The fight for truth, justice and a country that doesn't ban people based on their religion is perhaps a never-ending one. Oh well! The fight which never ends continues this weekend, with opportunities for you to learn, look smart, laugh and dance against the president's agenda.
Protect Trans Rights
Beyond just the issue of what bathroom trans people are legally allowed to use, there's a whole host of struggles to win trans people basic rights and respect from the government. Come out and show your support for your trans comrades by participating in "a big group hug" in Washington Square Park and let them know they're not alone.
FREE, Friday, March 17, noon, Washington Square Park
No Ban Human Banner Action
The second Muslim ban may have already been struck down in one court, but this is hardly the end of the fight, especially with Donald Trump giving speeches about how he'd rather just have the version of the ban without exceptions for green card holders. If you want to take a stand against this ban, in a very literal sense, you can join this effort to make what organizers are calling "a human banner" that spells out "#NOBAN."
FREE, Friday, March 17, 5 p.m., Pavilion at Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Battery Park
Cybersecurity 101
How can you stay cybersecure in this dystopia where your own computer's front-facing camera is constantly spying on you? I don't have the faintest clue, but the Hunter Artist Action Group can tell you, or at least they've booked some people who can explain everything you need to know about Signal, PGP, Tor, password managers and more. Seems like some useful knowledge to have, even if we all know that no matter how secure we are, one day the machines will rise up and destroy us.
FREE, Friday, March 17, 7 p.m., Hunter College, 205 Hudson Street, 2nd Floor
Irish Stand - NYC rally for justice & equality
Despite the fact that bloated shambling corpse Steve Bannon is helping the Trump administration attempt to build an exclusionary state only welcoming to white people, it's worth remembering that America didn't always think of the Irish as "white." So the day after the Irish prime minister meets Donald Trump and gives him a bowl of shamrocks, speakers like Colum McCann, Maeve Higgins, Shaun King and Richard Schiff will be on hand at a concert to benefit the ACLU, taking place at the same church where Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela have given addresses.
$15, Friday, March 17, 7:30 p.m., The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive
Bronx pro-choice Counterprotest
Anti-abortion protesters are going to be showing up at abortion clinics for their "40 Days of Life" rallies this weekend, so a committed group of activists are going to be at one local abortion provider to show these people the Bronx. The only thing better than a good protest is a good counter-protest, so here's your chance to show up and "mobilize a visible, vocal, and unapologetic pro-choice response wherever and whenever reproductive rights are under attack."
FREE, Saturday, March 18, 9 a.m., Bronx Abortion, 2070 Eastchester Road
Divestment Day
Something like the Dakota Access Pipeline doesn't just happen out of thin air, you need money to be able to build it (bet you didn't know that). Turns out that financial giants like Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, TD and other invest in projects like this and other efforts that will just keep propagating fossil fuel's stranglehold on the world. So to put pressure on these finance giants, activists are inviting people to rally in Union Square and then go to their banks and close their accounts, so that you can put your money in more Earth-friendly institutions.
FREE, Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m., Union Square
Workshop: So You Wanna Get Involved But Don't Know How
School is bad, I get it. Activism school on the other hand, will continue to be useful for you, unlike physics or basic math. This workshop will give you a basic overview of the local political and activist landscape, show you the best ways to get involved in the fight for justice and also teach you how to not work yourself to death so you don't burn out (a very important aspect of activism!). Plus, your admission fee goes to Planned Parenthood, so this is like a two-for-one deal.
$15, Saturday, March 18, 3 p.m., The Alchemical Studios, 104 West 14th Street
First Comes Love
Whom amongst us does not love a good pornography? Well actually probably a few of you. But if you enjoy or see the humor in porn, get down to tonight's event in which comedians like Jean Grae and comedy country duo the Reformed Whores help perform scenes sent to host Kyle Ayers following his Craigslist solicitation for porn scripts one drunken evening. And beyond being the kind of filthy evening that would be sure to give Jeff Sessions the vapors, the proceeds of tonight's show will go towards the National Network of Abortion Funds.
$8, Saturday, March 18, 7:30 p.m., Union Hall, 702 Union Street
Rally to Resist Voter Suppression
Voter suppression is a big problem nationwide, and while New Yorkers walk around thinking we're the most progressive state in the land, don't forget that our state doesn't have early voting and automatic registration. Both of those ideas, which could help increase turnout in state elections, are on the table in this year's state budget, and a number of groups are rallying this weekend to remind the Governor, Assemblymembers and state Senators that they want them enacted. Do you think this too? Get to Battery Park then, ya goof.
FREE, Sunday, March 19, noon, Battery Park
When your new skinny budget jeans make your ass look so grabbable. (Getty)
Clinton Hill Postcard Writing Party and Pow Wow!
Members of Congress still need to be bothered and reminded that they should do their job of not letting America turn into a polluted authoritarian hellscape. You could call them and tell them that, but you could also join up with some fellow rabble writers and help BURY THEM IN AN AVALANCHE OF STERNLY-WORDED POSTCARDS. Okay so there probably won't be an avalanche, but it's still good to get together with people and work for good. Plus, this is in a bar which means you can drink while you're doing this.
FREE, Sunday, March 19, 2 p.m., DSK Brooklyn, 710 Fulton Street
Community Immigration Forum
Please forgive the cliche, but New York is a city of immigrants. This means that even if you're not an immigrant yourself, you probably know someone who's going to be impacted by the new anti-immigrant fervor sweeping the nation. What can you do to help? What laws are coming down the pipeline? These questions and more will be answered by "lawyers and experts on immigration."
FREE, Sunday, March 19, 3 p.m., P.S. 132 Juan Pablo Duarte, 185 Wadsworth Avenue
Trivia For A Cause With Trivia NYC
"Hey Dave," you're asking me, "what if I want to show off how smart I am but also do good in the world?" Well I appreciate the question and fortunately for you I have an answer. You go to Trivia for a Cause, which will take your money and give it to Planned Parenthood. Every cent you spend tonight will go to the group, and beyond shelling out for Blue Point beer specials, you can spend your scratch on raffle tickets to win things like Astoria Bookshop gift certificates, movie tickets, Blue Point swag and more. Just don't come crying to me if someone beats you at trivia, maybe you're not as smart as you think you are, you know?
FREE, Sunday, March 19, 7 p.m., Q.E.D., 27-16 23rd Avenue
Queer Soup Night
You know what's a real important thing for you to do if you want to keep on living? Eating. Food! You can't live without it. Soup is a food, and it's an especially good food for our suddenly resurgent winter weather. So head on down to Pels Pies and eat soup (comes with cornbread or challah) courtesy of the Gefilteria's Liz Alpern, because whatever money you donate for the soup will go towards the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project and the TransWomen of Color Collective.
$10 suggested donation, Sunday, March 19, 6:30 p.m., Pels Pies, 446 Rogers Avenue
WAFT Presents The Crystal Ball
Witches are having a moment, with considerable media attention coming their way for their anti-Trump activism. Continuing their election season spiritual assaults on the president, Sunday's gathering at the House of Yes will use the power of positivity and dance to raise some money for Population Action International, "who provide reproductive health services around the planet and are directly affected by the expansion of Trump’s global gag rule." Wear your witchiest outfit and dance the night away to goth, industrial, disco and pop, get your future told to you at a tarot card reading, enjoy a witch-themed cabaret. Go nuts, just don't get yourself turned into a toad.
$10, Sunday, March 19, 10 p.m., House of Yes, 2 Wyckoff Avenue
