Past Events 2018:
My_Lai_massacre
Monday, March, 19, 5:00 – 6:00 pm, BNP Vigil: “My Lai: Never Again”, at the Four Corners, intersection of Kenwood and Delaware Aves. in Delmar. The 50th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre is Friday, May 16. This vigil is dedicated to remembering My Lai and the struggle of the Vietnamese people. One of the most painful moments of the US war in Viet Nam, was the deliberate murder in My Lai on March 16,1968, of 504 innocent civilians, including women and children. There are events being held around the country and internationally. Bring your own signs or use one of ours. Possible signs: “My Lai: Never Again” or “50 Years since My Lai: 50 years of Violence and War”. Stay for a few minutes or an hour. 518-466-1192 for further information. Join us! Historians for Peace and Democracy Sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Capital District Democratic Socialists of America, Tom Paine Chapter (#10) Veterans For Peace and Women Against War.
Palestinian RightsPalestinian resistance speakers and Film
Tuesday, March 20, 7:00 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)
In 2002, the International Solidarity Movement grabbed world attention by bringing volunteers from around the world to defend Palestine through nonviolent resistance. They stayed with resistance fighters in the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. They brought medical supplies to the besieged Palestinians in the ancient Nablus Casbah. They documented and filmed the destruction and mass killing of Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp. In 2002 and 2003, thousands participated at their own expense. One was Rachel Corrie, who was killed trying to prevent demolition of a home in Gaza. Another was Tom Hurndall, killed by a shot to the head. ISM has operated continuously since then, serving at the request of the Palestinian community through participation in Palestinian nonviolent resistance. In 2009, 2012 and 2014, ISM volunteers were with the Palestinian people in Gaza, reporting the Israeli invasion and helping in the hospitals, clinics and schools that were attacked even as they served the refugees. The presentation will include a screening of an abridged version of The presentation will include a screening of an abridged version of Radiance of Resistance, a film produced by three ISM volunteers serving in Nabi Salih and featuring Ahed Tamimi and her cousin, Janna Ayyad. Sponsored by: Albany Palestinian Rights Committee, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Jewish Voice for Peace.Radiance of Resistance, a film produced by three ISM volunteers serving in Nabi Salih and featuring Ahed Tamimi and her cousin, Janna Ayyad. Sponsored by: Albany Palestinian Rights Committee, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Jewish Voice for Peace. For more information: 518-281-1968 Admission is free, and free refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Enough_is_Enough
Monday, March 5, 5:00 – 6:00 pm, BNP Vigil: “Remembering the Victims of Gun Violence “, at the Four Corners, intersection of Kenwood and Delaware Aves. in Delmar. Stay for a few minutes or an hour. Peace vigil to remember the victims ofgun violence and to advocate for legislation to ban assault weapons. We support the student survivors of the Parkland, Florida mass shootingand join them in calling for action now. In the days after the shooting at Parkland, thousands of students, teachers and others across thecountry rallied together to protest the federal government’s lack of gun control. We support these students, and students who staged a“die-in” in front of the White House to honor those killed in Parkland and to protest President Donald Trump’s lack of action. We alsocondemn Trump’s suggestions to arm teachers in schools. Some possible sign messages include: “Enough is Enough”, “Say NO to the NRA”,”The NRA is a Terrorist Organization”, “Federal Action on Gun Control Now!” , “Ban Assault Weapons Now!”, “STOP the NRA” ,”How Many More Kidswill Die?”, “Protect Kids, Not Guns” “Arm Teachers with Books, NOT Guns!” Let’s stand together forpeace and justice. 518-466-1192 for further information. Join us!
Water_Power
Thursday, March 1, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY. Film: Water & Power: A California Heist. (2017, 1hr 18 minutes) Directed by Marina Zenovich this documentary shows how privatization of water rights is making one of our most basic necessities, unavailable to local residents. In California’s complex water system, a handful of corporate land owners took advantage of a state-engineered system and gained control of the state’s most precious public resource, while drought left local homeowners with dry wells. New York Times Review . ” Fed-up residents tell of contaminated drinking water or no water at all; but only when the movie turns from small-town specifics to the uncertain future of our global water markets does the real chill set in.” Sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Information: 518-466-1192.
Close_Guantanamo
Monday, February 26, 5:00 – 6:00 pm, BNP Vigil: “Close Guantanamo! Return the Land to Cuba! Stop the Torture!”, at the Four Corners, intersection of Kenwood and Delaware Aves. in Delmar. Stay for a few minutes or an hour. Let’s stand together for peace and justice. UNAC( United National Antiwar Coalition) has called for actions around Feb 23, the 115th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Navy base on Cuban land. This is generally considered the first U.S. foreign military base. The call for actions was made at the Baltimore conference against U.S. foreign military bases. UNAC is calling for the closing of the base, returning of the land to Cuba and freeing of the political prisoners held there. You can see a list of the actions here. 518-466-1192 for further information. Join us! Co-sponsored by Albany Cuba Solidarity.
Thursday, February 15, 7:00- 9:00 pm, Oakwood Community Center, 313 10th St., Troy, NY. The James Connolly forum presents a talk by Alex S. Vitale, “The End of Policing”. The fact that violent crackdowns on protesters, rough treatment for criminal suspects, and brutal mistreatment of immigrants are seen as simply prerogatives of the police is indicative of “a fundamental crisis in police legitimacy,” writes sociologist Alex Vitale in his forthcoming book, The End of Policing (Verso, 2017). While the police tend to argue that such behavior is necessary to keep people safe and society in order, the leniency we have seen being offered to armed white nationalists this summer suggests that violence is not meted out equally. Co Sponsored by: The Hampton Institute, Albany Democratic Socialists of America, Capital District Socialist Party,Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Upper Hudson Green Party. Located Exit 9E off 787 Collar City Bridge for Rte 7: on left at 2nd light between 9th and 10th Sts.Parking on left on 9th St., Old Fire station building parking lot left on 10th Use the door facing Hoosick St.Donation of $5 requested, $2 unemployed and students more information: 518 407 3582
Awake
Film: “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock”
Saturday, February 17, 7:30 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)
The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District continues its film series with the screening of “Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock” (2017, 88 minutes). In 2016-2017, the Water Protectors at Standing Rock captured world attention through their peaceful resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. This powerful documentary captures the story of the heroic Native-led defiance that dramatically changed the fight for clean water, the environment, and the future of the planet. Crafted as a labor of love, the film is a collaborative effort between indigenous filmmakers and better-known Oscar nominees. One of the filmmakers explained: “What began in North Dakota has become a worldwide rallying cry for resistance to corporate power and its relentless drive for profit at the expense of human needs, rights, and dignity.” Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, the Social Justice Center, and Upper Hudson Peace Action, the film screening will take place in Channing Hall of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, located at 405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus). Admission is free, and free refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Confederate_Monument
Thursday, February 1, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY. Presentation by Melinda Lawson and Kenneth Aslakson titled, The Lost Cause of “The Lost Cause”: Unpacking the Controversy Surrounding Confederate Monument Removal. Over the past few years, cities across the south have fiercely debated the fate of prominently located monuments to Confederate leaders. The recent deadly riots in Charlottesville are but one example of the extent to which this issue has stirred heated and at times violent controversy. Does removing these statues erase history? Does leaving them up endorse white supremacy? In this talk, we weigh the importance of the statues, consider the issue in historical context, and discuss a variety of proposals for change. Melinda Lawson and Kenneth Aslakson are both professors in the History Department at Union College. Sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Information: 518-466-1192.
Hurricane_Irma
Pepe Rossy: Talk on Puerto Rico, After the Hurricanes
Friday, January 19
7:00 – 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY
Peppy Rossy wil give a talk on Puerto Rico’s situation following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Pepe has been working with others on a hurricane recovery initiative specifically focused on Vieques, PR. Vieques, and its sister island Culebra (both the target of bombing by the military, as well as other NATO members for many decades), were the most affected Puerto Rican municipalities, by Hurricane Irma on Oct. 6, the first Category 5 hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in the past century. Hurricane Irma caused much damage to the infrastructure of Vieques, particularly to its electric grid, and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. Then exactly 2 weeks later, on Oct. 20, Hurricane María, the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, hit Vieques again. Today, three months after Hurricane Irma, except for the lucky few with electric generators, practically everyone in Vieques remains without electricity (not expected until 2018), there is no landline or cell phone communications, water supply is intermittent and unreliable, most workers have been laid off, gas and food is hard to get and expensive, the hospital is not fully operational, and schools are closed. While electricity and other services has been restored to other municipalities, as a recent Washington Post article summed it up: “Vieques remains isolated, dark and silent.” Information: 518-466-1192