VFP solidarity

Photo and story by Ellen Davidson

VFP Members Make Solidarity
Visit to Black Church

Three members of Veterans For Peace went to services at the mostly African-American New Progressive Baptist Church in Kingston, N.Y., June 21 to express sympathy and solidarity in the wake of the racist shootings at the  Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., June 17.

Woodstock, N.Y., VFP President Jay Wenk presented flowers and a card with VFP's statement on the killings to "NewPro" pastor Rev. Dr. G. Modele Clarke, who said, "You have no idea how moving that is." As Jay noted that the bouquet was in sympathy for the massacre, a member of the congregation asked, "The one in South Carolina?" Jay's response, "All of them," was met with shouts of approval.

Rev. Clarke's call to worship that morning stressed turning anger at the killings at "Mother Emanuel" into concrete action, saying "Talk is cheap … [you have to] put some feet on the talk, some feet on the faith." When he asked the congregation if they were familiar with the contoversy about the Confederate flag flying over the South Carolina statehouse, Rita Worthington spoke from the pews, saying "I understand why it is a flag of legacy for some, but for us it is a legacy of hate … a legacy of white supremacy."

The VFP members got an ethusiastic welcome from the regular church-goers, who urged them to come back any time. "Your message about the importance of action really resonated with us," VFP National Board member Tarak Kauff told Rev Clarke, who uses his post to promote social justice, in particular prison outreach and street ministry.

Stand With Charleston Solidarity Action

Thursday, June 25

at 6:30 pm

A vigil to commemorate the nine Black people killed in a horrific act of white supremacist terror at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Corner of Market and Main St., Poughkeepsie 

https://www.facebook.com/events/402138569975253/

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” MLK Jr

Congratulations to Kingston ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network) and our friends and allies. The Juneteenth Committee would like to give special thanks to Colia Clark, our speaker, to New Progressive Baptist Church, Reverend G. Modele Clarke, the New Pro Choir members of the church congregation, the Woodstock Jewish Congregation Task Force to End the New Jim Crow, the LGB TQ Task Force to Undo Institutional Racism and Mass Incarceration, Undoing Racism, Citizen Action, Center 4 Creative Education, Poughkeepsie ENJAN and the family Of Shane Watson. Thank you to the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas (including NYC and Albany) for attending and making our Juneteenth celebration a true community event! Also we thank Jim Peppler for his outstanding photos 

To see photos go to http: http://jimpeppler.photoshelter.com

Rally for a wage that meets basic needs!

Thu, June 18 at 9:30 AM

733 Main St, Poughkeepsie (in front of McDonalds)

Join us at the Main St McDonalds in Poughkeepsie as fast food workers and their allies call upon the Wage Board to raise the minimum wage of fast food workers to $15/hour. The press conference will begin at 9:30am.

Due to the state senate's inaction following years of organizing and mobilization by fast food workers and their allies, Governor Cuomo has established a three-person wage board to examine the wages of fast food workers across the state, which will hold a public hearing in Albany on June 22nd.

This is a critical moment for fast food workers and low-wage workers across the state. Gov. Cuomo has only put together this wage board because of the actions that workers and community groups have taken to demand a higher minimum wage - so we need to keep the pressure on.

Community members in Poughkeepsie who care about this issue will come together at the Main St McDonalds in Poughkeepsie to call on the Wage Board to do the right thing by raising the wage to $15. We will also call on our State Senator Sue Serino to do the same by supporting legislation to raise the minimum wage. Together, we will rally and gear up to go to the public hearing of the Wage Board on June 22nd in Albany, NY.

Contact: Alex Deane adeane@citizenactionny.org, or http://www.citizenactionny.org/hvwageboard

Kingston's Juneteenth

Forum on police in Newburgh

FORUM ON POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

A forum on “Strengthening Police and Community Relations” will be held in the Auditorium of the Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand St. on Wed., June 10 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Presentations will be offered on community policing, body cameras, minority hiring, responding to mental illness and

the Police Community Relations and Review Board (PCRRB). A question and answer period will follow.

Speakers include Acting Chief Cameron, Corey Allen from Newburgh Police and Community Relations and Victor Michaels from Exodus: Newburgh Extension (ENE). The free forum is sponsored by the City of Newburgh Police Department, Newburgh Free Library, Police Community Relations Board and Exodus: Newburgh Extension. No registration is required. 845-569-8965

Hope to see you there.

Peace in the community,

Verne

 The Community and the Police

Tuesday, June 9th,

7:00 PM

New Progressive Baptist Church
8 Hone St., Kingston

Panelists: Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti;Kingston Mayor Shane Gallo; Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright; and members of the Kingston Police Commission.

The reason for this second community forum is to see if any of the questions asked by the community during the first forum have been addressed by the panelists.

Our justice system is broken. Black and brown men are endangered by the police. We need to explain all this to our elected and appointed officials.

We must insure that the police learn to use restraint with their lethal weapons.

We must insist that the police join with us to develop Community Policing and to build healthier relationships and trust with the communities they serve.

Let your voices be heard.