Judiciary Committe Hearings on Death Penalty bills, LB 306 for Abolition, and LB 36 for lethal injection, will begin at 1:30pm on Thursday January 29, 2009, room 1113, at the state capitol building. “We should not rush towards a new method of execution when the death penalty is so clearly flawed.” –Jill Francke, NADP State Coordinator.
THE DEATH PENALTY IN NEBRASKA . . . Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty and others will host an Omaha discussion of why the only acceptable alternative to electrocution, now unconstitutional, is abolition–not lethal injection. Focus of the informational meeting will be the legislature’s death penalty related bills on lethal injection and abolition. The meeting is Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 7:00 to 8:00pm at Pius X O’Brien Parish Center, 70th & Blondo, Omaha. For more information, contact Jill Francke, NAPD statewide Coordinator, jill [dot] francke [at] gmail [dot] com or phone 402.477.7787. Vigil against the death penalty in Lincoln every Monday, noon to 1:00pm at the State Capitol Building by the information desk on ground floor.
“AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR” . . . A free showing of “At the Death House Door,” a film about Texas death row Chaplain Carroll Pickett, will be hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Nebraskans for Peace Chapter on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 7:00pm, in the Olin B lecture hall at the northern edge of campus near 52nd & Madison Streets, Lincoln. After witnessing 95 executions, Pickett’s message is clear: the death penalty is an irreversible mistake that must end. For more information, or to set up a showing in your area, contact Jake Hoy-Elswick, jake [dot] hoyelswick [at] gmail [dot] com, or call Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, 402.477.7787.
LINCOLN EARTH DAY 2009 PLANNING MEETING . . . Nebraska Greens initiated 2008 Lincoln Earth Day planning and coordination. In 2009, Planning Committee Co-Chairs have scheduled a first meeting Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:00pm, at the Lincoln Community Foundation 5th Floor Conference Room, 215 Centennial Mall South. Agenda items include Purpose & Theme, Date/Time, Venue, subcommittees & chairs, initial timeline calendar, and future meeting dates/location. For more information contact Eva Sohl, esohl [at] nlcv [dot] org, or Julie Diegel, info [at] nlcv [dot] org.
“AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR” . . . ACLU Nebraska Legal Director and NADP Board Chair Amy Miller will host a free showing of “At the Death House Door” on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 6:00pm, at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, in Copeland room 142. Questions and answers will follow.
CONVICTED. SENTENCED TO DEATH. INNOCENT. . . . Randy Steidl became the 18th person to be freed from Illinois’ Death Row for a wrongful conviction, after spending over 17 years in prison. He will speak Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 5:00pm, at Creighton University Skutt Student Center, Room 104. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Rebecca Murray of the Nebraska Innocence Project, (402) 280-3062.
LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Join weekly peace vigils at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets in Lincoln, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402-499-6672 or e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACEWORKERS VIGIL . . . Greens and Central Nebraska Peaceworkers will vigil for peace on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, from 5:00 to 6:00pm at Webb and State Streets in Grand Island, Nebraska. Peace signs will be available, or bring your own.
OMAHA GREEN DRINKS . . . Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 5:30pm to close, Omaha Green Drinks will meet at Whole Foods Market, 10020 Regency Circle, in the education room by the restaurant seating, cross from the coffee bar. Everyone interested in environmental issues is welcome. Green Drinks now meet in 461 cities worldwide. For questions or further information, phone Jean Waters at 402.554.6259, or e-mail jwaters [at] mail [dot] unomaha [dot] edu.
WEEKLY OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. This week’s film is Strange Culture, about an artist accused of bioterrorism. The event is always free and open to the public. Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. For more information, click here The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
THE BATTLE FOR WHITECLAY . . . “An inside look at an important contemporary conflict pitting American Indian rights against state and local governments in the United States,” The Battle for Whiteclay will show at The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 North 13th Street, Lincoln, from January 30, to February 5, 2009. There will be questions and answers following the 7:00pm showing on Friday, January 30. “Movie Talk” with Director Mark Vasina, Frank LaMere and others will be Sunday, February 1, 2009, after the 1:00pm showing.
LINCOLN NEBRASKANS FOR PEACE MEETING . . . The new Lincoln Chapter of NFP will meet Sunday, February 1, 2009, 4:30pm, at the Anti-Oppression Art Gallery, 1416 O Street, above Duffy’s. For specific meeting information, e-mail Josh Cramer, jrcramer [at] gmail [dot] com.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative.