LINK CHECK

SCHOOLS

PENNCREST update: CRT policy up for first reading, though may change (9/9/)

Clarion-Limestone anti-CRT school board member arrested for DUI Board member Gary Sproul, who worked for the ban, seems to have issues with public health as well. Aside from the DUI, he has cheered on anti-mask recklessness.    

WITF: What is CRT? A look behind the protests and how racial issues are taught in Pa.

York county school district rolls back bans on books b authors of color after backlash from students 
Pa. House panel approves bill to post school curriculums online

JUSTICE 
Longtime Erie activist pushes city to embrace 'deep and meaningful' policing dialogue
Kevin Flower talks with local activist Art Leopold

Whistleblower complaints about migrant facility in Erie and others   (Source: Whistleblower Network News)

Erie School District Police Committee Recommends Adding More Officers Following Football Brawl

Mercyhurst hosts anti-racism march 

PA ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal class action as hundreds testify in civil hearing

EARTH

Local advocates gather together for ‘Climate Strike’ in Perry Square Sept 24

Local students statements at Climate Strike

Unearth will screen at Eerie Horror Fest Oct. 30 at 6pm, Erie Playhouse. 
Interfaith Candlelight Vigil for the Earth Oct 4   Hosts: Gannon U. Center for Social Concerns, Cathedral of St. Paul, Benedictines for Peace, Erie Benedictines

Listen: WNY Land Conservancy Announces a $310,000 Matching Gift to Save the Allegany Wildlands

NextGen America launches $32 million program to turn out young voters in 2022: Will organize in PA, TX, AZ, NC, NH,MI,WI and NV with a goal to "register, inform and mobilize" hundreds of thousands of young voters, the group says.”

PA Dem candidates on fracking ban Pa. Dems running for Senate shun talk of fracking ban (Source: from E&E, an energy and environment publication presently owned by Politico)

As nation grapples with climate disasters, Pa. reps look to resurrect a Depression-era program  

‘The goal is to act now’: state officials detail Pa.’s 2021 Climate Action Plan

Pennsylvania eyes $500M from feds for environmental program

ARTS
Live at the Met: Fire Shut Up in My Bones  Terence Blanchard's opera adaptation of Charles M. Blow's moving memoir. Fredonia Opera House (10/23), Tinseltown Erie (10/23 & 10/27), Lakewood 8 (10/23)

‘Al Franken to perform at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall’: Oct. 23 Strict vax/test/ID requirements
Cauleen Smith: Pandemic Diaries Online "engaging with the intersecting crises of the pandemic and social injustice through her lens o  active care, radical imagination, and collective consciousness."
Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community through Art Pittsburgh thru March 19, 2022
Bourbon at the Border Presented by Playshop Theatre, Allegheny College November 11–14, 2021 'Howard University students May and Charlie joined hundreds of other Americans in Mississippi in the summer of 1964 for a voter registration drive. Years later, they are still searching for a way back from the damage that was done to them during that long ago “Freedom Summer.”' 

WAR & PEACE

Peace activists protest at Niagara Falls airbase over Afghanistan drone attacks "We came to honor them, to remember them, to think about the drones that bury innocent live and to read the names and talk about the program that is killing nine people for every person they are aiming at," Victoria Ross said. 

No Drones Niagara and WNY Peace Center work to raise awareness about killer drones and prevent the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station from adding a drone operation.  No Drones Niagara is part of the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars.

George W. Bush will be in Erie November 9, hosted by Jefferson Educational Society. No vigils or protests scheduled so far... however, it is important to remind Americans that the cuddly old guy calling for decency and tolerance was responsible for some of the most horrific behavior of modern times: 

"Pro-life" Bush proud he held execution record as governor,   

"Dear Ellen: The Problem With George W. Bush Is Not His Beliefs — It’s His War Crimes",   

Human Rights Watch report on Bush torture,  

Dying Iraq War vet Tomas Young pens ‘last letter’ to Bush and Cheney

ELECTIONS
Erie at Large: The stakes remain high in local elections 

vote.pa.gov New URL for PA voter website vote.pa.gov.
Erie County Executive Live Debate Oct 12 YourErie (JET 24 TV) live at 7 p.m. 
True Quotes of an Erie Working Man and Erie Wannabe Man, Brenton Davis+++ https://www.facebook.com/eriewannabeman

Draw the Lines: The PA Citizens' Map  Combines the 1,500 congressional maps Pennsylvanians have submitted to Draw the Lines. This is the first such map that has ever been created by citizens.
Wolf creates new redistricting oversight panel ahead of fraught map-drawing process+++
AG Shapiro sues to block GOP election subpoena
PA Dems sue over GOP election "investigation"

Mastriano barred from attending private Senate GOP meetings    https://www.ydr.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/09/28/pa-sen-doug-mastriano/5846223001/ 
To avoid Wolf’s veto, Pa. GOP proposes giving voters final say on stricter ID rules, other election changes
Ed Rendell is targeting the ‘Treason Caucus’ in Congress 
Pa.’s poll worker shortage 
Become a poll worker 

ETC
Study: Economic impact of immigrants on Erie County A new study from the Economic Research Institute of Erie at Penn State Behrend

Food as Healing with Shane Bernardo Gannon, Palumbo Academic Center (3rd floor) Oct. 28  3PM "Shane Bernardo is co-founder of Food As Healing, a grower, facilitator and food justice organizer based in Detroit, Michigan that uses food and storytelling as mediums for healing and decolonizing." 

‘People called us heroes’: Pa. nurses sound the alarm on unsafe working conditions

PHOTOS

women's march+++

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/09/28/pa-sen-doug-mastriano/5846223001/

Erie Wannabe Man, Brenton Davis

https://www.facebook.com/PADepartmentofState

+++ 

check links

UPDATES                                   

Check here for important updates during the month

CRITICAL RACE THEORY   

"PENNCREST School Board has approved a resolution to issue a statement emphasizing that the school district does not teach critical race theory (CRT), while sending a policy aimed at banning the subject back to committee for reworking." ~ from From Meadville Tribune 8/14; detailed coverage:  Aug. 9 meeting  Aug. 12 meeting 

Mars Area school board, banned CRT and passes "Patriotism amendment" , and Clarion-Limestown school board banned CRT in the unsubstatiated theories section of their updated mission statement. A Clarion-Limestone board member also mentioned that he would be bringing up adding  "gender theory" to the banned list. 

Ask the Experts: Why is critical race theory so controversial? (City & State PA  8/17/2021)
Kimberlé Crenshaw on Teaching the Truth about Race in America (ep. 168) |  On ACLU podcast.  Crenshaw is one of the founders of CRT.

The Tea Party to the 10th power': Trumpworld bets big on critical race theory (Politico 6/23/2021) "Republicans aren’t coy about what they are trying to do. It’s not just about changing curricula. It’s about taking back Congress."

EARTH                                       

Jobs or the environment? Ahead of 2022, Pa. Dems thread needle on ‘false choice’
EPA hits Erie Coke with $1M Superfund lien to recoup cleanup costs; amount likely to grow   
The State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools June 2021 report from Women for a Healthy Environment. 

Climate activists set their sights on the PA PUC  (StateImpact 8/25/2021)"The interfaith group POWER wants Gov. Tom Wolf to appoint new members of the Public Utility Commission who are dedicated to climate justice and ending environmental racism. "

As climate change urgency grows, Pa. is still working on new standards for teaching about it (StateImpact 8/26/2021)

Pittsburgh Extinction Rebellion Talk on Climate Change 

Investigation Uncovers Ohio Is “Illegally” Building Radioactive Mountains, Affecting 26 Waterways

JUSTICE                                    

ACLU guest column: Stop harming Erie students (Erie Times-News 8/25/2021) "for more than a decade, the district has institutionalized a culture of punishment of Black children, especially those with disabilities and often without regard to the seriousness of a student’s infraction."

$262,000 settlement ends federal suit over claims of excessive force by Erie police officer     
Ground-breaking report on racial disparity in PA nursing homes Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)

Diversity and inclusion officer could soon be a new position to serve Erie County   (YourErie 8/11/2021) 

Pa. only state that requires counties to fund public defense (Daily Item 8/8/2021)

Attica Prison Uprising (September 8-13, 1971 in WNY), was the bloodiest prison uprising in US history and is one of the most important early events of the Prisoners' Rights movement.  Robert H. Jackson Center in 2018 hosted  Dr. Heather Thompson (Pulitzer Prize winning author of "Blood in the Water") and a panel  to talk about the event and its legacy. 

Activists broke into the FBI office in Media PA, also 50 years ago. The burglary explosively exposed the now-infamous COINTELPRO operation directed by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, and illegal surveillance of peaceful citizens. The Greatest Heist You've Never Heard Of  (13 min.) is a good intro. 

ARTS                                                  

Edinboro's Bruce Gallery Features Erie Artists of Color (by Heather Amancio, Erie Reader 9/1/2021) "CHROMA Guild members highlighted at current exhibit"

Neighborhood Art House Virtual Fundraiser Sept 14-28. 

"Speed of Dark" American Repertory Theater, Buffalo NY Sep 9-10/2  "centers around four-men who find themselves on the wrong end-of-the day in a Sundown Town, and, as ...they discover the integrity within themselves as well as find dignity & pride to who they are as men." In-person, strict covid rules

Movie Mondays: West Side Story Outdoor event, Perry Square Erie PA Sep 9-10/2 . Interactive trivia 8:30pm, movies start at dark. Hosts: Erie Downtown Partnership and the Film Society of NWPA". 

Lit Fridays  is "a literary-focused, virtual salon presented by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, featuring conversations and guest performances on the last Friday of each month at 6:00pm via Facebook Live and Zoom Webinar."

ELECTIONS                               

Update on PA election "audit" (PA Capital-Star 8/29/2021) 

Pa.’s Shapiro, 21 AGs tell Congress to guard against voter suppression   

‘Ending gerrymandering: the redistricting fight in Pa.’: WHYY talks with Fair Districts PA chair Carol Kuniholm, state Rep. Wendi Thomas, and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton.

How to get involved in Pa.’s pivotal redistricting process (Spotlight PA 8/20/2021)

Thompson's district lost big in 2020 census, one of six in Pennsylvania that lost population in the 2020 census (all but one of which are held by Republicans) (AP News 8/14/2021).
4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistricting (Spotlight PA 8/18/2021)

PA  Abolishes Prison Gerrymandering (Time 8/24/2021) will increase urban representation while reducing rural representation.

PA Congressional Redistricting site 

Pa. Democrats’ constituencies are growing. How does that impact 2022? (Penn Capital-Star 8/18/2021)

He left GOP after Jan. 6, forms 3rd party in PA (City & State PA 8/12/2021)

Two Pa. lawmakers are working on bipartisan election reform. Here’s what they’ve proposed 

GOP lawmakers beat the deadline, go to court to challenge Pa.’s mail-in voting law(AP 9/1/2021) 

GEMISH                                    

Erie Labor Day Parade September 6 at 10am 11th & State, Erie PA. Hosted by IBEW Local 56
Little Free Pantry - Erie raffle on September 18. Check their Facebook group for details on donations and particpation.

Sisters of St Joseph Neighborhood Network is looking for mentors for young people. 

Erie Co Council forms high speed rail committee (Erie News Now 8/18/2021)
Buffalo Starbucks Workers Say They Will Unionize One Store At a Time (In These Times 8/30/2021) 

WAR & PEACE                        

Erie Peace Initiative photo album. Erie Peace Inititiative started in 2002 when local people became concerned about what was taking place in the name of "War on Terror" (It was originally called 9/11 Peace Initiative). The album features photos during some of its active period. 

Lilac Springs is a healing space for combat veterans in Meadville PA. Right now the couple that runs the space (Marsha and Anthony Pedone)  are both dealing with health issues right now and need help around the place. If you can volunteer, or donate so help can be hired, that would be very appreciated. Read more about Lilac Springs here. 

Michael Moore 's Fahrenheit 9/11 will show for free on September 10 at 9pm, followed by some special guests for discussion and questions. Also Free at WatchDocumentaries and probably widely available during September. Trailer 

The Erie Peace Initiative Ribbon Project at Union Station (2013) see below. Each ribbon had the name of a fallen US servicemember. (red for those who died in Iraq, blue for those who died in Afghanistan). The project was an effort to get the public to visualize the loss of servicemembers. As immense as that representation is in this photo, it doesn't show all the ribbons. The project did not represent fallen civilians, contractors, allied servicemembers, or those fighting on the other side. Some of those numbers were observed in other events. The project is currently in the custody of Travis Lindsey. an Iraq War veteran who encouraged EPI to take on the project. 

Info blurb+++

PHOTO CREDITS: Grapes - Public domain, author unknown, Ribbon Project Deb Spilko 

CHECK LINKS SEPT 2021

JUSTICE

ACLU guest column: Stop harming Erie students (Erie Times-News 8/25/2021) "for more than a decade, the district has institutionalized a culture of punishment of Black children, especially those with disabilities and often without regard to the seriousness of a student’s infraction." https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/2021/08/25/aclu-asks-erie-school-district-commit-not-harming-students/8254170002/ 

$262,000 settlement ends federal suit over claims of excessive force by Erie police officer     
Separate and Unconscionable: A Report on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania’s Nursing Homes with Recommendations for Immediate Action +++Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)
Diversity and inclusion officer could soon be a new position to serve Erie County   (YourErie 8/11/2021) 

Pa. only state that requires counties to fund public defense (Daily Item 8/8/2021)https://www.dailyitem.com/news/pa-only-state-that-requires-counties-to-fund-public-defense/article_47965d4e-f3d6-11eb-baf4-6f6cfc55bc0e.html 

Media PA and Attica

Also 50 years ago, 

ELECTIONS

Pa.’s Shapiro, 21 AGs tell Congress to guard against voter suppression   

Update on PA election "audit" (PA Capital-Star 8/29/2021) 

Two Pa. lawmakers are working on bipartisan election reform. Here’s what they’ve proposed 

‘Ending gerrymandering: the redistricting fight in Pa.’: WHYY talks with Fair Districts PA chair Carol Kuniholm, state Rep. Wendi Thomas, and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton.

How to get involved in Pa.’s pivotal redistricting process (Spotlight PA 8/20/2021)

Thompson's district lost big in 2020 census, one of six in Pennsylvania that lost population in the 2020 census (all but one of which are held by Republicans) (AP News 8/14/2021).
4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistricting (Spotlight PA 8/18/2021)

PA  Abolishes Prison Gerrymandering (Time 8/24/2021) will increase urban representation while reducing rural representation.

Pa. Democrats’ constituencies are growing. How does that impact 2022? (Penn Capital-Star 8/18/2021)

He left GOP after Jan. 6, forms 3rd party in PA (City & State PA 8/12/2021)

GEMISH
Erie Labor Day Parade details: September 6 at 10am 11th & State, Erie PA. Hosted by IBEW Local 56
Little Free Pantry - Erie will hold a raffle on September 18. Check their group for details or contact Raegin at +++

Erie Co Council forms high speed rail committee (Erie News Now 8/18/2021)

PHOTOS

+++

Info blurb+++

 +++

+++
ARTS

Sep 1 - "Summer of Soul" Reg Lenna, Jamestown NY 

Sep 9-10/2 "Speed of Dark" American Repertory Theater, Buffalo NY "centers around four-men who find themselves on the wrong end-of-the day in a Sundown Town, and, as ...they discover the integrity within themselves as well as find dignity & pride to who they are as men." Strict covid rules

Sept 27 - Movie Mondays: West Side Story Outdoor event, Perry Square Erie PA. Interactive trivia 8:30pm, movies start at dark. Hosts: Erie Downtown Partnership and the Film Society of NWPA". 

Lit Fridays  "a literary-focused, virtual salon presented by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, featuring conversations and guest performances on the last Friday of each month at 6:00pm via Facebook Live and Zoom Webinar."

CRT
Mars Area School Board Bans Teaching Critical Race Theory, Passes ‘Patriotism Amendment’
https://www.wesa.fm/education/2021-08-17/mars-area-school-board-bans-teaching-critical-race-theory-passes-patriotism-amendment?mc_cid=9155cbe3e9&mc_eid=c7c50c0eab

CRT amendment
https://www.rawstory.com/pennsylvania-school-board-bans-critical-race-theory-by-passing-patriotism-amendment/?e=moonkat2014@gmail.com&utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7682
https://explorevenango.com/clarion-limestone-bans-critical-race-theory/

Penncrest update
what is crt
Ask the Experts: Why is critical race theory so controversial? City & State PA AUG 17, 2021
https://www.cityandstatepa.com/content/ask-experts-why-critical-race-theory-so-controversial \


EARTH
Investigation Uncovers Ohio Is “Illegally” Building Radioactive Mountains, Affecting 26 Waterways


Jobs or the environment? Ahead of 2022, Pa. Dems thread needle on ‘false choice’
 
EPA hits Erie Coke with $1M Superfund lien to recoup cleanup costs; amount likely to grow   

The State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools
June 2021 

public herald series
https://www.facebook.com/publicherald

ELECTIONS

Pa.’s Shapiro, 21 AGs tell Congress to guard against voter suppression   

Two Pa. lawmakers are working on bipartisan election reform. Here’s what they’ve proposed 

Corman slams Mastriano, appoints Dush to lead election review 

‘Ending gerrymandering: the redistricting fight in Pa.’: WHYY talks with Fair Districts PA chair Carol Kuniholm, state Rep. Wendi Thomas, and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton.

Thompson's district lost big in 2020 census, one of six in Pennsylvania that lost population in the 2020 census (all but one of which are held by Republicans) (AP News 8/14/2021).
4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistricting (Spotlight PA 8/18/2021)

Pa. Democrats’ constituencies are growing. How does that impact 2022? (Penn Capital-Star 8/18/2021)

JUSTICE

$262,000 settlement ends federal suit over claims of excessive force against Erie police officer     +
Separate and Unconscionable: A Report on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania’s Nursing Homes with Recommendations for Immediate Action +++Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)
Diversity and inclusion officer could soon be a new position to serve Erie County   

Citizen group set to review Pa. State Police use-of-force and racial bias incidents  ???
Pa. only state that requires counties to fund public defense

Media PA and Attica



LABOR

Buffalo 
Erie deets
pgh labor day parade cancelled

CHECK LINKS

++

+++
ARTS

Sep 9-10/2 "Speed of Dark" American Repertory Theater, Buffalo NY "centers around four-men who find themselves on the wrong end-of-the day in a Sundown Town, and, as ...they discover the integrity within themselves as well as find dignity & pride to who they are as men." Strict covid rules

Sept 27 - Movie Mondays: West Side Story Outdoor event, Perry Square Erie PA. Interactive trivia 8:30pm, movies start at dark. Hosts: Erie Downtown Partnership and the Film Society of NWPA". 

Lit Fridays  is "a literary-focused, virtual salon presented by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, featuring conversations and guest performances on the last Friday of each month at 6:00pm via Facebook Live and Zoom Webinar."

CRITICAL RACE THEORY 
From Meadville Tribune 8/14: "PENNCREST School Board has approved a resolution to issue a statement emphasizing that the school district does not teach critical race theory (CRT), while sending a policy aimed at banning the subject back to committee for reworking." The Tribune's detailed coverage  Aug. 9 meeting  Aug. 12 meeting 

Actions by school boards in the region: Mars Area school board, banned CRT and passes "Patriotism amendment" , and Clarion-Limestown school board banned CRT in the unsubstatiated theories scetion of their updated mission statement. A Clarion-Limestone board member also mentioned that he would be bringing up adding  "gender theory" to the banned list. 

What’s at stake in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race? Educators say teaching race, racism in schools (Chalkbeat 7/28/2021) "A coalition of Philadelphia educators and politicians are worried that a conservative governor, if elected, could pass anti-critical race theory legislation in Pennsylvania, making next year’s gubernatorial race crucial for education."

Ask the Experts: Why is critical race theory so controversial? (City & State PA  8/17/2021)
Yes, we should be teaching critical race theory in public schools | Fletcher McClellan (Penn Capital-Star 8/10/2021)

Kimberlé Crenshaw on Teaching the Truth about Race in America (ep. 168) |  On ACLU podcast.  Crenshaw is one of the founders of CRT.

The Tea Party to the 10th power': Trumpworld bets big on critical race theory (Politico 6/23/2021) "Republicans aren’t coy about what they are trying to do. It’s not just about changing curricula. It’s about taking back Congress."

EARTH
Investigation Uncovers Ohio Is “Illegally” Building Radioactive Mountains, Affecting 26 Waterways
Jobs or the environment? Ahead of 2022, Pa. Dems thread needle on ‘false choice’
EPA hits Erie Coke with $1M Superfund lien to recoup cleanup costs; amount likely to grow   
The State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools June 2021 report from Women for a Healthy Environment. 

Climate activists set their sights on the PA PUC "The interfaith group POWER wants Gov. Tom Wolf to appoint new members of the Public Utility Commission who are dedicated to climate justice and ending environmental racism. "

JUSTICE

ACLU: Stop harming Erie students (Erie Times-News 8/25/2021) "for more than a decade, the district has institutionalized a culture of punishment of Black children, especially those with disabilities and often without regard to the seriousness of a student’s infraction."

$262,000 settlement ends federal suit over claims of excessive force by Erie police officer     
Separate and Unconscionable: A Report on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania’s Nursing Homes with Recommendations for Immediate Action +++Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)
Diversity and inclusion officer could soon be a new position to serve Erie County   (YourErie +++) 

Pa. only state that requires counties to fund public defense (Daily Item +++)

Media PA and Attica

Also 50 years ago, 

ELECTIONS

Pa.’s Shapiro, 21 AGs tell Congress to guard against voter suppression   

Two Pa. lawmakers are working on bipartisan election reform. Here’s what they’ve proposed 

CORMAN+++‘Ending gerrymandering: the redistricting fight in Pa.’: WHYY talks with Fair Districts PA chair Carol Kuniholm, state Rep. Wendi Thomas, and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton.How to get involved in Pa.’s pivotal redistricting process (Spotlight PA 8/20/2021)

Thompson's district lost big in 2020 census, one of six in Pennsylvania that lost population in the 2020 census (all but one of which are held by Republicans) (AP News 8/14/2021).
4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistricting (Spotlight PA 8/18/2021)

PA  Abolishes Prison Gerrymandering (Time 8/24/2021) will increase urban representation while reducing rural representation.

Pa. Democrats’ constituencies are growing. How does that impact 2022? (Penn Capital-Star 8/18/2021)

He left GOP after Jan. 6, forms 3rd party in PA (City & State PA 8/12/2021)

MISC
Erie Labor Day Parade details: September 6 at 10am 11th & State, Erie PA. Hosted by IBEW Local 56
Little Free Pantry will hold a raffle on September 18. Check their group for details or contact Raegin at +++

ORKERS
Erie Labor Day Parade 2021 will be held September 6. This year IBEW 56 will be hosting the 2021 Erie Labor Day Parade! Also poster for Mercer Co. parade More details coming.
Battle of Blair Mountain, 1921 ... Significance for Working People Today Aug 19 7:30pm Host: Battle of Homestead Foundation "Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial Celebration" occurring Sept. 3-6 in Charleston, WV.   "Join us for a Labor Day Weekend that is packed with activities across the southern coalfields of West Virginia!" List of all centennial events 

Worker-owned cooperatives and the future of Rust Belt labor Belt Magazine (5/13/2021) Amid declining union power and attacks on organized labor, some Rust Belt workers are turning to worker-owned cooperatives. 

SCHOOLS

St. Benedict Education Center officially home to Erie Co. Community College (Erie Benedictines 7/15/2021) 

Raising Vibrant Readers Erie International Institute 517 E 26th St, Erie, PA "We'll be giving away free books, having multilingual story time, arts & crafts, and free food! So bring your kids for a chance to make new friends, learn about a new language/culture, and feel connected & included in this diverse space!" Also looking for donations and volunteers

These 25 Pennsylvania school districts are most underfunded (Morning Call 7/1/2021) 

Right-wing PENNCREST board members aggressively pushed a ban on critical race theory in July. Two reports from the Meadville Tribune covered the events in detail: Aggressively pushing the ban on 7/6  and creating chaos at the board meeting. 

Who's behind the astroturfed critical race theory push in PA? (PA Spotlight 7/22/2021)  
QAnon's new 'plan'? Run for school board (NBC News 7/7/2021) 

INDIGENOUS

Carlisle children buried in emotional ceremony (Indian Country Today 7/2021) 
The Seneca Nation Is Building Food Sovereignty, One Bison at a Time (Civil Eats 1/14/2021) 

This Penobscot Baseball Player Inspired The Cleveland Indians Name ‘For All The Wrong Reasons’ (Maine Public 7/25/2021)

ELECTIONS
Demstock 2021 Aug. 20-21, Elk County PA. Celebrating rural PA Dems www.actblue.com/donate/Demstock21. 
ECU Block Party Aug 21 noon-4pm Roger Young Park, 1750 Buffalo Rd, Erie "meet your Erie County United candidates, enjoy BBQ food, and check out our school supply giveaway." Registration info at event page. 

Oil Region Rising rallies outside Toomey's office protesting opposition to "For the People" Act (YourErie 7/1/2021) 

CNN ranks Pennsylvania Senate seat as most likely to flip in 2022 (Pgh City Paper 7/6/2021) 

Wolf clarifies voter ID position (AP 7/22/2021) Check out Canada voter ID requirements for comparison 

Buffalo common council researching form of governance that replaces the mayor (Buffalo News 7/27/2021)

Watchdogs Filing Complaints in PA and 14 other States Against ALEC for Illegal Campaign Scheme (Common Cause 7/26/2021)

JUSTICE
Anti-hate rally in Jamestown after white supremacist vandalism 7/10 (Video 1:04:09 WNY News 7/10/2021)
Backgrounder on incidents   Jamestown Human Rights Commission statement on events 
Letters to my White Male Friends: A Conversation with Dax-Devlon Ross  July 15 interview with Off the Beaten Path owner Bob Lingle. 
PA Police Misconduct Database Launched  (WESA 7/14/2021)  
Kevin Flowers: Erie, other cities face tough self-reflections on inclusion, racial justice (Erie Times-News  7/25/2021)

ANIMAL LAW

Humane PA has compiled a very informative and easy-to-read listing of Legislation Affecting Animals 2021/22 a  for those who want to encourage PA legislators to support animal welfare. Fortunately this is no longer considered a fringe issue, and enjoys broad support. 

Large demonstration in Erie against Heartland Pets' treatment of animals. (Erie News Now 7/31/2021). Action was called and organized by a group of community members. 

Erie Puppy Mill Awareness is "a 501(c)3 with a mission to make Erie Co. more humane by raising awareness & igniting activism against puppy mills & their outlets." The group has been around since 2011. 

EARTH

French Creek Clean-Up  Register before August 27th to get 2021 t-shirt!

Pennsylvania is set to become the first major fossil fuel-producing state to put a price on carbon emissions.(StateImpact PA 7/13/2021) 

Pittsburgh launches the country’s first integrated mobility system, connecting all transit options in one app (NEXTPittsburgh 7/12/2021 ) 

LGBT+
Madeine Davis' Queer History of Buffalo (Belt Magazine 5/1/2021) Remembrance of the trailblazing activist and historian who passed away in April. 

Archives & Special Collections: Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archive of Western New York [ca. 1920-2018] 

Erie Pride Picnic 2021 Aug. 14, 1-6pm/food 2-4pm Rotary Pavilion, Presque Isle  Pride Day at Waldameer is Aug 15. Be sure to check details at link.  Host: NWPA Pride Alliance

Ohio Allows Doctors to Deny LGBTQ Health Care on Moral Grounds (Rolling Stone 7/7/2021)

ARTS & WORDS
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore Independent bookstore located in the Chautauqua County village of Lakewood NY."With a focus on fostering empathy, Off the Beaten Path curates titles for the community that promote understanding, diversity, and creativity." Be sure to check out their video conversations with authors. 
Béatrice Lebreton - Living Her Truth: Transcending Boundaries exhibit will be at Erie Art Museum starting Aug. 6 
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" virtual presentation by ALl An Act Theatre thru Sept 19 
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Thurgood Chautauqua Institution August 13 @ 4:00pm "compelling portrait of the first African-American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court" 
The "Summer of Protest: 2020” exhibition at Prama Art Space examines the 2020 Cleveland George Floyd Protests Multiple contributors.
Belt Publishing & Belt Magazine Belt Magazine publishes independent journalism about the Rust Belt. Online only Belt Publishing publishes anthologies by and for residents of often misrepresented cities. 

THE BIG LIE IN PA
Pennsylvania Capital-Star seems like the best place to keep up with The Big Lie and Fraudit shenanigans in PA.

PA audit proponent Sen. Doug Mastriano, who bused Trump supporters to the US Capitol Jan. 6,  was photographed at least four times with insurrectionist Samuel Lazar, who is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting police in the Capitol that day. Media Matters found that Mastriano promoted QAnon on Twitter over 50 times: check the article for other Mastriano wingnuttery. 

York Co. Trump supporters going door to door demanding to know which candidate they backed (York Dispatch 7/29/2021)
Sen. Dan Laughlin denounces audit in op-ed (Reuters 7/29/2021) 

Video: Attorney General Josh Shapiro talked to Vice News about “sham audits.”  
Experts warn against ‘sham election audits’ movement (Penn Capital-Star 7/20/2021) 

OTHER
Supporting PA nurses op-ed (Rep. Bridget Kosierowski D-Lackawanna County 8/1//2021)

New law requires public meeting agendas be posted online, if possible (TribLive 7/2/2021)
FirstEnergy to pay $230M in agreement in Ohio bribery case (AP 7/23/2021) "The energy giant at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio admitted Thursday to using dark money groups to fund the effort" 

Special Report: SNAP Benefits Put to the Test (ENN 7/28/2021) Local reporter eats on a SNAP ("food stamps") budget for a week.

 

DRAFT 7/29

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WORKERS
Erie Labor Day Parade 2021 will be held September 6. This year IBEW 56 will be hosting the 2021 Erie Labor Day Parade! Also poster for Mercer Co. parade More details coming.
Battle of Blair Mountain, 1921 ... Significance for Working People Today Aug 19 7:30pm Host: Battle of Homestead Foundation "Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial Celebration" occurring Sept. 3-6 in Charleston, WV.   "Join us for a Labor Day Weekend that is packed with activities across the southern coalfields of West Virginia!" List of all centennial events 

Worker-owned cooperatives and the future of Rust Belt labor Belt Magazine (5/13/2021) Amid declining union power and attacks on organized labor, some Rust Belt workers are turning to worker-owned cooperatives. 

SCHOOLS

St. Benedict Education Center officially home to Erie Co. Community College (Erie Benedictines 7/15/2021) 
Right-wing PENNCREST board members aggressively pushed a ban on critical race theory in July. Two reports from the Meadville Tribune covered the events in detail: Aggressively pushing the ban on 7/6  and creating chaos at the board meeting. 

Who's behind the astroturfed critical race theory push in PA? (PA Spotlight 7/22/2021)  
QAnon's new 'plan'? Run for school board (NBC News 7/7/2021) 

These 25 Pennsylvania school districts are most underfunded in a formula backed by lawmakers, Gov. Tom Wolf (Morning Call 7/1/2021) 

INDIGENOUS

Carlisle children buried in emotional ceremony (Indian Country Today 7/2021) 
The Seneca Nation Is Building Food Sovereignty, One Bison at a Time (Civil Eats 1/14/2021) 

This Penobscot Baseball Player Inspired The Cleveland Indians Name ‘For All The Wrong Reasons’ (Maine Public 7/25/2021)

ELECTIONS
Demstock 2021 Aug. 20-21, Elk County PA. Celebrating rural PA Dems www.actblue.com/donate/Demstock21. 
ECU Block Party Aug 21 noon-4pm Roger Young Park, 1750 Buffalo Rd, Erie "meet your Erie County United candidates, enjoy BBQ food, and check out our school supply giveaway." Registration info at event page. 

Oil Region Rising rallies outside Toomey's office protesting opposition to "For the People" Act (YourErie 7/1/2021) 

CNN ranks Pennsylvania Senate seat as most likely to flip in 2022 (Pgh City Paper 7/6/2021) 

Wolf clarifies voter ID position (AP 7/22/2021) Check out Canada voter ID requirements for comparison 

Buffalo common council researching form of governance that replaces the mayor (Buffalo News 7/27/2021)

ANIMAL LAW

Humane PA has compiled a very informative and easy-to-read listing of Legislation Affecting Animals 2021/22 a  for those who want to encourage PA legislators to support animal welfare. Fortunately this is no longer considered a fringe issue, and enjoys broad support. 

Erie Puppy Mill Awareness is "a 501(c)3 with a mission to make Erie Co. more humane by raising awareness & igniting activism against puppy mills & their outlets." 

LGBT+
Madeine Davis' Queer History of Buffalo (Belt Magazine 5/1/2021) Remembrance of the trailblazing activist and historian who passed away in April. 

Archives & Special Collections: Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archive of Western New York [ca. 1920-2018] 

Erie Pride Picnic 2021 Aug. 14, 1-6pm/food 2-4pm Rotary Pavilion, Presque Isle  Pride Day at Waldameer is Aug 15. Be sure to check details at link.  Host: NWPA Pride Alliance

Ohio Allows Doctors to Deny LGBTQ Health Care on Moral Grounds (Rolling Stone 7/7/2021)

ARTS & WORDS
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore Independent bookstore located in the Chautauqua County village of Lakewood NY."With a focus on fostering empathy, Off the Beaten Path curates titles for the community that promote understanding, diversity, and creativity." Be sure to check out their video conversations with authors. 
Béatrice Lebreton - Living Her Truth: Transcending Boundaries exhibit will be at Erie Art Museum starting Aug. 6 
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" virtual presentation by ALl An Act Theatre thru Sept 19 
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Thurgood Chautauqua Institution August 13 @ 4:00pm "compelling portrait of the first African-American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court" 
The "Summer of Protest: 2020” exhibition at Prama Art Space examines the 2020 Cleveland George Floyd Protests Multiple contributors.
Belt Publishing & Belt Magazine Belt Magazine publishes independent journalism about the Rust Belt. Online only Belt Publishing publishes anthologies by and for residents of often misrepresented cities. 

THE BIG LIE IN PA
PA audit proponent Sen. Doug Mastriano, who bused Trump supporters to the US Capitol Jan. 6,  was photographed at least four times with insurrectionist Samuel Lazar, who is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting police in the Capitol that day. Media Matters found that Mastriano promoted QAnon on Twitter over 50 times: check the article for other Mastriano wingnuttery. 

York Co. Trump supporters going door to door demanding to know which candidate they backed (York Dispatch 7/29/2021)
Sen. Dan Laughlin denounces audit in op-ed (Reuters 7/29/2021) 

Video: Attorney General Josh Shapiro talked to Vice News about “sham audits.”  
Experts warn against ‘sham election audits’ movement (Penn Capital-Star 7/20/2021) 

OTHER
New law requires public meeting agendas be posted online, if possible (TribLive 7/2/2021)
FirstEnergy to pay $230M in agreement in Ohio bribery case (AP 7/23/2021) "The energy giant at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio admitted Thursday to using dark money groups to fund the effort" 

draft

WORKERS
Erie Labor Day Parade 2021 will be held September6. This year IBEW 56 will be hosting the 2021 Erie Labor Day Parade!. More details coming.
Battle of Blair Mountain, 1921 ... Significance for Working People Today Aug 19 7:30pm Host: Battle of Homestead Foundation "Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial Celebration" occurring Sept. 3-6 in Charleston, WV.   "Join us for a Labor Day Weekend that is packed with activities across the southern coalfields of West Virginia!" List of all centennial events 

Worker-owned cooperatives and the future of Rust Belt labor Belt Magazine (5/13/2021) Amid declining union power and attacks on organized labor, some Rust Belt workers are turning to worker-owned cooperatives. 

INDIGENOUS

Carlisle children buried in emotional ceremony (Indian Country Today 7/2021) 
The Seneca Nation Is Building Food Sovereignty, One Bison at a Time (Civil Eats 1/14/2021) 

Neither Chief Wahoo nor the Indians' nickname honor the Penobscot man that inspired them (For the Win 4/1/2018)

SCHOOLS
St. Benedict Education Center officially home to Erie Co. Community College (Erie Benedictines 7/15/2021) 
These 25 Pennsylvania school districts are most underfunded in a formula backed by lawmakers, Gov. Tom Wolf (Morning Call 7/1/2021) 
Right-wing PENNCREST board members aggressively pushed a ban on critical race theory in July. Two reports from the Meadville Tribune covered the events in detail: Aggressively pushing the ban on 7/6  and creating chaos at the board meeting. 
Who's behind the astroturfed critical race theory push in PA? (PA Spotlight 7/22/2021) "It’s a coordinated effort to use racism as a political strategy by front groups funded by extremist billionaires." 
QAnon's new 'plan'? Run for school board (NBC News 7/7/2021) "In the wake of Donald Trump's 2020 election defeat, many QAnon followers have hatched a plan: run for school board or local office, spread the gospel of Q, but don’t call it QAnon"

ELECTIONS
Demstock 2021 Aug. 20-21, Elk County PA. Celebrating rural PA Dems www.actblue.com/donate/Demstock21. 
ECU Block Party Aug 21 noon-4pm Roger Young Park, 1750 Buffalo Rd, Erie "meet your Erie County United candidates, enjoy BBQ food, and check out our school supply giveaway." Hosted by Erie County United. Register at: https://secure.everyaction.com/O-KADlOjzEa6rU3_R12mkA2  

Oil Region Rising rallies outside Toomey's office protesting opposition to "For the People" Act (YourErie 7/1/2021) 

CNN ranks Pennsylvania Senate seat as most likely to flip in 2022 (Pgh City Paper 7/6/2021) 

Wolf clarifies voter ID position (AP 7/22/2021) Check out Canada voter ID requirements for comparison 

Buffalo common council researching form of governance that replaces the mayor (Buffalo News 7/27/2021)

ANIMAL LAW

Humane PA has compiled a very informative and easy-to-read listing of Legislation Affecting Animals 2021/22 a  for those who want to encourage PA legislators to support animal welfare. Fortunately this is no longer considered a fringe issue, and enjoys broad support. 

LGBT+

Madeine Davis' Queer History of Buffalo (Belt Magazine 5/1/2021) Remembrance of the trailblazing activist and historian who passed away in April. 

Archives & Special Collections: Dr. Madeline Davis LGBTQ Archive of Western New York [ca. 1920-2018] 

Erie Pride Picnic 2021 Aug. 14, 1-6pm/food 2-4pm Rotary Pavilion, Presque Isle  Pride Day at Waldameer is Aug 15. Be sure to check details at link.  Host: NWPA Pride Alliance

Ohio Allows Doctors to Deny LGBTQ Health Care on Moral Grounds (Rolling Stone 7/7/2021)

ARTS & WORDS
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore Independent bookstore located in the Chautauqua County village of Lakewood NY."With a focus on fostering empathy, Off the Beaten Path curates titles for the community that promote understanding, diversity, and creativity." Be sure to check out their video conversations with authors. https://www.obpbooks.com/

Béatrice Lebreton - Living Her Truth: Transcending Boundaries exhibit will be at Erie Art Museum starting Aug. 6 https://www.facebook.com/ErieArtMuseum/posts/10166545430605487/

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" virtual presentation by ALl An Act Theatre thru Sept 19 https://www.facebook.com/AllAnActTheatre

Chautauqua Theater Company presents Thurgood Chautauqua Institution August 13 @ 4:00pm "compelling portrait of the first African-American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court" https://chq.org/event/chautauqua-theater-company-presents-thurgood/

The "Summer of Protest: 2020” exhibition at Prama Art Space and Gallery in Parma runs through August 22. https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/07/23/summer-of-protest-2020-exhibition-at-prama-art-space-and-gallery-examines-the-2020-cleveland-george-floyd-protests

Belt Publishing & Belt Magazine Belt Magazine publishes independent journalism about the Rust Belt. Online only Belt Publishing publishes anthologies by and for residents of often misrepresented cities. https://www.facebook.com/beltmag beltmag.com https://beltpublishing.com/

THE BIG LIE IN PA
PA audit proponent Sen. Doug Mastriano, who bused Trump supporters to the Capitol Jan. 6,  was photographed at least four times with insurrectionist Samuel Lazar, who is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting police in the Capitol that day. Media Matters found that Mastriano promoted QAnon on Twitter over 50 times: check the article for other Mastriano wingnuttery. 

York Co. Trump supporters going door to door demanding to know which candidate they backed (York Dispatch 7/29/2021)
Sen. Dan Laughlin denounces audit in op-ed (Reuters 7/29/2021) 

Video: Attorney General Josh Shapiro talked to Vice News about “sham audits.”  
Experts warn against ‘sham election audits’ movement (Penn Capital-Star 7/20/2021) 

OTHER
New law requires public meeting agendas be posted online, if possible (TribLive 7/2/2021)

FirstEnergy to pay $230M in agreement in Ohio bribery case (AP 7/23/2021) "The energy giant at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio admitted Thursday to using dark money groups to fund the effort"