Wednesday, April 3: #Justice4Saheed Rally and Thursday, April 4: Saheed Vassell Memorial Vigil
In light of the news of the Attorney General not bringing charges against NYPD officers responsible for killing Saheed Vassell, we joined Saheed’s family, Communities United for Police Reform, and Brooklyn Movement Center to demand accountability for his murder. If you were unable to join, you can still help amplify Saheed’s family’s demands for justice via social media by following and sharing @changethenypd, @BKMovement and #Justice4Saheed content on Twitter.
The following day, we brought love and joined Saheed’s family to mark one year since he was killed, at the site where he was killed. Saheed was gunned down at roughly 4:45pm.
Thursday, April 4: April Chapter Meeting: So You’re a Gentrifier. Now What?
This month's chapter meeting addressed the issues of gentrification and displacement–what it is, what it means to be a gentrifier, and how to make choices that mitigate your harm to working class, POC, and immigrant communities. We also highlighted ways to actively support anti-gentrification efforts around NYC, including by supporting POC-led grassroots organizations like VOCAL-NY, Equality for Flatbush, and Queens Neighborhoods United.
Thursday, April 11: Moral March for Housing
In recognition of the upcoming expiration of tenants’ rights, we joined community, faith, & labor leaders to fight evictions. There was a rally at Abyssinian Baptist Church, followed by a march to the State Office Building to hold a vigil for those who have been evicted thanks to weak tenants' rights and unaffordable rent. 100 New Yorkers are evicted every day. It's now or never for housing justice— We need Universal Rent Control!
Tuesday, April 16-Wednesday, April 17: Scholars’ Academy & Project Reach’s Intensive Anti-Discrimination Clinic: Unpacking Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, and Transphobia
This 12-hour, city-wide, Anti-Discrimination Training brought together a diverse community of 30-40 educators, service providers, social workers, administrators and parents/guardians from schools and community-based organizations in Queens. Speaker Corey Johnson, the New York City Council, and Project Reach seek to establish community and school-based Intergenerational Anti-Discrimination Teams of young people and adults trained to address bullying, implicit bias and discrimination in their communities. Drawing from 40 years of anti-discrimination and social justice training, Project Reach offered a unique opportunity to individuals, organizations and schools to experience its most successful and impactful workshops. All adults who work with young people and are committed to ending discrimination and fighting for social justice were encouraged to attend.
Monday, April 29: Call to Organize White Men Against Patriarchy and White Supremacy
This video call was a step in creating a national network of white men organizing other white men to be more effective accomplices to People of Color, women, femmes, trans and gender non-conforming folks in the struggle for collective liberation. While white men benefit most from white supremacy and patriarchy, our allegiance to these systems also damages us: in exchange for dominance, we deny ourselves the ability to work in solidarity with others and permit our own exploitation by more powerful individuals and institutions. By choosing instead to stand and fight with those disempowered by white supremacy and patriarchy, we can achieve mutual interests of justice, liberation, and self-actualization. This is an affinity group: anyone, regardless of race or gender, is welcome and encouraged to join. On this call, we discussed the need for this work, learn about the work people are already doing, and consider where each of us can plug in to engage our organizations, institutions, and communities.
Tuesday, April 30th: #HALTsolitary advocacy day in Albany!
CAIC (Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement) traveled to Albany on April 30th for a day of action/advocacy. We are at a critical moment in the push to pass the HALT (Humane Alternatives to Long-Term) Solitary Confinement Act, A. 2500/ S. 1623 to keep all people out of isolation in New York State prisons and jails. The Assembly passed HALT last year and the Senate has the votes to pass HALT now. People in solitary are subjected to inhumane treatment known to cause devastating psychological damage: 22-24 hours a day in a cell the size of an elevator with no meaningful human contact or programs & recreation alone in a cage.