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
Sunday, October 4th 2020
We want to start by again emphasizing the importance of completing the 2020 Census. (Read here about how a low census response could affect our communities in WNY.) Although the courts barred the Trump administration from ending census data collection on 9/30, the Secretary of Commerce announced that self-response and field data collection will conclude on 10/5 – that means TOMORROW is the last day! If you have not yet completed your household’s census, visit 2020census.gov to do so ASAP and remind your friends and family!
We also want to remind you to make your voting plan well in advance of Election Day – specifically for early voting. All active registered voters in Erie County are eligible to cast an early voting ballot – you do not have to do anything more! Starting 10/24, there will be 37 early voting locations in Erie County which you can just walk into to cast your vote. If you are concerned about voting in person, please see more details here on requesting an absentee ballot – there is still time! And if you or someone you know is interested in becoming a poll worker, find more information here.
The WNYPC is proud to host WNY’s upcoming Women’s March on October 17th at Niagara Square. Join us for a rally to stop violence against women (including economic injustice, misogyny, telling women what they can and can’t do with their bodies, etc.), BIPOC, and the planet! Will feature speakers (including local community leaders Dominique Calhoun; former Erie Co. Legislator Betty Jean Grant, head of We Are Women Warriors; and more), musical performances (including Roc Da Mic with Peacejam; and Queen City Feminist Chorus), and sharing information about early voting. Cosponsors welcome! Email assistant@wnypeace.org if YOU are interested in co-sponsoring, speaking, or performing!
The WNYPC also continues to emphasize the importance of Collective Nonviolent Direct Action (CNDA), especially as we prepare for the aftermath of an election with a president who has openly stated that he may not respect the results. Please see our CNDA study events and resources before the first of two biweekly sessions of the CNDA ‘First Steps’ on 10/10 and 10/24.
Lastly, a reminder that tickets are 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 see now more than ever that come November, we will be in great need of his post-election guidance.
We know that there is a lot going on right now, we really do. Remember to pace yourselves – we’ll get through it, together! Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word, as Dr. King said.
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
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Dear Friends,
We have just heard that a shooting has taken place today, apparently by the BPD of a person with mental health issues, now in critical condition. We desperately need changes that will come through the LEAD program (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion). This cannot be put off! The program must start now!! See below with much more to follow. We must make those changes for the good of all before there is more tragedy in our community! No time to lose!
We also want to thank everyone who contributed to the Father Joe Bissonette Fund for the Western New York Peace Center. Due to your collective support and generosity, the grant was almost tripled – generating $14,485!! We are so grateful for the legacy of Father Joseph A. Bissonette (1932-1987), who was known for his work advocating for the poor and disadvantaged throughout WNY; and for the generosity of his remaining family/fund administrators! In these challenging times, activism and advocacy are now more critical than ever. We at the WNYPC are proud and grateful to be able to carry on this important work, thanks to the Fr. Joe Bissonette Fund and all of you generous donors! We appreciate your contributions and support!
We want to confirm that the WNYPC will continue our biweekly series First Steps: Collective Nonviolent Direct Action Study. These will be hybrid events, now shifting to every other Saturday at 2pm (the next session is 9/19) taking place in person at Niagara Square with masks and physical distancing. This will include shared learning, principles, tools, strategies, planning and more in collaboration with other local organizations. The sessions will occasionally be livestreamed – if you missed it, you can find the recording of the initial session on 8/23 on our Facebook page and our updated event page. Please review those resources and the previous session to prepare for the upcoming session.
We are also excited to announce that next week we will begin selling tickets for our 53rd Annual Event, An Evening with Dr. Cornel West (SAVE THE DATE – November 9th at 7pm)! For more details and to check back for ticket sales, please visit our event page.
Please see details and much more below, including other special events this week (frequently updated, often with last minute info!), regularly scheduled events, 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
