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Sunday, June 11, 2017

60th Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City

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New York City - The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) is the largest demonstration of cultural pride in the nation. Now in its 60th year, the parade takes place on June 11, 2017; from 44th Street to 79th Street along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, in honor of the 3.5 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and over 5 million people residing in the United States.

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade’s theme Un Pueblo, Muchas Voces (One Nation, Many Voices) celebrates the creativity and diversity of thought in Puerto Rico and across the diaspora. We celebrate and honor the leaders, educators, artists, and celebrities that have left a cultural footprint on this nation.

The history of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade is one of cultural resilience, pride, unity, awareness and education, rooted in the spirit of activism, freedom and justice. We are proud that such legacy remains alive and strong today, 60 years after the Parade's founders first marched in New York City to celebrate their cultural heritage and raise awareness of the presence and positive contribution of the Puerto Rican community, and also spotlight the issues that affected Puerto Ricans in New York and Puerto Rico at the time. This continues to be part of the Parade's DNA, something the current Board honors with great responsibility. The Parade Board has a proven history of embracing causes and has taken a proactive stance to bring vital issues that speak to the Puerto Rican experience across la Patria Extendida to the global stage that is Fifth Avenue. Be it taking a stance on civil and human rights for political prisoners, including Oscar López Rivera, calling for The Borinqueneers to be bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal, championing for environmental justice for Caño Martín Peña, LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, the Parade has confronted several issues and challenges.

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Others include the fight for fairness, justice and representation in U.S./Puerto Rico government and economics, labor rights, the current economic crisis, the Medicaid and healthcare in Puerto Rico, among other. Our Parade has a pioneering history and legacy of championing the people’s voice and providing a platform that prompts healthy discussions and leads to positive change. This activism happens every June and year-round, as we have joined other community members in Orlando, Washington D.C. and at other locations over the past years. We will continue to do so, while still celebrating the rich cultural pride, heritage, identity and tradition, that bind us together.

STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE, INC.

While we are saddened and disappointed by certain sponsors pulling out of our Parade, we respect their views and decision to do so. Equally, we respect our Parade’s mission and commitment to inclusiveness, and the responsibility of representing the broadest possible blend voices that make up the Puerto Rican community.

While we cannot predict whether other sponsors and/or organizations might choose not to join us on Fifth Avenue this year, we expect they will do so with the same level of responsibility and professionalism as JetBlue and the Yankees. This community deserves no less. We thank the thousands of individuals, elected officials and community leaders who have expressed their support for the Parade, its 2017 honoree roster, and its commitment to raise awareness about the issues that impact Puerto Ricans across the world, even if some issues might spark a conversation.

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#Boricua #BoricuaPride #ElectedOfficials #LetitiaJames #Loisaida #MayorDeBlasio #NewYork #NYC #NYCityCouncil #OneNationManyVoices #OscarLopez #OscarLopezRivera #Parade #PRParade #PuertoRicanParade #PuertoRico #PuertoRicoNoSeVende #PuertoRicoNotForSale #UnPuebloMuchasVoces

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Counter-Protest at March Against Sharia in support of the Muslim community

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New York City - On June 10, 2017; the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) and the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) partner with other leading civil rights groups and grassroots activists to rally in support of the Muslim community, showcasing a pluralistic alternative to the white supremacist and Islamophobic "March Against Sharia" in Foley Square. Rather than responding to ACT for America’s hateful rhetoric, organizers hope to put forth a separate and wholly positive and pluralistic message.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today pointed to anti-Islam rallies planned nationwide on Saturday, June 10, as further evidence of the growing cooperation between white supremacist, neo-Nazi, anti-government, and Islamophobic hate groups.

CAIR said it is assisting local communities in responding to the hate rallies with peaceful educational events and activities focused on promoting mutual understanding and challenging bigotry.

The leading sponsor of the rallies, Brigitte Gabriel’s ACT for America, has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC has named "Brigitte Gabriel" as a member of the nation's "Anti-Muslim Inner Circle."

Gabriel has argued that, “America is at stage two Islamic Cancer.” She believes “every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim,” a Muslim “cannot be a loyal citizen of the United States,” and that Arabs “have no soul.”

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#Activism #AltRight #Counterprotest #DefendDemocracy #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #FoleySquare #HateSpeech #HereToStay #humanrights #immigration #LoveTrumpsHate #MarchAgainstSharia #MuslimBan #MuslimRights #NeoNazi #news #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NoBan #NoHumanIsIlegal #NoRaids #NotMyPresident #NoWall #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #rally #RefugeesWelcome #refusefascism #RejectPresidentElect #RememberUS #resist #ResistTrump #revolution #RiseAndResist #SanctuaryCity #‎Solidarity #TravelBan #trump #TrumpCabinet #trumpvsallofus #WeWillNotBeSilent #WhiteSupremacy

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Die-In Against Trumpcare and For Affordable Coverage for All in New York City

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New York - Health providers, patients, grassroots organizers, NYC Councilmember and co-founder of #GetOrganizedBK Brad Lander, NY assemblymember Richard Gottfried and concerned New York residents organized a Die-In against Trumpcare and for affordable coverage for all on June 4, 2017; at 33 Street Plaza, W. 33 St. between 7the and 8th Aves, Manhattan. People lying “dead” on the ground holding tombstones with messages such as: “Died from lack of health insurance,” “Killed by a preventable disease,” "Died. GOP plan helped the rich, not me". Protestors rally to warn US Senate of human toll of “repeal/replace” health plans

The Die-In Against Trumpcare and For Affordable Coverage for All is one of 20 actions from Honolulu to Boston on June 4. The NYC Die-In is lynchpin of a nationwide coordinated action to say NO to GOP health care proposals.

Patients and health professionals detailed the personal impact of GOP’s plans: ACA repeal, deep Medicaid cuts, de-funding Planned Parenthood, and pre-existing conditions exclusions. The grassroots protest calls on the Senate to abandon efforts to repeal ACA and ensure affordable health care, such as Medicare for All.

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* Simultaneous protests were held on the following States and sites

CT: New Haven

MA: Boston and Northampton

MI: Brighton, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo, Selby Township , Troy

NH: Concord NJ: Hackensack, Willingboro, and Mays Landing

NY: Manhattan

OH: Cincinnati

PA: King of Prussia

TX: Dallas (5/31)

WA: Seattle

WI: Racine, Appleton, and Janesville, featuring cardboard Paul Ryan

#ACA #Activism #AffordableCare #AffordableCareAct #AHCA #DefendHealthcare #demonstration #DieIn #DieIn4TheACA #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #Dying4Care #GetOrganizedBK #healthcare #HealthcareForAll #HealthcareIsAHumanRight #healthcareisaRIGHT #humanrights #LoveTrumpsHate #manhattan #Medicaid #MedicareForAll #NewYork #NewYorkHealthAct #NYC #NYHA #PeacefulProtest #Protest #rally #ResistTrump #SinglePayer #‎Solidarity #stopTrumpcare #tombstones #trump #TrumpCabinet #TrumpCare #UniversalHeathcare

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Hundreds of volunteers and gun violence survivors participated on the Fifth Annual Brooklyn Bridge March for Gun Sense, as Part of the “Wear Orange” Campaign

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NEW YORK - On June 3, 2017; in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety and the Wear Orange coalition, hosted the Fifth Annual Brooklyn Bridge March for Gun Sense to honor national gun violence awareness day. Hundreds of volunteers and gun violence survivors marched across the bridge, culminating in a rally at Foley Square led by the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action and featuring Julianne Moore, chair of the Everytown Creative Council.

Wear Orange was inspired by friends of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago high school student killed by gunfire, whose friends decided to honor her life by wearing orange – the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. This year on June 2, more than 400 influencers, corporations, mayors, partner organizations and a series of iconic landmarks across the country will participate in the Wear Orange campaign.

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More than 250 Wear Orange events will take place across the country the weekend of June 2. Additional Wear Orange events are happening in New York in Buffalo, White Plains, Saratoga Springs, Poughkeepsie and Rochester.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued a proclamation in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Month. New York public officials including joined the more than 100 mayors nationwide participating in the Wear Orange campaign this year. A full list of elected leaders joining the campaign can be found here.

“It’s truly incredible to watch this movement grow year after year - it has morphed from a moment my friends and I dreamed up to honor Hadiya to a national movement, with events in every state,” said Nza-Ari Khepra, founder of Project Orange Tree and co-creator of Wear Orange. “I’m so grateful to the thousands of Americans who will turn out to turn their communities orange this weekend. Their passion for saving lives from gun violence inspires me to keep going and demanding change.”

Last year more than 300 noteworthy individuals and organizations, including President Obama, Julianne Moore, Kim Kardashian West, Vogue and Viacom answered the call, making their support for the movement loud and clear. And across the country, nearly 250,000 people took action online and in person at events.

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#Activism #BrooklynBridge #demonstration #FoleySquare #GAG #GAGisWatching #GAGNY #GaysAgainstGuns #GunControl #GunViolence #JulianneMoore #LoveTrumpsHate #MomsDemandAction #NewYorkCity #NRA #NYC #PeacefulProtest #rally #‎Solidarity #stopgunviolence #StopTheHate #WearOrange

March for Truth in New York City joins a nationwide calling for an investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump

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New York - Hundreds of people marched on June 3, 2017; through lower Manhattan to demand an impartial investigation into alleged Russian interference in the presidential election. The "March for Truth" was one of many demonstrations held nationwide calling for an investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump and his associates.

Across the country, elected leaders, community organizers, celebrities and musicians took the stage at #MarchForTruth rallies in more than 135 cities in the United States and abroad on June 3rd.

Participating speakers at the New York events nationwide include:

Congressional Representatives Jerry Nadler, Nydia Velasquez, Councilmember Brad Lander, Public Advocate Letitia James, Borough President Gale Brewer, tyranny expert Timothy Snyder, Susan Lerner from Common Cause, and others.

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Artists and musicians including Hamilton star Javier Muñoz‏, appearing in New York City.

March For Truth is a national coalition of activist groups and grassroots, local organizers demanding that leaders in government defend the rule of law and fully investigate the Trump administration’s motives for interfering in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and ties to Donald Trump and his associates. National Partner organizations include MoveOn, Women’s March, Indivisible, Public Citizen, Free Speech for People, Town Hall Project, The Opposition, Swing Left, Stand Up America, Common Cause, OurStates, Action Group Network, flippable, Rock The Vote, Lawyers for Good Government, DailyKos, Working Families Party, Rise to Run and Progressive Democrats of America.

Across the country, peaceful demonstrations were arranged on Saturday, June 3, 2017. The demands of the March are simple:

* An independent commission must be established and Congressional investigations should be properly resourced and pursued free of partisan interests;

* As much information should be made available to the public as possible, and as soon as possible;

* Congress should require Donald Trump to release his tax returns to clarify his business interests and obligations to any foreign entity;

* If crimes were committed or if collusion is discovered, it must be prosecuted.

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The firing of FBI Director Comey, bombshell news of memos that suggest Donald Trump attempted to influence an active FBI investigation, Senate testimony from John Brennan, Sally Yates and James Clapper, and revelations about the Trump administration’s handling of information that Mike Flynn was compromised further underscore the need for urgent, well-resourced investigations. As Representative Elijah Cummings noted last week, this investigation represents “a fight for the soul of our democracy.”

#Activism #DefendDemocracy #demonstration #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #ElectoralVote #FoleySquare #impeach #investigation #LoveTrumpsHate #MarchForTruth #news #NewYorkCity #NotMyPresident #NYC #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #Protest #Putin #rally #RejectPresidentElect #resist #ResistTrump #revolution #Russia #trump #TrumpCabinet #trumptaxes #trumpvsallofus #truth #truthnotcovfefe

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Hundreds of New Yorkers Come Together for lftar at Trump Tower during Ramadan

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New York, NY - Hundreds of New Yorkers of all faiths came together in the evening of June 1, 2017; to break bread in an iftar celebration organized by the New York State immigrant Action Fund and M Power Change. The iftar is the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset, and is often shared with family and friends. Tonight’s event consisted of a short welcome, a call to prayer, breaking of the fast with dates as is customary and a halal dinner. Volunteers from Jews For Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) formed a protective barrier around people as they prayed.

Anu Joshi, deputy director of the New York State Immigrant Action Fund, commented, “New Yorkers of all stripes and faiths came out tonight to resoundly reject President Trump's many attempts to sow fear and division among our communities, and proudly stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters. This community iftar in front of Trump Tower serves as a public and direct rebuke to the divisive and hate-filled policies of the current Administration. We stand resolute in our opposition to the policies, rhetoric, and actions by this Administration that seek to vilify and otherize the Muslim community, whether in the United States or abroad. The New York State immigrant Action Fund is dedicated to holding our elected officials accountable and fighting for a country that is just and fair for all."

Mohammad Khan, Campaign Director of MPower Change, commented, “|n the spirit of Ramadan and following the tradition of Muslim communities around the world, we came together tonight as New Yorkers to break bread and build community with people from all faiths and backgrounds. While the Trump administration continues to pursue a White Nationalist agenda, bent on criminalizing and erasing people of color from public life—or in the case of Muslims, banning us altogether—we will continue to stand strong in defense of our values and strive for a society that works for all of us.”

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New York State Immigrant Action Fund (Immigrant Action) is a 501(c)(4) corporation dedicated to enhancing the political power of individuals supporting immigrants and humane immigration policies, originally formed in 2009.

MPower Change is a grassroots movement rooted in diverse Muslim communities throughout the United States who are working together to build social, spiritual, racial and economic justice for all people.

#faith #FreedomOfReligion #iftar #LoveTrumpsHate #MultiFaith #Muslim #MuslimRights #news #NewYork #NoBan #NoHumanIsIlegal #NYC #Prayer #Ramadan #religion #StopTheHate #TrumpTower

New Yorkers Stand Up Against Trump Attack on Paris Climate Agreement

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New York City - On June 1, 2017; activist groups and concerned citizens held a rally at Foley Square and then marched to New York City Hall in protest of Trump’s attack on the Paris climate agreement and call on Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Stringer to take the bold action needed to fight climate change and inequality.

Trump made an announcement about the Paris Agreement at 3pm EST today and multiple news outlets reported he intends to exit or weaken the Paris Climate Agreement. In light of this devastating development, which poses a serious threat to our city and communities, New Yorkers are calling on city and state leaders to step up and take bold climate action.

New Yorkers are calling on Governor Cuomo to enact the NYRenews agenda, Mayor de Blasio to pass the Climate Works for All and Win Wind NY agendas, and Comptroller Stringer to #DivestNY pensions from fossil fuels and instead invest in clean energy and good, local, union jobs. Elected officials have been invited to attend.

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Participating speakers:

U.S. Representative for New York Jerrold Nadler

Public Advocate Letitia James

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

Leslie Cagan, Peoples Climate March-NY

Deirdre Aherne 250 NYC Co-Organizer

Representatives from WeACT, Sane Energy, Win Wind NY, and other advocacy organizations

#Activism #ActOnClimate #ClimateChange #ClimateChaos #ClimateDeniers #ClimateDisaster #climatejustice #DefendDemocracy #DisasterCapitalism #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #environment #EnvironmentalJustice #FossilFree #KeepItIntheGround #NewYorkCity #NotMyPresident #NYC #ParisAgreement #PeacefulProtest #PeacefulResistance #RejectPresidentElect #ResistTrump #‎Solidarity #trumpvsallofus ‪#‎weareallconnected‬ #YOUAREHERE