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Showing posts from June, 2016

Statement for NYC Council Committee on Immigration Hearing and Open Arms Press Conference, June 27, 2016

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Here's how I spent my day.  Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome, founder, #BringBackOurGirlsNYC Professor of Political Science, African & Women's Studies Leonard & Claire Tow Professor, 2015/2016 Brooklyn College, CUNY 3413 James Hall 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11210 phone:   (718) 951-5000, ext. 1742 ; fax:   (718) 951-4833 email:   mokome@brooklyn.cuny.edu ; mojubaolu@gmail.com Editor:   Ìrìnkèrindò: a Journal of African Migration   I stand here today as an African immigrant who came to the US 35 years ago. I give unequivocal support to the statement by the New York City Council Committee on Immigration that “In New York City, we reject anti-immigrant sentiments and welcome displaced people with compassion, respect, and generosity.” I also support the two resolutions before the Council: ·         Resolution 1105, calling upon the President and the State Department to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States

Statement for NYC Council Committee on Immigration Hearing and Open Arms Press Conference, June 27, 2016

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Here's how I spent my day.  Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome, founder, #BringBackOurGirlsNYC Professor of Political Science, African & Women's Studies Leonard & Claire Tow Professor, 2015/2016 Brooklyn College, CUNY 3413 James Hall 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11210 phone:   (718) 951-5000, ext. 1742 ; fax:   (718) 951-4833 email:   mokome@brooklyn.cuny.edu ; mojubaolu@gmail.com Editor:   Ìrìnkèrindò: a Journal of African Migration   I stand here today as an African immigrant who came to the US 35 years ago. I give unequivocal support to the statement by the New York City Council Committee on Immigration that “In New York City, we reject anti-immigrant sentiments and welcome displaced people with compassion, respect, and generosity.” I also support the two resolutions before the Council: ·         Resolution 1105, calling upon the President and the State Department to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States

#BringBackOurGirls: A Call for Safe, Secure, Excellent Education for all Children

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"Guaranteed equal and equitable access to excellent education, especially for girls, builds a better world and glorious future. Excellent education should be a right available to every child.  It’s an investment in the future. It supports human and national security. I’m from Nigeria, which has the most out of school children in the world (over 10 million) . I call on Nigeria’s government to actualize its Education for All commitment, and to rescue our Chibok Girls, abducted from their school by Boko Haram over two years ago. Let’s make all schools safe havens where children can joyfully learn, thrive, and grow."  The quote above is for my 30 second Youtube clip for the Education Commission video challenge sponsored by Global Citizen. It will be recorded at the Youtube Headquarters in NYC today, Friday, June 24th. Participants were asked to answer the question: "How can education best prepare you for your future? And what would your ideal schoo

#800Days since our #ChibokGirls abduction #BringBackOurGirls #HopeEndures

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Today is 800 days after our #ChibokGirls were abducted by Boko Haram. While 276 were originally abducted, 57 were able to escape from the brutal insurgents.  One recently returned. 218 remain in captivity.  Thousands of other women and girls have been similarly abducted.  All Boko Haram abductees must be rescued. They must be reunited with their families. Long-term, culturally appropriate psychosocial care must be provided for them, their families and communities.  Whether it was in NYC as above, Or under torrential rain in Lagos, Nigeria as above, Or at the 6 month mark at the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN and Consulate in NYC, Or at the one-year mark, when the Empire State Building was lit to commemorate our #ChibokGirls abduction and signal our call to end all forms of Gender based violence, Or at the 500 Day Mark, when we were joined by Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, and staunch coordinator of th

My Statement on the Draft CUNY Policy on "Expressive Conduct"

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Photo from PSC-CUNY Website #CUNYFreeExpress I attended the CUNY BOARD OF TRUSTEES HEARING at HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BRONX today, June 20, 2016. Here below is my "STATEMENT ON Universities by definition ought to be democratic spaces where respect for democracy and the principles it encompasses must apply to processes, procedures and activities, particularly those presented as protecting freedom of speech and assembly.  Unfortunately, the policy under consideration is troubling in all respects. The procedures, process and activities that produced this policy show clear evidence of what WW Schattschneider described as the “mobilization of bias.”  Applied to the CUNY SITUATION, those in power have determined the agenda, selected those to whom the right to participate was conferred, decided on the timing of allowing the rest of us know about proposed changes, as well as the extent of our participation (which has been highly circumscribed). This policy also bears no res