SURJ Chapter Meeting with OCAB

In less than a month, Western New Yorkers head to the polls to exercise our most basic rights as citizens in a democracy. We will be making our voices heard regarding who we want to lead our schools, to preside as judges in our courts, to manage our county records, and to represent us in state and federal legislatures. The voter registration deadline to vote in the general election is October 14th!But what happens to the voices of people of color and to the voices of those of us who are white when our lawmakers draw electoral maps designed to retain their power and benefit special interests?When the Buffalo Common Council proposed a racist electoral map in early summer, a coalition of Buffalo residents showed up to hearing after hearing to express concerns and to present an alternative map that better reflects the neighborhoods where the voters reside.Despite these efforts, the Common Council voted to approve their own map and Mayor Brown ignored calls to veto.Next week, we'll have an opportunity to hear from leaders of this effort from Our City Action Buffalo (OCAB). We'll learn about the racist history of electoral maps, as well as the organizing work that OCAB has done and continues to do to make our voting districts more democratic. Join us Thursday, October 13 from 6:00-7:30pm at Pilgrim St. Luke's or on Zoom.