People
The day has finally come: Chelsea Manning has been released! From May 2010 through today Chelsea has been in prison for exposing the costs and inhumanity of war. She risked everything to do what she felt was right.What can we commit to today to end war? Share your inspiration and commitment with Chelsea. We will make sure she receives it. At these moments of victory, it is important to let the inspiration refuel our own commitments.
This past April 2, 2017 marked the 10th Annual Autism Awareness Day. Organizations from around the world joined forces to bring awareness about autism and to raise much needed funding to continue research, develop educational and treatment programs, and to help support the families of people with autism.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 issued an ADDM Autism prevalence report that showed autism had risen to one in every 68 births in the United States. Of this rate, one in 54 boys had autism. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an ASD. No one seems to understand or agree on why this number has almost doubled since 2004, therefore it can’t be controlled and continues to increase.
Free Press Hero: Brian “Clash” Griffin
Unperturbed by driving rain, subzero temperatures and scathing heat -- he plays on. Unintimidated by police presence be they in person, on horses or bikes, or aggressive counter-protesters - he plays on. Unrelenting in his intensity as he participates at every rally -- Brian “Clash” Griffin plays on. He was there when we demonstrated outside Governor Bob Taft’s church, trying to stop the execution of an innocent man, Johnny Byrd -- playing until his fingers were frostbitten. When they started the Iraq War and we were attacked by pro-war fanatics during weekly peace vigils at 15th and High -- he played on. In solidarity with Occupy Columbus at the Statehouse -- he played on. He marches with his guitar in the Pride Parade, Black Lives Matter marches, the recent (and very wet) People’s Climate March, and the list goes on. Brian Griffin infuses enthusiasm at every gathering as he often makes up a cause-oriented song on the spot. The Free Press is in awe of Brian’s persistent and consistent musical presence and are inspired by the soundtrack he provides to our lives. “We are gonna rise up!”
Zerqa Abid describes herself as an “activist mother” which is quite an understatement. Zerqa Abid is the founder and president of Muslims for Ohio PAC and the MY Project USA, an organization that works on poverty and human trafficking issues in Columbus. She has organized Columbus Unity Meetings to bring all the socially conscious activist groups in Columbus together and she is active in Indivisible Columbus.
Originally from Pakistan and then from North Carolina, Zerqa studied mass communication, TV production and journalism at North Carolina State University. Her professional experience ranges from working in MSNBC’s Newsroom and managing a TV station to organizing international trade and commercial shows. Right now her priority is saving our children from drugs and pimps.
Everyone who was Amy Wickes Friend on Facebook will remember her iconic pose: one hip thrust out, a big smile on her face as she flashed a peace sign. Amy left us too soon on March 9, 2017. To understand her life, one need only read her important book, From Privilege to Prison: Finding Purpose in a Dark Place. Anyone being abused in jail, in prison or in any part of the criminal justice system could count on Amy to come to their aid. Anyone with influence, be it County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, City Attorney Rick Pfieifer, all the judges in Franklin County, media people – including me as the Editor of this newspaper – could count on the Wickes treatment: a passionate and unrelenting appeal for morality, decency, justice and facts.
Freep Hero: Tish O’Dell and CELDF
The Free Press hero is Tish O’Dell, who campaigned for and won a Community Bill of Rights that banned fracking in Broadview Heights, Ohio. O’Dell and her group, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) have helped 28 communities including Columbus fight to protect clean air and water as a right. There will be a CELDF “Community Rights for Social Justice” conference at the Northwood-High building in Columbus Saturday, March 4. CELDF is making civil disobedience a democratic and civic duty.
The Free Press Salutes
Hero: Nina Turner
“We can't have testimony without a test, and we are being tested right now for whether or not we've got courage enough, hope enough, fight enough and love enough to do what is necessary. Donald Trump's election was a wake-up call—it's up to all of us to keep our mission for social, economic and political justice alive,” pronounced former Ohio State Senator and Minority Whip Nina Turner, chosen as this month's Free Press hero for resurrecting the true legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in her rousing speech at his memorial on January 14. King's legacy, above all else, is activism in the name of social justice and Nina Turner is calling for a new mass movement of the people.
Heroes: Hundreds protesting at airports after Muslim ban
Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center announces a major gift of $50,000 per year for three years from the Northland Columbus Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus under the leadership of Father Charles Klinger of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Westerville and Father Thomas Petry of St. Anthony in Columbus. The Northland Deanery has been a huge supporter of the clinic for 6 years which has enabled the clinic to expand hours and provide life-saving treatment and medication to patients. Outgoing Helping Hands Board President Connie Sauter from St. Paul’s Catholic Church has been a long-term champion for Helping Hands’ free clinic. The clinic serves individuals within 200% of the poverty level and is mostly staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and students. The support fills an essential need in the neighborhood and surrounding area including a history of servicing 38 zip codes. The members of the Northland Columbus Deanery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus include: St Anthony, Columbus, St. Elizabeth, Columbus, St. James the Less, Columbus, St. John Neumann, Sunbury, St.
Free Press Heroes: Local activists at Standing Rock
The Free Press recognizes the Central Ohioans who stood in solidarity with Native Americans and others protesting the Dakota Access pipeline at Standing Rock in 2016: Heidi Detty, Bob Studzinski, Bruce Kiracofe, Michael Ulrey, Elizabeth Castro, Michael Vinson and Rudy Gerdeman, who was hit by water cannons and tear gas. These brave water protectors are appreciated by Tunkashila. The Free Press is proud to support these local activists who put their bodies on the line against those who poison water in the name of profit. Mitakuye oyasin.
Free Press Salutes: Jill Stein
When it comes to reproductive rights, Amanda Patton isn't one to pussyfoot around. The cat-lover-turned pro-choice activist has made it her mission to raise awareness of the attack on women's rights that is going on in our country today. Patton is the founder of Prochoicecats.com, which advocates for reproductive rights and access. In March, Amanda successfully lobbied Columbus City Council to draft and pass a clinic protection ordinance.
A photo of women being bullied by pro-life protesters outside a Toledo clinic in 2014 was the match that lit the fire. The image prompted Patton and some friends to volunteer at the only remaining independent abortion clinic in Columbus, the Founder's Women's Health Center. There, they escorted frightened women through the gauntlet of hostile zealots. Before long, she left her tech job to take a patient-advocate position at the facility. Seeing firsthand the intimidation endured by women who were exercising their legal right to choose, Amanda became determined to do even more.