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Human Trafficking is the worst kind of atrocity existing in Columbus, our nation, and world. It is a three-linked chain involving coercion, force, and fraud, and the victims can be of any age, social status, race, gender, or nationality.
It’s a multibillion-dollar industry and more than $30 billion is generated in the United States. Eighty percent of the victims are women and girls. Every 30 seconds someone is being trafficked. The world’s population is 8 billion. Experts report globally there are 30 to 50 million human trafficking victims.
How can this be?
There has to be more than 50 million human beings trapped in the dark web of human trafficking. The facts are evident: human trafficking statistics are chronically under reported.
Columbus is not immune – the numbers that are reported do not match. We have women from all over the nation who were brought here.
I would like to make this fact clear: NOT ONE of the human trafficking victims we work with wanted to be a prostitute!
An old political axiom is: "You can't beat somebody with nobody."
An Ohio political axiom is: "It is hard to win the first time around for statewide office. Ohioans vote for the familiar."
Considering the two axioms together, one can only conclude that Ohio Democrats are on the doomsday bus to hell in 2022.
Among the current Democratic lineup, only Jennifer Brunner of Columbus, who won for secretary of state in 2006 and Ohio Supreme Court justice in 2020, has run statewide. Brunner is vying for chief justice.
In a major change, candidates for the high court will carry a party designation next to their name on the general election ballot. The Republican-run Ohio legislature eliminated the non-partisan designation because Democrats have captured three of the seven judgeships in our otherwise GOP-dominated state. The GOP cannot redistrict statewide races like they are trying to do with congressional and state legislative districts, unless, of all places, the Ohio Supreme Court rules to the contrary.
Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, the documentary "Who We Are: A Chronicle Of Racism In America" draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.
The main character is Jeffrey Robinson, a criminal defense lawyer in Seattle. Jeff is a storyteller who brings history to life, inviting American audiences of all races to view the history of racism in America, and the erasure of this history is a crime perpetrated on all of us. The ability to connect with almost any audience creates an electric atmosphere. The film choses New York’s Town Hall because of its anti-racist history and historical commitment to highlighting Black artists like Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, Marian Anderson, and Billie Holiday, when many other doors were closed to them.
Columbus, Ohio, is the rare large U.S. city (14th most populous, second largest city in the Midwest, and third most populous state capital) that requires its state’s name for recognition. This is one sign of many that derive from the city’s identity crisis (as I have named it), its weakness as an urban place, and the failure of its major institutions and media. (“Columbus’ identity crisis and its media,” Columbus Underground, July 23, 2021.)
Here’s a summary of the January 2022 Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon that happened Saturday, January 8 at 7pm by Zoom.
Watch the video here.
Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery facilitated the salon on Zoom and streaming Live on Facebook. First, he drew attention to the fact that we have lost a beloved and brave leader, Desmond Tutu.
Mark introduced the first speaker, Maryam Sy, of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. The major project of that organization now is to Reunite Us – holding President Biden accountable for his promise to reunite families separated by our country’s immigration policies. Tell Biden to reunite all families! Submit a comment to the federal government there before Jan 24.
I put on my McDonald's uniform to work during the pandemic last year — because if I didn't, I couldn't afford to eat. I worried every day: was today the day a customer or coworker would get me sick?
A lot of people are acting like COVID is over. It's not.
If this new variant does get me sick, I won't get sick leave. McDonald's and plenty of corporations like it expect me to come in, snowstorm or shine, sick or not, or I don't get paid. It's dangerous, it's irresponsible, and it's just wrong.
Saturday, January 8, 7-8:30pm, this event will be occurring via Zoom
Since we aren’t getting together in person, we can gather for a couple of hours on the second Saturday night of each month, 7-8pm, on Zoom.
This event will feature the following.
• Jessica Stein of Women’s March will update on upcoming actions to defend the right to health care access
• Lynn Tramonte and Maryam Sy of Ohio Immigrant Alliance on Biden's promises about family reunification, and more!
A question-and-answer period will be included.
If you have any announcements for the progressive community, contact us at 614-253-2571 or at colsfreepress@gmail.com.
Please use this Zoom link to join this event.
Hosted by The Columbus Free Press.
Facebook Event
This is “Fatimah,” not her real name (pictured above, her face not shown). She’s a young single mother with toddler children. She is quick-witted, charismatic, gracious and sober. But Fatimah and her kids reside just off Sullivant Avenue in a massive westside apartment community, which is a long-time hive for gang activity, addiction and violence.
Bags of “fenty” go for $10 here, but several addicts have told the Free Press they need four bags to get through the day to stave off becoming “dope sick.” Panhandling is their best means, they say.
Thursday, January 6, 6:30pm, Ohio Statehouse
January 6 was a violent and deadly attack against all Americans — against our country, our democracy, and our freedom as voters to choose the leaders that represent us so that we have a government of, by, and for the people.
One year later, the same faction that attacked our country on January 6 is hard at work silencing our voices by restricting our freedom to vote, attacking fair voting districts, and quietly preparing future attempts to sabotage free and fair elections and with it our democracy.
So this January 6, exactly one year later, Americans across race, place, party, and background are holding candlelight vigils to say, “In America, the voters decide the outcome of elections.”
The promise of democracy is not a partisan issue but a calling that unites us as Americans. To prevent this kind of attack from happening again, our elected leaders must pass urgent legislation that will protect this country from anti-democratic forces who are continuing their efforts to destroy it.