Local
The federal lawsuit against the Columbus Division of Police’s overly aggressive and war-like response to mostly peaceful protesters is underway this week with People’s Justice Project’s Tammy Fournier Alsaada as lead plaintiff and former Chief Thomas Quinlan, the City of Columbus, and other officers as defendants.
Mayor Ginther testified on Monday for two hours, and Quinlan is scheduled to testify Wednesday morning 9 a.m. The trial can be accessed by calling 646-749-3112 with the access code 347 407 869.
On the fateful day of May 30, 2020, Alsaada was near Broad and High when she learned protesters were being arrested. She peacefully sought out Division commanding officers for explanations and to resolve any ongoing conflicts. But when she approached a line of officers, she was pepper sprayed without provocation.
An additional12 other plaintiffs were protesters.
Long-time Columbus activist attorney Fred Gittes is a lead attorney for the suit. His social justice history is well-documented, representing athletes from Ohio State who were assaulted by police to Somali residents killed by police.
Joe Motil, former Columbus City Council candidate and longtime outspoken critic of Mayor Ginther and City Council’s blanket tax abatement policies, once again blasted them at last night’s City Council meeting for approving of a $1.1 million 10-year 75% tax abatement to the T. Marzetti Company.
T. Marzetti’s has been in business for 125 years and Lancaster Colony has owned Marzetti’s for 52 years now. Marzetti’s is headquartered here in Columbus along with five of its company’s operations and two additional ones are located elsewhere in Ohio.
Joe Motil, former Columbus City Council candidate and longtime outspoken critic of Mayor Ginther and City Council’s blanket tax abatement policies, once again blasted them at last night’s City Council meeting for approving of a $1.1 million 10-year 75% tax abatement to the T. Marzetti Company.
T. Marzetti’s has been in business for 125 years and Lancaster Colony has owned Marzetti’s for 52 years now. Marzetti’s is headquartered here in Columbus along with five of its company’s operations and two additional ones are located elsewhere in Ohio.
Wednesday, February 24, 7-8:30pm, this on-line event requires advance registration
Protesting pipelines, fracking wells, power plants, and other polluting and dangerous “critical infrastructure sites” just got a lot harder now that Ohio S.B. 33 is law.
What does this mean for you if you engage in public witness events? What are the new rules about liability for social justice organizations, churches, etc.? Find out in our free webinar discussion, “Your Protest Rights and Risks With Ohio S.B. 33,” on Wednesday, February 24 at 7pm.
Panelists include:
• Larry Bresler, Organize! Ohio
• Gary Daniels, Ohio ACLU
• Tadd Pinkston, Pinkston Law and UU Justice Ohio
Please register in advance for this webinar by using this link.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Learn how to protect yourself and your organization.
Monday, February 22 to Friday, February 26, this on-line event requires advance registration
We are excited to announce the virtual Nguzo Saba festival for Black History month. This will take place the fourth week of February as a celebration of Black History Month — Monday, the 22nd until Friday the 26th — streaming from 5pm to 7pm each day.
This virtual festival will feature music, dance, poetry, education, activities, and a game show hosted by the lovely Navitta C. Nelson.
This will livestream through Gye-Nyame Journey Media, YouTube: Kwanzaa365_media, Black Liberation Movement Central Ohio, and GNJ.media during the evenings that week.
Want to participate? Email blmcentralohio@gmail.com
We are seeking performers, lectures about Black History, and more! We want to feature examples of Nguzo Saba.
What is Nguzo Saba? It is the Seven Principles: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work/responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
Black History Month Forum, hosted by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and black radical scholars
Sunday, February 21, 4-6:30pm, this on-line event requires advance registration
This February, join us as we honor our past, present, and future. During this virtual forum, black radical scholars has partnered with community leaders to discuss topics related to the Black community.
Community leaders will facilitate topics in Zoom breakout rooms for 45 minutes. There will be two sessions during the forum. Session one will have three breakout room topics and session two will have three breakout room topics. Participants will be able to select their breakout room of interest during the event.
Session One Topics:
• Black Mental Health: Stigma and Solutions
• Community Healing: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and Generational Trauma
• We’re Not Taboo: Discussing Black Maternal and Reproductive Health
Session Two Topics:
• Where the Money Reside: Generational Wealth and Wealth Attainment
• Rest as Resistance: Meditation and Finding Inner Joy
• Living Ancestors: How Connecting with Elders Can Help Shape the Future
To America
Foreword
The idea of The Exercise – cooperation between the country’s two major political parties, on purpose, and why – is fiction, not fact.
Before any fact ever becomes a proven fact, it has a degree of likelihood. When something is proven as fact, it has a 100 percent degree of likelihood. Below that 100 percent, however, lie murky depths, the deeper, the murkier.
The idea of The Exercise has a high degree of likelihood, in large part because fictional Progress Party shotcaller Jack Barns conceived a need for it. No political party can exist in a vacuum.
This brings up an interesting philosophical question: why? Two possible answers: for good, or for evil.
For good? Nope. That really is fiction. There may be room in politics for it, but altruism rarely makes an appearance, by choice or by chance.
For evil? Now, we’re getting somewhere. Behind all the rhetoric, public bickering and inability of elected officials to represent their constituents of every party, or no party, lies the idea of The Exercise.
WHEN: Saturday, February 20th from 12-1pm (local time)
WHO: Anyone who wants to stand in solidarity with IUE-CWA Local 84704 workers
WHAT: We will hold signs and pass out flyers at each Walmart location
The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible health and economic problems for millions of U.S. families. We need to act now! According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: "President Biden’s $1.9 trillion emergency relief plan includes a Child Tax Credit expansion that would lift 9.9 million children above or closer to the poverty line, including 2.3 million Black children, 4.1 million Latino children, and 441,000 Asian American children." If passed, this expansion of the Child Tax Credit would be available to 27 million children whose families don’t currently get the full credit because their parents don’t earn enough.
On Thursday, February 18th, Edith Espinal will leave Columbus Mennonite Church, where she’s been living in sanctuary for more than three years, to meet with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. While ICE officials have assured Edith is not a priority for detention or deportation, this is still a risk. That's why Edith needs our support!
Join us tomorrow, February 18th from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the ICE field office at 675 Brooksedge Boulevard to keep ICE accountable to their assurances and promises that Edith is safe from detention and deportation.
The Biden administration has announced a series of immigration executive orders, including one that sets new guidance about who is considered a priority for removal. Under these new guidelines, Edith should not be considered a priority for removal and should be granted a reprieve from deportation.