Youth Undoing Racism Westchester County

One of our youngest leaders at YURW standing with adults to undo racism.

It has been an amazing year for our young people. We are so thankful for the commitment of the youth and their focus on undoing racism in their communities. We are especially proud of the weekly youth group that graduated many of their members...they are now in college moving their organizing forward on campus!! During the winter break we will have a senior leadership meeting with our young adults to plan our next steps for 2014, including their planning for a Freedom School. Thank you to our network that made so many amazing moments possible. Please contact us via this page if you have young people who want to be part of the ongoing planning for our upcoming workshops and groups.

We have incredible news to share with our community! Our very own core trainer, Mary Flowers, has been awarded the Roberto Maestas Legacy Award from El Centro de la Raza! We are so proud of our beloved Mary and cannot imagine someone else more worthy.

On behalf of People's Institute Northwest, we want to purchase a table at the El Centro de la Raza Gala, on October 5th, where she will be officially honored and pack the table full of Mary's family and close friends. Will you donate to help make this a reality? We are almost half-way there and every donation counts! All proceeds will go towards purchasing a PINW table at the event or a gift to celebrate Mary. Please donate at the link below.

http://www.youcaring.com/other/celebrate-mary-flowers/86197

Two Minutes - #OurMarch Director of Dream Defenders Phillip Agnew and leader of United We Dream Sofia Campos were ready to represent our generation at the commemorative events of th...

YUIR rocking the keynote at the Seattle Race Conference today!

on behalf of our youth, specifically our senior young adult leadership, I wanted to pass along their statement regarding Trayvon Martin. Our senior (new college freshman) leader Tabitha Colon along with input from the younger youth and those in our group that have already departed for college wrote this in hopes that it strengthens the movement. Thank you
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We are the Youth Undoing Racism in Westchester County, New York. We are joining our voices with the millions of others who are speaking out about the George Zimmerman trial and verdict.

We are upset and saddened by the decision the jury made by finding George Zimmerman "not guilty" of the murder of our brother Trayvon Martin.

The verdict is just another example of there being no justice for innocent boys, girls, men and women of color in our country. We are deeply worried and fearful for our friends, family (of color) and for ourselves; we fear for theirs and our safety in school, community and doing simple tasks such as walking to the store.

Our concern for the safety of our friends and family of color is not unfounded as we watch our peers profiled, stopped, frisked, harassed, followed, hassled, abused by those with power, police and people who look at us and our friends with suspicion.

We understand we may not be able to change how people see youth of color immediately, but we are asking that you stop legalizing the profiling and abuse through policies like "Stop and Frisk" and "Stand Your Ground". We are asking that you stop attacking us in our communities and in our streets and then justifying it by allowing defense based on these biased laws.

Institutional racism is the overlooked factor in the Trayvon Martin case and is what allowed George Zimmerman go free. Ignoring the depth and history of institutional racism allows the continued killing of black and brown people in our country. If we continue to ignore this fact, more people will learn to take advantage of these laws and use them to knowingly or unknowingly exploit communities of color, legally.

We are urging all of you who are reading our statement to begin organizing in your community to Undo Racism and bias in the criminal justice system and other systems that treat people of color unjustly. We believe working together and organizing is the only way to do this. We are also asking the Department of Justice to file charges against George Zimmerman for violating Trayvon Martin's civil rights; he ended a child's life and should be held legally responsible. We must end these terrible events and send the message that we will no longer stand by and watch as our generation experiences the same disrespect and discrimination as our parents and grandparents. We will not be silent about this anymore.

We know this is just one case of many, even here in our community in Westchester. However, we stand committed with our allies to be sure we or someone we know will not be the next Trayvon Martin.

Sincerely,

*The Youth Undoing Racism in Westchester

BREAKING NEWS: Chaos in Brooklyn as 100 teenagers 'riot' on the streets following vigil of 16-year-o Between 60 to 100 young people have taken to the streets of East Flatbush, Brooklyn to protest the shooting death of 16-year-old Kimani Gray, who police said was brandishing a gun at officers.

Studying current maps of the Westchester county/city/community racial breakdown and analyzing how historical practices of redlining and housing policy influence the trends we see today!

Great job tonight everyone!!!! Such powerful young leaders!

Youth meeting will be held at the yonkers riverfront library tonight in room 4B....see everyone at 6:15!!!

Youth Undoin continues to build momentum and most importantly leadership! Join us Monday night as we begin to deconstruct housing policy in Westchester county!!