FYI: 1-3pm Today: Protest at KCDA

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 9:32 AM
Subject: FYI: 1-3pm Today: Protest at KCDA

https://www.facebook.com/events/310169556052679/
Feet to Fire Campaign: NYC

Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
350 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2908, United States

From Nicholas Heyward, Sr., father of Nicholas Heyward, Jr who was killed by NYPD in 1994:

District attorneys must be held accountable!!!!

Calling all parents and families of police murder, activists, freedom fighters and all the people who are completely fed up and sick and tired of the police getting away with the killings of our children and loved ones. They never are held accountable. We say enough with being failed by our local prosecutors, who continue to show and prove that they have no interest in getting the cops who kill our innocent children and loved ones.

On February 22nd in cities across the country we will join P.O.S.T. (Protect Our Stolen Treasures) for a day of outrage. Parents and families in New York City whose loved ones have been murdered by the NYPD and who have never received any form of justice or #accountability for our murdered children will join in as one united family. Outraged at this nationwide epidemic, we have had enough of being lied to by prosecutors, who help to protect the killer cops instead of protecting and getting justice for our murdered children.

Enough is enough and it is time to hold these district attorneys responsible.

Just look at the numbers of innocent lives in New York stolen by these killer cops, with almost never any form of prosecution or accountability.

We ask you to come stand with the families in New York along with the supporters and freedom fighters.

In 2017 we will no longer tolerate or allow these kinds of injustices to continue.

Join us on February 22nd @ the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office @1pm to start the five-borough protest of failed prosecutors never holding the police accountable.

To all district attorneys: DO YOUR JOB OR LEAVE OFFICE!

_______________________________________________

Some of the participating organizations: The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Faith & Social Alliance, Mothers Cry For Justice, Justice For Stolen Lives, People Over Profits San Diego, The National Stolen Lives Families Tour, Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ), San Diego Chapter Black Panther Party, Native Lives Matter, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar Clark, Justice 4 Marcus Golden (Twin Cities, MN), Malcolm X Center, Black Lives Matter local chapter, South Carolina Stolen Lives (South Carolina)

Live coverage: https://www.facebook.com/edward.rhymes/posts/10202742371437594

Actions in other cities:
Detroit, MI: https://www.facebook.com/events/402473880104310/
Greenville, SC: https://www.facebook.com/scstolenlives/posts/1745708549077557
San Diego, CA: https://www.facebook.com/events/1882979388587253/

Talking to New Yorkers Who Went on Strike to Protest Trump

Vice

PV

PETE VOELKER

Feb 18 2017, 11:25am

“I’m just really sad for the country and I want to register my dissent wherever possible.”

Ever since Donald Trump’s inauguration, protests have been cropping up in America’s large cities, as one vulnerable population after another voices opposition to the new president’s discriminatory policies and rhetoric. In late January, when Trump issued his executive order barring citizens from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the US, demonstrators swarmed the nation’s airports to show solidarity with those caught up in the ban. Two weekends ago, New York’s Yemeni and LGBTQ communities held separate rallies. Thursday marked a “Day Without Immigrants,” as Latinos and immigrants stayed home from work to demonstrate how much the country relied upon them and their labor. And on Friday, a nationwide general strike brought anti-Trumpers out of the offices and workplaces to the streets.

The action, known as #F17 for the date, was organized by a number of groups, including one called Strike4Democracy, and included more than 100 events in towns and cities across the country. The idea was simple: Go on strike and participate in a day of action from 1 to 8 PM. Those who couldn’t take the whole day off to protest were encouraged to spend their lunch breaks at a rally.

The National Lawyers Guild organized the first rally I attended in New York. These are the lawyers who help protesters navigate the law if they are detained by police—I know the group’s work and have stayed connected with the NLG since 2015, when I was arrested while covering a Freddie Gray march in Baltimore for VICE.

From 1 to 3 PM, about 200 people rallied in front of the Manhattan Supreme Court. Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, spoke to the crowd: “We’re not accustomed to being the law and order guys. But that son of a bitch is turning us into the law and order guys. And we’re telling him that nobody, especially him, is above the law. So we’re going to hold him accountable, we’re going to stand with the people.”

Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, the president of the NLG, took the megaphone said, “We live in, and are from, these communities—it is our communities that are also under attack and we are willing to lend out titles, our positions, and our skills in defense of who we are and where we come from.”

I took Bannan’s portrait in front of the courthouse and asked her how people looking to become active in advocacy can participate. “Anyone can be a legal observer,” she told me. “On NLG.org you can sign up for training, which means that you can observe and document the interaction between law enforcement and the people at rallies and protests, spaces that are likely to become increasingly criminalized.”

(From left) Helena Sarber, Stephanie Olszewski, and Stephanie Johanssen

I also met three Global Justice Center Employees. Stephanie Johanssen told me, “I’m a human rights lawyer from Germany and I feel quite passionate about the rule of law being upheld. No matter who the government is, no one, even the president, is above the law.”

Micheleen C. Karnacewicz is a corporate finance lawyer who had to close her practice due to health reasons. She came to the rally to offer her knowledge and experience. “This is about human dignity, human rights, human potential—we all have that,” she told me. “But if we don’t have representation and support, none of us can survive.”

Adan Soltren (right) is a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society, where he is a part of the Attorneys of Color Caucus. “We need all hands on deck to fight for our clients, for our communities, for justice, for the principles our democracy were founded on,” he said.

Jane Sampeur (left), also with the Attorneys of Color Caucus, told me, “Today we are organizing a lawyers’ resistance. We want to make sure that lawyers are participating in the struggle and the resistance to oppose these racist Trump policies. We want to make sure that we’re not leaving our communities hanging. I want to make sure I’m in a position to help protect my community.”

Around 3 PM I headed to Washington Square Park, where strike participants and dissenters of all kinds were partaking in a rally.

Some students linked arms and chanted anti-Trump slogans.

“This is a very integral part of the First Amendment,” said Richard L. Entrup. “When totalitarianism encroaches on us I have the humanistic instinct to rise up.”

“I came out to show my outrage and my disappointment that somebody who is so un-American was elected president,” said Erica Zurer, a retired Brooklynite. “I’m just really sad for the country and I want to register my dissent wherever possible too.”

An easel was set up with free paints to allow demonstrators a different way to express their feelings.

“I try to take part in every way that I possibly can at every occasion. Like all of my colleagues, friends, and family I’m horrified by what has happened and in shock. I think we all need to express ourselves to overturn the tragedy that is happening in our country,” said Amy Yoes, an artist. “We’ll keep going, even though we all have busy lives. I think this is the most important moment of my political life and I think it’s crucial for us to all stand together and defeat this travesty.”

FYI: 5-8pm Today: Rally to #FreeDaniel and Stop ICE Raids

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 9:42 AM
Subject: FYI: 5-8pm Today: Rally to #FreeDaniel and Stop ICE Raids

https://www.facebook.com/events/1811671739072219/

Thursday, February 16 at 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Varick Street Federal Building) 201Varick Street #5, New York, NY 10014

The Trump administration has continuously attacked immigrant communities. This past week there have been hundreds of arrests by ICE, spreading fear and panic throughout our communities all over the country. Most recently, Daniel Ramirez Medina was taken into custody despite being a DACA recipient. This Thursday at 5pm, we rally in front of the Department of Homeland Security Building to demand that ICE #FreeDaniel and stop #ICERaids operations and arrests that are targeting everyone and tearing families falling apart

When: Thursday, February 16th, 2017 at 5 PM

Where: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Varick Street Federal Building)
201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014

This will be a legal, peaceful and nonviolent demonstration with participation from the following organizations and allies:
Make the Road NY
United We Dream
New York Communities For Change
Center for Popular Democracy
VOCAL-NY
Alliance for Quality Education
32BJ
New York Immigration Coalition
Resist Here
CCNY Dream Team
Lehman Dream Team
Staten Island Dream Coalition
Working Families Party
NYC Anti Violence Project
Queer Detainee Empowerment Project
Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS
Communities for Police Reform
Taxi Workers Alliance
NYCLU
Cabrini Immigrant Services
Laino Justice PRLDEF
The Door
Urban Youth Collaborative

FYI: 5:30pm Today: Build a Wall Around Trump

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:54 PM
Subject: FYI: 5:30pm Today: Build a Wall Around Trump

Legal observers, please!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1390631224332850/

FYI: Urgent Appeal From Standing Rock

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2017 12:43 PM
Subject: FYI: Urgent Appeal From Standing Rock

(Latest news bulletin: Judge rejects Standing Rock request to block Dakota Access pipeline drilling)

====
Labor for Standing Rock Emergency #NoDAPL Support

FEB 14, 2017 — Labor for Standing Rock has been asked to recruit skilled volunteers to help clean up Oceti camp and move to higher ground. Please fill out the form at https://tinyurl.com/L4SR-Survey to indicate your skills and availability to help. Water is life!

Appeal from www.NoDAPLSolidarity.org: ‘We are calling all able bodied, prepared Water Protectors to the frontlines! Come to camp prepared! The conditions are hazardous and North Dakota State Legislature is passing laws that target Water Protectors! Be prepared for these conditions. Several contingents of US Veterans are on their way back to camp. Join us! We need you now! This is our last stand!’
#NoDAPL #L4SR #MniWiconi

FYI: 4-7pm Today: #NoDAPL ! No Dakota Access Pipeline

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2017 2:15 PM
Subject: FYI: 4-7pm Today: #NoDAPL ! No Dakota Access Pipeline

Legal observers please!

No Dakota Access Pipeline
Today at 4 PM – 7 PM
Thomas Paine Park (Foley Square)
Worth St, New York, New York 10013

Water Protectors Call for Global Mass Mobilizations as Army Plans to Approve Dakota Access Pipeline (Democracy Now)
On Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday it will greenlight the final phase of construction of the pipeline. Amnesty International called the announcement “an unlawful and appalling violation of human rights.” In recent months, police have launched an escalating and violent crackdown against the resistance at Standing Rock. Last week, more than 70 people were arrested after militarized police raided a new resistance camp set up on historic Sioux treaty land. Among those arrested was award-winning Pueblo journalist Jenni Monet, who was on assignment for Indian Country Media Network.

FYI: Urgent Response to Trump’s Easement for Dakota Access Pipeline

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2017 2:42 PM
Subject: FYI: Urgent Response to Trump’s Easement for Dakota Access Pipeline

-Please share widely-

ABC NEWS: “The Army Corps of Engineers could reach a decision as early as this week on whether to grant an easement to the Dakota Access pipeline, according to an attorney for the government.”

Call the Army Corps now: 202-761-8700
Tell them to deny permit: #NoDAPL

**And to join Labor for Standing Rock call 8pm tomorrow (Weds.) night with Native leaders, please register here.

Here To Stay Rally – Feb. 11th!

From: Wright, Deborah
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:58 AM
To: ALAA MEMBERS
Subject: Here To Stay Rally – Feb. 11th!
Importance: High
Sisters and Brothers,

ALAA, ICE FREE NYC, and community Allies are calling for a rally to push back on any extension of the City’s collaboration with ICE, to end Broken Windows policing and the policies of mass incarceration in our city and our country.  Please join us at a citywide rally onSaturday, February 11th to challenge the criminalization of immigrants under the NYPD’s current Broken Windows policy, before it worsens under Trump’s far-right administration.  We demand NYC to:  #EndBrokenWindows  #EndDeportations  #EndIncarceration!
When: Saturday, Feb. 11th
Where: Washington Square Park
Time: 2 pm

https://www.facebook.com/ events/987262324752094/
One of our very own, Alma Magaña, was quoted in the Village Voice this week at a press conference leading up to Saturday’s rally, announcing community groups’ rejection of the continued criminalization of immigrants and collaboration with ICE:

http://www.villagevoice.com/ news/immigrants-to-de-blasio- get-off-your-soapbox-and-stop- helping-the-feds-deport-us- 9637719

Please let Alexi know if you are planning to attend at ashalom@alaa.org
In Solidarity,
Debbie

Fw: Strikers have a message for Trump & Schwarzman

From: Wright, Deborah
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:34 AM
To: ALAA MEMBERS
Cc: Alexi Shalom
Subject: Fw: Strikers have a message for Trump & Schwarzman
FYI.  Let’s also not forget our very own sisters and brothers in UAW Local 1508 in Green Island, NY who have been locked out by Honeywell since last May!

 

 

From: Blum, Richard
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2017 11:04 AM
To: Wright, Deborah; Taylor, Bret
Cc: Hofmeister, Beth
Subject: FW: Strikers have a message for Trump & Schwarzman

 

FYI. Please distribute.

Richard,

700 striking workers at Momentive in Waterford, NY have a message for Donald Trump and Steve Schwarzman: What about us? *

Trump promised to restore good jobs for millions of American workers, and picked Wall Street billionaire Stephen Schwarzman to Chair his “Strategic and Policy Forum” to help create jobs and boost economic growth.

But Schwarzman isn’t a champion for working people. He’s a Wall Street billionaire with a personal fortune of $11.1 billion and has a history of driving down workers’ standard of living at the companies he owns.

Momentive fell prey to Schwarzman’s Wall Street financial interests that destroyed good jobs, and cut pay and benefits. Apollo Global Management – the firm that owns the bulk of Momentive –  has also been one of the puppet masters driving down workers’ standard of living at Momentive for years. Workers are paying the price for their greed, but they are standing strong and making sacrifices on the picket line to protect their livelihoods.

Stand with the working families on strike at a rally on February 9th right outside Schwarzman’s posh Park Avenue apartment to demand good jobs in upstate New York.

The Details:
When: February 09, 2017 • 5:30 PM
Where: Steve Schwarzman’s Apartment • 740 Park Avenue , New York, NY
RSVP: MomentiveWorkers.com/ SchwarzmanRally

“They’ve been doing this to us for years. We aren’t greedy, we aren’t asking for much — just a fair contract, and some decent benefits for the younger guys,” said Momentive worker John DeSantis.

Let’s make sure Schwarzman and Trump hear us loud and clear Feb 9: If you really want to support good jobs and benefits for workers, start in Waterford.

Thanks,

Bob Master
Communications Workers of America

* Check out the article in the NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/ new-york/n-y-plant-workers- hope-trump-honors-promise- create-jobs-article-1.2963002
CWA District 1
80 Pine Street, 37th Floor
New York NY, 10005
cwad1.org

Text CWAD1 to 69866 to Join Our Text List.

 

FYI: Two More Events Today: Protest Uber & Labor for Standing Rock

From: Letwin, Michael
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2017 10:59 AM
Subject: FYI: Two More Events Today: Protest Uber & Labor for Standing Rock

Thursday, 5-6pm in NYC:
Protest at Uber’s Headquarters NoBanNoWall
Location: 3100 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY
Facebook event page

Join us to protest Uber on the day before Uber CEO Travis Kalanick meets with Donald Trump as part of his advisory council.

**** PLEASE NOTE: We’ve updated the our protest end time to 6 PM so that folks can head over to Foley Square for the Rise Up for #RamarleyGraham protest****

Now is the time for all those who value justice and equality to join together in holding Uber accountable, not only for its complicity with Trump’s hateful policies but also for impoverishing workers.

Backed by billions from Wall Street, gig economy corporations like Uber and Lyft are upending labor standards for which workers have spent centuries fighting.

Let’s send Uber and its gig-lord allies a message: workers’ rights and democracy come before profit. #NoBanNoWall

LIST OF SPONSORS IN PROGRESS

32BJ SEIU

ALIGN New York

Black Lives Matter Greater New York

Center for Popular Democracy

DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving

Labor for Palestine

Make the Road New York

Muslim Democratic Club

National Lawyers Guild Labor and Employment Law Committee

New York Communities for Change

New York Immigrant Action Fund

New York Immigration Coalition

New York Progressive Action Committee

New York Taxi Workers Alliance

New York Worker Center Federation

New York Working Families Party

Strong Economy for All

 

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Thursday 8-9pm EST:
Urgent Labor for Standing Rock Conference Call with Water Protectors 

In recent days, Donald Trump has met with pro-DAPL building trade leaders and AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, and pressured the Army Corps of Engineers to grant a final easement for DAPL. Today, highly militarized police made mass arrests of 76 water protectors.

In response, Chase Iron Eyes of the Lakota People’s Law Project and Last Real Indians will speak about what those of us in organized labor can do at this point to support water protectors at Standing Rock.

Call times in US/Eastern: Thursday, Feb 02, 2017, 8pm (1 hour). To participate, please register here.