Education is a Right: Attend the June 29 Town Hall Meeting
The youth, teachers and parents of Buffalo are once again being forced to make an impossible choice. They are being asked to have their child held back a grade, something well known to increase the dropout rates. Or they are supposed to defend social promotion, meaning their child is passed to the next grade without yet being able to read and write at their existing grade level. Neither choice solves the problems faced by the youth and teachers. In fact both make the situation worse. Yet the School Board and superintendent are striving to have people fight over these two rotten choices. Instead it is necessary to focus on the problem that does exist — a government that refuses to guarantee the right to education, including the conditions needed for teachers to teach and youth to learn. Let all unite in fighting for the right to education!
The Buffalo School Board has arbitrarily decided that the schools will no longer utilize what is known as social promotion. Social promotion occurs when a student has been branded a failure academically but is still passed into the next grade, based on social considerations, like remaining with one’s peer group. The School Board, claiming to be defending the needs of the youth to actually be educated, has decided to end social promotion this year. It is estimated that a record number of youth, at least 7,000 and possibly far more, will be held back.
Youth and parents are being told that this is “better” for the youth, though neither the Board nor the superintendent have shown why this is the case. Nor have they addressed how repeating a grade will guarantee the youth involved will be able to learn what is needed. It is well documented that the practice of holding youth back a grade greatly increases the chances of these youth leaving school before they graduate. Indeed, the state uses the fourth-grade “failure” rate as an indication of how many prisons to build!
The fact that social promotion even exists represents a failure by government to provide the right to education. The youth should not be blamed for the fact that the conditions necessary for educating them are being systematically eliminated. Buffalo schools have faced massive and repeated cuts — but the School Board and superintendent are not standing up to end that! Instead they are targeting the youth and forcing them to pay for the failure of the government.
The problem to target is the repeated failure of the government to provide the funding and resources necessary for teachers to teach and youth to learn. It is the repeated failure of the government to meet not only the basic right to education, but the right to housing and jobs so the youth do not have to contend with poverty and homelessness. The fight being instigated over social promotion is a means to hide the fact that the government is taking no responsibility for their failure to provide all the necessary conditions and resources to guarantee the right to education. Let us hold them accountable for a passing grade.
In addition, if one puts together the arbitrary testing regime now imposed by the federal and state governments — a main part of deciding if a student is “failing” or not — together with massive layoffs of teachers and cuts to education funding, together with this policy to end social promotion, what you come up with is a large pool of youth forced out of school and made easy prey for the military. What you have is a government organizing to provide itself with cannon fodder for war, while claiming “all of our actions and decision are made to improve student achievement.”
The Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC) has called for a town hall meeting to address the problems of education, particularly the failure of the government to educate our youth. We urge everyone to attend.
Emergency Town Hall Meeting
Stop the Education Katrina
Thursday, June 29, 6:30 - 9:30PM
Buffalo Museum of Science
Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC): 578-3571 or 444-6896
Read the complete article
The Buffalo School Board has arbitrarily decided that the schools will no longer utilize what is known as social promotion. Social promotion occurs when a student has been branded a failure academically but is still passed into the next grade, based on social considerations, like remaining with one’s peer group. The School Board, claiming to be defending the needs of the youth to actually be educated, has decided to end social promotion this year. It is estimated that a record number of youth, at least 7,000 and possibly far more, will be held back.
Youth and parents are being told that this is “better” for the youth, though neither the Board nor the superintendent have shown why this is the case. Nor have they addressed how repeating a grade will guarantee the youth involved will be able to learn what is needed. It is well documented that the practice of holding youth back a grade greatly increases the chances of these youth leaving school before they graduate. Indeed, the state uses the fourth-grade “failure” rate as an indication of how many prisons to build!
The fact that social promotion even exists represents a failure by government to provide the right to education. The youth should not be blamed for the fact that the conditions necessary for educating them are being systematically eliminated. Buffalo schools have faced massive and repeated cuts — but the School Board and superintendent are not standing up to end that! Instead they are targeting the youth and forcing them to pay for the failure of the government.
The problem to target is the repeated failure of the government to provide the funding and resources necessary for teachers to teach and youth to learn. It is the repeated failure of the government to meet not only the basic right to education, but the right to housing and jobs so the youth do not have to contend with poverty and homelessness. The fight being instigated over social promotion is a means to hide the fact that the government is taking no responsibility for their failure to provide all the necessary conditions and resources to guarantee the right to education. Let us hold them accountable for a passing grade.
In addition, if one puts together the arbitrary testing regime now imposed by the federal and state governments — a main part of deciding if a student is “failing” or not — together with massive layoffs of teachers and cuts to education funding, together with this policy to end social promotion, what you come up with is a large pool of youth forced out of school and made easy prey for the military. What you have is a government organizing to provide itself with cannon fodder for war, while claiming “all of our actions and decision are made to improve student achievement.”
The Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC) has called for a town hall meeting to address the problems of education, particularly the failure of the government to educate our youth. We urge everyone to attend.
Emergency Town Hall Meeting
Stop the Education Katrina
Thursday, June 29, 6:30 - 9:30PM
Buffalo Museum of Science
Buffalo Local Action Committee (BLAC): 578-3571 or 444-6896
Read the complete article
Peace Has No Borders Actions: Broad Support for Soldiers Refusing to Serve
Buffalo and Fort Erie showed broad support for the “Peace Has No Borders” actions on both sides of the border, June 16 in Buffalo and June 17 in Fort Erie. Iraq and Vietnam veterans and war resisters along with military families organized the event to salute the soldiers refusing to serve and refusing to commit crimes in Iraq.
The spirit of resisting and standing up for humanity against the onslaught of U.S. war and aggression characterized the activities. One after the other, the young men, both veterans returning from duty in Iraq, and those who refused to serve and went to Canada, affirmed their just stand to resist and organize others to do the same. Many said it was the best decision of their lives, as they are now working collectively with others to bring an end to the war and to hold the government accountable for its crimes. They also saluted the numerous groups supporting their resisting, saying they are glad to have an organized force “watching our backs.”
In both Buffalo and Fort Erie, hundreds of supporters came out. Young and old, military families and activists, people joined together to oppose the war and oppose the notion of the rich that the lives of the Iraqis have no meaning. Mothers of some of the war resisters in Canada traveled from Kentucky and Virginia to be with their sons and support their courage to resist. As one put it, “I taught my son to stand up for what he believes in and to stand for what is right and just in this world, and that is what he is doing by resisting this illegal war.” Another emphasized that “We can’t have our youth going over to terrorize the Iraqis. That’s not right. We have to fight the government and not allow them to use the youth to terrorize people around the world.” A long-time veteran for peace emphasized that the struggle is not just against war in Iraq, but the whole drive of imperialism for world empire. He said a spirit of internationalism is needed to combat the U.S. drive to rule the world and encouraged everyone to support the just struggles of peoples here and worldwide. Others spoke to watching their buddies become beasts in Iraq, and the turmoil of those returning, with many committing suicide in the face of the crimes they were forced to commit. Said a war resister, “I would rather die for peace.” Said another, “War is not the way to solve problems and we need to end use of war against the people.”
As one, the vets and war resisters said their decision to refuse was just and needed and that every effort should be made to step up support for resistance among the troops and those the military is trying to recruit. They joined participants in saying we all have a responsibility to speak out and strengthen the opposition to war. The funds raised on Friday were turned over to the war resisters in Canada and all stood together at the Buffalo/Ft. Erie Peace Bridge to say, No to War! Courage to Resist!
Read the complete article
The spirit of resisting and standing up for humanity against the onslaught of U.S. war and aggression characterized the activities. One after the other, the young men, both veterans returning from duty in Iraq, and those who refused to serve and went to Canada, affirmed their just stand to resist and organize others to do the same. Many said it was the best decision of their lives, as they are now working collectively with others to bring an end to the war and to hold the government accountable for its crimes. They also saluted the numerous groups supporting their resisting, saying they are glad to have an organized force “watching our backs.”
In both Buffalo and Fort Erie, hundreds of supporters came out. Young and old, military families and activists, people joined together to oppose the war and oppose the notion of the rich that the lives of the Iraqis have no meaning. Mothers of some of the war resisters in Canada traveled from Kentucky and Virginia to be with their sons and support their courage to resist. As one put it, “I taught my son to stand up for what he believes in and to stand for what is right and just in this world, and that is what he is doing by resisting this illegal war.” Another emphasized that “We can’t have our youth going over to terrorize the Iraqis. That’s not right. We have to fight the government and not allow them to use the youth to terrorize people around the world.” A long-time veteran for peace emphasized that the struggle is not just against war in Iraq, but the whole drive of imperialism for world empire. He said a spirit of internationalism is needed to combat the U.S. drive to rule the world and encouraged everyone to support the just struggles of peoples here and worldwide. Others spoke to watching their buddies become beasts in Iraq, and the turmoil of those returning, with many committing suicide in the face of the crimes they were forced to commit. Said a war resister, “I would rather die for peace.” Said another, “War is not the way to solve problems and we need to end use of war against the people.”
As one, the vets and war resisters said their decision to refuse was just and needed and that every effort should be made to step up support for resistance among the troops and those the military is trying to recruit. They joined participants in saying we all have a responsibility to speak out and strengthen the opposition to war. The funds raised on Friday were turned over to the war resisters in Canada and all stood together at the Buffalo/Ft. Erie Peace Bridge to say, No to War! Courage to Resist!
Read the complete article
Justice for Six Nations: Concert for Kanenhstaton a Big Success
The fundraising concert for Kanenhstaton — the protected place — held at Chiefswood Park at the Six Nations on the Grand River on June 16 was a big success. The concert went from noon until close to midnight — two hours longer than originally planned — as some 36 groups of First Nations musicians and singers came to take their stand for the land reclamation initiated by the Six Nations.
Some of the best and most well-known First Nations performers from across the country participated in the concert. They not only volunteered their time but paid their own expenses to travel there to perform. It was emceed by indigenous actor Gary Farmer and indigenous actress and singer Chevei Maracle, among others.
David Maracle, a Six Nations carver and musician, initiated the concert with a call to indigenous performers from across Canada. “Indigenous artists can make a difference. Let’s all take a stand together. It’s for all our children and their future. We need to remember where we came from. We need to rally behind Six Nations and the people.... We want to show unity among our peoples and our supporters across Canada. Let’s turn this into an indigenous ‘Woodstock for unity’ to stop theft and injustices on our native land,” he said.
Thousands of people arrived throughout the day, with more than 5,000 people listening to the evening performances as more people arrived after the workday. Many were local families while others came from the U.S. and various Canadian cities and towns.
The people from the land reclamation site, including large numbers of youth, provided the many volunteers and security to protect the concert and keep everything running. A group of 12 youth traveled from Montreal to help as volunteers.
Exact numbers were hard to estimate as people spread throughout the beautiful Chiefswood Park situated on the banks of the Grand River. There were booths set up at one end of the site exhibiting and selling First Nations art as well as food. Information kiosks were set up, including ones that had material on the land claims of the Six Nations and their constitution, the Great Law. One was set up by youth working in the Caledonia area to educate people on the reclamation and organize support for the struggle of the Six Nations. Others sold t-shirts and CDs as part of the fund-raising for Kanenhstaton. Sales were brisk and the broad support for the land reclamation was seen in the donations collected at the gate and during the afternoon and evening. Proceeds from the gate alone by 9:30pm, with two hours to go, totaled more than $18,000.
The concert was a thank you from the Six Nations people at the land reclamation to the entire Six Nations and all their Canadian allies for their support during the 109 days since the land reclamation took place. It was a “Nya Weh” from the entire Six Nations for the courageous stand of those who reclaimed the land and have protected it since. In the evening the flag of Hamilton area steelworkers, USW Local 1005, which has stood with the Six Nations at the land reclamation, was mounted at the side of the stage.
During the evening Clyde Powless spoke briefly bringing the greetings and thanks of those from the reclamation site to the peoples from “all the territories and nations” who have stood with them saying that they were making progress but that it would be a long fight. Speaking of the stand they have taken, he said: “What we do has to reflect what we are as a nation.”
Read the complete article
Some of the best and most well-known First Nations performers from across the country participated in the concert. They not only volunteered their time but paid their own expenses to travel there to perform. It was emceed by indigenous actor Gary Farmer and indigenous actress and singer Chevei Maracle, among others.
David Maracle, a Six Nations carver and musician, initiated the concert with a call to indigenous performers from across Canada. “Indigenous artists can make a difference. Let’s all take a stand together. It’s for all our children and their future. We need to remember where we came from. We need to rally behind Six Nations and the people.... We want to show unity among our peoples and our supporters across Canada. Let’s turn this into an indigenous ‘Woodstock for unity’ to stop theft and injustices on our native land,” he said.
Thousands of people arrived throughout the day, with more than 5,000 people listening to the evening performances as more people arrived after the workday. Many were local families while others came from the U.S. and various Canadian cities and towns.
The people from the land reclamation site, including large numbers of youth, provided the many volunteers and security to protect the concert and keep everything running. A group of 12 youth traveled from Montreal to help as volunteers.
Exact numbers were hard to estimate as people spread throughout the beautiful Chiefswood Park situated on the banks of the Grand River. There were booths set up at one end of the site exhibiting and selling First Nations art as well as food. Information kiosks were set up, including ones that had material on the land claims of the Six Nations and their constitution, the Great Law. One was set up by youth working in the Caledonia area to educate people on the reclamation and organize support for the struggle of the Six Nations. Others sold t-shirts and CDs as part of the fund-raising for Kanenhstaton. Sales were brisk and the broad support for the land reclamation was seen in the donations collected at the gate and during the afternoon and evening. Proceeds from the gate alone by 9:30pm, with two hours to go, totaled more than $18,000.
The concert was a thank you from the Six Nations people at the land reclamation to the entire Six Nations and all their Canadian allies for their support during the 109 days since the land reclamation took place. It was a “Nya Weh” from the entire Six Nations for the courageous stand of those who reclaimed the land and have protected it since. In the evening the flag of Hamilton area steelworkers, USW Local 1005, which has stood with the Six Nations at the land reclamation, was mounted at the side of the stage.
During the evening Clyde Powless spoke briefly bringing the greetings and thanks of those from the reclamation site to the peoples from “all the territories and nations” who have stood with them saying that they were making progress but that it would be a long fight. Speaking of the stand they have taken, he said: “What we do has to reflect what we are as a nation.”
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
THE COMMUNITY IMAGES MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT
Now through Sunday, July 9
Langston Hughes Institute, High St.
Come view two documentaries on the history of the struggle for rights in Buffalo.
“Build” deals with police brutality in 1975 and organizing the Juneteenth festival in 1976.
“Model City” is about the establishment of the Langston Hughes Institute, the Employment Information Center and The Jesse Nash Health Center.
DOCUMENTARY
Screening and Panel Discussion of “Model City”
Monday, June 26, 6-8PM
Frank E. Merriweather Library
1324 Jefferson Ave.
Sponsored by African Consciousness Workshop
Call: 578-3571 or 881-1303
“PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO!”
Monday, June 26, 6:30PM
Pratt-Willert Community Center, 422 Pratt St.
Screening of “Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt?” Mumia Abu-Jamal, a death row political prisoner and activist, framed and convicted in the killing of a police officer in 1981. Call: 716-834-8438 or email: karimatells@yahoo.com.
Read the complete article
THE COMMUNITY IMAGES MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT
Now through Sunday, July 9
Langston Hughes Institute, High St.
Come view two documentaries on the history of the struggle for rights in Buffalo.
“Build” deals with police brutality in 1975 and organizing the Juneteenth festival in 1976.
“Model City” is about the establishment of the Langston Hughes Institute, the Employment Information Center and The Jesse Nash Health Center.
DOCUMENTARY
Screening and Panel Discussion of “Model City”
Monday, June 26, 6-8PM
Frank E. Merriweather Library
1324 Jefferson Ave.
Sponsored by African Consciousness Workshop
Call: 578-3571 or 881-1303
“PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO!”
Monday, June 26, 6:30PM
Pratt-Willert Community Center, 422 Pratt St.
Screening of “Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt?” Mumia Abu-Jamal, a death row political prisoner and activist, framed and convicted in the killing of a police officer in 1981. Call: 716-834-8438 or email: karimatells@yahoo.com.
Read the complete article
Nazis and KKK Not Welcome in Buffalo!
The Racial Nationalist Party (connected with the KKK) and the National Socialist Movement (Nazis) are planning a rally in downtown Buffalo. Buffalo Forum, Rochester Activists, the Buffalo International Action Center and others are organizing a rally to oppose these Nazis and KKKers to make it clear that they are not welcome in Buffalo. One of their main spokespeople, organizer Karl Hand, is expected to be present. We urge all concerned to join in a rally to let Hand and all KKKers and Nazis know that they are not welcome in Buffalo!
This rally by racist and fascist forces is taking place at a time when the government is stepping up its attacks on the people and using groups like the KKK, Nazis, the Minutemen on the border, and Hand’s group to openly promote racist and fascist violence. These groups have a long history of terrorism — organized, protected and backed up by the state. They advocate and carry out violence against the people, as the thousands of lynchings, cross burnings and attacks on immigrants and progressive forces show. They are organized to advocate for terrorism against the people and to give the police an excuse to use violence against those who stand to defend rights. They have no place in Buffalo! Together let us stand against this Nazi and KKKers and oppose the anti-people, racist and fascist terrorism his organization, and others like them, promote and carry out.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
3:00PM, Lafayette Square
Downtown Buffalo
March to Niagara Square at 4:00PM
Read the complete article
This rally by racist and fascist forces is taking place at a time when the government is stepping up its attacks on the people and using groups like the KKK, Nazis, the Minutemen on the border, and Hand’s group to openly promote racist and fascist violence. These groups have a long history of terrorism — organized, protected and backed up by the state. They advocate and carry out violence against the people, as the thousands of lynchings, cross burnings and attacks on immigrants and progressive forces show. They are organized to advocate for terrorism against the people and to give the police an excuse to use violence against those who stand to defend rights. They have no place in Buffalo! Together let us stand against this Nazi and KKKers and oppose the anti-people, racist and fascist terrorism his organization, and others like them, promote and carry out.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
3:00PM, Lafayette Square
Downtown Buffalo
March to Niagara Square at 4:00PM
Read the complete article
Discussion on the Stand of the People Against Racist and Fascist Organizing
As part of the organizing work to rally against Nazis and KKKers, Buffalo Forum is providing this Readers Forum page to encourage discussion on the stand of the people toward racist and fascist organizations. This discussion began among activists on various email lists. We begin with views of Buffalo Forum, responding to some of the issues raised. We welcome material from all of our readers and encourage everyone to join in this discussion.
Defending the Right to Conscience and Opposing Organized Fascists
The discussion on this important issue of the stand against racist and fascist organizations is an important and complex matter. Exchanging views and arguing out the stands needed will assist all of us.
The issue of rights is a central one, especially now when the government is becoming more and more fascist and is taking brutal fascist actions against the people. This can be seen in attacks on Katrina survivors, including putting them in concentration camps, the effort to make everyone illegal, beginning with immigrants, the roundups and detentions without charges of Arabs and Muslims, the increased imprisonment and torture of African Americans in U.S. prisons, the spying on millions of innocent people, and more.
The particular issue we are discussing is whether to oppose the planned demonstration by a known Nazi and KKK member, Karl Hand. We think it is important to begin by recognizing that the issue is not whether Hand, as an individual, has the right to his own conscience and views. He does, as a human being, as we all do. We defend everyone’s right to conscience and to express opinions. The issue here is that Hand is not acting as an individual. He is representing an organized force, and that force, the Nazis and KKK, organize -terrorism, racist attacks, and numerous other ongoing crimes against the people.
The problem is not that he, as an individual has racist views, and we do not like them, but rather that the organization he represents and is part of, is organized for the purpose of carrying out racist and fascist activity and does carry out such activity. The planned action is a stand to demonstrate against this activity and let it be known that we will not accept racists and Nazis in Buffalo.
Taking a stand against organized racists and fascists is taking a stand in defense of rights and against the terrorism of such organizations. Suppose, for example, Karl Hand planned to burn a cross in Niagara Square. Should we ignore that? Most would likely say no, because the burning of the cross is readily recognized as a racist and terrorist act, while his going to speak to advocate in favor of burning crosses and representing an organization that does such activity and far worse, is not readily recognized as a racist and terrorist act.
It is organized racist and fascist attacks that are violent and criminal, not our opposition to them. Standing against organized racists and fascists is a stand to make clear that all of us together, whatever our views or background, reject organized racist and fascist activity. And if Hand succeeds in only bringing a handful with him, we can all be glad because it means such forces are having difficulty organizing. And we can use it as an opportunity to strengthen our unity and common activity.
Government Stands Behind the Racists and Fascists
On the email list, one of the writers opposed demonstrating against Hand’s group in Buffalo. The writer gave the example of a professor abroad and attempts to fire him for his fascist views. The writer compared the actions against the professor and against the Racial Nationalist Party, and thought both were wrong.
The issue of the professor would -appear to be different, though more facts are needed. But assuming the individual is simply a professor, expressing views, and not a member of a organized fascist force carrying them out, or using his position to recruit youth, then we would oppose efforts to fire him for expressing his views. Indeed, one of the dangerous features of the present is the fascist mentality that simply the expression of views, any views, cannot be tolerated — witness, for example, the teacher suspended for simply saying September 11 was an inside job. We oppose attacks on individuals expressing their views and defend their right to do so.
Expressing and exchanging views and arguing out opinions, at universities and elsewhere, is what enables human beings to think and therefore the right to do so must be defended. We do not think Hand and his group fall into the same category — they are organized racists and fascists. The experience of humanity is that organized racists and fascists are dangerous, criminal and must be vigorously opposed at every step. They do not operate as single individuals, but as an organized force, backed up by the state.
KKK actions, for example, have repeatedly been shown to directly involve local police, sheriffs, FBI agents and so forth. The killing of anti-Klan protesters in Greensboro, North Carolina, by the KKK, for example, involved “undercover” FBI agents and was known in advance by the federal and local police, who ensured the killings took place — in the name of protecting their “undercover” investigation! This role of the state in organizing, funding, and protecting racists and fascists groups is the norm, not the exception.
It is also the case that the government is moving in a fascist direction and creating conditions for mass roundups of those it brands as “illegal” or a “threat,” such as the hundreds already imprisoned and tortured at Guantanamo and elsewhere. The -immigration bill may yet include measures branding not only immigrants but also those who support them as criminals. And it may become law. Will that then make jailing all these immigrants and their supporters legal — or criminal? It is the government who is the criminal, and its aggression and fascist actions the crimes.
We raise these examples because in order for the government to carry out such actions against the people, they need their foot soldiers, of the Hand and KKK variety, and Minutemen variety and so forth. The role of such organizations, backed by the government, is to justify attacks on the people, in the name of democracy, law and order, and so forth. So while it is likely that this demonstration by Hand’s forces will be small and relatively insignificant in itself, it is not the case that such actions by racist and fascist forces in general are insignificant. Indeed, these smaller events are a testing ground for the government to see what they can get away with when it comes to open racist and fascist activity. It is a test of our vigilance against such open displays of racism and fascism. We should not be caught passive and inactive in the face of such threats.
Humanity’s experience with organized racists and fascists is bitter and clear — they do not have the right to carry out their crimes, they do not have the right to advocate for them.
Oppose the Notion of “Hate Crimes”
The stand to oppose racist and fascist organizing, including promotion of it, is one gained of long experience, particularly the experience of humanity in defeating fascism in World War II. The UN Declaration of Human Rights, the Nuremberg trials, the UN Charter, and various other examples of international law reflecting this experience, all make the promotion of and organizing of aggression, genocide and fascism crimes and rightly so.
Experience in the U.S. also makes clear that the government has not and will not round up the organized racists and fascists like the KKK, but rather supports and protects them. This will likely be seen at the rally, as the police will be out in force to protect Hand and oppose us.
The government has, repeatedly, rounded up runaway slaves on a mass scale, and today, African American youth are imprisoned in their hundreds of thousands; Americans of Japanese descent; trade unionists, communists and other progressives during McCarthyism; Arabs and Muslims, and immigrants. It is the government, and the forces it backs and supports that are the criminals, not us. It is they who are the racists and terrorists, not the people.
In the U.S., the government has tried to confuse this issue by using the conception of “hate crimes.” U.S. law uses this notion of “hate crimes” to make it appear that the problem is one among the people, who supposedly hate each other, rather than one of the government, and its organized agencies, like the Nazis and KKK. Promotion of “hate crimes” is used to pit the people against each other, while making the state appear to be the one who is not racist.
Experience on this is equally clear. The problem is not hatred in our hearts or minds. It is a racist government organized against the people and using groups like the KKK and Nazis to further its own aims of fascism and war.
Read the complete article
Defending the Right to Conscience and Opposing Organized Fascists
The discussion on this important issue of the stand against racist and fascist organizations is an important and complex matter. Exchanging views and arguing out the stands needed will assist all of us.
The issue of rights is a central one, especially now when the government is becoming more and more fascist and is taking brutal fascist actions against the people. This can be seen in attacks on Katrina survivors, including putting them in concentration camps, the effort to make everyone illegal, beginning with immigrants, the roundups and detentions without charges of Arabs and Muslims, the increased imprisonment and torture of African Americans in U.S. prisons, the spying on millions of innocent people, and more.
The particular issue we are discussing is whether to oppose the planned demonstration by a known Nazi and KKK member, Karl Hand. We think it is important to begin by recognizing that the issue is not whether Hand, as an individual, has the right to his own conscience and views. He does, as a human being, as we all do. We defend everyone’s right to conscience and to express opinions. The issue here is that Hand is not acting as an individual. He is representing an organized force, and that force, the Nazis and KKK, organize -terrorism, racist attacks, and numerous other ongoing crimes against the people.
The problem is not that he, as an individual has racist views, and we do not like them, but rather that the organization he represents and is part of, is organized for the purpose of carrying out racist and fascist activity and does carry out such activity. The planned action is a stand to demonstrate against this activity and let it be known that we will not accept racists and Nazis in Buffalo.
Taking a stand against organized racists and fascists is taking a stand in defense of rights and against the terrorism of such organizations. Suppose, for example, Karl Hand planned to burn a cross in Niagara Square. Should we ignore that? Most would likely say no, because the burning of the cross is readily recognized as a racist and terrorist act, while his going to speak to advocate in favor of burning crosses and representing an organization that does such activity and far worse, is not readily recognized as a racist and terrorist act.
It is organized racist and fascist attacks that are violent and criminal, not our opposition to them. Standing against organized racists and fascists is a stand to make clear that all of us together, whatever our views or background, reject organized racist and fascist activity. And if Hand succeeds in only bringing a handful with him, we can all be glad because it means such forces are having difficulty organizing. And we can use it as an opportunity to strengthen our unity and common activity.
Government Stands Behind the Racists and Fascists
On the email list, one of the writers opposed demonstrating against Hand’s group in Buffalo. The writer gave the example of a professor abroad and attempts to fire him for his fascist views. The writer compared the actions against the professor and against the Racial Nationalist Party, and thought both were wrong.
The issue of the professor would -appear to be different, though more facts are needed. But assuming the individual is simply a professor, expressing views, and not a member of a organized fascist force carrying them out, or using his position to recruit youth, then we would oppose efforts to fire him for expressing his views. Indeed, one of the dangerous features of the present is the fascist mentality that simply the expression of views, any views, cannot be tolerated — witness, for example, the teacher suspended for simply saying September 11 was an inside job. We oppose attacks on individuals expressing their views and defend their right to do so.
Expressing and exchanging views and arguing out opinions, at universities and elsewhere, is what enables human beings to think and therefore the right to do so must be defended. We do not think Hand and his group fall into the same category — they are organized racists and fascists. The experience of humanity is that organized racists and fascists are dangerous, criminal and must be vigorously opposed at every step. They do not operate as single individuals, but as an organized force, backed up by the state.
KKK actions, for example, have repeatedly been shown to directly involve local police, sheriffs, FBI agents and so forth. The killing of anti-Klan protesters in Greensboro, North Carolina, by the KKK, for example, involved “undercover” FBI agents and was known in advance by the federal and local police, who ensured the killings took place — in the name of protecting their “undercover” investigation! This role of the state in organizing, funding, and protecting racists and fascists groups is the norm, not the exception.
It is also the case that the government is moving in a fascist direction and creating conditions for mass roundups of those it brands as “illegal” or a “threat,” such as the hundreds already imprisoned and tortured at Guantanamo and elsewhere. The -immigration bill may yet include measures branding not only immigrants but also those who support them as criminals. And it may become law. Will that then make jailing all these immigrants and their supporters legal — or criminal? It is the government who is the criminal, and its aggression and fascist actions the crimes.
We raise these examples because in order for the government to carry out such actions against the people, they need their foot soldiers, of the Hand and KKK variety, and Minutemen variety and so forth. The role of such organizations, backed by the government, is to justify attacks on the people, in the name of democracy, law and order, and so forth. So while it is likely that this demonstration by Hand’s forces will be small and relatively insignificant in itself, it is not the case that such actions by racist and fascist forces in general are insignificant. Indeed, these smaller events are a testing ground for the government to see what they can get away with when it comes to open racist and fascist activity. It is a test of our vigilance against such open displays of racism and fascism. We should not be caught passive and inactive in the face of such threats.
Humanity’s experience with organized racists and fascists is bitter and clear — they do not have the right to carry out their crimes, they do not have the right to advocate for them.
Oppose the Notion of “Hate Crimes”
The stand to oppose racist and fascist organizing, including promotion of it, is one gained of long experience, particularly the experience of humanity in defeating fascism in World War II. The UN Declaration of Human Rights, the Nuremberg trials, the UN Charter, and various other examples of international law reflecting this experience, all make the promotion of and organizing of aggression, genocide and fascism crimes and rightly so.
Experience in the U.S. also makes clear that the government has not and will not round up the organized racists and fascists like the KKK, but rather supports and protects them. This will likely be seen at the rally, as the police will be out in force to protect Hand and oppose us.
The government has, repeatedly, rounded up runaway slaves on a mass scale, and today, African American youth are imprisoned in their hundreds of thousands; Americans of Japanese descent; trade unionists, communists and other progressives during McCarthyism; Arabs and Muslims, and immigrants. It is the government, and the forces it backs and supports that are the criminals, not us. It is they who are the racists and terrorists, not the people.
In the U.S., the government has tried to confuse this issue by using the conception of “hate crimes.” U.S. law uses this notion of “hate crimes” to make it appear that the problem is one among the people, who supposedly hate each other, rather than one of the government, and its organized agencies, like the Nazis and KKK. Promotion of “hate crimes” is used to pit the people against each other, while making the state appear to be the one who is not racist.
Experience on this is equally clear. The problem is not hatred in our hearts or minds. It is a racist government organized against the people and using groups like the KKK and Nazis to further its own aims of fascism and war.
Read the complete article
Fight For Decision Making: Bathrooms, Healthcare, Sick Days Main Demands
- Transit Workers Discussion Group, June 8, 2006 -
The Contract Demand Boards have shown that the workers have definite views on demands and a great desire to be better organized so the workers are decision makers at every step. The Boards have been taken to Cold Springs and Babcock garages and were well a received. Workers appreciated the space to discuss together and added demands to the Boards, concerning cameras and returning to having all runs be 40 hours.
The Demand Boards themselves are bringing forward a lot of discussion and have made clear the common concerns of the workers. While most of the votes are from Frontier garage, where discussion is a regular part of life and the Board has been up longer, it is clear that the same demands are supported at all three garages. The demands also bring out that workers are concerned about providing for everyone’s needs, such as by supporting the demand for a pay increase for Metrolink drivers and demanding a decrease in the time it takes for newer drivers to reach full pay. These are important stands against NFTA’s efforts to divide and conquer.
We urge everyone to go to the union meeting June 14 and demand that the union support the demands listed below, decided by the workers.
As of June 7, the votes for the demands were:
1) No concessions on healthcare: 142 in favor, none against
2) Bathrooms and time to use them: 137 in favor, one against
3) No point system or change in sick days: 136 in favor, two against
4) Reinstate Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): 130 in favor, one against
5) Substantial Pay increase for all: 128 in favor, three against
6) Lower time for wage progression to full pay: 119 in favor, one against
7) Raise Metrolink Pay: 112 in favor, three against
8) Upgrade Sick Days from 7 to 12: 94 in favor, one against
Two additional demands were added by Cold Springs and Babcock workers this week, which have not yet been voted on at Frontier:
9) Bus security for Security Only, not Discipline: 47 in favor, two against
10) All runs 40 hours: 6 in favor, four against
Go to the union meeting and defend decision making by the workers on these demands!
Read the complete article
The Contract Demand Boards have shown that the workers have definite views on demands and a great desire to be better organized so the workers are decision makers at every step. The Boards have been taken to Cold Springs and Babcock garages and were well a received. Workers appreciated the space to discuss together and added demands to the Boards, concerning cameras and returning to having all runs be 40 hours.
The Demand Boards themselves are bringing forward a lot of discussion and have made clear the common concerns of the workers. While most of the votes are from Frontier garage, where discussion is a regular part of life and the Board has been up longer, it is clear that the same demands are supported at all three garages. The demands also bring out that workers are concerned about providing for everyone’s needs, such as by supporting the demand for a pay increase for Metrolink drivers and demanding a decrease in the time it takes for newer drivers to reach full pay. These are important stands against NFTA’s efforts to divide and conquer.
We urge everyone to go to the union meeting June 14 and demand that the union support the demands listed below, decided by the workers.
As of June 7, the votes for the demands were:
1) No concessions on healthcare: 142 in favor, none against
2) Bathrooms and time to use them: 137 in favor, one against
3) No point system or change in sick days: 136 in favor, two against
4) Reinstate Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): 130 in favor, one against
5) Substantial Pay increase for all: 128 in favor, three against
6) Lower time for wage progression to full pay: 119 in favor, one against
7) Raise Metrolink Pay: 112 in favor, three against
8) Upgrade Sick Days from 7 to 12: 94 in favor, one against
Two additional demands were added by Cold Springs and Babcock workers this week, which have not yet been voted on at Frontier:
9) Bus security for Security Only, not Discipline: 47 in favor, two against
10) All runs 40 hours: 6 in favor, four against
Go to the union meeting and defend decision making by the workers on these demands!
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
AFRICAN “MEET AND GREET CIRCLE”
Saturday, June 10, 6PM
Langston Hughes Center, 25 High St.
Juneteenth and the Peace Center are cosponsoring a “meet and greet” circle featuring refugees from Liberia, Rwanda, and Somalia. This is a chance to welcome these folks to Buffalo, while learning more about their homelands in an informal, social atmosphere.Drinks and refreshments will be provided.
For more information call Enid: 891-4552
31ST ANNUAL JUNETEENTH OF BUFFALO
Juneteenth Sankofa Days
“From Education to Celebration”
June 12 - 18, 2006, a week of cultural arts, education and enlightenment inspired by the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
(Nguzo Saba).
Events include: 5K Run; Festival Parade; Main Stage Entertainment; Arts and Cultural Stage; Vendors’ Marketplace; Food Court; Underground Railroad Tours; Health Pavilion; Family Portrait Booth; Drill Team Competition; Job Fair / Book Fair; Historical Exhibits; Children’s Activities
Festival Parade begins on Saturday, June 17 at Noon ending at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Address Inquiries to: Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. P.O. Box 412, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205 Phone: (716) 891-8801, Email: jfibrown@aol.com
PEACE HAS NO BORDERS
A Festival of Resistance will be a historic opportunity for concerned citizens from Canada and the U.S. to unite our efforts in support of U.S. war resisters who are saying NO to the horrific Iraq war. While the U.S. continues to press other countries, including Canada, to support its war plans, the June 17th Festival will project the voices of millions of Americans and Canadians who oppose the Iraq War. Through music, speakers, images, and poetry we will share information, strategies, inspiration and our hopes for an end to war.
Friday, June 16, 7PM
Kleinhans Music Hall
Symphony Circle
Organiziers: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, War Resister Support Campaign, Canada, Western New York Peace Center
Tickets: $15
Contact: 888-223-6000
NEW YORK CITY
CRISIS IN THE COLONY: PUERTO RICO UPDATE
Monday, June 12, 6:30PM
Hunter College West Building 2nd Floor, Room 217E.
68th St. and Lexington Ave. (Take the #6 train to E. 68th St.)
Donation: $10 (no one will be turned away)
Join the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign for our annual Reception/Forum for the Puerto Rico Delegation of the United Nations De-Colonization Committee Hearings! Every year a delegation from Puerto Rico comes to the United Nations to testify to the U.N. De-Colonization Committee; to make the case for the liberation of Puerto Rico, Vieques and the release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. This delegation is made up of various activists from the different organizations throughout Puerto Rico that fight for the independence of Puerto Rico.
Read the complete article
AFRICAN “MEET AND GREET CIRCLE”
Saturday, June 10, 6PM
Langston Hughes Center, 25 High St.
Juneteenth and the Peace Center are cosponsoring a “meet and greet” circle featuring refugees from Liberia, Rwanda, and Somalia. This is a chance to welcome these folks to Buffalo, while learning more about their homelands in an informal, social atmosphere.Drinks and refreshments will be provided.
For more information call Enid: 891-4552
31ST ANNUAL JUNETEENTH OF BUFFALO
Juneteenth Sankofa Days
“From Education to Celebration”
June 12 - 18, 2006, a week of cultural arts, education and enlightenment inspired by the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
(Nguzo Saba).
Events include: 5K Run; Festival Parade; Main Stage Entertainment; Arts and Cultural Stage; Vendors’ Marketplace; Food Court; Underground Railroad Tours; Health Pavilion; Family Portrait Booth; Drill Team Competition; Job Fair / Book Fair; Historical Exhibits; Children’s Activities
Festival Parade begins on Saturday, June 17 at Noon ending at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Address Inquiries to: Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. P.O. Box 412, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205 Phone: (716) 891-8801, Email: jfibrown@aol.com
PEACE HAS NO BORDERS
A Festival of Resistance will be a historic opportunity for concerned citizens from Canada and the U.S. to unite our efforts in support of U.S. war resisters who are saying NO to the horrific Iraq war. While the U.S. continues to press other countries, including Canada, to support its war plans, the June 17th Festival will project the voices of millions of Americans and Canadians who oppose the Iraq War. Through music, speakers, images, and poetry we will share information, strategies, inspiration and our hopes for an end to war.
Friday, June 16, 7PM
Kleinhans Music Hall
Symphony Circle
Organiziers: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, War Resister Support Campaign, Canada, Western New York Peace Center
Tickets: $15
Contact: 888-223-6000
NEW YORK CITY
CRISIS IN THE COLONY: PUERTO RICO UPDATE
Monday, June 12, 6:30PM
Hunter College West Building 2nd Floor, Room 217E.
68th St. and Lexington Ave. (Take the #6 train to E. 68th St.)
Donation: $10 (no one will be turned away)
Join the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign for our annual Reception/Forum for the Puerto Rico Delegation of the United Nations De-Colonization Committee Hearings! Every year a delegation from Puerto Rico comes to the United Nations to testify to the U.N. De-Colonization Committee; to make the case for the liberation of Puerto Rico, Vieques and the release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. This delegation is made up of various activists from the different organizations throughout Puerto Rico that fight for the independence of Puerto Rico.
Read the complete article
NYS Democratic Convention in Buffalo: Protesters Demand the People’s Anti-War Stand Be Represented
An energetic crowd of protestors demonstrated against the New York State Democratic Party’s convention May 30 in downtown Buffalo, demanding that the people’s anti-war stand be represented. It was made clear by all present that no one holds illusions about Democrats, like Hillary Clinton and Brian Higgins, as being anything other than what they are: pro-war, pro-imperialism and anti-people. As one participant said, “We can’t continue to rely on these politicians and their programs for continued war and -aggression.”
Tuesday’s demonstration, called by the Western New York Peace Center, had an anti-war focus. Many carried signs that read, “Bring the Troops Home Now!” Numerous speakers, including an Iraq war veteran, put forward the demand, U.S. out of Iraq Now.
Participants also defended immigrant rights and opposed the U.S.-imposed trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA (North and Central American Free Trade Agreements). Those in attendance pointed out that these result in the oppressive conditions that force the migration of workers to the U.S., who are only further criminalized with anti-immigrant legislation.
At the convention, the Democrats nominated Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party candidate for New York State senator.
In her speech, Clinton reiterated her war-mongering stand and refused to acknowledge that Americans outrightly reject the Iraq war as criminal. “It’s an environment where it’s easier to say ‘mission accomplished’ than to actually accomplish the mission,” she told the convention delegates. “It’s not enough to put a sticker on the back of your car that says ‘Support our troops’,” she said. But protesters made clear that it is the “mission” of U.S. empire, that the Iraq war represents, which Americans reject.
Read the complete article
Tuesday’s demonstration, called by the Western New York Peace Center, had an anti-war focus. Many carried signs that read, “Bring the Troops Home Now!” Numerous speakers, including an Iraq war veteran, put forward the demand, U.S. out of Iraq Now.
Participants also defended immigrant rights and opposed the U.S.-imposed trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA (North and Central American Free Trade Agreements). Those in attendance pointed out that these result in the oppressive conditions that force the migration of workers to the U.S., who are only further criminalized with anti-immigrant legislation.
At the convention, the Democrats nominated Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party candidate for New York State senator.
In her speech, Clinton reiterated her war-mongering stand and refused to acknowledge that Americans outrightly reject the Iraq war as criminal. “It’s an environment where it’s easier to say ‘mission accomplished’ than to actually accomplish the mission,” she told the convention delegates. “It’s not enough to put a sticker on the back of your car that says ‘Support our troops’,” she said. But protesters made clear that it is the “mission” of U.S. empire, that the Iraq war represents, which Americans reject.
Read the complete article
Memorial Day Action: Honor Our Loved Ones by Ending This War
This Memorial Day weekend, Gold Star families whose loved ones died as a result of the war in Iraq, members of Military Families Speak Out and many others organized to speak out, giving interviews and making clear that military families oppose the war. Participants emphasized that they oppose the death of everyone’s son or daughter, whether Iraqi, American or any other peoples the U.S. wages war against. The Gold Star Families press release emphasized:
“President Bush said, in remarks at the National Restaurant Association Convention in Chicago on May 22, ‘...the hardest job of the President is to meet with families of the fallen. And it’s a — it’s my duty. But almost to a person, they say, whatever you do, Mr. President, complete the mission, lay the foundation of peace so my child had not died in vain. And I give them that assurance every time I meet with them.’ In fact, many Gold Star families say otherwise.
“It serves no purpose to have more and more servicemen and women die in an unjust and unjustifiable war, and have more families in both countries experience the unbearable and unending pain that my family has experienced,” explained Celeste Zappala, mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker, the first Pennsylvania National Guardsman to die in combat since World War II. Sgt. Baker was killed in action in Baghdad on April 26, 2004 while guarding the Iraq Survey Group as they searched for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
Elaine Johnson, who met with President Bush following the death of her son Darius Jennings on November 2, 2003 in Iraq and challenged him on his war policy, stated, ‘The best way to honor the memory of Darius and all of our loved ones everywhere is to end this war, bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here’.”
Read the complete article
“President Bush said, in remarks at the National Restaurant Association Convention in Chicago on May 22, ‘...the hardest job of the President is to meet with families of the fallen. And it’s a — it’s my duty. But almost to a person, they say, whatever you do, Mr. President, complete the mission, lay the foundation of peace so my child had not died in vain. And I give them that assurance every time I meet with them.’ In fact, many Gold Star families say otherwise.
“It serves no purpose to have more and more servicemen and women die in an unjust and unjustifiable war, and have more families in both countries experience the unbearable and unending pain that my family has experienced,” explained Celeste Zappala, mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker, the first Pennsylvania National Guardsman to die in combat since World War II. Sgt. Baker was killed in action in Baghdad on April 26, 2004 while guarding the Iraq Survey Group as they searched for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
Elaine Johnson, who met with President Bush following the death of her son Darius Jennings on November 2, 2003 in Iraq and challenged him on his war policy, stated, ‘The best way to honor the memory of Darius and all of our loved ones everywhere is to end this war, bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here’.”
Read the complete article
Reject the Failed U.S. State: Step Up the Work to Defend Katrina Survivors
The government is once again launching an all-sided attack against Katrina survivors and their right to return and rebuild. The federal government is again organizing to evict Katrina survivors, both from the small trailers they forced people into and from apartments. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claims more than 17,000 people in apartments and many thousands in trailers are now “ineligible” for government assistance. It is organizing to make Katrina survivors homeless, again.
The federal government also organized to massively disenfranchise large numbers of voters in the recent local elections. The majority of registered voters, most of them African American, are still scattered in cities nationwide. The government refused to provide satellite voting, which they provided for Iraqis for the Bush-organized election in Iraq. The government refused to bring people back for the vote and refused to guarantee absentee ballots for everyone. The large majority of voters were openly blocked from voting by the government, yet the election is considered valid.
The broad and open impunity the government is exercising, again, against people who have already been evicted, forcibly separated, often sent to fenced and guarded concentration camps and then moved, over and over again, and now evicted again, shows the complete failure of the U.S. state. This failure includes the fact that the federal government is organizing to put in place arrangements where government has no responsibility to the most vulnerable, no responsibility to national minorities, no responsibility to workers, no responsibility to society as a whole. The direction, as seen with immigrants and Katrina survivors is for the government to make everyone illegal and “ineligible” for assistance, social services, voting and more while also making everyone subject to being excluded from simply living and existing in society.
This same failure of government can be seen in the complete breakdown of relations between the local, state and federal governments. The federal government is organizing to eliminate the role of these levels of government and imposing its dictate, including securing more and more of the public treasury at the federal level. This includes using hired mercenaries like Blackwater, KKK-like terrorist groups and military troops on the Gulf Coast and all along the border with Mexico.
People across the country alongside Katrina survivors are rejecting this failure and organizing to defend the rights of all. Rebuilding is going forward, house-by-house. More and more families are returning and insisting that the New Orleans of the people, the New Orleans that is one with the millions of workers marching on May Day, with the united resistance of all to create a society that guarantees the rights of all, that that New Orleans will be.
Now is the time to step up the work to defend Katrina survivors. Volunteer for projects in New Orleans, join in actions to block evictions, organize meetings to inform people and discuss this vital work to defend rights.
Read the complete article
The federal government also organized to massively disenfranchise large numbers of voters in the recent local elections. The majority of registered voters, most of them African American, are still scattered in cities nationwide. The government refused to provide satellite voting, which they provided for Iraqis for the Bush-organized election in Iraq. The government refused to bring people back for the vote and refused to guarantee absentee ballots for everyone. The large majority of voters were openly blocked from voting by the government, yet the election is considered valid.
The broad and open impunity the government is exercising, again, against people who have already been evicted, forcibly separated, often sent to fenced and guarded concentration camps and then moved, over and over again, and now evicted again, shows the complete failure of the U.S. state. This failure includes the fact that the federal government is organizing to put in place arrangements where government has no responsibility to the most vulnerable, no responsibility to national minorities, no responsibility to workers, no responsibility to society as a whole. The direction, as seen with immigrants and Katrina survivors is for the government to make everyone illegal and “ineligible” for assistance, social services, voting and more while also making everyone subject to being excluded from simply living and existing in society.
This same failure of government can be seen in the complete breakdown of relations between the local, state and federal governments. The federal government is organizing to eliminate the role of these levels of government and imposing its dictate, including securing more and more of the public treasury at the federal level. This includes using hired mercenaries like Blackwater, KKK-like terrorist groups and military troops on the Gulf Coast and all along the border with Mexico.
People across the country alongside Katrina survivors are rejecting this failure and organizing to defend the rights of all. Rebuilding is going forward, house-by-house. More and more families are returning and insisting that the New Orleans of the people, the New Orleans that is one with the millions of workers marching on May Day, with the united resistance of all to create a society that guarantees the rights of all, that that New Orleans will be.
Now is the time to step up the work to defend Katrina survivors. Volunteer for projects in New Orleans, join in actions to block evictions, organize meetings to inform people and discuss this vital work to defend rights.
Read the complete article
Lackawanna High School: Students Organize International Night
Buffalo Forum congratulates the International Youth and Student Organization (IYSO) at Lackawanna High School for hosting its tenth annual International Night on May 30, 2006. It was a festive evening, which celebrated the cultures of many nationalities from around the world.
This year the students took the leading role in planning and preparing for the event and ensuring its success. They overcame many obstacles and when confronted with the likelihood that it may not be possible to have the event this year, the youth persevered and worked very hard to ensure that International Night would indeed go on, marking its tenth year. IYSO students should take pride in their accomplishment and realize that it is an important contribution to their community.
The spirited cultural event attracted a large crowd of students, parents, teachers, and community members. Everyone in the Lackawanna community and beyond looks forward to the annual event and embraces the positive atmosphere that is created. International Night has a long-standing reputation of providing a space for people to come together to celebrate the contributions different cultures and peoples have made to humanity.
The evening featured traditional foods, cultural representations of various countries including lively music and dancing. Booths were set up representing various peoples from France, India, Italy, Palestine, Poland, Puerto Rico, Yemen, and the from counries in Africa.
Guests were treated to performances of Irish dancing, Bosnian dancing, and Latino dancing. In addition, everyone was invited to join in the Debka, a traditional Middle Eastern dance in which participants form a large circle and join in dancing a series of steps together.
International Night was successful in bringing people of various backgrounds together to enjoy music, dancing, -socializing and delicious food. It fosters appreciation of the many different cultures that are represented in our society. Events like this help build unity among the people, a particularly important contribution at this time when the government has increased attacks against immigrants.
Read the complete article
This year the students took the leading role in planning and preparing for the event and ensuring its success. They overcame many obstacles and when confronted with the likelihood that it may not be possible to have the event this year, the youth persevered and worked very hard to ensure that International Night would indeed go on, marking its tenth year. IYSO students should take pride in their accomplishment and realize that it is an important contribution to their community.
The spirited cultural event attracted a large crowd of students, parents, teachers, and community members. Everyone in the Lackawanna community and beyond looks forward to the annual event and embraces the positive atmosphere that is created. International Night has a long-standing reputation of providing a space for people to come together to celebrate the contributions different cultures and peoples have made to humanity.
The evening featured traditional foods, cultural representations of various countries including lively music and dancing. Booths were set up representing various peoples from France, India, Italy, Palestine, Poland, Puerto Rico, Yemen, and the from counries in Africa.
Guests were treated to performances of Irish dancing, Bosnian dancing, and Latino dancing. In addition, everyone was invited to join in the Debka, a traditional Middle Eastern dance in which participants form a large circle and join in dancing a series of steps together.
International Night was successful in bringing people of various backgrounds together to enjoy music, dancing, -socializing and delicious food. It fosters appreciation of the many different cultures that are represented in our society. Events like this help build unity among the people, a particularly important contribution at this time when the government has increased attacks against immigrants.
Read the complete article
Contract Decision Making: Same Uniform, Same Pay!
- Transit Workers Discussion Group -
Preparations for our contract struggle and work to win bathrooms and time to use them are going forward. Many people at Frontier garage are enthusiastic about putting forward demands and voting on those proposed by other workers. Using the Contract Demands Board, workers are opening up the space to discuss the contract and how to advance our fight for rights and decision making.
The Contract Demands Board is a decision-making mechanism to involve workers at all garages. We will also use it at the June 14 union meeting so that the union is clear what the workers have decided. TWDG urges all transit workers from all locations to join in the discussion and vote on the Contract Demands Board. Make your own proposals and join in the stand being taken that it is the workers who decide every step of the way.
Transit workers are also standing firm that Concessions are Not Solutions. The spirit to defend what we now have is strong. In rejecting concessions many transit workers have raised that NFTA-Metro has gotten concessions over the years including the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the mid-eighties, part-time in the early nineties and the longer and longer time it takes to reach full pay. These concessions have only increased NFTA’s demands for more concessions while not improving working conditions and the quality of public transportation one bit. Our experience is long and clear: Concessions are not Solutions.
Frontier veteran and newer workers alike strongly support demands to raise the pay of drivers in the Metrolink department (currently 70 percent of metro top rate) and to decrease the years newer transit workers have to work to receive full rate. According to the current contract, under section 12-3.1, those transit workers hired as new employees on or after November 1, 1987 started at 75 percent of full rate and it took a full four years to reach full pay. Those hired as new employees on or after December 5, 1996 started at 60 percent of full rate and it takes 5 years to reach full pay. The Metrolink drivers also have their own wage progression, requiring 2 years to reach 70 percent of the top rate.
As one veteran driver expressing the views of all put it: Same Uniform, Same Pay! This stand strengthens the unity of all transit workers and brings forth the content of All for One and One for All! Let the message be clear to NFTA: We are united and reject all efforts to divide us by wages, departments, locations or any other means.
Cast your vote on the Contract -Demands Board! Join in and help build the discussion at all locations!
Concessions are Not Solutions!
All for One and One for All!
Same Uniform, Same Pay!
Read the complete article
Preparations for our contract struggle and work to win bathrooms and time to use them are going forward. Many people at Frontier garage are enthusiastic about putting forward demands and voting on those proposed by other workers. Using the Contract Demands Board, workers are opening up the space to discuss the contract and how to advance our fight for rights and decision making.
The Contract Demands Board is a decision-making mechanism to involve workers at all garages. We will also use it at the June 14 union meeting so that the union is clear what the workers have decided. TWDG urges all transit workers from all locations to join in the discussion and vote on the Contract Demands Board. Make your own proposals and join in the stand being taken that it is the workers who decide every step of the way.
Transit workers are also standing firm that Concessions are Not Solutions. The spirit to defend what we now have is strong. In rejecting concessions many transit workers have raised that NFTA-Metro has gotten concessions over the years including the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the mid-eighties, part-time in the early nineties and the longer and longer time it takes to reach full pay. These concessions have only increased NFTA’s demands for more concessions while not improving working conditions and the quality of public transportation one bit. Our experience is long and clear: Concessions are not Solutions.
Frontier veteran and newer workers alike strongly support demands to raise the pay of drivers in the Metrolink department (currently 70 percent of metro top rate) and to decrease the years newer transit workers have to work to receive full rate. According to the current contract, under section 12-3.1, those transit workers hired as new employees on or after November 1, 1987 started at 75 percent of full rate and it took a full four years to reach full pay. Those hired as new employees on or after December 5, 1996 started at 60 percent of full rate and it takes 5 years to reach full pay. The Metrolink drivers also have their own wage progression, requiring 2 years to reach 70 percent of the top rate.
As one veteran driver expressing the views of all put it: Same Uniform, Same Pay! This stand strengthens the unity of all transit workers and brings forth the content of All for One and One for All! Let the message be clear to NFTA: We are united and reject all efforts to divide us by wages, departments, locations or any other means.
Cast your vote on the Contract -Demands Board! Join in and help build the discussion at all locations!
Concessions are Not Solutions!
All for One and One for All!
Same Uniform, Same Pay!
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
“PEACE HAS NO BORDERS”
Friday, June 16, 7PM
Kleinhans Music Hall
Symphony Circle
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Tickets: $15
Join us for ‘’Peace Has No Borders,” a rally/concert to oppose the war, support U.S. war resisters in Canada and strengthen our unity both sides of the border. Organizations of veterans and military families participating.
Contact: 888-223-6000
YOUTH MARCH
Wednesday, June 7, 4PM
Laffayette Square
Join youth in speaking out for their rights
Call Citizen Action of NY: 855-1522
ROCHESTER
OPPOSE GOVERNMENT SPYING
June 19, Vigil, 5:00-6:00PM
Brighton Town Hall Complex
2300 Elmwood Ave.
This is a part of a campaign to get the Brighton Town Board to pass a Resolution on the Patriot Act and civil liberties.
Public Forum on Civil Liberties
June 19, 6:15-7:15PM
Brighton Library Learning Room
Lecture and documentary “Unconstitutional, The War on Our Civil Liberties.” Free and open to the public.
Contact: Lee Price - tanutuva@rochester.rr.com (Rochester Bill of Rights Defense
Committee)
HAMILTON
SIX NATIONS CONCERT
Friday, June 16, Noon
Chiefswood Park
All Are Welcome
Six Nations peoples are trying to reclaim their land and to stop the illegal construction of a housing project on Six Nations land in Caledonia, near Hamilton, Ontario. The reclamation started on February 28, 2006 and is continuing. Stand with us in this vital fight for our rights.
See: www.cpcml.ca for more information
NATIONAL
STOP BULLDOZER SALES TO ISRAEL
Wednesday, June 14
Demand that the U.S. end its support of Israel and that Caterpillar stop providing bulldozers used to destroy the homes and towns of Palestinians.
Contact: mattgaines@ameritech.net
Read the complete article
“PEACE HAS NO BORDERS”
Friday, June 16, 7PM
Kleinhans Music Hall
Symphony Circle
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Tickets: $15
Join us for ‘’Peace Has No Borders,” a rally/concert to oppose the war, support U.S. war resisters in Canada and strengthen our unity both sides of the border. Organizations of veterans and military families participating.
Contact: 888-223-6000
YOUTH MARCH
Wednesday, June 7, 4PM
Laffayette Square
Join youth in speaking out for their rights
Call Citizen Action of NY: 855-1522
ROCHESTER
OPPOSE GOVERNMENT SPYING
June 19, Vigil, 5:00-6:00PM
Brighton Town Hall Complex
2300 Elmwood Ave.
This is a part of a campaign to get the Brighton Town Board to pass a Resolution on the Patriot Act and civil liberties.
Public Forum on Civil Liberties
June 19, 6:15-7:15PM
Brighton Library Learning Room
Lecture and documentary “Unconstitutional, The War on Our Civil Liberties.” Free and open to the public.
Contact: Lee Price - tanutuva@rochester.rr.com (Rochester Bill of Rights Defense
Committee)
HAMILTON
SIX NATIONS CONCERT
Friday, June 16, Noon
Chiefswood Park
All Are Welcome
Six Nations peoples are trying to reclaim their land and to stop the illegal construction of a housing project on Six Nations land in Caledonia, near Hamilton, Ontario. The reclamation started on February 28, 2006 and is continuing. Stand with us in this vital fight for our rights.
See: www.cpcml.ca for more information
NATIONAL
STOP BULLDOZER SALES TO ISRAEL
Wednesday, June 14
Demand that the U.S. end its support of Israel and that Caterpillar stop providing bulldozers used to destroy the homes and towns of Palestinians.
Contact: mattgaines@ameritech.net
Read the complete article
