We meet Saturday October 30th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon in front of the Milford Presbyterian church for a socially distanced demonstration in support of People of Color in Hunterdon County. Masks and social distancing are required. Bring your own sign if like.
PS - GUCC officially particpates on the last Saturday of every month, but the wider group meets every Saturday and all are welcome to join them at any time.
Native American activist Leonard Peltier has spent over 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Prosecutors and federal agents manufactured evidence against him (including the so-called “murder weapon”); hid proof of his innocence; presented false testimony obtained through torturous interrogation techniques; ignored court orders; and lied to the jury. People are commonly set free due to a single constitutional violation, but Peltier—innocent and faced with a staggering number of constitutional violations—has yet to receive equal justice.
A large group of people have attended the last few BOE meetings to demand the removal of certain books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
[note: I hate even describing these books that way--all books deal with multiple themes and are more than the sum of their labels. That said, LGBTQ+ representation is the issue at hand.]
The video linked here (public comments start at about 57 minutes) shows that the people who want the books removed are conflating pornography, pedophilia, and sexual abuse with LGBTQ+ identities, as well as arguing that LGBTQ+ is a political and/or religious identity (and as such, they argue, has no place in schools).
None of the people contesting the books actually read any of them from cover to cover.
Alum, parents, future parents, and anyone else in the community is welcome to attend and comment. Even if you don't think you can comment, please attend to show support for speakers advocating for our LGBTQ+ community.
9.28.21 NHV BOE Meeting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avz44fJQGrE
comments start around 57 mins
Take time to watch or review this practical and reflective conversation with OWL Trainers of Color on November 3rd about how to be more intentionally anti-racist as an OWL facilitator.
