"Most Serious Attack on Poor People In 25 Years"

Forty voices filled with frustration. From all areas of our community. A vicious attack on us by the state government was underway. The guidelines for determining homelessness were revised. Under these new revisions , you could even sleep in a car and NOT be considered homeless The legislation crossed our governors desk, and HE SIGNED IT.
     
      We showed up on Thursday July 26th at 12:00 noon. The employees that worked in the Mass State building located on Dwight st in Springfield were forewarned as they arrived for work that morning. They knew we were coming. We arrived carrying sings and organizing chants. Mad, worried and determined, we stood on the walk in front of the building. Cars honked, folks yelled out windows in support. Michaelann Bewsee E.D of Arise, said that it was the worst attack on poor people she had seen in 25 years. This statement got allot of attention. Arise for Social Justice has been a advocate of the poor folks in our city for decades. Michaelann has seen it all. Alone we are easy targets for the oppressors. That is why we have to come out and stand together on attacks like these. We have strength in numbers. They cant ignore us. And anyone who knows Michaelann, knows it is close to impossible to ignore her.

      We entered the State building and marched up three flights of Stairs to Governor Devall Patricks office. We carried a protest sign with the signatures of all that were there that day.Outside of the Governors office door, we were meant by Elizabeth a staffer in the Devall Patrick administration.
She told us that she wanted to hear what we all had to say. She also told us that she has been a fan of Arise for a long time. She was cordial and invited all of us (30 +) into a large board meeting room. She introduced herself and her colleague's and stated that she felt this new legislation was a sensitive issue. Michaelann explained in clear and concise language that we wanted the revision changed and not left to the discretion of the agency or government officials whimsical or literal interpretations. Plainly she stated  "That if you were living in a bus station on Friday you were considered homeless, and therefore eligible for shelter. However on Saturday when the revision was instituted, under the same bus station roof as Friday, you would no longer be considered homeless and thus, NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SHELTER."
 


    This is the ATTACK Michaelann was referring to. Cuts in exactly the wrong place. On the most indefensible population of the state .And not just the state, but our country. You have to wonder who is responsible for this unforgivable, heartless piece of legislation? Well folks,I hate to think that the Governor fully realized the potential impact that this change would have on us. Did someone explain the "Bus Station Example" to him? Did he get it? Elizabeth, the staffer could not offer any relief beyond promising that Devall Patrick would be made aware of our protest and our visit. Oh, and our Protest sign with all of our signatures.

     We ended our 30 minute visit with Elizabeth and staff abruptly, Michaelann making it clear we were not happy or satisfied in any way. So what do we do now? Did you call your state rep? Senator? Congressmen? Are you as mad as we are?  This is just wrong on so many levels.
  
      Please get involved. A phone call to your elected officials office in a presidential election year carries a little more weight than non election years. We must all at least do that. Call Arise, ask what you can do .Better yet, visit us at 467 State street in Springfield Massachusetts. We love visitors. We need you to help support our campaigns. If you want to help, but cant come down,please contribute. Drop a check in the mail. Your financial support helps insure the grassroots work that we mobilize on. It cost us money and we are poor folks also. Collectively we do make a difference. We need your help. Times are tough. We are experiencing extreme hardship. Please insure the integrity of our work.

National Alliance Of HUD Tennants Washington, DC June 26, 2012

I was privileged to stand with NAHT this past week in DC. NAHT and MAHT (Mass Alliance of HUD tenants) work tirelessly on behalf of those in danger of losing section 8 housing. Attending the conference were members of NAHT from all over the US. The fight to preserve low income housing is difficult. Workshops on organizing tenants associations and HUD regulations as well as what litigation is presently being considered, were explored in great detail during this 2012 conference. Members of HUD sat on a panel and listened to us and provided some insight as to where they stood on certain housing issues. In addition we meant with government officials in the Senate building who addressed housing. This trip was very inspiring and very enlightening. The housing issue in Springfield has the same challenges as it does in many parts of the US. Please watch this short video as we marched on the MLK memorial in DC. We were stopped at the entrance. We held our protest at the entrance. Please leave questions and comments.
John Morris

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=db0_1340748532&comments=1

In Massachusetts, documenting police brutality can land you in jail

Well, we knew this could happen, and now it has: Stephanie Barry reports in today's MassLive  that Tyrisha Greene, the woman who videotaped the beating of Melvin Jones in November, 2009, may have criminal charges pressed against her for illegal wirtetapping!

To add insult to injury, it's one of the police officers who was was involved in the beating, and who was suspended for 45 days following an investigation--  Michael Sedergren-- who has filed an application for a criminal complaint against Greene.  the poor baby says it was illegal to videotape him without his consent.
The MassLive article is pretty comprehensive so I'm not going to paraphrase it here.  The comments are well worth reading, though, because although there has been little public support for beating victim Melvin Jones, there is little or NO support for the law which criminalizes, in this case, documenting police abuse.

Ms. Greene will have to appear at a "Show Cause" hearing next Wednesday, August 17, in Chicopee District Court.  I know Arise members will be there to support her.

Funny-- with the prevalence of video cameras everywhere in our lives,without our permission,  that we are not allowed to document our own abuse with them.

Two good sites that go over some of the rights to photograph and videotape-- and many of the violation of those rights-- are Flex Your Rights and Photography is Not a Crime.

Before and after photos of Melvin Jones from The Brown Watch.

Scott Lively sure does love his poor people

Yup, that must be why Lively went to Europe's poorest country, Moldova, last month, to speak against an anti-discrimination bill.  (I thought the air near the corner of State and Walnut Sts., where both Arise and Lively's Holy Grounds Coffeehouse, are located, seemed fresher in March.)

Even though passing an anti-discrimination bill is essential if Moldova wants to join the European Union, bringing the country into the 21st century, Lively thinks the country should pass on that opportunity, if it means not discriminating against people on the basis of the sexual orientation.

"During his visit, Lively said ending discrimination against gays would be the first step towards the "homosexualization" of society and would be followed by granting gay people the right to marry and adopt children."  Radio Liberty.   The horror!


Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, which was introduced in its legislature shortly after another visit by Scott Lively, isn't moving forward at the moment.  The bill includes:

• A 7-year jail sentence for consenting adults who have gay sex;
• A life sentence for people in same-sex marriages;
• Extradition and prosecution of LGBT Ugandans living abroad;
• The death penalty for adults who have gay sex with minors, consensual or no,  or who communicate HIV via gay sex, regardless of condom usage or consent;
• Jail for anyone who doesn't report suspected gay people within 24 hours;
• A ban on the "promotion" of homosexuality which is so open-ended that it would endanger HiV/AIDS treatment and sexual health clinics in the country;
• The ban could also be used to effectively exclude gay people from petitioning the courts by making those representing them liable for criminal action;
• Breaking all ties with international commitments and laws opposing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

You can sign a petition to the  Hon. Stephen Tashobya, Chair of the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee to the Ugandan Parliament, against the bill at Care2.

Meanwhile, back in Springfield, MA, Arise and Stop the Hate/Stop the Homophobia are having a heck of a time trying to find members of the religious community to stand with us against Lively's homophobia.  Seems like if you call yourself a Christian, you can get away with a lot.  I wonder if these controversy-shy clergy ever ask themselves: What would Jesus do?

FYI, Lively has frequently said that he's not in Springfield to fight the culture wars.  However the Tea Party is using his headquarters to plan a Tax Day rally in Springfield.  That's not illegal, but it sure puts the lie to Lively's claim he only moved to Springfield to "rechristianize" Springfield. 

Be in touch with us if you want to help us stop hate and homophobia in Springfield.  Our next meeting is Thursday, April 29, 6 pm. at Out Now, 1695 Main St., 2nd. floor.

Photo of rural Moldova from Azkid2It's photostream at Flickr.

Help stop "corrective" rape!

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

South Africa is often dubbed the 'rape capital' of the world.
Every 17 seconds a woman is raped in South Africa, and it is estimated that a woman born in the country has a greater chance of being raped than learning how to read. There are an estimated 500,000 rapes a year in South Africa, and the country has some of the highest incidences of child and baby rape in the world.
Studies have found one in three South African women say they were raped in the past year. Other surveys have found more than a quarter of South African men admit to raping someone. Those figures go up in South African cities, and the overall situation is getting worse, not better.
Thankfully, on March 14 the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development agreed to sustained, long term engagement on the intersecting issues of gender-based violence, anti-LGBTI violence and hate crimes.
We welcome this engagement, and call on South Africa's Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development to keep their promises, and incorporate the concerns and criticisms of civil society.
We will continue to monitor the progress of these negotiations, and look forward to a productive, cooperative working relationship with the Ministry around these issues.
Winning this campaign depends on our ability to call on thousands of supporters like you. After signing this petition, please follow us on Facebook - just click 'Like' at the top of the page.

ANYONE can be a victim of elder abuse

So many important issues this week, I could post five times one rights after another...but let me start with this.

Child Star Mickey Rooney Testifies Before Congress As Victim of Elder Abuse

March 2, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. At a hearing held today the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Aging focused on the issue of abuse of the elderly in America. The hearing, called  "Justice for All: Ending Elder Abuse, Neglect and Financial Exploitation,"   was held on Capitol Hill.

Several members of the Select Committee from New England spoke at the hearing. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said that "combatting elder abuse should be a national priority. It is no longer justt a family responsibiltiiy."

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called elder abuse a "hidden scourge in our society." "All too often," Blumenthal said, "it is hidden and denied. It is upreported because people are embarassed and ashamed. But these are crimes, and they should be reported. It is unacceptable inour society that we allow so many elders to be victims in our society."

The Committee's lead off witness was child film star Mickey Rooney, 91, who told the committe: "Unfortunately, I'm testifying not just as a concerend citizen, but as a victim of elder abuse. Rooney told the Senate Committee he was financially exploited, that his resources were "stolen from me by someone close, a family member... I was unable to avoid becoming a victim of elder abuse. You feel scared and disappointed, and can't believe it's happening to you. You feel overwhelmed. You're afraid about criticism from your family and friends."

Rooney said he suffered "emotional blackmail" as part of his abuse. He said he was told that his financial matters "were none of his business." "It came out of nowhere," Rooney said. "It started with something small, but it was rather sinister. For years I suffered silently. I was told to shut up and be quiet: you don't know what you're talking about."

"It's important for me to tell my story," Rooney explained, "especially to those seniors who suffer in silence."

"You are not alone," Rooney said, addressing seniors directly, "and you have nothing to be ashamed of. You deserve better. You deserve the right to control your life. To end the cycle of abuse, not to allow yourself to be silenced. Tell your story.  Above all, have hope and faith."

"If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone," Rooney concluded. "Stop this abuse of elders now. Say its a crime, and we will not allow it in the United States."

Rooney urged the committee to pass legislation sponsored by Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin , the "Elder Abuse Victims Act."

Massachusetts has had an elder abuse reporting law for 27 years, but national studies show that for every one case of abuse reported, another 24 go unreported. Every day in Massachusetts, another 54 reports of elder abuse are filed. The problem of elder abuse was called  "a silent pandemic" at a Beacon Hill hearing on February 16th.  Elder advocates say funding for protective services was cut back to 2008 levels. The Commonwealth spends 31 times more on child abuse and domestic violence services than on services to alleviate violence against seniors.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND: AL NORMAN, MASS HOME CARE 978-502-3794 CELL.

Live bullets and beards on women - the idiots who "serve" us

Ohio National Guard fires on demonstrators, killing 4 - 1970

OK, I know there are lots of examples we could give here (and feel free to chime in), but when I first get an email about one idiocy and then see the Reminder's Mike Dobbs' Facebook status within two minutes, I just have to write about them.

A deputy attorney general of the state of Wisconsin (fired today, hallelujah!)  got into a tweeting war with a Mother Jones reporter and said he thought that live ammunition should be used on the demonstrating teachers and public employees in Wisconsin.  One of Mike Dobbs' friends said, "Where are we again? Libya? Bahrain?"

Maine's Governor Paul LaPage was asked if he supported his own environmental board's recommendation to begin phasing out BPA in baby bottles and children's dishes. (If you don't know what this is, click the link.)  His response?

"Until I see science that tells me that BPA is a problem--and I haven't seen it--quite frankly the science that I'm looking at says there's not been any science identified that there's a problem," LePage said. "The only thing that I've heard is if you take a plastic bottle, put it in the microwave and THEN heat it up it gives off a chemical that's similar to estrogen. And, ah, so the worst case is some women might have little beards, but we don't want to do that."

Read the rest of the Maine Public Broadcasting story. 

More than one way to overthrow a government

Breaking: Berlusconi to stand trial! 

Berlusconi allegation triggers protest by women across Italy
By Flavia Krause-Jackson
Monday, February 14, 2011; A07


Hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets across Italy on Sunday to demand better treatment for women, days after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi came under investigation for engaging in prostitution with a minor.
The nationwide protest followed the filing of a request by prosecutors Wednesday for Berlusconi to stand trial for allegedly paying a 17-year-old girl for sex and abusing power in trying to cover it up. The event was organized by a nonpartisan women's group whose members describe themselves on their Facebook page as "neither desperate, nor housewives."
"Women in this country are denigrated by the repeated, indecent and ostentatious representation of women as a naked sexual object on offer in newspapers, televisions and advertising," said protest organizer Ida Poletto, a married hotel manager who has two sons. "It's intolerable."
Demonstrators gathered in more than 230 cities and towns across Italy under the slogan "If not now, then when?" Protests were also organized in London, Brussels, Tokyo, Boston and Athens. Supporters said more than 1 million people attended the rallies. Police did not publish an official estimate.
The biggest were in Rome, where more than 50,000 gathered in the Piazza del Popolo, and Milan, where the crowd spilled out of the Piazza Castello into the surrounding streets and piazzas. Rallies in Naples and Turin also drew tens of thousands of demonstrators, where speaker after speaker defended the dignity of women and called on Berlusconi, 74, to resign.
Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini dismissed the protests, saying "the women who are demonstrating today are just a bunch of [radicals] who are being used for political reasons."
Few women hold positions of power in Italy. In politics, while a woman served once as foreign minister, not one has ever held a higher ministerial portfolio than health or education. In business, women fill about 7 percent of Italy's corporate management positions, compared with an average of 30 to 35 percent in other developed nations, a 2010 study by the research firm Gea-Consulenti Associati showed.
- Bloomberg News - Photo: Mario Laporta/Agence France-Presse - Getty Image