenty-four hour series of protests, teach-ins, celebrations, and more to call attention to the torture of solitary confinement and the broader racist carceral system, as well as the essential humanity, rights and dignity of incarcerated people. Actions will take place across New York State and beyond starting at 10 am and will be continuously streamed live via Zoom and Facebook through 10 am on Friday, 12/11. Register at bit.ly/24HourHumanRights.
– In WNY, join the candlelight caroling (with texts about solitary) and short speeches to urge Gov. Cuomo and the state legislature to enact the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. Join us 5pm at 65 Court St, Buffalo. *** Keep in mind your mask and secure distance, especially when singing. *** Will also be livecast statewide.
We want to recognize another people-powered victory: New York State is the biggest pension fund — $226 billion — in the world, and now among the largest financial institutions to divest from the riskiest oil and gas companies and de-carbonize by 2040! Thanks to #DivestNY for organizing! See more and thank Comptroller DiNapoli at DivestNY.org. (Now we need the state to #HALTsolitary!)
Lastly, we’d like to remind you that Democracy Now airs weekdays from 8-9 AM on WBNY 91.3 FM (or streaming at wbny.buffalostate.edu) – be sure to tune in!
Please see details on the above and much more – including special and regularly scheduled events this week, campaigns, and fundraisers – at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
