Local
Cincinnati, OH:Plaintiffs from seven Ohio counties, representing Rights of Nature laws and other measures protecting local democracy from corporate special interests, filed an appeal to the Sixth Circuit in a federal civil rights case against the State of Ohio. Oral arguments will be presented tomorrow, April 20.
This follows the filing of briefsagainst the plaintiffs by American Petroleum Institute, Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
Oral arguments are scheduled for Tuesday April 20, 1:30 pm EST and can be listened to here: https://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/live-arguments
April 20, 2021
Happy 420! Lamenting last year’s largely cancelled “4:20 on 4/20/2020.“ Here are selected bites of fresh cannabis news sliced from the headlines, with a sweet Ohio twist. Sources are linked.
Your 420 History Lesson
Monday, April 19, 2021, 7:00 PM
Join the A-Z team as we explore the intersections of labor and our plastics crisis. Learn how workers involved in plastics production AND environmental nonprofit workers fighting plastic industry pollution can stand in solidarity for workers’ rights and healthy communities. Register here.
Days after Miles Jackson and Daunte Wright were murdered by police, this incident was recorded in a grocery store.
First-hand accounts revealed that this cop was kneeling on this man's back because he stole a bottle of alcohol. The cop was kneeling on it in such a way that the man was not able to put his hands behind his back, and he punched him prior to recording. Also, an employee related that people get caught for stealing all the time and never treated like this. So, the police can call things procedure, but predictably pick and choose to whom what procedures are used.
At least four Black people watched this in horror (one is off camera) wondering if they are witnessing the next murder. The Black community literally feels safe *nowhere*: not in their homes, cars, certainly not walking their dogs, not in daylight or at night. There are at least four white people doing nothing and one employee who laughed about it.
Sunday, April 18, 2021, 5:00 - &:00 PM
This year the Simply Living Annual Meeting will be a virtual dinner. Meet our new executive director, Cathy Cowan Becker, along with new board members and staff, and hear about the new initiatives we have planned for the coming year. We will also be honoring Claus Eckert of Green Columbus who will receive the Carol Fisher Award for Community Service, as well as recognizing Rita Haider as Outstanding Volunteer, Lisa Kreischer as Outstanding Staff Member, and Savannah Smith as social media amplifier. We have also added the Momentum Award for organizations, and will recognize Sunrise Movement Columbus Hub for their momentum in the sustainability movement. We encourage you to order takeout from one of our restaurant affiliates - stay tuned for details! Register for this online event here.
Saturday, April 17, 10-11:15am
This on-line event requires advance registration
The 2020 First Energy scandal was unprecedented in scale, yet the big money involved symbolizes the consistency in which the wealthy corporate entities shape public policies, preempt local control, and prevent Ohioans from having our voices heard and our needs met.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way. Hear from strong pro-democracy state legislators and friends and supporters of Move to Amend about efforts to fight corruption in Ohio.
Speakers
• Ohio Senator Nickie Antonio
• Ohio Representative Mike Skindell
RSVP for this event by using this link.
Hosted by Move to Amend Ohio.
Facebook Event
Saturday, April 17, 11am – 12:30pm
The quality of our food has determined the success of human life. Join us for an amazing panel of women who have empowered themselves with Cannabis and food to enhance their health and economics. Learn about their journey and gain insight on how you can take advantage of the biggest opportunity in the Cannabis industry.
Moderated by:
Kevin Greene, Dr. Bridget Williams
Cost: Free
Click Here To RSVP
Click the link above to let us know you’re coming!
LIVE STREAM VIA ZOOM
**You must RSVP to receive the Live Stream link**
Media Inquiries directed to:
kevingreene@csceducation.com
Since 1871 the Civil Rights Act has held state and local officials—including police officers—legally liable for damages if their actions violate a citizen’s Constitutional rights.
That’s until the Supreme Court punched a huge hole in the law, making it now nearly impossible to hold police officers accountable—even for acts that clearly violate the rights of citizens. Such actions multiplied massively under the war on drugs.
As part of that “war,” state and local police departments, in the 1970s, ramped-up their acquisition of military equipment and adoption of military-style tactics, including the use of Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT) and no-knock drug raids.
The timing is curious. Just as police departments began gearing up their war-like tactics, the Supreme Court created a legal defense—known as qualified immunity—in time to protect police officers engaging in such tactics.
By the mid-1990s, according to criminologist Peter Kraska, nearly 90% of U.S. cities with a population over 50,000 had a SWAT team—almost double of what existed in the mid-1980s.
We have barely survived the most serious crisis to face American democracy since the Civil War. This nation “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” was faced with a coup attempt that would have plunged us into autocracy. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” could very well have perished from the earth, and the question as to whether “that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure” would have been answered in the negative.
Republican politicians took advantage of the ignorance of American voters as to how elections work in American democracy. They duped millions of citizens into believing the big lie that the presidential election was stolen by Joe Biden. The sanctity of the electoral process lies at the heart of American democracy. It is sacrosanct. It must be held inviolate. To attempt to overthrow an election through fraud, is therefore, an unforgivable sin and a crime against the people.
8
Jack Barns punched his cell phone, texting. The intercom on his desk buzzed. He tossed the cell phone onto the desk with a clatter and punched the in-desk phone.
“Yes, Louise?”
“Ms. Sachs and her party are here for their 10 o’clock.”
“Tell ‘em to swing it in,” and they did.
“Come in, let’s sit over here. The view is better. Anyone care for a drink?” Barns said.
“Tequila and a Coke, in separate glasses, for Mr. Smith Wilson,” Louise said without prompting.
“Ms. Sachs will take Zia-Zong tea and Mr. Papilov will have black coffee, correct?” she said, walking to the bar on the side of the room.
Their drinks dispensed, Louise left the room and closed the door behind her. Papilov pulled a flask from within his coat pocket and spiked his coffee.
“Well?” Barns said. “Where do we stand?”
“You said not to poke around PPD yet. Did you make your call?” Sachs asked.
“No, because there’s something else,” Barns said.