GOP Senate Candidate Addressed Conference Hosted by Neo-Confederate Group That Promotes Secessionism

GOP Senate Candidate Addressed Conference Hosted by Neo-Confederate Group That Promotes Secessionism | Mother Jones

Mississippi Republican Chris McDaniel, who is challenging Sen. Thad Cochran and backed by the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Club for Growth, took the stage with a historian who says Lincoln was a Marxist.

Government Shutdown Ended, Austerity Drive Lives On

Now that the government shutdown has been avoided, progressives and the democratic left must prepare for an even bigger battle: fighting more austerity budget cuts.  The Republican Party, and much of the Democratic Party establishment, including President Obama, have already signaled they will accept a budget deal, a "Grand Bargain"  that will drastically cut "entitlements" (i.e., Social Security and Medicare).  We must prepare to fight back!

Instead of cutting Social Security, we must expand it, to cover more people. Instead of raising the retirement age to get SS benefits, we should lower it.   There is no Social Security "crisis," the trust fund has nearly $3 Trillion, the problem is Congress has stolen part of the surplus to cover other spending.  What should be cut is military spending.

The long term national debt can be addressed by cutting military spending, corporate welfare programs, and by RAISING taxes on the corporate rich, like the "Robin Hood Tax" on Wall Street transactions, and returning to the pre-Reagan top tax rates.

Austerity  budget cuts have already cost millions of jobs.  The federal government must spend MORE to create jobs,  we need a national policy to guarantee Full Employment (John Conyers has re-introduced the Humphreys-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act  HR 870 to address the jobs crisis)

Government Shutdown Ended, Austerity Drive Lives On

The Government is Open. Now Fight for Just Government Policies

The Coming Debt Ceiling Settlement

It's the Austerity, Stupid: How We Were Sold an Economy-Killing Lie

Deal or No Deal on Shutdown and Debt Ceiling, Biggest Fiscal Policy Crisis Remains

Robin Hood Tax Petition

Congressman Cohen Speaks Out Against the Republican Government Shutdown

Congressman Cohen Speaks Out Against the Republican Government Shutdown 

The Navy Yard Shooting And The Campaign to Save Lives

The Navy Yard Shooting And The Campaign to Save Lives by Bill Day

March anniversary is an opportunity to look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy

March anniversary is an opportunity to look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy » The Commercial Appeal

Good article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on the 50th Anniversary March on Washington, and the legacy of MLK and the 1963 March, which was about economic justice, not just racial equality and civil rights...

Justice for Trayvon Martin?

Justice for Trayvon? Repeal ALEC's 'Stand Your Ground' 

Some, mostly conservatives, are arguing that the Florida "Stand Your Ground' law played no role in the Zimmerman trial or verdict they are wrong.

The Instructions read to the Jury used the new Florida "Stand Your Ground" law's guidelines (that the defendant only had to show they feared they would be killed, not the older self-defense guidelines, that the defendant had to show that they did everything they could to avoid the confrontation or events that lead to killing someone to defend themselves.

The ‪#‎NRA‬'s "Stand Your Ground" law allowed George Zimmerman to walk free after stalking and killing an unarmed teenager. And it will also give him complete immunity from civil lawsuits. ‪‬ ‪#‎NoMoreNRA‬ ‪#‎Justice4Trayvon‬


Why Stand Your Ground Is Central to George Zimmerman's Case

Zimmerman Juror Says Panel Considered Stand Your Ground in Deliberations

Stand Your Ground and The Zimmerman Defense (Media Matters)

White People Who Kill Black People in "Stand Your Ground" States 354% More Likely to Be Cleared of Murder

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Frackademia: University of Tennessee Set to Lease Forest For Fracking, Enriching Governor's Family

Frackademia: University of Tennessee Set to Lease Forest For Fracking, Enriching Governor's Family

Marsha Blackburn: Women 'Don't Want' Equal Pay Laws

Marsha Blackburn: Women 'Don't Want' Equal Pay Laws

Sad Day in U.S. Senate: Gun Bill Background Check Amendment Fails, Other Key Provisions Follow

Gun Bill Background Check Amendment Fails, Other Key Provisions Follow

Assault Weapons Ban, High-Capacity Magazine Measures Fail

The Senators who voted NO

Over Two Million Americans Tell Obama: No Cuts to Social Security and Medicare Benefits

Over Two Million Americans Tell Obama: No Cuts to Social Security and Medicare Benefits 

Obama’s Social Security Cuts are Our Wake-Up Call

Obama’s Social Security Cuts are Our Wake-Up Call | NationofChange

Tennessee Bill: Your Kid Makes Bad Grades, You Lose Welfare Benefits

TN Teabagger Stacy Campfield strikes again...

Tennessee Bill: Your Kid Makes Bad Grades, You Lose Welfare Benefits

Activists Gather in Memphis to Commemorate MLK's Life
AFSCME Local 1733 and activists from across the nation will gather in Memphis this week to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.


Memphis Commemorative Events April 3-4, 2013

Please join members of AFSCME Local 1733, Martin Luther King III, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, MSNBC “PoliticsNation” Host and National Action Network President Al Sharpton

as we commemorate the 

45th Anniversary of 

Dr. Martin Luther King’s work

on behalf of AFSCME Local 1733’s 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike:

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Dr. King’s final act of solidarity. In commemoration of his life and his solidarity, union members, civil rights leaders and community activists are again gathering in Memphis for a series of historic events.

On April 3, the community will gather from 7-10 p.m. in the historic Mason Temple at 930 Mason St., Memphis, Tenn. Highlights a panel discussion on economic and racial justice including Karen Finney of MSNBC, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Benjamin Todd Jealous of the NAACP, Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream and Terry O'Neill of the National Organization for Women. Civil rights leaders the Rev. Al Sharpton, AFL-CIO Exec. Vice Pres. Arlene Holt Baker, AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders and Martin Luther King III will also give special remarks.

On April 4 at 8:30 a.m., we will rename a local street 1968 Strikers Lane, then march from AFSCME Local 1733 (485 Beale St.) to the National Civil Rights Museum (450 Mulberry St.) and end with a rally.

The invitation from Martin Luther King III, AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders and Rev. Al Sharpton reads, “We look back this year and remember, because we know that the foundation laid in the most triumphant and tragic days of the civil rights movement – of our economic justice – must inspire and guide us in the struggles we now face.”

For more information and to RSVP, please visit www.memphis2013.org.

Major Tarsands Spill in Arkansas 'Likely to Stoke' KXL Debate

Major Tarsands Spill in Arkansas 'Likely to Stoke' KXL Debate | Common Dreams

KKK Rally Fizzles

KKK Rally Non-Event in Memphis - Memphis Flyer

KKK Rally: Two removed during demonstration » The Commercial Appeal

The much anticipated KKK Rally in Memphis fizzled in the cold rain.  Only a few dozen Klansmen showed up, the police kept them quarantined, and protesters at a distance, and no one could hear them.

On the other hand, a progressive coalition called Memphis United, held a "People's Conference on Race and Equality," with over 1500 participants at the fairgrounds.

People's Conference on Race and Equality

Memphis DSA supports the People's Conference on Race & Equality, JOIN US at the conference on Sat. March 30th

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Memphis United presents the People’s Conference on Race and Equality with workshops, community conversations, arts, music, & dance ongoing throughout the day. Also featuring an action area with information from dozens of groups on opportunities for action, art exhibits, and interactive kids art project and much more. Drop-in at any time throughout the day for a few minutes or a few hours and learn to confront hate by building community. 

Central Stage :: Creative Arts Building

10-11am: Opening Ceremony with Danza Azteca Quetzalcoatl 

11am-12:15pm :: Community Conversation: Race, Faith and Movements 

Panelists: Andy Andrews, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church; Andre Johnson, Pastor and Author of Race, Rhetoric & Religion; Gail Tyree, activist and local AFSCME Asst. Director; Dr. Coby Smith, founding member of the Invaders

Moderator: Anthony Siracusa, Rhodes College

12:30-1pm: Performance: Latino Cultural Center (theatre, dance, art and music)

1-1:50pm: Community Conversation: Racial Structures and Racial Realities in Memphis

Dr. Zandria Robinson, Professor of Sociology, University of Memphis; Dr. Wanda Rushing, author of Memphis & the Paradox of Place, Luvell Anderson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Memphis

Moderator: Edie Love, activist and student

2-2:30pm: Performance: Artistik Approach (a capella hip-hop and spoken word)

2:30-3:20pm: Community Conversation: Environmental Racism: Poverty, Pollution and Solutions

Rita Harris, Environmental Justice Director, Sierra Club; Bastet Ank Re, Vegan Chef, Natural House of Wellness; Khomorai Galloway, Grow Memphis Community Gardening Organizer

Moderator: Chris Peterson, Grow Memphis

3:30-4pm:  Performance: Juju Bushman (singer and songwriter)

4-5pm: Community Conversation: Discrimination and Equality: The GLBT Struggle Continues

Panelists: Will Batts, Executive Director, Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, Floridia Jackson, Pastor and activist, Yeshua Holiday, Pastor and activist

Moderator: TBD

Workshops :: East Wing, Creative Arts BuildingWorskhops are 50 minutes in length 

10:30am: Story to Story - Elaine Blanchard 

11:30am: Community Conversation on Race - Common Ground

1pm: The Reality of our Immigration System - TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition & Communidades Unidas en Una Voz

2:30pm: Nonviolent Communication - Elaine Krueger

4pm: Organizing Against Racism -  Bradley Watkins, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center

Exhibition and Activity Area :: West Wing, Creative Arts Building

• Ongoing tabling by 30+ community groups that you can get involved with
• Art exhibition area with works exhibited by local artists
• Kids interactive art area
• Plus much more…. 

For more information, visit the Memphis United Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/MemphisUnited

Ryan v. the Congressional Progressive Caucus | Alternet CPC: Back to Work Budget The "Back to Work" Budget (Analysis by EPI)

Three-Quarters of Progressive Caucus Not Taking a Stand Against Cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Three-Quarters of Progressive Caucus Not Taking a Stand Against Cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid | Common Dreams

Including Rep. Steve Cohen!

KKK asks for March 30 Downtown Memphis rally

KKK asks for March 30 Downtown Memphis rally » The Commercial Appeal

Thousands Converge in Washington to Demand Action on Climate Change

Thousands Converge:  Demand Action from Obama to Avoid "Climate Disaster"

A Great Day for the Climate Movement | Common Dreams

350.org's Bill McKibben: "This was the biggest climate change rally in US history. By our count, 50,000 people gathered by the Washington Monument and then marched past the White House, demanding that President Obama block the Keystone XL pipeline and move forward toward climate action.