SAVE THE POST OFFICE: A DAY OF ACTION

 

Save the Post Office: A Day of Action
Tuesday, August 25th, 6:00 p.m.

Join Occupy Kensington and the national movement to Save the Post Office on Tuesday, August 25th, at 6:00 p.m., at the Kensington Post Office.

This is a Day of Action to make three immediate demands to save our public postal service:

• Provide at least $25 billion in emergency COVID funding for the postal service.
• Stop the mail slowdown policies introduced by Postmaster General DeJoy and permanently reverse the delays.
• Ensure public confidence in voting-by-mail by providing all necessary resources for the timely delivery of election mail.

Bring signs that say, for example,

• #SaveThePostOffice
• We need $25B for the post office in emergency relief.
• Stop post office cutbacks.

Wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer. Keep your mask on, maintain social distance, and sanitize your hands, as needed, to protect each other.

 

US Mail Not for Sale is a worker-led campaign that brings together labor unions, elected officials, member organizations of A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service, community supporters, and the public to fight plans to sell the public Postal Service to the highest bidder.

Location 

Kensington Post Office

419 McDonald Avenue

between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road

Kensington, Brooklyn

 

FUND RAISER FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILY'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

            

Fund Raiser

for Immigrant Family’s Legal Defense Fund
Sunday, February 10th

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Occupy Kensington is raising legal defense funds for a Brooklyn-connected, immigrant family that fled Central American political repression in fear for their lives, with small children in tow.

 

Their case could not be more typical or dire. A member of their family who has a debilitating disease is being detained in a distant state, where his health and weight are rapidly deteriorating.

Join Occupy Kensington for a fund raiser featuring music and refreshments on Sunday, February 10th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Learn more about the immigrant family and donate to the defense fund for their legal costs and bond. Enjoy the company of hopeful and determined activist neighbors.

If for any reason you are unable to attend, you can donate to the family's defense fund through GoFundMe.

Fund Raiser location
private house
309 East 5th Street
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road
Kensington, Brooklyn

Occupy Kensington's e-mail address is occupy11218 @ gmail.com.

BUILD ON THE PROGRESSIVE WAVE WITH OCCUPY KENSINGTON

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From Occupy Kensington

Let’s Build on the Progressive Wave!   Join Us to Shape a Fresh Activist Agenda for 2019.   Sunday January 27 @ 7:30 309 E5th St Dear Neighbors and Friends, 2019 is already shaping up to be a year of grave challenges and hopeful opportunities. The progressive wave that swept a solid Democratic majority into Albany for the first time in years opens up new opportunities to push forward a people's agenda. Meanwhile, the plight of our brothers and sisters seeking refuge in this country, as well as our own citizens and noncitizens living under threat of racism and poverty, cries to us out for redress. Given the new landscape of state-level politics, Occupy Kensington would like to propose adding to our foci — while still remaining at the ready to address immigration or white supremacist issues arising in Kensington. Join us to discuss this and more Sun. Jan 27th at 7:30, 309 E. 5th Street  5th Street. Three proposed areas of focus: Housing crisis: There is a fresh opportunity and urgent need to review rent laws in Albany. Middle class and poor families alike in our neighborhood, across lines of race and citizenship status, live under the stress of rapidly rising rents. Amazon’s invasion of NYC: The proposed corporate headquarters in Queens includes a deal that not only will suck up much needed tax dollars, placing them in the pockets of the richest corporate mogul on the planet, but will also act as a gentrification juggernaut — which connects directly to the housing crisis. It also relates to the less publicized, ongoing efforts to rezone nearby Sunset Park's industrial district (in which Amazon was at one point interested) — with the inevitable loss of industrial jobs and displacement of longtime residents through higher rents. Healthcare: Stakes couldn't be higher. The New York Health Act has already passed the State Assembly four years in a row. Grassroots pressure is needed to ensure State Senate passage and Gov. Cuomo's (not-so-easy-to-get) signature. Passage in a state the size of New York would reverberate throughout the nation. Canada's healthcare system became inevitable when a single province (Saskatchewan) passed its own, successful, single-payer plan. Don’t Miss: Eye Witness Report on Refugee Crisis at the Border by Sofya Aptekar (Second Half of the Meeting)  Occupy Kensington · 309 East 5th street · Brooklyn, NY 11218 · USA https://www.facebook.com/occupykensington occupy11218@gmail.com

KENSINGTON UNITES AGAINST HATE

We Are All One Community: Unite Against Hate

Friday, November 16th, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

From Kensington Stewards and Occupy Kensington:

Many of us are deeply concerned by a climate of escalating hate.

Last Friday, an African American woman was brutally stabbed on the subway steps at the Church Avenue/East 18th Street station by a white man who was reportedly shouting racist and misogynist slurs at her.

Only a few weeks ago, a local synagogue was defaced by antisemitic graffiti.

This seems to reflect a trend toward increased anti-immigrant, racist, misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ sentiment and religious bigotry, which we see nationwide and even in New York City.

This is not who Kensington is. For years, we have been a neighborhood made richer by our amazing diversity, where longtime residents of different races, faiths, and national origins have lived, worked, played, and worshipped in close proximity and supported one another as neighbors.

Now is the time for us to stand up and let everyone know we are united against bigots. Our love and respect for one another is far more powerful than their hate.

Join Kensington Stewards and Occupy Kensington on Friday, November 16th, at 5:30 p.m. at Kensington Plaza (located in front of Walgreens at Beverley Road and McDonald Avenue) to bring a message of unity and neighborly love: "We Are All One Community. Unite Against Hate."

Unite to Disseminate a Positive Message against Hate and White Supremacy

Occupy Kensington Meeting Sunday, November 11th, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. From Occupy Kensington: Dear Neighbors and Fellow Activists, Many are feeling overwhelmed, angry, sad, or perplexed after the recent spate of violence, fueled by racist, xenophobic, anti-immigrant, anti Muslim, and antisemitic rhetoric. A few weeks ago, in Queens, white supremacists from The Vanguard posted flyers telling residents it was their "Civic Duty" to turn in "illegal aliens" to ICE—chillingly reminiscent of similar tactics used during the rise of Nazi Germany. Since then, of course, there has been the more widely-publicized attempted violence against prominent critics of the President, the synagogue massacre, and the shooting of two random African Americans by a racist who tried and failed earlier to enter a black church. While it may take years to build anew at a national level, there is much we can and should do immediately as a neighborhood. When white supremacist fliers appeared in Queens, Make The Road by Walking, which has a Queens branch, replaced the offending fliers with their own. City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer took to Twitter with a video of himself tearing down one of The Vanguard’s signs. These swift counter measures made CNN News and were doubtless empowering for the neighborhood. Such responses also send a message of neighborhood unity to white supremacists. Occupy Kensington is well-situated to mobilize in the event of a similar incident here. Not only is much of our membership well-educated on immigration issues but we also have hands-on experience from two flier-posting/distribution campaigns. Please join other Occupy Kensington members for a meeting on Sunday, November 11th, at 7:30 p.m., at 309 E. 5th Street. Bring your thoughts on confronting the current situation at a neighborhood level as well as ideas on (a) an immediate flier posting to boost morale and promote neighborhood solidarity and/or unity around pro-immigrant, anti-racist values and (b) a preparedness plan for rapid response in the event of an incident (including, but not restricted to, our own flier posting). We look forward to seeing you! In Solidarity!

Sunday 11/11 @7:30 309 E. 5th Street Bring your ideas & commitment to a more just and loving world!

KENSINGTON HATE FREE ZONE POTLUCK PARTY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD

Kensington Hate Free Zone Pot Luck

Sunday, December 3rd, 4:30  p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

From Occupy Kensington

Dear Kensington Friends,

What a year it's been since Occupy Kensington reconvened to fight for our neighbors and neighborhood in the face of the Trump Administration. Join us this Sunday, December 3rd, at 4:30 p.m., for a potluck party to celebrate our efforts and solidarity with the wider community.

Members of our Kensington Hate Free Zone partners, JFREJ (Jews for Racial Equality and Justice), SURJ (Standing Up for Racial Justice), and DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) will join us to commemorate our joint efforts over the nine months.

Bring something to eat or drink. Donations for Puerto Rico are also encouraged. See the details below.

People nationwide have been organizing successfully, with hard fought wins in court, recent elections, and the court of public opinion.

OK members can take heart from our collective efforts to carry out a three pronged approach to support vulnerable neighbors that included: exerting pressure to make NYC a true sanctuary city; assisting immigrants in the courts; preparing to stop ICE and protect neighbors from hate at the local level.

We’ve coordinated with like-minded groups, both immigrant and native-born. We’ve also responded to new crises, such as the devastation in Puerto Rico, which profoundly affects Brooklyn neighbors. Here’s a brief look back!

• Sponsored three neighborhood workshops in bystander training and self-defense.
• Held three demonstrations, including a kick-off with DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) that attracted 300 people, as well as our best-attended-ever International Women’s Day demo.
• Initiated a comprehensive neighborhood know-your-rights flyer posting that brought neighbors together.
• Sponsored well attended workshop on broken windows policing and cop watch with guest speaker from El Grito. 
• Conducted ongoing business outreach with DRUM, JFREJ, and SURJ to engage small businesses in making Kensington a Hate-Free-Zone, getting dozens of local businesses to join. 
• Assisted immigrants by accompanying them to court for deportation and asylum hearings in conjunction with New Sanctuary Coalition.
• Organized reading group on immigration.
• Held discussions on topics from New York Health Act to the recent elections, some featuring guests from other groups. 
• Coordinated Kensington hurricane relief for Puerto Rico, raising $1,500 in cash and another $500 in material donations.
• Provide ongoing help packing aid for Puerto Rico in conjunction with El Grito.
• Maintain a website for updating the community and a Facebook group, where members can contribute important news items to the conversation. 
• Members individually and together have attended numerous demonstrations, events and panel discussions.  

Let’s gather for neighborly camaraderie just ahead of the holidays! All are welcome - whether you've been able to participate with us yet or would just like to get to know OK neighbors better!

Items needed for Puerto Rican relief. We will see that they get to the warehouse!

• Gas canisters  
• Hand sanitizer 
• Large trash bags
• Battery operated fans 
• Batteries of all types (esp. solar)
• Extension cords  
• USB car chargers for phones
• Insect repellent
• Water purification tablets  & Water filters​
• Tarps
• Lighters  
• Utility knives  
• Duct tape
• Work gloves  | Latex gloves  | Rubber boots
• Battery powered drills  
• Large candles
• First aid kits  
• Neosporin
• Cold medicine, Immodium/Pepto-Bismol, Tylenol/Advil, EmergenC/Airborne
• Baby wipes (we have lots of diapers)
• Diaper rash cream
• Shaving razor blades
• Toilet paper

Location
private house
309 E. 5th Street
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road
Kensington

ELECTION REVIEW AT OCCUPY KENSINGTON MEETING

Election Review 

Sunday, November 19th, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

From Occupy Kensington:

Join us this Sunday to discuss the recent election results and what they could mean for the fight back against Trump and for building the socialist left, both inside and outside the Democratic Party.

We'll be joined by Ethan Anderson, a Brooklyn Socialist Alternative member who spent the week before the vote in Minneapolis campaigning for Ginger Jentzen, a socialist who topped the poll in the first round with 38% but ultimately lost after second and third preferences were counted (they have ranked choice voting). https://www.socialistalternative.org/2017/11/09/historic-vote-ginger-jentzen-campaign-minneapolis/

In Brooklyn Jabari Brisport got 29% of the vote in his run against incumbent city councillor Lori Cumbo - the highest vote yet for a Green Party council candidate.

Nationally the Democrats did well and so did DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), and Bernie Sanders' Our Revolution group. https://theintercept.com/2017/11/08/a-year-after-trump-democrats-socialists-and-populists-sweep-elections/

Will this success mean an increasing shift away from fighting Trump now to focussing on the 2018 mid-terms? Is that the best way to stop the Trump administration? How do we build successful genuine community based anti-corporate candidacies? Does it matter if they are inside or outside the Democratic Party?

Come discuss all these questions and more with us this Sunday.

Location
309 E. 5th Street (private house)
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road
Kensington, Brooklyn

U.S. INTERVENTIONISM AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS

U.S. Interventionism and the Refugee Crisis
Sunday, November 5th, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

To what extent is U.S. interventionism responsible for the refugee crises South of its border? What do we owe to those who are fleeing situations that we have helped create?

Join Occupy Kensington for another lively discussion. A short text will be provided. Whether you agree or disagree with the text, we invite you to take this opportunity for consciousness-raising and getting to know your neighbors.

Then, participate in a hands-on letter-writing activity on behalf of New Sanctuary's Ravi, an important leader in the effort to assist refugees and other immigrants who is again in danger of deportation himself.

The meeting will take place on Sunday, November 5th, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Occupy Kensington is a community-based movement that stands in solidarity with other Occupy, 99%, and liberation movements in New York City, across the country, and around the world.

e-mail: occupy11218 @ gmail.com
website: https://occupykensington.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/occupykensington 


Meeting location
309 E. 5th Street (private house)
between Church Avenue and Albemarle Road
Kensington, Brooklyn 
 

U.S. MILITARISM DISCUSSED AT NEXT OCCUPY KENSINGTON MEETING

Occupy Kensington Meeting: U.S. Militarism

Sunday, October 22nd, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

From Occupy Kensington: 

The unthinkable—war with a nuclear power—is on many of our minds. How did we get here? What should progressives dedicated to peaceful solutions do? Join us for what will no doubt be a wide-ranging discussion on U.S. militarism. Occupy Kensington member Keith Brooks will facilitate, with his article "Raise Your Hand If You Think We Should Go To War With Russia" as the jumping off point. 

The meeting will take place on Sunday, October 22nd, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in a private house at 309 E. 5th Street (just north of Church Avenue), in Kensington.

Occupy Kensington is a community-based movement that stands in solidarity with other Occupy, 99%, and liberation movements in New York City, across the country, and around the world.

e-mail: occupy11218 @ gmail.com
website: https://occupykensington.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/occupykensington