Local
Friday, June 28, Noon – Sunday, June 30, 2019, 8:00 PM
The annual Festival In Goodale Park. Location: 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus 43215. Facebook.
Come visit the Free Press wine booth near Buttles on Park Street!
Thursday, June 27, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Facing the threat of deportation and separation from her family, one year ago Miriam Vargas made the difficult decision to enter sanctuary at First English Lutheran Church. June 27th, 2019 marks the anniversary of her time in sanctuary. Please join Miriam Vargas for an Ice Cream Social on Thursday, June 27th, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. to mark the anniversary of her sanctuary stay. This is not a celebration, but a commemorative event showing friendship and support for Miriam as she continues to fight for a legal path toward citizenship. There is no cost to attend this event. Location: 1015 E. Main St., Columbus 43205. Facebook.
Wednesday, June 26, 6:3-7:30pm
Church for All People, 946 Parsons Ave.
In the last week we have heard threats of ICE raids, deporting millions of people. At the same time, our government has denied responsibility for providing basic safe and sanitary care for the very children whom they have separated from their families (access to soap and toothbrushes). As a church we affirm the sacredness of all people as created in the image of God. As Dr King taught, we live in an interconnected web of mutuality, where injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. As a people called United Methodists, we live in the connection of personal and social holiness. Join us on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm at the Church for All People as we hold a prayer vigil affirming our solidarity with people being threatened and calling for justice and dignity for all people. Please help spread the word about this vigil as we join our prayers and actions together for justice.
"No borders! No nations! Stop deportations!" A small but mighty group gathered across the street from the Hotel Leveque to protest Trump's announcement that deportations would be stepped up starting Sunday morning, June 23 in certain major US cities. The protestors shouted at people coming out of the building that they should not stay in a building in which ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) uses to hold immigrants in cells in that very building.
The activists had written chalk messages against deportations, detention centers and mistreatment of immigrant children on the sidewalk in front of the hotel but were shooed off by the hotel staff. From across the street they chanted, sang, and read the names aloud of the immigrants who had died in U.S. custody or shortly after being in a U.S. detention center.
Some drivers honked as they passed by and the group was joined by some of the pro-choice ralliers from a statehouse demonstration that had just ended. One anti-abortion counter-protestor also argued with some in the "stop deportations" group. Police were not present.
Monday, June 24, 2019, 7:00 PM.
The film is 41 minutes. This documentary, produced by the United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network, describes how Israeli practices of detaining children are illegal under international law and how the U.S. is deeply complicit in sustaining this destructive assault upon children. Discussion about the video and what we can do will follow the screening. Learn more about the campaign to end military detention of Palestinian children here: http://bit.ly/2Qp5vbf.
Location: Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
Sunday, June 23, 3-5pm, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd.
This Town Hall will present experts on the Federal proposal and how it might work in Columbus. Dr. Fadhel Kaboub, economics professor at Denison University, will present an overview of the Resolution, including the Job Guarantee program. Cathy Cowan Becker, leader of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Campaign in Columbus, will discuss on-the-ground movements in central Ohio. Terry Hermsen, leader of a strategic effort to create a Hub for local organizations that are addressing the climate crisis, will moderate the discussion. A question-and-answer discussion will take place after the presentations.
Simply Living is sponsoring this event in conjunction with the Justice Action Ministry of First Unitarian Universalist Church.
Doing nothing is not an option. Here are some articles and resources we've found online that give advice on what you can personally do if you want to help migrants and to change this horrifying situation.
What you can do to help immigrants who's rights are under attack?
How to Protest Human Rights Abuses at U.S. Detention Centers
Trump Family Separation Crisis - How you can help
How to Help Migrant Families Entering the U.S.
Where to Volunteer, Donate, and Protest to Fight Family Separation at the Border
Dear Free Press,
President Trump’s steady following among his base of support is worth a reflection. No matter how often he “spins” the truth on matters large or small, and acts like a “bully” to demean those who have another view, his followers persist.
Psychiatrist Scott Peck followed up his famous, The Road Less Traveled, with a rather frightening book entitled, People of the Lie, 1983.
A summary of People of the Lie found in Wikipedia, captures what Peck said:
Saturday, June 22, 2-4pm
Ohio Statehouse, Broad and High Streets
Next week, Racist-In-Chief is planning a mass round up and deportation of immigrants. We need as many people as possible to come fight this. We will meet at the statehouse for a moment of speaking, then march to the leveque tower where the Columbus ICE office is to protest Trump's upcoming mass deportation plan and say the names of victims of ICE and detention camp brutality.