Trans Rights Rally in Utica Tomorrow

Written By Alan Cole

Trans Rights Rally in Utica Tomorrow, 12-1 pm

IMV is a co-host with Oneida County Pride Alliance of our local Trans Rights Rally, Saturday, March 29th at noon at Oneida Square (Roundabout at Genesee & Oneida St.) in Utica. Please join us for a fun and colorful celebration ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31st).  Bring signs or flags in support.  Some ideas:

Trans rights are human rights; Protect Trans Youth; Protect Trans people
Nature is not binary; Intersex People Exist; Trans people deserve healthcare
I love my trans siblings; Trans Ally
#OneidaCountyPrideAlliance #TransRights #TransgenderDayOfVisibility 

There was a really good radio interview with local leaders on Monday about the Trans Rights Rally in Utica and related issues.  Check out that show on the Utica Phoenx website here. Please remember that if any counter demonstrators show up, we do not engage with them. We smile. We wave.  We are committed to non-violence as a core principle.  

***Next, be sure you are ready Saturday, April 5th for mass demonstration Hands Off! rallies. Locations in Utica (Oneida Square), New Hartford (4645 Commercial Drive in front of At Home-recommended for those with mobility issues), Herkimer, Hamilton, and Rome.  Sign up for the Utica and New Hartford rallies HERE and see more information in this email below. 
 

More than 300 Participate in IMV's March 23 Meeting

Thank you to all who joined us at our March 2025 meeting on Sunday at MVCC Utica Campus.  We had over 300 participants and once again, filled every chair in the room!  People had a chance to meet and connect at their tables and there was a lot of opportunity for comments and questions with our roving mic. In event feedback we heard loud and clear that those who attended were glad to be with like-minded foks and to take action together. 

There was a request at the event for resources related to DEI.  How can we talk effectively about DEI with people in our lives who are buying into the MAGA smear campaigns? Here are some organizations that address building diversity and give some background on DEI.

If you listen to podcasts, we strongly recommend this episode of Stacey Abrams' podcast "Assembly Required" about DEI.  There's also an excellent section on Jen Psaki's recent podcast, The Blueprint, where she and Stacey Abrams discussed DEI--powerful and practical for conversations you have every day.  Ask people against DEI: Which part don't they like: diversity (all people get to participate) equity (everyone has a fair opportunity to participate) or inclusion (everyone should have a pathway to the American dream)?  Which part do they object to or do the object to all of it?  In reality, they simply want it to be safe to disciminate.  So when you encounter someone who is "anti-DEI," do they not like the diversity part because they think too many people get to be successful?  Do they not like the equity part because they don't want to have to complete? Or do they not like the inclusion part because they think some people should be isolated and kept away from opportunity?  (Abrams)   Remember: Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. DEI bridges the gap.

Our next IMV meeting is Sunday, April 27th, 1:30-3:30 at MVCC Utica Campus. Sign up HERE. We will moving on to the next steps in organizing our political actions.  Please note that once the weather is nicer in May and it is light later, we tend to move to weeknight monthly meetings.  We have so many people joining us that we are looking at how to break into smaller meeting groups organized geographically to make travel times shorter and focus on local actions that fit the setting (what works in Utica or New Hartford may not work for Camden and Boonville!)  
 

April 5th Hands Off! Rally: Everything You Need to Know

First, start making your signs!  IMV member Teresa V. is hosting a Poster Making Party, Wednesday, April 2, 2025,  6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Dunham Library, 76 Main Street, Whitesboro.  There will be some supplies available but if you can, please bring a yard stick or ruler, foam poster board or stiff cardboard and fat Sharpie permanent markers.  No sticks, please. If you can't make the poster party, get together with some friends and make your own!

Second, IMV has decided to hold our local rally at TWO locations. 

  • Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica (Genesee Street and Oneida St.--at the statue) (Do NOT park at Munson--they have an event occurring same time).  Try side streets or the Stanley parking lot, a few blocks down.  AND at 

  • 4645 Commercial Drive in front of At Home (where Kmart used to be). This is a high visibility location on Saturday and perfect for those concerned about parking or who have mobility issues.  Park directly in front of the sidewalk in the parking lot, and then stand on the sidewalk with your sign.  

Register HERE so you receive the most up to date information and reminders.  
 

What is "Hands Off!"? 

On April 5, national and local organizations are coming together across the country to organize for Hands Off! (600 events on the map so far and counting--including Utica, Herkimer County, and Hamilton, NY) a national mass activation in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities. Hands Off! is an all-in moment for the pro-democracy, pro-worker movement—a demand, a warning, and a rallying cry that responds to the primary reasons for our mobilization:

  1. Trump and Musk are attempting an illegal power grab is a crisis we must stop.

  2. Trump, Musk, and congressional Republicans are gutting services, raising prices, and racing towards slashing Medicaid, Social Security, and more.

  3. Trump, Musk, and congressional Republicans are on this path of destruction for the bnenefit of their billionaire allies.

Hands Off Our Democracy! Hands Off Our Health Care! Hands Off Social Security!
Hands Off Our Data! Hands Off Public Schools! Hands Off Our Bodies!
Hands Off Our Wallets! Hands Off Public Lands!

Whether you're outraged by skyrocketing healthcare costs, job cuts, attacks on privacy, or the gutting of essential services—this moment is for you. Whether you've been in the fight for years or you're just fed up and ready to take action—this moment is for you.

We need to build a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis. On April 5, we will show that the people—the majority—are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab. As Sarah Reeske noted at our meeting on Sunday, Hands Off! is a mobilization moment, a practice, and a flex to show our numbers in preparation for the moment Trump crosses the Red Line (generally defined as openly defying a major ruling of the Supreme Court.) 

The power is in your hands. Join us.
 

**********Volunteers Needed!************

We need about 10 people for each location. Indicate the location you can help with.  You will need to be at the location 30 minutes early. We need safety marshals, photographers, media spokespersons, people to carry sign-in sheets. What can you help with?  Email: indivisiblemohawkvalley@gmail.com.
 

Climate Crisis Working Group Actions

Save the Date: May 7th Albany Lobby day; Plastics Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Bill.  

Today (Friday, March 28th) is the last day to get bills included in the budget where they are much more likely to be enacted than those that need to be passed separately.

The NY HEAT Act will lower utility bills while providing cleaner heating/cooling! It will fight climate change by transitioning our buildings from fossil fuels to clean heating and cooling technology like heat pumps. It will also end subsidies for new pipelines and lower our utility bills to 6% of our income - It is a WIN-WIN for people and the planet! 

The GAP (Green Affordable Pre-Electrification) Fund, a version in both Senate and Assembly budgets, upgrades people’s homes, getting them ready to be energy efficient with electrified heating and cooling.

Three Actions to Take Today:

1) Call your own (Dems only) Assemblymember: Look up your member at this link. Call their office and say the following: "Hello, my name is [insert your name] and I live [insert your municipality]. I'm a constituent and I'm asking Assemblymember [insert name] fight for the NY HEAT Act, A.4870A, to be included in the budget."

2) Email your own (Dems only) Assemblymember and State Senator asking them to prioritize energy affordability in the budget negotiations. You can use this email tool.

3) The GAP fund bill, which provides funds for pre-electrification for low and moderate income households, was included in both the Assembly and Senate one house budgets and is being actively negotiated. Please sign up for this call relay Friday to Governor Hochul for the GAP Fund. (Also mention NY HEAT Act when you call).

Thank you to those who attended the Syracuse Press Conference last Friday

Members of the CCWG attended a Press Conference in Syracuse March 21st sponsored by Citizen Action calling on Governor Hochul to show she is a climate leader in the face of a hostile federal administration that is actively working to destroy climate policy and progress while emboldening and empowering Big Oil & Gas. Maggie Reilly spoke at the press conference urging Governor Hochul to show courage and stand up to this authoritarian regime by releasing the regulations of the CAP & INVEST Program and putting the NY HEAT Act in the budget.  Here’s what Maggie had to say.
 

Blake Gendebien NY21 Election Events 

By now you've heard that Trump withdrew his nomination of Elise Stefanik to serve as UN Ambassador.  He and the Republicans in Congress are running scared. They are terrified that Democrats will win in the Florida special elections, and that their efforts to take away Medicaid, Social Security, and other public services are so unpopular that Elise could lose her seat to a Democrat in a deeply red district.  This is good news!  Even better news is that Blake Gendebien, the candidate who has them on the run, is in it for the long haul. He will run in 2026 if he can't be on a ballot in 2025.  That means we have deleted a bunch of scheduled voter contact events, but a few are still on.  Please sign up for events that interest you so you get real time notifications if they are cancelled. Check for updates on Blake's Mobilize Page

Thank you for helping to elect Blake Gendebien & flip NY21 Blue!

 

OneNYS Indivisible Statewide Call

 Please join Sarah Reeske and Indivisibles from across NY for our next statewide call on Wednesday, April 2nd for 7-8pm on Zoom. Register here. The agenda includes: 

  • State budget recap/update 

  • Learn about new canvassing tactics that have been successful for Target Majority NYC - facilitator Hope Singsen 

  • April actions forecast 

  • Recapping exciting events hosted by Indivisible groups in March

  • Communication spaces for collaboration 

  • Groups earn bonus money from Indivisible in April with our distributed fundraising match


Wrap Up & Motivation

1. Trans Rally Tomorrow (Saturday 3/29) at noon, Oneida Square!
2. April 5th Hands Off! Rallies  Make your signs, email us if you can volunteer, and invite your friends to join you--noon at Oneida Square in Utica OR at 4645 Commercial Drive (in front of At Home) in New Hartford). 
3. Sign up for the OneNYS Indivisible Statewide Call, Register HERE for the Zoom.
4. Keep calling.  NYS legislators for climate action, and your Members of Congress to stop the Elon Musk and Trump from destroying our economy, stealing our money and data, and harming people in our district and everywhere.  Use the 5Calls app to make it easier!

At our IMV meeting on Sunday, we surveyed the current feelings and emotions of those present. Almost every response included more than one sentiment.  By far the majority emotion expressed was anger followed closely by anxiety and fear. Some expressed sadness, grief, frustration and even despair.  But despite the expressed anger, a significant number of individuals in attendance reported feelings of hope, encouragement, and motivation to take action. The following response encapsulates these sentiments: “I am angry and frustrated each day! Seeing the turnout in this room, I am hopeful and ready for action!”

Let's channel our emotions into productive actions. We have several events scheduled for the upcoming weeks. Let’s unite to safeguard our freedoms, our families, and our future.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.
No one let go of anyone's hand.

Follow us on Bluesky: @Indivisiblemv.bsky.social, on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.

Alan Cole
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Join us Sunday: Biggest meeting yet!