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
Friday, November 6th, 2020
We want to mention that we are still having some issues with our website, and have a wonderful team working to resolve this as soon as possible. We ask that you please note the upcoming event times listed below are correct, but are not currently accurate on our website calendar. If you have any questions about what you are seeing anywhere on our site, please reach out by emailing assistant@wnypeace.org.
Of course we’ll start by mentioning the election; while results are not yet finalized, we are glad to see the count continues moving along and that things are generally calm and peaceful. Please join us tomorrow for the Protect the Results Rally, 12-1:30pm at Niagara Square with masks and physical distancing. We have seen historic voter turnout, with millions of people voting by mail due to the pandemic. Every eligible vote counts!
The WNY Peace Center’s 53rd Annual Fundraiser: An Evening with Dr. Cornel West is now just three days away! If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, there is still time – visit bit.ly/wnypeace_cornelwest for all of the details! If you are unable to attend, please spread the word, share this email, and/or sponsor a ticket for someone! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this exciting post-election event will be held entirely on Zoom along with a week-long online auction to benefit the WNYPC. Please see our program below:
- Gnonyoh by Jill Clause, Tuscarora
- Introduction to student groups
- Awards, including Alt-imate Activist to Jillian Hanesworth; Emerging Leaders Award to Jalonda Hill; Lifetime Achievement Awards to Roger Cook and June Licence; and two surprise awards!
- Jillian’s performance of her poem, ‘The Revolution Will Rhyme’
- Keynote by Dr. Cornel West
- Q&A
- Gnonyoh by Jill Clause, Tuscarora
We are so excited for the guidance and wisdom Dr. West will surely bring to us at this critical time. We are ready for whatever comes next and know that we have plenty of work ahead of us!
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
October 6th, 2020
Dear Friends,
We are writing again to announce two amazing victories already this week:
- The WNYPC received Buffalo Spree’s Best Activist Group award! We couldn’t be more grateful and proud; thanks to all allies and friends! Harambe/Juntos/Together! See details and more Best of WNY 2020 here.
- State Supreme Court Justice Frank Sedita denied the request by police and fire unions to protect certain disciplinary records from release! Read more here.
We also want to share a corrected location for two events mentioned in the most recent WNYPC Weekly News. Both Cariol’s Celebration (12 PM) and the Collective Nonviolent Direct Action (CNDA) Study (3 PM) on Saturday, 10/ 10 will take place at MLK Jr. Park, Buffalo – not at Niagara Square. We hope you will be able to join us for a full afternoon of celebrating and learning together!
Lastly, we want to take this opportunity to highlight a few additional events and campaigns. ***Please be sure to check the Event Calendar regularly as we add events as we hear of them – often the day prior or even day of! ***
- The WNYPC is proud to participate in Cellino Plumbing’s October Nonprofit Contest! Click here to nominate us once daily until Thursday, 10/15 at 4PM. Then vote once per day between Friday, 10/16 at 8AM and Friday, 10/23 at 4PM EST. Please nominate & share!
- Wednesday, 10/7 at 1 PM – Emergency Press Conference re: March 2020 Eaton Case. At the Erie County District Attorney’s Office (Erie County Court), 25 Delaware Ave, Buffalo. Show up and tell John Flynn to charge the three BPOs involved in the crimes committed against Mark Eaton. Read more details about the injustices of this case here.
- Thursday, 10/8 at 1:30 PM – Webinar: World Says No to War on Yemen. On Zoom – register here. October 8 marks the 4-year anniversary of a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a funeral ceremony in Sana’a, Yemen, killing at least 100 people and wounding more than 500. Recently the bombing and blockade of Yemen — with western participation — has only gotten worse. As we all deal with the pandemic, which has exacerbated the suffering of people in Yemen, now is the time to connect and recommit ourselves to stopping participation in this disastrous war. Co-Hosted by National Action War, Yemen Alliance, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, Code Pink, and Western New York Peace Center.
- Thursday, 10/8 at 6:30 PM – Free the People Open Meeting. At the Belle Center, 104 Maryland St, Buffalo, 14201. With masks and social distancing, please join us for an open discussion of issues related to the criminal justice system. There may be special attention to committees working on issues in the City of Buffalo; in the County of Erie; and in the State of NY. Free the People is a statewide group and has had a number of victories, including in Buffalo. Join us for a learning and brainstorming session.
As always, please see much more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
#UNITEtheStruggles | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede
