Our occasional e-newsletter, usually published once or twice a month, with links to events, articles, videos, websites, & more relating to racism & racial justice.

THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who donated to Racial Justice Rising through Valley Gives this past Tuesday. We raised $1,845 from 54 donors and met our $1,500 match.

We didn’t really know what to expect and for a first time trial, we are so pleased!

Racial Justice Rising’s activities:

Our FREE monthly programs are held at the First Congregational Church of Greenfield, 43 Silver Street, almost always on the first Saturday morning of the month.

Free childcare by reservation.

For more info: email@racialjusticerising.org or www.racialjusticerising.org

RESCHEDULED: Racial Justice In The Courts: Does It Exist? Saturday, May 27, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Join Racial Justice Rising and Attorney Buz Eisenberg for a presentation on the racial inequities of our criminal justice system. Attorney Eisenberg is well known for his work with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and his courses on law and government at GCC, as well as his local law practice. Click here to learn more     The Real Story of American History: My Story, Not His Story Saturday, June 3, 2017 with Naimah Muhammad and Kathleen Anderson What has been left out of our school children’s social studies history books? Why? Why would there need to be a  treaty between Morocco and the US? Who was Abubarari II? What did he do? Who are the Aboriginal Peoples of the Americas? Where did they come from? Do they still exist? What was found in the caves and rocks of North America? What about Islam before Columbus?  Click here to learn more   Updates from our May 6th program, Have You Seen My  Childhood? with Karmen Smith View the video: Karmen’s website Slideshow from her presentation (click on purple bar next to title to download) Info and photos from past RJR programs here See videos of our programs and more on Racial Justice Rising’s YouTube channel

Vigil For Racial Justice Every Saturday, 9-10 on the Greenfield Common Please join us! Sponsored by Racial Justice Rising and the Visioning Bear Circle Intertribal Coalition

Articles, websites, and other resources

Black Lives Matter

– White supremacy, Charlottesville, Virginia, 5/13/17, from the Daily Progress

– Ferguson MO Activists Are Dying And It’s Time To Ask Questions, by Jason Johnson at The Root

– A New Exhibit In The Case For The Black Lives Matter Movement, by Conor Friedersdorf at The Atlantic

Criminal Justice/Injustice

– Mama’s Bail Out Day! from No More Money Bail

– $elling Off Our Freedom: How Insurance Corporations Have Taken Over Our Bail System, from Color of Change

– 99% of Students Handcuffed In School By NYPD In 2016 Were Black or Latinx, by Taryn Finley at Huffington Post

–  “I don’t think slavery ended in 1865, I think it just evolved.”  A short video by Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative, from PBS

– Why Weed Decriminalization Alone Won’t Fix Racist Drug Enforcement, by Adam Lewis at Colorlines

Education

– More Parents Of Color Think Racism Is Holding Back Their Children In School, By Rebecca Klein at Huffington Post

– A Letter To Faculty and Staff of White-Serving Institutions, by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez at Philadelphia Print Works Zine

Environment

– How Environmental Racism Affects Global Warming, by Kari Fulton at Teen Vogue

– Why We Can’t Talk Climate Change Without Talking Environmental Racism, by Devi Lockwood at the Establishment

Immigration

–  Safe Haven: The Sanctuary Movement, by Retro Report at the New York Times

– Movimiento Cosecha, a nonviolent movement working to win permanent protection, dignity and respect for undocumented people in this country

Indigenous

– Intergenerational Trauma: Understanding Natives’ Inherited Pain, a report from Indian Country Media Networks

– Eulogy, a poem by Sherman Alexie, from LitHub.com

– “Just Watch Me:” Challenging the Origin Story of Native Americans, by Denise Ryan at the Vancouver Sun

Mixed Race

– Other: Mixed Race In America, a podcast series from the Washington Post

Reparations

– Reparations PAC needs contributions via GoFundMe for fees to attend the Hive Global Leaders Program in Los Angeles in December

Whiteness

– The Culturally Competent Racist and Sanitizing White Supremacy, by Dr. Amie “Breeze” Harper at Sistah Vegan

– Diversity Isn’t “Being In The Room” – It’s Whites Giving Up Their Seats, by Ernest Owens at PhillyMag

Other Groups’ Events

Thursday, May 18, Amherst MA: Film and discussion with Coming Together

Thursday, May 18, Dorchester MA: Dorchester Standout For Black Lives

Saturday, May 20, Greenfield MA:  Walking the Talk For Racial Justice, A Youth Conference

Saturday, May 20, Turners Falls MA: Day of Remembrance of The Great Falls Massacre, with the Nolumbeka Project, May 19, 1676

Sunday, May 21, Greenfield MA: Anti-Racism Film Festival

June 2-3, Northampton MA: Community Dialog On Race for people who live or work in Hampshire County

June 5-30, Amherst MA: Institute for Transforming Social Justice

June 6-8, Keene NH: Building A Better World: Practical Skills for Mindfulness and Social Change

June 9-10, Amherst MA: Community Dialog On Race for people who live or work in Hampshire County

Through September, North Adams MA:  Mass MOCA Exhibit Wants You To Do More Than Just Talk About Race and Violence

The members of Racial Justice Rising are ordinary people who are troubled by the persistent racism that plagues this country. Believing that the damage caused by racism must be repaired before our society can be whole, we work for just and respectful treatment for all. We share a vision of a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-faith community.

Our mission is to:

• Help build the movement for racial justice by contributing to a deeper understanding of systemic racism and racial justice.
• Engage in restorative activities that help to heal the racial divide and bring justice for people targeted by racism.

While much of our work is focused in our local area, Franklin County, MA, we reach out to and are connected with the broader movements in our region and the nation.

 Thank you, readers who send us information for these newsletters!  We welcome links to articles, videos, event listings, and other resources.

Shen

Racial Justice Rising

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