By the Push of a Police Officer

By the Push of a Police Officer This humble community servant was asked to say a few words to Univision International about Martin Gugino, the PUSH Member and long-time community activist who was recently hospitalized due to a head injury suffered for all the world to see as he stood up in a Black Lives Matter rally! Martin was videoed walking up to police officers, who for reasons unknown to us, pushed this 75- year-old man to the ground where he sustained his injuries! Though the Police Department claimed he tripped, video clearly shows he was pushed! Consequently the 2 officers were fired and were arrested and charged. They are awaiting their day in court but at least Mr Gugino (Marty) is still alive, unlike George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Gardner, and Buffalo’s own, India Cummings, Rafael “Pito” Rivera, and John Hernandez Rossy.  I told Univision’s reporter how Martin was a stand up gentleman who used his live-time experience to help uplift people and involved himself in causes he believed in! He knew he had more clout and privilege than this little old Latina woman. He joined and supported our community through PUSH (PEOPLE UNITED FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING) rally and demonstrations locally, and in Albany, for housing and climate justice against environmental racism and other systemic inequalities that plague our Black and Latino communities.  I am sure the police thought this tragic and unnecessary event would go unnoticed, overshadowed by other events in the rally. But this is more than about one man being abused by police; it is 400 years of systematic racism, oppression, and abuse against black and brown people, perpetuated by a system built to do exactly what it does: control people, kill and destroy families, and incarcerate men of color. We need economic systems to be built, equity to be made, good sustainable green jobs to exist and be available to front-line communities affected by systemic racism. There is too much government interference where communities cannot purchase good homes, where there is no quality education, no quality air, no quality food, no quality health — a total breakdown in the quality of public and private service. Black Lives Matter: Too many people refuse to accept that BLACK LIVES MATTER, an attitude of a government with an arrogance and racism that has existed for hundreds of years, and perhaps, it will take just as long to eradicate!  People must organize and use their expertise to solve and fight against walls built to keep people of color in place. Historically, they have used and applied an injustice system to incarcerate and lock-up our people in their concentration prisons. Let us stop pretending COVID19 is the major concern in communities of color. In addition to this virus, our people are confronted with poverty, poor health condition, substance abuse/use, high unemployment, and a lack of education. All these elements combined creates a pipeline that feeds our Black and Latino people to mass incarceration with no chance of parole or special treatment, as unlike Manifort who was released so he will not be exposed to the Coronavirus. How about the degraded Congressman Chris Collins, who is still waiting to serve his jail term at his convenience? White Privilege: The use of force and violence is quite different when applying to the Black and White community. You can clearly see the double standards. For example, when the young white man shot up the all Black church, he was apprehended without any violence. He was safe and alive in the hands of police officers. The same occurred when the armed white men stormed and occupied the first floor of the governor’s building in protest of Coronavirus restrictions; there was no blood shed. Let one Black or person of color show up armed, they would have been killed in a heartbeat, no questions asked. Yes, we know there is a double standard; we know it, and Martin knew it. To accept it without questioning and fighting for the change long overdue is defeat. We have bowed down long enough! I will stand with all people who recognize that if we cannot accept that ”BLACK LIVES MATTER too, or these folks can’t say it, then we must accept that they are showing us their true racist side, and we must fight for Black Lives Matters. A better life is at stake for those who are brave and seek the change that is way overdue! (Spanish Translation) Por el Empuje de un Policia  A este humilde servidor comunitario se le pidió que dijera unas palabras a Univision International  sobre Martin Gugino, el miembro de PUSH y activista comunitario de larga duración, quien fue hospitalizado recientemente debido a una lesión en la cabeza sufrida para todo el mundo para ver mientras se paraba en una manifestación de Black Lives Matter! Martin fue videollamada caminando hacia oficiales de policía, que por razones desconocidas para nosotros, empujaron a este hombre de 75 años al suelo donde sufrió sus heridas. Aunque el Departamento de Policía afirmó que tropezó, ¡el video muestra claramente que fue empujado! En consecuencia, los 2 oficiales fueron despedidos y fueron arrestados y acusados. Están esperando su día en la corte, pero al menos el Sr. Gugino (Marty) sigue vivo, a diferencia de George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Gardner y de Buffalo, India Cummings, Rafael “Pito” Rivera, y John Hernández Rossy. ¡Le dije al reportero de Univision cómo Martin era un caballero que usó su experiencia en tiempo de vida para ayudar a elevar a la gente y se involucró en causas en las que creía! Sabía que tenía más influencia y privilegio que esta vieja latina. Se unió y apoyó a nuestra comunidad a través de PUSH  (PEOPLE UNITED FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING) mitin y manifestaciones a nivel local, y en Albany, para la vivienda y la justicia climática contra el racismo ambiental y otras desigualdades sistémicas que plagan a nuestras comunidades negras y latinas. Estoy seguro de que la policía, aunque este trágico y innecesario

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CAMBIO Y PROGRESO: LLEGO LA HORA!

CAMBIO Y PROGRESO: LLEGO LA HORA! Dedico esta columna a cada lider comunal y organizacion que lucha por la igualdad, los derechos humanos y cada dia con su dedicacion levantan la voz por la edificacion de todos! Siempre llevo la sonrisa y el amor de La justicia se ha dado cita colectivamente e individualmente en cada comunidad donde forjarmos nuestras vidas. Llego la hora por y para un cambio a un sistema socio-juridico que fomenta division y abuso de poder y represion. La voz de la conciencia pro-justicia social marcha en cada estado de la nacion y a traves de las fronteras geograficas. Desde el mostrador de la bodeguita de la esquina aqui en Buffalo hasta la calle 8 en Miami, la justicia ha llegado a nuestras puertas y nos clama que la escuchemos. El cambio ya esta en nuestras puertas, la justicia clama y dice en voz alta: “cuidadana, toma tu voz e inteligentemente usa tu voto.” Los cambios a las politicas socio-juridicas, legales y sociales han llegado. Este es el umbral de un cambio total! Los cambios a las politicas de patrullaje, uso de fuerza y procedimientos de arresto estan aqui. Juntos, como comunidades y cuidadanos de bien, necesitamos llevar nuestra voces a las urnas! Los acontecimientos historicos que estamos viviendo nos piden que dejemos la apatia social a un lado y que actuemos ahora con precision. La crisis que enfrentamos en la educacion y la salubridad nos pide que trabajemos en metas concretas. No podemos sobrevivir y co-existir en una crisis perpetua. Si tienes el poder del voto, usalo para cambiar el curso de las politicas represivas y racistas. Si no lo tienes, participa como puedas a traves del derecho a la protesta pacifica y el cabildeo a legisladores. Apoya a candidatos cuyas plataformas de gestion y trabajo tenien base de edificacion comunal y participacion civico-comunal. Basta Ya! No Mas Slogans! Hemos despertado, el mundo clama: justicia social. Ahora necesito de ti, ahora necesitamos de mi…lleva tu voz a las urnas y a la protesta pacifica! Si podemos cambiar el rumbo. Este es el momento para cambios! Este es el momento de edificar nuestras comunidades; no con discursos, y no proclamas; sino con accion tangible. Piensa como puedes ser efectivo en tu comunidad y en el cambio…no con violencia ni saqueos; sino, con cambios legislativos y pidiendo transparencia legislativa y fiscal! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Who We Are CAMBIO Y PROGRESO: LLEGO LA HORA! July 21, 2020/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More EN BUSCA DE UNA NUEVA NORMALIDAD Y REALIDAD June 21, 2020/No Comments EN BUSCA DE UNA NUEVA NORMALIDAD Y REALIDAD En busca de una nueva normalidad y realidad: edificacion comunal Post-Covid 19 Read More ABBY’S PROMISE:UNA ORGANIZACION DANDO LUZ EN LA OSCURIDAD May 21, 2020/No Comments ABBY’S PROMISE:UNA ORGANIZACION DANDO LUZ EN LA OSCURIDAD  “Me prometo sonreir todos los dias!” dijo Abby Soto en vida, antes Read More Load More End of Content.

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SIXTEEN REASONS WHY I FEEL OFFENDED

SIXTEEN REASONS WHY I FEEL OFFENDED I felt offended when a classmate in graduate school said, “you are lucky to have a white husband so he could raise your status in society.” I felt offended when my supervisor told me “you are not worth Florida’s taxpayers money”. I felt offended when you discussed my car with my husband when I am the one paying for it. I felt offended when you told me I was “lucky to have Italian blood because you know how Puerto Ricans are.” I felt offended when you thought public assistance is mostly Latin people. I felt offended when you told me, “not to say she’s my sister because she is darker.” I felt offended when you thought I needed you to pay my rent. I felt offended when you thought somebody must control me. I felt offended when you are telling me to go back where I came from. I felt offended when you tell me to succumb to the norm, which I will not. I felt offended when a hair stylist said, “I could not do my hair because it was coarse.” I felt offended when you dare ask me, “where are you from?” I felt offended when you focused on my accent. I felt offended when you tell me “not to aim so high because I will be disappointed.” I felt offended every time you behaved as if my skin color gives you rights to belittle me. I felt offended when you did not hire me because you thought clients would not come to a therapist with an accent. My journey in life, has given me my share of offenses, and then some, while I continue to contribute to the betterment of it all. Were it not for my grandma’s wise words: “if they do not pay your rent or buy your undies, pay them no mind!” Coming from her was all I needed. A person who validates your worth by asking you to contribute to society is a rareness all its own, as opposed to someone who discourages you based on their fears.  As I reach the latter part of my life, I try not to offend but support and encourage because, as you see, life hands you many hurdles and the only way to jump through them is to be strong, determined, and focused on your goal. If someone were to ask me, how do I deal with all these undermining, discrediting and shameful social actions, I remember her saying: “Who pays your rent and who buys your undies?” Read More From This Writer All Post Culture Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Peace People SIXTEEN REASONS WHY I FEEL OFFENDED July 17, 2020/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More HUMANE VALUES UNDER ATTACK June 17, 2020/No Comments HUMANE VALUES UNDER ATTACK In OUR WORLD NOW, human values are under attack. We feel overwhelmed, unsure what to do Read More PREGNANCY & BREASTFEEDING May 17, 2020/No Comments PREGNANCY & BREASTFEEDING 21st annual National Women’s Health Week, May 10 – 16, 2020, a national effort by the alliance Read More Load More End of Content.

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