Category: Civil Rights - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

"Plantation Ecology" Podcast

1/12/2022

Plantation Ecology Podcast

No Hate In Our States

This is a fascinating listen!

This podcast is described as follows: “Conservationists in South Carolina are transforming old systems of oppression into practices that preserve land and create habitat for an extraordinary number of birds.

"In the final episode of this season, Host Ari Daniel tours the marsh at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation with Dr. Drew Lanham, Cultural and Conservation Ornithologist, at Clemson University. 'They bring us a story of time travel: of touching a place through old hands and seeing it through new eyes; of honoring a people for the incredible work they did; and, finally, sharing how that work continues today and how it is reflected in the birds that call this place home.'"

You may listen here: www.birdnote.org/listen/podcasts/threatened/plantation-ecology

Julie Ross

"The Trial of the Chicago 7" - No Hate In Our States

12/31/2021

"The Whole World Is Watching!"
Watch The Trial of the Chicago 7

No Hate In Our States

In 2020 Netflix released The Trial of the Chicago 7 about the activists protesting the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Based on the official transcripts of the trial and numerous interviews with participating activists, the movie is fascinating and moving. From Smithsonian Magazine: "Aaron Sorkin’s newest movie dramatizes the clash between protestors on the left and a federal government driven to making an example of them."

The Official Trial of the Chicago 7 Podcast is an important supplement to the movie. "The [podcast] series features conversations devoted to the significance of events in 1968 and the trial, and the parallels with what’s happening in America today, as well as discussions with Sorkin and the actors and creative minds that realized the world of the film." You should be able to find it as a free podcast where you listen to them. In one of the episodes (all under an hour of time), Jill Wine-Banks, former Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutor, states, "We have to stand up and speak in defense of democracy no matter what the danger is because the danger of not speaking up is that we lose the democracy." Sound familiar?

Watch the Netflix trailer here.

PACG Webmaster

Christmas for Enslaved People - No Hate In Our States

12/22/2021

What was Christmas like for America’s enslaved people?

No Hate In Our States

The History Channel website contains several interesting articles about Christmas and enslaved people in the US. “While many enslaved people partook in some of these holiday pleasures, Christmas time could be treacherous.”

Learn more at this link: www.history.com/news/christmas-slavery-american-south

Julie Ross

"Who Killed Malcolm X?" Documentary - No Hate

12/8/2021

“Who Killed Malcolm X?” Documentary exonerated two wrongfully convicted men.

If you don't know much about the assassination of African American leader Malcolm X, you are not alone. Decades after his death, activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad embarked on a complex mission seeking truth and justice. The six-part documentary led to the re-opening of his murder and ultimately to the exoneration of two men convicted of the crime. The documentary can be watched on Netflix.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/bqqOQBalq5k

Julie Ross

"The Country We Have" Podcast - No Hate

11/30/2021

NPR: “Nikole Hannah-Jones and the Country We Have”

From the podcast description at NPR: “Is history always political? Who gets to decide? What happens when you challenge common narratives? In this episode, [NPR's] Throughline's Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei explore these questions with Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at the New York Times and the creator of the 1619 Project, which is set to be released as a book later this year.”

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/17/1056618320/nikole-hannah-jones-and-the-country-we-have

Julie Ross

"Solomon's Sword" Podcast - No Hate In Our States

11/24/2021

Podcast: “This Land: Episode 1 Solomon's Sword”

From the Crooked description of the first episode: “ALM – as referred to in court documents – is a Navajo and Cherokee toddler. When he was a baby, a white couple from the suburbs of Dallas wanted to adopt him, but a federal law said they couldn’t. So they sued.”

Listen here: https://crooked.com/podcast/1-solomons-sword/

Julie Ross

Action Alert - Petition to Repeal Iowa Voting Restrictions

11/21/2021

Petition to Repeal Iowa's New Restrictive Voting Laws -
Action Alert

petition_to_repeal_new_voter_laws.pdf
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A Message from the President

PACG has joined a coalition of Iowa organizations to support the effort of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, Iowa (LWVJC) to oppose the changes to Iowa's new voting laws (HF413 and SF568). These laws are restrictive and unnecessary. They make it harder to vote! Per the LWV, the restrictions:

Invalidate some mail-in ballots that, even when mailed promptly, cannot be returned before polls close
Impede voting by medical and other workers with 12-hour shifts by closing the polls earlier on primary and general election days
Obstruct returning absentee ballots by limiting the use of ballot drop boxes to one per county, regardless of population, and by unnecessarily restricting who may return absentee ballots
Drastically shorten the early voting period from 29 days to 20 and needlessly limit ballot request periods
Invite interference in our elections by allowing political parties to challenge Iowa elections in court
Limit county auditors’ abilities to adapt to local conditions and criminalize good-faith errors
Provide less time for voter registration and move voters who miss any general election to an “inactive” list

To get an even better understanding of what changed in these new laws, see this PACG blog post.

The list of voting law changes summarized by the Iowa State Association of County Auditors in the flyer below.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is collecting signatures to oppose these changes from now until December 15th. The goal is to collect thousands of signatures across the state. These signatures will be delivered in person to the Iowa Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader in January of 2022. LWV will host a press conference at that time.

LWVJC is offering both a paper petition or online signature. Here’s more information about the petition:

For further details about the petition, and to sign in online click this link: https://www.lwvia.org/petitions
To sign the online petition without further details, click this link: https://www.lwvia.org/anti-voter-laws
All signees must be Iowa residents, at least 18 years old and eligible to vote. However, a signee does not have to be registered to vote.
Paper copies of the petition can be printed from pdf we have attached above. Susan Leuthauser will pick up your signed petition or you may mail it to the address below.
Each person can sign only one petition - either online or a paper copy.

If you have visitors from Iowa over the holiday, encourage them to sign the petition. Feel free to forward the online signature link to friends and relatives living across Iowa, and encourage your neighbors and friends to participate in this campaign. Email them this link: https://www.lwvia.org/petitions

Contact Susan Leuthauser (by clicking on her name) with any questions. She will also coordinate the collection of the signed petitions. If you would rather mail your signed petition, send it to:

LWVJC
P.O. Box 5254
Coralville, Iowa 52241

Our growing list of coalition partners for this petition drive includes:

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Common Good Iowa
Sierra Club
Delta Sigma Theta
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Interfaith Alliance
Des Moines Chapter, The Links, Incorporated
Progressive Action for the Common Good
One Human Family of the QCA
QC Pride, Inc.
Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities

As usual, PACG is proud to be working for the common good in this important way.

Allison Ambrose

iowaelectionlawchanges.pdf
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Black Civil War Veterans Built Iowa - No Hate

11/19/2021

Black Civil War Veterans Built 'Vibrant' Iowa Communities

From Twitter account @BlackIowaNews: “The 1st Colored Regiment of Iowa – aided by Black women – fought in the American Civil War then returned to Iowa to build communities and advance civil rights. Historian Dwain Coleman uncovers little known details about the Black regiment.”

To learn more about this important part of Iowa's history, click this link:
https://blackiowanews.bulletin.com/446451477055610/

Julie Ross

Press Conference Regarding Juvenile Detention Center - Community Event

11/18/2021

CAN Press Conference Regarding Juvenile Detention Center
Sunday, November 21st at 3:00 pm

510 Warren ST
Davenport, IA

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
From: The QC Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
Event: COMMUNITY GROUP HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 21 TO VOICE YOUTH
CONCERNS AND CALL FOR COMMUNITY ACTION Contact: Avery Pearl, 563-320-6059
The QC Community Advocacy Network at qccommunityadvocacynetwork@gmail.com

The QC Community Advocacy Network announces a press conference at 3:00 PM, November 21, 2021, at 510 Warren St., Davenport, IA.

Presenters will share vital information addressing:

Expansion of the current Juvenile Detention Center
Disparities in the current Juvenile Justice System
Acquisition of the possible building site and its implications
Flaws in the Youth Assessment Center process
Lack of transparency and community involvement in the Juvenile Detention Center proposal
The Scott County Board of Supervisors refusal to accept professional opinions and best practices
Whether or not this constitutes the best use of Scott County taxpayer dollars for ongoing operating expenses
and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding
These issues concern all citizens because the County’s proposed expansion will require $16.8 million to build, and $1 million in annual operating costs, according to the 2019 plan. These numbers do not represent the current labor and material costs. Scott County supervisors are working around the referendum process by using $10 million in ARPA funding to evade public accountability. We all should ask where they are getting the rest of the money needed for site acquisition and land preparation. This will leave taxpayers saddled with paying an estimated $2 million in annual operating costs without your consent for years to come. You have the right to ask your Scott County supervisors, “Is this the best use of taxpayer dollars & ARPA funds?”

We are asking you to help make a difference by:

Voicing your opinion (in-person or virtually) during the Scott County Supervisors meeting at 9:00 AM, November 22, 2021, 600 W. 4th Street, Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center, Davenport, Iowa
Calling or writing your elected officials and media outlets
Contact the Scott County Board of Supervisors:
** Tell them there is NO legitimate reason to rush this project and the community must be involved in the decision-making process.

Ken Beck (In favor of JDC proposal), Chair, ken.beck@scottcountyiowa.gov
John D. Maxwell (In favor of JDC proposal), Vice-Chair, john.maxwell@scottcountyiowa.gov Ken Croken (In opposition to JDC proposal), ken.croken@scottcountyiowa.gov
Brinson L. Kinzer (In favor of JDC proposal), brinson.kinzer@scottcountyiowa.gov
Tony Knobbe (In favor of JDC proposal), tony.knobbe@scottcountyiowa.gov
Thank you for your time, and together we CAN make a difference!

NAACP Press Conference on Juvenile Detention Center

11/9/2021

NAACP Press Conference on Juvenile Detention Center
Tuesday, November 9th at 10:30 am

Friends of MLK Interpretive Center
501 Brady ST
Davenport, IA 52803 (map)

Civil Rights Forum

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Davenport NAACP #4019 will host a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at the Friends of MLK Interpretive Center, 501 Brady St., Davenport, IA, addressing the proposed construction of a new Scott County Youth Detention Center which would triple the current capacity of 14 beds to a potential 60 beds.

NAACP President Mike Guster will be joined by Betty C. Andrews, President of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches and founder of the Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities (www.IowaJusticeSummit.org); and Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul – Samad and other community leaders.

Please plan to attend if you are available. Thanks!

Julie Ross