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We Are Not Numbers

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 7:00 PM.  Virtual JVP Monthly Meeting

Our "Schmuck" Godfather Threatens Us All

n his infamous one-hour shakedown of Georgia’s Secretary of State, wise-guy Donald Trump TWICE calls himself a “schmuck.” It’s a gross undershot.

You may be hearing clips of that conversation. But no American should miss the whole mobster rant that Trump has clearly aimed at us all.

Sounding like a Godfather hit man, Trump verbally derides himself for having supported Brian Kemp, the KKK-style governor who stripped the state’s voter rolls in 2018 to defeat Stacy Kemp. (Trump trashes her too.)

But Kemp won’t hand Trump Georgia’s electoral votes. Nor will Secretary of State Ken Raffensperger, himself a bigly vote purger.

Kemp and Raffensperger did all they could to prevent Georgians of youth and color from voting this fall. The huge lines marring the January 5 runoffs for US Senate have underscored their strategy of making it as hard as possible for “undesirables” to cast a ballot in Georgia.

The Over-Policing Problem: Damage done by Columbus cops from rural Ohio

The combination of over-policing by officers who weren’t raised or reside in our community has proven deadly for decades and made Columbus the current epicenter to one of this nation’s most important social justice movements ever.

Many activists and African-Americans were already in the know, but what many others learned in 2020 is that certain neighborhoods of Columbus are over-policed. And in too many situations by officers with no roots to Columbus who were raised in rural Ohio to have prejudices against the community and many of those who live here.

“Are you aware how many black children fear and hate the police?” asks De-Escalate Ohio’s director Cynthia Brown, whose nephew Kareem Ali Nadir Jones was shot and killed by Columbus police in 2017. Police body cam footage shows the white officers did not have good reason to approach Jones who was unarmed, and when they did, they overreacted.

According to Brown, just 20 percent of Columbus police live in Columbus. The Ohio Supreme Court removed any residency requirements roughly five years ago, and before that an officer could live in any neighboring county.

What You Need to Know About: The Fraternal Order of Police Contract

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Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Locally, two key inflection points have risen to the top of public conversation when talking about police reform: the City of Columbus’ 2021 budget and the renegotiation of the Fraternal Order of Police union contract. To shed light on these processes and how they form the parameters of what’s possible, the New Leaders Council of Columbus is (virtually) assembling activists, policymakers, and other experts for a deep-dive conversation on the FOP contract. Panelists will explain how these labor contracts work, what's in them, and answer questions from viewers. Join New Leaders Council Columbus on January 5th, 2021 at 5:30 pm via Facebook Live for this much-needed discussion.  Facebook.

COVID -19 Thrives in Our Money-First Healthcare System

Guy holding Single Payer Now sign

In the USA, hospitals are closings, health care workers are being laid off, substandard working conditions for nurses exist, lack of protective equipment, insurance companies’ massive profits without paying for hospital costs, millions uninsured and unwilling to have COVID-19 tests because of the cost.  All these conditions are a result of hospital and staffing decisions are made on financial basis.  Since elective surgeries were cancelled or postponed, hospitals have lost their primary funding source. 

It is no wonder COVID-19 death rates are increasing, and are out of control.

Here are some numbers and facts:

* Eighty hospitals in the USA have closed this year.

* 80,000 nurses and health care workers were laid off or furloughed. 

* 58,025 of the 138,707 private practice doctor’s offices closed from 3/2020 to 6/2020.

    That is a reduction of almost 42%.                          

In 2021, the Best Way to Fight Neofascist Republicans Is to Fight Neoliberal Democrats

The threat of fascism will hardly disappear when Donald Trump moves out of the White House in two weeks. On Capitol Hill, the Republicans who’ve made clear their utter contempt for democracy will retain powerful leverage over the U.S. government. And they’re securely entrenched because Trumpism continues to thrive in much of the country.

Yet, in 2021, progressives should mostly concentrate on challenging the neoliberalism of Democratic Party leaders. Why? Because the neoliberal governing model runs directly counter to the overarching responsibilities of the left -- to defeat right-wing forces and to effectively fight for a decent, life-affirming society.

We need Tax Forgiveness for Unemployment Compensation during the Pandemic

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From Our Revolution Ohio: 
Right now Americans are suffering, struggling to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, find good paying jobs that might never come back. Congress failed to pass a stimulus package until the last minute and left out Survival Checks. Offering a measly $600 to Americans who are facing bankruptcy, foreclosure, hunger, reduced to levels of poverty unseen in generations.

This coming tax season, because of the heartless act of forcing Americans to pay taxes on Unemployment Compensation, millions of Americans will be unable to afford to pay it and will be left with the choice between food, housing or medication or paying taxes. We call upon Congress to implement a Tax Forgiveness program during the pandemic to help struggling Americans.  

The Extradition of Anti-War Journalist Julian Assange

Whistleblower Manning and Wikileaks Co-founder Assange

[BREAKING NEWS UPDATE 1.4.2020: A UK court ruled today Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange is not psychologically fit to face extradition to the United States, as he is a suicide risk, but endorsed the US prosecutor's legal theory that effectively criminalizes journalistic activity anywhere in the world. The US intends to appeal the ruling, and the UK is keeping Assange detained until the outcome of the appeal. Amnesty International put out the statement: "We welcome the fact that Julian Assange will not be sent to the USA, but this does not absolve the UK from having engaged in this politically-motivated process at the behest of the USA and putting media freedom and freedom of expression on trial."]

Former Wikileaks Editor and co-founder Julian Assange faces a UK court ruling Monday January 4th on his extradition to the US for journalistic work published overseas.

Rational Mindfulness, an on-line event hosted by Humanist Community of Central Ohio

Brain

Sunday, January 3, 2pm, this event will be occurring via Zoom

Facebook Event

You say you want a resolution? Well, you know, mindfulness for the New Year is the way to go.

Rational Mindfulness has been reincarnated, after a lengthy hiatus, in a necessarily new on-line format.

Especially in these times, life can be so stressful. It really helps to learn and practice evidence-based mindfulness techniques to manage stress and to become more compassionate. Especially for non-believers, it is important to do so in a science-friendly, rational atmosphere.

The Rational Mindfulness Group supports secular people in using scientifically-informed mindfulness and meditation practices to reduce stress, sharpen thinking, calm emotions, and enhance compassion. Our meetings combine various types of meditation, readings, and discussions. It’s a great place for both those who want to learn how to meditate and to become more mindful, and for those with some experience who want to try out new techniques and meet like-minded folks.

Speaking up for the voiceless in Black History

Older woman in red hat

I appreciate Congresswoman Joyce Beatty's annual commemoration of Rosa Parks on December 1. At the time of Ms. Parks' death on October 24, 2005, Ohio's 3rd District Congresswoman Beatty acted to declare December 1, Rosa Parks Day in honor of her actions on that day in 1955, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

We must continue to speak up for the voiceless in Black History and current events. Claudette Colvin is another one of those unsung (s)heroes. At age fifteen Ms. Colvin preceded Parks' action by nine months when she refused to give up her seat on the bus on her way home from Montgomery, Alabama High School. When asked why she did not give up her seat, she referred to Black History and answered: "it felt as though Harriet Tubman's hands were pushing me down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth's hands were pushing me down on the other shoulder. https://www.southernliving.com/culture/claudette-colvin

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