Tag Archives: Social Justice

Dr. Jill Stein: People’s State of the Union

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From jill2016.com:

The Precarious State of Our Union: A Bipartisan Disaster We Can Fix

From the viewpoint of everyday Americans, the State of our Union, in point of fact, is not strong. In reality, we are in a state of historic crisis – for our economy, ecology, democracy and security.

Thankfully, these crises are still eminently solvable. With a majority of Americans disapproving of both establishment parties, there is unprecedented momentum for a new way forward, based on principles of democracy, justice and peace, towards an America and a world that works for all of us.

Republicans have long been recognized as unabashed servants of the economic elite, leading the charge against the public interest. But they have not been alone.

Democratic priorities were clear when President Obama had two Democratic Houses of Congress to support him, as the party went to bat for trillions in Wall Street bailouts, tax cuts for the rich, job-killing corporate trade agreements, austerity budgets, health care reform that locked single payer out and private profits in, mass deportations of hardworking immigrants, privatization of schools, expanding wars for oil and regime change, climate-killing “all of the above” energy policies, and unprecedented assaults on privacy and press freedoms.

As a result of this bipartisan assault, we have not had a recovery by any measure.

Read the full People’s State of the Union.

War veteran and state senator team up to support medical marijuana bill

News,

From the Lincoln Journal Star:

Ben Marksmeier has shown bravery in a number of ways, including his service in Iraq with the Army National Guard.

This is another way: He has chosen to talk openly about his use of an illegal drug, medical cannabis, to ease the extreme pain he inherited when part of his right leg was blown off and the left one mangled by a roadside bomb that hit his convoy south of Baghdad.

Marksmeier, 30, of Fremont, went with Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue last fall to press conferences and media interviews in several Nebraska towns to help promote the need for Garrett’s bill (LB643).

People of Nebraska need the opportunity to choose, he said. He’d like to have the option to choose cannabis rather than oxycodone or methadone or other powerful, addicting, full-of-chemicals drugs for his pain.

Read the full story.

Petition: Oppose hike of OPPD fixed charge

Action Alerts, ,

From BOLD Nebraska:

OPPD (Omaha Public Power District) has proposed an increase in the “fixed” fee all customer-owners of the publicly-owned utility must pay each month, from the current $10.25 to as high as $35 per month by 2019. The OPPD Board will vote on this proposed increase at its meeting on Dec. 17, 2015.

Customers who use less energy should pay less, and customers who use more energy should pay for the increased costs of generation and distribution. It’s about fairness and keeping the “public” in public power. Sign the petition and learn more about the proposed hike.

Film screenings in Omaha and Lincoln Oct. 7 and 8: Overcoming addiction on Pine Ridge

Events,

From Nebraskans for Peace:

Don’t miss these two screenings of Sober Indian | Dangerous Indian, a documentary about brave men and women on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation who have found empowerment through sobriety and those still struggling to overcome their alcohol addiction:

  • Wednesday, October 7, at the University of Nebraska Omaha
  • Thursday, October 8, at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln

Get more details on the film’s Facebook page.

Or check out the film’s website.

Ending the Death Penalty in Nebraska: Time for the Next Phase

Action Alerts,

From Steve Griffith and Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:

As I’m sure you have seen, earlier this week a group called Nebraskans for the Death Penalty submitted signatures to try to undo the death penalty repeal at the November 2016 general election. It won’t be official until the Secretary of State verifies the signatures, but it seems quite likely that they’ve gained enough signatures to send the issue to the ballot. I share your disappointment that our victory is under attack.

But I hope that you share some of my great hope. Nebraska’s history has shown that it is an uphill effort for ballot initiatives to succeed. Time and again we’ve seen that when given the facts people are not inclined to keep the death penalty. We have 15 months to share with our fellow Nebraskans what we already know: that our death penalty fails us. I believe we can win and make history again!

We’re certainly not alone in this effort. Yesterday the Catholic Bishops released a statement reiterating their condemnation of the death penalty. They are joined by dozens of other religious and secular groups who helped us win repeal and will continue to speak out to end the death penalty.

I am going to spend the next few days working closely with our staff, Nebraskans for Public Safety, and other partners to draft a plan to move us to victory in 2016. You can expect to hear more from me soon with ways we’ll need your help. In the meanwhile, as you are talking with friends and family, please let them know why you are opposed to the death penalty. Let’s keep the conversations flowing. Each and every vote will matter.

Get involved with NADP.

Journal Star: Death penalty repeal appears to be on hold

News,

From the Lincoln Journal Star:

Nobody really doubted the death penalty referendum petition campaign would have enough signatures verified to hold up the Legislature’s repeal.

The campaign turned in nearly 167,000 signatures, when it needed 113,883, and a state-required cushion of slightly more than 125,000.

It’s not yet official, but the Secretary of State’s office said Friday it appears enough petition signatures have been certified and verified to stop the death penalty repeal from becoming law until a vote of the people in November 2016.

Chris Peterson, who co-managed the petition campaign along with Jessica Flanagain, a privately paid senior aide to Gov. Pete Ricketts, said they only were surprised at the speed with which county clerks and election commissioners were verifying signatures. They had until mid-October.

“I’m guessing that must mean the county reviews of the petitions haven’t encountered many hiccups. That’s a credit to the hard work of our circulators and our petition drive’s focus on compliance,” Peterson said.

The senator who brought the repeal bill to the Legislature — Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers — even said it was a forgone conclusion the signatures would be obtained. But he’s confident, he said, that the repeal (LB268) will take effect.

The election will not turn out the way the Ricketts family wanted, and what they financed, he said.

“I feel a deep, settled sense of serenity and peace about the whole thing,” he said. “I’ve never had the sense of confidence and serenity that I feel now.”

Read the full story.

Stand against the death penalty

News,

From Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:

It won’t be official until the Secretary of State’s office confirms the signatures over the next 40 days, but it seems death penalty repeal will be on the November 2016 ballot. We are confident the more people learn about the death penalty the less likely they are to support it. Please stick with us through 2016 as we continue to spread the word about the realities of the death penalty.

Read the full statement from NADP.

 

Event: Free Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa

Events

From Nebraskans for Peace:

Don’t miss this teach-in on the frame-up and 45th year of imprisonment of Ed and Mondo, and how to join the fight for their freedom.

  • WHEN: Saturday, August 22, 2015, 2:00 pm
  • WHERE: Malcolm X Center, 3463 Evans St., Omaha (next to the Malcolm X Birthsite

Known around the world as the “Omaha Two,” Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa (formerly David Rice) were leaders of the Black Panther chapter in Omaha in the late 1960s and became targets of the Omaha Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation under Operation COINTELPRO, which targeted many political activists. In August 1970, both men were framed on false charges of killing an Omaha police officer, Larry Minard, who died after being lured into a home where a suitcase bomb exploded.

At the end of this month, Ed Poindexter, 70, and Mondo we Langa, 66, will have served forty five years at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. It is unparalleled to be imprisoned for such a length of time in this “justice system.” Under the Nebraska constitution all prisoners unless convicted for ‘sedition’ or ‘treason’ have a right to a parole. Being Poindexter and we Langa were not convicted on those charges, the state of Nebraska is holding them in prison illegally. Nebraskans for Justice, the official support group of the Omaha Two note both Ed and Mondo have serious medical conditions and the August 22 meeting will discuss how to gain compassionate release for the two men.

Read more about this event and others from Nebraskans for Peace.

Enjoy summer events with the ACLU of Nebraska

Events,

From the ACLU of Nebraska:

This summer, the ACLU of Nebraska has a cool plan for robust public outreach and education to build our growing activist community and to capitalize on our incredible recent wins — like the freedom to marry, repealing the death penalty, driver’s licenses for Dreamers, and so much more!

The ACLU is excited to join these awesome community partners at upcoming summer fun festivals. Stop by our booth, tell us about your favorite civil liberties issues, and learn more about how you can make a positive difference with our amazing team of lawyers, policy advocates, community organizers, and thousands of ACLU supporters statewide.

Juneteenth, Omaha

  • Saturday, June 27, 1-4:30 p.m.
  • Washington Branch Library

Star City Pride, Lincoln

  • Saturday, July 11, 4-8 p.m.
  • 18th and N Streets

El Grito, Omaha

  • Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • 24th and N Streets

Enjoy summer events with the ACLU of Nebraska

Events,

From the ACLU of Nebraska:

This summer, the ACLU of Nebraska has a cool plan for robust public outreach and education to build our growing activist community and to capitalize on our incredible recent wins — like the freedom to marry, repealing the death penalty, driver’s licenses for Dreamers, and so much more!

The ACLU is excited to join these awesome community partners at upcoming summer fun festivals. Stop by our booth, tell us about your favorite civil liberties issues, and learn more about how you can make a positive difference with our amazing team of lawyers, policy advocates, community organizers, and thousands of ACLU supporters statewide.

Heartland Youth Pride, Omaha

  • ACLU recognized as Ally Organization of the Year!
  • Friday, June 19, 6 p.m.
  • Stinson Park in Aksarben Village

Heartland Pride, Omaha

  • Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Stinson Park in Aksarben Village

Juneteenth, Lincoln

  • Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Trago Park near the Malone Center

Juneteenth, Omaha

  • Saturday, June 27, 1-4:30 p.m.
  • Washington Branch Library

Star City Pride, Lincoln

  • Saturday, July 11, 4-8 p.m.
  • 18th and N Streets

El Grito, Omaha

  • Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • 24th and N Streets