716-332-3904 11/20/19 wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
Today was a busy day – hope you’re making it out to one of the 5 things we’ve organized and/or supported that are all happening today! (See wnypeace.org events calendar.)
Criminal Justice Reform is so sorely needed! Tomorrow – Thurs, Nov 21 – at about 2:30pm, please join us when the Erie Co Leg Public Safety Committee will cover Legislator Baskin’s Resolution for the Corrections Advisory – for which we have nominated Heron Simmonds. See you at Old County Hall, 92 Franklin, 4th floor. Please come out to support!
If you haven’t already, please sign the WNY Youth Climate Council’s petition to Buffalo Common Council to declare a Climate Emergency! Please go to wnypeace.org; to the Get Involved drop-down menu; and you’ll see it immediately under Current Campaigns.)
We hope you are patronizing small local business all year long. If, however, you somehow do happen to be getting something through AmazonSmile, you can now – as some of you have requested – select the WNY Peace Center as your charity of choice.
Again, please don’t forget to support our Friends of Democracy Now! in Buffalo campaign. Democracy Now! gives vital news, and we need donations to help keep it on WBNY. Please contribute via the WNYPC – online or with a check sent (and made out) to WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209, and write in the memo line: Friends of Democracy Now! in Buffalo (or in a note in the online submission). DEMOCRACY NOW! is BROADCAST Live MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8AM-9AM (LIVE) ON WBNY 91.3FM. and streaming live at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Of course, your donations – for Democracy Now! or for the WNYPC itself – are fully tax-deductible.
As always, more below, and lots more at wnypeace.org, and on our facebook page, twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (wnypeace)!
Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.
#Unite! #OneLove
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Events this week:
Erie Co Leg Public Safety Com – Corrections Advisory Bd Res’n
November 21@ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
At Old County Hall, 92 Franklin, 4th floor, the Erie Co Leg Public Safety Committee will cover Legislator Baskin’s Resolution for the Corrections Advisory – for which we have nominated Heron Simmonds. Please come out to support!
Wind Energy & Public Health: Panel Discussion
November 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
UB Center for Tomorrow, UB North (Amherst) Campus (Easy parking). The Forum brings together prominent experts for a fact-based discussion on the topic. As wind energy development accelerates in western New York, the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, New Yorkers for Clean Power, the New York League of Conservation Voters, and the Union of Concerned Scientists have come together to co-host a public forum on the relationship between wind energy and public health. The event will feature a panel of experts from various disciplines for an open, transparent, and fact-based dialogue on the topic.
Riverside Salem Environmental Cottage
November 24 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sundays, 4-6pm followed by a pot-luck. 3449 West River Road, Grand Island, NY 14072. This week Defend the Sacred: Native peoples buried in a foreign land.
Talking Peace w WNYPC on WBNY 91.3FM
November 18 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY. Mondays, 1-3pm. Call-in show with Vicki Ross hosting with Russell Brown, Co-Chair of WNYPC & its Resist Militarism! Taskforce. Also streaming on-line at wbny.buffalostate.edu. This week Emily Rubino, PANYS Director of Policy and Outreach, on foreign policy, especially amendments to the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), and ending the AUMF (Authorization for the Use of Military Force).
No More Deaths! – Vigil at Erie Co Holding Center
Weds, Nov 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – 4 DEATHS in 2 ½ months! Sheriff Howard is (yet another) elected official who needs to be impeached. Please join with the WNYPC’s Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce and our many allies at this regular Wednesday vigil at the Erie County Holding Center (Delaware & Church). Come ahead – All are welcome. Grieving families will be joining us, and people with related lived experience are more than welcome! Please, too, bring signs. Cosponsored by Voice Buffalo, Brothers Doing Better, Prisoners Are People Too, Buffalo AntiRacism Coalition (BARC), Black Love Resists in the Rust, SURJ, and more. Also please call Gov Cuomo at (518) 474-8390 to urge him to remove Sheriff Howard as he clearly is not up to the job.
End ICE Terror – Thursdays, 5-6pm, vigil in front of the ICE building on the corner of (@250) Delaware and Chippewa. Bring your signs and spirit of Solidarity. We will not stay silent! #EndICETerror #FamiliesBelongTogether #AbolishICE #CLOSETHECAMPS #NeverAgainIsNow
No Nuclear Waste over the Peace Bridge
November 22, 2-3pm
At the corner of Busti Ave and Vermont St. in Buffalo NY. Vigil against the shipment of high level LIQUID radioactive spent fuel from Chalk River Ontario to Aiken South Carolina. If any of it spills out, it will be next to impossible to clean>
ANNUAL VEGAN THANKSGIVING POTLUCK DINNER
November 24 @ 5:30 pm
Give thanks non-violently. Please attend our compassionate and delicious… ANNUAL VEGAN THANKSGIVING POTLUCK DINNER; at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst, 6320 Main Street, Williamsville. (On Main St. just east of Youngs Rd., across from ECC North Campus). The dinner is a fun(d)-raiser for the Animal Advocates of WNY. Suggested donation $10 adults; $5 students
(WNYPC) Peace Coffeehouse: Cuba & the US: Friendshipment Caravans
November 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
At Canisius College – Science Hall (convenient parking on Main near Delavan) Cuba and the United States: Friendshipment Caravans Speakers Vicki Ross and Marie Schuster: a report on their experiences with the Pastors for Peace Caravan which visited Cuba this July, organized by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO). With IFCO, they challenged the travel restrictions imposed by the United States, which try to stop us from seeing the truth of Cuba for ourselves. Come learn about Cuba-US bilateral relations, reject the new activation of titles III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act, and call for the end of the US blockade against Cuba.
Sponsored by Peace Action-Canisius, and www.lascwny.org/ and WNY Peace Center http://wnypeace.org/ Free and open to the public.
(WNYPC) Gender Justice Taskforce Mtg
November 25 @ 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
At the Merriweather Library meeting room, 1324 Jefferson (at E Utica), Buffalo. Come out to discuss the Women’s March, intersectionality, and much more. All are welcome! (light snacks provided)
The Great Law of Peace
November 26 @ 6:30 pm
At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St, Buffalo. Reading group studying the Great Law of Peace. Sponsored by Nekanehsakt: Friends of the Ekawehweh (including Indigenous Women’s Initiatives and WNYPC).
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REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS in the One Struggle, One Vision, One Love:
Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY. Mondays, 1-3pm. Call-in show with Vicki Ross hosting. Also streaming on-line at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Buffalo Nekanesakt. Indigenous support group/allies. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Ave. All are welcome!! Reading group for the Great Law of Peace meets on the last Tuesday of the month.
Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce – NO MORE Deaths! Vigil/protest Wednesdays 4-5:30pm at the Erie County Holding Center (Delaware & Church). Another Death! 4 in 2 ½ months! The Sheriff’s Administration is a Public Health Emergency!! All are welcome. Please bring signs.
716-332-3904 10/31/19 wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
Our/your 52nds Annual Dinner is only 8 days away!! It is getting close to last minute for dinner order, at it is the last minute for ads.
Shero CodePink’s Medea Benjamin will be there (the clip of Medea that went viral is on the Real News Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peJGmeg6ZE8.). Her keynote “No Green New Deal Without Peace; Growing Our Peace Through Justice Economy” will be an eye-opener!
So will Drea D’nur, star singer extraordinaire, and former Artistic Director of the WNY Resistance Revival Chorus. The WNYRRC will sing and receive the Alt-imate Activist Award (yes, we expect Wayne to be there, too ; )
And Valentino Dixon will get the Emerging Leaders Award! So richly deserved by this artist/advocate/exoneree/and all-round wonderful open-hearted man! Some of his art will be on hand too.
Youth will be well represented, too, with Peace Action Canisius College who’ll receive an award, and representation from the new WNY Peace Center Medaille Chapter!
So don’t miss the 11/8, 5-9pm Dinner at the hospitable Buffalo Niagara Convention Center! (The chicken caprese, eggplant rollatini, and vegan paella choices will all be delicious.) There’s free parking at the Fernbach ramp. You can get your tickets at wnypeace.org or call the office if need be at 716-332-3904. (As usual rather than an actual physical ticket your name(s) will be listed for check-in.)
We are also having a basket-making, silent-auction-organizing session on Tuesday, 11/5, at 5-7:30pm, at the WNYPC/NRC Bldg, 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo NY 14209 entrance and parking round back. It’s also a good time to drop off donations for silent auction or baskets (or items for a basket). We’d really appreciate it!
You can make monetary donations on the website towards student/ltd income tickets; and/or drop items off at the WNYPC at 1272 Delaware Ave (entrance & pkg round back behind the building).Please contact Nicole– thanks so much, Nicole!) at assistant@wnypeace.org with any questions.
Of course – Tuesday is Election Day! Don’t forget to vote! Or vote early – we welcome Early Voting to NYS!! You can find out where to go at https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/locations-and-times-for-early-voting-sites-in-erie-county/
Of course, we hope you can make it to the regular Weds 4-6pm NO MORE! [Deaths, maltreatment] Vigil and protest at the Erie County Holding Center (ECHC, on Delaware between Church & Eagle). Please bring signs – and donations for Joseph Bialkowski’s family to pay the funeral home for his ashes (it is the height of irony that tho the Sheriff’s Dept. was responsible for his death the family is responsible for his ashes. We hope you will join us in this fundraising: either by bringing a donation to the vigil and or by clinking on the link here: https://donate.keela.co/black-love-resists-in-the-rust-just-resisting/holding-center-deaths Cosponsored by Voice Buffalo, Brothers Doing Better, Prisoners Are People Too, Buffalo AntiRacism Coalition (BARC), Black Love Resists in the Rust, SURJ, and more. Also please call Gov Cuomo at (518) 474-8390 to urge him to remove Sheriff Howard as he clearly is not up to the job.
See more below, and even more on our website!!
Lastly, again, please join our Friends of Democracy Now! in Buffalo campaign. Democracy Now! is such an important show – and we really need to keep it on WBNY, so funds are sorely needed. You can contribute via the WNYPC – online or with a check sent (and made out) to WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209, and write in the memo line: Friends of Democracy Now! in Buffalo (or in a note in the online submission). We need to keep DEMOCRACY NOW! BROADCAST Live MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8AM-9AM (LIVE) ON WBNY 91.3FM. and streaming live at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Please go to our website (wnypeace.org) calendar for plenty more listings, campaigns in the website posts, and info on our facebook page.
Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.
#Unite! #OneLove
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Events this week:
Lafayette Community School
November 2 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
At Lafayette School, 370 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo, NY 14213. The Saturday Academy has free activities for the whole community! Including free breakfast and lunch. All are welcome!
Women In Black
November 2 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Nonviolence vigil, Bidwell and Elmwood. Saturdays, Noon-1pm. Signs also available. (and you don’t need to be a woman or dress in black!)
Riverside Salem Environmental Cottage
November 3 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Riverside Salem Environmental Cottage & UCC/DC – Various progressive spiritual activist and naturalist programs, Sundays, 4-6pm followed by a pot-luck. 3449 West River Road, Grand Island, NY 14072. This week Session 2 (of 3) on Jim Antal’s book, Climate Church Climate World.
Talking Peace w WNYPC on WBNY 91.3FM
November 4 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY. Mondays, 1-3pm. Call-in show with Vicki Ross hosting. Also streaming on-line at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Basket-making Silent-Auction-organizing for Annual Dinner
November 5 @ 5:00 pm
At the WNYPC/NRC Building, 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo NY 14209 entrance and parking round back. Come join us as we put together basket, organize items for the silent auction, and revel in the anticipation of a great Annual Dinner with keynote and shero Medea Benjamin!! Plus get an idea of which things you want to bid on – or drop some things off you’d like to donate!
Buffalo Nekanesakt
November 5 @ 6:30 pm
Indigenous support group/allies. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Ave. All are welcome!! The group will have completed a number of trainings to help people understand the experiences of Indigenous peoples. Come ahead to help with the next projects!
Voter Registration Drive
November 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
At Canisius College, tabling outside Bowhuis Library. Organized by PeaceAction Canisius College with USA Justice and Young Americans for Freedom Club,
No More Deaths! – Vigil at Erie Co Holding Center
Weds, Nov 6 @ 4:00 pm – 6 pm – 4 DEATHS in 2 ½ months! Sheriff Howard is (yet another) elected official who needs to be impeached. Please join with the WNYPC’s Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce and our many allies at this regular Wednesday vigil at the Erie County Holding Center (Delaware & Church). Come ahead – All are welcome. Grieving families will be joining us, and people with related lived experience are more than welcome! Please, too, bring signs. Cosponsored by Voice Buffalo, Brothers Doing Better, Prisoners Are People Too, Buffalo AntiRacism Coalition (BARC), Black Love Resists in the Rust, SURJ, and more. Also please call Gov Cuomo at (518) 474-8390 to urge him to remove Sheriff Howard as he clearly is not up to the job.
Environmental Justice Taskforce
November 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
At the Isaías González-Soto Branch (formerly Niagara Branch) Library, 280 Porter Ave, Buffalo 14201. Come out to learn about the bomb trains, and bomb train watch; No NAPL efforts; nuclear waste transport (liquid and solid over the Peace Bridge and hundreds of miles of highways and byways, creating a gigantic public health hazard); and more.
52nd Annual Dinner with Medea Benjamin
November 8 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join us to celebrate our 52nd Annual Dinner, with special guest, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Medea Benjamin, the co-founder of the women-led peace group CODEPINK and the co-founder of the human rights group Global Exchange. She has been an advocate for social justice for more than 40 years!
The event, Nov 8, 5-9pm at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, is not to be missed. Not only is Medea and her perspective vital for people and the planet (more on Medea directly below), but we will also be giving out three very important awards:
— The WNY Resistance Revival Chorus, a wonderfully committed & progressively-minded women’s chorus, will be getting the Alt-imate Activist Award (named for WNY Peace Center lifelong stalwart member, organizer, and activist, Wayne Alt);
— Valentino Dixon will receive the Emerging Leaders Award! As most of you know, Valentino was just released when exonerated after 27 years of outrageous, unjust incarceration.
– Peace Action Canisius College, another PeaceAction group (along with the WNYPC) will be getting the Don Shaffer Student Peacemaker Award. The group is dedicated and creative; collaborates with us for the LASC organized monthly Peace Coffeehouses; and richly deserves this award for all their dedication!
You can still get your ticket on line at
http://wnypeace.org/wp/52nd-annual-dinner-with-madea-benjamin/
Bail Reformed? What the New Law Means for Erie County
November 13 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
At the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, 1423 Jefferson Ave (@ E Utica), Buffalo, New York. The WNY Peace Center will host a community discussion to break down the New York State criminal justice reform bill that passed, changes to cash bail beginning January 1, 2020, and what this reform means for the community.
