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NYCLU Brokers Deal Between Occupy Buffalo and City to Protect Protest
December 9, 2011 -- The New York Civil Liberties Union has helped broker an agreement reached today between the City of Buffalo and the Occupy Buffalo movement that will allow demonstrators to continue camping in Niagara Square.
“This agreement is a win-win. It shows that cities can both accommodate free speech and protect public safety,” said John A. Curr III, director of the NYCLU’s Western Regional Office. “We’re gratified that the city and the protestors were willing to come to the table and negotiate this reasonable deal.”
The NYCLU’s Western Regional Office was instrumental in negotiating the terms of the agreement with the city and demonstrators.
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Protecting Occupy Wall Street Protests in Buffalo
A demonstrator wrote the NYCLU office number on his arm in magic marker.
Now that the Occupy Wall Street movement has spread to Buffalo, the Western Regional Office is working to ensure that local police respect the right to protest.
Our staff and volunteers have served as legal observers to monitor police conduct at various demonstrations. We’re helping protest organizers obtain permits for their events, negotiating with police officials to accommodate the protestors who are camping out in Niagara Square, and distributing “Know Your Rights” materials to demonstrators to educate them on their right to protest. We’ve even established a hotline (716.332.4658) for people to report any cases of police misconduct.
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NYCLU Study Examines Rise of Anti-Mosque Activities in New York State
August 24, 2011 — The New York Civil Liberties Union today released a briefing paper examining the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-mosque activities throughout New York State.
The briefing paper, Religious Freedom Under Attack: the Rise of Anti-Mosque Activities in New York State, explores the legal and cultural background against which mosque controversies have unfolded across the state over the past year. It calls on public officials to promote intercultural understanding of Muslim New Yorkers while respecting the First Amendment rights of those who oppose mosque projects.
The paper provides nine examples of incidents across the state in which Muslim communities were targeted for their beliefs and practices by their neighbors and/or local governments. It chronicles the fierce opposition to the proposed Park51 Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan, and details heated opposition to mosques and proposed mosque projects in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn; Midland beach, Staten Island; and three communities in Long Island. It also covers three incidents in upstate New York in which mosques were subjected to harassment and attacks.
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Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd were married at Niagara Falls at midnight on July 24 – the first legal same-sex marriage in New York State.
From Stonewall to Niagara Falls
Following its intense lobbying efforts to push the marriage fairness bill through the Legislature, Western Regional Office celebrated the historic victory, appropriately enough, at a wedding. In fact, it was among the first same-sex marriages performed in the state, taking place at Niagara Falls at midnight on July 24 – the first day the Marriage Equality Act went into effect.
Buffalo resident Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd were married at the honeymoon capital of the world, first in a multidenominational religious ceremony, and then by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, as rainbow lights glowed on the American Falls. It was an inspiring and touching occasion.
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NYCLU Challenges Erie County’s Use of Subpoenas to Attack Nonprofits that Criticized Jail Conditions
July 27, 2011 -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a motion in federal court to quash subpoenas that Erie County served to three local nonprofit organizations to compel them to turn over a wide range of documents and correspondence concerning their advocacy for better conditions at the county’s jails.
The motion was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in behalf of the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara, the Erie County Prisoners’ Rights Coalition, and the Partnership for the Public Good.
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Western Regional Office Staff: On the Road to Justice
Western Regional Office organizer Mario Ezekiel Hernandez and office director John A. Curr III in Albany.
It's been a busy spring for the staff of the NYCLU in Western New York.
Western regional office director John A. Curr III and WRO regional organizer Mario Ezekiel Hernandez joined NYCLU statewide staff in visiting both the State and National Capital to bring the concerns of the NYCLU and its members directly to our elected representatives.
On March 1, Curr and Hernandez were joined by NYCLU staff from across the state for the New York Immigration Coalition's "Immigrant's Day of Action" in Albany.
Bringing together more than 700 allies from across New York state, the "Day of Action" focused on the Coalition's major concerns, from the destructive federal "Secure Communities" program to the right to health care for all New Yorkers, meeting with lawmakers throughout an afternoon of lobbying the entire Western New York delegation.
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Op-Ed, The Buffalo News: "Program targets immigrants, erodes public safety"
By Udi Ofer and John A. Curr III
A version of this column was published in the Buffalo News on March 31, 2011
The Obama administration's Secure Communities (S-Comm) program targeting immigrants for deportation threatens basic civil rights and will make New Yorkers less safe.
President Obama should drop it altogether. Short of that, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo should withdraw New York from this misguided program.
Click here to read more.
NYCLU Western Regional Organizer Recognized: 2011 "Nuestro Orgullo Latino" Award Winner
Mario Ezekiel Hernandez (left)NYCLU western regional organizer Mario Ezekiel Hernandez was recognized on April 21 as "One of the Best and Brightest of the Latino/Hispanic Community" at the fifth annual "Nuestro Orgullo (Our Pride)" luncheon by Hispanics United of Buffalo-Niagara at the Buffalo Convention Center.
The awards are given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to the Latin-American community and Buffalo, NY.
Congratulations, Mario!
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