Local
Friday, January 1, 6pm, The Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St.
The pandemic has put a halt to the noise, allowing me to not only see, but to have the time to reflect.
Racism, sexism and classism stare me directly in the eyes.
So much hatred, deception and greed still exist in this country.
I was forced to memorize their rhetoric through history lessons and parables, forced to pledge allegiance to a country that clearly puts profit before people.
I grieve at the sight of this country’s flag and yet, I am proud to be an artist living in this country, surrounded by beautifully fragile hearts and fierce souls, and with these great minds at my side.
We rise.
• Alicia Jean Vanderelli
As the New Year approaches you can almost feel the global sense of relief felt by leaving 2020 behind. It was truly a difficult year that met us head-on with unique challenges, tested our resiliency, and stole both people and traditions we hold dear. The theme of uncertainty was woven into every aspect of our lives - school, work, healthcare, activism - few things were spared.
It is difficult to predict what lies ahead - but one thing is certain - we have the creativity, vision, and power to create the just, fair, and sustainable communities we desire. This truth should illuminate the path we choose in 2021.
In response to crippling economic uncertainty - mutual aid groups cropped up across the nation and continue to offer support and locate resources.
Legal protections offered to racial injustice wore thin and the veil of community police protection was torn away by Black Lives Matter protests paired with a demand to defund (and ultimately restructure) a system that perpetuates racism, poverty, and violence.
Thursday, December 31, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
We are pushing for the Gov of Ohio to Defund the prison and put that money into Body Cameras for All Ohio Correctional Officers. We also need to structure the CIIC and legislation. To include incarcerated people. On the CIIC as well as create prison task force. That is compiled of directly impacted people. Link to the zoom meeting on Facebook.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass. That’s the way most of us feel about 2020.
In Yearly Departed, the hated year gets a funnier and slightly more thoughtful sendoff. A group of female comics deliver a series of “eulogies” that reveal feelings ranging from relief to regret—relief that 2020 is over and regret over some of the things it and its pandemic stole from us.
Tiffany Haddish leads off with one of the funnier bits, a mournful farewell to casual sex. “Casual sex was my rock,” she says tearfully, remembering how much comfort it brought her when, for example, she had a bad night at the comedy club. She adds that the loss is even harder when she goes out in public and realizes how sexy men are when they’re wearing masks and standing 6 feet away.
Natasha Rothwell invokes the Black Lives Matter movement when she satirically (and probably prematurely) mourns the loss of TV cop shows. Given all that’s happened, she says, it’s just too hard to believe dramas in which the police actually solve crimes and treat everybody equally.
Thursday, December 31, 7pm, this event will be live-streamed on “Facebook Live”
May the coming year bring us strength, health, music, light, love, community, and peace. That’s the theme of Bill Cohen’s free New Year’s Eve concert at 7pm on Thursday, December 31.
We’ll quickly say goodbye to a horrible 2020, and then, with upbeat, thoughtful, and familiar songs from the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, we’ll look ahead to better times in the year ahead.
No tickets are needed; no donations are requested. With guitar, piano, and voice, Bill will simply conjure up some meaningful and positive musical energy that will launch us into the new year.
Whether or not you’re a member of Facebook, you can see and hear the show by going to the Facebook page called “Bill Cohen Sings.”
Hosted by Bill Cohen Sings.
Wednesday, December 30, 12noon-1pm, this on-line event requires advance registration
Join the Central Ohio Worker Center for a webinar discussing wage theft, your rights in the workplace, and organizing for better working conditions. Hear from our experts and participate in a question-and-answer session about the issues most relevant to you!
RSVP for this event by using this link.
Hosted by Central Ohio Worker Center / Centro de Trabajadores de Central Ohio.
As 2020 finally comes to an end, many publications are releasing their annual “best and worst” lists, but in a year marred by such tragedy, is anything worth celebrating? Many are simply summing up 2020 with terms like “please end” or “go away,” or letters such as “WTF,” “SMH” or “JFC.” Here in Ohio, there were at leasta few silver linings in a very dark year, but since the good doesn’t always outweigh the bad, we’ll just remember 2020 as “one of those years” and hope for better days in the Buckeye State ahead.
THE WORST
- COVID-19 - This is a no-brainer, as the coronavirus pandemic killed thousands of Ohioans, destroyed the economy and completely disrupted our way of life. Ohio wasn’t the same without the sporting events, concerts, music festivals, county fairs, restaurants and other amazing activities (usually filled with thousands of people!) that make Ohio unique. And while our state was hailed for “getting it right” back in March, we slowly slipped into the same downward spiral that several other states did because thousands of Ohioans didn’t take the virus seriously, killing thousands of others. I mean, WTF.
ENOUGH: An Open Letter to Columbus Mayor Ginther from Queer Partnership for Black Liberation
E-mail Mayor Ginther or call his office (614-645-7671) to help amplify this letter.
By: THE BUCKEYE FLAME December 27, 2020
The Buckeye Flame is an platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ Ohioans to support community and civic empowerment through the creation of engaging content that chronicles their triumphs, struggles, and lived experiences.
Monday, December 28, 5pm
Bethel International Methodist Church, 1220 Bethel Rd.
We are deeply saddened and frustrated by the killing of Andre' Hill by a Columbus Police Officer. Though the case is still under investigation, as people of faith, we are standing for change now. We stand for reform. We stand for Andre. We stand for justice. And, we invite ALL to stand with us. Wear masks, bring friends, and stand against the bias and violence that continue to take the lives of our Black brothers and sisters. It may be snowy, it will be dark and cold, but justice - and injustice - knows no boundary. Join us. Stand up.
Imagine a dog. She spends her entire life in an iron crate so small that she cannot turn around. Her tail has been cut off so that other dogs in cages jammed up against hers won’t chew it off in distress. When she has puppies, the males are castrated without painkillers. They are left close enough for her to nurse, but too far away for her to show them any affection.
Fortunately, this dog is a fictional creation. We have laws preventing people from treating pets this way.
Unfortunately, we are doing this to animals that are very similar to dogs. This is an all-too-real description of how we treat some of the millions and millions of pigs we raise for meat on factory farms.
So why do we treat the animals we eat in ways we would never, ever treat our pets?