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Posted 1 month ago

House Republicans Reject Violence Against Women Act

The House Republicans Reject Violence Against Women Act. In response, this evening, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) posed the question, “How could anyone oppose the Violence Against Women Act?” This landmark legislation provides support to domestic abuse survivors and gives prosecutors the resources to convict violent abusers — but Republicans refused to reauthorize it on the House floor today. Tradtionally, this legislation has received bipartisan support—but not in this session of Congress.

As the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reminds us that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a cost-effective, time-tested, constitutionally sound compendium of laws that guarantees equal protection to all victims seeking help under its auspices. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking look to Congress to keep this critical program going.

“VAWA, which is up for reauthorization, has changed the way our society views domestic and sexual violence. Once a “private family matter,” domestic violence is now recognized in every state and territory as a crime of violence against an intimate partner. VAWA has also encouraged states to adopt new and more effective strategies to respond to dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Thanks to Congress’ efforts in drafting and passing VAWA, approximately $430 million is distributed to the states, tribes, and territories every year to fund the training and work of courts, prosecutors, police officers, and victim service providers. Each state and territory receives a proportionate share of the formula grant funding, allowing them to develop best practices and resources to address the needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in their jurisdictions.”[i]

VAWA has been very instrumental in providing the necessary funding to support efforts to eradicate domestic violence. With that, in the words of Congresswoman Maloney, How could anyone oppose the Violence Against Women Act?

Sources: Action Alert Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. NCADV.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

[i] National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

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Posted 1 month ago

House Republicans Passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013: A Nation Divided

House Republicans Passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013.The House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., entitled his FY2013 budget plan “The Path to Prosperity”. The Ryan Budget Plan for FY2013 has faced strong opposition by House Democrats and others. Many opponents assert that the Ryan budget irresponsibly seeks to balance the federal budget on the backs of the poor and other vulnerable citizens. Opponents to the Ryan budget assert that, we, as a nation, must find a balanced approach to the federal budget that will serve to protect investments in our nation’s greatest resource its people.

On Thursday of this week, the Republican-led US House of Representatives passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013 by a partisan vote of 228 to 191. Ten Republicans voted against the bill, and no Democrats voted for it. The Ryan Budget Plan and the resulting vote in the House highlight the deep divisions in the vision for this nation.

Opponents to the Ryan Budget Plan call it anything but a road map to financial health for this nation. One such opponent to the Ryan Budget Plan is Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)[i]. Van Hollen is the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Since the passage of the Ryan budget by the House, Van Hollen and others have been writing and speaking about the devastating implications of the Ryan Budget.

When discussing his budget plan, U.S. Rep. Ryan promised that it would free America “from the crushing burden of debt now threatening its future.” Opponents to the Ryan Budget Plan assert that it would do no such thing. To the contrary, the Tax Policy Center says that “… major tax cuts included in the Ryan budget would reduce federal revenue by $418 billion in 2015 alone; by 2019, revenue losses would exceed half a trillion dollars each and every year. That will make the deficit worse, not better…”

US Rep. Van Hollen asserts that the Ryan Budget Plan is a $3.5 trillion budget bill that has no chance of becoming law but that draws a clear line in the sand between Republican and Democratic goals for our nation. Van Hollen and other opponents have stated that instead of working with President Obama on a balanced approach, House Republicans passed a radical budget that seeks to: not only maintain but expand the Bush tax cuts; end the Medicare guarantee; Medicaid budget would be cut by $810 billion. Two-thirds of Medicaid spending covers seniors and people with disabilities; reduce the number of Pell Grant awards; and allow interest rates on loans to double in July. If House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan, has his way with his proposed budget resolution, Medicare will be privatized and Medicaid, food stamps, and countless other federal entitlement programs will be eliminated. The cuts under Ryan’s budget proposal, if implemented, would drastically increase income inequality and poverty.

While the Ryan budget reduced health, education, welfare, and transportation spending, the defense department budget was increased. Although, the Defense Department recommended a decrease in defense spending, its budget recommendation went unheard by House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan. In response to the divided opinion on the defense department budget line, Ryan responded that, “the Generals aren’t giving us their “true advice”…” Meanwhile, the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy aren’t just extended, they’re vastly expanded. Billionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas would receive millions while seniors are forced to pay more for their health care.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art.

[i] “Van Hollen was elected to Congress in 2002 in a high-profile election that received national attention. He quickly earned a reputation as an active, engaged, and effective member of Congress, rising to become one of the youngest members of the Democratic leadership in 2008. In addition to representing the Eighth District of Maryland and serving in House leadership, Congressman Van Hollen was elected by his colleagues in 2010 to serve as the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. In this position, he is working to advance policies that support job creation and economic growth, reduce the deficit, and put America on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability.”

“The Washington Post named Chris Van Hollen one of “10 members to watch in the 112th Congress.” Roll Call has noted that “Van Hollen gets near-universal respect from his colleagues for his intellectual firepower and combination of policy and political chops.””

“Congressman Van Hollen is a tireless advocate for Maryland in Congress, and his leadership has helped to obtain funding for a wide range of critical investments in our community, including infrastructure, biotechnology and education; public transportation in the Washington National Capital area; and anti-gang initiatives. Congressman Van Hollen was recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as the ‘Best Metro Area Member of Congress’ in 2010 and as the ‘Best Local Elected Official’ by Bethesda Magazine in 2008.”

“Throughout his career, Congressman Van Hollen has been a champion of education, energy, the environment, health care, and civil rights. He is a leader on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, and fought successfully to obtain a historic boost in federal funds for the Bay as part of the Farm Bill and to secure provisions in the Recovery Act that provided loan guarantees for renewable energy projects. He also played an integral role in the effort to pass comprehensive health care reform and fought to ensure that young adults receive expanded access to health insurance. He has been a staunch advocate for critical government reforms. He led the fight to pass far-reaching lobbying disclosure reform and has been a key supporter of whistleblower protections. A former professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congressman Van Hollen has a strong background in national security policy. He lived and studied abroad in South Asia and has remained active in issues related to U.S. foreign policy in that region and around the world.”

“Congressman Van Hollen has received numerous leadership awards for his legislative activities, including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s “Climate Champion of the Year” award for his contribution to clean-energy policies; the “Community Health Superhero Award” from the National Association of Community Health Centers for his efforts on behalf of the uninsured and medically underserved Americans; the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s “Legislator of the Year” award; Progressive Maryland’s “Champion of Working Families” award; the Maryland Executive Council for Educational Opportunities’ “Excellence in Educational Advocacy” award; and the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s “Representative of the Year” award.”

“Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Van Hollen served 4 years in the Maryland House of Delegates and 8 years in the Maryland Senate. His legislative record in Annapolis earned him the praise of The Washington Post, which called him “one of the most effective members of the Maryland legislature.” He is a graduate of Swarthmore College, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Kensington, Maryland with his wife, Katherine, and their three children, Anna, Nicholas, and Alexander.”

Source: US Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s Congressional website. US Rep.Van Hollen Action Alert. Van Hollen Congressional website. “Why Paul Ryan’s budget would explode the deficit”, Jay Bookman, Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 30, 2012. “House passes GOP budget with no Dem support” Stephanie Condon, CBSNews.com., March 29, 2012. www.examiner.com. Washington Post. Wall Street Journal. www.MSNBC.com. “Republican budget: Ryan Plan would hurt seniors”, Daily Koos, Joan McCarter, March 30, 2012,www.dailykos.com

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Posted 1 month ago

In Memory of Trayvon Martin

The story of Trayvon Martin’s senseless shooting death and the police response has garnered both national and international attention and has resulted in protests across the country. Martin’s death February 26, 2012 at the hands of a volunteer Neighborhood Watch leader, George Zimmerman, in a small, gated Florida community has rippled through many corners of the nation’s justice and political system and raised questions about the relationship between the black community and police in small towns.

Zimmerman, 28, pulled the trigger on the unarmed Martin as he walked home from a convenience store. The police officers engaged in the investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin assert that Zimmerman was not charged because of a Florida law, Stand Your Ground, that makes it difficult to arrest and prosecute homicide suspects who claim self-defense.

Given the facts of this case, the police department’s conduct has caused some to question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-American’s in the state of Florida. There have been similar cases in the state of Florida where the victim of a violent crime was African-American and the perpetrator was white and there were little or no sanctions imposed by the “justice system” for the commission of a serious crime.

Trayvon’s story has inspired millions to call for justice and an end to racial violence. It also moved writer/activist Kevin Powell, Akila Worksongs, Jasiri X and the folks at MoveOn and ColorOfChange to record a new powerful video “A Song for Trayvon.”

Please watch the YouTube video and share it with your family and friends to inspire more people to join this growing movement: http://moveon.org/SongForTrayvon?id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=2.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to take action to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin. If so, here’s what you can do to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin:

1. Sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin

2. Plan or attend a solidarity rally in your city. There are actions springing up all over the country as people continue to voice outrage over the murder of Trayvon. You can find a list of actions here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/justice-for-trayvon-martin/updated-upcoming-events-across-the-us-3212012/350015705040795.

3. Pass around articles about Trayvon and the petition on social networking sites and e-mail lists.

4. “Like” the Justice for Trayvon Martin Facebook page to stay updated about this case.

Source(s): www.change.org. www.cedp.org. www.nytimes.org. What Happened to Trayvon Martin, Explained, Politico Mojo, David Corn, Kevin Drums, and The News Team, March 23, 2012. President Obama Addresses Trayvon Martin Shooting, Amy Powell, March 22, 2012. The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and The Today Show. Trayvon Martin: Zimmerman was not following Neighborhood Watch ‘rules,’” Chicago Tribune, March 24, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273396&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=6 . “Calls for justice rage on a month after Trayvon Martin’s killing,” CNN, March 26, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273406&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=7. ”Obama: Shooting death of Trayvon Martin a ‘tragedy,’” Newsday, March 23, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273398&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=8 . ”Obama: Shooting death of Trayvon Martin a ‘tragedy,’” Newsday, March 23, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273398&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=9. ”Trayvon Martin’s Family Calls For Arrest Of Man Who Police Say Confessed To Shooting (UPDATE),” The Huffington Post, March 8, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273399&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=10.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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Posted 1 month ago

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH 2012

Child abuse is a growing public health issue. The few cases of abuse or neglect which appear in the press are only a small part of this pressing public health issue. Many child abuse cases are not reported to police or social service agencies. What we do know about the prevalence of child abuse is as follows:
• 1,740 children died in the United States in 2008 from abuse and neglect.1
• 772,000 children were found to be victims of maltreatment by child protective services in 2008.1

Recognizing the alarming rate at which children are abused and neglected, the need for innovative programs to prevent child abuse, and the importance of assisting families affected by maltreatment, the month of April was designated at National Child Abuse Prevention Month in 1983 by Presidential Proclamation. Since then, child abuse and neglect awareness activities have been promoted across the country.

With the goal of strengthening families, child abuse and neglect awareness activities are promoted across the country during April. In April, communities should seize the opportunity to help keep children safe, provide the requisite support families need to stay together, and raise children and youth to be happy, secure, and stable adults. The Child Welfare League (CWLA) gives guidance on activities that each of us can take to help prevent child abuse and neglect. Here is CWLA’s list of ten actions that we can take to help prevent child abuse.

Ten Things You Can Do to Help Prevent Child Abuse
Volunteer your time. After-school activities, parent education classes, mentoring programs, and respite care are some of the many ways to keep children safe from harm. Be a voice in support of these efforts in your community.

Discipline your children thoughtfully. Remember that discipline is a way to teach your child. Use privileges to encourage good behavior and time-outs to help your child regain control. Both words and actions can inflict deep, lasting wounds.

Support prevention programs. Know what child abuse is, and what the signs are. Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment, but so does neglect, or the failure of parents or other caregivers to provide a child with needed food, clothing, and care. Children can also be emotionally abused when they are rejected, berated, or continuously isolated.

Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make a report to your state’s child protective services department or local police.

Invest in kids. Encourage leaders in the community to be supportive of children and families. Ask employers to provide family-friendly work environments. Ask your local and national lawmakers to support legislation to better protect our children and to improve their lives.

Write, visit, fax, phone, or e-mail your elected officials.

Participate in ceremonies to memorialize children. Read the names of children lost to violence in your state, hold a candlelight vigil, or host an event at your state capital to remember those children who were lost to violence.

Raise public awareness.”—CWLA

To report an instance of child abuse or get help, contact the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD .1-800-4-A-CHILD . (1-800-422-4453. 1-800-422-4453).

For further information on child maltreatment, you can visit any of the following websites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:www.cdc.gov/injury, Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb.

Child Welfare Information Gateway:www.childwelfare.gov

FRIENDS National Resource Center: www.friendsnrc.org

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child: www.developingchild.net

1. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Child Maltreatment 2008 [online]. Washington (DC): Government Printing Office; 2010. [cited 2010 Apr 8]. Available from: www.acf.hhs.gov.

Sources: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, Child Welfare League of America, Center for Disease Control & Prevention, National Child Abuse Hotline, Child Welfare Information Gateway, FRIENDS National Resource Center, and the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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Posted 1 month ago

In the Public Good: Shared Sacrifice….and the Ryan Budget Plan?

In a time in America’s history where there are record job losses, home foreclosures, and bankruptcies, oil companies are earning record profits. Gas prices have soared. The skyrocketing gas prices have had an impact on the prices of other products including but not limited to food. In response to questions being raised about the necessity of oil company subsides, the former CEO of Shell Oil, John Hoffmeister, recently said, “Big Oil doesn’t need subsidies in the face of sustained high oil prices.”[i] The largest oil companies, between 2005 and 2009, have made a combined 485 billion dollars in profits. That’s almost half a Trillion dollars.”[ii]

For many workers that traditionally drive to work, the high cost of gas has caused them to utilize alternative modes of transportation for travel to and from work. Where possible, some former personal car drivers have elected to utilize public transportation, scooter, or a bicycle to travel to work. The afore-referenced alternative modes of traveling to and from work for some drivers simply are not viable. There are many portions of the country where public transportation is not available for traveling to and from work. Like public transportation, a scooter or bicycle are not viable options for traveling to work for many workers. For these drivers, the high cost of gas has caused them to have to cut other portions of their personal budgets in order to continue work. Personal car drivers have been reported cutting their food, utilities, entertainment (cable, Netflix, movies), and vacation travel budget items in order to be able to travel to their places of employment.

This blog post will discuss the importance of Congress taking a close look at its mandate to serve the public good. When looking at the federal budget proposals such as the Ryan Budget coming out of the House of Representatives cutting programs for indigent infants, children, youth, the elderly, and students while maintaining tax breaks for the most able to pay taxes (i.e. corporations and affluent persons), it makes one wonder whether or not the government is operating in keeping with the public good. The importance of this question is highlighted when looking at the big oil company subsides in a period of budget crisis and the recently passed Ryan Budget Plan.

The House of Representatives passed Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget, which slashes hundreds of billions of dollars from low-income programs while cutting taxes for our nation’s wealthiest. The Ryan Budget Proposal cuts taxes for everyone — but the average cut for those with yearly incomes over $1 million (12.5 percent) is six times greater than the cut for middle-income people (1.9 percent). The Ryan budget would also maintain current tax cuts — but only for high-income families; Ryan’s budget plan would allow the tax cuts for working-poor and middle-class households to expire.

The Ryan Budget Proposal imposes trillions of dollars in spending cuts, 62 percent of which would come from low-income programs that women and families rely on, like Medicare, Medicaid, and federal student aid programs. For many economic experts, the Ryan budget flies in the face of reason. The budget should never be used as a weapon to wage war on programs critical to the economic security of women and families while handing out enormous tax cuts to the wealthiest earners. Advocates for working families unequivocally oppose Ryan’s budget plan, which relies on flawed math and assumptions, and will do real and lasting harm to families, workers, and retirees.

In response to the Ryan budget proposal, voters are calling out to their elected officials in Washington, DC for “shared sacrifice” when looking at the federal budget. Voters are telephoning, emailing, faxing their elected officials in Washington, DC, to request that Congress cut the multi-billion dollar subsides to oil companies. Like the hard working citizen’s in the United States, many voters assert that corporations and wealthy Americans must pay their fair share of the tax burden.

We, as a nation, cannot address our long-standing fiscal challenges by cutting very necessary programs and services for the most vulnerable members of our state such as WIC, SNAP, Medicare, and Medicaid while corporations receive tax breaks. Instead of cutting necessary program and services, we must raise taxes on corporations and the wealthiest members of society. There must be shared sacrifice.

If the federal budget crisis is important to you, it is imperative that you let your elected officials know your position on this issue. To find the name and contact information for your: US Senator, you can visit the Senate Information website at w.senate.gov/…/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm; and for the House of Representatives you can visit this website www.writerep.house.gov. Get involved in the federal budget process.

Sources: www.chattanooga.com “Republicans Chose To Keep Big Oil Subsidies, Costing Americans Billions Of Dollars”, March 2, 2011.www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-urges-congress. Photo credit Microsoft Clip Art.

[i] www.chattanooga.com. “Republicans Chose To Keep Big Oil Subsidies, Costing Americans Billions Of Dollars”, March 2, 2011.

[ii] www.chattanooga.com. “Republicans Chose To Keep Big Oil Subsidies, Costing Americans Billions Of Dollars”, March 2, 2011.

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Posted 1 month ago

Disabuse

Domestic Violence Myths

There are countless domestic abuse myths which are pervasive. This post seeks to address many domestic violence myths via sharing facts about this pressing public health issue which continues to pose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of countless persons.

Domestic violence is a private family matter between a husband and a wife.

■ Domestic violence is a crime against society.

■ About 1 in 3 American women have been physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. (Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman’s Lifespan: the Commonwealth Fund 1998 Survey of Women’s Health, 1999)

■ In 1996, 30% of all female murder victims were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997)

■ 40% to 60% of men who abuse women also abuse children. (American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family, 1996)

Women and men engage in domestic violence at approximately the same rate.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, between 1998 and 2002:

■ 84% of spouse abuse victims were females, and 86% of victims of dating partner abuse at were female.

■ Males were 83% of spouse murderers and 75% of dating partner murderers.

■ 50% of offenders in state prison for spousal abuse had killed their victims. Wives were more likely than husbands to be killed by their spouses: wives were about half of all spouses in the population in 2002, but 81% of all persons killed by their spouse. (Matthew R. Durose et al., U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 207846, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Family Violence Statistics: Including Statistics on Strangers and Acquaintances, at 31-32 (2005))

Domestic violence only happens to poor women and women of color.

■ Domestic violence happens in all kinds of families and relationships. Persons of any socio-economic status, culture, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, age, and sex can be victims or perpetrators of domestic violence.

Some people deserve to be hit.

■ No one deserves to be abused. The only person responsible for the abusive behavior is the abuser. ■ Physical violence is against the law.

Alcohol, drug abuse, stress, and mental illness cause domestic violence.

■ Domestic violence is a learned behavior.

■ Abusers choose to abuse his/her partner.

■ Alcohol use, drug use, and stress do not cause domestic violence. The afore-referenced conditions might exist in a relationship where domestic violence is present, but they do not cause the violence. Abusers seek to find excuses for their violence.

■ Domestic violence is rarely caused by mental illness, but it is often used as an excuse for domestic violence.

If the relationship is abusive, she would just leave.

■ There are many reasons why women may not leave. Not leaving does not indicate that the relationship is healthy.

■ Research has taught us that leaving can be very dangerous for victims of domestic violence. Actually, in some cases, the most dangerous time for a woman who is being abused is when she tries to leave.

Domestic violence is not a problem in my community.

■ Research indicates that women worldwide experience domestic violence.

For information on domestic violence, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website www.thehotline.org or call 800-787-3224.

Source(s): Matthew R. Durose et al., U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 207846, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Family Violence Statistics: Including Statistics on Strangers and Acquaintances, at 31-32 (2005). Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman’s Lifespan: the Commonwealth Fund 1998 Survey of Women’s Health, 1999). Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997. American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family, 1996. U.S. Department of Justice. The National Domestic Violence Hotline website. Photo Credit Microsoft Clip Art

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Posted 1 month ago

Zimmerman Arrest

It was recently reported that George Zimmerman has been arrested and charged in the murder of 17 year old, Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, 28, pulled the trigger on the unarmed Martin as he walked home from a convenience store. The police officers engaged in the original investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin assert that Zimmerman was not charged because of a Florida law, Stand Your Ground, that makes it difficult to arrest and prosecute homicide suspects who claim self-defense.

Given the facts of this case, the police’s conduct has caused some to question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-American’s in the state of Florida. There have been similar cases in the state of Florida where the victim of a violent crime was African-American and the perpetrator was white and there were little or no sanctions imposed by the “justice system” for the commission of a serious crime.

Zimmerman’s arrest is welcome news for the countless number of people who marched and rallied for justice for Trayvon. Although the prosecutor in this case would disagree, everyone who has worked to fight for justice for Trayvon were a part of making Zimmerman’s arrest happen.

As we move into this new phase in the Trayvon case, many are going to want to use this to dampen down the level of protest that was ignited. We know however, that this is not an isolated incident. Advocates for justice have to continue to take on systemic racism, which is what put the idea in Zimmerman’s head that Trayvon - in a hoodie – was suspicious and a “criminal”.

Troy Davis, Trayvon Martin, and countless other victims of police violence and those who become entangled in the justice system – all expose how broken that the criminal justice system is in the United States. We, as a nation, have begun to witness the beginnings of a modern day civil rights movement that author Michelle Alexander[i] argues is the one thing that can truly push back against the new Jim Crow that is our criminal “injustice” system.[ii] The need for such a movement is great and the power that collective action can have is shown by the arrest of George Zimmerman.

Source: Council to End Death Penalty. Wikipedia. Ohio University. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/12/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-blotter-idUS371331303320120412

Photo Microsoft Clip Art

[i] Professor Alexander joined the OSU faculty in 2005. She holds a joint appointment with the Moritz College of Law and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Prior to joining the OSU faculty, she was a member of the Stanford Law School faculty, where she served as Director of the Civil Rights Clinic.

Professor Alexander has significant experience in the field of civil rights advocacy and litigation. She has litigated civil rights cases in private practice as well as engaged in innovative litigation and advocacy efforts in the non-profit sector. For several years, Professor Alexander served as the Director of the Racial Justice Project for the ACLU of Northern California, which spearheaded a national campaign against racial profiling by law enforcement. While an associate at Saperstein, Goldstein, Demchak & Baller, she specialized in plaintiff-side class action suits alleging race and gender discrimination.

Professor Alexander is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Vanderbilt University. Following law school, she clerked for Justice Harry A. Blackmun on the United States Supreme Court, and for Chief Judge Abner Mikva on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

[ii] Council to End Death Penalty

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Posted 2 months ago

Equal Protection Under The Law….Trayvon Martin Death?

The tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an African-American youth, has been covered heavily in the media[i] and online[ii] and brings into question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-Americans. As Trayvon parent’s aptly stated, their “…son didn’t deserve to die.” Trayvon Martin was just 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Trayvon wasn’t doing anything besides walking home with a bag of Skittles and some iced tea in his hands…”Was it rational for the police to conclude that an unarmed 17 year youth would attack a 28 year old man that was armed with a gun and out weighed him by 100 pounds?

Zimmerman, 28, pulled the trigger on the unarmed Martin as he walked home from a convenience. The police officers engaged in the investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin assert that Zimmerman was not charged because of a Florida law, Stand Your Ground, that makes it difficult to arrest and prosecute homicide suspects who claim self-defense. Given the facts of this case, the police’s conduct has caused some to question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-American’s in the state of Florida. There have been similar cases in the state of Florida where the victim of a violent crime was African-American and the perpetrator was white and there were little or no sanctions imposed by the “justice system” for the commission of a serious crime.

Because of the petition posted on Change.org by Trayvon’s parents and the interviews that were granted to media outlets, the conduct of the officers on this case has and continues to have a high level of scrutiny. There are a great many questions about the police handling of this case including but not limited to: (1) Why did the police check the victim’s blood for drugs and alcohol and failed to so for the shooter? (2) Did the police seize the shooter’s weapon?; and (3) Did the police interview any of witnesses that heard the cries for help? The online petition requests that the “general public” engage in the requisite actions[iii] to help ensure that justice would prevail.

Trayvon’s parents’ cry for justice has been heard; and it has served to ignite protests, across the United States including a “Million Hoodie March” in New York City and a rally in Sanford, Florida, the location where the shooting took place. The rally in Sanford was led by, civil rights activist, Al Sharpton. Further, Trayvon’s parents have amassed more than 600,000 signatures on their online petition calling for charges to be filed against the shooter. As protests spread across the nation in response to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, President Obama weighed in on the controversy Friday, saying it’s imperative that authorities investigate every aspect of the case.

“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” President Obama said. “I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”

At the protests related to this death, many protesters have donned hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin. On the day he was fatally shot, the Florida teen was spotted wearing a hoodie by his killer, George Zimmerman. The article of clothing reportedly made Martin appear suspicious to Zimmerman. Assuming for the sake of argument, Trayvon appeared suspicious to Zimmerman. The question remains, why did Zimmerman exceed his authority as a volunteer Neighborhood Watch member. The Neighbor Watch handbook simply encourages its members to simply report the “suspicious” person(s) and/or crime to the police. Despite the Neighborhood Watch manual’s clear instruction on what is to be its members’ response to “suspicious” person(s) and the statement by the 911 to Zimmerman that the police were coming and he needn’t pursue the person, Zimmerman pursued, confronted, shot, and ultimately killed an unarmed person.

Geraldo Rivera has asserted that the victim’s hoodie could have precipitated the shooting and death of Trayvon Martin. How can a hoodie be responsible for the death of Trayvon? Many protests have asserted that George Zimmerman’s pursuit and fatal shooting of Trayvon was not the result of the victim’s attire but rather a racist act which should be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law. The case has resonated for many who assert that Martin died because of stereotypes of young black men as violent criminals. Trayvon’s death is already being compared with high-profile and historic civil rights cases. Currently, an edited photograph has circulated throughout many social media sites that compare Martin to Emmett Till, a young man lynched by white men in 1950s Mississippi.

How should we look at this tragic death? Was it simply the act of self-defense? Was the shooting an act of racism by Zimmerman? Professor Mark Neal, a professor of African and African American Studies at Duke University, was asked to comment on the conduct by Zimmerman and the resulting tragic death of Trayvon Martin. Professor Neal stated that, “It’s not about these individual acts of racism. It’s about the way that black males are framed in the larger culture … as being violent, criminal and threats to safety and property.”

Public outrage has helped to bring national attention and a federal investigation to the case of Trayvon Martin. Travyon’s parents have asked that the public continue to build pressure to demand George Zimmerman be brought to justice.

Here’s what you can do to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin:

1. Sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin

3. Pass around articles about Trayvon and the petition on social networking sites and e-mail lists.

4. “Like” the Justice for Trayvon Martin Facebook page to stay updated about this case.

[i] Just to name a few, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and The Today Show have all covered the death of Trayvon Martin which occurred in February of 2012.

[ii] Mother Jones, Politico, Care.org

[iii] Public activism has played a pivotal role in bringing national attention to the case and ultimately leading to a top-to-bottom review of what happened that day. A wellspring of social media grew by the day and became relentless, demanding that the spotlight return to Sanford. It’s the only way to galvanize people in such cases, says Neal, the Duke professor.

“If folks aren’t on Twitter tweeting stories and giving particular testimonies; if you don’t have artists doing videos on YouTube talking about what Trayvon might have experienced … I don’t think we get a moment where suddenly the Justice Department is saying we need to investigate this case,” Neal says.

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Posted 2 months ago

VAWA Reauthorization 2011

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings, and rape combined. And studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic abuse annually. Everyone has a right to be safe. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) gives law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the resources they need to hold offenders accountable, keeps communities safe while supporting victims, and provides critical funding for prevention and education.

VAWA is up for reauthorization. Recently, the National Coalition Against Domestic (NCADV) issued an action alert related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization. In its action alert, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reminds us that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is up for reauthorization in 2011. NCADV also reminds us that, “VAWA is a cost-effective, time-tested, constitutionally sound compendium of laws that guarantees equal protection to all victims seeking help under its auspices. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking look to Congress to keep this critical program going.”

The Violence Against Women Act has always had as its core mission to protect and serve ALL[i] victims of intimate partner violence and to tear down barriers that stand in the way of victim safety and access to justice. Currently, S. 1925 has fifty-seven (57) Senate sponsors. In order to avoid a filibuster, NCADV is actively working to secure a total of sixty (60) sponsors by March 20, 2012.

As previously stated, VAWA was always intended to serve ALL survivors. Every version of the bill since 1994 has worked to improve awareness about and expansion of prevention programs and the provision of services that included all victims of sexual, domestic, dating and stalking violence. S. 1925 enhances protections for “underserved populations”[ii]. The Leahy/Crapo Bill (S.1925) continues this intent by offering a gateway for greater reach to all victims by: an improved definition of underserved; an enhanced underserved populations grant program; and specific supports throughout VAWA for underserved populations. When you talk with your Senators, please tell them to support S. 1925 because it opens doors for all victims.

NCADV’s suggested actions related to the reauthorization of VAWA for this week include:

1. To secure a total of sixty (60) sponsors by March 20, 2012. If your Senator is not a VAWA sponsor, call them at their Hill office, ask for the staff person who handles VAWA and offer to help them convince their Senator to sponsor S. 1925.

2. Call and ask Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to schedule a vote on VAWA.

3. Tweet about the importance of VAWA Reauthorization- Join the twitter carnival for #ReauthorizeVAWA on Wednesday, March 7th at 12pm EST, 11am CST, 10am MST, 9am PST.

Action 1: If your Senator is one of the forty-three (43) who are NOT sponsors of VAWA, call their office today (http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm) and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1925: When you call, tell your Senator that only S. 1925 represents real, critical, lifesaving protections for ALL victims and all other versions fall short. To assist you with preparation for the call to your elected officials’ office, you may want to read NCADV’s talking points (http://4vawa.org/pages/s1925-is-the-real-vawa) about why S. 1925 is the only REAL VAWA. Additionally, it would be helpful to review the list of sponsors for the bill. To obtain the list of sponsors you can visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php and type in the bill S.1925 for a list of sponsors and thank your Senator if he/she is already a co-sponsor.

NCADV suggested Senators who should be a VAWA sponsor:

Former Sponsors of VAWA in the Senate

Six (6) Senators have been VAWA sponsors in the past. NCADV posits that perhaps these former sponsors of VAWA need to be persuaded to sponsor the bill again. These elected officials need to reminded that VAWA programs and services are under-funded and under attack. It’s time to step up for victims of sexual assault and dating, domestic and stalking violence. The following senators are former sponsors of VAWA and need to be called about sponsoring the reauthorization of VAWA: Cochran, Thad (R – MS), Cornyn, John (R – TX), Grassley, Chuck (R – IA), Hatch, Orrin (R – UT), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R – TX), and Snowe, Olympia (R – ME).

Senators that expressed an interest in VAWA

It has been reported that there are Senators who have expressed interest in (or should care about) VAWA and some have been supportive of program funding and services in the past. Ask the following Senators to step up to this crisis and sponsor VAWA: Alexander, Lamar (R – TN), Ayotte, Kelly – (R – NH), Enzi, Michael (R – WY), Graham, Lindsey (R – SC), Heller, Dean (R – NV), Kyl, Jon – (R – AZ), and Lugar, Richard (R – IN).

Action 2: Call Senator Reid’s office with this message: “We need Senator Reid to continue to be our champion for the whole country. Thank you for cosponsoring the Violence Against Women Act. Please schedule S. 1925 for a floor vote as soon as possible.”

If you are not from Nevada: 202-224-3542 (DC office)

If you are from Nevada: 775-686-5750 (Reno office)

Action 3: Participate in the #ReauthorizeVAWA Twitter Carnival on Wednesday, March 7th at 12pm EST, 11am CST, 10am MST, 9am PST. NCADV is seeking to make #ReauthorizeVAWA a trending topic on twitter. In order to do that NCADV needs a lot of people to tweet messages including the hashtag #ReauthorizeVAWA in a SHORT amount of time.

Here are some sample tweets proposed by NCADV:

We urge all Senators to support the real #VAWA that helps all victims- S. 1925. #ReauthorizeVAWA now! 4vawa.org.

Bring the real VAWA to the Senate floor for a vote NOW. #ReauthorizeVAWA now! 4vawa.org.

NCADV reminds us that, if we will not be in front of our computer(s) or hand-held(s) at noon that we can still send out the post on twitter at noon by signing up for http://www.hootsuite.com and scheduling your message to post on March 7 at noon (just make sure you’re time settings are for EST). During the Twitter Carnival, NCADV encourages us to retweet and respond to the twitters of others – always including #ReauthorizeVAWA.

Together, we can get VAWA reauthorized.

Source(s): NCADV Action Alert.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

[i] S.1925 is no different, particularly when it comes to Native women. S.1925 contains language that would remove some of the systemic barriers that prevent American Indian and Alaska Native victims from bringing their perpetrators to justice. These tribal improvements included in VAWA are also contained within S. 1763, the Stand Against Violence & Empower Native Women Act (SAVE Native Women Act) and they are essential to the safety of Native women.

[ii] Underserved populations are those who are provided with inadequate or non-existent services. Since 1994, VAWA has been about opening doors for all victims of sexual and domestic violence who have historically been ignored or provided with inadequate or substandard treatment and services – whether due to insufficient funds and scarce resources or discriminatory practices.

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Posted 2 months ago

National Day of Action: Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners

February 20^th is recognized as a National Day to support persons inside cages who express their solidarity with the 99% and to support individuals seeking social, economic, and other forms of justice. With the help of supporters, allies, and larger communities, Occupy4Prisoners and other prisoner advocacy organizations aim to create a safe space to allow the voices of persons in captivity to be heard. This day of action was initiated by California death row prisoner Kevin Cooper and has garnered the support of many, many organizations and individuals nationally.

Occupy4Prisoners and other advocacy organizations urge us to join in on this historical day of action and be a part of amplifying the voices of prisoners and their concerns. They are asking that we stand in solidarity with those behind prison walls, their loved ones, and formerly incarcerated people. Prisoners are part of the 99% and Occupy4Prisoners and other advocacy organizations ask that we stand together in demanding an end to mass incarceration.

Occupy4Prisoners asserts that prisoners as well as formerly imprisoned PEOPLE, are one of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations in our society.” They “have been labeled as “offenders”, “criminals”, “convicts”, “ex-offenders”, “ex-cons”, and many other dehumanizing terms, and are scapegoated for causing society’s fundamental problems.” Prisoners “…are PEOPLE, and not the labels…”. Occupy4Prisoners argues that “…the real “criminals” are those who run Wall Street, who are responsible for genocide, racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination. They lead the attacks against communities throughout America.”

Occupy4Prisoners argues that many of incarcerated persons and formerly incarcerated persons live by a code of conduct and support self-determination. They strive to build and follow leadership in our collective and public actions. These persons do not advance individual agendas over our collective needs. Further, participants in this movement accept responsibility for any acts that may have caused harm to their families, their communities or themselves, and seek to play an active role in making their communities safe for everyone.

Occupy4Prisoners and other advocacy organizations remind us that seldom if ever, are people inside asked or given a safe space to tell their stories. With that said, the general public needs to know what is going on inside these cages, how the bottom of the 99% are treated by the 1%, and the need to meaningfully include people inside as we build our collective efforts.

Occupy4Prisoners asks that everyone reading these words to support their efforts to create a safe, secure and genuinely inclusive space for people inside, and to build a genuine role for their voices in the February 20^th National Day of Occupy in Support of Prisoners. Please take a moment to read through these statements from people in prison: http://occupy4prisoners.org/statements-from-people-in-prisons/. They are such a good reminder of why this day of action is so important for those 2.3 million people who the 1% aims to make invisible. The words of prisoners also remind us that this day of action is just the beginning. As Mumia points out,

“….the Occupy Movement must do more. As it shifted the discussion and paradigm on economic issues, it must turn the wheel of the so-called ‘Criminal Justice System’ in America, that is in fact, a destructive, counter-productive, annual $69 billion boondoggle of repression, better-known by activists as the Prison-Industrial-Complex. That means more than a one-day event, no matter how massive or impressive. It means building a mass movement that demands and fights for real change, and eventually abolition of structures that do far more social damage than good. It means the abolition of solitary confinement, for it is no more than modern-day torture chambers for the poor. It means the repeal of repressive laws that support such structures. It means social change—or it means nothing. So let us begin—Down With the Prison Industrial Complex!”

Actions are happening all across the country. If there’s not an action already planned in your city, you can still be a part of the National Day of Action. These are things you may want to consider doing:

1. Setting up a table to bring awareness to the issue of mass incarceration. This could include printing up literature to hand-out, petitions for specific cases for people to sign, or even a laptop with videos playing about the day of action. This could be a good way to help inform people about what’s going on and also meet people who you could work with for future events.

2. Using social media sites to spread the word about February 20 and the issue of mass incarceration. Occupy4prisoners.org has a section with powerful statements from prisoners about the national day of action. Those should be spread far and wide! We have to let the 1% know that we have not forgotten about the 2.3 million people they aim to make invisible. We want to amplify their voices on the outside.

3. Organize a reading group of Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This book is an important tool for our movement. The New Jim Crow goes through mass incarceration and its historical ties to Jim Crow, the war on drugs, how the court system “works”, and the impact a felony record has on one’s life. It is full of staggering statistics that expose the racist prison system and point out that the only way forward is a mass social movement that demands change.

4. Bring issues that prisoners face into your local Occupy movement. This could be done through a teach-in, film screening, or by starting a prisoner solidarity working group.

Source(s): www.Occupy4Prisoners.org. Action Alert CEDP.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art