L.A.S.C. wny

10/21/2020

Children Seeking Asylum March

On Wednesday, October 21st, children asylum seekers, their families, and immigration advocates from both sides of the border and tuning in live will protest inhumane and unlawful dismantling of the asylum system and the subsequent consequences it has had on children. We will march from downtown Nogales, Sonora to the port of entry for a moment of prayer offered by children asylum seekers. The children will then lead the group from the port of entry to the border wall where supporters and advocates on the U.S. side of the wall will receive them and listen to their testimonies. The binational #SaveAsylum coalition, made up of migrants and civil society, condemn the Trump Administration's anti-asylum policies that have subjected children and their families to live in danger and uncertainty in Nogales and beyond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XJ0RcX5YkE

On Wednesday, October 21st, children asylum seekers, their families, and immigration advocates from both sides of the border and tuning in live will protest ...

10/19/2020

Roses in December

December 2nd, 2020 is the 40th anniversary of the death of Dorothy Kazel, OSU, Maura Clarke, MM, Ita Ford, MM and Jean Donovan. They were brutally murdered by U.S.-supported Salvadoran military for their ministry and dedication to those living in poverty. They were called "subversives" because they accompanied refugee families who had fallen victim to the escalating violence and oppression that eventually led to civil war.
http://www.share-elsalvador.org/roses-in-december.html?

​ ​December 2nd marks the 40th anniversary of the Roses in December martyrs, Dorothy Kazel, OSU, Maura Clarke, MM, Ita Ford, MM and Jean Donovan who were brutally murdered by the U.S.-supported...

10/12/2020

SOA Watch (School of Americas Watch).
Rooted in Resistance Virtual Concert
Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET
Featuring: Rebeca Lane, Brooklyn Dreamwolf with JenDog Lonewolf and YaliniDream, Francisco Herrera, Colleen Kattau, and Emma’s Revolution. Hosted by Lumi and Lu Aya from the Peace Poets!

10/04/2020

Brazil, Bossa Nova and Bolsonaro: Democracy or Delusion? - ROCLA

our next ROCLA-LASC zoom event, no pre-registration required, see the link here. https://rocla.org/events/brazil-bossa-nova-and-bolsonaro-democracy-or-delusion/

A virtual Zoom presentation in collaboration with the Latin American Solidarity Committee, Buffalo, NY

10/03/2020

Brazil, Bossa Nova and Bolsonaro: Democracy or Delusion? - ROCLA

Wed. October 7 at 7PM, ROCLA and LASC zoom presentation on politics and culture in Brazil now. Publicity and link to join meeting when it starts is given below.
Professor Costa de Moraes, a native of Brazil, will discuss the recent history, culture and politics of Brazil, including the policies of its current right wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, who seems to have modeled his leadership style after Donald Trump. He will also describe the many ways in which COVID-19 has impacted Brazil, which has by far the highest number of cases and deaths in Latin America.

No need to register in advance, publicity & link to join meeting at:
https://rocla.org/events/brazil-bossa-nova-and-bolsonaro-democracy-or-delusion/

A virtual Zoom presentation in collaboration with the Latin American Solidarity Committee, Buffalo, NY

09/25/2020

Sanctuary Ministry Update, from Pilgrim St. Lukes
October 2020 Newsletter.
"Our global family members are now spread out across the Buffalo area, but although they are gone from the church building, they are not gone from the reach of our hearts or our help. Now happily residing in an apartment close to shopping and other services, our Angolan family continues to receive support for basic living expenses. Time seems to fly even during a pandemic. Baby Angela is 3 1/2 months old, David is 18 months, and Deo has entered the teens and attends 8th grade online. Other global family members, who are now either on their own or being provided food and shelter by another refugee program, remain connected and supported through gifts of needed furniture and supplies, family celebrations, accompaniment at asylum hearings, and many other acts of kindness and friendship provided by members of the Sanctuary Ministry Team and the congregation.
At our next Team meeting, September 30, we will be exploring what our refugee ministry might look like in the future. With political and pandemic uncertainty plus financial considerations, this will not be an easy task. The team is doing both in-the- box and out-of-the-box thinking in preparation for this meeting. You are invited to do likewise. Contact Kate Ward with your thoughts and ideas through PSL church.

09/20/2020

October 7, 2020, 7PM, ROCLA and LASC zoom present:
Brazil, Bossa Nova and Bolsonaro: Democracy or Delusion?

Professor Costa de Moraes, a native of Brazil, will discuss the recent history, culture and politics of Brazil, including the policies of its current right wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, who seems to have modeled his leadership style after Donald Trump. He will also describe the many ways in which COVID-19 has impacted Brazil, which has by far the highest number of cases and deaths in Latin America.

This is a collaborative virtual presentation of the Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA) and the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC), Buffalo, NY

09/02/2020

Join the Immigrant and Refugee Justice taskforce in its new weekly digital rally to show support for our immigrant and refugee communities. On any social media platform, share a photo of yourself holding your rally sign with a message of support using the hashtag #IRJtoRally.

09/02/2020

Weekly Vigil for People Detained by ICE, organized by the Immigrant & Refugee Justice taskforce of WNY Peace Center
*ADHERING TO PROPER PHYSICAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES*
It meets every Thursday from 5:00 – 6:00 PM, for a vigil in support of people detained by ICE, in front of the local ICE field offices at the Delaware North building (250 Delaware Ave at the NW corner of Chippewa). Please bring your own signs and spirit of solidarity. We will not stay silent! #ReleaseThemNow #FamiliesBelongTogether #AbolishICE #CloseTheCamps
#DetentionIsDeadly #NeverAgainIsNowWeekly Vigil for People Detained by ICE

09/01/2020

Epicentro

The North Park Theatre is offering a $12 ticket good for a five-day virtual film pass to see the new movie, Epicentro, where Academy Award nominee Hubert Sauper explores a century of interventionism and myth-making together with the extraordinary people of Havana—who he calls "young prophets"—to interrogate time, imperialism and cinema itself. Your purchase supports North Park Theatre.

also there is a link to a Q&As with Academy Award-nominated director Hubert Sauper Saturday, September 5 at 3:00pm
https://kinomarquee.com/film/epicentro/5f3e978e8b74f80001f9edd4/north-park-theatre

Epicentro is an immersive and metaphorical portrait of post-colonial, "utopian" Cuba, where the 1898 explosion of the U.S.S. Maine still resonates. This Big Bang ended Spanish colonial dominance in the Americas and ushered in the era of the American Empire. At the same time and place, a powerful too...

08/24/2020

For the Fall, the LASC coffeehouses go virtual, held on the first Wednesdays of each month, in collaboration with ROCLA, the Rochester Committee on Latin Americal The link to register is at the bottom here.

A collaborative virtual presentation of ROCLA and the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC), Buffalo, NY - Register today! https://mailchi.mp/93b2605bf9ba/special-invitation-to-rocla-community-meeting-5814948

08/21/2020

Tell Congress to Stay Out of Nicaragua

Our friends at ROCLA ask that we consider signing this letter concerning US proposals to interfere in upcoming elections in Nicaragua.

The RAIN plan for regime change in Nicaragua has been leaked! Tell Congress to Stay Out of Nicaragua!

08/17/2020

Tell Congress to Stay Out of Nicaragua

Alliance for Global Justice and Nica Notes shares this news.

The RAIN plan for regime change in Nicaragua has been leaked! Tell Congress to Stay Out of Nicaragua!

07/15/2020

Emergency Briefing: Escalating Attacks on Mexican Labor Rights - Citizens Trade Campaign

This Zoom briefing is scheduled for TOMORROW, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 12pm Eastern / 11am Central / 10am Mountain / 9am Pacific time.
https://www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/blog/2020/07/13/escalating-attacks-on-mexican-labor-rights

Sign up for real-time briefing by Susana Prieto and Oscar Alzaga on escalating threats against Mexican labor organizers and how you can help

07/07/2020

Call for Action: Twitterstorm on July 8th Against the
the Asylum Cooperative Agreements (ACAs)
//Twitterstorm contra los ACAs 8 de julio:

Passing on this information from Claire Bransky,
Cross-Border Organizer, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) Coordinadora Transfronteriza, Red en Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Guatemala (NISGUA) that was shared in an email from Bill Jungles:

*Apologies for cross posting*
We are working with a coalition of 40+ Central American and U.S. organizations to stop the illegal and inhumane , also known as safe third country agreements. Please check out the campaign take action page for a compilation of all the action steps you can take. Sign and share the petition-- help us reach 2K signatures by July 19!

Participate in our Twitterstorm on July 8
Watch "From the U.S. to Central America: Asylum, Deportations, and COVID-19"
Contact congress
Write a letter to the editor or op-ed
Watch, read, and share the webinar and article "Ancestral Movements: Indigenous Territory & Migration"
Share all of these action opportunities with your networks!

Estamos colaborando con una coalición de más de 40 organizaciones de Centroamérica y EEUU para detener a los ilegales e inhumanos Acuerdos de Cooperación de Asilo (ACAs), también conocidos como acuerdos de tercer país seguro. Favor de visitar la página de la campaña para una compilación de las siguientes oportunidades.Firmar y compartir la petición -- ayudarnos llegar a 2K firmas antes del 19 de julio

Sumarte al twitterstorm el 8 de julio
Mira "Desde EE.UU. a Centroamérica: Asilo, Deportaciones, y COVID-19"
Contactar al congreso
Escribir un artículo de opinión
Mirar, leer y compartir el seminario virtual y el artículo "Movimientos Ancestrales: Territorio Indígena y Migración"
Comparte todas estas oportunidades con tus redes!
--
Claire Bransky
Cross-Border Organizer, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA)
Coordinadora Transfronteriza, Red en Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Guatemala (NISGUA)
pronouns/pronombres: she/they, ella/elle
nisgua.org, FB, Twitter, Insta

06/28/2020

Don't forget to pre-register for this Zoom meeting on medical ties between Cuba, Roswell-Park, Pastors for Peace, and US scholarship graduates from ELAM in Havana.

06/12/2020

Martin Gugino - The "Buffalo Protestor" and our Friend - Witness Against Torture

This article unites the struggle, explaining how issues come together: Cuba and US, stopping nuclear arms, stopping torture, and testifying that black lives matter. http://witnessagainsttorture.com/2020/06/09/martin-gugino-the-buffalo-protestor-and-our-friend/

Trump callously lied this morning on Twitter about Witness Against Torture's friend and fellow activist, Martin Gugino - the 75-year-old elder who was shoved to the ground and stepped over by the Buffalo police force while protesting the death of George Floyd. WAT organizer Jeremy Varon has written....

06/12/2020

Bill Jungels did a translation of the June 10 Univisión report by Peggy Carranza. done in front of Buffalo City Hall at Niagara Square, where Martin was assaulted by the police. Mary Anne Grady Flores was interviewed in Ithaca, and Lee Ann Grace (with Frontera de Cristo on the border) and Luz Veléz (with PUSH-Buffalo) were interviewed here.

Reporter: President Trump ran into a wall of contention by tweeting that the protester could be an ANTIFA provocateur and have planned the push that they gave him that caused a wound that left him bleeding during a protest.

Mary Ann Grady Flores: It’s not real.

Reporter: Twenty five year colleagues of the elderly man like Mary Ann Grady Flores say the President couldn't be more wrong.

MAGF: Martín is a very humble person, very patient. A person with so much love for different Causes.

Reporter: Gugino has a history of in favor of causes like human rights, immigration and climate change.

Luz Veléz: He supported me, we went to various events. he does not presume that because of the color white he has more rights than I. The door opened for him much more than for a Latina woman. Therefore then he says we’re going to help one another.

Reporter: Some critics say that Gugino was provoking the police when he was pushed on this spot. His colleagues assure us that he simply wanted to show the officers the first amendment of the Constitution on his cell phone.

Two cops were suspended and face second grade assault charges.

Gugino has no partner, no children. He is recovering in the rehabilitation wing of a hospital after being in Intensive Care

Lee Ann Grace: He is involved in so many things. Really he has a very pleasant family.

Reporter: This family of struggle [for justice] is the one that plans to receive him when he hopes to leave the hospital room in two weeks.

06/12/2020

Vicki and Charley learned Tuesday night that Peggy Carranza from Univision would travel through Ithaca and Buffalo on June 10 to record a Spanish broadcast on Martin. Lee Ann Grace and Howard Henry agreed to help. They both have done presentations for LASC on their work with Frontera de Cristo on the border, where they have often gone to teach ESL. Howard also knows Martin through local vigil against torture. Lee Ann was interviewed by Peggy Carranza from Univision. Charley Bowman and Rev. Hope Harle-Mould were also there to offer comments in English.

06/12/2020

Here is some history of Martin's work with the Western New York Peace Center. I put it together very quickly on June 10, so someone else could draw on it during an interview.
Martin Gugino is passionate about the illegality and immorality of the Guantanamo Bay, which he finds is tantamount to torture, and violates all international accords. Around 2011 Martin started assisting the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC), where he is one of the main forces, due partly to the cuba issue. LASC has been an active part of the WNY Peace Center for over 30 years. LASC's mission is educating, advocating for those suffering from injustice and oppression, and providing material aid in the struggle to insure social justice, human rights, and a life of dignity for all Latin Americans. We are an all-volunteer organization. LASC works through activities such as community presentations, action for justice, material aid in emergency situations and assisting refugees. Some of our projects include: lobbying politicians on behalf of farm-workers in New York State (most of whom are Latin Americans), weaving scholarship and dental clinics and video projects in Chiapas Mexico for 30 years, reporting on Puerto Rico's struggle for self-determination, annual events to support Pastors for Peace and their delegation to Cuba (helping local people become part of the delegation and assist them with expenses), events with national speakers on Peace and Social Justice issues (proceeds going to organizations active on Latin American issues).

06/12/2020

statement by Martin Gugino’s friend and attorney Kelly Zarcone from June 11 morning:

I spoke with Martin a few minutes ago. He reports that he is feeling better than yesterday. He is starting physical therapy today which is definitely a step in the right direction.

As most of you know, Martin is a soft spoken but thoughtful and principled man. As heartbreaking as it is, his brain is injured and he is well aware of that now. Because of this, he told me that he is not interested in media interviews right now. He feels encouraged and uplifted by the outpouring of support which he has received from so many people all over the globe. It helps. He is looking forward to healing and determining what his “new normal” might look like.

06/10/2020

WBEN NEWSROOM JUNE 10, 2020 - 9:39 AM
Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The attorney for injured Buffalo protester Martin Gugino has released an update on his condition Wednesday morning.

Kelly Zarcone, in a statement, says; “I wanted to update you and let you know that Martin will be moved today to a rehabilitation floor of the hospital! His condition continues to improve and we hope he will be released within the next 2 weeks.”

06/09/2020

A beautiful article came out today at ReligionNews.com: Martin Gugino is a Catholic peace activist, not an 'Antifa provocateur,' friends say. The link to the article is in the comments below; it gives a real picture of him and some of his work, in Buffalo and beyond.

06/06/2020

A notice, with flowers, placed on the steps of city hall, for Martin:

06/06/2020

Martin Gugino, based on a CNN report, 11:55 PM, Fri June 5:
An attorney and friend representing Martin released a statement saying that he is "alert and oriented" and described him as a longtime peaceful protester and human rights advocate. "Mr. Gugino requests privacy for himself and his family as he recovers. He appreciates all of the well wishes he has received and requests that any further protests continue to be peaceful." Martin's niece told CNN that her uncle attended the protest Thursday to discuss First Amendment rights with police.