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This week President Trump and his regime are welcoming Afrikaners - white South Africans who are part of an ethnic group that facilitated legal discriminatory violence against their Black and Indian counterparts for decades – into the U.S. as refugees. To many, it may seem odd – if not downright ridiculous – to classify full citizens of a first-world country in this way despite their having lived comfortable lives without the threat of persecution, war, or violence. Odd or not, it’s on-par with U.S. immigration policy since the eighteenth century.  

The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most iconic species in North America. Each year, these remarkable creatures migrate from Canada and across the U.S. to gather by the thousands in overwintering forests of central Mexico and coastal California. However, Monarch numbers in North America continue to decline. We have the opportunity to protect these dear pollinators.

On May 1, 2025, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton was fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer in East Price Hill. This tragedy highlights the controversial legal doctrine of qualified immunity that often protects officers from accountability, acting as a veritable “get out of jail free card” in cases of alleged misconduct. 

Meanwhile, the community grapples with the aftermath of two connected tragedies: Hinton’s shooting and the subsequent death of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson, struck and killed by Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., the following day. While Rodney Hinton faces charges of aggravated murder, his actions are described as those of a grieving father distraught after watching footage of his son’s death.

The Incident

“You are not alone. Far from it. If you are concerned about the climate crisis and want your national government to do something about it, you are part of an enormous global majority.”

Dozens of activists for the rights of nature who traveled to the United Nations to participate in a high-level meeting were unexpectedly barred from speaking on April 22nd, Earth Day, due to a supposed “security breach.” 

The attendees, each of whom was personally invited by the Bolivian Foreign Minister, had previously been cleared by UN security personnel and issued access passes. Many had traveled thousands of miles — coming from Brazil, Poland, Canada, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Colombia — to attend the meeting. 

Watch video of salon here.

Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery opened the session, mentioning it's the Columbus Free Press May Day version of the Second Saturday Salon, focusing on immigrant and worker rights. He noted recent events like May Day protests and anniversaries of Kent State and Jackson State.

Bob Krasen of Healthcare For All Ohioans announced a new initiative by Columbus Community Bill of Rights to contest state pre-emption through a city charter amendment, with signature gathering to begin at Comfest June 27-29.

Day Without Child Care Statehouse Rally
Monday, May 12,
WHO: Ohio Organizing Collaborative, 1000 providers, parents, advocates, and children
WHEN: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET
WHERE: Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Sq, Columbus, OH 43215
RSVP: https://act.communitychangeaction.org/a/ceo-project-dwocc-statehouse-rally

In the 1930s and 40s, many Jews escaped persecution in Europe by sailing to Palestine for safety. Palestinians treated them then with open hearts but later the Jewish refugees took arms and attacked Palestinians by committing massacres to drive them out of their lands. 

Each year on May 14, Israel celebrates Independence Day and Palestinians commemorate Nakba Day (catastrophe in Arabic). Prior to 1948, Israel has never existed on the map. Israel was planted in the heart of the Arab world by Western imperial powers. I still have a picture of my village taken by a New York Times photographer on May 14, being erased by Jewish terror groups. My village was totally flattened, the only remaining part left intact was part of the village mosque. My village name al-Sumayriyya- السميريه , Akka District, is located about 6 North of Akka and 6 miles south of the Lebanese borders. 

Sunday, May 11, 12-8pm
Makoy Center, 5462 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026

This is an all day event with indoor sessions (see agenda) and outdoor activities, traditional games, craft stations, and so much more. A Baladna bazaar and silent auction will also be ongoing throught the day. This event commemorates the 77th year of Nakba, uniting our Central Ohio community and providing varied sessions on culture, heritage, hisory, advocay, education and more. All welcome. 

Agenda

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM
Welcome and Kids Music Performance

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
From Awareness to Action: Empowering Ourselves (Advocacy Panel)

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Dabka Performance

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Voices in Palestine

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Speaking of Home: Poems and Stories for Palestine

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The Hands Off demonstrations are different. They are an early warning signal that, as one pundit put it, “Americans have freedom in our DNA” and they are proving it by taking to the streets with their homemade signs.