From court-packing solidarity events to activist training, here's our roundup of some of the most notable opportunities for activism in NYC this week. As always, feel free to leave anything we've missed in the comments.
TransAlt's Activist Training: How to Overcome Campaign Hurdles
Transportation Alternatives—an advocacy group for cyclists, pedestrians, and public transit—will host this training session for activists of all stripes hoping to learn how to overcome campaign hurdles. "Whether you’re advocating for safer streets, food justice, environmental justice, or equitable housing and civil rights, the organizing skills that we’ve worked on developing in our Your City Your Voice Activist Training series can help you win real change in your neighborhood," Trans Alt's event description promises.
This training will take place at TransAlt's downtown office space, and attendees are asked to RSVP here. If you can't make it, the group will host several other activist trainings later in the month, including a 101 workshop and a more advanced session on cultivating leadership.
Tuesday, August 8th, 6:30 - 8 p.m. // 111 John Street, Suite 260, Manhattan
Shut Down Goldman Sachs Pipeline Conference
Several grassroots environmental groups will band together to protest an upcoming private conference between Goldman Sachs and pipeline and fossil fuel corporations. According to the event description, the focus of the protest "will be to tell Goldman Sachs to stop financing oil, gas, coal, and pipelines and expose the banks control over Trump and the federal government." Those interested in attending are encouraged to meet outside the Goldman headquarters in the financial district at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Thursday, August 10th, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. // 200 West Street, Manhattan
Pack the Court! Support Transit Worker Arrested on False Charges
Darryl Goodwin, the MTA clerk who was arrested for allegedly refusing to open a subway gate for a cop chasing a suspect, will appear in court for the second time on Thursday, and activists and supporters plan to show up en masse to register their objections to his arrest. Goodwin faces charges of obstruction of governmental justice, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest—charges that are "absurd" according to the NYC Workers Defense Committee, "because all NYPD members are equipped with MetroCards that give them unlimited subway access." Those who can't make it can support a fundraising campaign and learn more about the case here.
Thursday, August 10th, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. // 100 Centre Street, Manhattan
The case of Pedro Hernadez, a 17-year-old who was arrested in connection with a 2015 shooting outside a Bronx grocery store, has drawn renewed media attention since Daily News columnist Shawn King referred to him as "Riker's Island new Khalief Browder." Though Hernandez is now set to be released—thanks to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group, which announced last week that they'd be posting his $100,000 bail—criminal justice advocates still want to see the charges against him dropped. Those supporters will rally outside the Bronx District Attorney's Office on Thursday morning to demand justice for the Bronx teenager.
Thursday, August 10th, 11 a.m. // Bronx District Attorney's Office, 198 E 161st Street, Bronx
August 9th marks the third anniversary of a white police officer shooting teenager Michael Brown, kicking off nationwide protests that helped catalyze the nascent Black Lives Matter Movement. On Saturday, activist group Black Elevation will commemorate the occasion with a rally and memorial at Union Square Park. Organizations, activists, community leaders and artists who want to be involved are encouraged to sign up here.
Saturday, August 12th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. // Union Square
