Rosanne Cash

Rosanne Cash will play a concert in Keene on Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. She will play the Colonial Theater. You can hear one of her songs at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTFyaQ9ZlL0&ab_channel=RosanneCashVEVO

Work is Underway on New $10 Million Amtrak Station

Thanks to peace protesters, on March 19, the Greenfield city council voted to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The day before, about 25 people attended a rally in Greenfield for this cause. The organizers have a web site at www.traprock.org.

*********

On March 19, an Amtrak spokesman told the Valley Post of the new, $10 million Brattleboro Amtrak station, “We anticipate starting construction this summer.”

70 People March Eight Miles

About 70 people marched about eight miles from Amherst to Northampton on March 10. They were protesting China's occupation of Tibet. Most of the marchers were of Tibetan ancestry. The organizers have a web page at:

www.facebook.com/RTAM2019

********

900 March, Rally

About 500 people marched in Springfield to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, organizers told the Valley Post. The march was on March 2. One of the groups that organized the march has a web site at www.CodePink.org. The same day in Brattleboro about 150 people marched for the same cause. The march was organized by a group that has a web site at www.soVT4Palestine.org.

********

Fight is On to Stop Proposed Starbucks in Greenfield

In Brattleboro on February 27, about 25 to 30 people attended a rally. The rally was to call on the Brattleboro high school (BUHS) to do more for survivors of sexual abuse. Diana Whitney is one of the organizers. She told the Valley Post, "The rally was small but immensely powerful. Around 25-30 people came, from all generations— survivors, advocates, allies, BUHS students and parents, a BUHS teacher... even former/current school board members. An advocate from the Women’s Freedom Center spoke about the insidious nature of rape culture and the power of being visible in the community.

175 at Rallies

In Northampton about 150 people attended a rally to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, organizers told the Valley Post. The rally was on February 16. In Greenfield on February 21, about 25 people attended a rally for the same cause, organizers told the Valley Post. One of the groups that organized the rallies has a web site at www.jvp.org.

********

50 at Greenfield Peace Rally

In Greenfield about 50 people attended a rally to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The organizers have web sites at www.traprock.org and www.jvp.org. The rally was on February 10.

********

In Brattleboro on February 27 there will be a rally to protest the school board's decision last month to stop investigating alleged sexual abuse by school employees. The rally will be outside 107 Atwood Street from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., during the nearby school board meeting at the same time, one of the organizers told the Valley Post. For more information click:

330 Rally

In Northampton, about 300 people attended a rally to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the organizers told the Valley Post. The organizers have a web site at www.jvp.org. The rally was on February 4. On February 6 in Springfield, about 30 doctors, nurses and other health workers held a rally for the same cause. They delivered a letter signed by about 200 local health workers to congressman Richard Neal's office.

Workers Unite

On February 1 in Northampton, about 400 workers formed a union. They work in the dining halls at Smith College. The federal government conducted a secret ballot election, which the workers won overwhelmingly. The workers have a web site at www.opeiuLocal153.org.

In the 1930s, workers went on strike around the USA, forcing politicians to pass the first minimum wage laws. To this day, unions lobby to raise the minimum wage. On average, union workers make $191 more per week than non-union workers. Inequality is bad for democracy. Billionaires buy politicians.

**********

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform in Northampton on Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m., and at 7 p.m. Tickets cost between $45 and $60. The concert will be at Bombyx. A video of the group performing is at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclwRECHoWc&ab_channel=KEXP