[Antiracism] Vigil Thurs, 1 pm - Civil Rights for ALL!

[Michaelann Bewsee]

Do you care about civil rights for EVERYBODY?  On Thursday, 1 pm on the
steps of City Hall, homeless people, Arise and allies will be holding a
peaceful vigil in support of EVERYONE'S right to dignity and civil rights.
We are holding this vigil simultaneously with a Springfield City Council
Subcommittee on Human Rights, where they will be discussing the "problem of
homeless people," NOT "homeless people's problems.

Dom Sarno is the chair of this subcommittee.  It was Dom, last year, who
thought one good solution would be to put skunk-scented spray all all the
city's empty buildings, so that homeless people would find it impossible to
sleep in them.  Som is also the director of the South End Community Center,
a huge, underutilized space that would make just a wonderful day center for
homeless people!  Too bad that solution hasn't crossed his mind as he works
to do his "problem-solving."

Since we have started organizing, we have also heard from the mothers and
friends of several young kids of color, who have also been stopped by the
police to have their picture taken.  Believe me, there was nothing voluntary
about it.  I could say more, but I don't want to have to write "allegedly"
in front of everything.  One of these kids will be going on record soon
enough.

Pleaase, please come and support us if you can.  Whether you can or can't,
making the following phone calls will still be EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

 Call the Mayor's office at  787-6100 and demand a solution to homelessness
that does not "require" harassment of the homeless.



Call Police Commissioner Flynn at 787-6313 and tell him to order his
officers to cease taking pictures of homeless people.



Call Domenic Sarno at the South End Community Center at 788-6173 and tell
him to stop grandstanding and come up with REAL solutions.



And call Steve Roberts at 781-7444, ask him to treat homeless people
decently and suggest he stop selling liquor at his convenience store.
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