Hundreds Protest On (Not My) President’s Day

Leave a comment

By Laura Glesby, Feb 17, New Haven Independent

Holding up a pink triangle sign — which in another time and place might have marked them for death — Patricio seized a moment of silence, cupped their hands over their mouth, and started a chant of their own among the hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Hall.

Laura Glesby Photos

Their words — “Trans rights are human rights!” — spread
through the crowd like fire.

Patricio was one of about 400 people who filled the Church Street sidewalk outside City Hall at noon on Monday, braving forceful winds. The rally emerged as part of a national effort to protest President Donald Trump’s administration on President’s Day — sparked at least in part by the 50501 Movement (standing for “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement”), a massive online grassroots effort that originated on Reddit to coordinate mass protests of the Trump administration all throughout the country. The protests were advertised in advance as “Not My President’s Day” events.

Laura Glesby Photos

With no featured speakers or identifiable organizational leaders, random individuals like Patricio found themselves yelling out chants for the crowd to organically echo.

People called out a wide range of pithy slogans: “Lock him up!”, “Gaza is not a resort!”, “Send Elon to Mars!”, “Hands off my healthcare!”, “Support civil servants!”, “Rule of Law!”, “Black Lives Matter!”, and “Save science!”

Each chant gained traction in one corner of the crowd, then spread like a wave through the rest of the protest. Every so often, someone would start a rendition of “God Bless America,” “This Land is Your Land,” or “We Shall Overcome.” Both an American flag and an LGBTQIA+ Pride flag rippled through the windy air.

Many attendees held up signs hearkening back to Nazi Germany, featuring crossed-out swastikas, the words “Never again,” and Holocaust-inspired poetry. One protester used a bullhorn adorned with a sticker of the infamous Nazi salute by Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on earth now acting as the country’s unelected, unratified government downsizer. “Hitler dismantled democracy in 53 days,” one sign recalled.

[To read the article in its entirety and to see more photos,
please go to https://bit.ly/4i44t0a]

The 50501 Movement

Leave a comment

The first action of the 50501 Movement was on Feb. 5, protesting Project 2025 in front of the capitols of every state. In Hartford, a number of PAR readers joined the crowd of 500 in front of the State Capitol. The second 50501 action was on Feb. 17, Presidents’ Day.

The 50501 Movement is a coalition demanding justice, transparency, accountability, and an end to executive overreach. Despite being seen as leaderless, every individual, state, city, grassroots organization, and activist is a leader in this movement.

To find out about more national days of action, visit the website https://www.fiftyfifty.one.

New ICE Age Response Team: Prepare, Don’t Panic

Leave a comment

by Paul Bass, Feb 18, New Haven Independent

[The following are excerpts. To read the entire article, please go to http://bit.ly/41dh0aA]

If an ICE (federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement) agent is indeed at the door: “I don’t wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United Stations Constitution … I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights … unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door …”

A coalition of 60 agencies and nonprofit groups is spreading those red cards, and that calm-but-ready message, to the heart of New Haven’s immigrant community, which is bracing for ICE mass deportation raids promised by the newly installed Trump administration. …

“Exactly what the Trump administration wants is just fear, to incite fear and panic and chaos,” Yenimar Cortes, New Haven organizer for CT Students For A Dream, said during a New ICE Age conversation Tuesday on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.” She was joined by fellow organizers Fatima Rojas of Semilla Collective, Junta case worker Jacqueline Gonzalez, and high school youth organizer Ambar Santiago-Rojas.

An estimated 100,000 undocumented people live in Connecticut.
You can call the rapid response hotline at 220-666-4472. Rojas said people can call her at 203-747-4309 for information on attending the coalition’s Saturday community engagement meetings. Cortes invited people to contact her group at 203-787-0191 for information on Know Your Rights workshops.

March 9: Socialist Essentials

Leave a comment

By Possible Futures Bookspace

On Sunday, March 9, from 2-3:30 p.m., the bookspace at Possible Futures, 318 Edgewood Ave in New Haven, will be hosting members of the Connecticut chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for another meeting of Socialist Essentials, an introductory class on learnings and discussions around Capitalism, Socialism, and organizing for change. RSVP at https://bit.ly/4k7M9Fb.

More about the DSA in their own words: “Connecticut DSA is a statewide chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States. Our members are organizers – in the streets, workplaces, and neighborhoods – where we are bringing workers, tenants, and all exploited peoples into class struggle, building power in our movement for democratic socialism.”

Contact: Possible Futures, 203-446-2070 or info@possiblefuturesbooks.com.

Grab Your Beads & Dancing Shoes—Mardi Gras 2025 Is Almost Here!

Leave a comment

by Manmita Dutta, New Haven Free Public Library Foundation

Mark your calendars—Mardi Gras is back on Tuesday, March 4! Join us for the Annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser benefiting the New Haven Free Public Library.

Celebrate with us as we bring the vibrancy and spirit of Mardi Gras to New Haven! Enjoy a night filled with festive music, delicious food, and incredible community spirit—all while supporting programs that promote equity, literacy, and access for all.

This year, we’re excited to honor two extraordinary individuals. Alder Honda Smith (Ward 30) will receive the Library Champion Award for Community Service, and Brad Gallant—Former President of the NHFPL Board of Directors and Former Member of the NHFPL Foundation Board of Directors—is the recipient of the Champion Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Tickets are now on sale. More information: https://tinyurl.com/52utcw7c

48′-Wide Billboard Says ‘Stop Arming Israel’

Leave a comment

by Stanley Heller, Middle East Crisis Committee

There’s an electronic billboard over the highway just as I-91 flows into I-95 going towards New York City. Since Feb. 10, for eight seconds out of every minute of the day and night, drivers and passengers will see the urgent message “Stop the War, Stop Arming Israel.” The billboard directs people to the website StopArmingIsrael.org. It will be on display through March 9.

A coalition of groups and individuals thought of using the method of billboard to reach people not usually seen in progressive areas. It’s expensive but at the very least we hope this billboard display will normalize the idea of stopping the guns to Israel.

The Coalition is made up of the Middle East Crisis Committee, Palestine Solidarity Committee of Danbury, Health Care Workers 4 Palestine – Connecticut, CT for a World BEYOND War, Veterans for Peace Chapter 18, Connecticut Palestine Alliance (CTPA), Justin Paglino, MD–PhD, Tree of Life Education Fund, Hassan Fouda, and Promoting Enduring Peace. A score of other people made donations.

On behalf of the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Danbury, Dr. Justine McCabe said, “The imperial and immoral actions of the US—in arming Israel’s genocide as well as in its support for autocratic regimes in the region—dangerously collide with the persistent striving for democracy by ‘decolonized’ people who overwhelmingly identify with Palestinians.” She continued, “While working as an anthropologist and psychologist in Gaza and West Bank, I witnessed the intense frustration and disgust among Palestinians for US unconditional support for Israel—long before this genocidal war. In fact, US support for apartheid Israel as its geopolitical proxy to control the Middle East makes both Israelis and Americans less safe, less secure. Tragically, in their ‘special relationship’ as hyper-militarized cultures, the US and Israel dehumanize their own citizens by their brutalizing dehumanization of Palestinians.”

Besides messaging the general public, the coalition will alert each member of the CT legislature, the governor and federal elected officials about the billboard and the need for each of them to act to stop weapons from going to Israel.

Palestine Solidarity Online Forum March 5

Leave a comment

Women & Gender Studies Dept., SCSU

The Southern CT State University Women’s & Gender Studies Department will hosting a forum titled “Palestine Solidarity and Movements for Gender, Racial, and Intersectional Justice” with esteemed scholars and activists Ahlam Muhtaseb (California State University-San Bernardino), Isis Nusair (Denison University), Laila Farrah (DePaul University), and Penny Rosenwasser (Jewish Voice for Peace, SF; City College of San Francisco). The event will be held online, March 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EST. The link to register is here: bit.ly/3COQ9ty.

For more information, please email wgs@southernct.edu or phone 203-392-6133.

New Fact-Checking Resource Available at the New Haven Free Public Library

Leave a comment

NHFPL Communications and Marketing Team

At the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL), we believe that informed communities are strong communities. That’s why we’re excited to celebrate National News Literacy Week by launching our brand-new Information Literacy page!

In today’s fast-paced digital world, misinformation spreads quickly. It can be challenging to tell the difference between reliable news, misleading content, and outright falsehoods. Our new Information Literacy page is designed to help you develop the skills to fact-check sources, recognize bias, and think critically about the information you consume.

Our new page (which can be accessed at nhfpl.org/factcheck) offers fact-checking resources to verify claims and debunk misinformation, tips for evaluating sources and spotting fake news, and links to free guides on media bias to help you navigate today’s media landscape.

All resources shared on this page are unbiased, nonpartisan, and verified as trustworthy by our information professionals on staff. Whether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner, these tools will empower you to engage with the news confidently and responsibly.

We’re proud to announce we’ll also be hosting more programming in the future centered around building these skills for all ages. We’ve also added some new books to our collection to assist with fact-checking and evaluating news sources. Sign up for our monthly newsletter at nhfpl.org/subscribe for updates on these offerings.

Join us in promoting news literacy and building a more informed community. Visit nhfpl.org/factcheck today or call your local branch for assistance.

Attention, Gardeners: We Have Garden Seeds for You!

Leave a comment

Hamden Miller Memorial Library

Volunteers at the Hamden Miller Memorial Library will staff the Seed Library two afternoons each week:

* Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m. through June 5

* Saturdays from 2-4:30 p.m. through June 7

A basic assortment of current-season seeds will be on display whenever the Seed Library is staffed.

Also, a wide selection of past-season seeds is available for self-service whenever Miller Memorial Library is open. These include vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals (annuals and perennials).

Can’t visit while we are staffed? We are working on a short list of common veggie seeds (and a few flowers and herbs) to be available to request, and we will fill limited requests weekly for pickup at any Hamden Library branch. Look for details at the Seed Library.

We are located at 2901 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Commemoration 11:30 a.m. March 25

Leave a comment

rememberthetrianglefire.org

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was the site of one of the worst workplace tragedies in American history. On March 25, 1911, fire broke out at the factory, which occupied the top three floors of the ten-story Asch Building, in Greenwich Village, New York City. At the time, there were over 500 employees—most were young women; most were recent immigrants. The fire began on the 8th floor; most workers on the eighth and tenth floors were able to escape. However, those on the 9th floor, where the rear door was locked to prevent theft, were trapped. The locked exit, the collapse of the fire escape, and the inability of the fire truck ladders to reach above the sixth floor, resulted in the death of 146 workers, mostly young women. Many of the victims jumped to their death, rather than remain in the burning building.

Before the fire, workers at the Triangle Factory, along with thousands of other workers in the shirtwaist industry, were actively organizing for union recognition as a protection from the dangerous and abusive conditions. Company employees, some as young as 14, worked nine to sixteen hours a day. In November 1909, over 20,000 immigrant garment workers in their teens and twenties left their shops in an eleven-week general strike for union recognition and better working conditions. Known as the “Uprising of the 20,000,” it was the largest strike by women to date in US history.

After the fire, the company’s owners were acquitted of manslaughter charges and paid a maximum of $75 in damages to 23 of the victims’ families. However, the horror of the fire outraged the public, and led to many important reforms, including the creation of agencies to regulate health and safety conditions in the workplace. The fire also strengthened the nascent labor union organizing efforts, led largely by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.

The Official Commemoration of the 114th Anniversary of the Triangle Factory Fire will be March 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washington Place and Greene Street, NYC. The Commemoration will be held rain or shine.

For information about the event and the link for livestreaming, please go to https://rememberthetrianglefire.org/event.

CT Legislators Horrified by Account of Incarcerated Person’s Homicide

Leave a comment

by Mark Pazniokas, February 14, CT Mirror

The death of Carl “Robby” Talbot in a jail cell thick with the choking fumes of a potent pepper spray was described Friday as the catastrophic consequence of excessive force and medical neglect, compounded by a forged use-of-force report and an ineffectual internal investigation.

Angel Quiros, the commissioner of correction, did not protest the lawmakers’ harsh assessment. Talbot’s mother, Colleen Lord, offered one dissent: Her son’s death also is a consequence of the criminalization of the mentally ill, a failure that began outside jailhouse walls, long before her Robby died.

The first public dissection of all that went wrong at the New Haven Correctional Center on March 21, 2019, came Friday in a Judiciary Committee hearing on whether to accept a proposed $3.75 million settlement of the federal lawsuit filed by Talbot’s estate.

Undisputed is that Talbot, 30, who had a history of mental illness and misdemeanor arrests, had become agitated after being jailed on a probation violation, and that a jailhouse supervisor, Lt. Carlos Padro, responded with four long point-blank bursts of pepper spray, twice in a shower room and again in an elevator and a cell.

Read the whole story here: https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/14/ct-inmate-death-hearing

 

 

Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide: Film and discussion

Leave a comment

Hamden Public Library

Progressives Against Medical Assisted Suicide (PAMAS) premieres its 35-minute film, Thoughts on Medical Assisted Suicide, which examines this controversial topic, considering its historical context, current practice, and impact on health care.

With poetry and song written and performed by a West Haven, CT-based poet, songwriter, and performance artist, Elaine Kolb, the film includes interviews with disability and social justice activists; a nationally known palliative care doctor, Dr. Diane Meier; and a retired Connecticut disability rights attorney, Nancy Alisberg, who discuss their personal and professional reasons for strong opposition to the practice. With captioning, narration, and ASL interpretation. Audience discussion and question and answer session to follow.

This program is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Registration is recommended.

Tuesday, March 25, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Memorial Library
2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden.

Bullets, Bandages, and Making Waves: Jewish Women in WWII New Haven on Sunday, March 2, 2 p.m.

Leave a comment

by New Haven Museum

WWII changed the lives of American women, who were essential to the war effort. In honor of Women’s History Month and the 80th anniversary of the war’s end in 1945, Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven (JHSGNH) will share the stories of seven such women: Lucille Wolfe Alderman, Mitzi Fenster Bargar, Rose Rosenberg Dubin, Edith Londer Gillman, Ruth Grannick, Laura Small Levine, and Rita Small Melman. Their stories illustrate the ways American women in the Elm City contributed to the war effort.

JHSGNH volunteers, writer Carole Bass and oral-history interviewer Rhoda Zahler Samuel, will present video memories of these local women, following a historical overview and discussion by Jennifer Klein, Bradford Durfee Professor of History at Yale University, of the ways WWII influenced women’s roles.

The lecture is presented in memory of Judith Ann Schiff, a founder of JHSGNH and the Ethnic Heritage Center, a New Haven Museum board member, Yale University’s chief archivist and New Haven’s city historian. In person and streaming on Facebook Live.

Join us on March 2 at 2 p.m. New Haven Museum is located at 114 Whitney Ave. It is wheelchair accessible.

1 2 3 … 102