What: A March for Peace, a Cry for Our Lives – a local March For Our Lives in solidarity with DC & marches nationwide.
When & Where: Saturday, June 11th 2022, 10:30am-12pm. The community will meet on Jefferson at Glenwood, and proceed with solemn recognition down Jefferson Ave. toward the site of the Buffalo Massacre; then on to Jefferson at Riley for a celebration of life.
- (a sign language interpreter will interpret all speeches)
- 10:30 – Welcome – Ekaete Bailey
- 10:32 – Land Acknowledgment – Victoria Ross
- 10:35 – Agenda, mission and QR code mention: Cat Moores & Ekaete Bailey
- 10:38 – Deidra EmEl – 4 Goals of the March (highlights)
- Please note: Time frames below are approximate and may vary by 10-15 mins (sooner or later than planned)
- 10:55 – Solemn recognition of the 10 victims (and more) at the memorial site
- 11:10 – Program at Riley & Jefferson
- 11:15 – Jillian Hanesworth, Buffalo Poet Laureate
- 11:20 – Mission for MFOL (repeat) – Cat Moores & Ekaete Bailey
- 11:25 – Mark Tally – son of Geraldine Tally
- 11:30 – Lifesavers (Stop The Violence Coalition youth group)
- 11:35 – Fragrance “of Yah” Harris Stanfield
- 11:40 – 4 goals for the march (details) and the celebration of life – Deidra EmEl
- 11:45 – Music from Ros Jomo/Friends
- March ends at approximately 12 noon
Who: All are welcome. Organized by Ekaete Bailey, Eastside resident and Diversity (DEI) professional; Cat Moores, a freshman at Nazareth College; and WNY Peace Center, with volunteers and the co-sponsors listed below.
Why: Buffalo knows all too well the costs of gun violence. Given the horrific murders that have occurred in our community, and our nation, it’s past time for dramatic changes!! Our goals:
- honor the victims of, and people most impacted by, the Buffalo Massacre and other gun violence
- push all our elected representatives for:
- Universal Background Checks
- Assault Weapons Ban
- Repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA)
Current Organizers and Co-sponsors: Ekaete Bailey & Cat Moores, Bury The Violence, Back to Basics Ministry, Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ Buffalo), Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Free The People – WNY, Fruit Belt Advisory Council, Lifesavers (STVC youth group), Paul McQuillen at GunSenseNY.org, March For Our Lives – National, Muslim Public Affairs Council – WNY, NAACP – WNY, Open Buffalo, PeaceJam Buffalo, RAWtools Buffalo, Rev. William H Henderson Foundation, Riverside Salem UCC/DC, Sisters of St. Francis (Stella Niagara), Stop The Violence Coalition, Ss. Columba-Brigid Church, SSJ Sr Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, Vocal-NY, Voice Buffalo, We Are Women Warriors, We Exist Coalition, Women Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE), WNY Peacemakers, WNY Peace Center.
Friends of Buffalo-Niagara MFOL: Big Ditch Brewery
Interested in co-sponsoring? Complete the MFOL-WNY Co-sponsor Interest Form here: https://forms.gle/ru7au8r4Whoseq9i6
Questions?
- Email victoryross9@gmail.com
- Text WNYPC Google Voice 716-253-1486
- Call Deidra EmEl 716-603-0015 or Victoria Ross 716-931-3520
TAKE ACTION AFTER THE MARCH! Check out our MFOL Resources Page for information on gun violence and action steps to take!
Amanda Gorman is a 24-year-old poet, and the youngest poet to speak at an inauguration in U.S. history. She graduated from Harvard University and she is a social justice advocate whose poems highlight issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalized groups of people. She advocates for social change through poetry.
