Page 31 - Sonoma County Gazette - August 2018

“Families Belong Together Rally” in Courtyard Square
Wow what a month; shout out to Leslie Graves, coordinator for the Wednesday Market in Santa Rosa who organized a successful “Families Belong Together Rally” in Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa with an estimated 3000 in attendance. From babies in mother’s arms to several folks in their 90’s our whole community came out to stand together with immigrants and send a message that families belong together. Estimates are that still nearly 2000 children remain detained and separated from the parents and our current administrations “Zero Tolerance” policy is setting up of thousands of immigrants for potential detainment and deportation.
Special shout out to all the folks who attended and the variety of organizations that showed up letting people know how they can get involved. Every time I saw a mother with a child I could not help but imagine what a horror it must be to have your child pulled away from you.
Sonoma County Human Rights Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women funding cut
Really Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (BOS)! You are cutting staff funding for the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women at a time when women’s productive rights are in jeopardy and there is an effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The purpose of the Commission on the Status of Women is to promote equal rights and opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all women and girls, and to address issues of discrimination and prejudice that negatively affect women in Sonoma County. Both are needed more than ever. sonomacounty.ca.gov/Commission-on-the- Status-of-Women/ With a women majority on the BOS, I cannot understand how this is happening, can someone let me know?
In addition the BOS is cutting the staff funding for the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights (CRC) at a time when The United States has pulled out of the United Nations Human Rights Council, The primary purpose of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is to promote better human relations among all people in Sonoma County through education, advocacy, and by initiating action that fosters the recognition of, and appreciation
for, the diversity of our community. sonomacounty.ca.gov/Commission-on- Human-Rights/
In cutting county staff support, in my mind, they are degrading both commissions thus creating a potential to fail. Both of these Commissions are
a venue for Santa Rosa and all of Sonoma County to have a voice and a place when people can voice their concerns. I suggest that folks call your supervisor and encourage them to find the funding to support these two commissions, Sonoma County Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Summer Fun
“RISE UP!” A NOW Garden Party and Summer Social
Featuring: Haute Flash Trio—Gypsy jazz inspired women. As the grassroots arm of the women’s movement, the National Organization for Women is dedicated to its multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights, and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. NOW has hundreds of chapters and hundreds of thousands of members and activists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It will take place
The event takes place on Monday, August 27 at the Sonoma County Central Library, Santa Rosa Branch, 211 E St, Santa Rosa, from 6:30-8:00pm. For further information call 707-393-7661. This is a free event.
Snoopy’s Birthday Celebration at the Charles M. Schulz
Museum in Santa Rosa It’s the year of the Dog and time to Celebrate Snoopy’s Birthday at 11:00am and 2:00pm with Snoopy himself. Enjoy photo opts throughout the museum, create a sweet lollipop craft to take home
and collect an exclusive Snoopy Birthday button. The event takes place on August 18, at The Charles Schulz Museum and Research Center, 2201 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa from 10:00am – 5:00pm. For more information go to www. schulzmuseum.org
on Saturday, August 11 at Howarth Park, 630 Summerfield Rd, Santa Rosa, from 1:00 - 4:00pm. This is a free event and all ages welcome. Ice Cream and Refreshments will be served.
Racial Discussion Group at Main Library in Santa Rosa
The program will be facilitated by, Dr. Jacqueline Lawrence, founder of Legacy Showcase. The main purpose behind this, according to Lawrence
is to have an open discussion related to race, individual own biases and to find ways to embrace our differences. “It is important to be able to look at our prejudices around race and talk about them,” she said. Lawrence, the producer of “Unshackled” and author of numerous stage plays found after the performances people wanted to talk about race and how it is affecting them which motivated her to create this platform. “I knew it was time to do something so we could move forward.”
Something to think about: “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” ― John Fitzgerald “Jack” Kennedy, commonly referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.
During this first meeting participants will have an opportunity to prioritize what they believe are important issues to talk about along with having an opportunity to explore their own biases.
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