To join or leave the NEPAJAC listserv, click on this link and send the e-mail. 

 

Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain Defense Committee

 

Link to area political listservs (please click to join a local political listerv)

 

For progressive events in the Hudson/Mohawk region click here

 

UNAC

Northeast Peace and Justice Action Coalition

For links to organizations that attended the founding NEPAJAC conference, click here

 

Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace video      Women Against War video

 

Blog Space

 

Click here for livestream of Wall Street and other Occupations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency Mobilization Against Racism and Anti-Islamic Bigotry

We say NO to Racism and anti-Islamic Bigotry
Stand for Unity and Solidarity on Saturday, September 11

 

Sept. 11 march against  racism and anti-Muslim bigotry!

Saturday Sept. 11 in NYC-  

1:00 p.m. Assemble and rally at east side of City Hall, then March

Rally at Park Pl. and Church St . (Manhattan)

Slick here for a video of the Muslim support march from the UNAC conference to the Albany Mosque

 

The rally was attended by over 3,000 people.  It was organized to counter the right-wing opposition to the Islamic Community Center that was being proposed for down town Manhattan.  The rally in support of the Islamic center was larger than the one opposed and got nation press coverage. 

 

National Antiwar Conference in Albany, NY, July 23 – 25

 

The National Antiwar Conference was a big success with around 750 people registering.  People came from 31 states and 22 people came from outside the country.  Much of the conference was live-streamed onto the internet and recorded by the Sanctuary for Independent Media.  This can be seen at here (http://mediasanctuary.tv/crows/).  The conference adopted an action proposal to guide our work for the next several months.  The action proposal can be found here.

 

For a full report on the conference, go here.

 

For more information call 518-227-6947 or www.nationalpeaceconference.org

 

 

On April 5, 2010 members of the Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project Salaam marched through Downtown Albany to City Hall where Council member Dominick Calsolaro proposed a motion that the Albany Common Council urge the US Justice Department to review the cases of Muslims who have been unjustly prosecuted.  Family members and supporters spoke with great emotion and resolution.  The Coucil passed the resolution by a vote of 10 – 0 with 4 not voting.

 Here the WAMC report: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1632888

A letter sent by Dominick Calsolaro to Presedent Obama on the issue can be found here

 

 

Thousands Rally on March 20, the 7th Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq

Thousands marches and rallied in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities on the 7th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq to protest the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and occupations.  Three full buses came from our region to the Washington march.  For a full report see the blog by Jack Smith of New Paltz  by clicking here

 

 

Protests Against Obama’s Escalation of the Afghanistan War

 

Three hundred people demonstrated at West Point on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 as president Obama announced his escalation of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Click here for a Sanctuary for Independent Media video of the event.  On the following day, 150 people demonstrated in Albany at Wolf Rd and Central Ave.  Click here for the channel 9 coverage of the event.  Additionally, demonstrations took place in cities all across the country.

 

Protest the Drones at Hancock Field

     Sunday, November 15, 1:30-2:15 PM
    
Hancock Field Main Entrance, 6001 E Molloy Rd

 

250 people attended the very successful protest

 

See a video of the protest Here

 

 

Back to the Streets

 

250 people participated in the October 17th peace rally on the 8th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan.  The Albany rally was one of 50 that took place across the county.

Nationally, the rallies were called by the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations and supported by close to 200 other organizations.

 

 

 

Over 100 People took to the Streets in Albany to protest on the 5th Anniversary of the Arrest of Yassim Aref and Mohammed Hossain.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009 over 100 people marched through the streets of Albany, NY to protest the FBI crime of tricking Yassim Aref and Mohammed Hossain into doing something that could look as if it was illegal and then putting them in jail for 15 years.  The protesters marched from downtown Albany to a rally at the Masjid As-Salam Mosque, where both men worshiped. The march and rally was sponsored by the Muslim Solidarity Committee and a number of other local peace and justice groups.  The Troy Record article on the march and rally can be found on the link below.   Click here for the Troy Record Article on the March and Rally

 

For some thoughts on the 5th anniversary of the Arrest by Joe Lombardo, please click here

Jeanne Finley

Jeanne Finley

Jeanne Finley

 

 

 

Report on the 2nd national conference of the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations

Conference Resolutions

 

Action Resolution          Action Resolution Motivation

Honduras Resolution     Haiti Resolution

Resolution on Palestinian Political Prisoners

 

 

 

Single-Payer Health Care Now

Friday, June 12,  5:30 pm – 10 pm, The Linda Norris Auditorium, 339 Central Ave., Albany, New York.   Everybody In, Nobody Out: Jammin’ for a Single-Payer National Health Plan. This event features music and entertainment by the bands Broadcast Live and Mother Mcrees, the disk jockey Jardread, and the humorist Gregor Wynnyczuk.  Come and  listen and dance to the music, learn about single payer health care and maybe learn a few chants.  Light refreshment will be provided  with a cash bar for beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.  Admission is based on ability to pay with a suggested contribution of $10-25.The event is co-sponsored by Single Payer New York, Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare, Hunger Action Network of New York State, Troy Area Labor Council, and The Capital District Area Labor Federation.For more information contact Connie LaPorta at

 

 

 

Thousands marched against the wars in Washington, San Francisco, Los Angales and other cities.  Select this link for reports from the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations.

Or

Read a local, Capital District Report

or

See Pictures from Jon Flanders

 

 

 

On January 28th, 2009, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace held a recognition dinner to honor Scott Ritter for the relentless struggle he has pursued in the name of truth and justice. BNP also celebrated its 6th birthday.

Letters honoring Scott were read from Danial Ellsberg, US Army Colonel Ann Wright, author Michael Parenti and other local and national figures.

BNP was formed right before the invasion of Iraq and has continued to resist our government’s war drive in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world for 6 years.  Scott Ritter, besides his work nationally has spoken at may BNP sponsored events

 

 

Report on meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinajad

 

 

 

Scott Ritter

How to Prevent War on Iran and the Constitution

A conference with Scott Ritter and Joseph Gerson

October 18, 2008, Berkshire Community College

 

The conference was a big success with 110 people attending.  The talks by Scott Ritter, Joseph Gerson and others were very well received

 

 

Joseph Gerson

 

 

4th Anniversary Commemoration of the Arrests of YASSIN AREF & MOHAMMED HOSSAIN

100 people marched from the Masjid As-Salam Mosque to down town Albany where a vigil in support of Yassim Aref and Mohammed Hossain was held on Friday, August 22, 2008.

 

On Saturday, August 23, 2008, 55 people attended a conference on the case along with other similar frame-up cases of Muslims.  Out of the Saturday conference, a new organization called the Muslim innocents project was formed.  A link to the new web site will follow as soon as it is set up.

Below is a picture of participants at the conference

 

Over 400 people attended the National Assembly to End the War in Iraq and Afghanistan in Cleveland during the weekend of June 28 – 29.  The conference was a great step forward towards bringing unity to the anti-war movement and strengthening our movement on a national level.  Click here to go to the National Assembly Web site for a full report on the conference.

 

 

Craig Smiths letter on the situation on the Albany Docks that the Times Union would not print

 

NEPAJAC’s Peace and Sustainability Conference on April 11 and 12, 2008 was a big success.  The Friday evening rally was attended by 275 people.  The Saturday conference was attended by 200.  Featured presenters included:

Cindy Sheehan: Peace activist, candidate for Congress, Gold Star Mom for Peace
Victor Sidel : Co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility
Elliott Adams : National President of Veterans for Peace
Steve Breyman: Project Coordinator for climate neutral government and institutional operations for the NYS Climate Change office.

And several member of Iraq Veterans Against the War including several active duty soldiers from Fort Drum.

 

Click here for some photos of the conference

 

Cindy Sheehan also spoke at Union College and Vic Sidel spoke at the Albany Medical school while they were in the area.

 

Cindy with some Iraq Vets at the conference

 

 

 

 

 

Anniversary March Against the War:  Remembering the Fallen

On March 22, 2008 over 600 people participated in the 5th Anniversary march and rally against the war in Iraqi (see www.RememberingTheFallen.org).  As we rallied, the 4,000th American Soldier died in this illegal and immoral war.  At the rally, which took place in downtown Albany in the Capital West Park, participants set up a display with the names of nearly 4,000 of the fallen US soldiers and also the identities of 4,000 Iraqi civilians who have died. 

 

For coverage of the rally by the Times Union, click here

 

 

For pictures of last years 4th anniversary rally in Albany of over 1,000 people, go to: Album 1

 

 

 

“Bring Them Home,” a song by Mo Hannah performed by Mo Hannah and Joe Lombardo with Dave Pallas on Bass

 

For more information: call, 518-439-1968 or e-mail jlombard@nycap.rr.com