#BlackLives Matter Issues Response to Murder of Two NYPD Officers

New York, NY -  #BlackLivesMatter, a national grassroots and social media driven movement at the heart of much of the recent mobilizations against police violence has issued the following statement in response to today’s murders of two NYPD officers:

“Our hearts grieve with New York, a community already reeling from the losses of Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham, Kimani Gray, Akai Gurley, Islan Nettles and many more. An eye for an eye is not our vision of justice, and we who have taken to the streets seeking justice and liberation know that we need deep transformation to correct the larger institutional problems of racial profiling, abuse, and violence.
“We know all too well the pain and the trauma that follows the senseless loss of our family members and loved ones. We extend our hearts and prayers to the families of those who lost their loved ones this week. No one should suffer the loss of those whom they love.
“At the heart of our movement work is a deep and profound love for our people, and we are rooted in the belief that Black people in the U.S. must reassert our right to live be well in a country where our lives have been deemed valueless. Together, we champion a complete transformation of the ways we see and relate to one another.
“Now is our moment to advance a dramatic overhaul of policing practices. Now is the time to direct more resources into community mental health services and practices. Now is a moment for empathy and deep listening. Now is the time to end violence against women and trans people. Now is our moment to come together to end state violence.
“Our movement, grown from the love for our people and for all people, will continue to advance our vision of justice for all of us.  Let’s hold each other close as we work together to end violence in our communities—once and for all.”
#BlackLivesMatter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.

Black Lives Matter in the Poughkeepsie Galleria


Black Lives Matter in the Poughkeepsie Galleria


"Ban the Box" campaign shows results

Kingston, NY - Today, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein signed an Executive Order which will restructure the County's employment application and process, eliminating an area for potential discrimination and bias.  This action by way of Executive Order is the first of its kind among counties in the State of New York and embraces the core provision of the "Ban The Box" campaign, creating a fairer hiring process by eliminating the risk of institutional bias based upon an individual's past history when they apply for employment. - 


Demonstration 12/17/2014 marking 100 years of drug prohibition

Reminder: ENJAN will hold a demonstration 12/17/2014 marking 100 years of drug prohibition:
 
Purpose: To call for an end to the War on Drugs
When: Wednesday, December 17 at 12:00 PMWhere: In front of the Dutchess County Courthouse on Market Street in Poughkeepsie. (Corner of Main and Market)

I'll bring a poster "Stop the Drug War" with sub-title "100 years of failed policy", as well as ENJAN pamphlets and stop-jail-expansion palm cards. Please bring yourself -- with or without more posters against the War on Drugs. Psychotropic drugs can do a lot of damage, but the War on Drugs has done far more damage.

Bill

Jews Say No! stands with the Black community

Jews Say No! stands with the Black community and with all communities of color across this country that fear for the safety of their sons and daughters at the hands of law enforcement officials and that are leading protests across the country against a U.S. “justice” system that repeatedly (and predictably) fails to hold white people accountable for the killing of Black people.

At a New York City demonstration this week following the refusal of grand juries to indict the police officers who killed Mike Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner on Staten Island, someone held a sign with the words of the African American civil rights leader Ella Baker written on it: “Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.”

Jews Say No! joins in protest with the Black community and with all those struggling for justice and dignity from NYC to Palestine.

Jews Say No!
December 5, 2014
NYC

Walking down Route 44/55




About 100 people came out for a rally in Poughkeepsie on
Monday, Dec 8. At one point, we marched down Route 44/55.

Monday, Dec 8 in front of the Fed Bankruptcy Court in Poughkeepsie

“On July 17, 2014 Staten Island resident Eric Garner was strangled to death by NYPD officers. He was harassed by officers who suspected him of selling untaxed, loose cigarettes. For that, he lost his life. Eric knew this was wrong. Shortly before he was killed, he said something else: 'This Stops Today.' ”

Join Community Voices Heard, ENJAN, leaders in the community and students tomorrow, Monday, 12pm in front of the Federal Bankruptcy Court (355 Main St, Poughkeepsie) to demand justice for Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and the many other unarmed black people who have been murdered at the hands of a deeply racist police system.

The white police officers responsible for these murders were not indicted for these crimes on the state level. This is not a state issue; it’s a national crisis! Black men, women, queer, and transgender people are targeted, harassed, brutalized and killed by the cops across the country just for being black on a daily basis.

We will be meeting in front of the Federal Bankruptcy Court at 355 Main St (12pm) this Monday (Dec 8).

because now more than ever our Federal Government needs to take action and indict these men on federal charges.

Join us as we rally and march from 12 - 2pm.
Here in Poughkeepsie, we have the power to help fight back against the racist police and stand in solidarity with the people in Ferguson and allies across the country to let the Federal Government know, the time to act is now! We will
not accept the terrorizing of black lives.


- DRESS WARMLY

- Bring signs

- Use the hashtags #ThisStopsToday, #ShutItDown, #BlackLivesMatter

In Solidarity,
Community Voices Heard Poughkeepsie
Vassar Black Students Union
Poughkeepsie Ferguson Action Leadership Team
End the New Jim Action Network

PRESENTATION: Odell Winfield will talk about Michele Alexander's book, End the New Jim Crow at the Woodstock Public Library, Saturday, Dec 6, starting at 5:00 pm. For more information, please contact:
odell_winfield@yahoo.com




Dec 5 and Dec 10 workshops

Trafficking in Our Community: "It's Happening Here"

A day of workshops on Friday 12/5 from 9am to 1pm at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library & Home. Cosponsored by the Dutchess County Task Force against Youth Trafficking, the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val- Kill. Free, but requires advance registration. 845.454.0595 and ask for Samantha.

Bringing Human Rights Home: Inequality, Race, and the United States

A day of workshops on 12/10 from 9am to 2pm at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library & Home. Cosponsored by the United Nations Association- Mid Hudson Valley and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val- Kill in celebration of the Human Rights Day. Free, but requires advance registration. Please sign up online visiting: http://www.bit.ly/humanrights2014