In Springfield, 170 people marched on May 21 to protest a proposed fossil fuel pipeline. "It was amazing," Susan Theberge told the Valley Post. She is one of the organizers. The organizers have a web site at:
www.arisespringfield.org/springfield-climate-justice-coaliti
********
In Brattleboro, about 10 people attended a rally for farmworker justice on May 21. The organizers have a web site at www.MigrantJustice.net.
*********
About 100 people marched in Amherst on April 21. They were calling for peace. With 4 percent of the world's population, the USA spends as much money on war as the rest of the world combined. The march organizers have a web site at https://WeAreDissenters.org.
*********
On March 13 Tsultrem Kunsang, spokesman for the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts, told the Valley Post that on March 10, more than 25 people marched from Amherst to Northampton. They were protesting China's policies in Tibet. More information is at:
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/9/24/headlines/china_accused_of_forcin...
***********
About 325 people, including people from the county that's home to Brattleboro, attended a climate rally outside the Vermont statehouse on February 11. The group 350 Vermont and other groups organized the rally.
********
In Springfield, a police detective is being paid $70,000 a year by taxpayers, despite allegations that he beat people up without a good reason. Gregg Bigda has been on desk duty, or outright suspended, for 14 months. Among the alleged victims of his brutality were Latino teenagers and Bigda's former girlfriend. City taxpayers paid $500,000 in legal settlements to people in cases related to Bigda.
In Northampton, a democracy rally is set for January 6. Organizer Debby Pastrich-Klemer has organized many successful marches and rallies in the city. “Even though some of the most prominent election conspiracists lost their midterms, MAGA Republicans are already looking to 2024 for ways to overturn the will of voters,” she said. The January 6, 2023 rally in Northampton will start outside city hall at 4 p.m.
***********
In Northampton about 75 people attended a rally on October 22. The goal was to defend democracy in light of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. capitol building by Trump supporters. "It went really well," Northampton organizer Debby Pastrich-Klemer told the Valley Post.
*********
About 160 people attended an abortion rights rally in Northampton on October 8. One of the speakers at the rally was state senator Jo Comerford. On October 11, she told the Valley Post, “It was one of the most inspiring rallies I've ever attended. I'm still energized.”
*******
On August 12 Maeg Yosef told the Valley Post the 80 or so workers at the Trader Joe's supermarket in Hadley, Massachusetts are deciding on “their bargaining priorities so we can make sure everyone’s voice is heard.” On July 28, the federal government announced the results of a union election at the store. The workers won. Hadley borders Northampton. Yosef is a leader in the union. She has worked at the store for nearly 20 years. The workers have a web site at https://traderjoesunited.org
About 800 people attended an abortion rights rally in Northampton on May 14, Debby Pastrich-Klemer told the Valley Post. The rally was organized by Pastrich-Klemer, Planned Parenthood, and the Valley Women’s March. The biggest cause of climate change is over-population. That's according to:
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/climate
********