Happy December! We have officially entered the final month of 2016 and while I’m ready for the year to come to an end, I’m super excited for the holidays. December is awesome because it is your opportunity to have friends and family buy you things with their own money, and you get to accept them as gifts. Sure, you’re probably going to have to get things for people as well, but that’s just the cost of doing holiday business. I’m going to start working on my wish list. It will probably be a one pager filled with lyrics from Hamilton and photos of the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. I’ll work on that list while you find out what we got done this week.
-Stanley
We are a people-powered organization. Support us in the movement for justice!
National Worker Strike. On Tuesday, November 29, workers and their allies in Albany and across the state joined with 340 cities around the world in a day of disruption. The goal was to make clear that any efforts to block wage increases, gut workers’ rights, healthcare or mass deportations and other racist policies, will be met with unrelenting opposition. In the Capital Region, Fast Food workers, and other activist held multiple protests around the district including stores, the Legislature Building and the Capitol Building.
And Then There was None. On November 28, kickass members from the Hudson Valley Chapter reached out to the Kingston City School District to demand that they remove a banner advertising the Kingston High School’s production of “And Then There Were None.” The banner contained an image of a noose, which was offensive, hurtful and scary for students and community members. The District has removed the banner, apologized and agreed to meet with community members about this incident.
Metro Justice and the National Workers Strike. Members from the Metro Justice Chapter supported the National Workers action as well. In Rochester, the movement of low-wage workers was also a stand against Donald Trump and his toxic policies. With a coalition organized by fast food workers, dairy workers, taxi drivers, barbers, retail workers, home health aides and adjunct professors, Metro Justice and their partners in the action wanted to send a clear message to Trump and any other person that supports him. The worker movement will not be stopped. Click here for Photos.
Nassau People’s Assembly. On November 30, Over 100 strong attended the Nassau Peoples Resistance Assembly. An event organized to help concerned citizen create tactics for the Trump presidency. The room was packed with Long Islanders ready to do the work to resist Trump’s Agenda. Activists at the event worked in groups to brainstorm on ways they could build power in their neighborhoods, protect their allies and counter Trumps toxic policies.
BLOGS
On November 3, The Hedge Clippers campaign released an analysis of super PAC spending by hedge fund billionaires in New York State Senate races. Their research shows that a handful of billionaires were spending millions of dollars to influence elections in working class communities. Click here for the full story.
IN THE NEWS
WAMC. The New York State Senate now has 32 Democrats in the chamber, this is potentially a big deal. Unfortunately, several factors are muddying the waters, and the status of the New York State senate is up in the air. Our Executive Director, Karen Scharff shared her thoughts on this dilemma, and the importance of unifying the Democratic Party. Click here for the story.
EVENTS
December 3. Local residents and community members will demonstrate at the New Paltz Wells Fargo Bank branch to bring attention to the bank’s funding of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), which the Standing Rock Sioux and hundreds of other tribes, and thousands of allies oppose. Click here to RSVP
December 8. We are in a moment of crisis on Climate right now. Trump threatens so much of the progress we have made. New York has to lead, now more than ever. Join us in New York City, for a community town hall discussing next steps and ways to protect our climate. Click here to rsvp
December 13. The year is quickly coming to an end, but before it does, we will honor activists and leaders from across the state at our Annual Progressive Leadership Awards Gala. Join us to celebrate the work of this year’s honorees: Kate Linker (Greater NYC for Change), Linda Sarsour (Executive Director of Arab American Association of NY), Dennis Trainor (Vice President of CWA District one), the Hon. Jim Brennan (NYS Assemblymember) and Shaun King (Senior Justice Writer, NY Daily News). Click here for tickets.
TAKE ACTION!
Let’s be blunt: The Democratic Party needs new leadership. Keith Ellison forcefully opposed the Iraq War, backs universal health care, is against fracking and fights every day to take on the political establishment and its corporate backers in Congress. Click here to support Keith Ellison for DNC Chair.
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