ANTI-WAR POTLUCK REPORT
At last Sunday’s potluck, 7 of us came together for an opportunity to discuss Metro Justice's previous work with the anti-war movement and future possibilities. The conversation was a frank one, that understood that we were not here just because of Trump but years of the executive office taking a stronger role in starting wars and Congress letting it happen.
Metro Justice has a very strong tradition of working in anti-war movements. Our work against the Iraq war was a crucial part of some of our strongest membership years. Yet, the group understood that demonstration without clear movable targets does not result in change. There was some discussion of ways to target Morelle. He’s no Louise Slaughter, but his voting record on war is mixed: consistently pro-Israel, but voted the right way on the Yemen War Powers resolution. Easy default target anyway.
There was some discussion of targeting L3Harris, or military-industrial collusion by RIT/UR, but without any specific resolution. There was also a spirited discussion of the interrelationship between the war on Iran and Israel’s genocide in Gaza. While there wasn’t total agreement on this topic, there was agreement on at least two points: 1) most of the actually existing antiwar organizations in Rochester right now are already focused on Palestine, and 2) the broadest possible base of opposition to the war in Iran is working class discontent with rising gas prices.
The best example of local success from the Iraq War years was when Metro Justice (via our Peace Action & Education task force) successfully pressured the Rochester Board of Education to adopt an opt-in policy for giving student information to military recruiters, in contravention of the opt-out policy prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act. From 2004 to 2009, while the war in Iraq raged on, military recruiters had to get written permission from a parent before the RCSD would release a student’s contact information. There was also a policy won during those years obliging the RCSD to allow counter-recruiters from peace groups equal access to students when recruiters are in schools. Though it hasn’t been used in many years, it may still technically be on the books. These could both be good local policy fights again.
If you missed the potluck, what thoughts do you have on the role Metro Justice should play in today’s anti-war efforts? And what ideas do you have regarding potluck discussions like this one? Is this an event we should try to hold monthly, and build on? Contact Council President Luis Torres [email protected].
ACTIVISM UPDATES
The public hearing at the Alabama Town Hall on the STAMP data center was lively, with a crowd of about 100, including residents, scientists, local indigenous leaders and environmental researchers, journalists and activists from across the area, including Emily Rooker, a new Metro Justice volunteer seen in the photo above, who was inspired to speak her own truth about the “fairy tales” we have all heard lawyers representing big business concerns spin about "new jobs" - to cover their monstrous plans to suck wealth and health from the site. Three union representatives from Rochester and Buffalo spoke in support of those “new good jobs,” but this message was countered by dozens who noted that the cost of those jobs (most of which would be temporary, and filled from outside Genesee County) would be much greater than their value, even in the base financial terms that do not include the costs to local environment, human, animal and plant health and wellness, tribal cultural treasures and county physical and economic infrastructure. We may hope that the Genesee Economic Development Council was listening as they nodded along to acknowledge the many speakers’ points.
The Healthcare Committee has been reaching out to allied organizations around Rochester and Buffalo to lay the groundwork to roll out important new financial information about the New York Health Act over the next two months. If you have seen effects of Trump’s healthcare cuts, are a member of a group for whom healthcare is important, or can help with social media, letter writing, and distributing fliers, join us on zoom next Monday for our next big organizing session.
A large group of neighborhood leaders from across Rochester met on zoom last week to compare notes on how Rochester’s zoning law, now under review for updates, is supposed to work for Rochester’s citizens - and how it does work in actual practice. They agreed that the gap they have seen between ideal and actual leaves plenty of scope for the fledgling Zoning and Permitting Accountability Coalition (ZPAC) to do, both in immediate fights against the latest cell tower and digital billboard incursions and in the larger effort help make decisions regarding our built environment - where businesses and industry locate and how their buildings, activities and signage, as well as maintenance of homes and rental properties, contribute to or detract from local health and safety - more transparent and more equitable across all of Rochester. If you have thoughts about the look and feel of the neighborhood you live in and want to learn more, contact [email protected] to learn more.
As you know, the Annual Meeting is coming up in just three weeks! (Time to get those tickets, if you haven't already.) And this week we have a special, last opportunity for you to give your personal message to all of our members by placing an ad in our program book, whether you are able to attend this year or not! Click here to pay for the ad (scroll to the bottom), and send what you want to say, whether it is a picture or a message in words, to [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS
Check out our new Event Calendar!
It includes all of the events listed below, but in a regular calendar format. It is a google calendar; you may be asked to sign into a google account. If this is a problem, contact [email protected]
Monday, April 20, 7-9 pm Metro Justice Council meeting
Monday, April 20, 8 pm Eyes on ICE Train-the-Trainer event This session will equip participants to train others on core Know Your Rights topics such as the right to remain silent, the right to refuse to consent to searches, and the right to record ICE and other law enforcement officials. We will also cover best practices for reducing risks when exercising rights.
Tuesday, April 21, 5:30-6:30 pm Climate Justice Alliance webinar: Debunking Data Centers: Jobs and Labor Data center developers frequently use the prospect of job creation to incentivize development, secure a social license to operate and gain local official buy-in. In reality, research points to job creation that is obscure, minimal and highly technical.
Tuesday, April 21, 7-8:30 pm Redefining Allyship: Moving from White Saviorship to Co-conspiratorship This free virtual training from Islip-Smithtown NAACP is for: White advocates who are looking for ways to improve their advocacy; White advocates who want to act in true solidarity with racially marginalized communities; White advocates who think they don't need this training
Saturday, April 25, 10 am-noon Monroe County Safety Marshals is offering training in how to become a marshal for events and rallies, along with purchase of the necessary equipment (vest, radio, etc.). This is the first of several trainings to be held in Gates, Fairport, Henrietta and on line. Click here to sign up for any of them.
Monday, April 27, 7-8 pm Join our monthly (4th Mondays) zoom meeting of the Western NY Hub for the Campaign for NY Health working to pass universal healthcare in New York state. We need this now more than ever! And legislators now privately agree - they just need our political backing to fight down the insurance lobby and bring it to a vote.
Thursday, April 30, 5:30–7:30 pm Irondequoit Public Library (First floor, Room 113) Community Workshop: Build a Better Irondequoit Advocating for More Housing Options and Dealing with the Housing Crisis in Irondequoit - how to create inclusive attainable housing. The session builds on previous workshops regarding the history of racially restrictive covenants in Irondequoit, but the main focus is on taking practical action today. And free pizza!
Friday, May 1, 5:30-7 pm Washington Square Park, 10 St. Mary’s Pl., May Day Rally: Workers Over Billionaires Join the Rochester Labor Council for our annual May Day Celebration!
Saturday, May 9, 5-8 pm Metro Justice Annual Dinner AFSCME Hall, 1956 Lyell Ave (just east of 390 Lyell Ave. exit). Our Annual Dinners have for many years been a mainstay of our annual fundraising, supporting our outreach and organizing work. Please use the link to sign up for tickets today, so that our fundraising volunteers are not madly scrambling to keep up with tickets and tables at the last minute. Thank you!
DESKTOP ACTIONS
Ongoing
Demand Progress invites us to sign their petition urging Congress to block Paramount's deal to buy Warner Brothers. The merger violates antitrust laws, would hurt consumers and artists, and poses serious ethical concerns, including allowing Trump and allies to increase their control of news media.
With student loans now being moved from the Department of Education to the Treasury Department, the system is clearly in transition. Borrowers shouldn’t pay the price for that chaos. Sign the petition demanding an immediate payment pause so the government can get this right and put Americans first.
The League of Women Voters invites us to sign their petition to our federal representatives telling them to reject additional funding for ICE; investigate ICE, CBP, and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) use of force; impose additional DHS guardrails and accountability measures on immigration enforcement; and take steps to protect the constitutional rights of civilians to peacefully protest and assemble without having their lives threatened or taken.
Add your name to the letter to New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to bring the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act to a vote! This Act would greatly reduce the amount of single-use packaging that we pay for - in money, health and climate. Our goal is 10,000 letters sent; 1,669 sent as of 3/31/2026.
Help end federal violence against Cayuga Nation in central NY: information link and gofundme link ($6,405 raised of $9,000 goal as of 3/31/26)
Tell Governor Hochul to pass NY4All with this one-click email tool. And call her office regularly at (518) 474-8390. NY4All would prohibit both formal and informal collusion between local police and ICE/CBP in perpetuity. Hochul has proposed her own legislation which only covers formal collusion for the next 3 years: Hochul’s proposal is weak and irrelevant, New York must pass NY4All into law. (2,278 messages sent of 3,000 goal as of 3/31/26)
The Campaign for New York Health is doing ongoing work with collaborators to push for passage of the New York Health Act, the best response our state could make to the disastrous healthcare cuts by the Trump administration. Sign our petition to legislative leadership here, and use this tool to email your Senator and Assemblymember.
Do you know where your birth certificate is? Three voter suppression bills (the SAVE Act) in the federal House and Senate would force Americans to present a passport, birth certificate, or other citizenship papers in order to register to vote in federal elections, and are clearly designed to deter millions of people from casting their ballot in our democracy. Click here to thank your Democratic senators for holding the line, and encourage them to continue, or encourage Republicans to rethink their support.
LEARN MORE
Rochester Gardeners Resource Guide Tis the season! This info-packed guide includes items about free soil testing for home gardeners and other resources available to beginners and experienced gardeners alike! Gardening has been done in our soil for thousands of years. Today, it is a revolutionary practice.