L.A.S.C. wny

04/16/2026

A personal report back from IFCO/pastors for peace
about the recent material-aid delegations to Cuba!

04/09/2026

Martin Gugino served as a witness of conscience for progress in peace and justice in Buffalo, usually alongside the Western New York Peace Center, and especially as a member of its taskforce LASC, the Latin America Solidarity Committee. For fifteen years he showed up for Black Lives Matter, climate justice, Latin American solidarity, Plowshares, Witness Against Torture, killer drone protests, prisoner rights, justice for migrant families, vigils at the Erie County Holding Center ...

He never wanted to stand out at events (although he was quite tall). He always wanted to stand for others, as an everyday person. He was based in a Catholic Worker tradition, and was enthusiastic, gentle, principled, undaunted, and guided by belief in the sacred power of non-violent resistance to injustice.

Through his strong commitment to free speech, one evening in June 2020 he went to the steps of City Hall to speak with the police there about the legality and constitutionality of a curfew called against the peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators there. His attempt at dialog with the militarized authorities was met with a violent response; the order was given to advance with force, and it left him bleeding and unconscious on the sidewalk.

The only "trouble" from Martin Gugino was the John Lewis kind of "Good Trouble" needed to make progress for peace and justice.

From when Martin was interviewed by WBFO later, in February 2021: "Martin Luther King said, the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice, because everyday people go out and try to do something that's right, even though met with opposition ... Every day, you should be as good as you can be. I mean, that's just obvious. Be as good as you can be no matter what the situation is, but it's especially important now."

Terry Bisson, on behalf of LASC

04/04/2026

Peace Coffeehouse: Ending Complicity with I.C.E.
A report on the harms of local & state collusion with federal immigration enforcement

Speaker: Paul Linden-Retek, Human Rights Center, UB School of Law

7-9 pm Monday April 27, 2026. Canisius University - Science Hall, convenient parking along Main, north of Delavan

The Buffalo Human Rights Center and students at the UB School of Law recently released a report on how ICE operations in Buffalo inhibit access to health care, education, work, and everything. Come hear about the report, it's stories, and how to help advance NY4all.

03/24/2026

From now til Tues. March 31, the Genesee County economic development center (GCEDC) is required by the state to accept and respond to written comments on the request for a $1.46 billion subsidy for a data center at the STAMP mega industrial site in Alabama, NY!!! Here is a simple link to take action:

Right now, in Genesee County, the regional economic development center (GCEDC) is accepting written comments on the request for a $1.46 billion subsidy for a data center at the STAMP mega industrial site in Alabama, NY.

03/05/2026

March PEACE COFFEEHOUSE: Data Centers vs. WNY
Monday March 23, 2025 7-9 pm Canisius University Science Hall, Room SH-1013 B
STAMP: a tax-funded mega industrial complex, planned at a site surrounded by state/national wildlife refuges and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, caretakers for centuries of the Big Woods there.
Speaker: Dr. Margaret Wooster -
watershed research, history, & advocacy

02/22/2026

J. Dale Shoemaker rounded up all the leases that federal agencies related to immigration enforcement have with private landlords in the Buffalo area. There’s 14 leases, involving annual payments of more than $12 million a year. Most notable is the Montonte family’s Uniland Development Co., whose leases include ICE local headquarters at Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street. Uniland obtained generous tax breaks to construct the building and is now pocketing a lot of public funds to lease it. Most of the leases predate Trump’s return to office a year ago and a few are coming up for renewal in the coming year. It will be interesting to see if any landlords walk away from the feds, given the abusive immigration practices of the Trump administration.

Buffalo landlords and developers are earning millions each year renting to federal immigration agencies like ICE, CBP and Border Patrol.

02/13/2026

FEBRUARY PEACE COFFEEHOUSE: Stop Militarizing the Caribbean!!
Monday February 23, 2025 7-9 pm Canisius University Science Hall, Room SH-1013 B
Speaker: Eri Avarado - writer, Buffalo Latino Village on peace, US bases, veterans, and Taino history. Born and raised in the Caribbean, she is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and now champions equitable opportunities for marginalized communities.

02/05/2026

article on Cuba from MAPA

https://masspeaceaction.org/news/latin-america/regime-change-in-cuba-is-not-an-option/2026/02/04/?

by Merri Ansara US-Cuba policy has come to what might be the ultimate crossroads; in fact it may better be described as a T intersection. This is what I believe to be before us, based in part on my…

01/28/2026

rescheduled Peace Coffeehouse: 7-9pm, Mon., Feb.2 , 2026.
Canisius University Science Hall
Title: Peace Action and educating to stop wars.
Speaker: Jim Anderson

01/26/2026

Ten Canisius students AT El Paso, TX for Border Awareness Experience over this winter break.

A trip to El Paso, Texas, offered an in-depth experience exploring immigration, human rights and social justice.

11/26/2025

Thanks to Derek Seidman for his a great presentation at our Peace Coffeehouse this week. Here is a link to his recent article at "Little Sis" which researches and reports on the networks of influence that make up politics:

Corporate-backed politicians are working to advance legislation against so-called "de-banking"

11/18/2025

November Peace Coffeehouse: Mon. Nov. 24, 2025 7-9 pm
Covering Community Response To I. C. E. Nationwide.
Canisius University Science Hall
Speaker: Derek Seidman, WNY writer, researcher and historian, and regular contributor with Truthout, independent reporting and commentary.