Local
Sunday, September 11, 1-3:30pm., Nocterra Brewing Company, 41 Depot St., Powell, Ohio
He personified American folk music so let’s celebrate his 110th birthday.
When the Depression of the 1930s threw millions of Americans out of work and into poverty, Woody Guthrie told us their stories through song. He saw migrant workers slaving for pennies, penniless hobos riding in empty railroad boxcars, and the infamous Dust Bowl windstorms of Oklahoma stealing the land out from under the farmers.
Always for the underdog, Guthrie challenged America to right wrongs and to live by its ideals of hard work, compassion, equal opportunity, and fairness. His songs made us laugh, cry, remember, and question.
And so, in memory of all that Woody did, on September 11, a month after the 110th anniversary of his birth, Columbus will recall this common man troubadour. Together, we’ll sing some of his famous and unknown songs, hear details of the highs and lows of his life, and enjoy a visit from the spirit of Woody “himself.”
Saturday, September 10, 6:30-9pm, Hot Times Festival [in the Kid’s Tent], 240 Parsons Ave.
The September Free Press salon will be in-person, at the Hot Times Community Music and Arts Festival, on Saturday, September 10, 2022, 6:30-9pm.
We will gather in the tent near the Art Cars. There will be a Free Press banner on the tent. You may want to bring your own folding chair.
Speakers and topics:
• Trans organizing with Felicia DeRosa,
• discussion on Donovan Lewis’ murder by Columbus Police,
• First Collective and housing issues,
• and more!
We will be celebrating 45 Fabulous Hot Times Festivals! Art Cars, three stages, vendors, food, friends, family, and fun!
Hosted by The Columbus Free Press.
As expected, the “bad mayor” ads launched against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley by backers of her opponent Gov. Mike DeWine in early August are driving up negative sentiment toward Whaley, the former Dayton mayor.
According to CrowdSense.Live, a web site devoted to examining the metrics of political contests, the net social media sentiment on Aug. 1 was -58.2% for DeWine and -0.4% for Whaley. In other words, the public was down on DeWine while Whaley was breaking even.
But by Aug. 30 it had all changed, most likely because of the monthlong heavy rotation of the ads demeaning Whaley and her performance as mayor. DeWine improved to -38.5% while Whaley sank into negative territory at -31%.
Now a second bad mayor-themed ad campaign is running on Ohio TV screens, declaring that Whaley as governor would be “dangerously expensive.”
To Whaley’s brain trust’s discredit, they have chosen not to respond directly to the bad mayor charge. Ask Ted Strickland and Richard Cordray how not bright their failure to respond to critical ads was when they ran for governor.
Thursday, September 8, 2022, 5:30 PM
The ACLU is teaming up with friends at two partner organizations to cover the high-profile races for Ohio State School Board and Ohio Supreme Court – plus a bonus segment on the proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on our statewide ballot. Moderator: Collin Marozzi – ACLU of Ohio.
Panelists: Cynthia Peeples – Honesty for Ohio Education, Akii Butler – Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and Patrick Higgins – ACLU of Ohio. Register here.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, a worker uprising could soon boil over at Kroger stores throughout Central Ohio. The uprising is not only in response to their ultra-wealthy corporate leaders, but also towards their union, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1059, headquartered on Columbus’ far east side.
Over the previous 45 days, Kroger associates, who’s current contract ended August 6th, twice voted ‘No’ to a new three-year contract. The “No” vote happened even though both contracts had been endorsed by UFCW 1059, as first reported by World Socialist Web Site or WSWS.org.
“This [second contract] was just reworded, but we all knew it was the same contract as the one we just turned down,” said a Kroger employee who refused having their name published out fear of retaliation.
Last Monday, Columbus Museum of Art employees including frontline and operations workers came together to urge the Museum's administration and management to voluntarily recognize their union - Columbus Museum of Art Workers United (CMA Workers United)
. These courageous employees believe the institution they love, has not been living up to the standards and values it claims to promote - and forming a union is the solution.
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.
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.