Thursday, May 25, 6-9pm, Halt Violence [Hilltop location], 2360 W. Broad St.

“We don’t wait for the white chalk or the yellow tape. We use our street cred to save lives by squashin’ beef in the streets when tensions are high, and without snitching to the police.”

“If you want to stop beef before it starts and make nonviolence a way of life, you gotta get to the root cause. That means changing how you think, how you deal with emotions, and providing real alternatives to violence.”

“You have to meet youth where they’re at. When you listen instead of looking down on ’em, you can address their real needs. It’s a positive domino effect that has proven to save lives and change minds on the streets of Columbus.”

This event will include free food, resources for parents with youth to avoid gun violence, and live entertainment.

Hosted by Halt Violence.

Facebook Event

“Go back to where you came from.”

This is basic American politics – what I might call spiritual ignorance: a dismissal of refugees fleeing war, famine and poverty as global sludge, clogging up our way of life. So many media stories about the border – our border – begin with an unquestioned presumption. These aren’t individual humans fleeing hell and trying to reclaim their lives. They exist only en masse – basically, in the millions.

And they’re going to be nothing but trouble for us. Either they want to work for a living and, thus, claim American jobs, or they’re simply leeches, utterly without skills, simply in possession of their needs, which of course will drain our resources. Go back to where you came from!

Look what happened earlier this month, when New York City’s mayor bused a bunch of migrants out of town – oh, boohoo, too many for you, Mayor Adams? – to several hotels in Orange County, about 60 miles to the north. It just so happened, according to a bogus claim that made big news for a while, that in order for the migrants to get their living space, a bunch of homeless veterans, a.k.a, American heroes, had to be evicted.

When it comes to major road projects in Central Ohio, MORPC – the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – is a big power player. So is ODOT, of course. As Columbus and its suburbs continue to grow seemingly out-of-control, one question raised by residents is: What comes first, massive development and then surrounding road improvements, or improved roads first and then massive development?

Widening or adding lanes, for instance, before thousands move in. But there’s confusion over what comes first or what should come first. A West Side housing activist, who did want to offer their name for publication, says they heard this during an area commission meeting.

“One of the weird things I learned from MORPC is that development comes first followed by street improvements later,” said the unnamed source. “You would think that streets should be improved first but that’s not how it works in Ohio.”

Wednesday, May 24, 7-10pm, The Citadel, 1761 Parsons Ave.

Stand in solidarity with Cuba at our upcoming “Cuba Night” with IFCO [Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization] and Pastors for Peace!

On Wednesday May 24, 7-10pm, we’ll be coming together at The Citadel to raise funds to send medical supplies to Cuba this summer!

Catch speakers coming back from their recent brigades discuss Cuba’s successes and socialism, the genocidal blockade imposed by the U.S., their healthcare system, and more. We’ll have games, prizes, raffles, and cultural activities.

IFCO/Pastors for Peace has been working to support Cuba for more than 30 years and will be joining us for a stop on their Friendshipment Caravan. Come hear more about their efforts at our event, and help us raise money to buy medical supplies to send with them during their July caravan!

Stay tuned for more info. Let’s do our part and stand with Cuba!

Masks will be required and will be provided.

Hosted by PSL [Party for Socialism and Liberation] Columbus.