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As protests against police brutality continue to rage all over America, it is mind boggling how many conservatives still don’t understand that reforming our criminal justice system is an issue they should support. As a former Libertarian candidate, eliminating systemic racism at all levels of government is something that I and other libertarians have always wanted. In a democratic republic, all lives don’t matter until Black lives matter. After all, how is spending billions of dollars on the futile war on drugs or overcrowded prisons a worthwhile use of taxpayer money? How is the over-militarization of police forces not the very definition of big government? How is “qualified immunity” for police officers who murder innocent citizens not a direct violation of our rights and a trait of tyranny?
Just how at-risk was Dr. Amy Acton when alt-right protesters showed up at the Ohio Statehouse and her home back in May?
And how at-risk could protesters and activists be on July 4th?
There are rumors circulating online saying white nationalists, Proud Boys, and perhaps those who lust for the “Boogaloo” will confront Black Lives Matter protesters this weekend.
These are rumors, the Free Press has not confirmed whether any alt-right response is official, but don’t forget what happened in Bethel, Ohio, when 800 bikers some armed showed up to confront peaceful protesters. One of the biker gangs that showed in Bethel was confirmed to be the racist-leaning and known drug dealing Iron Horsemen, which was founded in Cincinnati and on a Department of Justice watchlist.
Boogaloos Bois, as we’ve come to learn of late, are a loose-knit network of far-right gun-lovers who secretly yearn for a civil war against the government, lefties, and people of color.
Saturday, July 4, 2-5PM
Columbus City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.
We will be meeting at the Ohio Dept. of Education and marching to the Supreme Court of Ohio. We are demanding for school districts in lower socioeconomic areas to receive the majority of their funding from the state and federal budget. As well as making it a requirement to teach African American History, Economic Development, and Nutrition in schools. We will be posting the finalized letter tomorrow.
We will be raffling off books that talk about the disparities that exist in the institutions in America. The books will be announced at the protest ‼️ Open mic will be available as well. Sign ups will happen at the protest.
Please wear mask at the protest ‼️ We want to come together and stand up for disparities that exist as well as keeping everyone safe. Always keep in mind to have a 6ft distance between you and the next protester.
This protest will be a peaceful protest. DO NOT provoke police officers at the protest. Hold each other accountable ‼️
As the vast majority of companies rush to reopen and people rush back to public life, they’re falling into the trap of “getting back to normal.” They’re not realizing we’re heading into a period of waves of restrictions once again, due to many states reopening too soon.
On my 5th anniversary as a columnist for the Columbus Free Press, I will forgo commenting on the media and political scene and, instead, share my day-to-day reflections on the first two months of the pandemic.
It started on March 15 when I and 11.7 million Ohioans were ordered to shelter in place. I wondered how I would cope. I decided to write my way through it with a nightly post to my 785 Facebook followers and anyone else looking in on the social network.
I initially prefaced my remarks with the following: "Captain's log: Day 1 completed in ContagionNation." After a few posts, I dropped the last part and simply wrote: "Captain's log: Day _." I finally ended the posts on Day 62.
Here they are:
1. I have nothing on my calendar for the next 2 months. Not even tennis. Please do same. Stay home. Hunker down. It makes me sad to stare into the abyss of social isolation, and I'm an introvert. I, we, and you must do our duty to starve this virus into oblivion. We will. More Courage.
2. Lights out.
3. Virus 1. Vote 0. (A reference to Ohio's delayed primary election.)
4. Dogs happy. Owners home.
Historical photo of the time before the bronze statue of Christopher Columbus was removed by order of the Columbus City Council on July 8, 2020. In the long shadow of the setting sun, the statue of the OG Colonizer Christopher Columbus looms over a protest of police killings of African Americans at the Columbus City Hall on June 11, 2020, by De-Escalate Ohio Now! Heartbeat Movement, Protect Our Stolen Treasures, and BLM, significantly the descendants of the survivors of the colonization of Africa and the Americas.
Video of statue removal-10TV
Thursday, June 2, 3-6pm
Ohio Statehouse
This teach-in is geared towards STUDENTS from ALL school districts and colleges who are interested in removing cops from their campuses! No organizing experience is necessary. The event will begin at 3:00 outside the statehouse! Snacks and water will be provided, courtesy of Ohio Voice.
NON-STUDENTS: please SHARE this with all the students you know who'd be interested in learning how to take effective action!
Wednesday, July 1, 2020, 10:00 - 10:30 AM
Donald Trump previously looked set for re-election: earlier this year the US economy was booming, and the Democratic party was in disarray. A lot has changed in recent months. The coronavirus outbreak and recent protests have derailed Trump’s election chances, leaving former vice-president Joe Biden in an increasingly strong position. Please join Agathe Demarais, Global Forecasting Director and Cailin Birch, Global Economist, as we discuss: The impact of coronavirus and protests on Trump’s campaign, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s US presidential election call, and What a Biden victory would mean for the US and geopolitics. There will also be a short Q&A at the end of the webinar. If you wish to participate, please register here.
It’s maddening that the three words “Black Lives Matter” is so hard to say for some of our public officials. Those in the majority of the Ohio Assembly, where a resolution was introduced to declare racism a public health crisis earlier this month, would do our country a great service in urging their allies to learn to say it and mean it. But considering that the US Vice President won’t say it, those of us who’ve been in the streets proclaiming it shouldn’t be surprised when so few people in power are willing to use those words, let alone show up in the streets to say it with us.
As someone who’s worked with both organized labor and justice-seeking organizations from before the first shot in this recent uprising was fired—who has participated in dozens of direct actions, petition drives, and various other campaigns that either directly or secondarily had to do with racism—I have a question. As someone who, like anyone with a shred of empathy within them, was horrified in watching any portion of the 8:46 video in which yet another police officer murdered another Black man, I have a caveat to this support.
Tuesday, June 30, 6-7:30pm
Ohio Statehouse
Facebook Event
We’re excited to work with @activistplusarts on our teach-in titled Abolition 101: Imagining a World Without Police or Prisons for next Tuesday 6/30 @ 6:00 @ the Ohio Statehouse. Come learn from local Black abolitionist organizers about what police abolition is, why it’s better than reform, and how we can achieve it here in Columbus! We will record and/or livestream! Graphic designed by Dominique @rat.core_ #12ToAbolish12 #AbolishThePolice #DefundCPD #FireQuinlan