Membership Renewal and 2024 in Review

Membership Renewal and 2024 Year in Review

It is time for our annual GVCP Membership Renewal. 2024 was another immensely difficult year for peace, with continuing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and increasing nuclear threats. The 2025 Doomsday Clock now stands at 89 seconds to midnight, as humanity edges ever closer to catastrophe. In these frightening and uncertain times, we remain deeply grateful for member support that allows us to do the work that we do.

Please take a moment to review our 2024 activities below, then renew your membership.

GVCP asks for financial contributions only once a year. Dues are $40.00. We do not request dues from students or from organizations with whom we exchange newsletters. Membership is our sole source of income. GVCP is a chapter of Peace Action New York State (PANYS); $5.00 of your dues goes to PANYS. If you are able to give more than $40.00, we are greatly appreciative. If you need to give less, we understand—no one is turned away. If you are a new member or have already paid, thank you so much!

We appreciate all forms of support – on the street in direct action, writing letters to representatives, signing petitions, as well as monetary support.

We wish to give a big shout-out to our friends and allies, the Rochester Chapter 23 Veterans For Peace, and our sister group, Geneseo Peace Action (GPA).

Thank you from GVCP!

Two elderly people holding a banner that reads "Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace" in a park with bare trees; a person with a camera stands nearby.

2024 Year in Review

January

1/13/24 The March on Washington for Gaza, a protest in response to the Israel-Hamas war, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict. The massive national march for Palestine started in Freedom Plaza, sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, attended by an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people. Organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other groups. Protesters were bused in from multiple states. In person speeches included Cornel West and Jill Stein. The March remained peaceful. Attended by several GVCP and VFP members.

A large crowd of people gathered in a public square holding signs and flags, with sunlight streaming through buildings in the background.

A crowded protest with people wearing scarves, hats, and masks, holding Palestinian flags in a city street.

A group of people at a protest holding Palestinian flags and signs, some wearing keffiyehs, with phones raised to film the event; trees and a building are visible in the background.

A large group of people protesting outside a white building, many holding flags and signs, some wearing keffiyehs and headscarves.

1/27/24 Commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), Main Street, Geneseo.

A protest scene with banners stating "Nuclear Weapons Are Illegal" and other messages, displayed in a park area with trees and grass. A man is holding part of the banner to the right.

People walking on a sidewalk holding protest signs, with trees and a street in the background.

February

2/18/24: Protest for Palestine at Twelve Corners in Brighton with members of GVCP and VFP.

A group of people standing in a snowy area, holding signs protesting for a ceasefire and against actions in Gaza. The signs include messages like 'End the Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza' and 'Ceasefire Now!' with some Palestinian flags visible in the background. They are dressed warmly for winter weather.

A person in a red jacket holding a sign that reads "END THE ETHNIC CLEANSING IN GAZA" stands in a snowy outdoor setting with others in the background.

March

3/2/24 Answer Coalition Day of Action, Geneseo. Almost 70 people attended a rally in the rain for a Ceasefire. Strong student participation. Good media coverage.

A group of people standing in an outdoor setting, holding signs with messages like "Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace"

A group of people standing on a roadside in a wooded area, holding various protest signs including messages about decency and opposing certain actions.

A person sits on a foldable chair holding a sign reading "Stop the Genocide" in front of them, under a multicolored umbrella. They are wearing a patterned scarf over their head and a black and white outfit. The setting is a rainy park or outdoor area with wet pavement and bare trees.

A group of people holding protest signs stand in a line near a stone memorial and trees. Signs include messages like "Peace Now," "Ceasefire Now," and "No Apartheid, Free Palestine."

A group of people standing along a roadside holding protest signs, under overcast skies with damp road conditions, surrounded by leafless trees.

A group of people holding protest signs gather on a rainy street, with bare trees and wet pavement visible.

April

4/15/24: Tax Day Protest, Geneseo. 16 people, well received.

A peaceful protest with people holding banners and signs for peace, including one that reads 'Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace,' in an outdoor setting with trees and a flying American flag.

May

5/10/24 7th Annual Paula Henry Peace Award at the opening of the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA) Members exhibit. Awarded to Jerry Alonzo.

5/11/24 Ceasefire Protest Geneseo, with Geneseo Peace Action (Saturday, noon).

A person walks on a lawn towards a small gathering seated under a canopy, while others stand and clap near a brick building with green shutters. The event appears celebratory, with decorations in the background.

A group of people gathered in a park setting with green trees and a clear sky, some sitting on the ground and others standing, engaged in an outdoor activity with cardboard signs.

A group of people standing on the sidewalk holding signs with messages advocating against genocide, nuclear weapons, and war in a peaceful protest near a street lined with trees and a flagpole.

A group of people holding protest signs stand under a large, leafy tree. The signs include messages such as "Talks not tanks," "Stop the genocide," and "Respect existence or expect resistance." They are participating in a peaceful protest on a grassy area next to a road.

June

6/15/24: Regular monthly meeting. GVCP members Keith and Suzanne Blackburn share plans to be in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

A group of people gathered outside, holding Palestinian flags and signs advocating for peace. One sign reads 'never again for anyone.' The scene includes trees, a sidewalk, and parked cars, with a peaceful protest atmosphere.

July

7/26/24: Protest in Brighton outside private fundraiser for Senator Gillibrand with GVCP, VFP, RAW (Rochester Against War), & Rochester for Palestine. Dr. Matlin attended the event inside, hoping to confront the Senator, but was not given the opportunity to speak. He then joined the people on the street, holding the flag of Palestine. We made so much noise, the Senator’s garden party had to move inside.

A group of people holding Palestinian flags and banners gather outside a white house surrounded by trees on a sunny day.

August

8/7/24: GVCP Annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki Vigil, Avon NY. GVCP’s Hiroshima/Nagasaki event was cosponsored by our allies Veterans For Peace, Rochester Chapter 23. We are always grateful for their strong support.

This year, GVCP was honored to have 2 of our core members at the World Conference in Japan during the Commemoration events there. A prepared speech was shared at the World Conference to a crowd of 4,000 people, by GVCP member, Suzanne.

The Avon vigil was well attended, and included speeches, a period of silence, music and singing, led by Rich Kronert, with candles and luminaria. We were fortunate to have news coverage by Ben Beagle at the Livingston County News, and Channel 13. Channel 13 coverage linked here: Rochester group marks 79 years since Hiroshima with vigil for peace

A group of people standing along a roadside holding protest signs advocating for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons, with trees and buildings in the background.

A group of people standing and sitting outside holding signs advocating for peace and remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the sunlight shines through trees in the background.

A woman wearing glasses and a floral top stands smiling among a group of people outdoors.

September

9/21/24 International Day of Peace, celebrated jointly by GVCP, Veterans for Peace Chap 23, Geneseo Peace Action, and Geneseo Interfaith Center. Activities included a vigil on Main Street, a walk through campus with signs, culminating with a stop at the Interfaith Center for refreshments, shared remarks, and the symbolic folding of peace cranes. Longtime GVCP member Susan Bailey took the lead on this event.

A group of people standing on a sidewalk holding protest signs, including one that reads "BAN BOMBS NOT BOOKS" and another saying "END ENDLESS WARS." The scene is set outdoors with trees and a street in the background.

Two men standing on a sidewalk holding signs advocating peace; one reads "STOP THE WAR!" and the other says "SEPT. 21 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE" with peace symbols. A green lawn and trees are in the background.

Four young people standing on a sidewalk holding cardboard signs with various messages, participating in an outdoor event. A banner related to a suicide prevention campaign is visible in the background.

Two people stand on a grassy roadside, one holding a flag with a graphic design, and the other holding a sign that reads 'WORLD PEACE DAY.'

October

Long time GVCP member Judi Salsburg joins the Peace Action NYS Executive Committee! Hurray for Judi!

November

11/11/24 Veterans For Peace, Chapter 23, Rochester, NY (again) hold a Reclaim Armistice Day bannering and bell ringing on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month as a call for world peace and remembrance that Armistice Day was, and should be, observed as a day calling for world peace. Joined by GVCP member(s) at the Veterans Memorial Bridge over Route 104.

11/15/24 GVCP members Arnie Matlin and Holly Adams presented letters to the aides of NY Senators Schumer and Gillibrand at the Federal building, State Street, Rochester. These letters were in support of the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD’s) introduced by Senators Sanders, Welch, Schatz and Merkley, that would suspend the transfer of (certain) weapons that the Israeli military has used to kill many thousands of civilians in Palestine. The letters were signed by 95 organizations in New York State.

We asked the Senators to vote YES to the JRD’s, to restrict US weapons to Israel. We asked that Senator Schumer bring this matter to a full vote. We spoke of the great suffering of the Palestinian people. We had a huge rally on State Street in front of the Federal Building with many people. With signs, banners, flags and chants, we filled the street with noise and color. The text of the letter was shared, there was media presence.

A group of protesters standing in front of a building, holding signs and banners supporting peace and Palestinian causes. The banner reads "Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace." Some signs call to "Free Palestine" and advocate against war funding.

Two people stand on a city street holding a large sign that reads, "USA Stop Supporting the Genocide of Palestinians". One person holds a Palestinian flag, and a bicycle is parked nearby with buildings and traffic visible in the background.

A group of people stand on a city sidewalk holding signs and flags in a protest. One person holds a large flag with red, green, white, and black vertical stripes. Other participants hold signs, one of which reads "17,000+ Palestinian Children Martyred" in green and red letters. Buildings are visible in the background along the street.

December

12/7/24: GVCP annual Buy Peaceful Toys event on Route 20A in the busy Geneseo shopping area.

GVCP members regularly join weekly peace vigils, Sundays at Goodman and East in Rochester, focusing on a cease fire, and Saturday protests at L3 Harris on University for Palestine.

GVCP joined the Warheads to Windmills Coalition. W2W leader,Timon Wallace wrote a book by the same name about ending both fossil fuels and nuclear power. You can go to the W2W web site and learn more.

GVCP joined ICAN. We all grow stronger when we group together.

GVCP is part of a NYS Back from the Brink hub. Member Holly Adams as part of that group participated in a radio interview pertaining to the TPNW that aired on an Ithaca radio station.

GVCP now boasts 2 members who are part of Peace Action’s (PANYS) Executive Committee and steering committee: Arnold Matlin, Secretary, Executive Committee, Judi Salsburg Executive Committee upstate vice president, and Holly Adams, steering committee member.

We hope you’ll join us in 2025! Thank you for your generous support. Peace.