Symposium on racial profiling and "stop-and-frisk" policing

New Paltz: Symposium on racial profiling and "stop-and-frisk" policing

Date : 5 December 2012       From : 4:30pm     
Category : Crime / Punishment Location : 12561


Event Description : 

Andrew Kossover, the head of the Ulster County Public Defender's Office, will speak about the local implications of stop-and-frisk.

Speakers to include:

Gabriel Sayegh, the State Director of Drug Policy Alliance

Chino Hardin, a community organizer from the Institute for Juvenile Justice Reform and Alternatives, in Brooklyn

Alfredo Carrasquillo, an organizer from VOCAL-NY, a statewide grassroots organization which "...builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war and mass incarceration to create healthy and just communities."

A reception will follow in CSB 54.

Cost: Free.

Location:
Auditorium
Coykendall Science Building (CSB)
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, NY 12561
(Free parking in campus visitor lots)
Map and directions:
http://www.newpaltz.edu/map/loc_coykendall.html

Contact: via 845 257-3756.

Sponsored by: the SUNY New Paltz Sociology Department, with help from the Black Studies department, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Department, the Student Association, the Black Student Union, the SUNY New Paltz Amnesty International chapter, and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy.

E. Patrick Johnson coming to Vassar

E. Patrick Johnson will be coming to Vassar on Wednesday to perform his play "Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales." (The play was originally scheduled for October 30, but had to be rescheduled because of Hurricane Sandy.)  It will be held in the same auditorium where we screened "Hip Hop Is Bigger Than the Occupation": Spitzer Auditorium in Sander's Classroom.

Dec. 5 at 7:00 pm.

E. Patrick Johnson is an award-winning author and performer. "Pouring Tea" is his one-man show based on his interviews with gay African American men who have lived in the South for most or all of their lives. The characters range in age from 19 to 93 and hail from 15 different states.  They are lawyers, corporate executives, hairdressers, ministers, artists, etc.  It's a very exciting show, and it's absolutely FREE.  There will also be an opportunity to ask him questions after the show; he'll also be signing copies of his book "Sweet Tea," on which the show is based. For more information about him, I'll attach an article from the Vassar paper. If you think that others might be interested in this unique event, please feel free to pass it on.  The event is co-sponsored by the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library.

Hip Hop movie for Thursday and Friday...

Thursday, Nov. 15

Hip Hop is Bigger Than the Occupation (Palestine) - free film showing

Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 pm

Spitzer Auditorium, Sanders Hall

Vassar College

124 Raymond Ave.

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

"Hip Hop Is Bigger Than The Occupation" is documentary about a ten day journey of artists traveling through the West Bank, Palestine, teaching and performing Non Violent Resistance. The tour included M1 of Dead Prez, Shadia Mansour, Lowkey, Marcel Cartier, Mazzi of Soul Purpose, DJ Vega Benetton, as well as many others. The group stayed at Bulata Refugee Camp in Nablus and experienced first hand what it felt like living under occupation. Both film showings will include some live performances.

Organized by The New Jim Crow Action Committee

http://endthenewjimcrow.blogspot.com

Cosponsors: Middle East Crisis Response, Dutchess Peace, Peace Action NY, 

Vassar Grassroots Alliance for Alternative Politics (GAAP), the Vassar Prison Initiative (VPI), Hip Hop 101, and the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS).

Contact: 845-475-8781

Friday, Nov. 16

Hip Hop is Bigger Than the Occupation (Palestine) - free film showing

Friday, Nov. 16 at 6:00 pm

Family Partnership Center

29 N Hamilton St.

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 

"Hip Hop Is Bigger Than The Occupation" is documentary about a ten day journey of artists traveling through the West Bank, Palestine, teaching and performing Non Violent Resistance. The tour included M1 of Dead Prez, Shadia Mansour, Lowkey, Marcel Cartier, Mazzi of Soul Purpose, DJ Vega Benetton, as well as many others. The group stayed at Bulata Refugee Camp in Nablus and experienced first hand what it felt like living under occupation. Both film showings will include some live performances.

Organized by The New Jim Crow Action Committee

http://endthenewjimcrow.blogspot.com

Cosponsors: Middle East Crisis Response, Dutchess Peace, Peace Action NY, 

Vassar Grassroots Alliance for Alternative Politics (GAAP), the Vassar Prison Initiative (VPI), Hip Hop 101, and the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS). 

Contact: 845-475-8781

Saturday, Nov. 17

Mass Incarceration, Shame of the Nation:

Panel Discussions on Racism and the Criminal Justice System

Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 - 2:00 pm

Lateef Islam Auditorium

Family Partnership Center

29 N Hamilton St.

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Speakers will explore the prison system and other examples of the "New Jim Crow" that keep people of color in poverty and servitude in the United States. Panel discussions will highlight what American citizens of all ages and races can do to identify and begin to dismantle this new form of racial prejudice. Includes a complementary lunch with time for discussion. Reservations advised to guarantee a seat: 845-475-8781.

Organized by The New Jim Crow Action Committee

http://endthenewjimcrow.blogspot.com

Cosponsors: Middle East Crisis Response, Dutchess Peace, Peace Action NY, 

Vassar Grassroots Alliance for Alternative Politics (GAAP), the Vassar Prison Initiative (VPI), Hip Hop 101, and the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS).

Contact: 845-475-8781

Oct 10 meeting (thanks, Jeff)

Just a quick, last-minute reminder that ENJAN will be having its first October meeting tomorrow at 6 pm at the Library. The minutes from the meeting on 9/26/2012 are below (and attached as .pdf).  Thank you, Alex, for taking such wonderful minutes!

Based on the e-mails from Schuyler, Mark and others, we will have a full agenda tomorrow night.  In addition to our full meeting, we may also want to devote part of the meeting to committee work.

Unfortunately, our meeting seems to conflict with the Dutchess County Legislature, which will be meeting at the same time.  

End the New Jim Crow in Kingston, NY

This will be a reading group to start. The Date is Oct 9th and the group will meet every other Tuesday until the book is completed. Meeting time 6-8 pm at the Everett Hodge Center, 15-21 Franklin Street, Kingston NY 12401. (845) 331-9683

Coming Meeting and Events

Our first meeting of the fall was exciting with a good turnout.  There was lots to report and discuss, much of which is capture in the meeting minutes below (also attached). 

Our next meeting of the full ENJAN is next Wednesday, 26 September.  Before then, however, there are two important dates:

• The committee that will plan our big fall conference/event, to be held on Friday evening/Saturday, November 16-17, will meet on alternative Wednesdays at the Library in the Family Partner Center at 6:30 pm, starting tomorrow, 19 September.  Please bring your ideas!

• Tabling Action:  ENJAN has accepted Dutchess Peace’s offer to share their table at the upcoming Arlington Street Fair this Saturday, 22 September, from noon to 6:00 pm.  As part of the fair, Pete Seeger will be signing copies of his book Pete Seeger in His Own Words.  To read more about the event: http://info.vassar.edu/news/2012-2013/120909-arlington-steet-fair.html The fair offers an opportunity to reach out to young people, including Vassar students, and get them involved in our group.
• We need volunteers to work the table/work the crowds in two-hour shifts. Please let me know if you are willing to be there.

- Jeff

Odell also sent this report with pictures from the panel discussion on Building a Movement to End Mass Incarceration that took place on Friday, 9/14 at 7 pm at the Riverside Church:

> Hello everyone This was one of the best gathering I`ve been to regarding 

> building the movement to end Mass Incarceration. I met with Larry White and 

> Lewis Webb about our organizing in the Mid-Hudson area I also received 50 

> copies of The New JIM Crow. Please pass the word anyone who need a copy can 

> contact me. Here are a few pictures of some of the speakers and crowd shots.

Next ENJAN meeting

Hi, everyone--

Just another reminder about the next ENJAN meeting, which is tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 September, at 6 pm in the Library at the Family Partnership Center.
A number of people have submitted agenda items for the meeting, so I’ve put together a proposed agenda below.  It looks like we have a long list, so we’ll have to work efficiently to get through it all!

See you tomorrow!  --Jeff

Proposed Agenda:

1. Updates: 
   • Tabling action at Picnic Devoted to G-d on 9/1 (Dolores, Earl, Mary Odell, etc.);
   • Action on 9/6 at NYC district attorney’s office sponsored by NYC’s Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (Tim)
   • Meeting with Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council on 8/28 (Dolores, Fred, Jeff, Katia, Mary)
   • Other
2. Discuss and approve ENJAN guest editorial to Poughkeepsie Journal (working group: Mark, Mary, Pam, Tom, etc.) (letter below)
3. ENJAN contingent and carpool to NYC panel discussion on Building a Movement to End Mass Incarceration on Friday, 9/14, at 7 pm at the Riverside Church (see attached flyer) (Odell)
4. Next Action(s):  tabling at the Arlington Street Fair on Saturday, 9/22 (Fred)
5. Big Fall Event(s):
   • Community book read with Occupy in Kingston as well as other possible venues (Odell)
   • “Hip Hop is Bigger than the Occupation” (Odell)
   • Conference on Criminal Justice in the Hudson Valley (Manna Jo, Jeff, others)
6. Cop Watch (Occupiers)
7. Blog & Facebook (Fred, Alexander)
8. Other?

Upcoming Events

• Rally and March in defense of Women’s Rights: Today (Sunday), August 26, at 1 pm in the Peace Park next to Village Hall in New Paltz
• Community Involvement Committee informational meeting and lunch with the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council on Tuesday, 28 August, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm at the Catharine Street Community Center. The meeting will feature a status report on the Jail and a public forum.  Reserve your seat and lunch by calling Danielle at 473-2272.
• ENJAN Tabling event at the community picnic at Mansion Park on Saturday, 1 September, from 8:00-4:00 pm.  (See below).
• 17th Annual Dutchess County Labor Day Rally for Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street on Monday, 3 September, at 11:00 am in front of the Poughkeepsie Post Office (see attached flyer).
• Upcoming ENJAN Meetings:
  • Wednesday, 12 September
  • Wednesday, 26 September

ENJAN Tabling event at the community picnic at Mansion Park 

At our last meeting we decided to continue our outreach efforts by tabling at the community picnic being organized by John Flowers and local churches being held at Mansion Square Park this coming Saturday, 1 September, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Some of the tasks were assigned at the meeting, but we still need help with others:

• Tables: Who can provide tables?
• Flyers: Jeff, Tom and Eva volunteered to make copies of the ENJAN flyer and Voting Registration to hand out
• “Know Your Rights” booklet:  Mark volunteered to get copies of the booklet from Andrew Satelle
• Sign-up sheet: Jeff will prepare a sign-up sheet for those interested in getting involved with ENJAN, participating in a reading group on The New Jim Crow, etc.
• ENJAN poster: Who has the copy of the ENJAN poster that was put together for the gay rights event in New Paltz?
• Voter Registration: Do we want to include voter registration as part of our outreach?
• Staffing:  Who can staff the table?  It would be great if we could have at least two persons at the table at all times. I propose 4 two-hour blocks: 8-10, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4. Just reply to this e-mail and I will try to organize the tabling staffing.