After the National Equality March:

What's Next for the LGBT Civil Rights Movement?

On October 11, 2009, over 150 students and other activists from all 5 Colleges and Western Massachusetts joined over 200,000 others as we marched on Washington, DC to demand FULL EQUALITY for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states NOW.

This was the debut of a new grassroots movement, proof that we can mobilize masses of people with little money, and that there is a new generation of civil rights activists tired of waiting for their rights and ready to struggle to win them!

But one march is not enough. We need you to get involved in building our era's civil rights movement. Join us as we report back from the march, share photos and video, and talk about the next steps. Everyone who supports LGBT equality is more than welcome to attend regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation!

This is our moment, so let's take advantage of it and build this movement until the politicians can no longer afford to ignore us. A couple of excerpts from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" sums it up well:

"Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself...We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed...For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see...that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

WE WILL NOT WAIT; NO MORE DELAYS: GET INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS!

equalitywmass.blogspot.com

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Nueva Esperanza Annual Dinner

HOLYOKE, Mass. – Oct. 16, 2009

Nueva Esperanza Inc.’s annual dinner, Inspiring Leadership: Opening Gateways to Success, was held at the Yankee Pedlar on Friday October 16, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m. The celebration had music, food, and presentations of two awards for Emerging Leaders in Holyoke.

Nueva Esperanza is a Holyoke-based community development organization committed to building a safe, healthy and economically viable environment for low and moderate income residents. Through community driven projects that strengthen residents’ well-being and self sufficiency, Nueva Esperanza creates opportunities for housing, economic development, leadership skills, youth training and cultural celebration. The organization’s primary interest of providing affordable housing has expanded widely to include: neighborhood economic development, health and human service programs, development of community leadership, promotion of accessible community education and several youth empowerment programs.

YouthBuild Holyoke, a youth development program that teaches construction skills to high school drop outs, provides leadership development, vocational training and educational opportunities for young people between the ages of 16 and 24. Many students in the Youth Build Holyoke program have left the public school system. The educational aspect of the Youth Build program focuses on the attainment of the General Equivalency Diploma (GED). YouthBuild Holyoke students develop leadership as they create a better living situation for the people of Holyoke. Through the work of construction projects, the creation of murals and other artwork, volunteer work and city clean-ups, the students find a greater sense of ownership, belonging, and pride in their community.

Sponsors of the annual dinner included PeoplesBank, Non-Profit Data Management, Ross Insurance Agency, and Gauthier Insulation. All proceeds from this celebration will allow Nueva Esperanza to continue to provide youth leadership programs, neighborhood based advocacy opportunities and programming to maintain affordable and safe housing opportunities.

For more information, visit www.nuevaesperanzacdc.org

Beehive Collective Interview

AMHERST, Mass.--
Interview with two pollinators of the Beehive Collective on March 19, 2009 at the USSEN Conference at UMass Amherst. (US Solidarity Economy Network).

For more information about the Beehive Collective:
--www.beehivecollective.org--

USSEN Conference 2009

AMHERST, Mass.
March 19-22, 2009--

Nearly 400 organizers and activists gathered at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst March 19-22 for the first national gathering of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, exceeding the expectations of its organizers.

The solidarity economy is a grassroots movement widely known throughout Latin America, arising from people turning to each other for survival in the face of the slashing of social safety nets imposed by globalization and neoliberalism. It consists of peasant cooperatives, workers seizing abandoned factories and a variety of organizations of the urban poor. In Europe and Quebec, it's also known as part of the social economy, with deep ties to the trade unions, worker-owned cooperatives and the nonprofit sector in social services. Together, the social and solidarity economy are quite strong there, with successes in pushing public policy.

USSEN was launched at the US Social Forum in Atlanta, 2007, which drew some 12,000 participants. SEN activists had organized over 80 panels and workshops, and the network was founded from among the participants. It has added to its numbers since then, with the Amherst meeting its first major U.S. project. It was co-convened with the Universidad de los Andes from Venezuela and RIPESS-North America, the Intercontinental Social Solidarity Economy Network.

Quebec's Yvon Poirier summed up the conclusion:
"Back in June 2007, in Atlanta, there were about 40 people in the final meeting, out of the 80 workshops, that decided to go forward. Now there are about 350 or 400 people in the US that know a lot more, and are certainly interested in one way or another, in promoting Solidarity Economy." With scarce resources, it won't be an easy task. But the times demand it, and if the people who gathered in Amherst are any indication, they will rise to the occasion.

By Carl Davidson
SolidarityEconomy.Net

For more information, check out www.populareconomics.org/ussen

Queer Farmer Film Project

EAST COAST TOUR Summer 09--

Farmer Jonah Mossberg introduces his Queer Farmer Film Project, a documentary about the dynamic relationships between gender, sexuality, and agriculture. Jonah’s current tour has touched New York City, Western Massachusetts and Vermont, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Tennessee. The project is seeking participants who want to share their experiences, histories, understanding and knowledge as queer members of the agrarian community.

Please contact Jonah at queerfarmerfilmproject@gmail.com or 510-314-9644.

Check out the blog at http://queerfarmer.blogspot.com.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yJpw0IOaZI

Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase

LOS ANGELES, CA -- April 26th, 2009

From the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase website:

The Mar Vista Community Council's Green Committee invites fellow Los Angeles area residents to see what their water-savvy neighbors in Mar Vista are doing to help combat the Southland's water crisis. In an effort to help Mar Vista become a model community for reduced water consumption, we seek to encourage others in the community to be inspired by and to adopt the water-saving solutions already in use by green trend-setters. Tours through dozens of Mar Vista gardens also offer the benefit of first-hand experience and the expertise of those already committed to reducing their water consumption profiles through the adoption of drought-resistant landscaping.

With so much at stake during the summer season's impending water shortage, the Mar Vista Green Committee has organized this first-ever event in order to give Los Angeles area residents a head start towards a beautiful and cost-effective way to do their part to conserve.

For more info check out the Mar Vista Community Council website.

Also see Reynier Village (South Robertson) Home & Garden, inspired by the MVCC Garden Showcase.

Justice for Jason - Pretrial Hearing

TUESDAY
April 28, 2009
2PM Gothic Street
Hampshire County Courthouse
Northampton, MA

Pre-trial hearing for the status of the District Attorney's appeal.

The judge found the Motion to Dismiss so convincing he ordered District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel's office to turn over the last five years of records where victim and assailant were of different races.

The DA has appealed this discovery, and Tuesday is a status hearing on that appeal.

Come show your support for Jason while the DA stalls for time.

Holyoke Youth Trip to DC Inauguration

Push the HQ button to watch in high quality

HOLYOKE, Mass. -- On Thursday, April 16, supporters of YouthBuild Holyoke/Nueva Esperanza, Girls Inc., CareerPoint, Nuestras Raices, Neari Jumpstart, and Upward Bound attended a reception at Holyoke High School in honor of Earl W. Stafford and local donors. The Stafford Foundation and local supporters from Holyoke helped send 16 Holyoke Youth to Obama's inauguration in Washington, D.C. this January.

The Stafford Foundation's generosity and People's Inaugural Project allowed the youth to enjoy three nights of luxury accommodations at the JW Marriot on Pennsylvania Avenue; a Prayer Breakfast; a Martin Luther King, Jr. luncheon; and an Inaugural Youth Ball. Local donors provided funding for transportation, meals, and formal wear for the events.

People enjoyed food from Fernandez Family Restaurant, listened to music, and heard speeches from board members, local councilmembers, students who attended the trip, and Earl Stafford himself. Above is the video projected at the event, made with footage taken by the students themselves on the trip.

Don Feder Protested at UMass

The Coalition Against Hate.
Join the Movement.

Press the HQ button to watch in high quality. Video by samm lyon.

AMHERST, Mass.--

Conservative Don Feder spoke at UMass Amherst on Wednesday, March 11, but refused to finish his speech due to protesting. Loosely organized by a student group, the Coalition Against Hate, hundreds of students and community members showed up to protest Feder's speech: "Hate Crimes Laws and Other Forms of Censorship: The Left's Assault on Free Speech."

Feder claimed that “Your chances of being the victim of a serious hate crime are comparable to being struck twice by lightning and being run over by a high speed train while skateboarding on a national holiday.” He was noticeably upset by the high turnout of protesters, compared to the 10 or so supporters. He repeatedly yelled at the crowd through the microphone, banging on the lectern and calling them "goddamn Nazis."

Though Greg Collins, UMass Republican Club president, said “[w]e brought Don Feder, first and foremost, to challenge the assumptions of Justice for Jason supporters and politically correct liberals on campus that hate crimes are legitimate forms of crimes,” in a statement to the Daily Collegian, he made it clear on Wednesday that Feder would not address Jason Vassell's case. Bringing Feder to campus was a clear attack on the Justice for Jason campaign, and an extension of the hate speech spewed the week before in their newspaper, The Minuteman.

Students met in the Campus Center after the talk to debrief and discuss further strategies to combat hate crimes and hate speech in the Pioneer Valley. Feder continued his speech upstairs in the Republican Club office, relieved to be surrounded only by his bigoted supporters.

Join the Coalition Against Hate. A forum will be scheduled during the week of March 30 - April 3. Check back for more information.

Noho BID Protest With Two Arrests

Get Involved.
Show Your Opposition.
www.nobid.tk



Students and community members protested the Business Improvement District (BID) yesterday, Friday March 13 in downtown Northampton, MA.

Two students were unnecessarily arrested during the peaceful protest, marching down the streets of Northampton. One is being charged for assault and battery on a police officer for resisting being forcefully pushed onto the sidewalk, which is a felony that could result in up to two and a half years in jail. For marching in the streets for justice...

Protest the BID, which would privatize parts of downtown Northampton and push homeless people and street musicians out of its streets. Support public streets and a diverse city.

If you were at the protest and saw the two arrests, please write a detailed statement of what you saw and send to samm.lyon@gmail.com. Thank you.

John Bowes Acquitted

Activist Joe Mirkin summarizes Jason's case

BELCHERTOWN, Mass.--
Jonathan C. Bowes was found not guilty today on charges of a civil rights violation, and guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. To convict on a civil rights violation the prosecution must show 1) that the act was committed or attempted, and 2) that the act was done with intent to impede, oppress or intimidate the victim's free enjoyment of their right to peace. Though racial slurs were used, the Assistant District Attorney Neil Desroches did not make a convincing enough argument 'beyond reasonable doubt' that the vicious language was used, and that their intent was to harm Jason due to the color of Jason's skin. The case also did not address the incident that happened moments after, in which Bowes continued to shout racial slurs and broke Jason's nose in his own dormitory. It would have been impossible for the DA to charge Bowes with assault when they are claiming he is the victim in Jason's case.

Judge John Payne stressed Bowes’ demonstrated pattern of alcohol abuse as reason to sentence Bowes to a “substance abuse evaluation,” to be completed within the next three months. Along with this, Bowes was sentenced to 12 months of administrative probation (which allows him to travel to Baja California for a scuba diving instruction course later this year) and a $200 fine. In light of Bowes’ acquittal on the civil rights violation, Judge Payne denied the request of Desroches that Bowes be sentenced to attend a “diversity sensitivity program”.

The charges against Bowes stemmed from an onslaught of vicious racial slurs he unleashed at Jason last February. Jason’s dormitory neighbor, Barbara Rutman, was called on Thursday afternoon as a prosecutorial witness, and testified that she heard a male voice outside Jason’s window yell “Your family was slaves” and “I’m gonna whip you”, along with ample usage of the word “nigger.” Other eyewitnesses Ashley Clancy and Lindsay Toper, both of whom were present in Jason’s room when the attack took place, also testified to hearing the word “nigger” again and again from Bowes.

A statement from Committee for Justice for Jason member Joe Mirkin claimed that “A prosecutor who seriously wanted to get the conviction for the civil rights violation would have done a much more thorough and aggressive job than Mr. Desroches did in this trial. We can safely assume that the District Attorney’s office will not present such lackluster arguments in their case against Jason Vassell.” The statement continued to attack the District Attorney’s office for pursuing such a watered down set of charges against Bowes. “To drop the assault and battery charge against Bowes is to completely ignore the fact that after violently intimidating and threatening Jason because of his race, Bowes went on to break his nose and give him a concussion. To me this represents an interest in letting Bowes off so as to better frame up Jason on felony charges of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.”

Jason’s case has been delayed until April 28, at which time a status hearing on a recent discovery order will take place in the Supreme Judicial Court. Northampton, Mass. Read about the case in the Motion to Dismiss, and on the Justice for Jason campaign's website.

John Bowes on Trial, March 12

John Bowes Trial
March 12, 2009 @ 9AM
Belchertown Courthouse
205 State Street, Belchertown, MA

Push the HQ button to watch in high quality. Video by Samm Lyon.

John Bowes is one of two white men who attacked Jason Vassell in his own dormitory on February 3, 2008.
He was originally charged with a civil rights violation ending 'with injury.'
Which the Eastern Hampshire District Court has no jurisdiction over, and he should have been indicted instead by the Superior Court.
When David Hoose, Jason Vassell's lawyers, brought this fact to the attention of Assistant District Attorney Frank Flannery, the Commonwealth moved to strike down the words "with injury," allowing it to be tried in the Eastern Hampshire District.

Striking the words "with injury" from the counts against John Bowes ignores the fact that he threw the first punch on the night of Feb 3, 2008, breaking Jason's nose and forcing him to defend himself against Bowes and Bosse with a pocketknife.

Read the details in the defense's Motion to Dismiss the case based on selective prosecution of Jason based on his race.

Bosse faces no charges.
Bowes faces maximum 4 years for civil rights violations.
Jason faces 30 years in prison for defending himself against a hate crime in his own dorm.

His trial is at 9am
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Belchertown Courthouse
205 State Street
Belchertown, MA 01007

Go and show your support for Jason Vassell.
Go and find out why in this case he will be tried for a civil rights violation, but in Jason Vassell's case he is an innocent victim.
District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel: two cases, two standards, same crime.

Resist Hate! Don Feder at Umass March 11

Come protest Don Feder's speech
"Hate Crimes: It's Not What You Think. Hate Crimes Laws and Other Forms of Censorship: The Left's Assault on Free Speech"
Weds, March 11 @ 7PM
Cape Cod Lounge
Student Union
Umass Amherst
Show your resistance to hate speech.
Stay after the hate talk for a discussion and anti-oppression workshop facilitated by the Coalition Against Hate.

Some quotes from Don Feder--
(from www.donfeder.com)

Alternative lifestyles – Those would be the “lifestyles” that don’t actually generate life but which result in extraordinary levels of sexually transmitted diseases and other social pathologies.

Same-sex unions – A euphemism for homosexual marriage, otherwise known as state-sanctioned sodomy.

Cohabitation – It used to be called shacking up or living in sin.... Cohabiting couples is less jarring than long-term fornicators.

Safe Sex -- Also known as keeping a layer of latex between you and your loved one du jour. It’s the sexual equivalent of buckle-up for safety.... In schools across the land, children are taught the proper method of putting on prophylactics, not intangibles like honor, virtue and decency.

Single mothers – Otherwise known as child abusers.

Just to quote a few...
Read the latest issue of the Republican Club newspaper, the Minuteman, for more college-sanctioned hate speech.

To see another bigot protested in the 5-College Area:
Ryan Sorba is protested by Smith College students in April 2008.


Read "the other side" on Mass Resistance - more good video of the protest!

Justice for Jason Events Northampton

Jason's Pre-trial hearing
Motion to Discovery
Monday, March 2 @ 2pm and
Monday, March 9 @2pm
Hampshire County Courthouse
Gothic Street, Northampton MA

Rally and Coalition Building
Saturday, March 7 @4pm
Grace Church, Amherst, MA

Better quality on Vimeo. Video by Samm Lyon.

Check www.justiceforjason.org for more information.

Jason faces 30 years in prison for defending himself against a racist hate crime.
Support Jason Vassell and racial justice. Call on District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel to drop all charges against Jason. Call on the University of Massachusetts to offer its support and reinstate Jason to the University.

Pictures from Day of Shame Rally Feb 3, 2009, one year anniverary event; pre-trial hearing picketing on Feb 18, 2009 in Northampton; flowers and speakout in March 2008; rally in Northampton Nov 18, 2008.

Thanks to Giddens W. Rateau for the music.

NO to the Noho B.I.D.

Say no to the Northampton Business Improvement District.
http://www.nobid.tk



Say no to the Northampton B.I.D. Anne Watanabe, Smith College student class of 2012, talks about the campaign. February 18, 2009; Northampton, MA.

Justice for Jason Feb 3 Anniversary

Anniversary of Umass student Jason Vassell's attack in his own dorm by two white men. The two attackers face little or no charges, while Jason faces 30 years in prison for aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon for defending himself with a pocketknife. Jason has lost a year of his life already, let's get true justice by calling on the Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel to drop all charges against Jason Vassell. 413.586.9225 Office open 8am-5pm EST.

Write a letter to Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.

One Gleason Plaza
Northampton, MA 01060

Justice for Jason Feb 3, 2009 Day of Shame

Justice for Jason
Day of Shame (on Elizabeth Scheibel)
Tuesday - February 3, 2009

1 year anniversary of the racist attack on Jason Vassell in his dorm at Umass, Amherst. MacKimmie in Southwest
Call the Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel and demand that the charges against Jason be dropped. You are watching her and her actions do not represent you. 413.586.9225

Thanks to Sheldon Barnes for footage of November rally in Northampton.

---www.justiceforjason.org---

On February 3rd, 2009–the one year anniversary of the hate crime against Jason–organizations and citizens throughout the country will be calling into the Northampton District Attorney’s Office to demand Justice For Jason. Throughout the country folks are infuriated at the racist prosecution that has already taken a year of his life and is threatening totake away 30 more years! Join the effort by signing up to call the DA and DEMAND JUSTICE FOR JASON!

The phone number for the office of Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel is (413) 586-9225. The office is open from 8am-5pm.

If you are unable to reach via phone, please either send an e-mail or fax demanding that the charges against Jason Vassell be dropped and informing the DA that you are watching her actions.

FAX: (413) 584-3635

E-Mail: elizabeth.d.scheibel@state.ma.us

You are welcome to call anytime. We respectfully ask that your calls be respectful in tone.

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

Hello.

My name is __________ and I’m calling from ______________. I am calling to express my concern about the manner in which your office has pursued charges against Jason Vassell. It has become apparent that Jason was unjustly and selectively prosecuted due to the color of his skin, while his white assailants have escaped serious charges.

For local supporters: As a resident in the Northwestern District, this is not how I had intended for my elected District Attorney to act. I urge your office to view all races equally in the eyes of the law and to drop all charges against Jason Vassell. Thank you for your time.

For non-local supporters: As a resident of (city/state) I will be watching closely the developments of this case and the actions you choose to pursue. I urge your office to view all races equally in the eyes of the law and to drop all charges against Jason Vassell. Thank you for your time.

FUTURE EVENTS:

Feb 18, 2009
Pre-trial hearing where Jason's lawyers will present the motion to dismiss the case due to clear racial bias on behalf of prosecution, police, and attackers
Hearing will take place in the Hampshire Superior Court -15 Gothic St. Northampton MA 01003
(View the Motion to Dismiss here)

March 7, 2009
National Rally for Jason
Northampton, MA

Election Day 08

Sammlyon and Ktyler go to Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke MA to talk to people about the election.

November 4, 2008