Blog moved to ErikMcGregor.com : November 2017

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Rise and Resist weekly impeach Trump protest at Trump International Hotel & Tower New York-Central Park - Columbus Circle

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New York, NY - Inspired by an impeachment article of Rep. Al Green (TX) and the sentiments of several other U.S. Congress members, direct action group Rise and Resist and NYC residents held their Weekly Impeach Protest at the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York-Central Park at Columbus Circle on November 30, 2017; committing to protest every Thursday until he's gone from The White House.

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Echoing the sentiments of several House Democrats, activists demand Trump be impeached due to emoluments clause violations, racist attacks, and more.

While some are waiting with bated breath to see how many impeachable transgressions Mueller will uncover through his investigation, millions of Americans know that Donald Trump has committed numerous offenses already and are demanding that the process of getting him out of office begin now. Echoing the sentiments of Reps. Maxine Waters and Al Green, activists know Trump has committed 'High Crimes and Misdemeanors'

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A Public Policy Poll last month found that 49% of voters support impeaching Trump. The administration continues to alienate voters, and activists are more motivated than ever to reinforce the concerns and views of Americans through protest.

Rise and Resist is a direct action group committed to opposing, disrupting, and defeating any government act that threatens democracy, equality, and our civil liberties. Previous Rise and Resist actions include a "cough-in" at Jean-Georges restaurant, and a protest at Trump Tower against the Muslim ban, the ICE raids, and the proposed border wall where 26 members were arrested.

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#Activism #collusion #ColumbusCircle #corruption #DefendDemocracy #demonstration #DirectAction #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #FakePrez #impeachment #ImpeachTrump #LoveTrumpsHate #MangoMussolini #NotMyPresident #NewYorkCity #NewYork #NewYorkers #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #RejectPresidentElect #ResistTrump #RiseAndResist #StopTheHate #TrumpInternationalHotel #trumpvsallofus

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

We Are Dying (STILL) – A World AIDS Day Action at Duffy Square

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New York, NY - ACT UP New York took to the streets in outrage to draw attention to World AIDS Day, an international recognition of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In alliance with fellow direct action groups, Rise and Resist, and Voices4, ACT UP NY is staged a die—in and speak out on November 29, 2017 in Times Square to emphasize: people with HIV and AIDS are still here. We are here, and we are fighting for the end of the AIDS epidemic in New York, the US, and around the world.

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We know that HIV is exacerbated by:

- High cost of prescription medicines

- HIV criminalization laws

- Lack of political will from elected officials

Since ACT UP NY's 30th anniversary action in March, we have been campaigning to raise the age to create more housing for LGBT youth, ages 21-24, implementing a crystal meth support policy, and now fighting against HIV criminalization.

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We will be joined by three speakers, including George M. Johnson (HIV activist), Maddison O'Neil (ACT UP NY and Voices4), and Emily Sanderson (ACT UP NY and Health GAP (Global Access Project).

ACT UP NY: Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan. group of Individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP NY meets every Monday night at 7:00 pm in New York City at the LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th Street.

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#Activism #ACTUP #ActUpNY #AIDS #BigotrySpreadAids #DefendHealthcare #demonstration #DieIn #DirectAction #DumpTrump #HealthcareNotWealthcare #HIV #HIVJustice #humanrights #ImpeachTrump #LGBTQ #LoveTrumpsHate #Medicaid #Medicare #NewYorkCity #NewYorkers #NotMyPresident #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #Protest #rally #ResistTrump #TaxTheRich #TimesSquare #TrumpTaxScam

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

For Thanksgiving, New Yorkers Tell Trump: Your Tax Plan Will Gobble Up Our Communities

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New York, NY - In time for Thanksgiving, New Yorkers, members of New York Communities for Change, Strong Economy for All, and other progressive advocacy groups delivered a special message to Trump: "Your tax plan will gobble up our communities". On November 22, 2017; they delivered turkeys stuffed with cash to the Trump building in Wall Street, highlighting how Trump’s tax plan will take massive sums of money from working people to benefit the richest Americans.

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#StopTrumpsTaxScam

-Trump wants to give huge tax breaks to millionaires and wealthy corporations while cutting funding for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education and other services for working families.

-Trump and Republicans just want to help Wall Street and big corporations cheat the system and pay even less in taxes. That is morally wrong and economically harmful for our communities.

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-When the wealthy elite avoid paying their taxes, they cheat our communities – they take resources away from public housing, healthcare, education, and so many vital programs and services that millions of New Yorkers and Americans across the country rely on.

-When fewer taxes are collected from the rich, our government has less money to invest in making our communities stronger, healthier, and better places to live.

-Trump’s tax plan seems to be out a dystopian movie or book. A plan where billionaires can deduct costs from their private jets, while teachers may not be able to write off the school supplies they purchase for their students.

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-In this dystopian tax plan, the biggest losers will be working class families from across the country. Teachers, firefighters, nurses… families struggling to get by and put food on the table.

-Trump’s Tax Scam will literally be taking food and resources out of our mouths. That’s why this Thanksgiving, the communities struggling to get by will visit the Trump Building in Wall Street to deliver turkeys loaded with money.

- While this is a time of giving. And cities and towns across the country prepare to hand out free turkeys to the most vulnerable communities. Trump’s Tax Scam does exactly the opposite, is preparing to extract money and resources from the communities that need it the most, in order to hand it out to Wall Street and the super rich.

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#Activism #DirectAction #DumpTrump #ImpeachTrump #NewYorkCity #NewYorkers #NotMyPresident #NYC #NYCC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #ResistHere #ResistTrump #StopTrumpsTaxScam #TaxBill #TaxReform #Thanksgiving #TrumpBuilding #TrumpTaxPlan #trumpvsallofus #turkey #WallStreet

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Echoing the sentiments of Reps. Maxine Waters and Al Green, activists and NYC residents pledged to demand Trump's impeachment every week until he's out of the White House

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New York City - Inspired by an impeachment article of Rep. Al Green (TX) and the sentiments of several other U.S. Congress members, direct action group Rise and Resist and NYC residents are beginning a Weekly Impeach Protest at the 40 Wall Street Trump Building on November 16, 2017; and committing to protest every Thursday until he's gone from The White House.

Future protest locations include Trump Tower, Trump International Hotel, and several Trump properties around NYC.

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"With his ‘many sides’ Charlottesville comments, pardoning of Joe Arpaio, the Muslim Ban, and his open disdain for a suffering Puerto Rico, this president has imprinted his personal racism on US policy and presence," said Martin Quinn, member of Rise and Resist. “I can’t think of a more impeachable offense than that. ‘High crimes and misdemeanors’ doesn’t even scratch the surface.”

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On Monday night, Maxine Waters led a celebrity crowd in an 'Impeach 45!' chant at the Glamour 2017 Women of the Year awards. Reps. Brad Sherman (CA) and Steve Cohen (TN) have sponsored articles of impeachment. A Public Policy Poll last month found that 49% of voters support impeaching Trump. The administration continues to alienate voters, and activists are more motivated than ever to reinforce the concerns and views of Americans through protest.

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#Activism #collusion #corruption #DefendDemocracy #demonstration #DirectAction #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #FakePrez #impeachment #ImpeachTrump #LoveTrumpsHate #MangoMussolini #NotMyPresident #NewYorkCity #NewYork #NewYorkers #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #RejectPresidentElect #ResistTrump #RiseAndResist #StopTheHate #trumpvsallofus

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Before the MTA Board Meeting, Activists Demand That Cuomo and the Transit Authority Address Accessibility in NYC Subway Stations

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New York, NY - Members of Rise and Resist along with residents from across NYC held a protest outside the MTA Headquarters on Wednesday on November 15,2017; to impress upon the city organization the importance of accessible subway stations. While the MTA has made excuses based on budget and resources, the fact remains that New York City lags behind most other major cities in the country in terms of devoting adequate taxpayer money to creating accessible transit options.

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With only 117 out of 472 stations fully accessible, and with elevators often out of service at many of the accessible stations, Governor Cuomo and the MTA make it impossible for the almost 10% of New Yorkers that have a disability to get to work, the doctor, or to school. No elevators in most MTA subway stations means people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and people over 65 are stranded

“San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston - all these major U.S. cities treat their residents better in terms of making their mass transit systems accessible,” said Martin Quinn, a member of Rise and Resist. “There’s much written about the constant delays currently affecting the system, and rightfully so, but not including elevators in building plans, and not keeping the few we do have working on a consistent basis makes living here beyond frustrating to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, not to mention tourists.”

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In 1994, the MTA agreed to make 100 key stations accessible by 2020, part of a settlement that exempted the agency from full compliance with the American With Disabilities Act. The MTA is currently working to complete the final 11 of these 100 stations in its 2015-2019 capital construction plan. Beyond fulfilling this agreement, there is no plan or policy for making the rest of the system more accessible in the future.

Century-old systems in Boston and Chicago are on their way to reach 100% accessibility. New York is settling for 25%.

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#AccessDenied #Accessibility #ADA #ADAcompliant #AmericansWithDisabilitiesAct #AndrewCuomo #BrokenElevators #commute #Cuomo #Disability #GovernorCuomo #LetUsRide #mobility #MTA #NewYork #NoElevator #NYC #NYCSubway #NYCTransit #PeoplesMTA #rally #RiseAndResist #safety #StrandedByCuomo #straphangers #SubwayStation #TrainStation #TransitCenter #transportation #wheelchair

Monday, November 13, 2017

With Aggressive New Statewide Campaign, Climate Activists Pressure Governor Cuomo to Halt All Fossil Fuel Projects, and Commit to 100% Renewable Energy Now

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New York, NY - New York renewable energy advocacy groups kicked off a state-wide week of action named #CuomoWalktheTalk - #OffFossilFuels campaign! on November 13, 2017; outside Governor Andrew Cuomo's offices in Manhattan. In the next six months, November - April, local groups will organize synchronized actions with parallel messaging at the front-lines of their own energy battles throughout New York State as we move closer to a convergence Albany in April of 2018.

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Today at noon, A number of city and statewide activist groups opposed to fracking and the state’s overreliance on fossil fuels, including 350 Brooklyn, 350 NYC, Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change (NYCC), New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Sane Energy Project, Surfrider NYC Chapter, United for Action, other activists focused on stopping the Williams Pipeline and concerned New Yorkers organized a picket line outside Governor Cuomo’s Manhattan office and call on him to halt all fracking infrastructure projects in the state, and begin a rapid transition from fossil fuel to 100 percent renewable energy.

A few years ago, after pressure from activists, Cuomo banned fracking in New York. But fossil fuel infrastructure projects that would bring fracked gas into the state are still happening on Cuomo's watch.

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This New York City event is part of a statewide week of action to launch a major new campaign to push Governor Cuomo to move New York away from fossil fuels as fast as possible.

City and state activists are uniting against harmful fracking infrastructure projects across New York. Together, these groups will support each other's local battles in a coordinated effort to hold Cuomo accountable to his stated commitment to being a national leader against fracking, and for public health.

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#350BK #350NYC #AndrewCuomo #cleanenergy #CuomoWalkTheTalk #FoodAndWaterWatch #GovernorCuomo #NewYork #NYC #NYCC #NYPIRG #OffFossilFuels #RenewableEnergy #SaneEnergyProject #SaneSolutions #WalkTheTalk #YOUAREHERE

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Rally for Delrawn Small protesting the unjust verdict that found NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs not guilty

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New York. NY - New Yorkers and community advocates held a rally and press conference on November 9, 2017 in Union Square, to support the family of Delrawn Small in protest of Monday’s verdict that found NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs not guilty of murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing Delrawn on July 4, 2016 in Brooklyn.

Delrawn was unarmed and walking up to Isaacs’ car when he was shot three times in front of his girlfriend, their 4-month-old son, and her 14-year-old daughter. Isaacs left Delrawn on Atlantic Avenue, after he was shot, to bleed to death on the ground – Isaacs offered no emergency aid and didn’t even alert 911 that he had shot someone.

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Delrawn’s family is devastated and horrified at the failure of the justice system to hold Isaacs accountable for this killing. It is unconscionable that once again the justice system is treating police officers as if they are above the law and Black lives as if they don’t matter. It is critical for New Yorkers of good conscience to support Delrawn’s family during this difficult time and voice their firm rejection of this state-sanctioned killing of Delrawn Small.

Delrawn was a brother, a father, an uncle, and friend to so many. He was killed one day before Alton Sterling was killed by police in Louisiana and two days before Philando Castile was killed by police in Minnesota.

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#Activism #BlackLivesMatter #Copwatch #DelrawnSmall #‎EndPoliceBrutality‬ #EndPoliceTerror ‪#‎HandsUpDontShoot ‪#‎indictamerica‬ #JailKillerCops #KilledByNYPD #KilledByPolice #NewYork #‎NoJusticeNoPeace #NoRacistPolice #NYC #NYPD #PoliceBrutality #ProsecuteNYPD #racism #SafetyBeyondPolicing #stillnojustice #StolenLives #TakeBackOurCommunities ‪#‎ThisStopsToday‬ #WayneIsaacs

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Activists from Rise and Resist mark a harrowing year of Trump with a cathartic scream and a promise to fight

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New York, NY — The anguish and psychological damage inflicted on millions of Americans under a year of the Trump administration cannot be underestimated. The panic and uncertainty that comes with the emboldening of racists, the targeting of Muslims, disparaging remarks directed to an entire island suffering from hurricane after-effects, and the rampant incompetency and wickedness of leaders that are supposed to protect all Americans, not endanger them - it’s hard to cope.

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For a half hour on November 7, 2017; at The Oculus in downtown Manhattan, members of direct action activist group Rise and Resist not only channelled their frustrations into a scream-and-shout protest against the administration, but collectively committed to another year of peaceful direct action against Trump's bastardization of the presidency. Rise and Resist has staged and participated in over 50 protests since Trump was elected, and will continue to encourage all Americans to take to the streets to demand justice.

"We are here to remind people of all the awful things that have happened this year, and to commit ourselves to another year of fighting, if that's what it takes." said Kellen Gold, member of the activist group.

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Rise and Resist has staged civil disobedience actions at Trump Tower resulting in 26 arrests, a ‘cough-in’ at Trump International Hotel, a No War/No Hate march to Columbus Circle after Trump’s racist Charlottesville comments, and most recently marched as the Emperor Has No Clothes brigade, dressing as nude Trump, as part of the NYC Halloween Parade.

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#Activism #DefendDemocracy #demonstration #DirectAction #DumpTrump #FakePrez #impeach #LoveTrumpsHate #MangoMussolini #NewYorkCity #NotMyPresident #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #RejectPresidentElect #RiseAndResist #ScreamProtest #StopTheHate #TheOculus #trumpvsallofus #WorldTradeCenter

Monday, November 6, 2017

On the birthday of the late Armando Perez, co-founder of Charas/El Bohio, the LES/EV community celebrates NYC Mayor’s announcement to “re-acquire" the building

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New York — Councilwoman Rosie Mendez joined Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, Senator Brad Hoylman, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Democratic Council District 2 Nominee Carlina Rivera, Democratic District Leader Anthony Feliciano, community residents and members of Save Our Cultural Community Center 64 (SOCCC 64) on November 6, 2017; to celebrate the birthday of the Late Armando Perez (November 3, 1947 — April 3, 1999), co-founder of CHARAS / El Bohio and to thank NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for his announcement at a Town Hall to re-acquire the landmark building.

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Armando Perez was a longtime community advocate in the Lower East Side/East Village, a Democratic District Leader, a community board member, and a founding member of the cultural community center. Before Armando was tragically murdered in 1999, he spent every day of the previous year of his life fighting then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani plan to auction off the building. His life’s work coupled with his untimely death became the community’s never ending battle to reclaim the historic landmark building. The building was auctioned off by Mayor Giuliani in 1998, CHARAS was evicted in 1999 and the building has now been vacant for 17 years.

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On October 12, 2017 Mayor Bill de Blasio held a Town Hall meeting in Council District 2 and announced the city’s plan to reacquire the building and was met with a standing ovation of approximately 100 residents scattered and seated throughout. Today, the community gathered together on the steps of city hall to formally thank the Mayor for his support of the community’s effort to re-acquire the building that formally housed a cultural community center.

"The Former PS 64 CHARAS/El Bohio was a school building and a cultural community center that cultivated the hopes and dreams of so many people in our community. Community activists, such as Armando Perez, created a space where community members could lay the foundation for community gardens, create urban homesteading buildings, and offer social, recreational, artistic and informational activities. Armando was a true pioneer of the Lower East Side and his legacy will always live on through and outside of the ﬁght for CHARAS,” said Councilwoman Rosie Mendez.

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Since the eviction of CHARAS / El Bohio in 2001, our community has lost a tremendous amount of cultural and human services that would have benefited the LES community and New York City.“ said Chino Garcia, Executive Director, CHARAS. “We will continue to fight for the facility that our community needs, now more than ever. It is important that the spirit of Armando continues to live in us."

"Charas was more than a community center — it was a place that brought art and activism together under one roof." said Carlina Rivera. Democratic Nominee, Council District 2. “Its loss in the 1990's was an injustice. Now with the support from the highest office in our city, we hope to bring this building back to life. I am proud to have stood. with my neighbors over the tears demanding its return to the community Armando Perez dedicated his life to.

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“The Village Community Coalition looks forward to working with the Mayor's office, Council Member Mendez and her successor, Community Board 3, CHARAS, our coalition partners and our neighbors to see this cherished landmark returned to true community use.”

"On behalf of LatinoJustice PRLDEF we congratulate the vision of Armando Perez and CHARAS after so many years. We are proud to have played a small role in this community struggle and we commit ourselves to stay woke in the battles to come,” said Juan Cartagena, President & General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

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#Activism #ArmandoPerez #BillDeBlasio #CHARAS #CityHall #CommunityCenter #EastVillage #ElBohio #ElectedOfficials #LES #LowerEastSide #MayorDeBlasio #NewYork #NYC #NYCMayor