Local

Well it took all of two weeks after the election, but as expected, our newly-elected Lieutenant Governor and objectively racist Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has pledged to continue the mass purging of black, minority, young and poor voters.

Husted speaks with smug hypocrisy when he says “…we must also preserve the integrity of our elections.” Our ultra-conservative US Supreme Court in another of its infamous 5-4 decisions granted Husted the power to throw people off election rolls after missing two federal elections. The final verdict comes when the wayward voter fails to respond to what looks like a piece of junk mail sent by Husted.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stopped the purge-crazed Husted from eliminating more than a million voters prior to this November’s election. Their ruling reinstated voters who had been purged going back to 2011, when Husted first took office.

In a just and democratic society, Husted would be serving time in prison instead of second in command of our state.

An alarming number of atrocious right wing reactionary bills are being introduced during this year’s lame duck period – after election day and before the new state legislators take office. Here’s a roundup of what our state legislators have done, are planning to do and how people are fighting them, all conveniently categorized for you as Good, Bad, and Horrendous.

GOOD

Monday, December 3, 2018, 7:00 PM
President Trump, OAS head Luis Almagro and Senator Marco Rubio have raised the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela. Never in history has a democratic nation been subject to such a lengthy, aggressive, ongoing campaign of Steve Ellner has taught economic history at the Universidad de Oriente in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela since 1977. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles on Venezuelan history and politics.  His most recent book is entitled The Pink Tide Experiences:  reakthroughs and Short-Coming in Twenty-First Century Latin America. He received his PhD in Latin American history at the University of New Mexico. Campaign to End U.S. and Canada Sanctions Against Venezuela. This program is sponsored by Community Organizing Center, CWA 4502, Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism, and Central Ohioans for Peace.  Location:  CWA Local 4502, 620 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio. Contact: walk@igc.org. 

December 1
Today is officially Rosa Parks Day in Ohio - to honor the mother of the civil rights movement. 
It is also World AIDS day - World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. The federal theme for the 2018 observance is “Saving Lives through Leadership and Partnerships.”

Friday, November 30, 2018, 12:15 – 12:45 PM
Thanks to the enthusiasm, energy, and commitment Fair Food allies are bringing to the Fair Food campaign, we invite you to join us on the last Friday of each month for this regular event, adding your enthusiasm and commitment to the action. Posters, a banner, and leaflets will be provided. Fair Food allies and supporters will be leafleting in front of Wendy’s to promote the Immokalee Workers’ Wendy’s Boycott.  Location:  2004 N. N High St., Columbus across from O.S.U., near Woodruff.   For more information, contact susanjtcarter@gmail.com.  Website.   Also, if you’re boycotting Wendy’s or will do so, please send Susan your name and contact information to add to our growing Ohio Fair Food Wendy’s Boycott list.

Our final Fire Forged Poetry event of the year is November 30, 6:30-9pm and has an extra special feature. Hanif Abdurraqib will be our feature and he has chosen to donate to Mozaic, a wellness program and community space for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people of color ages 13-29. 

We will have a short open mic, followed by our feature. 

Food Truck TBA!!!

We are looking forward to the feature and the opportunity to donate to an incredibly worthy group. 

Fortin Ironworks, 944 West 5th Avenue

Check out more about Mozaic at http://www.mozaicohio.org

Thursday, November 29, 6-8pm
Northside Branch Columbus Library, 1423 N.  High St.
Come find out how you can Join the movement to ABOLISH ICE!

As you know, resistance is hard work and living in an increasingly fascist state is exhausting. Abolish ICE COH is having another monthly organization meeting! Join us at the Northside Library from 6-8 pm on Thursday, November 29th in meeting room 2.

#AbolishICE Central Ohio is a civil rights action group joining the national movement to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 2:30 PM (after session)

Tuesday, November 26, 6:30-8:30pm
Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park
Join us on Tuesday November 27th at 6:30pm to talk about how our Columbus communities can stand with Edith Espinal and support her fight to return to her Columbus home. We will hear from sanctuary organizers from outside Columbus and look at how our community can advocate for our politicians to use their power to #LetEdithStay.
Please share and invite friends! All are welcome.
Save the Date: the next community meeting will be Tuesday December 11th at 6:30pm

In starting an organization, the first thought for many is, “Where do we get the money?” The answer doesn’t have to be that hard. Why not create a dues system? Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Why not have the people who are participating in the organization, many of whom will benefit from the work of the organization, “pay to play,” and have membership dues?

There is actual only one big obstacle: asking!

Many who desperately want to create an organization that would make change and build power are stymied by the cultural restraint that has been built around the simple problem that people are not comfortable talking about money. To be more specific, many are not as uncomfortable asking churches, unions, and of course charitable foundations for money as they are asking each other for money.

In building ACORN, we found that ironic. Most people don’t mind being asked for money, as much as others resist actually doing the asking.