Free Press uncovers evidence of ballot tampering in Warren County, Ohio
After locking out all media observers and declaring a Level 10 Homeland Security Alert, the Republican-dominated Warren County, Ohio reported the vote tally in the wee hours of the morning on November 3, 2004 -- and gave George W. Bush a surprising 14,000 vote boost. Two election workers told the Free Press that the ballots had been diverted to an unauthorized warehouse where they had been possibly stuffed. That is, punched for Bush only. Maps were supplied to the Free Press showing the locations of the warehouse and the Board of Elections.
Warren County officials refused to allow the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism to handle the ballots, but they did allow us to photograph a few. Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., has analyzed the ballots for the Free Press and concluded that there is evidence of fraud in Warren County. The ballots as photographed with Dr. Phillips' commentary below each ballot are included here for the first time.
Warren County officials refused to allow the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism to handle the ballots, but they did allow us to photograph a few. Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., has analyzed the ballots for the Free Press and concluded that there is evidence of fraud in Warren County. The ballots as photographed with Dr. Phillips' commentary below each ballot are included here for the first time.
Jim Wallis speaks in Columbus
“Where in the bible do you find all this stuff about patriotism?”
Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong, and the Left Doesn't Get It, held a public lecture at St. John Arena at The Ohio State University on March 28, 2006. The lecture was followed by audience dialogue.
Wallis began his lecture with a reference to a conference held in Washington DC that very day. The richest and most powerful leaders of religion, met with the leaders of the most powerful nation, to discuss the so-called “war against Christians”.
“I am a person of faith too, and that is not my faith!” He proclaimed that the religious right was created by the political right and needed a counter movement. Nonetheless, he insisted, to not create a mirror image of that on the other side of the spectrum.
As for the subject of poverty, Wallis revealed that three billion people live on less than $2 a day. 30,000 children die every day. He also referred to the consequences of poverty within the United States. When speaking at the notorious prison Sing Sing, he learned that all of the inmates originated from three or four neighborhoods in New York.
Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong, and the Left Doesn't Get It, held a public lecture at St. John Arena at The Ohio State University on March 28, 2006. The lecture was followed by audience dialogue.
Wallis began his lecture with a reference to a conference held in Washington DC that very day. The richest and most powerful leaders of religion, met with the leaders of the most powerful nation, to discuss the so-called “war against Christians”.
“I am a person of faith too, and that is not my faith!” He proclaimed that the religious right was created by the political right and needed a counter movement. Nonetheless, he insisted, to not create a mirror image of that on the other side of the spectrum.
As for the subject of poverty, Wallis revealed that three billion people live on less than $2 a day. 30,000 children die every day. He also referred to the consequences of poverty within the United States. When speaking at the notorious prison Sing Sing, he learned that all of the inmates originated from three or four neighborhoods in New York.
The new face of apartheid: J. Kenneth Hackwell
The most unprincipled and opportunistic man in the history of Ohio, Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, stands poised to claim the Republican primary for governor. Blackwell and his far-right theocratic “rapture-ready” Christian dominionists will doom the Buckeye State to further despair.
It should come as no surprise that the Free Press is the only newspaper in Ohio willing to out Blackwell for appearing before white supremacists in the secretive Council on National Policy. Blackwell understands power; he understands that there’s plenty of money in putting a black face on the new politics of high-tech Jim Crow. Blackwell also understands that in order for his strategy to succeed, he must convince a significant number of black ministers to join him in his open bigotry against gays and lesbians.
This is simply the old apartheid politics of divide and conquer. Blackwell wants to rule the new Buckeye State Bantustan.
It should come as no surprise that the Free Press is the only newspaper in Ohio willing to out Blackwell for appearing before white supremacists in the secretive Council on National Policy. Blackwell understands power; he understands that there’s plenty of money in putting a black face on the new politics of high-tech Jim Crow. Blackwell also understands that in order for his strategy to succeed, he must convince a significant number of black ministers to join him in his open bigotry against gays and lesbians.
This is simply the old apartheid politics of divide and conquer. Blackwell wants to rule the new Buckeye State Bantustan.
"Not Guilty" says woman arrested after hanging anti-Bush posters
CLEVELAND -- The woman arrested and accused of assaulting police officers
after hanging World Can't Wait posters in Cleveland Heights January 28 was
arraigned in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court February 16.
Carol Fisher, 53, a resident of the inner-ring suburb known for its liberalism was charged with two counts of assaulting Cleveland Heights police officers Daniel Downey and Mike Frinzl.
According to her statements, Fisher was hanging posters announcing the World Can't Wait Cleveland action during the State of the Union, when a passing officer told her it was a $100 fine if she didn't take it down.
Fisher turned and walked toward the poster, in compliance with the officer's warning. But instead of allowing her to take it down or just issuing a citation, Downey and Frinzl were on top of her "grinding his knee into [Fisher's] back and [her] face into the sidewalk."
Fisher said she told the officers she could not breathe. That didn't matter. Two more officers showed up, and they dragged her to a bench, shackled her legs, and handcuffed her tight enough to cause serious bruising.
Carol Fisher, 53, a resident of the inner-ring suburb known for its liberalism was charged with two counts of assaulting Cleveland Heights police officers Daniel Downey and Mike Frinzl.
According to her statements, Fisher was hanging posters announcing the World Can't Wait Cleveland action during the State of the Union, when a passing officer told her it was a $100 fine if she didn't take it down.
Fisher turned and walked toward the poster, in compliance with the officer's warning. But instead of allowing her to take it down or just issuing a citation, Downey and Frinzl were on top of her "grinding his knee into [Fisher's] back and [her] face into the sidewalk."
Fisher said she told the officers she could not breathe. That didn't matter. Two more officers showed up, and they dragged her to a bench, shackled her legs, and handcuffed her tight enough to cause serious bruising.
Travesties of Justice: An interview with Siddique Abdullah Hasan
As Siddique Abdullah Hasan prepared answers for this interview
from his supermaximum security cell block, in Youngstown, Ohio,
news broke that Philadelphia courts had agreed to hear arguments
from Mumia Abu-Jamal's legal council. Abu-Jamal's lawyers argue
that the outcome of Mumia's 1982 trial and later appeal were
tainted by constitutional violations. Few can empathize with the
former Black Panther as well as Hasan, a respected Sunni Muslim prison
Imam who has been sentenced to death for his alleged leadership in the
1993 Lucasville prison rebellion. Hasan maintains his innocence and is
appealing his case. After hearing of Mumia's good news, he wrote that
it "brought tears of joy to my heart, because I immediately recognized it
was a positive development which could ultimately lead to his long-overdue
release from captivity."
Columbus troopsoutnow.com report
Dec. 1 was the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks arrest whose
courageous actions sparked an entire civil rights movement.
Columbus joined cities nationally speaking out against current
events to commemorate Park's half century ago arrest. Over 5,000
people saw or heard the seed message of needing a new movement
to turn the country around. It's hoped the words bloom in the
listener's life, producing a harvest of activism.
Three events took place..a two hour march downtown around lunchtime, a three hour rally at the statehouse from 3 to 6 pm, and a 7-9 pm candlelight vigil. At the march, over 2,000 people actively listened and supported what was said, many stopping to listen or rolling down windows while at the light. Some lingered, concurred, thanked us, or returned to the protest. Throughout the day, we received many car honks, thumbs up, and personal stories of hardships.
Three events took place..a two hour march downtown around lunchtime, a three hour rally at the statehouse from 3 to 6 pm, and a 7-9 pm candlelight vigil. At the march, over 2,000 people actively listened and supported what was said, many stopping to listen or rolling down windows while at the light. Some lingered, concurred, thanked us, or returned to the protest. Throughout the day, we received many car honks, thumbs up, and personal stories of hardships.
Gun owners officially endorse Grendell for Attorney General
Columbus—State Senator Tim Grendell (R- Chesterland), candidate for Ohio Attorney General in 2006, was pleased to receive the endorsement of The Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund, which is a project of the Gun Owners of America (GOA) on January 16, 2006.
In their official endorsement letter to State Senator Grendell, GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt wrote, “[Senator Grendell’s] support for the Second Amendment has been demonstrated in the Ohio legislature.” Pratt added, “Ohio has been suffering from a lack of good government. We hope that [Grendell] can become Ohio’s next Attorney General to restore public confidence in their government.”
The Gun Owners of America is a nationwide coalition composed of approximately +350,000 members. For a copy of the endorsement letter from GOA, please visit the website of Tim Grendell for Ohio Attorney General.
In their official endorsement letter to State Senator Grendell, GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt wrote, “[Senator Grendell’s] support for the Second Amendment has been demonstrated in the Ohio legislature.” Pratt added, “Ohio has been suffering from a lack of good government. We hope that [Grendell] can become Ohio’s next Attorney General to restore public confidence in their government.”
The Gun Owners of America is a nationwide coalition composed of approximately +350,000 members. For a copy of the endorsement letter from GOA, please visit the website of Tim Grendell for Ohio Attorney General.
Ohio legislative black caucus endorses Ted Strickland for Governor
Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) announced today their endorsement of Congressman Ted Strickland to be Ohio's next governor.
"As a collective body of African-American legislators, we are convinced that Ted Strickland is the best candidate to help improve the quality of life of all people across Ohio regardless of their race, economic status or religious beliefs," said Representative Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), OLBC President.
Eighteen African-American Ohio state legislators make up OLBC.
"Civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. consistently talked about how shameful it is for one of the most prosperous countries in the world to have high poverty rates and an educational system that remains separate and unequal. He said that we have the resources to make the change, but many of our leaders simply don't have the will," said Rep. Sykes. "Under the leadership of our current administration the gap between the have's and have-not's has grown. Poverty rates are up, and our public school system that provides hope and inspiration to the majority of our children has not received adequate support."
"As a collective body of African-American legislators, we are convinced that Ted Strickland is the best candidate to help improve the quality of life of all people across Ohio regardless of their race, economic status or religious beliefs," said Representative Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), OLBC President.
Eighteen African-American Ohio state legislators make up OLBC.
"Civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. consistently talked about how shameful it is for one of the most prosperous countries in the world to have high poverty rates and an educational system that remains separate and unequal. He said that we have the resources to make the change, but many of our leaders simply don't have the will," said Rep. Sykes. "Under the leadership of our current administration the gap between the have's and have-not's has grown. Poverty rates are up, and our public school system that provides hope and inspiration to the majority of our children has not received adequate support."
Letter to the Editor of the Logan Daily News
On December 13, 2004, I came forward with an affidavit, which included the statement that a TriAd employee dismantled the computer that housed, on its hard drive, the tabulation of votes for Hocking County. Votes, when being handled (hard drive) need to be in the presence of board members and any other persons who are entitled to witness the official canvass. The technician was left alone while dismantling the computer. A hearing was scheduled by the board members to investigate TriAd’s reason/reasons for this action. Surprisingly, the board found no wrongdoing by the TriAd employee.
Letter to the Editor of the Logan Daily News
There have been accusations by the board of elections, labeling me as disruptive, incompetent and not a team player. Not only are these stigmas not true they are troubling and contradictory when coupled with the board's show of confidence in me during my employment with the The Hocking County Board of Elections.