Genesee Valley Guardian

Vol 2, Issue 1 – January 6, 2025

A Somber Anniversary

Many of us hear “January 6th” the same way we hear “September 11th.” It is a date that stands out from the flow of time because of an event that we lived through and that affects how we experience our lives. Today is the 5th anniversary of the 2021 assault on the US Capital by MAGA loyalists who were gathered in Washington, primed for action, and fired — like a cannon — at Congress in order to disrupt the transition of power from President Trump to President Biden.

Much has been written about the harm to individuals defending the Capital building and the lies that misled fellow citizens to participate in this attack(1). We also know that this attack has no historical precedent in over 200 years. And, we recently learned that US Special Counsel Jack Smith has evidence that President Trump is personally and criminally responsible for this insurrection(2).

Over 200 activists gathered this afternoon in front of Representative Claudia Tenney’s (NY24, R) local office to mark this anniversary and to protest the other unconstitutional actions of President Trump and his regime since he was inaugurated in January 2025. (Photos coming next week!)

For those of us who were unable to attend the protest this afternoon, it is still a somber day. It is still a day to rededicate ourselves to restoring democracy in the United States.

What can you do today, or this week, to Resist – Insist – Persist?

In Solidarity,
Walter Pond, Organizer
Genesee Valley Indivisible

(1) NPR, Visual Archive of January 6th; Companion Podcast.
(2) CNN, The Source, “House Judiciary Committee releases video and transcript of Jack Smith deposition,” 1/2/2026.

Genesee Valley Voices

Genesee Valley Voices is new regular feature of this newsletter highlighting statements, observations, or opinions by members of Genesee Valley Indivisible.

Jane Petti shares a fitting thought for the start of the New Year:

We need to keep resisting! And this resistance, this fighting back, needs to come from the people with the real power in our country — and that is US, that is YOU and ME. We are the workers, we are the voters, we are the citizens! Remember, to be complacent and do nothing is the same as giving up your power!

GVI Members Support GVCP “Emergency Protest over Attack on Venezuela”

On Sunday, Jan 4, GVI Members joined a rally hastily organized by Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace to show strong opposition to Trump’s illegal action against Venezuela. This action took place within 36 hours after news of the US military attack became public.

GVI and our partners will continue to share news and plan actions to protest this authoritarian and unconstitutional acton by the Trump regime.

In the meantime, this is all the more reason to join previously scheduled actions such as weekly Geneseo Gateway rallies on Wednesday and Friday, GVI’s weekly Community Meeting on January 8th, and next Monday’s “New York For ALL” March in Albany. See below for details.

UPCOMING ACTIONS

March for the Disappeared

Learn more about the New York for All Act (NY4ALL)
at the link below and at the January 8th GVI Community Meeting.

Know Your Rights – Community Response to ICE Activity

Zoom Webinar about the Rochester, NY, Community

A panel discussion on the recent actions by ICE and the rights of those targeted by that activity, as well as the rights of those who observe ICE activity.

Presented by The Lawyers’ Coalition for Racial and Social Justice

(A joint coalition of the Monroe County Bar Association, the Rochester Black Bar Association, and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Register here

Submit any questions in advance to rsjcoalition@gmail.com.

GVI Constitution Lecture Series

January 2026 – “Separation of Powers”

GVI is presenting its third installment of our series on the U.S. Constitution. Join us for a presentation by Jeffrey Koch, Professor of Political Science at SUNY-Geneseo. Professor Koch will describe how the U.S. Constitution creates a “separation of powers” in U.S. government, and some of the effects it has on our history and politics.

Monday, January 26, 2026 7:00 PM
St. Michael’s, enter through the red door at back of church

Details and Registration

CONTINUING ACTIONS

GVI Community Meeting

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

January 8 – Guest Speaker on the NY4ALL Act
January 15 – Presentation from Indivisible Outreach (a Rochester-based group) on anti-ICE action(s) they are planning
January 22 – Presentation on the NY Health Act (2026), tentative
January 29 – GVI’s Goals for 2026

Location: St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Geneseo, NY
— Welcome. No RSVP required.
— Address & map.
— Enter through the red door in the back of the church.
— Weather cancellations will be emailed to all GVI members by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Join our member email list.

Weekly Geneseo Gateway Rallies

Weekly Hemlock Protest

Wednesdays — 3:30–4:30 PM (Winter Schedule)
Southeast Corner of Rt 15A and Rt 20A (aka “Dollar General Corner”)
Organized by Hemlock Rising Indivisible (hemlockrising8@gmail.com)

PUPs: Pop-Up Protests

GVI Book Club Meeting

Third Conversation about Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening.
All welcome. Read the book before or after the meeting — your choice!

Wednesday, January 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Wadsworth Library, basement meeting room Geneseo, NY.
Sign-up not required. Questions? Contact info@geneseevalleyindisible.org.

Local Postcard Campaign

Additional details and pickup options available. Use the button below to request postcards.

Recommended BUT NOT REQUIRED donation: $5 for every 10 cards.

National & NYS Indivisible News

What’s the Plan Calls: A weekly, national Zoom call with Indivisible National founders and co-CEOs. Questions from the audience are encouraged. Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. NEW registration link for 2026 (required).

Statewide Call: Save the date and join us for New York’s first statewide call of 2026 on Tuesday, January 13th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Open to all Indivisibles.

EVENT CALENDARS