In July and September, Ferguson and six other mothers from Penfield district, organized two Black Kids Matter rallies at the Harris Whalen Park for children 12 and under, to make them more aware of the issues that their schools wouldn’t talk about. These moms, who had never met before, organized everything over online zoom calls during the pandemic. They met one night before the rally at the park with their children, in order to make signs for the next day.

“The school says they will look into it, but they never really do, you know,” Ferguson said. “And if they can’t talk to the kids, both Black and white, about this important stuff, then we moms have got to do it.”

It wasn’t only black children and their mothers, but people of all colours and nationalities who joined both the rallies, creating an inclusive and cohesive space.

“Penfield is a very white community with a lot of redlining and segregation, and I definitely don’t want my white children to be one of those perpetrators, I want them to be allies,” Stacy Phillips, one of the white mothers who co-organized the rally said. “I want to raise decent human beings who are aware of these issues and aren’t afraid to take a stand.”

These mothers attempted to emulate the Black Kids Matter march that took place at Brooklyn in 2020, along with their own additions to it. This included a sign-making session, a short march of  five blocks, and a story-telling session, followed by an outdoor debriefing by the mothers.

“The whole point of this kid-friendly format of storytelling, the debriefing and everything is so that we can have these difficult conversations with our kids in a way that’s not jarring,” Ferguson said. “Some protests just aren’t age-appropriate, like we don’t want them thinking about police, pepper spray, petitions already.”

The rally even included an open stage which opened the microphone to all the children and gave them a chance to talk about their personal experiences with race, sing a song, or express themselves in any way they liked. 

“After all, we wanted this to be an empowering and celebratory event of Black lives and Black joy and Black hope where all the kids were comfortable to speak what they felt,” Ferguson said. “And most importantly, we wanted to remind these Black kids just how much they matter.”

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Despite pressure from the public for months following Taylor’s shooting, an EMT shot dead as she slept in her bed during a botched warrant execution, all but one officer is being charged—and not for murder.

The charges against Louisville police officer Brett Hankison that killed Taylor are not for the bullets that hit her, but those that missed.

Hankison is being charged with “wanton endangerment” for firing rounds into a neighbors apartment. It is the lowest-level felony issuable, and if found guilty, he faces a maximum of five years in prison.

This is what the streets looked like in New York City.

Protestors gather outside the Plaza Hotel, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Protestors gather at 5th Avenue, 59th Street. September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A vehicle passenger raises their fist in solidarity with demonstrators. September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Police pass outdoor diners during a march for Breonna Taylor, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Protestors pass outdoor diners, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Firefighters of New York Engine Company 33 observe the demonstration from their firehouse, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Demonstrators march down Broadway, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

Protestors march over the Williamsburg Bridge, September 23, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

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Protestors prepare to march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Juneteenth. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Woman shows her support to protestors marching on Juneteenth. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestor chants passionately at Juneteenth March. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Rodrick Covington, a broadway actor, guides the chants and music during Juneteenth march. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestors march through Brooklyn Bridge. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Demonstrator holding a sign which urges the government to defund the New York Police Department. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestors deciding which direction to turn after arriving in Manhattan. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

NYPD stands on sideways, watching protestors from a distance. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Teenager showing his support for Juneteenth protests. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

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The main message of the demonstration was to destroy systematic racism in the U.S and defund the police. They also called to refund education and criticized L.A. District Attorney Jackie Lacey.  The demonstrators marched from Mariachi Plaza to Hall of Justice.  

They chanted, “Lacey  has got to go”, “No justice no peace, No racist police” and encouraged everyone to join the march. 

Protestor prepares for the march. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Roosevelt High School alumni leads other protestors chanting “Defund the Police.”Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestors chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the Police.”Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestor gives an interview staying 6 feet away from a journalist. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestors walk through the highway towards Downtown. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestor holds a “Prosecute killer cops” sign. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protester holds a “Black Lives Matter” sign. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestor leads others chanting “Why can’t we matter? Photo by Talgat Almanov

Roosevelt High School alumni call to join the march and thank their sponsors and supporters. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestor listens to Roosevelt High School alumni speak. Photo by Talgat Almanov

Protestors dressed in traditional indigenous clothing. Photo by Talgat Almanov

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Holding signs that read “stop harassing women” and “abortion is healthcare,” about a dozen demonstrators gathered on Prince Street yesterday. They said the cathedral assembles church-goers to “harass” patients in the Planned Parenthood clinic. 

“This church has been getting a free pass for many years to send hundreds of people down the street to Planned Parenthood to harass people trying to seek abortions,” said protestor, Christine Pardue, 27. “They get a pass because this kind of behavior is pretty normalized in our culture. It’s seen as normal to intercept women trying to get inside a clinic.”

Pro-abortion demonstrators near the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral held signs like these and placed some on the sidewalk. Photo by Amanda Perez Pintado

The first Saturday of every month, the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral holds a Witness for Life mass that is followed by a procession to the clinic. At Planned Parenthood, parishioners pray for the lives of babies and mothers.

The protestors called on Tommy’s Tours to cease offering the Catacombs by Candlelight Tour and reconsider its relationship with the house of worship, arguing the company should not support a cathedral that “humiliates” Planned Parenthood patients. 

The protest was organized by New York City for Abortion Rights. Bracing the cold, demonstrators chanted “not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate” and “our bodies, our lives, our right to decide” as they handed out flyers. 

Two people, who identified as pro-life, responded to the demonstrators’ chants with “babies have the right to live,” “protect the children” and “don’t mutilate the children.” Standing near the demonstrators and mostly ignored by them, the pair remained for the duration of the protest, which was about 40 minutes, and left quietly. 

Pardue, who has been involved with the group since 2017, said reproductive and sexual health services are currently at risk and pointed out that the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court case June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Gee could impact access to abortion across the country.

“We’ve lost so much ground at this point,” said Pardue, a Brooklyn resident. “But we believe in radical autonomy in this issue. Women, anyone who can get pregnant, can make up their minds about whether they want to carry a pregnancy to term or not. We are opposed to any forced birth, period.” 

Christine Pardue, 27, has been involved with New York City for Abortion Rights since 2017. Photo by Amanda Perez Pintado

Megan Lessard, 32, agreed that the right to abortion is in danger in today’s political climate, expressing concern that the decision in June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Gee could essentially erode access to the reproductive health service. 

“Bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right,” said Lessard, who lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “And that’s it.”

Evra Cohen, 68, has advocated for the right to abortion since 1968. He said reproductive rights have been obliterated in some parts of the country, mentioning that some states have only one abortion provider. 

According to the Guttmacher Institute, which advocates for reproductive rights, 25 new abortion bans had been signed into law, primarily in the South and Midwest, by the end of 2019. 

“Abortion became legal in New York state in 1970, and we thought we were done,” said Cohen, who resides in Greenwich Village, Manhttan. “It became legal nationally after Roe v. Wade in 1973. We really thought we were done, and here we are 50 years later fighting this all over again.”

Cohen described Planned Parenthood’s work as vital and emphasized that the nonprofit organization not only provides abortions but also a variety of reproductive health care services, such as breast exams and health services for men.

“As a man, this isn’t only a women’s issue,” said Cohen. “This is a human issue and it’s about human rights.”

The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral did not respond to requests for comment.

The post Pro-Choice activists protest cathedral that holds “anti-abortion mass” appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

James Flores left Puerto Rico in 1975 to serve in the United States Army. He has not lived on the island since then. 

Although the Connecticut resident travels regularly to Puerto Rico, he hopes to resettle in the island permanently once it gains its independence from the United States. 

“My family and my daughters are here (on the mainland), and I think the motherland needs me here to fight for independence,” he said. “Once Puerto Rico is free, then I’ll go back.”

Flores, 62, was one of the boricuas that this afternoon marched from Columbus Circle to the United Nations headquarters to demand the island’s total sovereignty from the United States. The rally was organized by Frente Independentista Boricua, a group composed of several organizations that favor Puerto Rico’s independence. 

“I’m here because I have a commitment with my motherland. I love the American people, but I hate the American empire,” Flores, who drove three hours to participate in the march, said. “That’s what it’s all about. Stop the imperialism, stop colonialism and fight for our freedom. Every country deserves their freedom.”

James Flores, 62, traveled three hours from Connecticut to New York City to participate in a rally for Puerto Rico’s independence from the United States. By Amanda Pérez Pintado

Puerto Rico, an archipelago in the Caribbean, has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since 1898. Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since 1917.  

For the activists  in the march, the route to the island’s decolonization is through independence as opposed to statehood. They also demanded the cancellation of Puerto Rico’s over $70 billion national debt. 

“We need to cut the ties of colonialism so that the people in Puerto Rico can make decisions about their land and make decisions to change the dynamic,” Lorraine Liriano, member of Call to Action on Puerto Rico, said. “We feel that the debt is illegal and odious. This debt was created because of the colonial situation.”

Marching to the beat of pandereta drums, participants waved Puerto Rican flags and chanted “U.S.A. get out of Puerto Rico,” “from the mountains to the sea, Puerto Rico will be free,” and “the people united will never be defeated.” Protestors held up signs that read “reparations for Puerto Rico” and “la Junta (the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico) proves our colonial status.”

Puerto Ricans rallied in front of the United Nations headquarters to demand Puerto Rico’s independence from the United States. Signs like this one decorated the stage area where activists addressed the crowd. By Amanda Pérez Pintado

For Puerto Rican nationalist and former political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, the rally posed an opportunity to demonstrate the support for Puerto Rico’s independence within the mainland. 

“Puerto Rico is the promised land for every boricua born here, but who feels belongs there (in Puerto Rico),” López Rivera, who was released in 2017 after serving almost 36 years in prison, said in Spanish. “We have to be very clear that the purpose of being here today is that we begin to have solidarity between the Puerto Ricans who are here and the Puerto Ricans who are there. The support that is given to Puerto Rico here means a lot.”

López Rivera stressed that one of the best ways for Puerto Ricans who live on the mainland to support boricuas on the island is by investing money in Puerto Rico whenever possible. 

Ana Juarbe, 71, said that coming out to events such as the rally, writing petitions and performing certain legal work are some effective mechanisms to create awareness about the issues that affect Puerto Rico. 

“Look at the way this president treated us during the hurricane,” the Manhattan Valley resident said. “It’s just an insult. It’s a second class citizenship. It’s a very exploitative relationship. It’s colonialism full blown. We really need to speak up and make people more aware of what’s at stake.”

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Before yesterday’s climate march in New York City, protesters waited in line outside of St. Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan to prepare for the strike. It was an interfaith gathering of parents, teenagers and children.

 They were handed buttons that said, “Your on Holy Ground. Act like it”.  They were given supplies to create posters and a light breakfast before hitting the streets.

Azalea Danes, 16, a climate activist, member of Trinity Church choir, and co-organizer of the strike, brought the attention of the climate crisis to the church leaders. She asked them if they would try and mobilize the Trinity community and others for this cause.  And they did.

After being introduced to the excited crowd in the church, Danez thanked everyone for taking action. 

“I am so hopeful and overjoyed with the prospect of all of you coming here and mobilizing for justice and for the justice of our planet,” said Danez.  “I am positive that the mobilization of youth and adults that will be coming together today, will be able to inspire every single person in New York City and all of you become true climate justice activists. If your here today you already are a leader because you are standing up in your community to be a force of change.”

Students decided to skip class to make a clear statement about climate change. They  felt the responsibility of fighting for the world that would be passed onto future generations

Roselani Beguero, 17, a senior and president of student government at Murray Hill High School  in Manhattan, was waiting at Foley Square when she heard that the church was providing breakfast and posters and decided to join in.

“Our world is dying and nobody is doing anything about it,” Beguero said as she worked on her poster. “If we all stand as one then we can possibly make some kind of change. If they don’t change the laws then they can’t change the world.”  

Beguero does not see the actions she believes should be taken. She wants a world where her children and great grandchildren can live. 

“A lot of people ask me what I want to do in the future,” Beguero said. “But if there’s no future in this world then there’s no future for me.”

As the crowd began to finish their posters. A priest walked to the front of the church and provided directions and safety measures before the group stepped out in the street. Children were asked to bow their heads for a moment of silence. 

Afterwords, a group of volunteers walked to the front holding a poster. The crowd was asked to repeat each verse after them. 

 “We’re gonna strike because our waters are rising. We’re gonna strike because our people are dying. We’re gonna strike for like and everything we love. We’re gonna strike for you. Will you strike for us?”

Sk Doyle, 24, works for Trinity  Church’s  Justice and Reconciliation department and was managing the poster station. The young people  were able to pick from a variety of colors to paint their signs. 

“I’ve been really hopefully being here and seeing all these young people doing the work,” said Doyle. 

The group left together for the rally at nearby Foley Square. When crossing the street on Broadway and Barclay, the priest and two volunteers grabbed each others hands creating a human chain to stop traffic and allow everyone to cross together. 

After the rally at Foley Square, the group joined the estimated 60,000 marchers, who chanted and carried signs that pleaded to save the environment.

“Climate change is a real thing it’s affecting us all in our daily lives,” said Elena Mendoza, 17, a senior and Green Team President at Forest Hills High School in Queens. “Even if some people might not see it. They need to look closer and realize that we don’t have much time.“

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