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From Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund
Earlier this month, the Biden administration released guidance for federal agencies to consider and include Indigenous knowledge in federal research, policies, management, and decision-making. But including Indigenous knowledge in federal decision-making means including Indigenous voices in decision-making too and honoring Tribal treaty rights to co-steward and co-manage lands and waters. The guidance does not require federal agencies to act. Instead, it has made suggestions, including to “consider” co-stewardship of federal lands and waters with Tribes.
Antisemitism signifies hatred of Jews and the ways that hatred is perpetuated, not just through age-old conspiracy theories but also their modern variants espoused on social media and elsewhere. But the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) supports defining antisemitism in a way that would consider political discourse critical of the Israeli government as antisemitism. In condemning all speech against the Israeli government, the IHRA definition serves to label all critics of Israel and pro-Palestinian activists as antisemites.
Tuesday, January 3, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians escalated in 2022, with West Bank settlers on the rampage, defiling mosques, vandalizing shops and assaulting Palestinians in Hebron and other Palestinian cities. Instead of stopping the settlers, the Israeli military turned on Palestinians, adding to the year’s death toll: 150 Palestinians killed, 33 of them children. Meanwhile, the most racist Israeli government returns to power with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – under criminal indictment – set to serve his sixth term.
This new ultra-nationalist government stands in explicit – no longer implicit – opposition to a Palestinian state and threatens to strip the courts of their power. US Secretary of State Blinken insists the US commitment to apartheid Israel is ironclad, despite whispers last month the Biden administration might refuse to meet with some of the most reactionary members of the new Israeli government. Join us as we detail the situation on the ground in Palestine and examine US congressional and grassroots efforts to end US complicity in Israeli crimes.
Cliff Arnebeck, who could pass for Clark Kent, transformed himself into Superman as he came to our rescue in times of democratic crisis. I first encountered Cliff when I was campaign manager during Tom Erney’s 1990 run for Chalmers Wylie’s 15th district congressional seat. Cliff also ran against Wylie in the Republican primary. I planned a series of debates where Wylie failed to attend but Cliff always showed up. Cliff was one of the most honest and forthright speakers I’d ever heard. He shared the same democratic values put forth by the Erney campaign. He wanted to get rid of the “permanent Congress” that dominated U.S. politics. We became political friends and allies on key issues.
DEADLINE IS NOON ON MONDAY
Register here for Monday's press conference to announce the delivery of an organizational letter to President Biden and copied to Attorney General Garland, signed by more than 260 organizations and accompanied by 20,000 petition signatures. We are urging the Biden Administration to do everything they can to stop seeking new federal and military death sentences, commute the existing death sentences under their jurisdiction, and to order the demolition of the federal death house at Terre Haute, Indiana.
These are all things the President has the unilateral power to do. Our request echoes a similar letter to be delivered by Members of Congress to the Attorney General on Monday. Death Penalty Action was asked by Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Senator Richard Durbin to organize these companion pieces, and we've been building toward this moment since October.
As many citizens of undemocratic, unrepresentative, anti-public, and corrupt Columbus now know, the city faces a “Democratic” primary election on May 2, 2023 and a general election on November 7. As of this writing, two candidates have declared, the incumbent Democratic machine—but no democratic—candidate Andy Ginther, and a true democrat Joe Motil.
I write for the first day of 2023 to propose for discussion and perhaps debate, a new era of democracy for the city built on filth and lack of affordable food and housing, unsanitary conditions, broken streets and sidewalks, homelessness, campus neighborhood safety and stability, dominance of special interests, grift and corruption; and the expansion of democracy, public services, respect for residents and taxpayers, and a city rebuilt for the 21st century.
For discussion and debate, I propose:
Researching, criticizing, debating openly, reimagining, and then remaking Columbus
I. Bring Columbus into the 20th and 21st centuries
II. Promote democratic reforms beginning with a truly representative city council, elected by districts, not at-large, citywide
III. Reorganize city government
Support freedom for Jamal Niser, Palestinian-American businessman illegally held by Israelis in Administrative Detention. He is diabetic and has lost half his eyesight. He has not been charged and there's no reason for his detention. He is from Ohio and his release date was just extended by four months.
Contact officials to demand his release:
CONGRESS: https://www.congress.gov/contact-us
ISRAEL: https://embassies.gov.il/Pages/IsraeliMissionsAroundTheWorld.aspx
US STATE DEPT: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform
The lame duck Ohio legislature accomplished little because the majority Republicans were only interested in one thing – solidifying their hold on state government.
Action further restricting abortion flamed out.
Action handing over control of public education to the governor flopped.
Action raising the percentage needed to pass a constitutional amendment to 60 percent fizzled.
The right-wingers desiring the above three issue outcomes were left at the altar. Measures passed one house only to die in the other. Republican legislative leaders could tell the constituents to whom they promised action, “Sorry, we tried. Maybe next year.”
So what big controversial measure got passed?
A bill that further suppresses voting – by Democrats -- made it through pending Governor Mike DeWine’s signature because the Republican brain trust wanted to make it even harder for Democrats to win election to the state legislature, to Congress and to statewide office.
Saturday, December 31, 4-8pm, Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave.
Kwanzaa 614 is a seven-day celebration that honors community, family, and heritage of African American culture and African traditions. Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili word meaning “first harvest” and is based on the seven principles of Nguzo Saba. We, along with Tawi Family Village, invite you to enjoy two festive evenings of Kwanzaa, featuring African drumming, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on art activities. This event is free.
This event is being co-hosted by several cultural institutions throughout Columbus.
Schedule:
• Saturday, December 31, 4-8pm: Today’s event will be at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave. Kuumba (creativity) is the principle.
• Sunday, January 1: Families get together at home. Imani (faith) is the principle.
More information about this event may be found at linktr.ee/kwanzaa614.
This event is sponsored by Huntington Bank.
Annual general operating support is provided by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The Ohio History Connection (OHC) is being called out from across the planet after it banned internationally best-selling author and journalist Graham Hancock from filming his docuseries Ancient Apocalypse at Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio.
Denying Hancock from one of the world’s most mysterious prehistoric effigy mounds occurred in the spring of 2021, but recently came to light after Hancock – author of the bestselling 2019 book “America Before: The Key to Earth’s Lost Civilization” – posted OHC’s email telling him and his film crew they did not have permission to access the high plateau where the 1,348-foot Serpent rests.