Saturday, January 9, 2021

CALENDAR & NEWS ~ January 2021

JUSTICE

POSTPONED - Erie's annual Martin Luther King Day march is being pushed back to spring. No details are set at this moment. 
PSU Behrend MLK events Jan 18-22 All events free, public, online 
How to Be An Antiracist  Zoom/Host: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Meadville starting Jan 17 at noon. Sign up in advance. Community workshop and dialog based on Ibram X. Kendi's book How to Be an Antiracist.   
Meadville's annual MLK, Jr. Fellowship Dinner Virtual,  January 18 at 6pm. "we are collaborating with local businesses so that those participating can 'dine together', while viewing together"
"Trapped: Cash Bail in America" Host: ACLU of PA "More than 60% of PA's total jail population have not been convicted of a crime—many of them are simply too poor to pay bail. Join us on 1/27 for a virtual screening of Trapped and a post-screening discussion about cash bail." RSVP
“Go After the Troublemakers”: How Trump and Barr Targeted the Black Lives Matter Movement" (Anjali Kamat, Mother Jones 11/1/2020)  Profiles the cases of two black Erie men facing state and federal charges related to the May 30 protests in downtown Erie.
Martin Luther King Day Program: Becoming a Beloved Community Cleveland Museum of Art will host the online event on January 18 at 6pm. 
The 23rd Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit takes place January 22 and 23
"A School Funding: Barrier for Economic Growth/Community Revitalization In Erie County & Through PA"  (Jefferson Educational Society, 12/9/2020) Video of panel discussion. 

EARTH

Erie DSA January meeting (part1) will be held on January 11 6pm
Say No to Judicial Gerrymandering (Fair Districts PA 12-30-2020)
Keystone Progress Summit January 20 8am-6:30pm

August Wilson,
Pittsburgh playwright
honored by USPS 1/28

ARTS

PACA is all spruced up "The sign is in. The two wheelchair ramps are built. The two new ADA bathrooms are framed in. The new hallway/art gallery is lit and getting close to completion. 2020 has been a struggle to be sure but we are Living Forward even in difficult times."
An MLK Celebration: Poetry Unplugged Jan 15 8pm "a night of spoken word and music featuring artists from around the country using the life and work of Martin Luther King as inspiration"
Ujima Company 2020-2021 season is online. Ujima is a multi-ethnic and multicultural professional theatre whose primary purpose is the preservation, perpetuation and performance of African American theatre; based in Buffalo. . 

MEDIA

Times-New/GoErie op-ed page changes Erie's only daily was recently sold. Matt Martin explains changes on the op-ed page, including letters to the editor. 
Talking Peace Series of video interviews presented by WNY Peace Center; to view videos visit their Facebook page 

MIKE KELLY

Mike Kelly established himself as a self-serving jerk even before he was swept into office in the 2010 Tea Party surge, but his relentless attacks on PA voters in the 2020 election have deepened the outrage.  PA-16 Against Mike Kelly is a new Facebook group that  quickly grew to 1000+ members since it was started in December. So far it's had some vibrant conversation, information and brainstorming. A couple other sources of interest: Mike Kelly Watch is a FB page that was set up in February 2011, which keeps track of Kelly's low deeds and stupid remarks. 16th District United is a Facebook group that is dedicated to Kelly removal; it tends to be focused on the Butler area. If you want to speak out about Kelly, here is a list of 16th district newspapers. Also someone started on Change.org a petition to "Remove Pennsylvania Representative Mike Kelly from Congress for Inciting an Insurrection"

ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY EVENTS

PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro 1/7/2021: “If you organized a plan to carry out Wednesday's illegal attack on our country from Pennsylvania and we have evidence that you participated we will use every tool at our disposal to hold you accountable.”  
~~~~~
FBI seeks tips on January 6 Capitol assault. Tips, information, photos, video, etc.  Submit it to tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or contact the local FBI office. 
~~~~~
There was a local "Stop the Steal" event on January 6 at Perry Square. Hosted by Bradley Sawtelle and Gregory Hayes, with Erie County Councilman Brian Shank as one of the speakers. The rally of a few dozen attendees was peaceful and there was reportedly no showing of firearms. The FB event page photo featured an altered revolutionary war painting with the white supremacist Pepe the Frog superimposed on the minutemen's heads. I chose not to display the image, but if you want a screenshot of the page let me know.

ANTI-FASCIST SOUP FOR FAM

From Andria Stella Mack at Erie Action: "As a response to the ["Stop the Steal"] demonstration in Perry Square, we felt compelled to hold space across the street. A food drive was quickly organized and the female-fronted Erie Action organized and mobilized. The drive was able to fill six Little Food Pantry boxes in Erie and Edinboro with the donations."
Click on photos to enlarge. 
Soup for the Fam Canned Food Drive 1-6-2021 Socially-distanced except for a quick pic
Photo: Andria Stella Mack

Photo: Luz and Rayna in Edinboro

Flyer/Design: Anna Lindvay 

Andria Stella Mack and Lisa Clark

~~~~~

In non-pandemic times, this is a calendar of events for people who believe "a better world is possible." Published monthly.  Focus is local/regional. Not affiliated with any organization All upcoming event listings are nonviolent. Event submissions send to moonkat2014@gmail.com 






 


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)