Rise Up Kingston has joined with activists and organizers around the country to demand changes to how we look at public safety, specifically by defunding the police and investing in local communities. They are looking for individual and organizational support in the Kingston community. By clicking here you can read their zine which outlines their campaign to defund Kingston police by 22%.
In 2019 22% of police dispatches were to situations where armed police were not needed, such as welfare checks, lockouts, parking, mental health and medical issues. Other communities have used alternatives to police in these situations and Rise Up Kingston would like 22% of the $11m+ police budget to go into a contingency account to allow the community to strategically decide how to spend on public safety.
We hope a representative from Rise Up will be able to join us on June 10th to give us more information. If you are interested in supporting them as an individual please click here or get involved in building a local crisis de-escalation team click here

How about volunteering for the clean up of the Pine Street African Burial Ground?

In preparation for Harambee’s Juneteenth celebration and Grand Opening of the Burial Ground on Saturday June 19th there will be two clean up sessions, Saturdays June 5th and June 12th from 10am to 1pm. Organized by Kingston Land Trust and Harambee. Sign up by emailing Sharline Bevier at sbv199@yahoo.com, so they can have an approximate number of tools available. For more information about the Burial Ground click here 157 Pine Street, please plan to park a block away to minimize local impact, wear sturdy shoes, long pants (poison ivy) and water to drink.