This week’s calendar reminds us how much local grassroots organizing is focused on resisting authoritarianism, whether it takes the form of U.S. drone attacks in Afghanistan; Israel’s latest attacks on unarmed Palestinians, including journalists; racist policing, incarceration, and deportation systems across the U.S.; or the criminalization of reproductive healthcare.
Additionally we urge members to consider the selective moral outrage and American Exceptionalism that leads to military intervention in Syria this past weekend and ask you to remember that in March 2017 similar US intervention led to the US bombing of a school and market in Syria with the killing of 84 civilians, 30 of them children. Scroll back through your legislative email from yesterday and make a phone call to your representative and consider becoming more engaged on the topic. As Jeremy Scahill puts it:
“Some people may believe that the U.S. should be the global cop,
but if so, that’s one dirty cop — dirty to the core.
That cop should not be trusted to rescue your cat from a tree.”
Just in this next 8 days, we have 5 anti-war events we hope you will consider joining.
The Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network now has its own facebook page and has an important message regarding yet another unjust detention of a husband and father of five that occurred yesterday. Please follow the story and make the phone call to the ICE field director to show that the deportation of Pastor Herrera Nunez will not occur in silence.
Resisting authoritarianism requires energy, organization, and focus. But transforming authoritarianism requires audacity, imagination, and solidarity. The calendar offers a variety of ways to foster our capacities for each.
We hope to see you out there doing the deep work of organizing and transforming this community.
In solidarity,
Marianna and Maureen
COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT CALENDAR FOR APRIL 17 – 24
Syracuse Peace Council’s Street Heat
Tuesday April 17th 4:15 PM – 5 PM Hancock Airbase, opposite main gate, 6000 E. Molloy Rd Dewitt
Saturday April 21st 9 AM – 9 :45 AM by Regional Market Main Entrance
Tuesday April 24th 4:15 – 5 PM corner of Adams and Almond Sts (Rt. 81 underpass)
The Syracuse area hosts Hancock Air National Guard base where the Guard’s 174th Attack Wing conducts drone assassination and target identification missions using MQ-9 Reaper drone in Afghanistan and probably elsewhere. Syracuse Peace Council’s Street Heat holds a monthly presence outside Hancock Airbase to call for an end to the illegal and immoral killing of human beings by weaponized drones, which are piloted remotely from the base.
Join us! Signs provided or bring your own progressive signs. Contact for questions (315) 478-4571
Syracuse Police Chief Search: Community Input Sessions
Tuesday April 17th 5:30 PM – 7 PM St. Lucy’s Gym 425 Gifford St, with Spanish Action
Monday April 23rd 5:30 PM – 7 PM at Blessed Sacrament Church 3127 James St. with Access CNY (ASL available)
Wednesday April 25th at SW Community Center, Monday April 30th at CNY Philanthropy
We encourage everyone to attend a Community Input Session.
We also encourage everyone to take the Community Input Survey at bit.ly/spdchiefsearch.
The Syracuse Police Accountability and Reform Coalition-SPAARC is a coalition of groups organizing around the need to hold SPD officers accountable and break the school-to-prison pipeline in Syracuse City Schools. Like and follow SPAARC on facebook.
Protecting Our Environment from Militarism
Tuesday April 17th 7 PM – 9 PM at ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Ave, Syracuse
In this Alternative Education event organized by the Beyond War and Militarism committee, we explore how military training exercises, weapons production, deployment, waste disposal, and the war budget devastate and contaminate our planet, and impede environmental restoration. Featuring commentary from Dr. Jack P. Manno, SUNY ESF Professor Emeritus and author of Arming the Heavens: The Hidden Military Agenda for Space, 1945-1955, and Privileged Goods: Commoditization and Its Impact on Environment and Society. Followed by discussion and action items.
The event is free and open to the public. ArtRage is an accessible facility.
For additional information, contact the Syracuse Peace Council at www.peacecouncil.net or Peter Swords at pswords71144@gmail.com.
Beyond War and Militarism is a joint committee of the Syracuse Peace Council and the CNY Solidarity Coalition.
Green Light NY Bill Launch in Albany
Wednesday April 18th 10 AM – 1 PM at New York State Capitol Albany, NY
On April 18th the Green Light Coalition will be uniting from across the state to celebrate the introduction of the A10273 bill which will provide access to driver’s licenses for ALL New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.
We will meet at the Capitol building on the ‘Million Dollar Staircase’ on April 18th for a press conference and will hear from elected officials and directly affected community members from across the state. There will also be visits made to key legislators and we look forward to building with coalition members from across the state.
Interested in mobilizing from across the state? – Let us know!
Those living in the capital or who are within driving distance please join us on the Million Dollar Staircase to support the launch of the Green Light NY Bill!
Not A Crime: Making Our Case For the Reproductive Health Act
Wednesday April 18th 7 PM – 9 PM at ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Ave, Syracuse
RHAvote was created by patient advocates Erika Christensen and Garin Marschall after they had to travel from Brooklyn to Colorado to end a non-viable pregnancy at 32 weeks. Regulated in the state’s criminal code, New York criminalizes abortions later in pregnancy that are protected by Roe vs. Wade, specifically in cases of fetal non-viability or when there are threats to the health of the pregnant person.
Their advocacy efforts target the stigma around later abortion and give context to the state’s unconstitutional law and the legislation necessary to fix it. They created RHAvote.com to raise awareness about the issue and to support the Reproductive Health Act (S2796). The husband and wife team are visiting communities throughout the state to meet New Yorkers, share their story and ultimately start the conversation that ends abortion stigma.
Cruel April 2018 welcomes Jose Sanjines
Thursday April 19th 6 PM – 8 PM at The Point of Contact Gallery 350 W Fayette St.
Point of Contact’s annual poetry reading series CRUEL APRIL welcomes José Sanjinés on THURSDAY, APRIL 19. Sanjinés will present his new work featured in the 2018 edition of Corresponding Voices, Vol.11, published by Point of Contact, edited by Jules Gibbs, Tere Paniagua and Kathy Everly.
Reading will be followed by an intimate reception with the poet.
FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Free Parking available on the SU lot, corner of West and W Feyette.
Born in La Paz, Bolivia, José Sanjinés is a Syracuse University alum, currently an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, & Culture at Coastal Carolina
University. His recent scholarship explores the possibilities (and limits) of today’s multimodal systems of communication.
Solidarity with the Gaza #GreatReturnMarch
Friday April 20th 4 PM corner of Erie Blvd. and East Genesee St.
On March 30, 30,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began six weeks of sit-ins and demonstrations to demand their internationally recognized right of return to the villages they were displaced from in 1948, which lie just a few miles away, totally inaccessible to the residents of the besieged coastal enclave.
Palestinians are being killed for having the audacity to assert their right to freedom, justice, equality, and life.
The Palestinians participating in the Great Return March are continuing to march — and around the world, people are joining in solidarity actions to show our support for justice for the Palestinian people.
Israel is expecting to act with impunity, as it has so many times in the past. It is past time for us to demand accountability. Join us in the streets every Friday until May 15 — and take a moment to contact our Congresspersons to let them know they must hold Israel accountable for it’s merciless murder of Palestinian demanding their rights: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/641/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=22949
Dismantling Injustice: Syracuse Education & Organizing
Saturday April 21st 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM at Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church 317 E Jefferson St, Syr
Sign up at: https://goo.gl/forms/7LaLJWEJhaBywgta2
Please join us as community members, advocates, activists, faith leaders, and organizations from Syracuse & across NY come together, learn from one another, connect the dots, and build power to challenge the racist & horrific policing, incarceration, and deportation systems. This is a community education and organizing event. We will discuss some of the many challenges facing our communities and how we can collectively work together to push for change.
For more information, please contact:Nancy Gwin (ngwin@twcny.rr.com)
Mike Atkins (atkinsmja@gmail.com)
Scott Paltrowitz (spaltrowitz@hotmail.com)
Saturday April 21st 12 PM – 3 PM at 501 W Fayette St, Syracuse
The second in a series focused on creating trauma sensitive community. This event focuses on the power of relationships to resilience, transform lives, and mitigate the impact of traumatic experiences.
Saturday April 21st 4 PM – 6 PM at ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse
There has never been a revolution without poetry. Our writing is fueled by our struggles, and it matters. Our lives matter.
Join us for a poetry workshop that values Maya Angelou and Kendrick Lamar. The workshop will be led by Herve Comeau (lawyer, activist, and poet) in collaboration with ArtRage Gallery, NAACP of Syracuse and Onondaga County, and Onondaga County Public Library.
Wacheva Fundraiser: Malvinas, Sonic Youke & More!
Saturday April 21st 7 PM – 11 PM at NUHQ, 1003 E Fayette St, Syracuse (Enter on S. Crouse same bldg. as SPARK)
Doors 7pm Music 7:45pm Sliding Scale $10-20+
**no one will be turned away for lack of funds**
Come out for an evening of more electric ukeleles than you’ve ever seen in one place, DRUMS, and hours of dancing!
Tonight we’re raising funds for Wacheva Dance and Drum Studio CNY, an amazing multicultural and African Drum and Dance studio located off of Westcott Street! Chances are you’ve seen Wacheva at the Westcott Street Fair, or perhaps you’ve taken a class. Drop-in to their Harvard Pl. studio anytime for adult and kid classes in African Dance, Salsa, Yoga, and more!
Can’t get to the gig or class and want to support Wacheva directly now? Make a direct donation to this 501(c)(3)organization via paypal anytime: wacheva.syracuse@gmail.com
Learn more about Wacheva: wacheva.com
Please save the date: Work for Tips? Testify to End Tipped Wage
Monday April 30th 8:45 AM- 2 PM SUNY-ESF Syracuse
If you would like to be part of the WCCNY group that will have a presence on April 30’s hearing call 315-218-5708 or write to wccny@workerscentercny.org
If you would like to add your event or fundraiser to the weekly community outreach event
calendar, please email the information in 100 words or less to Marianna.kaufman@gmail.com by Monday mornings at 9am.