Read, listen and share our newsletter from our website! 

We had a great meeting on Sunday! Thank you to everyone who attended in person and on zoom. There was a request for the real costs of the Onondaga Aquarium and for non-violence training which we will continue to look into. Two upcoming events from Citizen Action and AGREE in Albany on January 22 & February 4. See details below.

The CNY Solidarity’s Annual Report was presented. 79% of the donations we received last year were donated back into our community. The election for the coordinating committee was held and the slate of candidates were unanimously approved. 

We heard reports and updates from Urban Jobs Task Force (UJTF), Workers’ Center of CNY, Syracuse Immigrants and Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN), Central New York Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and the Syracuse Peace Council. We learned accomplishments, current campaigns & projects and the year ahead. Although we had some technical difficulties, we have a recording of the meeting you can watch on YouTube or view reports below to learn more about the important work these organizations are working on in our community. 

• Read Urban Jobs Task Force of Syracuse’s Report 

• Workers’ Center of CNY Presentation 

• Syracuse Immigrants and Refugee Defense Network Presentation

Next Meeting: February 9,  2:00pm – 4:00pm In Person

Bishop Harrison Center, 1342 Lancaster Avenue, Syracuse

Meeting Policy: In case of a change due to weather, health warnings, etc., we will make a decision by 10 AM the day of the meeting and switch to Zoom. An email notification will be sent.

Last week the Senate voted 84-9 on a motion to proceed that opened debate on S. 5, the Laken Riley Act. Rather than using the filibuster to block S. 5, 33 Democrats voted to entertain consideration of this outrageous bill and 5 Democrats just did not cast a vote. (See how your Senator voted here.) 

This bill imposes mandatory, indefinite incarceration on any undocumented person who has merely been accused of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting related offenses. Of course, those things are already illegal – but this bill does away with due process protections guaranteed in the constitution. This means that millions of people in the United States legally, like DREAMers who came to this country as young children, could be detained and deported based on mere allegations. 

As of right now, the next vote on this bill is not yet scheduled — but it will happen soon. Democrats can make sure this bill never becomes law if 41 of them can do the right thing and vote no. Call your senators NOW and tell them to find their spines and stop this bill. 

CNY Solidarity is kicking off its effort to make Congressman Mannion acutely aware of our monitoring of his votes in Congress. His first vote was an Aye for the Laken Riley Act (HR29), which would mandate the detention of undocumented immigrants who are accused of theft, regardless of whether they have been convicted.  Read more about it here. The LRAct is not the kind of legislation that CNY voters had in mind when we elected Congressman Mannion. The Senate has voted to bring it to the floor, but has yet to vote on the bill itself. Please call or e-mail John Mannion and request a rationale for his Aye vote. What counts during this 119th Congress is voting in ways that support his constituents’ concerns, not making nice with GOP lawmakers in hopes of building collaborations across the aisle. Mannion’s contact information is contained in CNY Solidarity’s Contact Your Representative page.

The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 23—a bill aimed at sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecuting Israeli war crimes. This troubling legislation passed with 243 votes in favor, including 45 Democrats, 140 against, and one present vote.  

While this is a setback, we cannot give up. The Senate is expected to vote on this bill before the presidential inauguration on January 20. We must act swiftly to ensure it does not pass. 

*What you can do right now?  Send a pre-drafted email to your Senators urging them to vote NO on H.R. 23:*  The ICC’s role in holding war criminals accountable is essential to global justice. We must not allow Congress to undermine its mission. Together, we can stop this bill.

https://action.cair.com/a/vote-no-on-hr23 

SIRDN is working hard to onboard and train new members who will work with us to support the immigrant community.  There are many ways to help:

1. Join our listserv for announcements of events, meetings, and actions and for information. Write to us at sirdn315@gmail.com to join.

2. Come to our General Meetings where we share information, discuss our plans, policies, and actions, and make decisions.  Currently, we meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 5:30-7:00 on Zoom (for accessibility reasons). We send our zoomlink to our listserv and to individuals who request it at sirdn315@gmail.com

3. Volunteer with us! We need volunteers for our Rapid Response Team, as well as for many other tasks. Tell us how you want to help by filling out our survey! Thank you!

SIRDN Orientations Register by writing to sirdn315@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 15, 6-7pm, 

Workers Center CNY lounge, 2013 E.Genesee St, Syracuse, NY, 13210

Thursday, January 16, 11am-12pm, Zoom

Wednesday, January 29, 7-8pm, Zoom

See other SIRDN events below: Jan. 19, 20, 27

We need our state and county officials to make renewable energy part of the conversation, along with local media, so that renewable energy becomes part of the planning process. Micron needs to start sharing its plans for where all the renewable energy will come from and its plans for non-fossil fuel energy use in the building.

If you ask, every state, county and Micron official will tell you they care about the next generation. The question is: Do they care enough to make sure Micron allocates the funds and has the commitment to use the technologies to insure that Micron is part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Read on Syracuse.com

The Syracuse City School District displays an alarming lack of urgency when it comes to ensuring drinking water in schools is not contaminated with lead, a neurotoxin that permanently harms young children’s brains.

Installing filtered water dispensers in every school would be a prudent and proactive step. We urge the Syracuse City School District to take it.

Read on Syracuse.com

On Tuesday, four dozen House Democrats joined Republicans in passing a viciously right-wing immigration bill – legislation that, just last year, was seen as a conservative messaging bill. Six Democratic lawmakers flipped their positions, voting for the legislation after rejecting it last year. There’s a strong likelihood that the immigration bill will pass in the Senate, too, after most of the Democratic caucus voted to begin debate on the legislation. The Laken Riley Act, cynically named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant, is a smorgasbord of extreme conservative immigration ideas. 

Read it on Rolling Stone

Global temperatures rose and extreme weather ramped up, but there were also some significant breakthroughs for the climate this year. Here are seven quiet wins that may have gone under your radar in 2024.

Read it on BBC

I preview the races expected to be on the ballot in 2025. County Legislature, Town races, and the big primaries in the City of Syracuse. I also touch on how the even year legislation is going to effect it if it survives a lawsuit.

Enjoy.

New York’s plan to put a price on carbon could arrive in 2025. Here’s how it would work.

This model holds out both a stick (the allowance price) and a carrot (green investment) for businesses and households in the hopes of driving a virtuous cycle of emissions cuts. By fixing the “supply” of emissions, the program lets the market decide what their price should be. In principle, this should allow economies to achieve targeted emissions cuts in the most cost-effective way possible.

Read on NYS Focus

Tuesday, January 14, 2025. 12 – 4pm EST

Location: The Egg – S Mall Arterial. Albany, NY 12203

Governor Hochul’s latest bad idea is to build new nuclear power plants in New York. She may unveil plans to build new nuclear in NY during her annual State of the State speech- so we’ll be there with allies to demonstrate the fierce opposition to new nuclear.

Join us in Albany to pass out flyers about the pitfalls of nuclear power as people walk in and out of Hochul’s big speech at the Albany Egg.

The State of the State address is the platform for the Governor to outline her plans and priorities for the coming year. It is attended by the entirety of the state legislature and press- and therefore is a prime opportunity for us to be present, and loud- exposing the truth about the industry’s dangers, expense, lack of feasibility, and the public’s opposition.

Learn More Here

Tuesday, January 14th 6:00pm – 7:30pm 

Fayetteville Free Library 300 Orchard St. Fayetteville  

Climate Change Awareness and Action

Presentation by: Barry Carr –  Clean Communities of CNY

Barry Carr has been involved in the US DOE Clean Cities and Communities program for 30 years and is a recognized expert in clean transportation.

Tuesday, January 14 at 6:00pm on Zoom

You are a New Yorker eager to become politically active with Indivisible, and you want to be confident in understanding calls to action by Indivisible and/or your local Indivisible group.

This training facilitated by Indivisible’s Organizing Manager for NYS, Sarah Reeske, is for you!

Come get a crash course in grassroots activism 101 to bring you up to speed on vocabulary, organizing basics, and more.

Register Here

Tuesday January 14 at 6:30pm 

ArtRage Gallery – 505 Hawley Ave, Syracuse, NY 

Entry is free; donations are welcome

Refreshments followed by talk and Q & A 

Hilo (he/him) is an educator, activist, and native Palestinian. In 2013, Hilo and friends launched “To Be There,” an initiative whose mission revolves around the development and delivery of programs that educate, inform, and raise awareness about the realities of Palestinian life and the violence of occupation.

A War Industries Resisters League webinar

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 8:00 PM –  9:30 PM ET

Drawing from paintings, photography, poetry and song, this webinar will feature works of art depicting war’s consequences. Artists steadily summon antiwar solidarity. They help people focus on the crimes committed by war profiteers. Living alongside people trapped in various war zones reinforced Kathy Kelly’s belief that “the means you use determines the end you get.” Artists and writers provide us with the means to imagine a better world, a world beyond war.

Kathy Kelly is board president of World BEYOND War and a co-coordinator of the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal.

Register

Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00am-11:00am ET
Zoom Press Conference: Register Here
Please join the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal for a press conference as the Tribunal concludes its three-year investigation of United States weapons makers Lockheed Martin, Boeing, RTX (Raytheon), and drone maker General Atomics, charged by the Tribunal with conspiring to commit War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide, all in violation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The Tribunal will present its final report as well as the verdicts from all ten judges of the Tribunal. Speaking will be Col. Ann Wright (U.S. Army), Emerita Professor of Law Marjorie Cohn, and World BEYOND War Executive Director David Swanson.
Evidence has been presented to the public and to the judges… containing interviews with retired military officials, international lawyers, award-winning journalists, doctors, and victims of war.

Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 PM Virtual Event

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Erie Canal transformed life across America in exciting and unforeseeable ways, and we are still living with the reverberations of those developments. Come hear historian Hugh Ryan (author of When Brooklyn Was Queer) discuss how 339 miles of canal turned Brooklyn from a collection of sleepy hamlets out on Long Island into an urban mecca for LGBTQ+ life.

Register for this virtual event by the Erie Canal Museum Here

Wednesday, January 15, 7:30PM ET online

Red Wine and Blue

Published in 2017, On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is an essential guide on resisting authoritarianism and a must-read as we kick off the new year. As Snyder himself has said, “Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.” Let’s read it together and discuss how his guidance can inform our actions.

Sign Up Now

Thursday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Grant Middle School auditorium, 2400 Grant Blvd., Syracuse

The State of the City will be broadcast on WCNY Public Broadcasting Channel 24. 

Thursday, January 16, 7:30PM ET

Red Wine and Blue

Are you fired up and ready to speak at your school board? Want to testify against extremist legislation at your statehouse? Then it is time to hone your public speaking skills – and we got your back! Join us to learn the tips and tricks you need to be confident speaking in public. Use your voice and wow the crowd – you can do it!

• Registe

Thursday, January 16th at 6:00 PM 

Community Folk Art Center, 805 E Genesee St, Syracuse, 13210

In this captivating exhibition, 13 artists explore Black Women’s Care Pedagogy in CNY communities by creating artwork inspired by Black women who lived, worked, and loved in this space throughout time. 

Jan 16, 2025 08:30 PM – 10 PM Eastern on Zoom

An introduction to the basics of war tax resistance with time for Q&A. This session is for those interested in war tax resistance or those who have recently started, but would like a refresher on the basics.

Register Here

Saturday, January 18th at 11am – 1:30pm

March from the Federal Building in Downtown Syracuse to United Methodist Church, University Ave

March from the Federal Building in Downtown Syracuse to United Methodist Church, University Ave. where we will have a keynote speaker, Internationally known woman’s activist, May Sabai Phyu. March will begin at 11 am, arriving at the Church by noon for speakers.  Join us for coffee and hot chocolate after the March. If you are unable to March meet us at the Church at 12 noon for the speaker and community.

https://www.womensmarch.com/

We are not done. With Trump set to return to the White House early next year, we’re facing a moment that calls us to act boldly. It’s time to march. Join us!

RSVP to Syracuse March Here   | Syracuse March on Facebook  

Syracuse Immigrant Refugee Defense Network

Sunday, January 19, 2025 12 noon 

University United Methodist Church, first floor 

Mohammad Seraji of the New York Immigration Coalition 

We hope to gather congregations and friends to hear and learn from Mohammad’s “Know Your Rights” presentation which will offer very similar material 

Contact Galyn outreach@uumcsyracuse.org  for more information.

January 20,2025

Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M Street NW Washington DC 20005

While Donald Trump is being sworn in, let us rise up and march for the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his sacred federal holiday.

Let’s honor the fight for justice, equality, and change!

With Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

Register & to find a bus in a city near you

WWW.NATIONALACTIONNETWORK.NET 

January 20, 2025 at 12 PM

James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 S. Clinton St Syracuse, NY

Currently seeking speakers and organizational co-sponsors! On Inauguration Day, don’t stay at home and despair! Raise your voice for workers’ rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ liberation, women’s rights, Black liberation and environmental justice! Join the Syracuse Party for Socialism and Liberation, Syracuse Peace Council, Jewish Voice for Peace of Syracuse, Organize Oswego, Binghamton Solidarity for Palestine, and more for a day of action. On a day where we also recognize civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is more important than ever to build a united coalition for progressive change in CNY and nationwide. Contact stephanie.kenific@gmail.com with questions and interest.

Monday, January 20th, 2025 5-7pm

Salt City Market, 484 S. Salina St., Syr 13202

Come get to know other SIRDN allies and talk about what’s on your mind. No agenda.  Please rsvp by Monday morning, January 20th, to sirdn315@gmail.comso we know if you plan to be there.  We usually gather right in the middle by the platform that kids like to climb on.

In 2025, New York State’s landmark Climate Law is under attack. With fast approaching deadlines and a climate change denier headed to the Oval Office, New York can and must be a climate leader for the rest of the nation.

Thankfully, in 2025 New York State will start collecting substantial amounts of money under the state’s Climate Law for the first time. It’s our job to ensure that money is spent effectively for climate justice.

RSVP today to join us in Albany on January 22nd for a statewide Fund Climate mobilization and lobby day to demand action on the climate crisis.

NY Renews is coordinating buses and transportation across the state. Contact Ethan at egormley@citizenactionny.org for more information

January 24, 2025, FOCUS Forum

Register Today 

FOCUS collected the major recurring topics of interest in our community by reviewing insights from various local listening sessions and reports held in Central New York. These priority areas include: Economic and Workforce Development; Housing Stability and Development; Community Engagement and Transparency; Education and Career Readiness; Health and Family Support 

Our next step is to narrow our focus to more specific topics within these broad areas. We are looking for community input on which specific subjects they would like to explore further in upcoming FOCUS Forums.

We invite everyone to register for the live forum and participate in our survey. The survey will allow you to share your interests and suggest panelists and organizations you’d like to see at our 2025 Forums.

During the live forum, we will dive into your survey responses

Saturday, January 25, 2025 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Pl., Syr 13210

Registration is required. There are 13 seats available.

Join Petit Library and learn about energy saving programs and other ways to save energy and money this season. Come enjoy refreshments and take home a FREE DIY energy kit valued at $40. 

Registration required.

Saturday, Jan. 25, 6 Pm

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St., Syr 13214

Are you lying awake at night, worrying about where our democracy is headed? Finding yourself doom scrolling through social media when you’d rather be having real conversations with real people? Ready to make friends and maybe, just maybe, help save the world while you’re at it? We’ve got something for you.

Join us for BYOD (Build Your Own Democracy), a new casual, non-religious discussion salon and workshop where the Syracuse progressive community can connect, share ideas, and turn anxiety into action. Bring your passion and your friends so that we can build this world better together.

Registration is necessary to ensure we have enough folks for hearty discussion. 

Register at office@mmuus.org

Syracuse Immigrant Refugee Defense Network

Monday, January 27th, 2025 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom

Register: sirdn315@gmail.com

Many SIRDN volunteers provide rides as needed.  We are offering this training again at this time so that newcomers can join our volunteer driver group AND so that everyone providing rides can review both our policy AND legal issues (Know-Your-Rights – KYR) as it relates to private vehicles.  We encourage you to attend both the Know Your Rights Training offered through UUMC (see Jan. 19 above) and this Transportation Training, even if you have given rides before and feel comfortable.  New questions may pop up AND newer drivers will appreciate the support! (PS. Just to make sure everyone knows:  we are volunteers, so you only drive when you have time and no other constraints at that moment! No pressure.

Wednesday, January 29  at 5:00pm – 7:00pm 

Bishop Harrison Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave, Syracuse
Friends of Dorothy is our initiative to be supportive of people with AIDS. Since October of 1992 we have offered home-based care to people with AIDS in a variety of ways, including recuperative or hospice care, supportive housing and emergency assistance.

Check Friends of Dorothy on Facebook for updates

Syracuse Street Heat is just one, very unencumbered way to work for peace and social justice. We’re part of a decades-long grassroots tradition here, in Ithaca and elsewhere. We stand out and stand up for what we stand for. 

A handful of us stand at busy intersections, for 45 minutes at rush hour, pivoting to the traffic with hand-held signs. We want to get the public thinking about issues often underrepresented in the media. We’re there weekly in almost all of Syracuse’s weather (we seldom cancel). Bring your own sign – or use one of ours. No meetings or committees, so participation time is minimal (yay!) Our Team:  Ann, Dick, Ed, Geoff, Jim, Julienne, Les, Leslie, Peter…. 

To learn more, call Ann or Ed: (315) 478 4571.      

EVERY FRIDAY…4 to 4:45 p.m. (“CEASE FIRE NOW”, etc./ Palestine solidarity)

Focused on the war in the middle East…Israel’s military genocide of Gaza and  invasion of Lebanon. We disperse along the sidewalk with our signs at the very busy intersection of Erie Blvd East and East Genesee St. (across from the DeWitt fire station; park in the nearby mini mall lot.) When the temperature is below 20 degrees, we cancel!

Watch past meetings about Micron, Good Jobs Town Hall, Rallies and more on our YouTube Channel.

Donate to the CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity Coalition contributes regularly to local progressive organizations: Syracuse Peace Council, National Action Network, & Urban Jobs Coalition. We also make occasional donations as needed to other local groups. We depend on your donations for this. 

Donate Online through PayPal

Mail donations to: 

CNY Solidarity Coalition

P.O. Box 6137, Teall Post Office, 226 Teall Ave., Syracuse NY 13217

Our Committees

To sign up for each of the committee mailing lists, contact the person listed. 

Indivisible Onondaga County: Contact: Tom Keck

Climate Justice: Contact: Dick Kornbluth

SLAT (State/Local Action Team) Contact: Peter McCarthy  

Beyond War and Militarism: A joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Peace Council. Contact: Ron Van Norstrand

Elaine Denton

Peter McCarthy

Coordinating Committee

CNY Solidarity Coalition