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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.
How to Research for Community Organizing and Campaigns
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 12:00 - 1:30 PM
In a white-dominated Columbus old-money suburb, another left-leaning government official is being targeted by a secretive group with an obvious right-wing bent.
Expressing or acting on progressive views in one of Central Ohio’s suburbs can, for example, get your Juneteenth celebration picketed. This happened to a group of Upper Arlington (UA) teachers last year. The “protester” was an ultra-conservative UA resident who was inciting likeminded residents to dox and harass Black Lives Matter supporters in UA through an unsearchable invite-only Facebook group called “UA Golden Pride.”
Wednesday, February 17, 6pm, this event will be occurring via Zoom
Facebook Event
Join us for a dynamic discussion surrounding LGBTQ+ people who experience disability. We will discuss our lived experiences, ableism, share hope for those who may be struggling with their lived experiences, and answer questions you might have that will help you in your understanding of people with disabilities.
We look forward to sharing with you.
Please use this Zoom link to join this event.
Hosted by Greater Cincinnati HRC [Human Rights Campaign].
Rep. Brigid Kelly wants to see the Ohio General Assembly embrace legislating by virtual means as the state keeps battling the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Whether the legislature meets in person or by video conference, the Cincinnati Democrat would like constituents to be able to testify for and against bills through digital means. And if hearings and floor sessions continue to be held in person, Kelly wants everyone to wear a mask just as Ohioans are required to do in nearly all other public indoor spaces. Kelly offered sponsor testimony on Thursday morning for two bills to allow for virtual committee hearings and sessions along with requiring masks be worn at the Statehouse.
As was foreseen, last week the Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump for the crime of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Now, there are millions of Americans who have a choice to make. Republicans, conservativesand even some libertarianshave stretched their usual political norms to make excuses for Trump’s erratic behavior for years, but while the Congress and Vice-President counted the 2020 Electoral College votes on January 6, we finally saw in plain sight how far Trump and his rabid supporters would go. The riots at the Capitol were a direct attempt to usurp the democratic processes of our constitutional republic and any attempts by anyone to defend those actions are fundamentally flawed.
The February Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon started with some songs from local musician/activist Bill Cohen. He gave us a sample of the type of music and trivia we will find during his Annual Valentine's Concert to benefit Central Ohio Folk Festival, live-streamed on the “Bill Cohen Sings” Facebook page,Sunday, February 14, 7pm. Facebook Event
Bill will sing popular songs from the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, tunes made famous by John Denver, the Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, James Taylor, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Eagles, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and others.There will be a lighter side too, with fun trivia questions about romance.
Admission will be free but donations are welcomed.
Save Kossuth Street Garden: Don't Let Developers Destroy Our Community!
Sunday, February 14, 4:30pm
614 E. Kossuth St.
Please register for this event here: https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/374283/
Kossuth Street Garden is a 15 year old community garden in a working class community of color. It won the Franklin Conservatory's 2020 Neighborhood Improvement Project of the Year award. This garden has been an educational and social space for the community.
Although the community that runs the garden had offered to buy the land, it was instead sold to developer Tracy Cohen for the same amount of money.
Now, the developer is planning on building expensive homes ranging from $250,000-$350,000. On top of contributing to gentrification, the future owners of these homes would likely receive tax abatements.