Local

Monday, October 26, 2020, 3:30 PM.

Sunday, October 25, 4-7pm
400 West Rich

Saturday, October 24, 1pm
Early Voting site, Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Rd.
Hosted by Ohio Women's Alliance Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and Ohio Women's Alliance

In the race for Franklin County prosecutor between longtime Republican incumbent Ron O’Brien and his Democratic challenger, former 10th District Court of Appeals judge Gary Tyack, some progressives are supporting Tyack because of O’Brien’s unimpressive record on police misconduct cases. It’s true Tyack could hardly do worse in that regard.

But based on Tyack’s handling of my 2013 whistleblower case against the state government, I doubt he’s committed to protecting victims of governmental injustice and holding the perpetrators accountable. If Tyack is elected, progressives should watch and pressure him to ensure he doesn’t act like a lapdog and cover-up artist for the Columbus establishment.

The whistleblower case resulted from my employer, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, imposing discipline on me for reporting unlawful, but noncriminal, acts in state government to the Ohio inspector general’s office. During oral argument at the appeals court, Tyack expressed no concern about what the agency did.

Police Lieutenant Melissa McFadden got done walking the “thin black line” and took a great leap of faith into the abyss of justice. Imagine if you can demonstrators going directly to police headquarters on the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality. Bravely the lead speaker steps to the mic and screams “No Justice!” We know the reply. “No Peace!” She chants “Black Lives Matter!” But then she does the big reveal. She just finished her workday at police headquarters. And, by the way, she is the highest-ranking black woman in the department. A 24-year veteran of the force.

 The October 22 rally at the Columbus Police Department on Marconi Boulevard in downtown Columbus was dedicated to supporting McFadden who is under fire for the revelations in her new book “Walking the Thin Black Line: Confronting Racism in the Columbus Division of Police.”

The Heartbeatmovement called the rally to make a show of community support for McFadden, who has reported she’s been threatened and harassed since the book was published. About fifty people gathered with signs reading #StandwithMelissaMcFadden and Black Lives Matter.

Less than two weeks to go until Election Day – what can you do?

Begin by reading Greg Palast’s How Trump Stole 2020: The Hunt for America’s Vanished Voters and then go out and stop the theft.

Not only is Palast one of our premier investigative reporters he is also a great storyteller, and the best part, the stories are all factual.

This latest tome reads like a rogue’s gallery of real crime. Because they are rogues and they committed real crimes.

Palast came to notoriety in 2000 when he revealed the illegal voter purges in Florida that cost Gore the election. Back then he focused on Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris. In the new book he stalks, rightly, the likes of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and documents in detail how he helped rig the election he ran against Stacey Abrams in 2018. Kemp used his power as Secretary of State to purge 665,677 voters, overwhelmingly Democrats.

Now Palast spells out the big purge states of 2020: Ohio with 432,000 axed from the voting rolls; North Carolina with 576,534 purged; Arizona with 258,000; and Wisconsin with 99,000.

Director Emeritus, Kent R. Beittel, passed away October 16 at the age of 72. His efforts, passion and accomplishments in helping the homeless and marginally housed were unmatched and his legacy will live on at The Open Shelter. Kent and his wife Mary Beittel (who passed in 2017) were honored with community activism awards at the Free Press 2004 annual awards event as champions for the homeless. Often bucking the establishment coalitions in Columbus, Beittel was a strong and effective advocate for people caught up in societal injustice, addiction and poverty.

Friends of Kent and Mary Beittel told their stories about their relationships with Kent and Mary Beittel.

Thursday, October 22, 4pm
120 Marconi Blvd., downtown Columbus
Facebook Event
To our fellow humanitarians for justice and equality: the time to end systemic, institutional racism, inequality and injustices that for decades, has protected Columbus Police Officers that are clearly Racists , Prejudice, showing Discrimination toward their African Americans Colleagues. Protective face covering required. Hosted by the Heartbeatmovement - De-escalate Ohio Now!
For more information:
Columbus Black Female Police Officer Speaks Out on Racism in Law Enforcement in Her New Memoir, “Walking The Thin Black Line”

Wednesday, October 21, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Tuesday, October 27, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, OR Thursday, October 29, 2020, 5:30 - 7:30 PM