Dear CNYSC members and supporters,
This week we highlight a special #FreeBlackMamas Syracuse Mother’s Day Bailout fundraiser. Follow the link to donate, volunteer , and to learn more about this important Mother’s Day action.
Also, this week begins the holy month of Ramadan. Follow the links below to register for the upcoming 3rd Annual Iftar.
Muslims across the globe celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, fasting from dawn until dusk. The purpose of Ramadan is not only about abstaining from food, it is also about charity, empathy, and building character. Muslim members of the Syracuse Community cordially invite you to a Ramadan Dinner(Iftar).
Now, on to your calendar.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT CALENDAR MAY 7-14
Spring into Street Heat with the Syracuse Peace Council
Exposing Hancock’s Weaponized Reaper Drones
Meet us out in the streets with messages of peace and social justice. Bring a sign or use one of ours. Contact Ann Tiffany or Ed Kinane at 315-478-4571
Tuesdays: 4:15-5pm
May 7 – Hancock AirBase, (174th Attack Wing)
May 14 – E. Genesee St. and Erie Blvd. East
Every Saturday 9-9:45am:
Regional Market main entrance (Park St.)
This past Saturday, May 4, Peace Activists from SPC traveled to the Venezuelan embassy in DC and a special street heat was held in solidarity with embassy peace activists.
Learn more: The U.S. is orchestrating a coup in Venezuela. Instead of meddling in the internal affairs of another country, the U.S. should be supporting peaceful dialogue facilitated by mediators such as Mexico, Uruguay, and the Pope. We have seen the effects of past U.S. backed coups in Latin America — Guatemala in 1953, Chile in 1973, Honduras in 2009. It always turns out disastrous for the people.
What You Can Do
–Sign the Declaration of the Embassy Protection Collective. For two weeks a group of US citizens has formed a Collective to keep the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC from falling into the hands of the unelected opposition—who have publicly stated that they will take over the Embassy. With the consent of the present Embassy staff, they have been guarding the Embassy 24/7, sleeping on couches, holding educational events every night, decorating the building with banners against U.S. intervention. See their Facebook page.
–Support HR 1004. This bill seeks “To prohibit the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities with respect to Venezuela.” It was introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and CodePink is organizing to get more support for it in Congress. Click here to contact your Congressional representative through CodePink. To read the text of the bill, click here.
—Learn more about Venezuela. Go to the CodePink website for FAQs and links to articles. There are several helpful articles published by Foreign Policy in Focus. See links here.
Democracy is Brewing – Syracuse, NY
Tuesday May 7th 5:30 PM · Stout Beard Brewing Company 126 Dell St
Whether your issue is the opioid crisis, the $21 trillion national debt, a healthy economy where businesses have an equal chance to compete, the rights of states to make their own election laws, or affordable healthcare, in order to win meaningful lasting reform, we must fix our constitution first so our government serves people, not lobbyists and campaign donors.
Speaking will be Rosie Smith, American Promise Citizen Empowerment Coordinator. You’ll meet an active group of citizen leaders preparing to meet with legislators, engage with the media, and present to the public, all about the problem of money in politics and, more importantly, about the solution of a 28th Amendment to reverse a series of Supreme Court decisions which likened money to speech and gave constitutional rights meant for people to corporations and unions.
Sunrise CNY General Interest / Launch Meeting
Tuesday May 7th 7 PM – 8:30 PM · ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Ave, Syracuse
Join us for the first hub meeting and initial launch of the Sunrise CNY chapter! Sunrise CNY is the newly formed Central New York hub of the Sunrise Movement – “a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.”
Join us to learn more about Sunrise and learn how you can get involved in organizing for climate justice in CNY. We’ll be talking about the Sunrise Movement on a national level, the growing grassroots momentum
for a Green New Deal, plans to organize a GND Town Hall in Syracuse, and other organizing priorities for the Sunrise CNY chapter.
Learn more about the Sunrise Movement at sunrisemovement.org.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SunriseCNY
Questions? Reach us at SunriseCNY@gmail.com
City of Syracuse for Fossil Fuel Divestment Media Event
Wednesday May 8th 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM · City Hall, Syracuse
The City of Syracuse is supporting fossil fuel divestment! Join us on the front steps of City Hall at 10:30 AM, May 8th, for a press conference with leadership from the City of Syracuse and Katelyn Kriesel, Financial Advisor from Hansen’s Advisory Services and President of the Reinvestment Alliance to announce the City’s support for the New York State Fossil Fuel Divestment Act.
Blood Leaves Its Trail (Khoon Diy Baarav) film screening
Wednesday May 8th 7PM – 9PM · ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse
“A compelling and moving documentation of state repression
and women’s resistance in Kashmir.”
Indian-occupied Kashmir (using the wording preferred by Kashmiris) is the most militarized piece of territory in the world. Given recent events in Kashmir, especially the Pulwama attack in February of this year, and the possibility of war between the two nuclear armed nations of India and Pakistan that has resulted, understanding Kashmir is vital. This film presents the Kashmiri viewpoint. Professor Susan Wadley of SU will
introduce the film with a brief historical context. A discussion will follow.
Free and open to the Public.
Spring General Meeting hosted by Syracuse DSA
Thursday May 9th 7PM – 9PM · ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue
Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America will hold its spring general meeting on May 9. Members and nonmembers welcome.
Planned agenda includes
-talk by Matt Huber, professor of geography at SU
speaking on the Green New Deal and climate change
-talk by Cea Weaver, visiting from from NYC DSA.
In addition to being on the on the Steering Committee of NYCDSA, CEA is on the Organizing Committee of the Housing Working Group, and coordinates the statewide Housing Justice for All campaign, which is working to strengthen and expand renters’ rights in the State of NY.
-short business meeting
-learn about committees you can join and what they are up to
Message us with any accessibility concerns.
NYCLU Day of Action in Albany: Demand Equity in the Post- I-81 Era.
Monday May 13th 9AM – 2PM New York State Capitol State St, Albany
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on what to do about I-81–all 15,000 pages of it–is out. Those interested in preserving the status quo are organizing to influence the public comment period. Just as community organizers saturated the public comment two years ago to demand that residents along Onondaga Creek receive some of the mitigation benefits from Honeywell funds, we need to dominate the public comment period to ensure that whatever mitigation funds are available, South Side residents are prioritized when addressing past, present, and future losses. It’s not enough to endorse the Community Grid, which offers few protections against gentrification and a deepening of concentrated poverty.
On Monday, May 13, take a free bus to Albany for a NYCLU Day of Action (meals and a shirt provided) to speak to representatives and make the case for rebuilding Syracuse in ways that prioritize the residents in the highway’s immediate vicinity as well as compensation for their many, compounding losses. To sign up for the Day of Action, please click on the link here.
Get To Know Your Government Syracuse hosted by Enter the Public Square
Monday May 13th 6 PM – 7:15 PM · Betts Branch Library – 4862 S Salina St, Syracuse
Join us for a town hall with members of the Syracuse City Administration. Here’s an opportunity to learn more about what our city government does for us and how to influence our government to work even better. The event will include an open Q&A so feel free to bring questions.
Panelists will be:
Owen Kerney, Zoning Planner
Julie LaFave, Commissioner of Parks
Ken Towsley, Director of Code Enforcement
Please indicate if you’re planning to attend to this event so we know how many to expect.
Monday May 13th 11 AM – 1 PM · Albany Cap Center 55 Eagle St, Albany
On Monday May 13, join Renewable Heat Now, Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition and other allies in front of National Grid’s ‘80×50 Pathway Forum’ in Albany to call on Governor Cuomo to hold the gas utilities – National Grid, ConEd, NYSEG, and National Fuel – to account. Rally and speakers to be followed by a postcard and letter delivery to Governor Cuomo’s office. Sign the postcard here!
National Grid is circumventing New York’s climate goals by pushing proposals for gas expansion in New York at ratepayers’ expense.
National Grid is running an aggressive campaign to bring in yet another high pressure fracked gas pipeline to New York, this time through the NY Harbor just shy of homes decimated by Superstorm Sandy. Our health, safety and climate are on the line if we don’t show vibrant support for
renewable heating options as an answer to corporate utility threats of cutting customers off if they can’t have more gas infrastructure expanded.
Transportation will be arranged from Syracuse and other areas; follow the link to register.
Worker Cooperative Workshop Series
Wednesday May 15th 12 PM · Syracuse Coworks 201 E Jefferson St Fl 2nd Syracuse
Employee-Ownership redistributes assets and capital to a larger demographic, sustains longevity of tax bases and jobs, and strengthens neighborhoods and business districts.
Join us to review, converse, and analyze worker cooperatives as an employee-ownership strategy for your business, your industry, your neighborhood, and your city!
Register for FREE Today: http://www.onondagasbdc.org/worker-co-op.html
Through the Eyes of a Veterinarian: the Ethics of Animal Welfare
Tuesday May 14th 7PM – 9PM 3800 E Genesee St, Syracuse
Holly Cheever, D.V.M. will speak about her experiences in private practice and with NYS Humane Assn. regarding companion animals, “farmed” animals, animals in labs.
Please save the date and/or register for the upcoming events:
The Iftar 3rd Annual Syracuse Ramadan Dinner Saturday May 18th 7PM Manley Field House. Please RSVP by May 13th at muslimcommunityiftar.eventbrite.com
The Islamic Council of Greater Syracuse is hosting the 3rd Annual Iftar in partnership with Syracuse University.
The intent is to share a meal with people of other faiths and inform folks about Islam and Ramadan.
While the event is free, people are asked to register through the link in the attached.
Honor Oren Lyons Sunday May 19th 4 PM · Marriott Syracuse Downtown
Free ACTS (Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse) Training led by Bishop Royster. Monday May 20th 5:30 – 9PM Living Water Church 121 Huron St. Dinner 5:30 PM Training 6-9PM. Contact acts.cny@gmail.com to register or for questions.
Get involved in exciting local primary races happening now!: Let’s Primary: A Resource and Call to Action
Support the CNY Solidarity Coalition by making a donation online to help us cover technology, printing and other expenses. Thank you. *Donations are not tax deductible .
Volunteers needed:
Interested in helping with the website, data entry? Contact elaine@iammeinteractive.com
Interested in helping to distribute CNYSC brochures? Contact barry@barrygordon.com
Interested in helping to welcome new members? Contact marianna.kaufman@gmail.com
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.