From: Youth Organizing/May Day Bridge event planning committee
To: “July26.org core members”
Subject: Update on Youth Organizing/May Day Brigade event Planned for Sunday, Jan 29th
Date: Jan 24, 2023, 7:05pm
Hi, all —
We wanted to update you on a development regarding the event Sunday. Yesterday, we heard from Willie Burnley (Somerville City Councilor & our key speaker for the Sunday youth organizing/May Day Brigade event) that there is a protest scheduled at the same time right across from the Library at Somerville High School. It’s a protest in support for Arif Faisal, the young person who was murdered by the Cambridge Police in early January and against police violence. After much discussion last night at our committee meeting, we decided that we should not hold our event at the same time and instead postpone it. We also recommended that the Standout in support of Cuba be postponed. We’ve been in touch with MAPA folks about that and the Standout is also postponed.
It was a difficult decision as so much work has gone into organizing what we thought would be a unique and wonderful event to bring new people, especially young people to Cuba solidarity organizing. But we plan to hold it at a new date on a weekend either in February or March…
We are encouraging people to instead support the rally and march on Sunday at 1 PM at Somerville High School. Following the rally, there is a vigil for Faisal at the Mystic Mural at 2:00 PM. Please share this flyer below with your contacts.
Thanks,
Judy
__________________
From: MAPA-Cuba-Subcom co-ordinator
To: “July26.org core members”
cc: “MAPA-Cuba-Subcom” <mapa-cuba-subcom@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [july26.org] Update on Youth Organizing/May Day Brigade event Planned for Sunday- Jan 29th
Date: Jan 24, 2023 7:12 pm
Thank you, Judy. I wish to clarify. We are calling not just for the Eastern Mass Cuba Standout to be postponed but just as importantly for all who can to join the Rally and Vigil at the High School and Mystic River Mural. In other words, this is an important moment when we can show solidarity with our neighbors and with this young Bangladeshi man and stand against police violence. Here’s the notice that I drafted that should be sent out tomorrow.
Sunday January 29 Cuba Standout Suspended
in order to support the 1 pm Rally and 2 pm vigil for
Arif Sayed Faisal, killed by police on Jan 4
We urge all to attend the rally for Arif Sayed Faisal organized by the Bangladesh Association of New England at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave, and then march to a vigil at the Mystic River Mural Project, near 530 Mystic Avenue, Somerville. The rally starts at 1 pm, the vigil at 2 pm.
Arif Sayed Faisal, a graduate of Somerville High School, was killed by Cambridge police in a backyard shooting incident when police were called for assistance as Faisal, in a mental health crisis, threatened to harm himself with a knife. He was also part of the Mystic River Mural Project, an ongoing 22 year mural project involving local students from many international backgrounds.
The Boston area Cuba Standout will resume next month, February 26, at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Western Massachusetts standout, Sunday January 29th, at the Hampshire Mall Hadley will go ahead as planned.
Best, Merri
july26.org 