Local
Hello Columbus.
After a much-needed sabbatical from writing about the social issues that I feel are important, not only to me in my present life, but to my children, and all of the grandchildren that will be from the seeds of my womb, I have decided it is time to start my articles again.
I spoke with a young man, doesn’t matter the race, who said he was twenty-eight years old. I don’t know how we got on the subject, but voting came up. He said it was a “waste of time to vote.”
I have learned that it is better to speak logical when speaking with young people in regard to political matters. In fact, in regard to anything that pertains to adulthood and life. I speak to them where they live.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 8:00 PM
On June 24, the Supreme Court issued a dangerous ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in an unprecedented attack on reproductive freedom. But this fight isn’t just taking place at the Supreme Court. The ACLU is prepared for this moment, and will continue fighting in courts and legislatures, in the streets, and at the ballot box — but we need you with us.
This summer, join ACLU People Power’s Abortion Activist Series, a collection of virtual events and trainings on how you can join the fight for abortion rights, no matter where you live.
Join us every other Tuesday evening.
More information and registration here.
109 Palestinians killed – 0 Israelis killed – definitely a large increase in lethality in the West Bank, but the recent incursion in Gaza killed 35 Palestinians compared to 263 in 2021.
6,972 Palestinians injured – I Israeli injured
650 Palestinian structures demolished displacing 645 people.
483 Attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers were so far this year, almost as many as in all of 2021.
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Protection of Civilians report.
When you compare these statistics for killing/injury of Palestinians and Israelis, it becomes clear that despite the constant reporting of 1,000s of missiles from Gaza, these are not warranted for the defense of Israel.
In the last three months Israeli forces have killed approximately 70 Palestinians –13 of them minors, including two five-year-old children.
A few years ago, when a very bright and avidly reading eight-year-old friend announced that she had named her new stuffed bear and its cub Bakey and Bearey, I asked her how she spelled the words. Memorably and instructively, she replied, “I don’t worry about spelling.” She shed more light on questions of literacy than she realized. Spelling does not equal literacy. It is not the same as reading and writing.
Popularly and politically, literacy is synonymous with culture and progress for individuals, societies, nations. It exists in dizzying promoted varieties; there are hundreds of proclaimed literacies. But literacy also resists transmission to everyone. The reasons why are as many as they are contradictory. They range from individual to institutional and political failings.
Literacy’s place in popular culture is one telling sign of confusion. Corporations celebrate reading and writing in normative, consumer, and durable terms—for their own profit. So do fields and disciplines, and identity groups. Their endless proclamations are revealingly, though poorly expressed.
The family, friends and allies of Donovan Lewis converged on Columbus Police headquarters Friday, September 2 to protest his murder. Chants of "No justice, no peace!" and calls for firing Columbus police officer Ricky Anderson, who killed hte unarmed 20-year-old Lewis in his bed when delivering a warrant in the middle of the night, were interpersed with shouts of "Say his name!" "Donovan Lewis."
Please support the family of Donovan Lewis during this difficult time if you're able.
Share widely.
Please support the family of Donovan Lewis during this difficult time if you're able.
Share widely.
Once again, a trigger-happy Columbus police officer shot and killed an unarmed Black man. Police bodycam footage shows at least four officers and a police dog entering 20-year old Donovan Lewis’ home in the middle of the night August 30 to execute a warrant. Within a few minutes, Officer Ricky Anderson executed Lewis instead. This time it was one out of three police shootings in Columbus in eight days, although the other two victims survived.
“Columbus Police didn’t even attempt to de-escalate or negotiate with Donovan Lewis. Yet another case of an innocent person killed as the result of trigger-happy training. These things are constantly happening for a reason, the mentality and poor judgment of today’s law enforcement training,” said Cynthia Brown, who’s spearheading the effort to end qualified immunity in Ohio.
Qualified immunity protects government employees from civil suits, and arguably has evolved into absolute immunity for police.
Friday, September 2, 6pm
Columbus Police Dept. Headquarters, 120 Marconi Blvd.
Rally and march against the murder of Donovan Lewis by Columbus Police.
Friday, September 2, 6pm
Columbus Police Dept. Headquarters, 120 Marconi Blvd.
Rally and march against the murder of Donovan Lewis by Columbus Police.