King on Civil Rights
Coretta Scott King, widow of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, tells audiences at Miami University’s Millet Hall why “Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere: Civil Rights and the Problem of Inclusion” at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Contrary to recent misleading propaganda from the Equal Rights No Special Rights campaign to retain Article 12 of the city charter, the King Foundation has long supported all struggles for equality, including those of gays and lesbians. GLBT Services is among the groups sponsoring her appearance, which is open to the public; free tickets are available trhough the box office at Shriver Center. For more information, contact Susan Meikle at 513-529-7592.
Appetizer With That Issue?
The Cincinnati Public Schools tax levy (Issue 32) and the repeal of Article 12 of the city charter (Issue 3) are the focus of a Local Issues Night hosted by the Urbanists and Teach for America Alumni Wednesday at Mr. Pitiful’s in Over-the-Rhine. Speakers from the school levy campaign include Sue Taylor, president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. Gary Wright, co-chair of Citizens to Restore Fairness, and City Councilman John Cranley speak about Article 12. The program starts at 6 p.m. with appetizers and happy hour specials and lasts until the conversations are done.
About That Speech…
A tripartisan American Destiny Forum takes place Saturday at Union Terminal, where President Bush explained his rationale for invading Iraq two years ago.
The program examines what has grown out of Bush’s speech. Speakers include Libertarian Jim Marrs, whose book Crossfire was the basis for Oliver Stone’s movie JFK; conservative Republican John Buchanan; and Democrat Jim Garrison. The forum is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and features three lectures: “American Truth Serum from a Republican” by Buchanan; “9/11, the Patriot Act and the Theft of Liberty” by Marrs; and “America as Empire: The End or a New Beginning?” by Garrison. The cost is $20. For more information, contact Byron Belitsor at 415-453-4023.
Get Paid to Play
Voting Is Power (VIP) is looking to pay energetic and motivated individuals $75 for a day of canvassing for VIP’s Get Out the Vote Program on Election Day, Nov. 2. Canvassers must be able to walk and talk long and well, since their role is to encourage the community to vote by going door-to-door with election materials and information. The shift lasts 12:30-8 p.m. VIP asks aspiring canvassers — neat appearances only, please — to attend a 45-minute training session in the days before Nov. 2; times and dates TBA. Leave a message at 513-621-3217 or vip_gotv@hotmail.com.
Lights, Camera, Activism
In the next two Mondays before the election, Kaldi’s Coffeehouse and Bookstore in Over-the-Rhine offers free showings of politically minded films starting at 8 p.m. This Monday Liberty Bound shows a “U.S. citizen’s journey of discovery into the lies, oppression and corruption that have invaded her country since 9/11.” Then, on the eve of the election, watch Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry.
Sound Off for Kerry
A stellar lineup of local musicians rocks Southgate House in support of John Kerry Thursday. At 8 p.m. Over The Rhine kicks off a program featuring three stages, 21 bands and short movies. Suggested donation is $10; minimum is $5. All proceeds go to Republicans for Kerry. For more information, contact Laura Chenault at lchenault@fuse.net or 513-861-1858.
No More Homeless Pets
More than 400 animal welfare advocates from across the country convene in Cincinnati for No More Homeless Pets, a conference that takes place Friday-Monday at Holiday Inn Cincinnati-Eastgate. Topics include creating no-kill communities, increasing adoptions, establishing spay/neuter programs and humanely managing feral cats, fundraising, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, media relations and coping with burnout. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/conference_oct04.cfm or call 435-644-2001, ext. 255.
Karma for the Vote
A vigil for the electoral transformation of the country takes place at Lone Star Pavilion in Clifton at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday. The vigil starts with a potluck picnic at 5:30 p.m., followed by meditation and non-verbal prayer through music, dance and drama. From 8-8:30 p.m. participants will line Clifton Avenue with signs and banners as a public statement of their commitment to reversing America’s course in the upcoming election. The New Jerusalem Community seeks co-sponsors for the event; contact Anne at 513-591-2942 or annbck@aol.com.
Policing the Police
Wendell France, the head of Cincinnati’s Civilian Complaint Authority, is the guest speaker for the annual Justice Watch Dinner 5-8 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Church in the West End. France led the investigation into the death of Nathaniel Jones while in police custody; the CCA found evidence that police used excessive force.
NAFTA and the Disappeared Women in Mexico
The International Caravan for Justice stops by UC at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Tangeman University Center Atrium. The caravan is traveling the country to fight for justice in Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico, where almost 400 young women have been murdered in the past decade. Half of them worked in maquiladoras opened in Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement. For background, see a film about the murders, Senorita Extraviada, which plays in the TUC Theater at 7 p.m. Friday. Go to www.mexicosolidarity.org/juarezcaravans.html for more information.
Living with Globalization
The School of Living at St. Xavier Church meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 for a light supper followed by a prayer service and discussion of globalization of the economy. RSVP for the supper by calling 513-721-4045.
Lobby Your Neighbors for Kerry
Cincinnati Labor Council AFL-CIO is gearing up for the annual Get Out the Vote Ward Walk, a neighborhood canvassing operation in support of labor-endorsed candidates. The walk takes place October 29-31, the weekend before the election. Sign up by calling 513-421-1846.
This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2004.