This is an action item for those of us who live in New York. Palin this and can-you-believe-what-McCain-said that aside, this election is about real people and real communities. As Obama says, great change comes from the bottom up - so come join us and work for change!
My home community is Astoria, a beautiful neighborhood in Queens. Astoria is one of the most diverse places on earth. This diversity is our greatest strength. Recent hate crimes in Astoria threatened to turn that strength into a weakness. To make our differences divisive instead of unifying. In response, members of the community have organized; we formed the grassroots group Astorians United Against Hate Crimes; we organized a variety of different community groups, and community members, and we will rally and march down the streets of Astoria this Sunday at 1:00 at Athens Park (30th Avenue and 30th Street).
Volunteers from the Obama campaign will be at the march, registering voters and speaking alongside Congressmen and Councilmen. If you are in NYC tomorrow, please come to the rally. Details and background below. . . .
This march began when Marisa Rangonese, the Director of Generation Q, sent out an email asking for people to meet and discuss the hate crimes. About 7 people gathered in a room, and tried to figure out how we could work for a better Astoria. Tomorrow, that work will result in a powerful statement (and it will continue). Here are the details:
Astoria’s greatest strength is our diversity. People of different races, ages, nationalities, sexual identity and sexual orientations live together as neighbors and friends. At our best, we learn from and celebrate our differences – those differences make our community strong. Carmen’s Place is a shelter for gay and transgender youth; Carmen’s Place reflects Astoria’s better instincts, the belief that each of us has value and can contribute to our community.
Unfortunately, recent events have shown Astoria at its worst. On July 7, gay and transgender youths who live at Carmen’s Place were attacked because of their sexual orientation. Reverend Louis Braxton Jr., the priest who runs Carmen’s Place, was also attacked. Crimes like these tear at the fabric of our community. They divide us and they threaten to turn our strength into a weakness.
These crimes do not reflect the beliefs of most Astorians. In response to these attacks, Astorians United Against Hate Crimes will organize a March Against Hate. The March Against Hate will take place at 1:00 in Athens Park on Sunday, September 7.
Martin Luther King told us hatred left unchecked destroys communities and "we must all choose between chaos or community." We invite you to march with us as we stand up for our community and all of its members.
Tomorrow's speakers will include Father Braxton, Simone (a teen and member of Generation Q), Congressman Anthony Weiner, Councilman Peter Vallone, Tom Shanahan from the NY State Division of Human Rights on behalf of the governor, Father Braxton, Erica Braudy from the NYCLU, Amardeep Singh from the Sikh Coalition, Brian Beard of the Long Island City Alliance, Mary Ann from Astorians United for Peace and Justice and Jeremiah Frei-Pearson (JeremiahFP) from Democracy for New York City and Astoria is For Obama. Karla Mosley and Val Turner will provide musical entertainment. Thanks to many other local groups for organizing this rally - including Alexis Soterakis of Astoria is For Obama, Costa Constantinides and the Queens Young Dems, and Eliot Katz and Astorians United for Peace and Justice.
If you can't make the rally, consider a donation to Carmen's Place. Also, thank the Mayor for finally signing the Respect for All Policy. Change is happening!
Astorians United Against Hate Crimes isn't going away until the day when every member of our community is accepted. We're not ashamed to march together, and our hope is that by seeing a strong gathering of people - white, black, Latino, gay, straight, bisexual, young, old, Greek, Irish, Egyptian, Indian, Sikh, Muslims, Christian, Jews, agnostics and atheists - those who attack others because of their sexual orientation will become ashamed, will become fewer, and some will change their ways.
Two other notes: (1) Folks from the McCain campaign and the Republican Party are more than welcome at the march. They haven't reached out, but they would be welcome. (2) This is not a political march, but it is a march for change and it is appropriate for folks to support their candidate and register voters surrounding the march.