Im Manu El-Bey is a human rights educator and defender, and a founder of the Universal Human Rights Coalition. He is based in Syracuse, New York. In this segment Manu reflects on August 31 being commemorated as the International Day for People of African Descent and how much further we still have to go to address racism in the United States and elsewhere. In a recent report to the United Nations, the ACLU and Human Rights Watch described the progress in the U.S. as elusive and grossly inadequate. To find out more information contact Manu by sending an email to: uhrc9@yahoo.com. The brief video below makes a case that civil rights of African Americans should be treated as human rights. 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/manu/FMfcgzGqPzFzcNrkcgwMzpPCcdrFqPdL?projector=1

WRFI Human Rights Show

Manu Sept. 9

Human rights educator, defender, and activist Im Manu El Bey (Manu) talks about historically documented moments in the nation and beyond as they relate to slavery and the slave trade. To contact Manu, send an email to: uhrc9@yahoo.com

In New York State, a bill was passed in December 2023 (S.1163/A7691), creating a Reparations and Remedies Commission, to examine the history of slavery in New York, the continued impact of racism, and the possibility of reparations. For more information visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S1163/amendment/A

Last but not least, the "Youth Human Rights Declaration" was adopted by the United Nations Association of the United States of America in December 2023. For more information visit: https://unausa.org/youth-declaration-launch/ Also see: https://www.un.org/en/transforming-education-summit/youth-declaration

Im Manu ElBey Jan. 5

We talk about a range of issues, including the importance and difficulties of achieving world peace.

For more information check out the following pages.
World Court of Human Rights: https://worldcourtofhumanrights.net/
World Citizen Government: https://worldcitizengov.org/
UN Declaration on the Right to Peace: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/declaration-right-peoples-peace
On the military draft: https://reason.com/2024/06/15/house-passes-bill-to-automatically-register-young-men-for-the-draft/
A bill on veteran quality of life: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8070


If you would like to receive information from Manu, send him an email: uhrc9@yahoo.com

Im Manu El Bey June 21

Abe Bonowitz, Director and Co-Founder of the NGO "Death Penalty Action," talks about the death penalty in the United States and efforts to abolish it. He reflects on the fact that families, whose loved-ones have been murdered, struggle to find closure and having the responsible person on death row does not make that easier. It also creates tremendous trauma for people who have to carry out these executions. Abe calls on President Biden to finish the job he started when he commuted 37 prisoners from federal death row, but commuting the sentences of those who remain on death row in federal or military prisons.
For more information visit: https://deathpenaltyaction.org/

Abe Bonowitz on the Death Penalty Jan 17

John Iton, founder of the organization Change a Narrative, talks about the work of the group, which includes creating green spaces in New York City. Educating the community about nutritious food and home grown herbs and vegetables has brought his community in Queens together, as neighbors get to know each other more. The "Plant Back the Block" initiative has had environmental as well as social benefits. In the beginning of the show we also talk about increased censorship in this country, including the banning of books and efforts to destroy diversity initiatives and undermine inclusive education. To sign up for more information, visit: https://changeanarrative.org/


John Iton on Change A Narrative March 21

Danielle recounts how her neighbors in the City of Cortland, NY, filed numerous unfounded complaints against her household. Hoping to resolve the matter amicably, she raised her concerns with local police and city officials. Despite dozens of complaints submitted between May 2022 and March 2024, none resulted in citations or violations.
 
In June 2024, the situation escalated dramatically. The mayor, police, and city attorney showed up at Danielle’s home unannounced, appearing to threaten and intimidate her. Just three days after Danielle posted a YouTube video exposing the harassment, her partner, Andrew, was arrested and charged with harassment by all three neighbors. He later accepted a plea deal under pressure.
 
Since then, Danielle herself has been charged with a noise ordinance violation—she has a court hearing on April 14, 2025—and also faces harassment and disorderly conduct charges related to an incident where she was grieving inside her own home. That hearing is scheduled for April 30, 2025.

Community members are encouraged to attend these hearings at Cortland City Court. To view the criminal court calendar (under WebCriminal), visit:  iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
To receive updates on Danielle’s case, sign up here:  Case Updates Form
To support Danielle’s legal defense and efforts to stay safe, please consider donating:  GoFundMe – Help Danielle

Danielle Wimbish_4upload

Sue Perlgut, Joan Adler, and Cayanne Lacko-Cave talk about reproductive rights, the organization End Abortion Stigma, and the Reproductive Rights Film Festival. On Monday, April 28, 2025 the film "Connie Cook" will be screened at Ithaca College.

For more information visit: https://filmfreeway.com/ReproductiveRightsFilmFestival
https://www.facebook.com/endingabortionstigma/
https://www.instagram.com/endingabortionstigma/

Call for Short Film Submissions in The Finger Lakes

Ithaca, NY: NY State’s only Reproductive Rights Film Festival is pleased  to announce that the 2025 Reproductive Rights Film Festival will include a selection of short shorts by Finger Lakes region filmmakers. Short short films (up to 10 minutes)  can be submitted in three categories: pre-college, college and general. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2025.  Please see our FilmFreeway site for detailed submission guidelines. For more information contact reprorightsfilmfest@gmail.com 

The  festival, which convenes its third annual season in September 2025 is hosted at Cinemapolis in Ithaca, NY,  and offers a selection of films and virtual programs that highlight the need to advance rights and access to abortion in the United States and beyond. The festival is free and open to the public! 



Reproductive Rights_4upload

Shannon Gleeson gives an update on immigration policies in the United States after Trump's first 100 days in office in 2025. We examine actions from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, including the use of the Alien Enemies Act, increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and court rulings regarding the removal of people to El Salvador without due process. We also look at the problem from a federal, state, and local perspective. This includes the dismantling of the Refugee Program and the CBP One app for asylum seekers, and raids being conducted at schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Stripping international students of their visas because they participated in demonstrations is a clear violation of first amendment protections. All of these policies impact not only the targeted communities but everyone. The way they were implemented has created intentional chaos. At the same time members of our community continue to stand up and do what they can to educate, advocate, and resist current policies that violate human rights.

Shannon Gleeson May 1_4upload

On the show, we highlight projects in Uganda where clean cooking using renewable solar energy for industrial and residential-sized stoves is resulting in reducing reliance on scarce, expensive, and unhealthy firewood and charcoal biofuels by up to 95%.
The project advances many of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs.un.org), including good health and well-being, the right to education, gender equality, affordable energy, economic growth and decent work, sustainable cities and communities, taking urgent action on climate change, and building partnerships for peace and security.

Our guests are collaborating on a new build project at the Upper Nile Institute for Advanced Technology (UNIFAT) Primary School in Uganda. The project is funded by Philadelphia, PA based 501©3 Friends of UNIFAT and the Central New York International Rotary Club.
Ithaca, New York/Central New York Rotary District member Gertrude Noden and Ugandan Peter Odida Climate Change Educator are the Project Managers for this international collaboration.
Susan Kiuyi Rose is a physics and mathematics teacher, the Assistant Governor of Rotary Zone 6 Uganda and serves as the Education Officer for the Rotary Club of Soroti Central.
James Bwire is a Public Health Specialist and Researcher, a member of the Environmental Sustainable Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) Clean Cooking Task Force, and President Elect of the  Rotary Club of Busia District 9213.
Khalib Nyende is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vron Engineering with over a decade in the design, fabrication installation and user training of smoke free solar cooking stoves solutions. https://www.vronengineering.com/ 
The UNIFAT School community and youth educational workshops, tree planting and ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 20, 2025.  For more information contact www.wordsintodeeds.org

Uganda Solar Kitchens for Schools_4upload

Musician and performing artist Truth Speaker Voice of the Youth was in the studio with Im Manu El Bey and Gertrude Noden. They talk about their efforts to bring human rights education into the classroom and to communities that may not be familiar with these rights. Truth Speaker's song "Know Ya 30" is about the 30 articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the end of the show he performs one of his poems.

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