Local

Monday, November 18, 2024
We will be joined by powerful guest speakers and advocates. The Abortion Access Now coalition is made up of organizations across the movement for reproductive health, rights, and justice—this is a critical time that we come together to plan for the path forward. 
 More information and registration here. 

Sunday, November 17, 1pm, Columbus Metropolitan Library [Main Branch] [Rm. 1-B], 96 S. Grant Ave.

Are you interested in building a better world through collective action? Then this program is for you!

Unlike many of our prior political education initiatives, this one is focused on sharpening our collective strategic analysis — our ability to create campaigns capable of articulating a clear vision for the future, identifying the strategy and tactics most likely to deliver a victory, and adapting to changing political-economic conditions.

The program will meet twice monthly: once, for a discussion of a reading or readings, and second, for a “field trip” to a local site of struggle. Readings will focus on current or recent political campaigns and field trips will introduce participants to concrete sites of struggle within Columbus and invite them to strategize about how to win.

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Hosted by Columbus DSA [Democratic Socialists of America].

Saturday, November 16, no0n
Studio 35, 3055 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43202

In anticipation of the holiday shopping season, for November we are screening several short films about the pitfalls of unfettered consumerism.

Forget Shorter Showers - A video adaptation of the famous essay of the same name by Derrick Jensen.

Consumerism and the Limits to Imagination - A video essay by Justin Lewis on how capitalism has become unsustainable.

The Shitthropocene - A humorous, thought-provoking anthropological exploration of humanity’s consumption habits. *As the title suggests, please note this film contains some graphic language. We think the message is not just appropriate but necessary for all audiences. However, use your best judgment before bringing children.*

Like almost all of our screenings, this will be a matinee showing. Our host again is the historic Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse. Tickets are available now through their site. Doors will open at 11:30am, so come early to support a great local business if you want to have lunch before the films start.

Democrats in the White House and Senate have the power until January 20th to take strong action on the ever-deepening climate crisis. They need to use that power!

Even after Trump takes office Democrats in both the House and the Senate will have the power to put up fierce resistance to Trump and MAGA's plans to severely set back the (too slow) progress that was made over the last four years to shift away from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy. They can speak out loudly and clearly against those regressive plans. They can mobilize their constituents to bring political pressure to bear. They can issue strong statements and speak out through the mass media. They can use the 60-vote rule in the Senate for non-budget legislation. They can filibuster, days-long, multi-speaker filibusters! They can use all the tools available to put roadblocks in the way of the plans to strengthen the power of the polluting fossil fuelers as well as on many other important issues.

The recent election results have significant implications for our immigrant communities, many of whom are undocumented or have sought refuge here to escape instability. With Trump’s proposed anti-immigration policies and promises of massive deportation campaigns, we foresee a heightened state of fear and uncertainty. Our organization is committed to countering this climate by intensifying efforts to protect immigrants’ rights and inform our community about their legal protections.

In anticipation of these challenges, we will draw on our experience from Trump’s first term, when deportations surged and many individuals, including members of our local Senegalese and Mauritanian Muslim community, were detained or deported. This period saw immigrants held in detention centers even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, creating traumatic and life-altering impacts.

Join us this Thursday, November 14 at 6pm for an open discussion on how we resist the far-right and advance the struggles against capitalism, imperialism, racism, sexism, and transphobia under the incoming Trump presidency.

Come in person to Enarson Classrooms Building Room 240 or attend online at tinyurl.com/CORSmeeting.

It’s clearer than ever that the Democrats neither can nor want to stop the far-right and advance movements for liberation.

Let’s come together to figure out how we fight back and win against this unjust system!

Hosted by the Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists.

This article first appeared in the Buckeye Flame.

The Ohio Senate passed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting transgender students – kindergarten through college, at both private and public schools – from using multi-person restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The vote on SB 104, which in a particularly dark turn occurred during Transgender Awareness Week, passed 24-7 along party lines and now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

The trans bathroom ban originated as HB 183, which its Republican sponsors named the “Protect All Students Act.” But on June 26, Ohio House Republicans tacked HB 183 onto SB 104 at the very end of a nearly 12-hour session. By amending a bill that originated in the Senate and had already been approved by that body, House Republicans circumvented the normal legislative process, in which HB 183 would have to be heard through Senate committee hearings. 

This article first appeared in the Buckeye Flame.

The Ohio Senate passed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting transgender students – kindergarten through college, at both private and public schools – from using multi-person restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The vote on SB 104, which in a particularly dark turn occurred during Transgender Awareness Week, passed 24-7 along party lines and now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

The trans bathroom ban originated as HB 183, which its Republican sponsors named the “Protect All Students Act.” But on June 26, Ohio House Republicans tacked HB 183 onto SB 104 at the very end of a nearly 12-hour session. By amending a bill that originated in the Senate and had already been approved by that body, House Republicans circumvented the normal legislative process, in which HB 183 would have to be heard through Senate committee hearings. 

This is a democracy, folks. There are no kings that rule the United States of America. And we need to keep it that way.

Have you heard of the No Kings Act? 

If this law were to pass, here are three reasons why this bill would be an important guardrail for our democracy:

1) Trump would be held accountable for his many crimes – including the 34 felony convictions on his record.

2) The Supreme Court, controlled by a 6-3 conservative majority, would stop any corruption that they’ve been a part of!

3) Trump would not be in office EVER AGAIN.

President Biden, Senator Schumer, and Senate Democrats are working around the clock to pass this law before Trump is inaugurated.

But we need EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT who reads this to endorse this bill before midnight >>

As I write this column, it’s been a week since the world, as we know it, tilted. We all feel off center, disoriented, like we’re in an alternate reality/a horror show. But, no, it’s real! And now we have to deal with it.

Personally, my emotions are raw. I have an underlying feeling of depression and despair. So much is out of my control and I’m anxious about what comes next. Waiting for the next shoe to drop. I imagine most of y’all can relate.

And I’m a yogi. My practice is full of strategies for coping with reality, for being in the present moment. I’ll try to share a few with y’all.

One definition of yoga is: “Making different shapes in which to explore the breath.” It is a breath-based practice. So, what does that breath look like? Think of your body as a balloon. You know, when you blow up a balloon, you get the air all the way to the bottom, and then you inflate it up to the top from there.