Racial Justice :
WESPAC Foundation supports the work of the Anti-Racist Alliance which is the lead group in Westchester that explores the ongoing harm of institutionalized and systemic racism in our country today. We have honest discussions in a mixed group of how white privilege impacts both people of color and white folk in Westchester County in the form of excessive police force, access to quality education, employment and housing and many other areas. We listen to the range of experience that people of color have to endure in a society that continues to disproportionately benefit white people . For more information, visit antiracistalliance.com
How Israel is working to remove Palestinians from Jerusalem
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Racial Justice
Statement of Solidarity on the Anniversary of Kristallnacht
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Movement Building, Racial Justice
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.
Amy Goodman Interviews Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari of Kol Tzedek synagogue
Art Journaling at WESPAC
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Susan Sheppard’s class at WESPAC has begun!
Quote from Roger: “I want to say: Today’s class was truly amazing, fun, healing, relaxing and a lot of other positive things!
I absolutely loved this and really suggest this to anyone that can make it. Susan was incredible! Thank you so much for guiding us today.”
It is not too late to sign up!
Art Journaling Class at WESPAC every Wednesday with Susan Sheppard alternating start time 6pm or noon. Next Wednesday, July 25th, the class starts at noon. Please contact Susan with all questions and to register [email protected]optonline.n
My vision of this class is having the participants create an art journal over a series of workshops with or without the guidance of prompts combined with a variety of art techniques. For example, for the first class I would like to prepare the first few pages for future work and creating a self-portrait using collage. The prompt would be “The Me Nobody Knows.” The class would occur over several weeks depending on interest. Each participant would have to provide a “journal” (water color pad, composition book, or a hard cover book) , magazines and images that appeal to them, and writing tools of their choice. I would provide other tools and materials.
Some techniques are collage, printing, stenciling, drawing, painting, Zentangle, etc. The prompts can be whole class , personal to the participants, or pulled from a jar.
Racial Impact of Marijuana Policing in Westchester County
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Racial Impact of Marijuana Policing in Westchester County
Community Forum on the Racial Impact of Marijuana Policing
in Westchester County
Thursday, July 26th at 7pm
White Plains Library Auditorium
100 Martine Avenue in White Plains, NY 10601
In a state where racially biased policing is the norm, Westchester County stands out as one of the worst offenders.
Between 2013 and 2017, Black and Latino people were vastly overrepresented among those arrested for marijuana possession relative to their presence in Westchester’s population–despite data showing similar rates of use across populations. While only 14 percent of the County’s residents are Black, Black people comprised over half (52 percent) of those arrested for marijuana possession. Latinx people have also been disproportionately impacted, comprising just 17% of residents, but 34% of arrestees.
This massive increase of Westchester residents involved with the criminal justice system has had significant reverberations. A marijuana arrest creates a permanent criminal record that can easily be found by employers, landlords, schools, credit agencies and banks.
This public discussion will examine the long-term costs and consequences of unequal enforcement of marijuana prohibition in Westchester, solutions to address the harms caused to communities, and efforts to legalize marijuana in New York State while creating a diverse and inclusive industry.
Sponsored by: Drug Policy Alliance, WESPAC Foundation, Westchester Coalition for Police Reform, NYCLU, VOCAL-NY, and more
RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2128989074044735/
Is Westchester Ready for Police Accountability
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Is Westchester Ready for Police Accountability?
The Rev. Shelton Doles Community Center Theater
250 South Sixth Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Join Bridge to Africa 360, African Family Unity Forum and the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform for a community conversation about the value of civilian oversight of law enforcement as well as an update on the status of the Mount Vernon Civilian Review Board and the Right to Know Act that is gaining momentum around New York State.
Panelists include:
- Mount Vernon City Council member Delia Farquharson
- Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Shawn Harris (invited)
- Panel moderator is Mount Vernon CCRB Steering Cte member Geoff Munroe
This event is free and open to the public and is co-sponsored by the Mount Vernon Recreation Department.
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
For all details please visit: https://www.westchestersocialforum.org/
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].
Separate and Unequal
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Racial Justice
WESPAC Middle East Committee invites you to participate in Palestine book reading together
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Reviews
“Every now and again a literary work changes the way people think. Abulhawa…has crafted a brilliant first novel about Palestine… [This] intensely beautiful fictionalized history… should be read by both politicians and those interested in contemporary politics.” – Library Journal
“This complex story is beautifully told… The perspective is brutal, yet ultimately not without hope… [Abulhawa] draws us into the nightmare of her heroine’s existence with convincing passion.” – Historical Novels Review
“Illuminating and deeply moving, Abulhawa’s epic resonates with compassion…You can’t ask more of historical fiction.” – Brooklyn Rail
“Abulhawa’s pathos and mastery enables the reader to taste, smell and grasp the chronicles of Palestine as if one is actually there… Lovely and heartrending, this story is a must-read for those who wish to not only understand the catastrophe of the Palestinians with their heads but with their hearts.” – Palestine Chronicle
“Winner of the USA Book News Best Books Award” –
On Monday, May 13 2019, advocates from around the state will be gathering in Albany for the NYCLU's statewide Day of Action. Register NOW to be at the forefront of transforming New York's policies. We are showing up to demand a New York that protects the civil liberties of all New Yorkers.
Our Day of Action is a great way to get involved in the legislative and advocacy work of the NYCLU. There will be workshops, lobby visits, and activities to help encourage our elected officials to take action on the issues that matter most to us.
Join us as we stand up for immigrants, fight hate, protect democracy and defend justice.
Participants will receive training in advance of the Day of Action (see below). We will provide transportation, meals and there will be NYCLU giveaways.
Register now to secure your spot, and we will be in touch with further details. Please register even if you are “just thinking about it”!
Y para gente que habla español: action.aclu.org/volunteer/nyclu-d%C3%ADa-de-acci%C3%B3n
We look forward to seeing you there!
Day Of Action Training Available
We will be hosting a volunteer training to prepare for lobby day on April 23rd from 6:30-8:00pm at WESPAC in White Plains (updated direction here). The training will provide information about our issues, help you learn the legislative process and prepare you to visit your elected officials. Together we can ensure the rights of all New Yorkers are protected.
Sign up when you register for the Day of Action. You can also attend this training even if you aren’t planning to join us in Albany.
More details to come!
For any Information, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (914) 997-7479
Shannon Wong
(pronouns: she/her/hers)
Chapter Director
New York Civil Liberties Union
Lower Hudson Valley Chapter
297 Knollwood Rd., Ste. 217, White Plains, NY 10607
■ o 914.997.7479 ■m 914.805.2351
www.nyclu.org
NYCLU_logo_acluofny_esig
Hello good people,
I know at least three people who need a ride from the White Plains area to attend this important lobby day in Albany to ask our state government to divest the NYS pension fund from the 200 worst fossil fuel corporations.
It is the day before the WESPAC annual dinner and I must be present to attend to last minute details.
Is anyone here going and willing to drive folks to Albany? The WESPAC office would be a great meeting place with free day long parking and very central. Please let me know soon!
Nada
Begin forwarded
Here's FB event: www.facebook.com/events/287584125477707/
Here's the Action Network RSVP page: actionnetwork.org/events/fossil-fuel-divestment-act-hearing/
Friends,
After years of campaigning, the $200 billion New York State Public Pension Fund could finally divest from fossil fuels. And it’s all thanks to a new bill in the State Legislature: the New York Fossil Fuel Divestment Act.
The Act is having a full legislative hearing at the end of the month. This is a tremendous opportunity for our movement to put New York on track for a Fossil Free future and deprive the fossil fuel industry of $13 billion in annual investments.
Let’s show our legislators that the people of New York need the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. Join us on April 30 at the Capitol to attend the legislative hearing — RSVP today.
According to a recent analysis, the state pension fund could be $22 billion richer if Comptroller DiNapoli had divested from coal, oil and gas companies a decade ago. That’s nearly $20,000 per pensioner! Keeping the pension fund invested in fossil fuels is risking the financial future of New Yorkers and actively contributing to climate change simultaneously. It’s past time to do something about it.
By packing the hearing on April 30, we’ll send a powerful message to legislators that their constituents are watching, and that we expect them to do the right thing for our communities and climate. It’s going to take all of us to hold our elected officials accountable, and that’s why we need you.
Come to the Capitol on April 30 to pressure legislators to support the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act — RSVP here.
Once you sign up, an organizer will get in touch with more details and answers to any questions you might have.
Working together, we can shift New York towards the Fossil Free future we deserve by fully divesting the state from fossil fuels.
Let’s do this,
NY Fossil Fuel Divestment Act Hearing — April 30
actionnetwork.org
New York State's pension fund has over $13 billion invested in fossil fuels. It's time to #DivestNY. Join me in Albany for a big legislative hearing!We can’t solve climate change without transforming our food system! WESPAC stands with a coalition of farmers, workers, fishers, and organizations urging our Congress to address food and agriculture issues in the Green New Deal. The time is NOW! foe.org/news/300-groups-urge-congress-make-food-agriculture-central-climate-crisis-green-new-deal...
More than 300 Groups Urge Congress to Make Food and Agriculture Central to the Climate Crisis and Green New Deal Debate
foe.org
A coalition of more than 300 groups today sent a letter to Congress calling for a Green New Deal that prioritizes food and agriculture solutions to climate change.Evening not to be missed! We are almost at capacity! Let us know today if you want to join us!
Heartbreaking. Here the story of a Yonkers family: Check out this article from lohud:
Two years after travel ban, families remain divided and 'heartbroken'
www.lohud.com/story/news/2019/04/08/trump-travel-ban-families-divided-two-years/3398116002/
Two years after travel ban, families remain divided and 'heartbroken'
lohud.com
Families say Trump's travel ban has separated them from spouses, siblings and parents. 'So many birthdays we have missed.'
