Four presenters spoke about qualified immunity and the ballot initiative to overturn qualified immunity during the weekly “Current Events” discussion group that had been held July 15, 2025 at the recently-opened Bob Crane Community Center in Upper Arlington.

Qualified immunity is a legal concept that protects government officials, for example, police officers and others, from civil liability for violating a person’s civil rights in most situations when they are acting in their professional capacity.

One speaker, Cynthia Brown, is the 2023 Free Press Libby Award winner for Community Activism. Cynthia’s passion to change the system has grown since her nephew Kareem Ali Nadir Jones was shot and killed by Columbus police in 2017. He was harassed for no good reason and ordered to get on the ground. He was then tragically shot in the face, neck, and in the back while on the ground by two white officers. Both are still with the Division.

Let’s call it the human guessing game. There comes a point in life when we find ourselves playing it whether we want to or not. Hallelujah for a sense of humor. It gives (temporary) relief from the unrelenting unknown . . . of dying.

Yeah, I said it, not abstractly or politically, but personally. It’s not simply that “people” are going to die, or “you” are going to die. I’m going to die. I don’t know when. I’m full of determination, just shy of age 79, to stay alive and functional, but doing so ain’t what it used to be. Ouch. Simply standing up now takes the sort of effort I once exerted walking a mile. Our Hero (as I call myself) is functionally ebbing.

Change is coming! The basic term for this change is “death.” – certainly one of the most avoided words in the language, at least when the discussion is personal. Some people fortify their reaction to that word by embracing a certainty – religious or secular – about what happens next. Others, myself included, essentially embrace “wait and see,” but nonetheless grasp for fragments of possibility that occasionally spurt out of the unknown.

The term "Intifada" does not mean the destruction of Israel. Such claim is false, misleading, and unfair to the Palestinian struggle. "Intifada" originates from Arabic, meaning "uprising" or "shaking off." Intifada refers to the Palestinian uprisings against Israel's brutal military occupation and settlement construction on stolen/confiscated Palestinian land by nonviolent means or by armed resistance.

International law recognizes the right of Palestinians to resist their occupation by all available means including armed resistance. This right is based on the principle of self-determination for ALL people under foreign and colonial rule. The UN General Assembly has explicitly affirmed this right, including armed struggle.

To make it easy to understand, all what the Palestinians want is to be free and independent, no more, no less. Just like how Americans fought for their freedom and independence in 1776, so why attack and smear Palestinians when they aspire for the very same freedom?

This article first appeared on Simply Living.

In honor of Plastic Free July, we thought we would highlight some helpful information for Central Ohioans who want to reduce their reliance on plastic. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up your plastic-free lifestyle, this guide has you covered.

• Easy plastic-free swaps to reduce waste at home, in cafés, and while shopping
• Ways to protect your health from microplastics and toxic plastic exposure
• Ideas for community action and local resources to support plastic-free living in Central Ohio

Plastics are used in a wide variety of ways and found in countless products. While they can be helpful and convenient, plastics are also harmful to the environment, to our health, and especially to our oceans.