On Wednesday, July 7, at 6:00, supporters of community organizer and elected member of the Geneva City Council, Laura Salamendra, will gather for a solidarity rally before the regular council meeting. The meeting and rally will be held at the Geneva Recreation Complex, 666 S. Exchange Street, in Geneva. Rally co-sponsors include FTP ROC, Enough is Enough, Code Pink, XRA Rochester, Ithaca DSA, Finger Lakes Rapid Response, the People’s Peaceful Protest, the Geneva Women’s Assembly, and the Albany, Syracuse, and Finger Lakes Branches of the Party for Socialism and Liberalism.
On June 7, 2021, the Mayor of Geneva, NY allowed pro-police demonstrators to shut down a public meeting and shout down and physically approach Salamendra. For over a year, far-right reactionaries in coordination with the police have carried out an intimidation campaign against her, with tactics ranging from constant drive-bys to death threats. She is being singled-out because of her role in trying to put an end to racist lawless policing.
Over a thousand people from across the country have already added their names to a petition expressing solidarity with Geneva City Councilor Laura Salamendra. A leading advocate for police accountability, Salamendra was instrumental in implementing Geneva’s first police review board. The demand for police accountability arose out of youth-led protests in Geneva occurring in the wake of the police murders of George Floyd and Daniel Prude as well as the long legacy of racist policing in Geneva. In May 2011, Geneva police shot and killed Corey Jackson.
“The overwhelming success of the petition is yet another indication of the strength of the movement for racial equality, police accountability, and gender justice,” said Geneva Women’s Assembly member Hannah Dickinson. “The commitment and fight back that we saw in the streets last summer in the wake of the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, and so many others are continuing. The outpouring of support, especially from people in rural parts of the state, shows the people’s movement for justice is everywhere! When we stand together we are so much stronger than the forces who oppose progressive change.”
The petition condemns the harassment Salamendra has experienced as a visible leader of the local movement for police accountability. It holds Mayor Steve Valentino, City Manager Sage Gerling, and Police Chief Mike Passalacqua responsible for allowing the threats and intimidation tactics to continue.
“Our goal with the petition was shedding a light on what has been happening in Geneva,” explained Penny Hankins, from the Geneva Women’s Assembly. “It is unacceptable for the Mayor and City Manager to tolerate and encourage people interrupting and shouting down an elected member of Council. The petition shows that people all over the country agree with us that this sort of behavior has to stop now.”
The petition will be presented at the city council meeting following the rally. It can be accessed at https://genevawomensassembly.org/petition/.