Solidarity Lowell

Freedom Forum: Say Her Name - the life and death of Sandra Bland
2019-09-14 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | MA
Mass Action Against Police Brutality is hosting a public screening of Say Her Name: the life and death of Sandra Bland. Sandra Bland was a Black woman who was stopped by a Texas State Trooper on July 13, 2015, falsely arrested on a felony charge, faced a $5,000 bail on a Friday evening, and was dead by Monday, found hanging from a noose.
Hear her story and the ongoing fight for justice for Sandra Bland and all victims of police brutality.

Celebrating Immigrants through Music
2019-09-13 20:00 - 21:30 | MA
A variety of music will be performed from Cambodia, Africa and Brazil as well as works by immigrant composers Igor Stravinsky, Max Lifchitz, Jaime León Ferro and Tan Dun who settled in the United States from Russia, Mexico, Colombia and China respectively. MCC faculty members Orlando Cela, flute; Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta, piano; Marcus Santos, pandero; and Anna Ward, soprano will be joined by Sovann Khon, tro sau and the African Fellowship Choir and drummers of Eliot Church.
A Welcoming Week event

Welcoming Week Lowell 2019
2019-09-13 18:00 - 21:00 | MA
From September 13-22, 2019, enjoy a week’s worth of engaging events that focus on welcoming and celebrating everyone in the Lowell community – immigrants, refugees, and longtime residents. We can’t wait!

Dinner in the Park with LTC
2019-09-12 18:30 - 21:00 | MA
Join us for an evening of delicious food, local wine and brews, music, and conversation at LTC’s biggest annual fundraiser on Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 6:30 to 9:00pm at Kerouac Park in Downtown Lowell.
This event is an elegant evening dinner party featuring dinner courses from five or more of Lowell’s best chefs paired with wine and beer, and live jazz music. It will be held outdoors, under an open-sided tent in Kerouac Park. Dress is cocktail attire. There will be a raffle and a complementary drink of your choice (with cash bar thereafter). For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.LTCDinnerinthePark.com

Bow Mobilization Mass Call
2019-09-12 18:00 - 19:00 | MA
As we head towards the mass action at the Merrimack Generating Station on September 28th, we need to share knowledge, get to know one another, and prepare for the action. Each week in September we will host a Mass Call for all who are planning on participating on September 28th.
September 5 – 6PM
September 12 – 6PM
September 19 – 6PM
September 26 – 6PM
These calls will have two tracks: one for those joining for the first time, and those who have already participated in a mass call. There will be opportunities to answer questions about the strategy behind the action, talk through the logistics of the day, get affinity group formation, and get to know the those helping lead this exciting campaign.
PLEASE RSVP HERE: https://actionnetwork.org/events/95-bow-action-mass-call

City Council Candidating 2019
2019-09-12 17:30 - 20:30 | MA
Join CBA and Lowell Votes for a chance to meet city council candidates in a fun, friendly environment. Candidates will move from table to table, just like with “speed dating”. You’ll be able to ask your questions so you can decide who to vote for in the preliminary on September 24th.
Spanish and Khmer interpreters, food, drinks, and child care will be available.
Co-sponsored by the Coalition for a Better Acre and Lowell Votes.

GoLowell Kickoff
2019-09-11 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
Join us to kickoff the #GoLowell plan!
We want to hear how you get around the City today and what we can do to make it safer and easier.
Translation services and childcare will be provided.
Email Go@LowellMA.gov with any questions

Defund Hate Walk from Boston to Concord
2019-09-11 09:00 - 16:00 | MA
Like Paul Revere and William Dawes, we will be going from Boston to Concord to spread the word to #DefundHate and #CloseTheCamps. We will be walking along Massachusetts Avenue carrying prominent signs to draw attention to the issue. This event is just some concerned citizens taking a walk. Join us for the entire walk (15 miles) or part of the walk (we will provide a route and anticipated times to interested people). Combine your need for exercise with your love of resisting – Resistercize!

Gender Marker X Bill Hearing
2019-09-10 10:30 - 13:30 | MA
Gender marker X bill hearing is scheduled for Tuesday Sept. 10th at 10:30am in Gardner Auditorium at the Statehouse.
Here’s what you can do now:
Submit testimony: Write a short statement about why you support Massachusetts residents having the option to designate ‘X’ on their IDs rather than ‘Male’ or ‘Female’. Send that to Tre’Andre Valentine at TreAndreValentine@masstpc.org or by snail mail to: MTPC, PO Box 960784, Boston, MA 02196. MTPC will submit a packet of testimonials to the joint committee at the hearing. Please make sure your testimony is in by Monday Sept. 9th by 9pm.
Attend the hearing simply to be counted among those who care about this issue. We need people to show up.
Present oral testimony: Sign up to testify for up to 3 minutes by contacting Rep. Domb’s office at: Mindy.Domb@mahouse.gov or (617) 722-2400 or simply show up to the hearing, sign-in and register the day of.
Contact members of the Joint Committee for State Administration and Regulatory Oversight encouraging them to report the bill favorably out of committee. Joint committees have both senators and representatives, but the priority now is to contact the Representatives on the committee.
https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J25

Lowell Talks: Memorializing Mill Girls
2019-09-08 14:00 - 15:30 | MA
How do we remember the mill girls who worked in Lowell, Mass.? How did they choose to be memorialized in death?
For this community conversation, we will be joined by UMass Lowell English Professor Bridget Marshall. Professor Marshall has conducted extensive research on Lowell mill girls. In addition to examining their literary lives, Prof. Marshall has written about graves and memorials erected in honor of Lowell’s working women.
Free and open to all.
Sunday, September 8, 2-3:30 p.m.
Boott Cotton Mills Museum
115 John St., Lowell, MA

Show Immigrant Solidarity: Drivers' License Community Forum
2019-09-08 13:30 - 15:00 | MA
Warm up for Welcoming Week by attending our community forum where we will hear from local and state leaders of the Driving Families Forward campaign on how this will help make roads safer for everyone, while allowing immigrants the ability to own a standard driver’s license, regardless of immigration status.

Buzz For Safety Event
2019-09-08 12:00 - 16:00 | MA
The Buzz For Safety Festival will aim to increase awareness on gender-based violence and how it is connected to toxic masculinity by providing performances from local artists and carrying discussion while folks receive a hair cut with local barbers from Billy’s Barbershop.

Critical Lowell Immigration Meeting on Sunday, September 8th
2019-09-08 08:00 - 17:00 | MA
With September right around the corner, MVP immigrant justice leaders are looking toward a probable mid-September hearing regarding the Work and Family Mobility Act, a bill which would provide drivers licenses to our undocumented brothers and sisters statewide. MVP leaders have been actively calling, writing, and meeting with state legislators to earn their support for this critical piece of legislation. Unfortunately, we still have some of our elected officials who have not yet publicly signed on to this critical bill that would protect our immigrant communities.
Knowing this, MVP will be hosting a Lowell Immigration Town Hall to hear campaign updates and to strategize ways to earn our local officials’ support. MVP’s statewide coalition partners have asked MVP to commit to bringing a set amount of attendees and we at MVP are dedicated to reaching this goal by bringing a strong team of dedicated pro-immigrant supporters to the event. Below is the information for the event:
What: Lowell Immigration Town Hall
When: Sunday, September 8th from 1:30-2:45 PM
Where: Christ Church United, 1 Bartlett St., Lowell
Why: To rally citywide support for the Work and Family Mobility Act
Please confirm your attendance by emailing MVP at mvalleypr@gmail.comand let us know how many people will be joining you. Our goal is to pack the church and to let it be known that we need our Lowell elected officials to step up and be leaders when it comes to protecting our city’s immigrant populations.
Onward!

Upcoming Events
September 8 – Lowell Immigration Town Hall
September 10 – Haverhill Chapter Meeting
September 12 – Lowell Chapter Meeting
September 25 – Lawrence Chapter Meeting
October 5 – MVP Annual Convention at 9 AM
November 9 – MICAH Dinner, All Saints Parish, Haverhill

Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook.
Check out our website.
Donate to support MVP.
Donate to support Marius, a guest and asylum-seeker of the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network.

Shame on Marty Walsh: a response to police violence
2019-09-07 14:00 - 17:00 | MA
On Saturday August 23rd, Mayor Marty Walsh handed the alt-right a permit to march down the streets of Boston in a “Straight Pride Parade”. He also gave police forces from all over the state— as well as the F.B.I. and National Guard— the green-light to attack peaceful LGBTQ+ counter-protesters. Bearing “Blue Lives Matter” flags, they targeted medics, marshalls, and press in a calculated attempt to protect the white nationalists, who called for the forced removal of immigrants, a return to sexual “normalcy”, and Trumps re-election, among other things.
The results of the action, while terrifying, are ultimately unsurprising. There is documented evidence that a large portion of the B.P.D. is, in fact, part of the alt-right. And over the past few years, we have seen the militarization of black and brown communities progressively escalate— countless ICE raids have taken place in Walsh’s “Sanctuary City”, and just last month, Operation ‘Clean Sweep’ brutalized multiple folks experiencing homelessness and put them behind bars.
It is time to hold Mayor Walsh and the B.P.D. accountable for their actions.
This Saturday, meet us for a rally outside of City Hall to demand:
? DROP THE CHARGES: The courts + city are trying to make an example of anyone arrested by way of bogus charges and outrageous punitive measures. Anti-facism is not a crime!
? RESIGNATION OF JOHN DANILECKI: Captain Danilecki of the B.P.D. Bike Unit is one of the top 50 paid public employees in Boston as of 2016 ($315,750.29/year), and spearheaded the brutality that we saw last Saturday.
? RESIGNATION OF THOMAS HORGAN: Out of the 36 protestors arraigned this week, three were ordered by Judge Thomas Horgan to “stay out of Boston”, under threat of arrest. He didn’t explain his reasoning, but we know why he did it. The State and its agents will continue to uphold white nationalism unless we FIGHT BACK.
? END THE MILITARIZATION OF BLACK + BROWN COMMUNITIES: We stand firmly against gentrification, against the criminalization of poverty and homelessness, against the long legacies of violence left behind by Jim Crow’s loitering laws, and against the War on Drugs

Gurjar India Heritage Fest
2019-09-07 12:00 - 18:00 | MA
Gurjar’s BIGGEST festival is here. Free Entry, Lots of food, shopping, kids activities, performances, prizes and much more.

September Open Studios At Western Avenue
2019-09-07 12:00 - 17:00 | MA
Artists Open Their Doors For
September Open Studios
Sep 7, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
On the first Saturday of every month, Western Avenue Studios & Western Avenue Lofts artists open their doors to the public. Come take a peek inside their work spaces and see for yourself why #WesternAveArts is the creative soul of Lowell,Mass ..
What else happens on an #OSSaturday? The Loading Dock Gallery hosts its’ monthly reception for the gallery’s new show – These Shoes Are Made For Walking – from 4-6pm. Navigation Brewing Co. is hosting a fundraiser for the NH Roller Derby with members hanging at NB from 12-5pm. And a food truck will be ready for action from noon – 8pm.
Western Avenue is a complex of four buildings of artist studios and loft residences that number over 350 artists. We think that makes us the largest artist community at least on the East Coast – right here in Lowell MA!!
This is a free event AND we have plenty of free parking.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram >> @westernavearts
+ Sign up on our website for our
monthly e-newsletter — westernavenuestudios.com
We hope to see you there!!

Vesna for Lowell Old Court Fundraiser
2019-09-05 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
You’re invite to join Michael Gallagher, Molly Sheehy, Peter Martin, Lianna Kushi & Bob Montgomery for a fundraiser in support of Vesna Nuon’s campaign for city council.
Suggested donation: $50, $100, $200
Donate by check at the door, or online at: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/vesnaforlowell

New Americans Voter Registration Drive
2019-09-05 11:00 - 13:30 | Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 E Merrimack St, Lowell, 01852, United States
One of the best parts of becoming a U.S. citizen is being able to vote. So every time that newly naturalized U.S. citizens are sworn in at the Lowell Auditorium, we greet them at the door and invite them to register to vote right there. Join our next voter registration drive and help us ensure that all U.S. citizens make their voices heard – whether they’re citizens by birth, or by choice.
Schedule (all times are approximate):
First shift (2 volunteers):
11:00-12:00: Hand out voter registration forms to all citizens
12:15-12:45: Go inside the auditorium to watch the naturalization ceremony (if you want)
Second shift (8 volunteers):
12:45-1:30: Return to the lobby to collect forms from new citizens and sort them out for delivery/mailing to the town halls.
Parking fills up quickly because there are so many people attending the ceremony. The best place to park is probably Lower Locks Parking Garage on Warren St. (usually $10 event parking), then cross the covered bridge over to the auditorium. There is also metered street parking.
No prior experience necessary; we’ll train you! If you want to bring a group, email jrivera@miracoalition.org.

Next 350 MA meeting: Tom Golden!
2019-09-04 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
Rep Tom Golden will be coming to our next 350 MA meeting! He is chair of the state legislature’s energy committee and has a major say on a lot of the important climate change legislation we want to see.
The meeting will be at our usual place: Wednesday 9/4 at 7 pm at Mill 5 (4th floor, 250 Jackson St).
Please come! We plan to discuss current legislation and our main message is simple: we need to do as much as we can to move away from fossil fuel and towards renewable energy. And do it as fast as we can!
You don’t have to be prepared to speak,although you’re welcome to. But it’s really important for Tom to see that Lowell residents and especially constituents care about this.
See you Wednesday!

The Work and Family Mobility Act Hearing
2019-09-04 09:30 - 15:30 | MA
On Wednesday September 4, the Transportation Committee will hear testimony on the Work and Family Mobility Act. Community allies, advocates, faith leaders, businesses and law enforcement agree—undocumented immigrants deserve the right to a license. The hearing is our opportunity to show why Massachusetts needs Driver’s Licenses for All.
It is important that our Driving Families Forward Coalition shows up in full force throughout the duration of the hearing. The hearing will take place inside room B-1 in the Massachusetts State House starting at 9:30am and will continue throughout the day.
We hope you will join us for a successful hearing day to ensure we keep #DrivingMAForward!

Immigrant Rights Committee monthly Planning Meeting
2019-09-03 18:30 - 20:00 | MA
(Art by Kadir Nelson, So Together, 2016)
We will meet on Tuesday, Sep. 4, since Monday is Labor Day. Next month we will go back to our usual first Monday of the month.
Planning the potluck event in conjunction with Welcoming Week Lowell 2019, and strategizing about networking with other immigrant communities.
Sign up link for contributions to the potluck event on September 15, please share: https://mealtrain.com/1g5eo6. There is also an option for financial contributions on that page.
Proposed agenda:
– Planning the potluck event: Final logistics checklist, start time and place for setup, what do we still need?
– Continuing outreach to other Lowell groups to build alliances and support immigrant rights and needs.
– Work with MVP (Merrimack Valley Project) to support the Work and Family Mobility Act. https://www.facebook.com/DrivingFamiliesForward/
– Work with MIRA to support the the Safe Communities Act https://actnow.io/JNdtN99
– Other immigration related topics.
Bring guests, all are welcome.

35th Bread & Roses Heritage Festival
2019-09-02 11:30 - 18:00 | MA
As the region’s only true Labor Day festival, 35th Annual Bread & Roses Heritage Festival is an open-air arts and music festival honoring Lawrence, Massachusetts’ multi-cultural roots and rich labor history while commemorating the most significant event in Lawrence history: the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. A day of activism and family fun, the Festival boasts 3 stages of socially conscious performances, an array of family activities, rows of community vendors, historical trolley and walking tours, culturally diverse food offerings, educational presentations and more!

Boston Labor Day March!
2019-09-02 11:00 - 14:00 | MA
From the border to New England and all over the country, hard-working immigrants are being criminalized, detained, deported and separated from their families. We need to come together to say enough is enough!
This Labor Day, lets stand together to uplift the immigrant workers who built our country while advocating for crucial legislation in MA, including access to driver’s licenses for all regardless of immigration status. Join us as we will also honor this march in remembrance of our late union President, Héctor Figueroa, a fearless giant and immigrant rights champion.
An attack on immigrants, is an attack on all of us. Let’s stand together and fight back!
MARCH START LOCATION: Copley Square
MARCH END LOCATION: Boston Commons (Bandstand area)
TIME: 11 am
Performances throughout the day by:
– Honk Band
– Foundation Movement
Co-Sponsors:
– SEIU State Council
– Indivisible Massachusetts
– 1199SEIU Massachusetts
– Driving Families Forward
– MCAN – Massachusetts Communities Action Network
– Brazilian Worker Center/Centro do Trabalhador Brasileiro
– Massachusetts Interfaith Worker Justice
– The Chelsea Collaborative
– Field First

Merrimack Valley Overdose Awareness Day
2019-08-31 18:00 - 21:30 | MA

Straight Pride is Hate Pride
2019-08-31 11:00 - 15:00 | MA
“Straight Pride Parade” – sounds like a joke, right? Well, it is, but local far-right homophobic and transphobic activists are working to make it a reality in Boston by holding one on August 31st.
More than an absurd joke, this is an attempt to gain legitimacy for a violently homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic agenda. The organizers have a long track record of bigotry and support of fascist groups. SPLC-designated hate group Mass Resistance has shown early interest in the event.
In August 2017, the people of Boston dealt a body blow to the national alt-right by bringing out thousands of people to tell these fascists — many of them the same people as those organizing the “straight pride parade” — that we won’t have hate in our city. Let’s turn out again to show them that however they rebrand, we see through their lies and will always come out united against their hate.

Fight Supremacy: Hands Off Our Pride
2019-08-31 09:00 - 12:00 | MA
In August of 2017 Monica Cannon-Grant and Didi Delgado with 45,000 of their closest friends marched from Roxbury to Boston Common in response to Charlottesville and the Whyte Supremacist that were promoting hatred in Boston.
Word on the Street is that “Whyte Supremacist” oops I meant “Straight Pride Folks” plan to show up August 31st…well so will we? We as a City have to send a message that your Hatred, Phobias and Racism isn’t welcomed here.
HANDS OF OUR PRIDE?
For Questions, Sponsorship, Volunteers please contact: movementresistance@gmail.com
Organized by: Violence In Boston Inc. & Black Lives Matter Cambridge

Neighbor to Neighbor Worcester Kick Off
2019-08-27 19:00 - 23:00 | MA
We are excited to be back in Worcester! Join us for a night of Solidarity, Celebration, and Liberation as we kick off the relaunch of our Worcester Chapter. We welcome the Worcester community and surrounding cities/towns to Bull Mansion. Friday September 27th From 7:00pm to 11:00
For Food, Drinks, and Music! Special guests, Sponsors, and Speakers to be announced leading to the event.
Suggested Donations listed on the ticket link.
No one will be turned away at the door!
Additional Event details: Multilingual, Handicap Access.

Solidarity Lowell August Meeting - public event
2019-08-25 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
Join us for the monthly general meeting of Solidarity Lowell!
Featuring Mary Taurus, who will present an overview of the four election system options that will be up for a vote by the City Council, and provide opportunity for discussion and feedback.

Interfaith Prayer Vigil
2019-08-25 14:00 - 15:00 | MA
Join MCAN as we raise our voices and prayers in support of ICE detainees. A monthly gathering that draws together different faith traditions, we are able to gather in fellowship with the detained who come to the windows of the Suffolk County Jail to witness the power of the people who remind them they are not alone or forgotten. This month’s vigil is co-sponsored with King’s Chapel.

5th Annual Family Festival
2019-08-25 12:00 - 16:00 | The Center for Hope and Healing, 435 Rogers St, Lowell, 01852, United States
The Center for Hope and Healing’s 5th Annual Family Festival and (BRAND NEW!!!) Wellness Fair
Every summer The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc. transforms Shedd Park into our own amusement park with games, water activities, live music, food, and raffles.
New this year!!! A wellness fair! Festival vendors will be unified by a common theme of wellness and we will host community fitness classes throughout the day.
Follow the social media buzz for the event with #CHHFamFest19
**Check back for the community fitness schedule!**
All event proceeds support survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones in our community.
