Local
March Against Fascism and Police Murder
Saturday, July 18, 11:30am-6pm, beginning at the intersection of E. Long St. and N. Garfield Ave. [near the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.]
This event will be a march and demonstration Against fascists and so-called “Patriots.”
The march will begin at the intersection of E. Long St. and N. Garfield Ave. and will proceed to the Ohio Statehouse.
Various so-called “Patriot Groups” will be holding a demonstration against “Terrorism” [which is their new code word for Black Lives Matter and Black People in general] from 12noon to 3pm at the Ohio Statehouse.
Indeed, their surprise “mystery speaker” may well be a nazi.
They are openly supporting law enforcement in their efforts to continue the constant murder of black people.
Did you miss the July Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon?
If so, here's a run-down of what happened and how you can be involved next time!
Speakers were Mia Santiago, one of the founders of the Columbus Freedom Coalition spoke about that group that works with prisoners and on social justice issues.
OSU Professor Pranav Jani discussed the current struggles to make change with the city and police force and had a great analysis on how we can keep the momentum going.
We saw a series of photos taken by Paul Becker who has been a persistent documentarian of the events happening since the George Floyd murder protests began.
Mary Jane Borden spoke about the racist drug war. Victoria Khan, Angelica Warren and Amy Wolfinbargerof the Ohio Rights Group spoke on marijuana issues. We heard about the atrocious drug charges brought against Peggy Sue Kimmel and Glenn Keeling of Mercer County, Ohio.
Saturday, July 18, 2020, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
(dial in early since the gathering will start at 10 am sharp!).
Move to Amend is a national group organizing to pass a Constitutional Amendment to abolish all corporate constitutional rights ("corporate personhood") and political money in elections as free speech.
After Columbus police maced City Council President Shannon Hardin while he was peacefully protesting, activists were certain he would finally flex his political power to make change.
But instead, some activists now say his actions since being maced are typical, and mirrors how many Columbus Black leaders have historically responded to the failures of the Columbus Division of Police.
Some Black leaders may talk tough, but what about meaningful action, like passing police reform legislation?
“No substantive policy changes have been made yet,” says progressive activist Joe Motil. “You have groups and representatives from various organizations trying to get the ear of city hall officials to implement real police reform measures, but we are still in the same old review, committee and recommendations mode. Resolutions like racism is a public health issue don’t provide the necessary measures to address the social, economic and racial disparities of this community.”
The Columbus Tenants' Union is gathering information about rental properties in Central Ohio to help tenants organize. If you are a renter, please fill it out, and whether you are or not, please pass this along to other renters you know in the area! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckAyA5W-w0MzMDadH412BZKiNvwwkYQKsyuzEj0bPGsZ_-RQ/viewform. Contact Becca Pollard if you have questions or would like more information: becca.pollard@sierraclub.org.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 4:00 PM
It was spring 1970, the world was ablaze with anti-establishment expression: free speech, women’s rights, civil/human rights, anti-war were all movements of the day. On the Ohio State University (https://library.osu.edu/site/dissent/), Kent State (https://www.kent.edu/may-4-1970), and Jackson State (https://www2.kenyon.edu/Khistory/60s/webpage.htm) campuses, like many other campuses across the globe, there was active student rebellion. While the “don’t trust anyone over 30” motif was prevalent, the movement gained support from many communities in Central Ohio, especially OSU students, faculty, and administration. In historic moments, however, the OSU administration had to be challenged to meet student, faculty, and community demands. In 2020, OSU administration was presented with over 500 faculty member signatures concerned by the re-opening of the OSU campus among COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice issues.
Monday, July 13, 2020, 5:00 PM
Franklin County’s health department made national news in May after apologizing for issuing mask-wearing guidelines widely denounced as racist. The story was carried in newspapers from the Washington Post to the Seattle Times, in the national magazine The Week and by CNN.
A place the story didn’t make big news, though, was Franklin County itself. Neither the county’s daily newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, nor the city’s television stations covered it. WOSU Radio carried a small story, for whatever tiny percentage of the county’s residents follow that.
The guidelines stemmed from the April 3 announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encouraging the public to wear masks to contain the spread of COVID-19. Some racial minorities voiced concerns they could be profiled by wearing masks. Their anxiety presented the health department with an opportunity to educate central Ohioans to shun racist attitudes.
The department instead told racial minorities they were the ones needing to change, advising them: