Bug Jar Supporters Call Attention to Punitive City Code
A group of about 20 supporters gathered outside of City Hall on Friday June 22 to support the local music venue, The Bug Jar. The Bug Jar voluntarily closed after the fatal shooting of Devoughn Hernandez-Ruffin in a parking lot across the street. Hernandez-Ruffin had just left a Rap show at the Bug Jar. The City was to hold a hearing to decide if the Bug Jar would be allowed to reopen and the rally was scheduled to coincide with that hearing, which was not public. But the City made an unannounced time change and held the hearing two hours earlier.
The focus of the rally participants was not just about the Bug Jar, but about Rochester's punitive point system where police responses to certain incidents cause points to be built up against a business. An establishment that gets too many points in a given period of time may be closed by the City. This incident would have caused the Bug Jar to exceed its quota.
It is quite possible that were it not because of Bug Jar's management's concerns about being charged more points that police would have been called to the scene sooner. Trained officers might have been able to defuse the situation before weapons were fired.
The rally ended with an announcement that the Bug Jar would reopen on July 2, leaving it's 20 workers unemployed for 2 weeks. Several music shows had to be canceled or moved. But the point system remains in place. One of the previous incidents against which the Bug Jar was assigned points was a domestic disturbance in an apartment above the bar. It did not involve the Bug Jar operation at all yet the Bug Jar was penalized. Another involved a call by a bar patron accusing the bar's security staff of assault. No charges were filed but again points were applied for the call. The point system was put in place by the City Council in 1984 as a means of identifying and controlling businesses that were fronts for illegal activities such as gambling, drug sales and prostitution. The Bug Jar was involved in none of these. It should not be and should never have become a detriment to public service. Buffalo had a similar system which it has since abolished. Rochester should consider doing likewise.
photos - ben slomovic
video - al brundage
Disturbing Details in the Execution of a Young Man by 7 Trigger happy Rochester, N.Y. Cops
By Davy V.
For the first time, I went to the scene where 20 year old Israel "Izzy" Andino was executed by a firing squad of 7 Rochester, N.Y. Police officers just a few houses from his Locust Street home on Rochester's northwest side. Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard claims that Andino fired at his officers first. Witnesses say that is absolutely not true and that the Rochester Police is lying in order to cover up the incident.
Andino, who had a history of mental health issues, got into an argument with his mother, pushed her against a wall, then ran out of the house. Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard claims that Andino made a call to 911 saying that he had just stabbed his mother and was going to shoot other people.
The truth however is that Israel Andino never stabbed his mother, he simply pushed her and she suffered some minor cuts and bruises. Less than 20 minutes later, 7 Rochester Police officers opened fire on Izzy, killing him instantly.
A curbside memorial with candles, teddy bears and a wooden cross with black and red New York Yankees baseball caps hanging from it, marks the spot where Izzy's body lay. In the center of the memorial, a birthday cake wrapped in plastic. Israel "Izzy" Andino was executed on his birthday. The sidewalk was still stained a brownish red from his blood. Dozens of neighbors and friends walked up to the memorial, crying and hugging each other.
One woman came up to me sobbing asking me if the rumor was true. "Are they really going to take his body back to Puerto Rico?" she asked me as she choked back her tears. I told her I did not know.
As I stood there, there was one thing I did know. I knew that this young man did not have to die like this, in what I call a "firing squad" of at least 7 Rochester, N.Y. Police officers who all shot 20 year old Israel Andino at the same time.
Someone in the crowd wanted me to see where the bullets hit. There were so many that I couldn't keep up. Some people said that as many as 11 bullets hit Izzy in his torso, more commonly referred to by police officers as "center mass." It is that section of the body just above the waist and just below the neck. It is where police officers are trained to shoot, and not shoot to wound, shoot to kill.
There were at least 3 bullets that hit the asphalt driveway of the house at 103 Locust Street which is where Israel was executed. The bullets made dents on the pavement, and I could still see the white chalk circles that Rochester Police technicians drew around the dents marking where each bullet hit.
At least three homes on the street were also hit in the barrage of bullets, including 103 Locust St.
There was a bullet that hit the porch and broke off one of the sections of siding. Little splinters of wood lay scattered on the grass in front of the house, from where the bullet penetrated deep into the house underneath the siding. Another bullet hit the porch's ceiling, which had to be at least 15 feet off street level which is where all 7 Rochester Police officers were shooting from. That bullet then ricocheted off the ceiling and went through the home's front window, were a family was inside with their young children.
A young man told me that a van, which was parked in the driveway and was also riddled with bullets was towed away by the R.P.D. technicians for evidence.
The houses next door were also riddled with bullets. In all, I counted at least 15 shots that hit the houses, not counting the 11 that hit Israel or the ones that hit the van.
As I stood there taking it all in, not only was I thinking just how senseless it was that a young man with mental health issues who needed help, was instead executed by at least 7 cops, but I also couldn't help but to think of how reckless these Rochester Police officers were to fire these many shots at 7:30 in the morning, in the direction of several homes with innocent families and young children.
And as I looked at the blood-stained sidewalk, I couldn't help but to feel sad for this young man who did not deserve to die being target practice for a gang of trigger happy R.P.D. cops.
The Rochester, N.Y. Police department ordered the owner of a corner grocery store to close, then confiscated video surveillance of the store's camera, which captured the moments before Izzy was executed. Witnesses say that the police officers had several opportunities to move in on Israel Andino without needing to shoot him. In fact, several people said that Israel Andino kneeled down near the store's parking lot and had the rifle across his lap, while he slapped his forehaed with both of his hands. Witnesses say that this should have been a perfect time for R.P.D. officers to taser Izzy, or use another weapon the R.P.D. made a huge deal about years ago, but almost never use, the bean bag gun.
A bean bag round consists of a small fabric "pillow" which is filled with #9 lead shot, and is fired from a normal 12-gauge shotgun. It is designed to deliver a blow that will cause minimum long-term trauma and no penetration but will result in a muscle spasm or other reaction to briefly render a violent suspect immobile.
As I was getting ready to leave the curbside memorial, one of Izzy's friends came up to me. This man was the same one who in news reports had described Izzy as a good kid, and as someone whom his kids, especially his three year old son "adored." The man asked me "You want to know something I saw that I can't get out of my mind?" then he said to me "As Izzy's body lay there on that sidewalk for almost 8 hours, uncovered, an R.P.D. cop came over to the body, slapped Izzy's face a few times then said, Yep! he's dead and chuckled."
Not only did the R.P.D. execute a Mentally-ill man in firing squad fashion, but even after this young man's body lay on the sidewalk, full of bullet holes, R.P.D. cops disrespect his corpse and make fun of his death.
Carmen Baez, Israel's mother said "I need justice to be done for my child, because I feel what was done to my child was unjustifiable for me. They never tried to talk him down.”
Victory for the Windom Bey Family; Mayor Intervenes and Halts Eviction!
On Wednesday, June 20, the Windom-Bey family, Take Back the Land-Rochester, and community members held a press conference announcing their victory over finacial and government forces attempting to evict them! See the video report below. A press release is farther down the page. Also, check out Julie Gelfand's photos and report from June 7th and 20th at her article "A Victory for the Windom-Bey Family."
Press Release:
A Victory for All!
Rochester Mayor Reverses Eviction of City Family,
Take Back the Land Eviction Blockade Called Off
June 20, 2012, Rochester NY –
Community and neighbors, including members of Take Back the Land, gathered at the home of the Windom Bey family at 33 Bartlett Street in Rochester yesterday evening, preparing to implement an Eviction Blockade, but arrived to excellent news: the City of Rochester will stay the eviction and the Windom Beys may remain in their home of forty years. The long and complex details of the Windom Bey’s struggle with bureaucratic injustice are outlined in this article: http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/41413.
Assistant to the Mayor Darryl Porter came to see the Windom Beys at their home just before the community gathering was to have taken place, acknowledging the City’s past mistakes and crediting Mayor Richards with finding a solution to the long-standing bureaucratic impasse. Mr. Porter later told the family and supporters at the ensuing City Council meeting (at which Lee Windom Bey and Take Back the Land supporters spoke), “We saw there was injustice here. This administration didn’t cause the problem. But we don’t care if an injustice is one hundred years old, this administration is determined to fix it.”
In undaunted and courageous struggle over many years, Lee and Mary Windom Bey fought to maintain their home against bureaucratic errors and confusion. Among the City's many missteps (see link above), access to their shared driveway was fenced off. The Windom Beys then had no means of removing their car, boats and a trailer on their property and were then repeatedly fined for not moving the vehicles. Disputed accrued fines eventually led to foreclosure on the property.
Ryan Acuff, a member of Take Back the Land, thanked those in the City who turned this case around. He reminded City Council, though, of the ongoing foreclosure crisis in the city, caused both by well-documented corruption in the banking industry and under city tax and code violation enforcement, and by the City’s harsh foreclosure standards for individual residents even as it grants forgiveness and adjustments to large corporations who default on enormous loans.
Take Back the Land calls on the Mayor and city administrators to work with us to find far-reaching solutions, rather than struggling one case at a time, to protect the many Rochester families struggling to stay in their homes, strengthening our neighborhoods.
We call on the City to implement a moratorium on evictions in our region, refusing to support the forced removal of our neighbors with Rochester police, recognizing the reach of predatory lending and other corrupt banking practices in the community. Our shared goal should be stabilizing and enriching our citizens’ lives.
The ARC of Monroe County and Gray Metal Products in Avon, NY Hire Union Busters
The ARC of Monroe County and Gray Metal Products have been dealing with intimidation tactics by several Union Busting Firms who are being highly paid to thwart the rights of workers to unionize. The employees at Gray have chosen the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 46 to represent them as they work to meet their needs for collective bargaining, a living wage, benefits and rights concerning their employment. ARC of Monroe employees have aligned themselves with SEIU to support their right to unionize. ARC employees have obtained the right to vote with mail in ballots. While this is a positive step the ARC employees are being made to attend mandatory meetings with the Union Busters of the Recently hired Permanent Solutions, Labor Consultants.Inc a union avoidance firm based in Michigan.
Thousands of dollars a day are being used for their services to pressure workers not to vote for union representation. The ARC is a 98% publicly funded agency, relying on Medicaid fees and private donations to run their agency. Despite letters being signed by elected officials, Religious leaders and private citizens in support of the workers and asking the ARC to not use Union Busters the ARC had refused to accept the letters and has continued their mandatory meetings with Union Busters. The letters were presented to a board member of the ARC, Kenneth Rohr, who is also a Trustee of the village of Fairport, NY.
Gray Metal management chose to fight against the worker's rights to form a union by working with two well-known union-busting law firms. Workers concerns include poor working conditions and lack of respect by management is what prompted their decision to form a union. Gray Metal's lawyer sent the following letter to employee:
Dear Employee:
We have heard that a union is attempting to organize our employees. We do not believe that our employees need a union. We have worked very hard to provide fair working conditions for our employees. Our employees have good wages and fringe benefits without paying union dues or initiation fees or exposing them to any union obligations. Some of you may not be familiar with union organizing tactics. The union organizer's purpose is to get you to sign a union authorization card. You should be on your guard! If anyone should tell you that by signing one of these cards, your are not obligated in any way, don't believe it! This is a common trick to get people to sign cards! Don't believe the union organizer who says: "Cards are only an expression of interest." "This card is only to get more information." "This card is only to request an election." "A majority of employees have already signed." "You must sign a card to vote." "It will cost your more if you don't sign now." Despite what the union organizers say, signing the card is a very meaningful thing. We do not believe that a union is in the best interest of our employees. No one should sign a card unless they are sure they want a union to represent them. Sincerely, Lewis Jackson, Esq.
While observing the rally in support of the Gray employees a Hispanic woman came out of the building with a sign written on cardboard that had the word Union written across the top and that had two boxes and the NO box marked with an X. I asked the woman why in Spanish but she did not respond and returned to the building. The Union Busters will be continuing their campaign to keep the unions out of these employers.
Indy TV: Interview with Yusef Shakur
Indy TV interviewed nationally recognized, author and activist Yusef Shakur while he was in town for the Indymedia 10 year convergence. Shakur represents the embodiment of transformation and a revolutionary at heart. Growing up in a single-parent household plagued by alcohol and physical abuse, Yusef would look for greater meaning in his life. At a young age, he started soldiering as a thug in his neighborhood, and when he turned thirteen, co-founded one of Detroit’s most notorious street gangs: Zone 8. Yusef struggled as a misguided youth, eventually being charged with a crime that he did not commit. Despite a nine year sentence, Yusef used this experience as an opportunity for personal growth. While incarcerated, Yusef met the father he never knew, who helped him begin his transformation from a Zone 8 thug to a father & freedom fighter.
Since his release, Yusef has returned to Detroit and, especially, the Zone 8 neighborhood, as a father, community organizer/activist, former Head Start teacher, youth mentor, business owner, author, motivational speaker, and college graduate. His self-published political memoir The Window 2 My Soul (compared to the Autobiography of Malcolm X) was one of many steps Yusef has taken to reach out and begin recreating society and our communities anew. In the wake of the publication, he opened Urban Network Bookstore and Urban Guerrilla Entertainment in January 2009, a DIY/community model business designed to help empower individuals to consider and achieve their dreams as entrepreneurs and creative artists in the face of corporate and circumstantial challenges as well as provide a community forum to engage in education and entertainment.
During the Interview Shakur described the centrality of accessing radical history in his prison transformation: "When I really started taking a political role, when I started reading books about the Black Panther Party, that analysis, the things they broke down to me, and now it allowed me to relate it to my own experiences. Now I went back to dig up my own dirt and it made sense. I was able to get that correct analysis of how classism exists in my family, in my community, how racism has always impacted me, how the court system has always been an enemy to me."
Video Report from Teen Empowerment's 2nd Annual Peace March!
On June 14, 2012, Teen Empowerment held its 2nd Annual Peace March. Nearly 200 people gathered at Wilson Foundation Academy on Genesee St. at 3:30pm to listen to speeches and watch performance pieces. A drum circle galvanized the energy and a spirited march moved down McCree to Jefferson, down Jefferson to Flint, and back up Genesee to the school. An ice cream social was held after. Specifically, youth organizers were speaking out against youth on youth violence--especially in the wake of Lawrence Richardson's murder on Dayton St. in Rochester, NY on April 9, 2012.
Below is the video report from the march.
For more on Teen Empowerment, check out their website: http://www.teenempowerment.org/rochester.html
Or give them a call: 585-697-3464
Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn and Department Under International Spotlight after Executing Innocent Pet
by Davy V.
On Friday June 1, 2012 around 11:30 p.m., Gary Brockler's beloved pet dog, Diablo, a blue pit whom Brockler had raised from a 3 month old puppy, was shot and killed by Monroe County, N.Y. Sheriff's deputies, on Brockler's property in the Town of Penfield, a suburb of Rochester, New York.
The two Sheriff's deputies, whom Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn, has refused to release their names, fired at least four rounds at Diablo, with at least one of those rounds penetrating through home's garage door, ricocheting off the cement floor then going through a window, nearly missing the house next door.
The Monroe County Sheriff's department, which initially stated that they were dispatched to Brockler's home for a call about a house party, changed their story less than 48 hours after the shooting, now saying that the reason they went to the residence on Whitney Rd. was for an illegally parked vehicle in front of the residence.
Gary Brockler, was in his living room watching a movie when he heard what he describes as several loud bangs. When he opened his front door and walked outside he saw several Monroe County Sheriff's deputies and his dog Diablo, laying in a pool of his own blood in the driveway.
When asked why it takes several officers for an illegally parked vehicle, O'Flynn stuttered, back pedalled, then stated "That is what I am trying to determine."
One very disturbing thing is the fact that it appears that 7 year old Diablo, was shot in the back of the head, indicating that he was retreating, and therefore contradicting Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn's claims that Diablo was charging at deputies.
Described by many, as a beautiful, loving, well trained dog, neighbors who would drive by Brockler's home every day, are saddened that they will never again see what many have called "one of the most friendliest dogs ever."
Unfortunately, this is not the first case where local law enforcement has shot and killed innocent pets. In fact in a Rochester, New York Democrat and Chronicle newspaper article a couple of years ago, Rochester, New York, per capita, lead New York State with the most police shootings of dogs.
Since 2009, the Rochester, New York Police department alone, has shot 78 dogs, killing 30. In most cases, people's pets have been shot and killed on their own property.
As is typically the case with police, especially after shooting and killing unarmed, innocent people, in an attempt to put their "spin" on unjust incidents such as this, the Monroe County Sheriff's department, under the leadership of Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn, has already started to cover up this injustice committed by their own by saying that Diablo, was "aggressive". It is their way of justifying their actions in their killing of an innocent dog, and a member of Mr. Brockler's family.
After this injustice, committed by the Monroe County Sheriff's department, I decided to put together two Rallies to not only denounce the execution of a beautiful dog by Monroe County Sheriff's deputies, but also to put the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, as well as all local law enforcement, including the Rochester, New York Police department, under a spotlight, by bringing attention to an issue which has become all too common- police killing innocent pets.
Thanks to Copblock.org, Diablo's story has gone international. On Sunday June 10th, Copblock livestreamed the second rally I held in front of the Monroe County Sheriff's Zone A Substation on Linden Ave., in Penfield. With people outraged over this injustice, the support for this innocent dog has been overwhelming. People from Atlanta, Arizona and California, have reached out to me to tell me they watched the Rally, and they support me standing up to this injustice.
The Monroe County Sheriff's department has come under heavy criticism, not only for the killing of an innocent, loving pet, but also for the reckless, irresponsible conduct of the two Monroe County Sheriff's deputies who fired off at least 4 rounds, which could have seriously injured or even killed innocent people sleeping in neighboring homes.
Call or email the Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn and his Lieutenant David Phelps and let them know what you think of this injustice!
Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn (585) 753-4178
e-mail: PO'Flynn@monroecounty.gov
Monroe County Sheriff Lieutenant Dave Phelps (585) 753-4816
e-mail: davidphelps@monroecounty.gov
Additional Information:
Davy V.'s Blog | Sign the Petition Demanding an Investigation | CopBlock.org: Second Rally for Diablo, Upstate NY Pitbull Executed by Monroe County Sheriff's Deputies
Amid Protests, City Marshal Grants 10-Day Stay on Eviction of Windom Bey Family
Photo by Annette Dragon
On Thursday June 7, 2012 about 50 neighbors and community members joined the Windom Bey Family on their front lawn for an Eviction Protest at 33 Bartlett St., Rochester. Eddie L. Windom Bey and Mary Windom Bey were slated for a forceful eviction from their home of 40 years at 33 Bartlett St. by the City Marshal and Rochester Police as early on Thursday. However, just before the protest called by Take Back the Land Rochester began, Mr. Windom Bey annnouced that the City Marshal had granted a 10 day stay of the eviction at request the Mayor's office.
This is all the more significant because the City of Rochester is responsible for this unjust eviction and decades-long mistreatment of the Windom Bey family and the family is asking the City to work with them to stop and eviction and get their house back. When Rocwill, a Wilmorate subsidiary, fell $22 million behind on their taxes not only did the City not sell the lien or foreclose but it has been putting all of their efforts into cutting deals so they can avoid foreclosure. There is no reason that the City couldn't put a fraction of the attention into avoiding tax foreclosure for regular families like the Windom Bey family throughout the City.
In early 1970s Eddie and Mary moved into 33 Bartlett St. After they rented for years, they purchased the house from the landlord, however the landlord never turned over the deed because he still had liens on the property. The City took the house from the landlord and in 1985 the family entered into a 7-year land contract with the City of Rochester. Even though the land contract was paid off by 1991, the family was not given the deed to the house until 1995.
In 1994, before the City of Rochester formally deeded the property over to the Windom Bey family, the City, without explanation, landlocked the property by terminating the 1923 Driveway Agreement and the 1926 Driveway Privilege agreement which guaranteed 33 Bartlett access to the driveway in perpetuity. After the City terminated this right of way, a neighbor was allowed to put up a chain link fence blocking access to and from the driveway at the back of the house. This not only left the family without access to their driveway, but lost use of their car, truck, van cooking trailer and two boats which were all in the back driveway at the time the fence was installed. Even after persistent protest the City refused to take the fence down. The family tried to obtain legal counsel, but after being dragged along for years the lawyers refused to act resulting in a reprimand of the family’s lawyer from 7th Judicial District Grievance Committee.
After the family had sued the City over the fence, the City of Rochester issued tens of thousands of dollars in petty code violations to the Windom Bey family including violations for the cars and boats located in the backyard, which the family could neither use nor remove due to the City’s own act of terminating the right of way, allowing the driveway to be fenced in. Given the exorbitant cost of the code violations, which were more than the value of property, they fell behind on their taxes. Still they paid their taxes until 2011 except for the year of 2007 where they could not afford to pay for the violations. The City then sold the tax lien to a company in Florida, American Tax Funding (ATF), who aggressively foreclosed on the house. In October 2011, the house was auctioned off to an ATF subsidiary, also in Florida, REOCO, LLC, for $7,000. On March 2012, REOCO, LLC sold the house to the Sure Luck Homes 017, LLC $4,000 (see also, Who is Sure Luck Homes 017?).
Now that the City has washed their hands of the property and the ordeal they created the family is facing displacement from the current owner. The Windom Bey family is calling on the City of Rochester not to the enforce the eviction, assist them in getting the house back in their name, restore the right of way to the driveway, and remove the violations.
See Also:
- Protesters object to couple's eviction in city (Daily Record, June 8, 2012)
- City Eyes Buying Back Home in Complex Tale (Democrat and Chronicle, July 7, 2012)
Community Delegation Asks Barbara Wale to Respect Workers Rights
Yesterday a delegation of workers, community leaders, faith leaders and representatives from state and federal government attempted to meet with Barbara Wale the CEO of Arc of Monroe County at the headquarters. They were there to deliver over 150 letters from elected officials, community leaders, religious leaders and residents of Monroe County who want Barbara to refrain from interfering with workers’ rights to form a union. People who have shown their support by sending a letter include: State Senator Joe Robach, State Senator James Alesi, Assemblyman Joe Morelle, Assemblyman Harry Bronson, Assemblyman David Gantt, Members of the Monroe County Legislature, Members of the Rochester City Council, Citizen Action, Greater Rochester Community of Churches, Rochester Interfaith Alliance and over 150 residents of Monroe County.
Unfortunately, rather than listen to the community, the Arc of Monroe is listening to high paid union busters from out of state. Arc of Monroe management not only refused to meet with the community leaders they would not even accept the letters!
More than twenty community members,
faith leaders and representatives from state and federal government
joined with workers from Monroe ARC today at the organization’s
headquarters to deliver over 150 signed letters from organizations,
individuals and elected officials. The letters call on Monroe ARC CEO
Barbara Wale to respect workers’ freedom to form a union.
“I came because I am supportive of what the union is trying to do and
I’m very upset about the union busters who are drawing so much money
and then preventing poor people, poor workers, who need money from
getting their just due. I think it’s a terrible injustice,” said
Sister Grace Miller.
The group was met at the door by administration officials who refused
to accept the letters or talk to any of the group’s members. Moments
later, Brighton Police arrived at the scene. Members of the group
included two nuns from the Sisters of Mercy, President of the Greater
Rochester Community of Churches, Faith in Action Network, Metro
Justice, Working Families Party, Citizens Action, and Rochester and
Genesee Valley Labor Federation.
Recently, Monroe ARC hired Permanent Solutions, Labor Consultants,
Inc., a union avoidance firm based in Michigan. The firm charges
thousands of dollars a day for their services to scare, pressure and
persuade workers not to vote for union representation. Monroe ARC is a
98% publicly funded agency, relying on Medicaid dollars to operate
their business. Letters were also signed from elected officials
asking the agency not to use tax payer dollars to fight the workers in
their organizing efforts.
“If the agency has tens of thousands of dollars to spend on a union
avoidance firm, then they should be using that tax payer money on the
clients they serve and the workers who care for them. Paying workers
$8.00-$9.00 per hour with no benefits is appalling, and is not how our
tax dollars should be spent. If they are not using taxpayer dollars,
then they are using community donations to their foundation, and that
is just plain wrong”, said Jerry Dennis, President of SEIU Local
200United.
Monroe ARC workers are working together to form a union with SEIU
Local 200United and the National Labor Relations Board will schedule
an election soon.
You can support workers' rights at The Arc of Monroe by taking action right now.
Can you call Barbara Wale and ask her why she refused to meet with the community?
Her phone number is: 585-672-2233
Sample Script:
As a member of the community, I support your employees’ rights to form a union. Please stop your anti-union campaign of fear and intimidation. It’s bad for the individuals you serve, it’s bad for your workers, and it’s bad for our community. You must allow your workers to decide in peace whether or not to form a union.
After you’ve made the call click here to let us know how it went.
Peace Parade thwarted. Bureaucratic snafu or intentional suppression of free speech?
Every year since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, local peace activists and veterans have had a contingent in the Memorial Day parade. Well, almost. Technically it was a separate parade with an additional permit and was allowed to follow 100 feet behind the "main" parade. Police referred to it as a "protest." Participants would meet in the East Ave/Arnold Park area at the specified time and begin marching a few minutes after the last contingent of the first parade left. This year's event was organized by Rochester Against War, who purchased the required permit, and was to feature a life-size model of a drone weapon, characters in costume, and music from the Raging Grannies.
The problems began when marchers started arriving shortly before the scheduled assembly time of 11:30am. At 11:15 the end of the main parade was already 1/2 mile down the street and police were eager to take down the barricades and re-open the road to traffic. Believing that the parade was over, spectators were leaving. Peace marchers were herded into the street to begin marching as soon as they arrived, without time to organize. Many had not yet arrived as it was still 15 minutes before the assembly time listed on the permit. A small contingent with a banner who were able to hurry into the street was allowed to march in the street with a police escort but the sidewalks were mostly deserted by then. The model drone, which required some assembly time, attempted to catch up but without enough people to handle it got caught in a gust of wind and was damaged. It did not complete the route. The Grannies were not able to set up their microphones and speakers and did not play. A contingent led by former Mayoral candidate Alex White arrived at 11:25, still 5 minutes before the scheduled assembly time. By then the roads had been re-opened and their contingent calling attention to poor veterans' health care was forced to march down the sidewalk.
In prior years, the Peace parade has met while the end of the main parade was still forming and started marching 30-45 minutes later. The reason given by police was that "this year's parade was shorter" but then why weren't the permit holders for the Peace parade notified that there would be an earlier starting time? Perhaps a more important question is was this a bureaucratic snafu or an intentional suppression of free speech? The Peace parade has long been a thorn in the side of some Memorial Day organizers who believe the only way to honor fallen soldiers is to glorify and encourage war. The Peace marchers believe there is a more civil way to handle international conflict and deserve to be heard. Our Constitution demands it.
http://blip.tv/indy-tv/parade-organizer-judy-bello-addresses-parade-issu...
http://blip.tv/indy-tv/alex-white-on-memorial-day-parade-foul-up-6171207
Video of what there was of the parade. Notice empty streets and people leaving.
http://blip.tv/indy-tv/memorial-day-2012-rochester-ny-6172788
