Pittsburgh Reactions to Nicaragua Crisis and more

The Global Switchboard stewards a network that’s helping Pittsburgh engage the rest of the world to advance justice and peace. The stories below highlight our network’s connections to current issues facing our nation and the world.

Nicaragua Crisis

March of the Flowers rally in Managua . Picture credit: Latinxtoday

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• Building New Hope (BNH) is a Pittsburgh-based, fair-trade, bird-friendly certified coffee cooperative whose funds helps support two schools in Nicaragua. Right now, the organization has teachers, students, families, and community partners on the ground in the country. On June 30th BNH joined one of the vigils taking place in seventy countries around the world, that saw people gathered with balloons and flowers for the “Marcha de las Flores” to honor all those who have been killed.

Separation of Families at Border

Stop the Immoral Treatment of Immigrant Families Rally. Photo credit: Carlin Christy

• • Rosamaria Cristello, Executive Director of the Latino Community Center, publicly shared her family’s story. Read her personal account here.

• • On June 20th 2018, All for All, NAMS Community Assistance & Refugee Resettlement, Literacy Pittsburgh, South Hills Interfaith Movement, and many more brought hundreds of people out to celebrate World Refugee Day & Immigrant Heritage Month.

• • • On June 25th 2018, Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh UNITED, and Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network organized a “Stop the Immoral Treatment of Immigrant Families!” rally at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the South Side to demand justice for immigrant communities.
  • On June 30th 2018 nearly 2,000 Pittsburghers rallied as a part of a national effort called “Families Belong Together.”

Muslim Ban

Picture provided by organizers of We Will Not Be Banned rally

• On July 1st 2018, at the We Will Not Be Banned Rally, All for All, No One Left Behind, 1Hood Media, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, Casa San José, Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, Pittsburgh UNITED, and Alliance for Police Accountability-APA helped organize hundreds of friends and allies representing veterans, immigrants, Black Americans, unions, Latinx, and many others seeking justice and unity.