From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Next Meeting: Sun. Nov.22, 2020, 3-4 PM, via Zoom. Link to come.
Agenda: The Work Ahead: What is Our New Direction? Please come and share your thoughts as we consider the new realities of political work during the Biden-Harris administration.
Upcoming Meeting Schedule: 12/6, 12/20/20, 1/10/21
The CNY Solidarity Coalition Coordinating Committee has some empty positions that need to be filled in January. Please respond to this email if you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity!
Update on Choose Democracy CNY
Choose Democracy CNY formed before the election to organize to ensure that every vote be counted and that there would be a peaceful transition of power. We also were prepared to challenge any possible coup attempt by Trump or his allies. To date there has not been a coup attempt in a traditional way, but the situation remains dangerous and we must remain vigilant and be prepared to act.
Co-sponsoring groups are CNY Poor People’s Campaign, CNY Solidarity Coalition, Indivisible NY-24, Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America, Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network, Syracuse Cultural Workers and Syracuse Peace Council. We welcome other groups to sign on. Please email us at ChooseDemocracyCNY@gmail.com to become a co-sponsor. We are informed in particular by the work of the national groups Protect the Results and Choose Democracy.
Our next steps:
We will mobilize in response to political events rather than set a date in advance for mobilization.
The working groups will continue to prepare so that we can move ahead quickly and smoothly if activated. They are: safety/de-escalation, outreach, publicity, protest observers/legal, elected officials sign-on pledge, event planning/logistics, coordinating. Our safety and de-escalation team is especially looking for new members.
Sign up for updates here.
Where can my political donation have the biggest impact?
Help Georgia Turn Blue
Stacey Abrams’ organizing efforts played a big role in helping Democrats win the Presidential election in tis formerly deeply red state. Her efforts will prove critical to enabling Democrats to take Georgia’s two Senate seats in the expected run-offs. Please consider making a donation and volunteering to help her group, Fair Fight: https://fairfight.com/. The opportunities to text or call Georgia voters show up by clicking on “Join our Fight” under the “Get Involved” heading at the bottom of the page.
Articles of the Week:
Election results under attack: Here are the facts Read it Here
A compilation of the misinformation, disinformation and many rejected legal challenges by the Trump campaign to try to overturn votes. – from the Washington Post
November Elections & American Democracy: Where Do We Go From Here?
Webinar Recording: Prof. Tom Keck spoke recently on “November Elections & American Democracy: Where Do We Go From Here?” Watch it here.
It’s Time to Hunker Down. Read it here
A devastating surge is here. Unless Americans act aggressively, it will get much larger, very quickly.
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR
Path to the Polls: Celebrating Women in Politics
Tuesday, November 17th from 6:00-7:00 pm
The Upstate New York Girl Up Coalition is the official coalition of all Girl Up clubs and chapters in Upstate New York. Girl Up is a United Nations Foundation that works to empower girls globally towards reaching full gender equality.
The Girl Up Speaker Series Event in November will be: “Path to the Polls: Celebrating Women in Politics,” an interactive forum highlighting women who have run for office in this last election cycle including Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter from Syracuse and Sarah Clark from Rochester. Obviously, this election cycle has been an especially unique and crazy one, so this event is meant to serve as a grounding space for women, particularly young women, to reflect. The focus will not be much on policy and issues, but rather the experiences of these women who have run for office.
Interested young people must register in advance here. (tinyurl.com/novspeakerseries)
TOWN HALL SERIES – A QUESTION OF STUDENT SAFETY: SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (SRO) Final Session
Tuesday, November 17 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by National Action Network Syracuse Chapter, Black Leadership Coalition and
Syracuse Police Accountability and Reform Coalition-SPAARC
REGISTRATION — https://bit.ly/2FGxNNx
The People’s Agenda on Policing, in partnership with the Syracuse City School District, is hosting a series of town halls on School Resource Officers (SROs) in Syracuse City Public Schools. The conversation will also be live-streamed on social media platforms.
In Syracuse, the history of police in schools has been riddled with excessive force including taser use and chokeholds, over suspension, and unnecessary arrests. What this has manifested is the school to prison pipeline, where young Black and Brown and disabled students are disproportionately impacted by police encounters, and funnelled into the carceral state. Despite the New York State Legislature and Governor passing and signing Education Law 2801-A(10), Syracuse City School District has not adequately engaged the community in reimagining what safe schools without police could look like.
Police free schools is the rallying cry of students and teachers, advocates and parents seeking to imagine the fullest potential for Syracuse City School District students. By saving and redirecting funds that would have otherwise gone to law enforcement, students are provided the best learning environment and outcome they need – counselors, not cops, mentors, not police, services not suspensions. Further, teachers are provided with all the tools that they need to ensure the most optimal learning environment for their students.
New Member Night: Syracuse DSA
Nov. 18, 7 PM EST
Welcome to Syracuse DSA!! We are glad to meet you and provide some orientation to our chapter!! Please come to meet other comrades, find our more about National Democratic Socialists of America, learn how our chapter functions and ask questions!
Registration: https://dsausa.zoom.us/…/tJwkcumspj0uGtRt0RHzqHWQCm0Cf0…
SPECIAL SHOPPING SECTION
We don’t normally promote shopping here, but with a busy shopping season combined with a need to stay home, here are a few options:
1. Support Local/Independent Businesses as much as possible. Buy gift cards, order and pick up, etc. They really need our support! Example: https://www.syracuseculturalworkers.com
2. Don’t buy from the richest man in the world. Support independent bookstores. Shop online with Bookshop. Read about it here. Or go to https://www.onlib.org for Library Takeout or to download books, movies, etc.
3. Shop at Green America’s directory of green businesses Here
4. Seven Sites that are Great Alternatives to Amazon for online essentials. article from Fast Company
5. See the special events below from some of our local progressive organizations.
ArtRage Fair Trade Sale – Virtual Edition
November 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021
Each December ArtRage Gallery hosts a two-day fair trade sale. Your purchases support artisans around the world and small local businesses. This year we feel it’s safer to offer a virtual Fair Trade Sale.
Two ways to shop with SERRV International AS a fundraiser for ArtRage:
1. Place your order through ArtRage
2. Shop directly with SERRV. ArtRage Gallery (The CORA Foundation) will receive 20% from your purchases
Details Here
Syracuse Peace Council Plowshares Craftsfair Online
Nov. 20 – Jan. 31
We are going virtual with Plowshares this year. Ten weeks of sharing, shopping, and crafts November 20-January 31, with a special weekend of online performances and live-streaming events on December 5-6 to celebrate Plowshares’ 50th Anniversary.
Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival has been an SPC tradition (and major fundraiser) for 50 years! This is not the celebration we had envisioned last year, but just like everyone else, we are adapting and doing the best we can to celebrate an alternative marketplace built on cooperation, the work of our own hands, and community. Plowshares will be “open” at www.plowsharescraftsfair.org starting on November 20.
In addition to browsing and shopping from crafters and organizations, those of you who have been to the in-person Plowshares will recognize other familiar features of Plowshares:
- An online Marketplace where you can buy books, calendars, buttons, t-shirts, and more
- An online Silent Auction where you can bid on a great selection of gift certificates for local restaurants and businesses
- Live-streamed entertainment and music
- Opportunities to talk with crafters, SPC organizers, and community members via Zoom
There will be no admission fee, but donations are gratefully accepted. Plowshares is SPC’s biggest fundraiser in the year (and frankly, we’re a bit nervous about finances). We can’t wait to “see” you there!
Three Easy Ways to Help Out With Plowshares Beforehand
1) Adopt a beautiful Plowshares Lawn sign for your lawn – we’ll put it in and pick it up. Contact carol@peacecouncil.net
2) Share the online poster. Encourage your friends and family who live further away to “visit” Plowshares. Share the facebook event for the Special Anniversary Weekend.
3) Purchase a gift card from a local business (restaurants, cafes, performing arts, health & wellness services, gift shops, etc.) and donate it to SPC to be auctioned off in our online Plowshares Silent Auction. Contact michaela@peacecouncil.net
Buy Black CNY Holiday Market.
Nov 27 – Nov 30
Hosted by Black-Owned Syracuse and Black-Owned Central New York
Tickets · Free – $5
www.eventbrite.com/e/buyblackcny-holiday-market-tickets-127535396805
Buy Black and local this holiday season!
#BuyBlackCNY #BuyBlackSYR
Apply to be a vendor, sponsor a vendor or sponsor the event: www.BlackOwnedCNY.com
ONGOING EVENTS:
Street Heat – Weekly Protests are back with Physical Distancing!
HANCOCK: our decade-long protests against Hancock’s piloting killer reaper drones over the Islamic oil lands continue. 6000 East Molloy Rd from 4:15 to 5 p.m. For the winter months, we will reduce our schedule: the first Tuesday of every month: same time 4:15 to 5 p.m. Dec 1; Jan 5; Feb 2; March 2; April 6.
DEWITT: Weekly protest against IDF terrorism, maiming and killing of Palestinians. Fridays NEW TIME: 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. at Erie Blvd E and E Genesee, Dewitt. Park in the nearby mini-mall parking lot.
REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET: Protests are off until April.
For more information: anntiffany6235@gmail.com
JOE GUERRIERO
WAITING FOR NORMAL: Cuba and the United States
October 22, 2020 to January 17, 2021 at ArtRage Gallery
You must make a reservation to view this exhibit in the gallery!
CLICK HERE to reserve your time to see the exhibit.
Photographer Joe Guerriero’s photography and film work does just that, reflecting more than 20 years of spending time with the Cuban people and experiencing first hand the effects of the United States’ continuing embargo of the island. He shows how the embargo affects the lives not only of Cubans but of those Cuban-Americans who still have relatives in Cuba.
COVID-19 INFORMATION:
SIRDN Covid19 Warm Line: (315) 552-1670
Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN) Coronavirus-related information for farmworker, immigrant, undocumented, day laborer, and domestic worker communities. English and Spanish-speaking operators. Text and phone.
SIRDN has also created a resource document for COVID-19 information, for immigrants and undocumented folks. English and Spanish Or use these instructions to have Google translate .
If you do not have a doctor and have questions, or may have been exposed to COVID-19, call Upstate University Hospital’s Triage Line at 315.464.397
Onondaga County Coronaviris Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Page
COVID-19 Testing Hotline
Upstate University Hospital Regional Triage (COVID-19) Information Page
NYS Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Page
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Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com