Action Alerts – Week of March 19th – CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity members and supporters:
Please find below the weekly action alerts from Indivisible NY24 and our legislative action teams. Multiple important actions/events this week, starting with a rally/press conference on tax justice this morning at 11:30, followed by a rally for early voting on Friday, and the student-organized March for Our Lives on Saturday, then the Peace Council’s 82^nd birthday dinner that evening.

For those who haven’t heard, Rep. Katko’s mother passed away last week, and her funeral is scheduled for today. We cancelled our weekly anti-Katko protest this past weekend, and we’re asking for no overt references to Katko at today’s press conference. In the coming days, we’ll resume normal activity.

Today (March 19)

Two important events today

“Repeal the Trump Tax” Rally/Press Conference

The Trump Chicken is coming back to town, this time as part of the Repeal the Trump Tax Tour. Please join us this morning for a rally/press conference, cohosted by CNY Solidarity and the Tax March, focused on negative local impacts of the GOP tax bill. Featured speakers include U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, along with a number of key local advocates for tax justice. Event is at 11:30am, on the steps of Syracuse City Hall, 233 E Washington St. More details here.

Puerto Rico, the World’s Oldest Colony

Please join our Beyond War and Militarism Committee for the sixth event in their Alternative Education Series, which will be held at Artrage Gallery, 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, at 7:00PM. The evening will commence with the screening of Puerto Rico: Colonial Bondage & Resistance followed by commentary from Julio Urrutia, Attorney and Activist. Among topics to be discussed is the multi-decade program to encourage sterilization of Puerto Rican women; only one example in a history of colonialism that continues right up to the United States government’s appalling lack of response to Hurricane Maria. Free and open to the public. ArtRage is an accessible facility. For additional information contact the Syracuse Peace Council or Ron Van Norstrand ron@vannorstrandlaw.com

Tuesday (March 20)

One phone call today, and an organizing meeting tonight

No More Funding for Trump’s Deportation Machine

Here we go again. Congress again needs to pass a spending bill to avert a government shutdown, and it needs to do it by March 23. This time the Dream Act isn’t the central issue, and we don’t expect there to be another government shutdown. But while the Dream Act itself is not under consideration in the spending bill talks, what is under consideration is the amount of money that will become available to deport Dreamers and their families. Trump is asking for billions of dollars in funding for his border wall, additional funding for detention beds and facilities, and an increase in funding for both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In short, while Congress has failed at providing desperately needed relief for Dreamers, it is about to increase funding for their deportation. More details here. Today, please call Rep. Katko and tell him that you don’t want increased funding for ICE, CBP, and the rest of Trump’s deportation machine. Katko’s numbers are 315-423-5657 (Syracuse), 315-253-4068 (Auburn), or 202-225-3701 (DC).

Public Broadband Internet organizing meeting

Our friends at Uplift Syracuse are meeting to discuss their campaign for public broadband internet access. 5:30-7pm, 500 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse. Doors open at 5:30; meeting starts at 6:00. More details here.

Wednesday (March 21)

Poster Making for March for Our Lives

Our friends at March for Our Lives Syracuse are hosting a poster-making event for the 3/24 march. Today, 3-5pm at the Women’s Info Center, 601 Allen St. More details here.

Thursday (March 22)

Two educational opportunities tonight

Future Infrastructures: The Over and Under of I-81

Public forum at SU, featuring Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and other speakers. 4-6 pm in Slocum Hall Auditorium. More details here.

Online teach-in on energy efficiency and climate change

Alliance for a Green Economy, New Yorkers for Clean Power, PUSH Buffalo, and NRDC invite clean energy advocates and climate activists from across the state to participate in an online teach-in from 7-8pm. Join by video or phone to learn about the importance of energy efficiency in meeting New York’s climate and clean energy goals, creating green jobs, and having healthier homes. Speakers will include energy efficiency advocates, community based organizations, and the energy efficiency industry. We will talk about how to make sure the Cuomo administration’s energy efficiency policy (to be announced by Earth Day) benefits all people and reduces dirty fuels in all sectors. More details here.

Friday (March 23)

Rally for Early Voting

Together with League of Women Voters and others, our State Legislative Action Team has organized a rally in support of the Let NY Vote campaign. Please join us at 2pm outside the State Office Building, 301 E. Washington St., in Syracuse. More details here.

If you can’t join us in person, please call your state legislators today and advocate for early voting, automatic voter registration, and no-excuse absentee ballots. Most of us are represented in the Assembly by Pamela Hunter (315-449-9536), Al Stirpe (315-452-1115), Bill Magnarelli (315-428-9651), or Gary Finch (315-255-3045); if you’re not sure whose district you’re in, click here or here and enter your address to find out. Likewise, most of us are represented in the State Senate by David Valesky (315-478-8745), John DeFrancisco (315-428-7632), or James Seward (607-432-5524), but those links will help you find out if you’re not sure.

Saturday (March 24)

Central New York Says No to Katko

This morning at 11am, and every Saturday until November, we’re partnering with Indivisible Syracuse, Knit the 24^th, and others to say NO to Katko. We’ll be on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. More details here. Today’s demo will be abbreviated (11-11:30), so we can all head downtown for the March for Our Lives.

March for Our Lives Syracuse

March starts at noon on S. State St., next to the Everson Museum, 401 Harrison St., and ends at the Federal Building on S. Clinton St. Planned in solidarity with students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who have called a nationwide march for gun safety today. Last we checked, almost 4,000 people had expressed interest in the local event on Facebook; more details here.

Peace Council Birthday Dinner Featuring Barbara Smith

Join our friends at the Syracuse Peace Council to celebrate their 82^nd (!) birthday with dinner and a talk by legendary Black feminist organizer Barbara Smith. Doors open at 6pm; program starts at 7:30. University United Methodist Church, 1085 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse. More details here.

Sunday (March 25)

CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting

We’ll be meeting 3-5pm at the Central Village Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse, 212 Van Buren St. (Note that one of our earlier messages had an incorrect address.) Agenda details will be circulated later in the week; more details also available here.

Save the date for these upcoming events:

Tue., Mar. 27, 5:30-7pm: Syracuse City School District School Funding and Advocacy Meeting. More details here.

Sat., Apr. 7, 10:00-5:00: Nonviolent Direct Action Training, Bishop Harrison Center in Syracuse. Please RSVP here.

Sun., Apr. 8, 3-5 pm: CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting, location TBD.

Mon., Apr. 9, 6-7:30pm: Syracuse Lead Prevention Coalition meeting. 500 W. Genesee St. More details here.

Fri., Apr. 20: Some national gun control advocates have called for a nationwide high school student walkout today. Students at JD, CNS, and several other local high schools have posted their planned walkouts here. If you know students at these schools, please support them.

Sun., Apr. 22, 3-5 pm: CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting, location TBD.

Mon., Apr. 23: CNY Solidarity is teaming with StopNYInfrackstructure, 350.org, and others to organize a massive climate rally in Albany today. RSVP and get more info at CuomoWalkTheTalk.org.

Sat., May 5, 10am-5pm: Nonviolent Direct Action Training, Lutheran Atonement Church, 116 W Glen Ave, Syracuse 13205. Note the new date. More details here.

Sun., May 6, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, Bishop Harrison

Mon., May 14: Plans are in the works for Poor People’s Campaign direct actions in Albany.

Sun., May 20, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, location TBD

Jun. 1: NYS voter registration deadline for federal primary.

Jun. 19: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for federal primary.

Jun. 26: Election day (primaries for federal offices).

Aug. 17: NYS voter registration deadline for state primary.

Sept. 4: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for state primary.

Sept. 11: Election day (primaries for state offices).

Oct. 12: NYS voter registration deadline for general election.

Oct. 30: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for general election.

Nov. 6: Election day (general election for all offices). Click here to add it to your FB calendar.