For all details please visit: https://www.westchestersocialforum.org/
Criminal Justice :
WESPAC Foundation is concerned about the criminal justice system. We work in solidarity with other groups and organizations in Westchester County to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws, to eliminate racial profiling, and to address the structural and institutional biases inherent in our criminal justice system. We stand to permanently remove the death penalty as a legal option for the state, and we seek to significantly reduce the prison populations by working towards a more benevolent economic system that guarantees meaningful jobs and training at a living wage to all people.
Westchester Social Justice Forum 2018!
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Immigration, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Movement Building, Racial Justice
An Evening to End Solitary Confinement at WESPAC
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Movement Building, Racial Justice
New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement
We will be joined by Cynthia Williams, a 2015 Beyond the Bars of Justice Fellow at Columbia University, who spent time in a federal facility and who will speak about how arbitrary and dehumanizing the system is, how she coped and how people end up in solitary confinement. She will also speak about the New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement and will inspire us to get involved and to effect positive change.
This event is free and open to the public. WESPAC has 10 copies of the book Hell is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement in our office that are available now ahead of the event for people to read and become more familiar with this issue. Please call to arrange pick up. The United Nations has defined solitary confinement as a form of torture. Free will offerings to support Cynthia and this work will be requested. For more information, call 914.449.6514 or email [email protected].
Please do not remain silent about Solitary Confinement while 80-100,000 human beings are trapped and remain invisible each year for infractions as minor as possession of too many postage stamps. Create an opportunity for others to learn the truth about solitary confinement. SWASC Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement has created two 8 minute videos that encapsulates what people need to know.
Take Action. We need everyday people, like you and me, to show these videos to our informal and formal networks. Use your smart phone. Keep it Simple. Discussion will automatically follow from these provocative and thoughtful presentations.
Johnny Perez: Three years in Solitary
Mary Buser – The Helping Professions & Solitary Confinement
We also created a petition for people to sign asking the governing commission to reconsider current practices we believe to be unethical and human torture.
Website Resource: Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement
We have a monthly newsletter.
Sign up now.
National Networking Conference Call on the third Monday of the month at 7pm EST.
Conference call number (515) 739-1015 PIN. 455-445-570#
One hour zoom presentation:
Zoom presentation
Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement: Undoing Racism in the Criminal Justice System. (2/18)
This video (1hour) offers a brief U. S. history of structural racism and discussion of solitary confinement and specifically the issue of dual loyalty for mental health professionals.
Sandra Bernabei, LCSW is a co-convener and steering committee member of SWASC as well as a community organizer and a social worker in private practice in Westchester and NYC. She is the past-president of NASW-NYC.
Sandy is the founding member of the Antiracist Alliance.
Marguerita Johnson Tolson BSW, CASAC-T is a graduate student at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services. She is completing an internship with Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement.
“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Martin Luther King Jr
#FREEnewyork Westchester Town Hall
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Racial Justice
Report Back from Annual NACOLE Conference
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Nada will be presenting a report on Thursday, September 28th at 7pm at WESPAC regarding her participation at the Annual NACOLE Conference on behalf of WCPR.
On September 10th, hundreds of members of law enforcement, community leaders, elected officials, journalists, academics, students and oversight professionals will gather in Spokane, Washington, for the annual four day NACOLE conference (National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement): http://www.nacole.org/2017_annual_conference .
Conference attendees will be able to choose from 31 different concurrent and plenary sessions on a wide range of topics including Building Community Trust, Trauma Informed Policing, Auditing for Accountability, Evaluating Police Use of Force and much more. Attendees will be part of a learning and networking event that will provide inspiration, ideas and practical knowledge as we work for a vision of implementing best practices and enhanced police legitimacy in our local communities and around the nation.
America’s Toxic Prisons: The Environmental Injustices of Mass Incarceration
US prisons may be largely hidden from sight, but their environmental toxicity spreads far beyond their walls.
Source: America’s Toxic Prisons: The Environmental Injustices of Mass Incarceration
I Spent 14 Months in Jail Because I Couldn’t Pay My Way Out
A 20-second bond hearing changed the lives of Lavette Mayes and her children because she couldn’t afford bail.
Source: I Spent 14 Months in Jail Because I Couldn’t Pay My Way Out
Please sign statement in support of Palestinian Prisoners on the 37th day of their hunger strike
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Please sign statement in support of Palestinian Prisoners on the 36th day of their hunger strike:
https://goo.gl/forms/HZmKDfN8zBllRrMO2
Westchester Social Forum!
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Environmental and Food Justice, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Building the Movement for Social & Ecological Justice
Join community organizations in Westchester for a social forum on May 20 to exchange ideas and information, foster solidarity, and celebrate our work to create a more just and equal society. We live in a time of struggle as we witness growing threats to the well-being of our planet and communities, as profit is placed over people and land, and corporations, not citizens, control our democracy.
Yet, we, the people, have the collective power to organize a movement for change. The Westchester Social Forum will provide the space to learn from one another, strengthen our organizing skills, and connect as a community.
The day will include a people’s march, workshops on organizing for social and ecological justice, and a culminating cultural celebration! We hope you can join us!
Construyendo el Movimiento por la Justicia Social y Ecológica
Únase a organizaciones comunitarias en Westchester durante un foro social en mayo para intercambiar ideas e información, fomentar solidaridad y celebrar nuestra labor para crear una sociedad más justa e igualitaria. Estamos viviendo tiempos de lucha, mientras presenciamos crecientes amenazas al bienestar de nuestro planeta y nuestras comunidades, que anteponen la ganancia de dinero por sobre el pueblo y la tierra, y donde las corporaciones, no los ciudadanos, son los que controlan nuestra democracia.
Sin embargo, nosotros, el pueblo, tenemos el poder colectivo de organizar un movimiento por el cambio. El Foro Social de Westchester proveerá el espacio para aprender de unos y otros, fortalecer nuestras habilidades organizativas y conectarnos como una comunidad.
El día incluirá una marcha popular, talleres sobre organización social y justicia ecológica y culminará con una celebración cultural. ¡Esperamos que puedan unirse a nosotros!
The Benefits and Limits of Civilian Review Boards
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
The Benefits and Limits of Civilian Review Boards
Monday, April 3rd at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, NY
6pm to 6:30pm light refreshments and networking
6:30pm panel begins promptly
An interactive panel discussion with law enforcement, members of the Albany and Syracuse Civilian Review Boards, and the President of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement including:
- Frank L. Fowler, Syracuse Chief of Police
- Brian Corr, NACOLE President and Director of Cambridge, Mass. Police Review and Advisory Board
- Ivy Morris, Vice Chair of Albany CPRB (Citizens’ Police Review Board)
- Zach Garafalo, Albany CPRB
- Mallory Livingston, Chair, Syracuse CRB
- Yusuf Abdul Qadir, Director of the Syracuse Chapter of the NYCLU
Panel will be moderated by Law Professor David Dorfman at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.
This forum is organized and sponsored by the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform https://www.facebook.com/WCPRN
Introducing the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform to the Yonkers Community
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Introducing the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform to the Yonkers Community
Friday, February 10th at 2pm at the Yonkers Riverfront Library
1 Larkin Plaza in downtown Yonkers
This public forum is an introduction of the work of the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform to the Yonkers Community. Speakers include: co-founder of the coalition Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr., who lost his father in a police killing in the City of White Plains in 2011. Also, speaking will be the convener of the coalition, Rev. Doris Dalton, who is also the Executive Director of the Westchester MLK Institute for Nonviolence; Yonkers Community Organizer Hector Santiago and WCPR steering committee member Nada Khader who will speak about WCPR’s April forum on civilian oversight of local law enforcement.
FYI:December 3, 2018, at the White Plains Public Library, NY (100 Martine Avenue) at 7 pm important information about the GREEN LIGHT campaign-DRIVING LICENSES FOR IMMIGRANTS IN NEW YORK.
PLEASE JOIN US!
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Diciembre 3, 2018, en la Librería Pública de White Plains, NY (100 Martine Avenue) a las 7 pm importante información acerca de la campaña LUZ VERDE-LICENCIAS DE CONDUCIR PARA INMIGRANTES EN NEW YORK.
LOS ESPERAMOS!
Dear Friends and Members of WESPAC,
I write to tell you of an extraordinary opportunity to help WESPAC. As many of you know, WESPAC has been exploring different options for improving our financial independence so we can assure the continuation and expansion of our own programming, and support for our community partners, into the future.
From now through the end of this year, you can help WESPAC grow its investment fund beyond the value of your own gift. A very generous supporter has agreed to match any gift to WESPAC's investment fund of cash, stock, mutual funds or bonds up to a total of $5,000 by December 31, 2018. The value of a gift of stock to WESPAC is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law (please consult your tax advisor), and there may be other benefits as well including possible capital gains tax savings that your advisor can confirm with you. This contribution to WESPAC offers you the opportunity to release stocks that are not aligned with our social justice values so that WESPAC can sell them and re-invest in sustainable impact investing.
One simple way to make a charitable gift of securities is to direct a transfer from your IRA to WESPAC. You can count a transfer to a charity toward your required minimum withdrawal. There are other options as well. If you are interested in making such a gift but unsure how to proceed, please contact the WESPAC office at [email protected] or by calling 914.449.6514 and we can connect you with our investment advisor.
Thank you for considering this unique opportunity to help WESPAC. Only by building our financial sustainability now can we guarantee support for the social justice struggles that lie ahead.
For the WESPAC Board of Directors,
Natalie Kabasakalian
Statement of Solidarity on the Anniversary of Kristallnacht
by Howard Horowitz, member of the WESPAC Foundation Board
Tonight, we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Great Pogrom, which the Nazis euphemistically dubbed ‘the Night of Crystal’ – Kristallnacht. This anniversary comes at a moment in history when anti-Semitism is still prevalent, and we are still plagued by evil and hatred (Rabbi Josh Weinberg).
At WESPAC Foundation we remember Kristallnacht and the Holocaust with a message of “solidarity” with all those struggling for justice in these dark times. Solidarity is uplifting, meaningful and a call to action. In our thinking about this, let me share with you an excerpt from a post by Robert Herbst of Larchmont, a civil rights lawyer, a peace and justice activist and who identifies as Jewish:
"In the wake of Pittsburgh, there is no Jewish future in turning inward, either physically, spiritually, or politically, here in the United States, or in the Middle East. The insecurities of the nation and world we have made and live in since the Second World War are widely shared by all except those who have accumulated the money and power to escape them. Rather than locking ourselves away, it is to the Others we must turn – white, black and brown, Christian and Muslim, poor, working and middle class – if we are to have any hope of Tikkun Olam."
There is an urgent and immediate need for a statement of solidarity. Echoing Charlottesville, there are those among us already muddying the waters claiming “there are bad guys on all sides—left and right.” We reject anti-Semitism in all its forms and expressions wherever and by whomever it is expressed. What happened at Tree of Life is Trump-supported, right wing white nationalism, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with left or anyone else and certainly not anywhere in the struggle for justice in Palestine.
Our struggles are bound up with the many communities facing violence and oppression during these dark times, and we call your attention to just a few of the statements of solidarity that are so needed as we commemorate Kristallnacht.
inthesetimes.com/article/21531/tree-of-life-synagogue-antisemitism-white-supremacy-solidarity-pit...
www.democracynow.org/2018/10/29/rabbi_trump_gop_have_blood_on
palestinelegal.org/news/tree-of-life-synagogue-statement
jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
Out of Our Silos: To Defeat Anti-Semitism, Jews Must Unite With Others Targeted by White Supremacy
inthesetimes.com
Our struggles are bound up with the many communities facing violence and oppression during these dark times.WESPAC raised $900 for Yemen Aid this evening. Thank you, Tali, and to all who came out!
Drone Quilt Project now on display at WESPAC
Many thanks to retired U.S, Navy Veteran Leah Bolger who has been coordinating the Drone Quilt Project in the United States for several years now. The idea for a Drones Quilt came from women in the UK who started the project as a way to memorialize the victims of U.S. combat drones. The idea is to collectively create a piece of artwork which connects the names of activists with those killed. The names humanize the victims and point out the connectivity between human beings. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, only about 20% of the drone victims have been identified, so there are many victims whose names are not known. Additionally, Pashtun culture prohibits the release of an adult woman’s name as they consider that an invasion of her privacy, so there are hundreds of women’s names which may never be known to us. We remember these unnamed victims with quilt blocks that say “Anonymous,” “Unnamed Woman,” “Unnamed Man,” or “Unnamed Child.” The important thing to remember is that each victim was a human being, with hopes, dreams, plans, friends and family. We hope that the Drones Quilt Project will help us remember that we are all the same – we are not worth more, and they are not worth less. We all have value. dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com/about/ These quilts will be on display at WESPAC for several weeks and have come with information posters and a folder where we can learn more about the project. Thank you, Leah!
About
dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com
The idea for a Drones Quilt came from some women in the UK who started the project as a way to memorialize the victims of U.S. combat drones. We believed that there were lots of anti-drone activis…
