Suffragist City Parade, Rochester, September 15, 2018

Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass lived in Rochester, New York. Both are buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery here in Rochester. Suffragist City Parade, held in Rochester on Saturday, September 15, was in their honor for their work on securing voting rights for women.

From a 90-year old to a baby in a stroller, hundreds marched and carried banners promoting VOTE! and the parade's themes of Organize! Agitate! Educate! 

Rise for Climate, Jobs & Justice

On Saturday, September 8, 2018, many of us concerned with issues like global warming, alternate energy sources, pollution cleanup, rising seas, energy efficiency, climate refugees,and food supply gathered to listen to local speakers sharing their concerns.

Hridesh Singh, a Brighton High student,  gave a youth's perspective and Eric Koski, an engineer, spoke about science and policy matters. Ruth Ferguson shared about her struggle with Lyme disease and Nannett Cepero talked about how agriculture is affected by climate change. Both Brady Fergusson and Isabella Padron spoke on the effects of rising seas and climate refugees. Marjorie Cleophat focused on home energy efficiency upgrades and Ericka Jones talked about the needs for emergency preparedness for the disability community. Dorian Hall talked about pollution cleanup and affordable housing while Susan Campbell spoke about wind energy in her community.

Thanks to Rochester People's Climate Coalition and Sierra Club who organized the event.

Summer's End

We know summer's over when the Finger Lakes BMW Motorcycle Club holds its annual rally at at Watkins Glen State Park outside of Watkins Glen, New York.

Motorcyclists from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Canada, and some from as far away as Florida and Texas come to celebrate the end of riding season in this area of the country. The rally's success depends upon the thousands of hours volunteers donate in planning and then working at the rally. Many thanks to all of them.

Rochester Public Market - 2019

For many years I've made a calendar from photos I've taken at the Rochester Public Market. The focus has been on vendors and farmers who sell a wide variety of produce and retail products at the market.

This year the calendar focuses on flowers, vegetables, fruits - even baked goods and cheeses

Regardless of the weather, the Rochester Public Market is open year round. It is the crossroads of our community where shoppers of all ages and ethnicities mingle and shop - meeting friends, visiting with vendors, enjoying a cup of coffee, eating freshly baked goods or hoping for a bargain, something for everyone. 

Families Belong Together II

Many voices, many posters, many protesters, 

standing strong with those whose voices are usually silenced 

by those who use their political power to dominate.  

Families Belong Together, June 30, 2018

Thousands gathered in Lower Manhattan to protest the President's immigration policy of separating children from their parents when they are caught crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Among the protesters was a story teller who read from children's books that celebrate immigrants and their contributions to our country's history - like We Came to America by Faith Ringgold, Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say.

I taught English to recent immigrants and saw how hard they worked in order to provide a better life for their children. May we as individuals and citizens of the United States, never forget what was written in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  A fitting acknowledgement on this day, July 4, 2018.

Blooming Rochester

Highland Park in Rochester is filled with flowers right now. This is also the week of its famous Lilac Festival. The park is filled with flowers as well as food trucks serving blooming onions, french fries,  elk jerky, roasted turkey legs, sushi, cotton candy, kettle korn, tacos, poutine, crepes, spring rolls, fried dough, kabobs, pizza, wraps, bbq, bacon dogs, deep-fried oreos, stuffed grape leaves, ice cream - a fast food feast with foods from around the world !

March for Our Lives, March 24, 2018

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES, organized by the young whose lives are most affected by gun violence in schools, on streets and in neighborhoods, drew more than 30,000 protesters in Atlanta, Georgia, to support them. I joined the march to photograph and protest, walk with my daughter-in-law and grandson who participated in his first protest march.

A "sea of posters" expressed why we marched: 

Books not Bullets;
Arms are for Hugging; 

VOTE; 

Kids Shouldn't Fear School; 

Enough-Support Gun Control; 

MOMS DEMAND ACTION; 

Protest brings Change-Change brings Progress; 

VOTE; 

Actually Guns Do Kill People; 

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES; 

My Fear isn't Finals, Guns Are; 

Why are Guns more Important than Our Kids?

NOT ONE MORE; 

Disarm Hate; 

Black Lives Matter; 

VOTE; 

End White Supremacy; 

Only Thing Easier to Buy than a Gun, is a GOP Candidate; 

Arms are for Caring, Not Killing; 

VOTE

 

Facebook posting: 

"On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Atlanta, GA to demand that their lives and safety become a priority. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard. 

School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying 

when they should be learning, playing, and growing. 

The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country. 

Every kid in this country now goes to school wondering if this day might be their last. We live in fear." Hosted by March For Our Lives - Atlanta and Georgia Alliance for Social Justice

A Photographic Pilgrimage: WWII Japanese-American Internment Camps

Marching in Rochester

Since the inauguration of the current president of the United States, many in the community are outraged. They are pooling their resources to express stands against racism, against bigotry, against hate, against fracking. They are supporting immigration, health care, education, science, women's rights, voting. Protesters are young and old, from all ethnic backgrounds, supporting one another against the powerful and heavily funded political machine in office. These are some of the photographs taken during the past year - during the Education March, the Science March, the Women's March II, the United Community Response: Race to End Racism.