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In the Midnight Hour chronicles two parallel tracks of twentieth century African American history: the Great Migration, when 1.75 million African Americans left the rural south for the urban north from 1910 through 1940, and the story of the black American experience in the middle of the twentieth century as told through music.  

Judge Cynthia Ebner, endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats, handed out sentences in the #BlackPride4 on Tuesday, March 13.  Last week word was sent from the City Attorney's Office that there would be no jail time requested from the judge. The city attorney proescuting this case made this clear for all three of the #BlackPride4.

Intense pressure put on the city of Columbus, including a National Day of Action to Free the #BlackPride4 organized by GetEqual and Black Queer Intersectional Columbus BQIC) on Monday, had an impact. Supporters of the #BlackPride4 had simple message: #Columbusisguilty -- not the #BlackPride4 who were arrested when they held a silent vigil during the 2017 Stonewall Pride march. The vigil was to call attention to the murders of black trans people and killings of black people in Columbus by the police. Immediately, when the #BlackPride4 began a vigil in the street, Columbus Police jumped on them and brutalized them.

Tuesday, March 13, 7pm
Northwood-High building, 2231 N. High St., rooom 100
Parking in rear - "R" spots only
Join the Franklin Green Party at 6:00 PM for the open meeting of the Central Committee followed at 7:00 PM by a screening of Winona LaDuke's documentary First Daughter and the Black Snake. The Prequel to Standing Rock. (94 min. 2017). Winona LaDuke believes Big Oil is the black snake predicted in indigenous prophecy to bring the earth's destruction. When proposed new oil pipelines threaten sacred wild rice lakes, Winona dreams of organizing a spiritual ride, riding her horse against the current of oil "because a horse can kill a snake. fcgreenparty@gmail.com.facebook.com/FCgreenparty. 

A group of #BlackPride4 supporters gathered in front of City Hall at 5pm Monday, March 12 to let Columbus City Council know that "Columbus is guilty!" They were calling attention to the Columbus Police Department and their treatment of the Black Pride 4 at last year's Pride parade. Three of the Black Pride 4 will hear their sentences on Tuesday, March 13 at 9am at the Franklin County Munincipal Court building, room 13A, 375 S. High St. They are  also asking for people to fill the courtroom at that time. The activists spoke about the importance of calling out the Columbus Police and city officials on their use of excessive force against black citizens in  general, and particularly the black trans people at the Pride rally. 

March 14, 2018 marks one month since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 14 students and 3 staff members killed and many others wounded or injured. Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes (in honor of the 17 lives taken in the tragedy in Parkland) at 10am across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.  

What the hell is going on in national politics? Nobody is doing what is in their, or anybody else’s, best interests. From congressional inactivity to party infighting and missed campaign opportunities, it has been a confounding week. America is going nowhere fast and not enough people seem to understand or care.

Monday, March 12, 5p,
Columbus City Hall, 90 w. Broad St.
WEAR ALL BLACK. (and comfortable shoes too!)
Show up at the #ColumbusIsGuilty Rally outside of City Hall to be in solidarity with the #BlackPride4 and to shame our city for its long history of racism, transphobia, and police violence.

After reading “Painting the City Red,” (Feb, ’18, Vol 6, Free Press—Pranav Jani) I wanted to thank the author for the article, but to also correct the record.  While a decent piece, outlining activities of three of Columbus’ socialist groups in the recent period, left out was the revolutionary workers’ organization with, by far, the longest, deepest history here.  The Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) has been active here since the 1930’s, a previous period, like today, of massive people’s upsurge.  Central Ohio’s communists were then in the middle of the historic struggles to organize unemployed workers, for relief, to organize the huge new industrial unions.  Communists here, and across the nation, played a central role in the fight for democracy and the defeat of Nazism/fascism.  CP members were here, actively organizing, fighting alongside regular people, during the Civil Rights struggles, peace actions in the 60’s and had activists, leaders, of the huge Rank & File Movements in organized labor a decade later.          

Saturday, March 10, 6:30-11pm
1021 E. Broad St., east side door
Parking in front, rear lot, or side driveway
Free. No RSVP required.
Join progressives for socializing, refreshments from Acre to Go, music, art, and a presentation on Move to Amend and women's history by Sandy Bolzenius.
colsfreepress@gmail.com

ENOUGH: National School Walkout
Wednesday, March 14, 10am
Various schools across central Ohio
Details at: https://www.actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/enough-national-school-wa…

Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10am across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods. We need action. Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.

Students and staff have the right to teach and learn in an environment free from the worry of being gunned down in their classrooms or on their way home from school.

Parents have the right to send their kids to school in the mornings and see them home alive at the end of the day.