“A lot has been made of the overwhelming support for Bernie among young people,” said Providence Rep. Aaron Regunberg. “And, as one of the youngest members of this General Assembly, I’ve found much of that discourse pretty condescending. You know, I hear ‘these kids, they don’t know how the real world works, they’re naive, when they grow up a little they’ll understand how pie-in-the-sky this Bernie guy is.’ And I don’t know about the young people here today but I am not taking that anymore.”

Regunberg, whose impassioned sermon electrified the crowd, continued:

“As I see it our generation is maybe the most realistic and the least naive of any I can think of. We’re the generation that has grown up with the crushing knowledge that our lives will be shaped in the coming decades by climate catastrophe.

“We’re the generation that graduated to an economy that offered fewer jobs and greater serfdom to our student loans. We’re the first generation that has seen, even under the first African American president, that our black and brown brothers and sisters continue to be disproportionately incarcerated, continued to be mowed down in the streets with their hands up. We’re the first generation that saw in almost 400 years just how much damage an unregulated Wall Street can cause, that has seen how appallingly false the credo that privatization and free trade and austerity are the answers to, rather than the causes of, our appalling levels of inequality.

“And I say this sadly as an elected democrat we’re the generation that ha watched as too often our party gives into and sometimes joins republicans in supporting this toxic agenda. So, no, we’re not naive. But we understand that this system, in many ways, is broken and we need bold change, we need systemic reform, we need – I’ll say it – a political revolution. That’s not unrealistic thinking, that’s our reality.”

North Kingstown state Senator Jim Sheehan, who previously endorsed Sanders, also touched on the topics of youth and revolution.

“You know, it’s been said that politicians look to the next election but statesmen look to the next generation,” Sheehan said. “Take a look around you right now. This is the next generation right here today. And Bernie Sanders represents you.”

Sheehan added, “You could say that Bernie is something of a unicorn in a cesspool of dishonesty. Bernie courageously speaks truth to power, particularly the power of the political and economic establishment. And he is there with us, the people, on important issues. The American dream is our birthright as Americans and if our government is no longer going to fight for the American dream for every American than it must change it’s way and we are going to change it’s leadership to Bernie Sanders.

His support, he said, proves Sanders is appealing to a diverse group of voters.

“I am not known in this building behind me as a progressive Democrat on all issues,” Sheehan said. “So what drew me here today? Well, it’s not a $225,000 speaking fee, I can tell you that right now. I am not getting paid to be here right now, this is a labor of love… My wife said ‘You gotta look past the label.’ People like to label in our country. ‘Democratic Socialist’, they said. ‘Don’t look at Bernie. Democratic Socialist!’ As if it were a four-letter word. Well, when you look past labels, you see the real people behind them. When you get to know them as a person and the issues that Bernie cares about deeply, you come to a quite different conclusion. Bernie is a great man, a good man, an honest man, and as I stand before the Independent Man, he is an independent-minded man.”

During his speech, Regunberg reminded everyone that Bernie Sanders’ political revolution must move forward, even if his candidacy doesn’t.

“The work that we are doing today,” Regunberg said, “the door knocking and canvassing leading up the  leading up to the primary, the votes that we’ll be casting on April 26, that is all an important part of this movement but it can’t be the end of this movement. The presidency is an important position, but whoever has it with Washington the way it is right now if we want real change we need to put in the work to achieve it at the state and the local level. We need your voices in this building. I need your voices in this building.”

The rally featured teachers, Teamsters, feminists, environmentalists, queer and LGBT people – and all sorts of people that are being called to the populist upsurge in this country ignited by Sanders. The imperative after the primary, speakers said, is to implement the Sanders’ agenda.

“Rhode Island’s natural beauty and our strong history of land trust and land conservation is why the Land Trust Alliance chose The Ocean State to host its annual ‘Rally’,” said Rupert Friday, director of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council. A press release from the group says, “Although Rhode Island is the smallest state, it has more Land Trusts per square mile than any other state in the union.”

Starting Wednesday through Sunday attendees will be visiting some of the most bueautiful – and best protected – places in Rhode Island. The field trips are for conference members, but you can see a full list here.

Read Rupert Friday’s thoughts on the conference and why land preservation is a progressive cause below.

Rhode Island’s Special Places Are Worth Protecting
By Rupert Friday

All Rhode Islanders have their own special places in the state.  We ought to, there are plenty to go around.

It might be a city park or community garden in Providence or Woonsocket.  A place along any of the 420 miles of scenic marshes, rocky shoreline, and beaches from Little Compton to Newport to Westerly.  Or along the banks of a river or stream: the Blackstone, Pawtuxet or your neighborhood creek. Or your special place could be a working farm framed by stone walls in Middletown, Richmond, Cranston, or Cumberland.

These special places are part of the fabric of our communities and one of the reasons why we live here.

This appreciation of Rhode Island’s natural beauty and productive farmland is why residents have formed land trusts around the state to protect these places.  Rhode Islanders have formed over 45 land trusts and they are playing a large part in preserving, conserving and promoting the state’s special places.  Collectively, land trusts are protecting over 36,825 acres of land in Rhode Island.  This is nearly one-quarter of all the land protected in the state.  Most of this work is done by volunteers. And, although Rhode Island is the smallest state, it has more land trusts per square mile than any other state in the union.

Rhode Island’s natural beauty and our strong history of land trust and land conservation is why the Land Trust Alliance chose The Ocean State to host its annual “Rally” – The National Land Conservation Conference, from September 17 – 20 in Providence. Held each year in a different region around the nation, Rally will bring together nearly 2,000 preeminent land trust leaders from around the country to Providence to network, share the latest innovations for land conservation, and to learn about the latest trends from land conservation professionals.

Rally participants will also get to enjoy Rhode Island’s best through day-long field trips that highlight many of the state’s natural attractions…a walk in Neutaconkanut Hill and its stunning vista of the state’s capital; a tour of the trails and forests, fields and beaches along the Sakonnet River; and a taste of the “pond-to-table” aquaculture in South County with locally grown oysters and seafood.  The biking, kayaking and hiking that Rally participants will enjoy during field trips highlight the beauty and fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities available every day to Rhode Islanders.

Rhode Island’s protected lands − parks, beaches, wildlife habitat, some working farms, and other special places in our communities − do more than just protect the beautiful places in our communities and enhance our quality of life. These protected lands − a quiltwork across the state, with different places protected by land trusts, municipalities, the state and the federal government − are the foundation for important sectors of the state’s economy:  tourism, outdoor recreation, and agriculture.  Rhode Island’s beauty and protected lands are one of the key reasons why the national Rally is being held in Providence this week.  They are the reason that families from all over the nation and the world have been coming to Rhode Island for outdoor recreation for generations.  And much of our fresh, locally produced food is grown on protected farmland.

You don’t have to wait until you have out-of-state visitors to enjoy Rhode Island’s protected places.  Rhode Island land trusts have organized Land Trust Days activities through the end of September to help you discover them.  Check out the activities on RILandTrustDays.org.  Or if you and your friends and family prefer a DIY (do it yourself) approach to getting outdoors, you can find a trail to walk or kayak-launch location on ExploreRI.org.

Proud Rhode Islanders have always known where we live, work and play has wonderful places to get outdoors and enjoy natural resources that no other state can offer, bar none.  Following the national Rally for land trust enthusiasts, that word will be spread from coast-to-coast:  Rhode Island is indeed a special place.

The event was held to stand in solidarity with and boost the morale of the people in Ferguson MS, where police shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black man. The marchers called for an end to police brutality, an end to the militarization of law enforcement and to “give the power back to the people.”

The march was entirely peaceful.

Liandra Medeiros, a Nonviolence Initiative Coordinator, was on the scene, and she recorded some great video and took some pictures of the event.

There was a rally at the State House last night for the Hunger Strikers urging Governor Chafee to veto the budget that features an item that would ban cities and towns in Rhode Island from raising the minimum wage, a direct attack on Providence hotel workers seeking to have a vote in November on a proposed $15 minimum wage. Shelby Maldonado,  Santa Brito, Mirjaam Parada and Yilenny Ferreras are entering Day Three of their hunger strike this morning, pending a meeting with the Governor.

Last night each of the hunger strikers addressed the crowd of over 110 supporters, except for Santa Brito, who was suffering from a headache brought on by a lack of food. The women were all seated, shaded with umbrellas and hats in the hot sun, and subsisting on water.

Defending democracy is hungry work.

“there was a march in memory of treyvon martin of about 40+ people on
friday which started on thayer street and made its way down to as220.
it was pretty darn good for something that got thrown together in 2 hours.
some chants for future marches were:
no justice no peace, treyvon rest in peace!
and
you killed treyvon, and now it’s on!”

Sunday night at 6 pm. Community Forum on Trayvon Martin Murder. Great, thoughtful and heartfelt discussion, about 50 people for two hours. Photo from my camera phone attached.

Sunday night at 7 pm. March from Central High School to Burnside Park. I got this report in:

“There were about 13 people. I did not have pictures of the march because I was in front of the line, holding the sign. But there was someone there with a camera. I can get a picture for you. “

Tuesday (Tonight) at 8 pm. Providence “Justice for Trayvon” Community Rally & March

“Meet Tuesday March 27th @ 8PM at Father Lennon Park in Providence (60 Camden Avenue in Providence next to Madeline Rogers Rec) to show your commitment to justice in the Trayvon Martin case.

We will meet at the park, and then march through OUR community and end at Kobi Dennis’ ongoing Tuesday night Community Rally to discuss what we as a community need to do to protect OUR youth. It’s On Us… remember that.

Bring signs to express how you feel about the situation. Where a Hoodie if you want to show your solidarity with all the Trayvon’s in our communities that may or may not have made the news headlines. Greeks are encouraged to wear para.

This is a PEACEFUL event. Come with the right attitude, or please don’t come at all.
For more information contact ReBoot401@yahoo.com or (401) 338-7606”

Friday, March 30, 12 pm. Rally on the State House lawn.

“Im gathering people to rally infront of the state house in downtown providence,ri @ 12 noon time till ? Bring signs and if u like wear a hooded sweatshirt.. Its Non violent event”

 

Friday, March 30th 7:00 p.m. Central High School 70 Fricker St.

“Outraged over the murder of Trayvon Martin? You are not alone!  Join us Friday evening at 7:00 for a march in honor of Trayvon Martin.  We’ll gather in front of Central High School (Where Westminster, Cranston, and Fricker Sts. meet). After the march, we’ll head over to Libertalia, 280 Broadway, for a film screening and discussion. Wear a hoodie and/or dress in black.”

 

Wednesday, April 4, 4:00 pm  Martin Luther King JR Unity Day at City Hall.   Here is a link to the video promotion.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnZTtYLmFrQ&feature=share   Contact Bill Bateman, liberator401@cox.net for more information.

Please add information on events I missed in the comments.