Democrats have been losing seats for years, and a Trump presidency should be the time for a leftist resurgence. This week’s events include a fundraiser for Democrats out West, who need support now more than ever before, as well as rallies and protests, fundraisers, letter writing events and a few happy hour specials and parties that will let you support a good cause (and your fellow Americans) with a drink in hand. But remember: direct action is always the best course of action when possible, and nothing sends a message like thousands of bodies on the street defending their rights!
MONDAY (today)
Rally to Save the Arts
New York City Hall, Manhattan
12pm – 1pm
Join several performers and artists, including David Byrne and L. Stephen Taylor at this rally in support of the National Endowment for the Arts, which the President plans on defunding.
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TUESDAY
NYC Equal Pay Day Rally
City Hall, Manhattan
12pm – 1pm
Equal Pay Day represents how long the average American woman’s wages catch up to that of their male counterparts (although this day doesn’t account for racial pay disparities). This year PowHer New York Network and other organizations are holding a rally on the steps of City Hall in support of fair wages and gender parity.
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BeyondTheMoment Teach-In NYC
25 W. 18th St., Manhattan
6pm – 9pm
free with RSVP
This teach-in, featuring representatives from Black Lives Matter, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, Fight For 15, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and more, focuses on how to go beyond anger, outrage and buzzwords to address the barriers dividing marginalized communities. The event is free and open to the public, but make sure to RSVP. Dinner will be provided!
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Justice for Ramarley Graham
Bryant Park, Manhattan
6pm – 9pm
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice are gathering to commemorate the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death by demanding justice for Ramarley Graham, a Bronx teenager who was shot in his apartment by NYPD officer Richard Haste. Haste resigned last week in lieu of being fired, and activists are demanding justice for Graham’s family.
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Take Action Tuesdays
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 of 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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Rise and Resist Meeting
The Church of the Village
201 W. 13th St., Manhattan
7pm – 9pm
Rise and Resist organizes protests and direct actions throughout the city, and their next meeting is this Tuesday at the United Methodist Church. They send out an agenda ahead of time via email, and you can sign up for their newsletter here. People of all skills and interests are encouraged to attend!
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WEDNESDAY
Lunch at Cuomo’s – Rally for Reproductive Rights
Governor Cuomo’s Manhattan Office
663 Third Ave., Manhattan
12pm – 1pm
A group of dedicated activists are rallying every Wednesday in favor of reproductive rights until the State Senate votes on the Reproductive Health Act. Since the attempted “replacements” for the Affordable Care Act completely neglect reproductive health, and Trump and Pence have doubled down on making access to abortion and reproductive health services a “state’s rights issue,” this legislation is incredibly important for New Yorkers.
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Refugee Translation Project Benefit
Sage Brooklyn
299-301 Graham Ave., Williamsburg
6:30pm – 10pm
$10 donation
This fundraiser benefits the Refugee Translation Project, which provides free professional translation services for refugees and asylum seekers in the NYC area, meet its fundraising goal by April 15th. Lack of access to professional legal and translation services is a major hurdle for immigrants in the US, refugees included, and every dollar counts! A $10 donation gets you $1 off draft beer and wine all night long, and you can make donations by both cash and credit card.
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THURSDAY
Art Making for May Day 2017
Mayday Space
176 St Nicholas Ave., Bushwick
4pm – 7pm
FREE
Come help artists and activists make signs, banners, and art for this year’s May Day. Art supplies, including fabric, glitter, paint and more are all needed, and all are welcome to attend.
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Cocktail Resistance – #FlipTheWest
Iron Station BK
683 5th Ave., Greenwood Heights
6pm – 10pm
FREE
We may live in a so-called liberal bubble, but the rest of the country is very different from New York, and winning seats nationwide is essential. As part of their monthly Cocktail Resistance event, Iron Station is taking donations on behalf of Rob Quist, who’s running for Congress in Montana, as well as for municipal races in Nevada. All you have to do is add the donations to your bar tab.
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Newsreels from the Resistance
Open Source Gallery
306 17th St., Manhattan
8pm – 10pm
FREE
Meerkat Media Collective is presenting a series of short films from their “Newsreels from the Resistance” project, which captures local grassroots movements in the aftermath of the election. The event is free to attend, and they’re hoping watching others’ involvement will inspire more people to become more politically engaged.
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DON’T EAT TIL BROOKLYN
Citymeals on Wheels Warehouse
307 Kent Ave., Williamsburg
$75 – $95
President Trump’s budget includes defunding of Meals on Wheels, a program that provides healthy meals to thousands of homebound, elderly Americans throughout the country. Citymeals on Wheels is hosting its first signature fundraiser, which will raise money for meal delivery in all five boroughs. A ticket gets you access to great city eateries including Virginia’s, Huertas, Sprinkles and several food trucks, as well as wine and cocktails. There will also be a silent auction, and all of the proceeds from the event benefit Citymeals on Wheels!
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FRIDAY
Re-Present: Making Art in An Oppressive Political Climate, Part 2
SOHO20 Gallery
56 Bogart St., Bushwick
6pm – 9pm
FREE
Artists discuss what they want from feminism, how and why they make art in this political climate and more at this event hosted by the NY Feminist Art Institute. Come voice your opinions and learn from other artists and activists working with the resistance!
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Ladies First
Littlefield
622 Degraw St., Gowanus
10:30pm – 3am
$7 advance / $10 door
This dance party benefits Planned Parenthood and, in turn, thousands of women’s reproductive health. DJ Rimarkable will be playing hits by some of the most influential women in music all night long, including Missy Elliot, Robyn, Stevie Nicks, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé and more. There will also be $5 – $8 drink specials, a photo booth, and a few other surprises.
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SATURDAY
Frederick Douglass Walk in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon St., Boerum Hill
11am – 1:30pm
$20 – $40
The proceeds from this walking tour, which visits several places Frederick Douglass spoke in Brooklyn (including the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s original location, Plymouth Church, and more), will benefit the Marxist Education Project. All participants who pay $30 or $40 will also receive a copy of Ted Hamm’s book, Frederick Douglass in Brooklyn.
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Action Item Fair April 2017
ThoughtWorks, Inc.
99 Madison Ave., Manhattan
12pm – 5pm
FREE
The Action Item Fair is a chance to learn about organizations leading the fight against Trump and his policies, how to get involved, and the best tangible skills for doing so. There are several topics on the schedule, including the role of white people in racial justice, how to lobby your legislators and more. You can check out the full agenda here, as well as a list of sponsoring organizations. There’s also a happy hour sponsored by the Brooklyn Brewery at 4pm!
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Protest Anti-Immigrant Lawsuit – #RescindOrResign
Greencroft Playground
Greencroft Ave. between Ainsworth and Redgrave, Staten Island
1pm – 3pm
Bay Ridge for Social Justice is sponsoring this Staten Island rally and march that protests Assembly members Malliotakis and Castorina’s lawsuit against IDNYC and demand that our elected officials stop targeting NYC’s immigrants, resist Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and protect the legal privacy of the more than 1 million New Yorkers who use the NYC ID. Those traveling from Brooklyn can meet up at noon at 86th St. and 4th Ave. to travel by cars and buses together, and transportation help is available by contacting Transit.BRFSJ@gmail.com
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Community Self-Defense Class
Center for Anti-Violence Education
327 7th St., Park Slope
2pm – 4pm
FREE
Learn to de-escalate, defend against and counter hate-motivated harassment and attacks at this self-defense class. If you want to attend, be sure to RSVP with your name, phone, and zip code to info@caeny.org.
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SUNDAY
No Ban // No Wall Vigil
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon St., Boerum Hill
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Come out in support of immigrants and refugees, and against the latest iteration of Trump’s Muslim ban, at this Sunday rally and vigil at Borough Hall. Activists will light 1,800 candles, each representing 100,000 individuals from the six countries included in this new ban (Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen).
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Calling All Women: Venn Diagram Party
Vital Joint
109 Meserole St., East Williamsburg
7pm – 9pm
FREE
See where your lived experiences overlap with other women’s at this Venn Diagram party, which seeks to create a visual representation of the experiences, constructs, notions, and ideas that surround the idea of womanhood. If you’re interested in attending, DM Theresa Buchheister through the event page for the phone number required for entry.
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Nothing Is Too Small for a Revolution: Anarchist Films by Nick Macdonald
Union Docs
322 Union Avenue, Williamsburg
7:30pm
$10
Union Docs is screening five documentaries by Nick Macdonald, who created several anarchist-inspired political essay films in the early to mid-70s. The films explore anarchist theory, “armchair radicalism,” and more, and include Break Out!, No More Leadershit, The Liberal War, Our Common Senses, and Acts of Revolution.