Wayne Action for Racial Equality

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

IMPORTANT UPDATE — JUSTICE FOR JOHNNY “TAT” WHITE

We would like to announce along with our partners, FLX ROAR that a Wayne County grand jury has indicted Brandon Watt on assault in the second degree AS A HATE CRIME.

For weeks and months, Johnny, his family, WARE, FLX ROAR, our partner orgs, advocates and members of the community have been standing up and speaking out for equal justice, asking the Wayne County District Attorney to include the hate-crime aspect of this assault in the charges.

THAT CHARGE IS NOW PART OF THE INDICTMENT. We would like to thank everyone who showed up for Mr White and Assistant Distinct Attorney Justin Hill and colleague’s successful grand jury indictment.

Watt will be arraigned TODAY (Tuesday, September 1) at 2:00 PM in Wayne County Court in Lyons.

We’re asking people to come out and stand with Johnny and his family at the courthouse. We’ll be meeting people between 1:15 and 1:30 PM at the gazebo in Central Park in Lyons. I will head toward the courthouse around 1:30 PM.

There’s no need for everyone to walk in together. If you arrive later, just head directly to the courthouse. Courtroom space can fill quickly, so please arrive early if you can and be prepared to go through courthouse security.

The goal is simple: show up respectfully for Johnny and his family and let them know they are not standing alone.

An indictment is not a conviction, but this is a major step forward in the case and in progressing the long arc of justice forward.

We stood up. We spoke out. Now we keep showing up.
✊🏾💪🏾💜💪🗣️

08/17/2026

From Founding Member, Jim Wood -

Dr. Anderson was a trusted mentor and collaborator in WARE’s mission to engage and educate the community about the vast historical and contemporary contributions of the African diaspora to local, regional, national & international life. He lent his expertise and wisdom to WARE as it gained its footing in the Wayne County community and began work to accomplish its mission of community engagement and education.

One of the very public events that WARE staged was an African-American History course. Dr. Anderson taught it. Later, as Sankofa, he mesmerized students at school assemblies with his unique style of African storytelling. In addition, he gathered local Black residents to conduct a first of its kind collection of their experiences of racism. The oral stories focused on their travels north from their homes in southern states.

To honor Dr. Anderson, Nazareth University is having a a service in their chapel this Thursday (Aug. 20) at 10 a.m.

The Rochester City School District and City Council paid tribute Thursday to David Anderson, a well-known Frederick Douglass historian, following his death at age 96.

07/31/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT — SODUS

WARE has received confirmation that three people were taken into immigration custody following two separate traffic stops in Sodus this morning, Friday, July 31. A large ICE presence was also observed on Main Street in the Village of Sodus.

Community members are encouraged to remain alert, look out for one another, and share only verified information.

Information for the Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network is included in the attached card. Please save and share it so community members know whom to contact if they witness immigration enforcement activity.

07/25/2026

Join us at the rally today! (Saturday) We ask you to support Johnny at this critical time before the grand jury convenes on Monday and to call for accountability for the alleged perpetrator. Details are included on the flyer.

To date, no hate-crime charges have been publicly filed in connection with the reported racial harassment and brutal assault.

We call on the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office to fully and strongly present all available evidence and pursue hate-crime charges, along with every other charge reasonably supported by the facts and New York law. We look forward to seeing equal justice and meaningful accountability reflected when the indictment becomes public.

07/19/2026

Happening this morning at 11 am on the sidewalks outside Ontario Library.

This is to rally against ICE detaining and terrorizing immigrant community members in Ontario and Wayne County

07/14/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗧 𝗢𝗙
𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡𝗡𝗬 “𝗧𝗔𝗧” 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘

Wayne Action for Racial Equality (WARE) unequivocally condemns the violent assault on Johnny “Tat” White and stands in solidarity with Mr. White, his family, and our community.

While respecting the need to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, WARE believes the community deserves transparency and, based on the publicly known facts, calls on the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office to thoroughly review all available evidence and pursue hate crime charges if the evidence supports the legal standard.

At a time when communities across our nation are experiencing an increase in reported acts of hatred and racial violence, it is essential that we respond with accountability, equal justice under the law, and a clear commitment to preventing further acts of hate in our communities.”