Stories & Events for Social Connection

• Fighting for freedom: Nurul, I-Post, truth and justice
• Musings on Music: Mohawk Place will rise again
• Featured Events: 20 this issue, always encouraging submissions!
• Links to the Deep End: I-Post, Charlie Specht, Buffalo Rising, GObike

hank you for your attention!

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The First Amendment is in grave danger, from the full force of The White House to continued assaults by oligarchs.

In facing this fight collectively, there’s a common rally cry: “What do we do when we’re under attack? Stand up, fight back!”    

It takes a village of freedom fighters to maintain a free society – people who organize and address gatherings, disseminate information and ideas, and challenge the system in court, empowered by in the First Amendment to the United State Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Everyday people must band together to seek truth and justice when basic freedoms and rights are denied to the likes of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who died in Buffalo last week, five days after being dropped by Border Patrol agents outside a closed business on a sub-freezing night, being barefoot, blind, unable to speak English and unaware of his family’s whereabouts, having barely settled here as a refugee from Burma before being arrested by Buffalo Police over a dispute with a new neighbor and jailed for a year by Erie County officials.

In light of such a tragic series of affronts to freedom and dignity by supposed public servants at nearly every level of our government, we’re left asking, what happened? Who’s responsible? Where do we go from here?

Through our First Amendment freedom of the press, the diligence of reporting by Investigative Post, and the supporters who fund the nonprofit news organization, we’re continuing to learn the truth behind the tragedy of Nurul’s life and death in Buffalo, and with that truth we are emboldened to gather in his honor and demand justice from people in power.

That’s why I’m a longtime reader and supporter of Investigative Post, and I’m honored to have been asked to join their ranks as an events manager – please join me in supporting these First Amendment freedom fighters, and attend our regular events when the subject and timing appeal to you.

While our next event is hyperlocal – a panel and discussion on the State of the Theatre District, Tuesday, March 24th, 7-9pm at Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main Street downtown, more info here and below, $10 tickets available here – upcoming events will include a deep dive into ways to address the wide range of issues facing our struggling city, a series of film screenings and bookstore gatherings, and occasional concerts. Please bookmark and subscribe to Investigative Post, and stay tuned here for much more to come.

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Musings on Music

Flood relief for local musicians

Mohawk Place is in the news again for a shift in ownership – well, at least Buffalo Business First, so far crickets from The Buffalo News. That void leaves an opening for The Buffalo Hive, which might’ve set a record for their number of posts last month.

Folks like me who lack a subscription to Buffalo Business First can read the news in Syracuse.com(?!), whose writer echoes Biz First’s report that musician and bar owner Sam Marabella has assumed ownership of Mohawk Place. Word on the street is that he’s no longer part of the ownership group at Nietzsche’s, which he joined last year, and is now leasing Mohawk from the group that saved the building from the wrecking ball last year and had a few months of shows before halting, reportedly due to delays in acquiring a liquor license.

I keep saying here – Mohawk will rise again! Like The Irving Klaws sing below, “Got a Lotta Lovin’” for the ‘Hawk. Save it again, Sam, here’s to another life for this cat-like club so beloved in Buffalo.

Photo and article from Buffalo Business First

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Events in the Week Ahead

Thanks to all who’ve submitted their events! Click the flyers for more info!

Welcoming submissions with a flyer and link to seamus@reconnecter.org.

Kindred calendars:

The Buffalo Hive

Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA)

Buffalo Community Calendar

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Links to the Deep End

• Investigative Post is also reporting on The trouble with Save the Michaels: “Erie County is pulling funds from the addiction treatment program in light of audits that uncovered fiscal mismanagement and other problems.” 
• Independent journalism continues to grow as another local investigative reporter steps out: Charlie Specht on Why I’m leaving corporate media to go independent — and how you can help.
• A new third space for social connection: Newell Nussbaumer writes in Buffalo Rising about the new Cafe Gezellig in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, opened by the Cox family. “We want to create a real sense of place. Something authentic – nothing fake,” said Ethan Cox. “We’re creating something that respects the history of the building, the neighborhood, and the people that have worked so hard to preserve it all. I understand that I’m in an old Polish bank on the East Side. I will respect that.”
• The Buffalo Hive editor-in-chief Elmer Ploetz shares an original protest song in his blog, inviting all to work up their own version of “I Believe in Tomorrow.”
• Finally, in radical news, shout out to founding director of GObike Buffalo Justin Booth on becoming the City of Buffalo’s Commissioner of Parking under new Mayor Sean Ryan. He gave an exit interview upon leaving GObike after 20 years, as they announced this will be the final year of their annual Skyride fundraiser.

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Thank YOU for reading this far and being part of it all – extra thanks to everyone supporting this work with a membership at www.reconnecter.org!

Please share with friends to sign up for the next Buffalodown, and reach out with any feedback, all ideas welcome!