Syracuse
Peace Council
2013 East Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210
spc(a)peacecouncil.net, (315)
472-5478
Voting
is Just the Beginning
Organizing for Peace & Social Justice after the
Election
Wednesday, November
12, 7 pm
ArtRage Gallery
It's important who is elected president and as our congressional representative, but it's equally important that we organize to push whoever is elected to support our agenda for peace and social justice. Join in a discussion and organizing meeting to make this happen!
Reports from Task Groups & Next Steps
End Occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and prevent other invasions
1/ Frame occupation in broader terms - impact on economy, environment,
immigration, world views of America
2/ Foreign policy under new framework
3/ How economy is impacted by military industrial complex
4/ Does new president give us opportunities that haven't existed
5/ No excuses now for the Democrats, can't hide or shift blame for inaction
6/ Brainstorm activism
Where do we go on organizing now
Scheduled another meeting on Mon 11/24 7 pm, SPC
7/ Possible ideas for organizing - Dog Maffei/ Schumer/ Clinton schedule
meetings to express our concerns and hear their
proposals
Town hall style meetings to reach people that might not be able/motivated
to come to SPC meetings
Ways to educated/ move community to action
Building an Economy based on Social Justice
What exists now?
- Peace Council Economics Forum
- Statewide efforts to push for alternatives to proposed state spending
cuts.
- Nader's "Congress Watch" project [www.november5.org]
- [www.sanecny.org] Community organizing around Kennedy Square area community
pushing for a community benefits agreement
- Opportunities to provide mutual support for issue-focused projects
Issues to look at in the Future:
- Alternatives to the bailouts - what opportunities does the crisis raise?
- Looking for local solutions for community effects of economic crisis
- Figuring out ways to draw connections between communities/people with
economic needs
- Finding ways to draw out issues
- Ways to identify issues to rally around
A followup discussion was held on November 17.
Regaining Civil Liberties
What exists now?
- NYCLU - Education
- Mental Patients Liberation Alliance
-[told where are you to be hospitalized, have no rights]
- Jennifer monitors mental hygiene courts as an advocate
- LGBT groups
- Immigration - monitoring @ Regional Transportation Center Border Patrol
would leave when ACLU rep. was present
- Seeing people removed from buses
New Organizing Opportunities:
- Monitoring mental health courts
- Informing people of their rights @bus terminal
- Informing people of rights to vote restored after felons in NY
- Told it's a "new path", need to get on the ad……?
right away
- Petition sites via internet [www.care2.com]
- Education about civil liberties in school [interactive theater in schools]
- Giving people educational materials - tracts, palm cards
- Technique : go to places where people assemble : parks, festivals/[like
what was done to register new voters]
- For kids : it's the cool thing to vote, to be involved.
- How do we capitalize on that? - make sure we get our message to the
spaces kids visit - myspace, youtube, etc.
- need to educate ourselves - Naomi Wolf's book- Handbook for the American
Revolutionaries
Priorities:
- Education - developing more materials to teach people about their rights
- Keep well informed ourselves
- Training for activists in how to step in when people witness violations
of other's rights.
- Avoid becoming complacent - hold Obama to the promises
- Pressure on representatives
- Understanding the right's positions so we can counter the arguments
Welcome
Immigrants and Change the Debate
CNY Focus:
- What value we place on our food, to produce? Farmers' bottom
- Emergency Mode - BP everywhere
- Fear - Families being broken
- Get involved! Everyday practical support fierce 'till
- Power of American Citizen
- Dream
Contact:
Ending Militarism in our Culture & Schools
Info to come
Contact:
Meeting Human Needs
Info to come
Contact:
Protecting the Earth
Info to come
Contact: