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David Harewood

It’s hard to qualify the events of the last two weeks, so I’ll try to recount the first as best as possible and hopefully someone who reads this can decipher their actual meaning. I’m not ready for the most recent week yet:

Two Sundays ago—August 28th, 2022—a group of protestors were arrested at the homes of two Columbus City officials for protesting the proposed September 14th clearing of Camp Shameless. (You might have read about that in my last column, but bear with me here.)

Everyone who’d been detained from that action was released by early morning Monday with no bail set. Court dates for the two arrested at the Council President’s house (who’s since been dubbed Shannon “Get off my Lawn!” Hardin in some circles,) was set for Thursday, the 1st, which was the original date of eviction for the camp. One of the Mayor’s staff attempted to dismiss the action as “political theater.” I don’t think he and I have met yet.

One of my favorite blogs is that of Caitlin Johnstone. Why have I never written about how great it is? I’m not sure. I am too busy to write about most things. I have invited her on my radio show and had no reply. I do know that one of my favorite things to do is also one of hers: correct the mistakes of others. I like to correct my own mistakes too, of course, but it’s not as much fun, and only seems useful to write about when my mistake is shared by millions. I think Ms. Johnstone has now made, in her own talented way, a mistake shared by millions in a post called “In This Disaster We Are All, Ultimately, Innocent,” and I think it’s possibly a horribly dangerous one.

People gathering outside

Intel Corporation and the State of Ohio sealed their marriage on Friday with the officiant flying in on Air Force One just in time to pronounce the happy couple forever joined at the chip. 

The groom, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, had thrown a public tantrum in early July, calling off the scheduled ceremony because the bride’s Uncle Sam went on vacation without leaving a credit card number to provide the dowry. He even threatened to elope to Europe with another bride. 

But there was no mention of that hiccup on this sunny September morning in New Albany, Ohio. The couple dozen attendants each gave a speech predicting the most productive marriage ever of any global corporate power and lonely rust belt state. 

Billed as a groundbreaking ceremony, a good deal of ground had been broken before the ceremony began. Earthmovers were lined up around the temporary outdoor seating area, parked in neat rows nearby for aerial cameras to capture, and occasionally paraded behind the speakers, who were each announced by Jerry Revish while the Best Damn Band in the Land played the Ohio State fight song. 

Details about event

Tuesday, September 13, 5-9pm,
Studio 35 Cinema & Draft House, 3055 Indianola Ave.

The European Union, the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, and Ohioans To Stop Executions will host a private event on Ohio’s historic chance to end the use of capital punishment. The evening will feature a screening of the film “The Penalty,” a documentary following the extraordinary journey of three people at the center of America’s capital punishment crisis. The screening will be followed by a conversation with diplomats from the European Union, local experts, and business leaders. A reception will follow the screening of this film.

The European Union stands resolute in its opposition to capital punishment and supports the bipartisan effort to make Ohio the 24th state to abolish the death penalty. Please join us for an evening with the Delegation and local leaders working towards abolition to learn more about why Ohio’s repeal of capital punishment is important for human rights, trade, and investment.

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What it is. What it does. What happened to it. Is there hope for it?

Cannabis in Ohio has suddenly gone quiet. For a time, the Statehouse buzzed with action. The House had H.B. 60 (medical marijuana for autism), H.B. 356 (lower marijuana penalties from felonies to misdemeanors) and H.B. 210, 382, 498, and 628 (all to permit adult use cannabis). Late last year, the upper chamber fast tracked its approval of Ohio Senate Bill 261 to improve the current medical marijuana program, sending the bill to the House where four hearings were held in the Spring. Nothing since. What happened? The game is called stall ball.   

Where did S.B. 261 originate?

Woody Guthrie

Sunday, September 11, 1-3:30pm., Nocterra Brewing Company, 41 Depot St., Powell, Ohio

He personified American folk music so let’s celebrate his 110th birthday.

When the Depression of the 1930s threw millions of Americans out of work and into poverty, Woody Guthrie told us their stories through song. He saw migrant workers slaving for pennies, penniless hobos riding in empty railroad boxcars, and the infamous Dust Bowl windstorms of Oklahoma stealing the land out from under the farmers.

Always for the underdog, Guthrie challenged America to right wrongs and to live by its ideals of hard work, compassion, equal opportunity, and fairness. His songs made us laugh, cry, remember, and question.

And so, in memory of all that Woody did, on September 11, a month after the 110th anniversary of his birth, Columbus will recall this common man troubadour. Together, we’ll sing some of his famous and unknown songs, hear details of the highs and lows of his life, and enjoy a visit from the spirit of Woody “himself.”

“You unpatriotic ‘9/11 Truthers’ can have annual conspiracy conventions on 9/11, with a host of speakers. To use a Russian expression, the dogs may bark as the train roars along. You are the dogs, and we are the train. Keep whining. We will keep on declaring ourselves unconvinced. We still own the TV, we still own the military, and you can chatter on the internet all you want as you fade into ineffectual obscurity.” –Tongue-in-cheek satire from fellow 9/11 Truth-seeker Greg Ziegler PhD, a former US Military Intel officer and retired professor, whose commentary inspired this column.

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Last Friday marked the 14th anniversary of 9/11/01 and the beginning of America’s bankrupting endless war against any and all so-called foreign enemies that, in the opinion of the ruling elites, need to have their sovereign nations de-stabilized so that any number of economic and corporate predators can gain access to the resources of the regions.

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Saturday, September 10, 6:30-9pm, Hot Times Festival [in the Kid’s Tent], 240 Parsons Ave.

The September Free Press salon will be in-person, at the Hot Times Community Music and Arts Festival, on Saturday, September 10, 2022, 6:30-9pm.

We will gather in the tent near the Art Cars. There will be a Free Press banner on the tent. You may want to bring your own folding chair.

Speakers and topics:

• Trans organizing with Felicia DeRosa,

• discussion on Donovan Lewis’ murder by Columbus Police,

• First Collective and housing issues,

• and more!

We will be celebrating 45 Fabulous Hot Times Festivals! Art Cars, three stages, vendors, food, friends, family, and fun!

Hosted by The Columbus Free Press.

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