Activism

This week in anti-Trump activism: March forth on March 4th

Gaby Del Valle / Brokelyn
Gaby Del Valle / Brokelyn

We’re officially more than a month into Donald Trump’s presidency, and though there have definitely been plenty of challenges (terrible cabinet nominees, an uptick in deportations, an increase hate crimes across the country, you name it), the resistance continues, from small community meetings to (some of) the speeches at the Oscars.  This week offers plenty of opportunities to get involved and march forth.

MONDAY (TODAY)

Get Organized Brooklyn: Full Group Meeting
Congregation Beth Elohim
274 Garfield Place, Park Slope
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

The latest of #GetOrganizedBK’s monthly will begin panel on protecting public education policies transitioning into smaller working group meetings. The 15 working groups — including one dedicated to fighting Trump’s cabinet and SCOTUS appointments and another focused on protecting reproductive rights — provide plenty of opportunities to get regularly involved. For more information on working groups, click here.

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Gentrification, Race, & Displacement in NYC: Who’s At Fault?
Brooklyn Public Library
10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
7pm – 8:45pm
Free

Join Brooklyn-based authors Tom Angotti and Neil deMause, as well as community activists from the Coalition for Community Advancement and the Rheingold Community Coalition, for a discussion on New York City’s present and future. They’ll discuss the ongoing battle over who gets to live in what parts of the city and where we can go from here. Two books—Tom Angotti and Sylvia Morse’s Zoned Out: Race, Displacement and City Planning in NYC, and Neil deMause’s The Brooklyn Wars: The Stories Behind the Remaking of New York’s Most Celebrated Borough—will be available for purchase.

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Fight Training: Women, Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non Conforming
The Base
1302 Myrtle Ave., Bushwick
7pm – 9pm
Free

You can’t punch Nazis if you don’t know how to defend yourself. This self-defense class meets every other Monday and is tailored for attendees during each session. Instructors will be covering stretching, conditioning, technique, and theory with a focus on creating an inclusive space for people of all genders. They’ll have equipment on hand, but participants are encouraged to bring gloves, mitts, hand wraps, jump ropes, and any other equipment they think could be useful. Remember to wear clothing you feel comfortable sweating and stretching in!

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dsa
(Colleen Tighe)

NYC DSA Media Working Group General Meeting
Mayday Space
176 St. Nicholas Ave., Bushwick
7pm. – 9:30pm

Graphic designers, illustrators, videographers, photographers, and media professionals of all disciplines are encouraged to attend the first general meeting of the Democratic Socialists of America’s Media Working Group. They’ll be organizing a bunch of projects, including signage for street protests, web development, event branding, and social media and press outreach. If you have any questions, feel free to email Jake Rowland at [email protected]

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TUESDAY

youthaction

Brooklyn Community Services Youth Action Summit: Voices for the Future of Brooklyn
St. Francis College
180 Remsen St., Brooklyn Heights
5:30pm – 8pm
Free

This panel will examine the critical issues that kids face growing up in Brooklyn’s low-income neighborhoods. Panelists include commissioner of the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development Bill Chong; the Arab American Association of New York’s youth lead organizer Aber Kawas; Frances DePaolo, a student leader at BCS Brooklyn High School for Leadership and Community Service, and more. C. Nicole Mason, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy in the Public Interest, will be moderating the panel and delivering the keynote speech. If you can’t make it out but still want to catch the panel, the entire event will be streamed on Facebook Live.

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Building a Feminism for the 99%
The Auditorium
66 West 12th St., Manhattan
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Before “FEMINISM” was emblazoned on Gucci T-Shirts (for real), it was often used as a pejorative (and let’s be real, it still kind of is). Although it’s great that feminism is being embraced by the mainstream, neoliberal feminism can only do so much for working-class women. Join activists, including Nancy Fraser and Miriam Ticktin, in discussing the future of class-conscious feminism and planning for the women’s strike on March 8th.

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SLRP
(Sylvia Rivera Law Project/Facebook)

SRLP Prisoner Postcard Writing Party
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
147 West 24th St., Manhattan
6pm – 8pm

Show your solidarity by writing to incarcerated community members on Tuesday night for a Prisoner Postcard Writing Party. Snacks and MetroCards will be provided for all attendees, as well as supplies to write cards with. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Juana at [email protected]

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tiptop

Take Action Tuesdays at Tip Top
Tip Top Bar & Grill, Bed-Stuy
432 Franklin Ave., Bed Stuy
6pm – 12am
$2 suggested donation

Since Trump’s inauguration, a group of dedicated postcard-writers have mailed hundreds postcards, written over a drink or two, to our representatives. They have themed postcards, $5 beer-and-shot specials, and writing prompts for cards you can send anyone you think needs to listen — from Chuck Schumer to NASA. The event is free, but it’s recommended that you donate $2 for stamps and other supplies.

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kumble

The 1st Black History Month in the Era of Trump, and the Future of Higher Education
Kumble Theater
LIU- Brooklyn, 1 University Plaza, Fort Greene
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Free / RSVP [email protected]

This event features a panel discussion, spoken word by artist Mal Mero, and music by WLIU radio. Panelists will discuss the first of (hopefully only) four Black History Months under President Trump, followed by a reception at the Kumble Theater Lobby. The event is free, but make sure to email [email protected] to RSVP.

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whyimarch

Book Launch: WHY I MARCH
POWERHOUSE Archway
28 Adams St., DUMBO
7pm – 9pm
RSVP: [email protected]

WHY I MARCH: Images from the Women’s March Around the World, is the first book documenting this year’s Women’s March, the largest peaceful demonstration in history. It features pictures of marchers in Antarctica, South Africa, New York City, and more, plus a resource guide for activists who are looking for next steps. Proceeds from the books will be donated to nonprofits affiliated with the March. Guests are encouraged to bring their signs and posters from the Women’s March. Cookies and other snacks will be provided by Butter & Scotch.

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peoplesaddress

The People’s Address: A Cacerolazo
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn Heights
7pm – 9pm

On Tuesday, Trump is addressing a joint session of Congress for the first time. If you’d rather be doing anything other than hearing him speak, come make your voice heard and your presence known at a cacerolazo protest at Borough Hall. Basically, bring pots and pans, bring yourself, and make some noise.

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Rise and Resist Meeting
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, room 301
208 West 13th St., Manhattan
7pm – 9:30pm

Rise & Resist is meeting at the LGBT Center in the West Village to develop a volunteer group dedicated to direct action. They’ll be discussing working groups, organization, and strategy at this week’s meeting and are asking for people of all skills and interests to get involved. If you’d like an agenda ahead of time, you can sign up for their newsletter here. The venue is ADA accessible.

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Letter Writing Dinner for #NoDAPL Prisoners
The Base
1302 Myrtle Ave., Bushwick
7pm – 10pm

Come write letters to the water protectors who were arrested during the #NoDAPL protests at Standing Rock. Organizers will provide the space, the supplies, a free vegan dinner, and all the prison-letter writing information you could ever want to use. They’ll also be passing around birthday cards for the people whose birthdays fall within the next two calendar weeks.

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WEDNESDAY

sanctuary

Rally for Sanctuary
NYU Kimmel Center
60 Washington Square South, Manhattan
3pm – 4pm

NYU students, this one’s for you: on Wednesday afternoon, students are rallying on the Kimmel steps in support of the most vulnerable community members on campus. They’ll be demanding that President Hamilton declare NYU a “sanctuary campus” (he hasn’t yet) and marching to Kimball Hall at 246 Greene Street, where Hamilton will be hosting a town hall.

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LGBTQ Rights: The Struggles, Victories, and Ongoing Fight For Equality
Brooklyn Historical Society
128 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn Heights
6:30pm – 8:30pm
$10 / free for BHS members

A panel of experts from the ACLU’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Project and the Audre Lorde Project—and Mark Harris, a journalist who was half of the first same-sex marriage to be featured on the Times‘s Vows column—will discuss the past, present, and future of the fight for equality in the US, particularly in the age of Trump. The discussion will be moderated by Linda Villarosa, director of the journalism program at City College.

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demist

Demistifying Government: Executive Shenanigans
Cloud City
85 North 1st St., Williamsburg
7:30pm – 9:30pm
Free

Demystifying Government is a series of talks that aims to answer the following questions: how the hell do we get here? How the hell can we make things change? And, perhaps most importantly, how the hell does the government work? The first in the series of talks will cover the executive branch, with presentations by comedian and political commentator, former journalist and current Hunter College adjunct professor Sari Krieger, administrative lawyer Adam Devine, policy wonk Gregory Joseph, and campaign volunteer and data dork Elizabeth Haynes. Topics of discussion include Michael Flynn and foreign policy regarding Russia, executive orders, the role of the press, and more. Cookies from Glitter Sweets Kitchen will be available for sale, and each cookie sold will generate $1 to a local nonprofit.

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THURSDAY

Fight Training
The Base
1302 Myrtle Ave., Bushwick
7pm – 9pm
Free

This self-defense class meets the last Thursday of every month and is tailored for attendees during each session. This class is more focused on tactical applications of fighting skills, but beginners are welcome and encouraged. They’ll have equipment on hand, but participants are encouraged to bring gloves, mitts, hand wraps, jump ropes, and any other equipment they think could be useful. Remember to wear clothing you feel comfortable sweating and stretching in!

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American Life Through Muslim Eyes: Perspectives From Mother & Son
The City Reliquary
370 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg
7pm – 10pm
$10 / $8 for Reliquary members

Author Sabeehan Rehman will be reading from her acclaimed memoirs, Threading My Prayer Rug, which recounts her life as a Muslim immigrant woman from Pakistan. The night will include a discussion with Rehman and her son, Asim Rehman, about their personal experiences and perspectives living as Muslim-Americans (and immigrants) in the United States. Space is limited, so get your tickets in advance!

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color

Drink, Color, Sign
Kings County Brewers
381 Troutman St., Bushwick
7pm – 11pm
Donation-based

Color for a cause at Bushroots and Indivisible Nation’s drink-and-color nonprofit. Brooklyn/LA based artist Ambar Del Moral created coloring pages for you to embrace your inner child with before you write a few letters to your senators, which will be hand-delivered by Indivisible Nation. All proceeds from the event will benefit Make The Road New York, a worthy nonprofit that works with immigrant communities across the city.

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FRIDAY

fairwork

Rally for a #FairworkWeek & Fast Food Worker Empowerment
City Hall, Manhattan
9am – 10am

Food- and service-industry workers (especially those who work in the fast food industry) are often given erratic, inconsistent schedules by their employers, and these poor work policies drastically impact their daily lives. Join fast food workers and others at City Hall on Friday to demand that the City Council pass important bills protecting workers’ rights and guaranteeing a fair workweek for all.

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benefitconcert

Benefit Concert for the April People Climate March
Jalopy Theatre and School of Music
315 Columbia St., Carroll Gardens
7pm – 10:30pm
$15

Join Annie Keating, Gabriel Meyers, the Radionics band, and other musicians for a night of live music and activism. Proceeds from the show will benefit 350NYC, a local climate advocacy organization, and will raise money for buses to the climate march in Washington, DC on April 29th. Space is limited, so grab your tickets in advance.

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standup

Stand Up Against Rape
littlefield
622 Degraw St., Gowanus
7pm – 11pm
$15 advance / $20 door

This feminist comedy show will benefit the fundraiser to Recall Judge Aaron Persky, the California judge who infamously sentenced Brock Turner to just six months in prison after he raped an unconscious woman at Stanford University. All the money raised will help organizers start collecting signatures in April to try and get Aaron Persky on the ballot for judge so he can be voted off. Fighting rape culture is basically a prize in and of itself, but there will also be a raffle.

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SATURDAY

educationjustice

People’s March for Education Justice – NYC
Trump International Hotel & Tower
725 Fifth Ave., Manhattan
9:30am – 12:30pm

Join your fellow New Yorkers in defending public education in NYC and beyond. Protesters will be marching from Trump International in Columbus Circle to Governor Cuomo’s office at 633 Third Ave., where they’ll demand that Cuomo end the state’s reliance on testing, invest in early childhood education, and protect public education in New York State instead of pushing for privatization and charter schools.

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Community Action Planning Meeting
Pacific Library, Basement Meeting Room
25 4th Ave., Boerum Hill
10:30am – 11:30am

Discuss initiatives you’re currently working on and get others on board at this local planning meeting. If you’re not involved in anything (yet), you’ll also have the opportunity to meet other organizers and learn about community groups and other grassroots efforts that are looking for additional support.

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resisttime

Education! Outreach! Action! Trainings hosted by #TimetoResist
Progress High School for Professional Careers
850 Grand St., Bushwick
12pm – 4:30pm
Free

Time To Resist is hosting an all-day teach in to promote practical skills in this time of resistance. Workshops include Communicating Resistance, Know Your Rights training for protesters, Arts and Activism, Cyber Security, and Self Defense Training. If you want to get involved, they’re also looking for two to four Spanish translators for the day of the event. Most of the workshops will repeat throughout the day, so you’ll be able to hit them all up if you’re so inclined.

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March 4th for Standing Rock
New York Public Library
476 5th Ave., Manhattan
1pm – 4pm

Join protesters in a rally at the New York Public Library and a march to Trump Tower to protest the president’s decision to move forward with the Dakota Access Pipeline, which he has substantial investments in. Show the world that NYC stands in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux, their sacred lands, and clean water for all.

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SUNDAY

Purim Family Carnival
East Midwood Jewish Center
1625 Ocean Ave., Midwood
12pm – 3pm
$5 – $15, sliding scale

Celebrate Purim at the East Midwood Jewish Center’s social-justice themed family carnival. There will be a direct action parade, hand-built carnival games, Jewish music from around the world, a sock puppet Purimshpiel, plenty of food, and more. Payment can be made on a sliding scale, and no one will be turned away for lack of cash or a costume.

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propa

Propaganda Party: Building Resistance
Interference Archive
131 8th St., #4, Gowanus
12pm – 5pm
Free

Come make and share graphics and informational material with other activists. This is a chance for you to meet people, learn about what work organizations across the city are doing, and pick up flyers, stickers, posters, and more — for free. Over 1,000 people attended the last propaganda party, so come make some friends and grab some flyers. Feel free to bring any work you want to share with others, too.

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Women’s Strikes: Past, Present, and Future
Mayday Space
176 St. Nicholas Ave., Bushwick
6pm – 8:30pm

On the last weekend before the March 8th International Women’s Strike, Mayday Space will be hosting a conversation on past women’s strikes in order to learn from historical women’s breakthroughs and challenges. There will be a few short presentations on international examples of women’s strikes, followed by a group dialogue, and time for sign-making afterwards. There will also be a suggested reading list coming soon.

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And, finally, here’s a video of OJ: Made In America director Ezra Edelman declaring his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature to victims of police brutality, criminal injustice, and racist violence:

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