Dear Greylock Together,
“I want their hearts to be broken,” Ricky Grant, in conversation during a #BlackLivesMatter Town Hall with Senator Markey on 5/31. “I want you to please, don’t be defensive and please look at what’s happening and allow your heart to be broken. Once your heart breaks you will KNOW what to do.” We are broken-hearted but filled with the fuel of resolve that could not be more clarifying in this moment in our country’s turbulent history.
We look forward to seeing those who can join us on Sunday for our monthly ZOOM meeting. We will center our conversation on police brutality and centuries-old systemic racism. There is no end to the list of things to be done, but we are asking you to pick one thing. When you’ve done that, you can pick another, and another after that. But right now, pick something. Let us know what you decide to do.
Sunday at 3:00 pm, join us on Zoom. We will talk and plan action. (Meeting ID: 870 3262 3350,
Password: 637202, one tap mobile: +13017158592,,87032623350#,,1#,637202# call in: +1 646 558 8656)
PROTEST
- Stand up for Justice – Black Lives Matter Williamstown. Friday, June 5, 5:00 pm. Field Park Rotary, Williamstown. Please: Wear a face covering, Do your best to social distance, Bring signs (no sticks), Encourage family, friends, and neighbors to participate. Park at the Williamstown Public Library or the old Williams Inn at the Rotary, Stay in the green space. Thanks to Margo Besnard and Erin Ostheimer for leading and bringing new energy to GT!
- Make a CALL! Your voice matters, especially when multiplied!
- SIGN AND SEND! Petitions help when the whole country signs on!
LEARN
- Join neighbors Meg Bossong and Peggy Kern for their free online class: Everyday Abolition: A Virtual Teach-In, June 3, 8 pm, Register to join in HERE.
- CAMPAIGN ZERO has boiled down necessary reforms into a ten-point plan, which includes limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability.
- Learn about POLICY SOLUTIONS.
- POLICE USE OF FORCE PROJECT – How police use of force policies can help to end police violence.
- STAND UP and BE VISIBLE with a #BlackLivesMatter Sign of support and WELCOME in your yard. Some of our neighbors are organizing a group purchase and distributions of Black Lives Matter signs. Each costs $10. Of this, $8 covers the printing cost at Beck’s (local!) and $2.00 will be for a donation to NAACP – Berkshire Country. Please email lizabarrett6@gmail.com to reserve your sign. Thanks to Liza Barrett, Julia Bowen and Janie Strachan for organizing!
READ
- The 1619 Project – NY Times Magazine
- How you can be an ally in the fight for racial justice, by Deray Mckesson
- How to Be an Antiracist by ibram x kendi – there have been so many orders for this book that it’s temporarily out of stock. But you can still get it on audio!
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (same as above!)
- For kids!
SUBSCRIBE
- Subscribe to the New York Times? Get Race Related – fantastic weekly newsletter
LISTEN
- Where Is The Justice? – Akilah Hughes on What A Day Podcast – powerful commentary, May 27, 2020
- Ta-Nehisi Coates On Police Brutality, The Confederate Flag And Forgiveness – Fresh Air Episode with Terry Gross
- This week’s Pod Save the People Podcast – (Jess’s weekly favorite!) This week DeRay, Brittany, Sam, and Clint discuss the murder of George Floyd and the protests around the nation. Then, DeRay sits down with Justine Barron and Amelia McDonell-Parry, who have been researching the death and cover-up of Freddie Gray, which just hit a five-year anniversary.
WATCH: VIDEO
- Rachel Cargle’s Public address on revolution available now from 5/30
- Robin DiAngelo: Why “I’m Not a Racist” is only half the problem
- Rapper Killer Mike: “we must plot, we must plan, we must strategize, we must organize, and mobilize.”
WATCH: FILM/SERIES
- 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
- I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — YouTube
- When They See Us – (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
- Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
- The Hate You Give (George Tillman Jr) – YouTube
DONATE
- *****Berkshire County Friends – Become a member of the NAACP – Berkshire Country Branch – LET’S try to sign up 100 new members THIS WEEK!!
- Black Visions Collective: Supporting Black activists on the ground
- Reclaim the Block: Community fund
- DONATE to the family and loved ones of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor
- Massachusetts Bail Fund
- Black and Pink
- Families for Justice as Healing
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- If you only have a few bucks to spare and can’t decide where to send them, ActBlue has created a page splitting donations between several deserving organizations that you can find by clicking here.
LEGISLATE
- CALL YOUR REPS—WE WANT A FEDERAL BAN ON CHOKEHOLDS ENACTED NOW
- H.R. 4408 – proposed by Hakeem Jeffries, in 2015 and 2019
- Congress Plans Hearings on Racial Violence and Use of Force by the Police – NY Times
- And while you’re at it, let’s support Cory Booker’s call for a national registry to highlight police misconduct
Confederate Monuments Coming Down. You may have missed this in all the chaos, but the confederate monuments in both Birmingham and Alexandria were taken down this morning. Yesterday, the mayor of Birmingham grabbed a bullhorn and pleaded with protesters to leave the huge obelisk erected in honor to the Confederacy alone. He didn’t want them hurt. “Allow me to finish the job for you,” Mayor Woodfin said, and ordered its removal.
Quite a Journey. Look at the back of this truck and see one person’s journey.
Reminder: Phonebanking for Sara Gideon. On June 14 at 2 pm, join activist and high school graduate, Maddy Art, an intern on Team Gideon, for a Zoom phone bank to spread Sara’s positive vision for Mainers! Maddy will lead a brief training to familiarize everyone with the software and script, and then we will make calls Together on mute. Sign up here or on the Facebook event.
Reminder: Hoosac Harvest Seed Swap. Annual seedling swap will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30, 2020, in Mass MoCA’s main parking lot. Community members are invited to Wear MASKS and gloves, keep your Social Distance and bring seedlings to swap, or to come without seedlings and just choose offerings for their spring gardens. All seedlings are free–you don’t need to bring some to swap to take some home. Donations to Hoosac Harvest are encouraged. Contact Hoosac Harvest via kathykeeser@gmail.comfor more information or visit hoosacharvest.org.
Reminder: Williamstown Vote by Mail. If you live in Williamstown and want to vote for the upcoming planning board seat, be sure to request your ballot for the June 23rd election. Here’s a video by Town Manager Jason Hoch on how to do it, or just go to the town website for brief instructions. If you want to know more about the candidates, here’s the League of Women Voters candidate forum.
Reminder: Ranked Choice Ballot Question. Ranked Choice Voting is one of our priorities, and we need to make a final push to get it on the ballot for November! Because of COVID-19, they’re gathering signatures electronically. Go here to sign.
Reminder: Food Resources. If you live up here and you’re food insecure, you should be checking the NBCC Facebook page daily. Pittsfield and south county will find the Greylock Glass food resource map very useful, especially the calendar at the bottom, as well as the invaluable Berkshire Mutual Aid Facebook group.
Check out more news from this week at Muckraker Farm.
Events (GCal,iCal)Greylock Together Meeting
Zoom (link forthcoming)
June 7 @ 3:00-4:00 pm
Phonebank Training to Support Maine Senate Candidate Sara Gideon
Signup Link
June 14
Facebook Event
Resist and persist!
Jess