** Did you miss
The Free Press Second Saturday
Cyber-Salon ?
------------------------------------------------------------
If so, here's a run-down of what happened and how you can be involved next time!
Did you miss the June Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon?
If so, here's a run-down of what happened and how you can be involved next time!

Last Saturday, June 13, was the Second Saturday Cyber-Salon with the Columbus Free Press, held over Zoom, covered some of the history of police abuse of Columbus citizens, as covered by the Free Press since 1970. Then the discussion turned to what happened at the most recent Justice for George Floyd, anti-police brutality protests in Columbus.

Jorge Anthony talked about being maced twice, tear gassed, and shot by rubber bullets. Some efforts to reform or revolutionalize the city's use of police were brought up -- an effort to eliminate police from K-12 schools was covered by Julia Allwein and there was a lively and slightly contentious conversation about defunding the police.

Bob Fitrakis, Free Press Editor talked about past campaigns to get a civilian review board over the Columbus Police. We heard from Darryl Mendelson and Bill Kurzenberger about the upcoming virtual Comfest - June 26, 27 & 28. Then Tammy Fournier Alsaada from the People’s Justice Project joined us to talk about her experiences at the protests recently and her history of working to stop racism and bring about change in the system.

You can view the recording of the Salon on our Free Press Network YouTube ([link removed]) channel:
June Cyber-Salon ([link removed])

Don’t forget to check out this year’s Virtual Comfest!
Virtual ComFest 2020 ([link removed]) , Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, this event will be on-line

Links to topics in discussion:

Rise up ([link removed]) song by Andra Day

Jorge Anthony’s eye wounds from making (below)

Charles Traylor – WVKO 92.9 Front Street radio show ([link removed])

People’s Justice Project ([link removed])

Campaign to get cops out of schools

WGRN-The Other Side of the News interview ([link removed]) with Kanyinsola Oye and Julia Allwein on their effort to get police out of city schools
Petition to remove police from city schools:
Please Sign Here ([link removed]) . More info and support sign-up here
([link removed]) .
Read, sign and join to help this student-led coalition get police officers out of Columbus City Schools. Read: “Columbus City Schools to reevaluate police resource officers ([link removed]) ”
Columbus Police Department out of Columbus City Schools ([link removed])

Defund the Police campaigns

Defund the Police resource guide from SURJ ([link removed])

Black Lives Matter #DefundThePolice ([link removed])

How Defund and Disband Became the Demands ([link removed])

Other pertinent links:

Recall Ginther campaign
#RecallGinther Launch Rally June 27 ([link removed])

Where to sign the Recall Ginther petition (must be in-person) - see below

Important information from Standing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ):

8-Point Abolition Platform ([link removed])

Protest Aftercare Fund
Fundraising link and more info here ([link removed])
The Protest After Care fund is a mutual aid designed to provide financial relief to Black protestors amidst recent direct actions across the country. Black organizers and activists across the country have sacrificed their time and safety for the purposes of Black liberation even to the extent of exposing themselves to COVID-19 for the betterment of the collective. The funds are designed to assist with any medical expenses or hardships related to contracting COVID-19 as a result of protest participation.

EVENTS

White People Confronting Racism: Workshop & Webinar
Tuesday, June 23rd 5:00pm-7:00pm Details and registration here ([link removed])
Dismantling white supremacy and racism requires white folks to do the hard work of looking inward, as well as showing up to the work of collective action and liberation. Please join SURJ Ohio for a 2-hr workshop on the work of white folks confronting racism and white supremacy - in ourselves and the everyday institutions and operations of our country. We'll deepen our collective analysis and skills, while also providing concrete and accountable ways for you to take meaningful action - for now and the long-haul.

Int'l Solidarity 4 Black Lives Call
Friday, June 26th 2:00pm-3:30pm Register here ([link removed])
Do you live outside the US and work for racial justice where you live? Are you white or down for the work of organizing white people for racial justice? Systemic racism is a global pandemic and we at SURJ want to connect with white folks around the globe to dismantle white supremacy as part of a world wide multi-racial movement.

International March for Black Lives
Saturday, June 27, 6-8pm
Columbus City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.
Join the Columbus African Council ([link removed]) , The African ([link removed]) , APNET-Columbus ([link removed]) , People's Justice Project ([link removed]) , and other community organizations as the international community join in solidarity for Black Lives.
#InternationalCommunity ([link removed])
#BlackLivesMatter ([link removed])

1000 Days in Sanctuary: Drive-By to Support Edith
Sunday, June 28th 12:00pm-2:00pm
June 28th marks Edith's 1,000 days in sanctuary. Come show Edith your support! We are hoping that 1,000 people will drive, bike, or walk to Columbus Mennonite Church to say hello to Edith (staying safely socially distanced). We'll be selling cloth masks hand-made by Edith and t-shirts in both adult and children's sizes with the winning designs from the t-shirt design contest in the church parking lot. Buy a t-shirt, mask, and/or donate to help us reach our goal of fundraising at least $1,000 for Edith's ongoing legal and personal expenses.

Inhale/Exhale - Capoeira with Luz Emma Cañas
Tuesday, June 30th 7:00pm-8:30pm Register here ([link removed])
In this workshop, participants will learn of the origins of Capoeira and it's rich history of colonial resistance. Participants will learn basic movement and how to apply those movements in self defense.

Abolish Policing, Not Just the Police
Thursday, July 2nd, 8:00-9:30pm Register here ([link removed])
A discussion on abolishing the police and policing with Mariame Kaba, Maya Schenwar, and Victoria Law. Join abolitionist organizer Mariame Kaba and journalists Maya
Schenwar and Victoria Law, authors of the forthcoming book Prison By Any Other Name for a discussion of the urgent need to use this moment for transformative change.

RESOURCES (toolkits, manifestos, statements, demands, etc.)

SURJ Defund the Police Resource Guide ([link removed])
SURJ Toolkit: Calling People In About "Violence" ([link removed])
On the Road With Abolition: Assessing Our Steps Along the Way ([link removed])
A BQIC STATEMENT on organizers helping police march with Columbus protestors. ([link removed])
CFC’s official statement on recent protests ([link removed])
SURJ Statement on Monday's Protest in Downtown columbus ([link removed])

ARTICLES (information, news, interviews, podcasts, etc.)

SURJ’s Call to White People: Withdraw your Consent: Defund the Police ([link removed])
White People with Disabilities — We Must Show Up for Black Lives ([link removed])
New protests raise voices of LGBTQ community, mothers ([link removed])
Amid protests for racial justice, Juneteenth gets new renown ([link removed])
Columbus City Schools To Reevaluate Police Resource Officers ([link removed])
A Columbus Fund Received Thousands To Bail Out Protesters. Who Are They? ([link removed])
Abolition Isn't Only About Police ([link removed])
Sex Workers Have Never Counted on Cops. Let’s Learn From Their Safety Tactics ([link removed])
Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police ([link removed])
Ruth Wilson Gilmore Makes the Case for Abolition ([link removed])
America, This Is Your Chance ([link removed])
How Do We Change America? ([link removed])

ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW/SUPPORT
Black Queer Intersectional Collective (BQIC) ([link removed])
People's Justice Project (PJP) ([link removed])
Columbus Freedom Coalition (CFC) ([link removed])
Columbus Freedom Fund (CFF) ([link removed])
Juvenile Justice Coalition (JJC) ([link removed])
Email us ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Hope to see you at the next one!
Pete Johnson
President, Columbus Institute for contemporary Journalism

Contact: 614-253-2571
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Please support the Free Press Network -- the Free Press newspaper, websites, WGRN and WCRS community radio and our other media ventures -- with a monthly donation!
Become a patron on Patreon! ([link removed])

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