In Solidarity with Million Moms March, Sat. May 9, 2015

Amherst Town Common


On Saturday, May 9th Million Moms March for Justice  10 AM -2 PM in DC.  See the Call to action.

Since many in our community would like to go but won't be able to those who'd like to can stand in solidarity:

Saturday, May 9th

Amherst Town Common

Noon to 1:30pm

Bring your own signs and sign-up to speak when you arrive on the Amherst Town Common.

For background information go to:

 Mothers for Justice United.  Founded by Maria Hamilton after the murder of her son Dontre by a Milwaukee police officer on April 30, 2014, we are a group of mothers whose children were taken from us by police and racist vigilante violence.  Together we fight for justice for our children and for our communities.

Please join as we take our fight to Washington this Mother's Day Weekend, May 9, 2015, in our Million Moms March.

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Annual Universal Declaration of Human Rights Community Read

Wednesday, December 10, 2014 6:50 pm, Amherst Town Common

Making a Declaration for Human Rights Please help spread this news. You are invited to join in the annual public reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 6:50 pm Amherst Town Common in front of Town Hall Each year on the anniversary of its adoption by the UN General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948 our Amherst Human Rights Commissioners invite community members to join us in making a public statement about our belief in "Human Rights for Every Person Everywhere".  We take a few minutes each December 10th to read the 30 articles included in this Declaration which begins:  Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, We look forward to reading with you on December 10th! Amherst Human Rights Commission meets every 3rd Thursday, Bangs Community Center, room 101 Contact Us: Town Hall 4 Boltwood Avenue humanrights@amherstma.gov  Phone: 413-259-3009 Fax: 413-259-2404 Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM

 "Community Conversations"

November 2014

Whether you are new to the local conversations about race, or a long-time participant, please join the groups listed below in these opportunities. 

All events are free and open to the public.

Nov. 1--Saturday--Reparations Workshop-- Woullard H. Lett, chairman of the Manchester NAACP Legal Redress Committee.  10AM at The Greenfield 1st Congregational Church, 42 Silver St. Greenfield, MA. Sponsored by Mass Slavery Apology.

Nov. 2—Sunday--  A Day of Solidarity and Prayer  for Healing our World Community at the Leverett Peace Pagoda, 2PM. There is also a "Walk for Peace and Healing"  9:00-1:30, leaving from the Amherst Common, stopping at UMASS, North Amherst, Mt. Toby Meeting House, Leverett Center and on to the Peace Pagoda. Half of the mileage walkers will be transported. Light lunch for walkers provided at midday. Sponsored by the Leverett Peace Pagoda.

Nov. 5 - Wednesday-- Puerto Rican Assoc. of Amherst Reception and Flag Raising.  Amherst Town Hall Meeting Room, 2nd floor, 1:30PM to 3:30PM  Puerto Rican Association of Amherst: Vladimir Morales vmorales1951@gmail.com, Victoria Silva vsilva60@comcast.net

Nov. 6 – Thursday – film “White Like Me” – explains many misconceptions and confusions about race and racism today, how they developed and why they continue.  7PM at The Jones Library – co-sponsored by Coming Together and Jones Library.       

Nov. 14 – Friday - Community Conversation – supper provided – a unique opportunity for people of the global majority and white people caucus separately and together with expert facilitation.  5:30PM – at Unitarian Universalist Society, 121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst.  Co-sponsored by Amherst Human Rights Commission, NAACP, Coming Together, Mass Slavery Apology, Citizens for Race Amity Now! and Undoing Racism Organizing Collective (UROC).

Nov. 20 – Thursday – Debby Irving – the author of an outstanding new book “Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race” – speaks and shares her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions.  Discussion.  7PM at Grace Episcopal Church Social Hall, 14 Spring St., Amherst. Sponsored by Coming Together.

For information or related resources and readings contact:

 Coming Together   Amherst NAACP  Amherst Human Rights Commission  Mass Slavery Apology   Citizens for Racial Amity Now: Amherst Branch  Undoing Racism Organizing Collective (UROC)

In Solidarity on the Amherst Town Common

 Justice for Michael Brown Vigil,  Saturday August, 16, 2014 

Save The Date

Mark Your Calendars for the 

"Community Summit"

coming the first week in November 2014

2nd Annual "Summer Soiree" 

SUNDAY AUG. 3, 2014 Noon to 3:00 pm  

Groff Park Pavilion 

​Off West St./Rt 116

Amherst, MA​

Join ​the Amherst Area NAACP for this exciting opportunity to join together to celebrate each other and our successes!  

This is also an opportunity for all anti-racism/social justice workers to come together to talk, review and plan forward movement.   Bring your calendars.

Each family is asked to bring their own family's meal and a little to share. Utensils, plates,cups etc.will be supplied. 

This date is ahead of the final Massachusetts voter registration deadline so, in keeping with our NAACP mission, there will be an opportunity for people to register and sign-up to help ​others​ register.

Donations accepted! 

The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro: A Communal Reading of a Lecture by Frederick Douglass

On September 3, 1838, Frederick Bailey undertook the riskiest journey of his life. The 20-year-old slave made a daring escape from his master in Baltimore, and with his new-found freedom came a new name—Frederick Douglass.

Join us as members of our community gather together to present this lecture.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Amherst Town Common

Sponsors: AFSC, Amherst Human Rights Commission, Amherst NAACP, David Ruggles Center, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, Leverett Peace Commission, Mass Humanities, Mass Slavery Apology Project, NE Peace Pagoda, Peacenet, Project Unspeakable, Sankofa Foundation of the Pioneer Valley, Sojourner Truth Memorial Committee and Traprock Peace Center.