A second large, bailed-out bank was the target of protest in one week. On May 9, MoveOn.org held a demonstration in front of the Rochester offices of Bank of America. The event drew only 15-20 protesters. It was just two days after close to 100 turned out to protest a questionable local foreclosure by Wells Fargo in Victor. That action was held by Take Back the Land, Band of Rebels and Occupy Rochester NY.
Submitted by Waging Non-Violence on Fri, 2012-05-11 13:44
In Rochester, New York, a neighborhood in the 19th Ward may be about to win control of Catherine Lennon-Griffin’s foreclosed, bank-owned home. Those inside the private negotiations with Bank of America report that the bank may soon transfer ownership of the home at 9 Ravenwood Avenue to a community land trust at Lennon-Griffin’s request — making this one of the first examples in the country of a neighborhood winning back a bank-owned residence and designating it for community use.
On the weekend of June 8th-10th, Rochester Indymedia will be hosting a regional convergence for independent media makers, grassroots activists, and community members. June 2012 completes Rochester Indymedia's first decade as an organization and to mark the occasion the group is inviting those interested in building independent media in our region to this dynamic convergence. The weekend promises to facilitate new directions for peoples’ media as well as facilitate collaborations between media makers and activist groups.
Submitted by Take Back The Land - Rochester on Thu, 2012-05-10 20:47
Leonard is fighting to stay in his home. Wells Fargo fraudulently foreclosed on him and sold his house to Freddie Mac for $500. On March 30, a got a 90 day notice to vacate despite obviously fraudulent paperwork and numerous requests at modification. As the foreclosure crisis decimates his neighborhood, Leonard is taking a stand for his house he remodeled and returned from disrepair. Listen to Leonard's story, what his home has meant to him, and how why he has pledged to stay in his home.
One of Rochester's most memorable May Days May 1 2006 as hundreds march from the Federal Building to St Michael's Church to protest raids and deportations, and also right wing hate radio. Sadly due to the political and legal climate in 2012 a demonstration like this would not take place.
Titled, "May Day - A Day for the 99%", activists from Occupy Rochester and local unions are planning a day of protests, workshops and celebration to mark International Workers Day on May 1st. The first action of the day is a rally to "Demand a Living Wage and Stop the Attacks on Public Services and Workers", planned for 12:00 pm at City Hall.
Following that, "May Day Teach-Ins" will commence at the SUNY Brockport Downtown Metro Center (55 St.
“There's a free speech zone in my yard. I have a problem with this.” says Sean Pratt, of the town of Lockport. Pratt is co-founder of Occupy Lockport, along with Amanda Shattuck his partner and the mother of their young child.
On March 15, 2012, Railroad Yard Central Ave, demonstrators converged at a location between St. Paul St. & Clinton near the railroad tracks to stop an eviction of a 7 year old homeless encampment.
The homeless residents, and advocacy groups including Occupy Rochester, House of Mercy, Poor People's Coalition, Social Welfare Action Alliance of Rochester, and Metro Justice Housing Committee are called on Amtrak to stop the eviction until the residents could secure permanent housing.
On April 2nd, 2012, in downtown Rochester, NY, activists held a rally to call attention to the criminalization of visible poverty. Instead of the city, county, state, and federal governments tackling the root causes of poverty and homelessness in our communities, they would rather rely on the prison industrial complex and punish people for being poor through ordinances that outlaw panhandling, loitering, and, among so many others, sleeping in a public space. Slapping fines on poor and homeless people that they cannot pay leads directly to their imprisonment.
Outrage over the murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, who was gunned down by George Zimmerman, has spread throughout the country, and Rochester is no exception.
Submitted by Occupy Rochester on Wed, 2012-04-04 07:59
March 28, 2012
Rochester, NY -- The decision came down today that Judge Frazee did not grant an injunction to stop the City of Rochester from evicting the Occupy Rochester protest encampment. Although Occupy Rochester disagrees with the decision the movement has been preparing for a transition taking Occupy Rochester into Phase III of movement occupying our workplaces, homes, and schools.
On Sunday, March 25th I attended the rally for Trayvon Martin, at the Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester. Trayvon, a 17 year old African-American young man who was walking from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida, where he had just purchased a bag of Skittles and a can of Ice Tea, when George Zimmerman, a wannabe cop, and self appointed neighborhood watch vigilante, thought Trayvon, who was wearing a hoodie, looked "suspicious". Zimmerman followed Trayvon despite a 911 operator telling him not to, got out of his SUV and shot Trayvon in the chest with a 9mm handgun, killing the young man.
Resident of Turtle Island and peace activist Jimmy Johnson speaks at the Flying Squirrel in Rochester on March 21 2012. The lecture was followed by an hour of question and answer.
From Disney to drone wars - Settler colonialism, militarism and empire in the United States and Israel
Photos from the 2012 St Patrick's Day parade in Rochester NY. Global warming was in effect as It was sunny and 67 degrees F. Very unlike March in Rochester. Authorities estimate 200,000 people came out.
