NYC Election Defense Training
On Friday 8/21 and Saturday 8/22, we helped to convene and facilitate a two-day nonpartisan election defense training in NYC, co-hosted by Hands Off NYC, the New York City Central Labor Council, Common Cause NY, The Interfaith Center of New York, Mayday Strong, Make the Road NY, New York Immigration Coalition, NAACP NYS Conference, Freedom Trainers, and others.
Everyone who cares about democracy should be paying attention to what’s going on: the regime is seeking to sabotage the elections, including by preventing eligible Americans from voting — all so they can hold on to power. It’s time to come together to fight for free and democratic elections, and demand: Hands Off Our Vote!
That’s why the goal of the two-day training was to bring a wide cross-section of groups together to prepare for the 2026 elections, to make sure our city is ready to protect the vote and respond swiftly if the results are threatened across the country. Participants included organizers and activists, lawyers, union leaders, artists, community organizations, mutual aid groups, service agencies, and more.
Katal members and staff attended the training, and our executive director, gabriel sayegh, served as one of the co-facilitators.
Next Steps: Coming out of the two-day training, we’re participating in action days and additional training opportunities through Hands Off NYC — and we invite you to join us. Every week, HandsOff NYC is offering workshops on election protection and election defense, know your rights, how to reach out to small businesses, and more. Check out the Hands Off NYC calendar for details and to get involved!
Background Readings: For more details on the administration’s current efforts to sabotage the election — and what all of us, across the political spectrum, can do about it — check out these resources:
- Reuters Report: How Trump is Moving to Control U.S. Elections, One State at a Time
- Voting Rights Lab: 2026 Election Risk Heat Map
- Democracy Docket: DOJ is 0-23 in court, so now it’s sending 1,000 monitors to the polls
- Act Free to Be Free, A Civil Society Framework for Election Defense in 2026
Co-Leadership Training
Co-LED Camp: Lead. Envision. Decide. Hosted by In The Works. Photo by Justine Harris of Parable Consulting
This week, our organizing and advocacy directors, Melanie and Yonah, attended a Co-LED Camp put on by In The Works that is designed for co-leaders and catalysts for social change to have dedicated time together to deepen their partnership and collaboration.
The curriculum centered on the principles of being Black-liberative, trauma-informed, and anti-racist. The Co-LED Camp facilitation walked them through a series of embodied practices, reflective exercises, dialogues, and play. Melanie and Yonah are leaving with strengthened skills and deeper self-awareness to approach their leadership in new ways.
Co-LED Camp: Lead. Envision. Decide. Hosted by In The Works. Photo by Justine Harris of Parable Consulting
Co-LED Camp: Lead. Envision. Decide. Hosted by In The Works. Photo by Justine Harris of Parable Consulting
Wednesday, September 2nd: International Overdose Action Day
For International Overdose Awareness Day on this Wednesday, September 2nd — we’re joining VOCAL-NY, the Drug Policy Alliance, and others to demand action. Register here to join us.
One year ago, the federal government began illegal boat strikes, escalating the drug war under the guise of the overdose crisis while defunding the very programs that save lives. Since September 2, 2025, the federal administration has unlawfully killed over 220 people on fishing boats in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At the same time, the administration is dismantling federal agencies, cutting healthcare coverage and food supports, attacking and defunding proven solutions like harm reduction and housing, and shifting toward criminalizing people rather than providing care.
For the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day, we’re taking action and calling on the US government to end the strikes and fund care — not war.
- WHAT: International Overdose Action Day: No More Strikes & Stop the Killings in Our Name — Rally & Press Conference
- WHEN: September 2nd @ 10:30am meet up
- WHERE: UN Protest Plaza (47th and 2nd St)
- RSVP here
If you would like to join us for the action or have any questions, please contact Yonah at yonah@katalcenter.org.
Thursday, September 10th: Statewide Criminal Justice Reform
Our next NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call is on Thursday, September 10th, at noon! Register here to join.
On the September call, we’ll discuss the June primary results, the upcoming November election, and what to expect in the upcoming 2027 legislative session.
Register here to join us on September 10th, from noon to 1 p.m.
If you have any questions about the statewide call or would like to be a presenter, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org
Death at Rikers & Upcoming Shut Rikers Meetings
On Tuesday, news broke that yet another person has died in the custody of the NYC Department of Correction (DOC). Clarence Woodward is at least the 7th person to die in DOC custody since Zohran Mamdani became mayor in January 2026.
Here’s a statement by Katal member Kevin Valentine:
“Clarence Woodward is the 2nd person to die in DOC custody in less than a week, and the 7th person to die this year. I express my condolences to his family.
I was detained at Rikers; I know how dangerous and horrific a place it is. No human being should be detained in those facilities. This death shows how vitally important it is for an immediate oversight review and actual reform to be implemented by Mayor Mamdani and NYC officials, the State Commission of Correction, and the Federal Remediation Manager. Rikers must be shut down. There is no time to delay this while lives are on the line.”
Join us on Wednesday, September 16th at 6 pm in downtown Brooklyn for our Shut Rikers Meeting. We’re coming together with neighbors to collectively build community-based power to shut down the jail complex once and for all. In these meetings, we come together with our neighbors to build community-based power to shut down the jail complex. We spend time powermapping the Mamdani administration and city council, discussing action steps we can take together, and more.
To attend our next Shut Rikers meeting on Wednesday, September 16th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, register here.
If you have any questions, please contact Melanie at Melanie@katalcenter.org.
Quotes of the Week
“Defeat should not be the source of discouragement, but a stimulus to keep plotting.”
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
-Shirley Chisholm, found at the special exhibition “The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change” at the Lefferts Historic House in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park
For printing and distribution, download the Katal Weekly Update PDF version.
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Email: info@katalcenter.org
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