Gov. Perdue Signs Historic Pardon of Innocence for the Wilmington 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 December 2012
For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137
                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700
                                                Atty. Al McSurely, Communications Chair, 919-381-0856
 
NAACP News Conference Held in Raleigh December 31, 2012
at Martin Street Baptist Church
RALEIGH - "Today the spirit of justice was awakened in the Capitol of North Carolina," said Rev. Barber. "Governor Beverly Perdue has signed a Pardon of Innocence for nine men and one woman known as 'The Wilmington 10.' These young people were non-violent protestors fighting for educational equality. They were framed, wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in connection to a fire bombing in Wilmington, NC over 40 years ago. These unjust convictions were due to racist manipulation of the court system and extraordinary and blatant racially motivated prosecutorial misconduct. A Federal Court overturned these convictions over 30 years ago but until today, NC had fallen short. In the last few days of her governorship, Governor Perdue has walked us into a season of epiphany."
            "In this season, NC has finally had a revelation and with this revelation comes a continued need for redemption and repentance from the stain of injustice. Not only will the civil rights and human rights communities honor this act, but history itself will record this day as groundbreaking. On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Governor Perdue has proclaimed a contemporary emancipation for these freedom fighters, Benjamin Chavis, Connie Tindall, Marvin Patrick, Wayne Moore, Reginald Epps, Jerry Jacobs, James McKoy, Willie Earl Vereen, William Wright, Jr., and Ann Shepard, whose fight for justice will never be forgotten. These pardons are not only for North Carolina but also for the nation and for the world. We honor the Governor's noble, courageous and righteous decision today and we commend her heart's steadfast commitment to justice."
            Special thanks is extended to: The National Newspaper Publishers Association, The Wilmington Journal, Attorney James Ferguson, Attorney Irving Joyner, Attorney Al McSurely, Cash Michaels, Marry Thatch, Dr. Timothy Tyson, officers and members of the NAACP, and the thousands of persons who signed petitions, prayed and pushed for this dream to become reality. 
### 
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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The Wilmington Ten Are Innocent and Should be Pardoned

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

29 December 2012

For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

                                                Atty. Irv Joyner, Legal Redress Chair, ijoyner@nccu.edu

 

            The NC NAACP has carefully reviewed all of the court opinions, supporting documents, contents of the infamous "Stroud Files" and other legally significant materials in the case of the Wilmington Ten. They all support the conclusion that the Wilmington Ten were not involved in any criminal conduct associated with the burning of Mike's Grocery or any other Wilmington businesses in February 1971.  

            Allen Hall, the only person who claimed to have witnessed any unlawful conduct, recanted his testimony under oath. Two other supporting witnesses also confessed under oath that they perjured themselves during the trial of the Wilmington Ten.  Official documents obtained from the New Hanover County District Attorney's office confirmed much of the illegal conduct of the Prosecutor, including his efforts to pack juries with biased, "KKK"-type jurors and to fraudulently and corruptly obtain a mistrial because the jury selection in the first trial had placed ten African-Americans and two Whites in the jury box.

            Our attorneys have carefully studied the 1980 opinion of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals which concluded, after an exhaustive examination of the court records, that the Prosecutor and Judge had purposely used or allowed the use of perjured testimony to infect the trial proceedings.  In doing so, they violated the fundamental constitutional rights of the Wilmington Ten.  The Appeals Court, therefore, reversed their convictions and the State of North Carolina has chosen not to re-try any of them.

            When viewing these uncontested facts, we are led to the only reasonable conclusion: there is no evidence that did or can prove that any of the Wilmington Ten members committed any crimes in Wilmington during the weekend of February 5-7, 1971.

            As a matter of law, these conclusions overwhelmingly support our legal position that the Wilmington Ten are actually innocent.   During the last few days, the suggestion has been made that the Wilmington Ten now must prove their innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. Such a demand at this late hour is no more than a cynical distraction from the task of the Governor to grant Pardons of Innocence. We know the "TEN" can carry their burden of innocence.  We have already offered compelling evidence of their actual innocence to the Governor.  

In our criminal justice system it is the state, not the defendants, that must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendants' guilt. We reject last-minute suggestions that this burden of proof should be turned upside down, and the Wilmington Ten defendants now must prove beyond a reasonable doubt their innocence. The notion that they, in the closing hours of the pardon review, must prove anything other than what has already been presented to the Governor for her review, is ungodly.  

            From our vantage point, the case for the actual innocence of the Wilmington Ten has already been made.  The Governor should apply the same standard for issuing this pardon as has been applied in past pardon petitions.

###

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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One of NC new stupid Laws, which helps Big Oil

Did you know that stealing used restaurant grease will be a felony starting Jan. 1?

I ask what idiot wrote this bill?

Torbett said that grease haulers and restaurants came to him with the grease theft problem addressed in HB 512. But law enforcement hasn't always taken the crime seriously, he said.

Really, just who was doing the bitching about lost of used grease??

In North Carolina, small bio fuels producers used leftover grease to create biodiesel that can be used to run specially equipped automobiles or home heating systems.

Yes Big Oil working thru smaller local companies,, need to protect their profits..

so here the NC  Representative who is in the pockets of Big Oil, doing everything to Protect them..

so how does this bill Protect Big Oil, here is the answer,

"We call it the grease police bill," said Lyle Estill, president of Piedmont Biofuels based in Chatham County. His company collects grease from restaurants throughout the Triangle. "This bill doesn't do anything about the people who are stealing grease," he said. He said the bill will help big rendering companies at the expense of hobbyist and others who collect and use or sell small batches of grease.

"Imagine the teacher who would collect the used grease from the school cafeteria once a week and sell it to my company. He'll no longer be able to do that...It will have no impact but it will shift the playing field in favor of big (companies)," Estill said. 

I wonder how much $$$ under the table he got for this bill???

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Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi nothing more than a two-faced bitch

Yes - she actually said this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/nancy-pelosi-social-security_n_2333285.html.
It's time to give Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi a call: http://bit.ly/callpelosi
It's time to send your Congressperson a message: http://bit.ly/pledgetoprimary

time for her to go..

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Something to Think About

If roads were collapsing all across the United States, killing dozens of drivers, we would surely see that as a moment to talk about what we could do to keep roads from collapsing. If terrorists were detonating bombs in port after port, you can be sure Congress would be working to upgrade the nation’s security measures. If a plague was ripping through communities, public-health officials would be working feverishly to contain it.
Only with gun violence do we respond to repeated tragedies by saying that mourning is acceptable but discussing how to prevent more tragedies is not. But that’s unacceptable.

—Ezra Klein, Eleven facts about guns and mass shootings in the United States - Washington Post

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Fake Subs for Ads.. for Subway

 

as a once employee of Subway, that only way you get a Steak sub to look alike the photo is by getting double meat, which cost more..

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WTF: TeaBagger Congresswoman Renee Ellmers want's to Honor NC biggest Bigot and Complete Asshole Jessie Helms

Can you actually believe this shit,

Honoring Senator Jesse Helms

This week, I was proud to submit H.R. 6607 - a bill to name the Century Post Office in Raleigh as the 'Jesse Helms Federal Building and United States Courthouse'. Senator Helms was an important advocate and representative of North Carolina throughout his 20 years of service in the United States Senate. This bill will ensure that the work he accomplished for the people of North Carolina will live on and invite future generations to learn about the important work he accomplished for our state.
Below is a statement from Mrs. Dorothy Helms, wife of the late Senator Jesse Helms:
"Today, the entire Helms family was deeply touched to learn that Rep. Renee Ellmers (R, N.C.) introduced a House Resolution which will name the historic Century Post Office in Raleigh as the 'Jesse Helms Federal Building and United States Courthouse'.  Jesse’s office was located in that very building for most of his Senate career. He was very proud to have his Senate office in that building on Fayetteville Street — Raleigh’s 'Main Street'.  Jesse was a letter writer throughout his entire life so it's especially meaningful that the building to be named in his honor contains a post office. We are most humbled by Congress’ consideration of this resolution."

This Bitch is on something, need a bill to drug test all of Congress, ASAP.

This man was nothing more then a racist, bigot, homophobe, and a complete jack ass.

Ellmers, his work was to belittle and deny many people the basics items of life. Lets not forget how he treated those with HIV, no matter if they were str8 or Gay or how they become infected.

lets not forget this list,

He actively opposed civil rights, voting rights, disability rights, women's rights and gay rights. He attacked children receiving food stamps, fought against a federal holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. and routinely engaged in political and editorial rhetoric that was divisive and rightly considered hate speech. Just one example: the time he called UNC-Chapel Hill the "University of Negroes and Communists."*

if you feel the same then please see below, you can read some of his choicest ranting here, and read a very interesting story here,

Please join us in calling for Congress to reject the idea of naming a building after Jesse Helms. You can sign our petition here.

also Intolerance should not be rewarded and certainly not celebrated, Ellmers you will need to find another way to leave you mark on NC.. Like creating those jobs you and other baggers have been saying you are doing?? Renee Where are the jobs, this bill doesn’t create any jobs, you are wasting taxpayers dollars..

lets not forget this one too,

Earlier this year a move to the name Wake County criminal justice center after Helms was met with resistance.

Ellmers wants to take up Congress time to rename a building after this asshole instead of focusing on our Current Financial issues and other very important items.. The Tea-Republicans really know how to waste time and money in Congress, yet they Blame Obama for everything.

Jesse had a Code word for Blacks,

According to the Wall Street Journal, Helms came up with a code word for blacks, In lieu of the N-word Helms called African Americans "Freds." Helms would ask his staffers, "What does that Fred want?" if a black constituent showed up at his Senate office and I recall hearing him use the the term "Fred" in more public forums. He did not and does not represent or symbolize the North Carolina I work every day to help recover from the Bush recession!

some nice bigoted quotes from Jesse,

“The Negroes of America… have a Congress which would tomorrow morning enact Webster’s Dictionary into law if someone accidentally threw it into the hopper with a civil-rights label. And the Supreme Court would stand in applause.”
—WRAL Viewpoint, 1965

“She’s not your garden-variety lesbian. She’s a militant-activist-mean lesbian, working her whole career to advance the homosexual agenda.”
—Discussing HUD Assistant Secretary Roberta Achtenberg, The News & Observer, 1993

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New Law Criminalizing Online Student Speech Takes Effect Dec. 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 28, 2012

ACLU-NC Says the First-in-the-Nation Law is Misguided and Chills Free Speech

Group Calls on Students Charged Under the Law to Contact ACLU-NC Office

RALEIGH – A new state law, the 2012 School Violence Prevention Act, that will be the first in the nation to impose criminal sanctions on public school students who use computers with the “intent to intimidate or torment” school employees will go into effect Dec. 1.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina opposes this law because it is too broad, threatens to chill students’ free speech, sets a bad precedent by telling students it’s wrong to criticize government officials, and could saddle students as young as 16 with up to 60 days in jail or a $1,000 fine for a wide range of acts that do not merit a criminal punishment. The law would even criminalize true statements by prohibiting online statements “whether true or false, (emphasis added) intending to immediately provoke, and that is likely to provoke, any third party to stalk or harass a school employee.”

The ACLU-NC is urging any student who is charged under this new law to contact its office.

“This law is so vague that it could easily result in a student being arrested simply for posting something on the Internet that a school official finds offensive,” said ACLU-NC Policy Director Sarah Preston. “Young people should not be taught that they will be punished for telling the truth, speaking freely, or questioning authority – yet that is exactly what could happen under this law. If it is okay to criminalize students who criticize teachers online, what is to stop the government from making it illegal for any one of us to criticize some other government official, like the city council or state legislature, whether the comments are made online or not? We urge any student charged under this misguided law to contact our office immediately.”

Click here to read a factsheet outlining the law and the ACLU's opposition.

Attachment	Size
ACLU_FACTSHEET-Criminalizing-Online-Student-Speech.pdf	295.3 KB

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HRC's New Municipal Equality Index Details the State of LGBT Equality in U.S. Cities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2012

HRC's New Municipal Equality Index Details the State of LGBT Equality in U.S. Cities

First of its kind nationwide evaluation of LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy finds cities need to do more to protect LGBT employees and citizens

WASHINGTON — Many U.S. cities lack sufficient protections for LGBT people, even in some the “bluest” states with progressive reputations. That's according to a new report by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. The Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the first ever rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law, finds that while many U.S. cities lag behind in protections for LGBT people, some of the most LGBT-friendly policies in the country have been innovated and implemented at the municipal level, including in states with laws that are unfriendly to the LGBT community. The MEI was issued in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute.

Key findings from the MEI create a snapshot of LGBT equality in 137 municipalities of varying sizes drawn from every state in the nation – these include the 50 state capitals, the 50 most populous cities in the country, and the 25 large, 25 mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples. Seattle and other 100-point cities serve as shining examples of LGBT inclusivity, with excellent policies ranging from non-discrimination laws, equal employee benefits, and cutting-edge city services.

As America moves forward in support of LGBT equality, cities across the country are on the forefront of this movement. Cities in every region of the country are fighting for equality at the most intimate level of government. At the same time, cities across the country also have room for improvement. The MEI articulates a path forward and celebrates the success of cities doing this important work.

MEI at a glance:

Eleven of the 137 cities surveyed earned a perfect score of 100 points – these cities came from both coasts and in between, were of varying sizes, and not all are in states with favorable laws for LGBT people;
A quarter of the cities rated scored over 80 points;
45 percent of cites surveyed obtained a score of 60 or higher;
Nearly a third of cites scored between 40 and 60 points, showing good intentions on behalf of municipal governments but also opportunity for improvement; and,
Just under a quarter of the cities scored less than 20 points, including eight cities that scored under ten points and three that scored zero.
"Our nation is on an irreversible path forward in LGBT equality and local and state-level advocacy ensures our voices are heard in public squares across the country" said HRC President Chad Griffin. "This index gives advocates and municipal lawmakers a potent tool to improve the lives of LGBT people."

The MEI rates cities based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories:

Non-discrimination laws;
Relationship recognition;
The municipality's employment practices;
Inclusiveness of city services;
Law enforcement; and
Municipal leadership.
In today's world, cities must compete for business and brain power. Research shows that to do this, they must treat their LGBT citizens with dignity and respect. Acclaimed Professor Richard Florida authored the forward for the MEI. Professor Florida is a pioneer in research into how the nurturing of a "creative class" (entrepreneurs, artists and architects, researchers, scientists, engineers, and other professionals) creates prosperous, economically competitive cities.

"Advances at the local level are often unheralded, but they are critical to building the momentum we need for statewide and federal victories," said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation Institute. "The Municipal Equality Index not only recognizes the remarkable progress that state equality groups and local partners have made in cities and towns across the country, but is a powerful tool to help push local governments to do better."

"The freedom to be ourselves is most important where we live, work and raise our families. That's why it's so crucial that local and municipal governments understand the need to make life better for LGBT people. We work hard to make sure openly LGBT people participate in government as elected and appointed officials, and the MEI will be a great resource for them," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute.

The full report, including long form scorecards for every city and a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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It had to be a Senator Family member to get a investigation in to who TSA threat people who fly..

From Facebook, Filming Cops,

TEXAS -- TSA pulled down a 17-yr-old girl's dress to expose her breasts. Since she is a relative of a U.S. Congressman, a federal investigation has begun into t
he incident.
Representative Ralph Hall of Texas said his gran-niece, 17, was 'badly mistreated' when she had her dress pulled down during security screening at an airport.
TSA agent pulls down dress to expose the breasts of 17-year-old niece of Congressman during airport pat-down as he demands federal investigationhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236405/TSA-exposing-breasts-congressmans-17yo-niece-patdown.html#ixzz2CwKVJaIj
Now that a Congress family member was treated so bad many Big Sister will her minions in order..

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News Flash, Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Recording Police

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal of a controversial Illinois law prohibiting people from recording police officers on the job.

By passing on the issue, the justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that found that the state's anti-eavesdropping law violates free-speech rights when used against people who audiotape police officers.

Court Rules You Can Keep Using Your SmartPhone to Record Police Abuses. -Common Dreams
The Supreme Court has blocked enforcement of an Illinois law that prohibited people from recording police officers actions, agreeing with the ACLU that the law "restricts far more speech than necessary to protect legitimate privacy interests.” CopWatch, in New York and elsewhere, explains why it matters.

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/further/2012/11/26-0

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Equality Federation Announces Fran Hutchins Hire

Dear Friends,
Equality Federation is extremely pleased to announce the hiring of Fran Hutchins as the Director of Member and State Services effective December 1st. Fran brings to the Federation more than ten years of experience with progressive non-profit organizations in the fields of LGBT rights, poverty, homelessness, and other social issues, as well as extensive academic research and writing experience.
Fran has worked on several state-level ballot measure campaigns in California and Maine. Most recently, she served as Regional Field Director for Mainers United for Marriage, the successful 2012 campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in Maine.
Her involvement with state-level groups is part of what drew her to the position at the Federation. “In my work with Equality Maine,” says Fran, “I’ve seen the transformative effect state-level advocacy can have on small communities; this experience has reinforced my commitment to building powerful non-profit advocacy organizations and networks.”
In addition to her work in LGBT advocacy, Fran has worked as a Summer Associate with Jumpstart, a national early education organization, as a Policy and Planning Analyst for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and as the Development Coordinator for CHIRLA, a leading immigrant rights group.
Fran completed her MBA at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she focused her study on strategic and financial planning and will complete her Masters of Public Policy and Public Administration there in May 2013.
I am thrilled to have Fran on staff and am looking forward to the positive impact she will have on the Federation team and our member organizations. Please join me in welcoming Fran to Equality Federation.
In solidarity,

Rebecca Isaacs
Executive Director

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Evidence of Racist Jury Profiling by Wilmington 10

UPDATED

ADDRESS CONFIRMED,

NC NAACP News Conference

Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM 

State Capitol - Morgan Street Side

Raleigh, NC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26 November 2012

For ore information:                Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

For media assistance               Rob Stephens, Field Secretary, 336-577-9335

Shocking New Evidence of Racist Jury Profiling by Wilmington 10 Prosecutor To Be Discussed as Governor Considers Pardoning the 10 Activists

RALEIGH - Newly discovered racist jury profiling by the Pender County Prosecutor Jay Stroud, shows shocking racial hostility toward prospective Black jurors. In his first effort to select a jury to convict ten young activists who had been charged with burning a Wilmington store, District Attorney Stroud ended up with ten Blacks and two Whites. Stroud felt "sick," and asked for a mistrial. The judge agreed, and the trial was rescheduled for Pender County. Stroud got a list of about 100 prospective jurors, and he wrote racial comments beside most of their names.

            "We rarely get such direct evidence of prosecutorial racism in jury selection," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP. "The prosecutor is ethically bound to put justice over winning. District Attorneys represent all the people in North Carolina, not just White people in North Carolina. We will analyze his thinking at our news conference tomorrow morning."

The North Carolina NAACP will renew its call for Governor Perdue to pardon the ten North Carolinians at a News Conference in Downtown Raleigh, NC on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM. Exact location to be announced. 

            Researchers discovered the hand-written notes made by Stroud, while he weighed the pros and cons of asking for a mistrial, after selecting his first jury. He decided to move for a mistrial on the grounds he was sick. He also decided to do better planning to select a jury more likely to convict. His profiling was based on one principle, according to his notes: Select a jury made up of "KKK" and "Uncle Tom" types.

            "If this direct evidence had been available for the Fourth Circuit," Rev. Barber commented, "I believe they would have recommended prosecuting the prosecutor."

"The new evidence is a nightmare," Rev. Barber continued. "It's a nightmare to see evidence of this District Attorney committing such egregious acts of hate on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina. The evidence clearly reveals the injustice that took place in the conviction of the Wilmington 10 and the entrenched racism that polluted the process. North Carolina needs to repent and cleanse itself of this tragic misuse of power in our judicial system."

            The North Carolina NAACP brought a resolution to the National NAACP Board of Directors in support of the Wilmington 10, which was passed unanimously. The North Carolina NAACP also initiated a national online petition with the National NAACP asking the Governor to pardon the Wilmington 10.

###

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.        

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Tar Heel Worker Campaign

Progress NC is reporting that a behind closed door deal concerning a plan to cut a deal on reforming NC Unemployment Insurance System is underway in the NCGA. The deal is being worked out between legislators and Chamber of Commerce with out any input form Worker Advocates (which mean the employee will get the short end of the stick). Length of time and amount of unemployment in on the chopping block.

If you feel that this discussion belongs in the OPEN Forum Please sign the Petition at Tarheelworkers.org, (see below for links)

Petition | I am a Tar Heel Worker Campaign

tarheelworkers.org

11.19.2012 Yesterday, the Associated Press wrote that North Carolina policymakers are nearing a deal on reforming the unemployment insurance system that will likely include cuts to the amount of benefits and

Yes those wonder jokers that are elected by us want jobless folks to pay back the UI debt that they cause by years of underfunding by employers.. Do you think this is fair..

I’m all for reform, but these talks need to be held in a Open Public Forum, not behind closed doors..

Stop by their Facebook page for more info, too.

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Just because they have a badge doesn’t mean they know Everything.

Via Photography isn’t a Crime,

Just another Ignorant asshole with a badge who thinks he knows everything, and when that don’t work, just claim the 9/11 law..

Video Description

On Thursday, November 14th when filming near the Valero refinery in Manchester TSB organizers were stopped and approached by two officers of the notoriously violent and corrupt Houston Police Department. E.T. Ramirez, badge number 8407 and D. Jimenez, badge number 8105, claimed that it was against the law to film near Valero, but when questioned about which law that was, neither officer could name it. Upon further questioning one officer simply stated, "9/11."
The police continually harassed the organizers demanding that they produce ID's. One of the organizers refused to cooperate, to which an officer replied, "If you're not doing anything wrong and you don't have any warrants or anything then you shouldn't have any problem giving me your ID."
This is emblematic of the repression directed at anyone that attempts to speak out against the corporations that are systematically poisoning their neighbors. Valero, their private security, and the Houston Police Department sends a clear message to the community: if you question Valero, they'll question you.
After continued resistance to their requests to produce identification the police retreated to their vehicle for a few minutes before coming back to let the TSB crew know they could leave, but not before asking one last time if they were "sure" they didn't want to show them some ID...
Later that same day the crew was interviewing a Manchester resident who lives right next to the Valero refinery and who wanted to raise her voice and speak up about Valero's egregious practices. While filming the interview in a public park --the only park in Manchester-- and not five minutes into the process Valero's private security approached the scene. The security guard, much like the police, proved once again that Valero will do everything in its power to silence anyone attempting to expose the injustice and abuse it perpetrates daily.
This video documents these interactions with Valero security, which would be comical if it weren't so tragic for the residents who have to deal with this type of police harassment on a daily basis.

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The Anti-Protest Bill: How Congress Just Took Our Rights Away

HR 347 limits our ability to protest by making "disruptive" behavior a felony. Help us stop it now! Sign the Petition! Share on Facebook!

Imagine an America in which the government can deny protest in any public space it deems fit. Where wearing a dissenting shirt around an elected official could be construed as a felony. Where First-Amendment protections become privileges subjectively doled out by the state. Sadly, that America is pretty much here.

In March, Congress passed HR 347, a bill that limits Americans' ability to protest in public and on government grounds. Mainstream media didn't raise peep, but now there's finally some anger building. The bill, passed almost unanimously, makes it a federal offense punishable by up to ten years in prison to "knowingly" protest in the vicinity of the Secret Service--that is anywhere the Secret Service "is or will be temporarily visiting."

It also makes many public events impervious to lawful protest. Any "National Security Special Event" (NSSE) requires Secret Service protection. NSSE-designated events have proliferated since 9/11 to include Super Bowls, concerts, campaign events, and now any public event that Very Important People want protest-free.

Most dangerously, it criminalizes protest. Under the bill, "disorderly or disruptive conduct" or activities that "impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions" could warrant felony charges. What constitutes such "disruptive conduct" rests in the eye of the beholder--or the eye of Eric Holder. To put it plainly: the government can decide where and when free speech is allowed and severely prosecute any "disruptive" activity, while we're confined to "free speech zones." We can help fix it, however! Join our petition below to protect our speech rights!

PETITION TO CONGRESS: We treasure our first amendment rights of free speech and public assembly! HR 347 limits valid arenas of peaceful public protest, and broadens the government's ability to curtail civil liberties. We demand that Congress amend the bill to provide clearer language as to what constitutes "disruptions"; to allow for reasonable, peaceful protest at NSSEs and around Secret Service; and to ensure that no peaceful protest can ever be deemed a felony.
Click here to sign -- it just takes a second.
Thanks,
-- The folks at Watchdog.net

---

This email was sent by watchdog.net. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

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I think McCain needs to see a Doctor..

Angry White Man needs another job! He clearly is failing in the one he was elected to do.

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Email Share, ThinkProgress

By ThinkProgress War Room

Today’s Top Three

The Progress Report is on hiatus for the rest of November. In the meantime, check out three important posts from ThinkProgress you don’t want to miss today:

1. GOP Rep Admits CIA Approved U.N. Ambassador’s Talking Points On Libya

2. Republican Poll Worker Complains About High Turnout Among ‘People Of Color’

3. Hostess Blames Union For Bankruptcy After Tripling CEO’s Pay

Follow ThinkProgress on Facebook and Twitter

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NC NAACP Post-Election News Conference To Issue Call For Collaboration and Challenge to Govern for the Good of the Whole

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 November 2012

For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, (919) 394-8137

                                               Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, (919) 682-4700

For Media Assistance:           Mr. Rob Stephens, Field Secretary, (336) 577-9335

NC NAACP Holds Post-Election News Conference to Extend to

Governor-Elect Pat McCrory an Invitation for Collaboration and

a Challenge to Govern for the Good of the Whole

DURHAM - On the heels of a historic turnout of African-Americans and other minorities in this month's election, members of the NC NAACP State Executive Committee, representing leadership from across the state, will join President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II for a news conference on Saturday morning to extend Governor-Elect Pat McCrory an invitation for collaboration and a challenge to govern for the good of the whole.

The news conference will take place at the NC Mutual Life Insurance Building, 411 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at

10:00 AM.

The NC NAACP will do the following three things at the news conference:

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Majority Leader Paul Stam This week Douchebag..

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Supreme Court Pushes Back DOMA & Prop 8 Cases By Ten Days

An update from AFER:

AFER just received word from the U.S. Supreme Court that it will discuss whether to hear AFER’s federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8 at its private Conference on Friday, November 30. The Court will also consider on that date whether it will hear one or more challenges to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Both the Prop. 8 case and the DOMA cases had previously been distributed for discussion at the Justices’ November 20 Conference.
The updated timeline suggests that we will likely find out if our case will be heard by the nation’s highest court, or if marriages can resume in California, by Monday, December 3. However, there is no deadline by which the Court must act, and the Justices could hold the case for consideration at a future Conference.

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It all makes sense now!!!!

Gay marriage and marijuana being legalized on the same day. Leviticus
20:13 - "if a man lays with another man he should be stoned." We've
just be interpreting it wrong all of these years!

from Facebook,,,

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How smart do you have to be to work at Wal-mart

going by the following photos, you don’t have to be smart or able to read as long you can stock items fast..

also by the way, new types of fruits have arrived at Walmart..

(all photos copyrighted to the owner of this blog.

come on guys you know you stock these items in the wrong bins..

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Another Group’s Movement Against Obama,

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Brian Brown still Claim Americans are still in Favor of one man and one woman marriage.

National Organization for Marriage is having a very bad week. The anti-marriage equality organization poured funds and resources into all four states with same-sex marriage ballot measures - and lost every one fucking one of them.

"Our opponents and some in the media will attempt to portray the election results as a changing point in how Americans view gay marriage, but that is not the case. Americans remain strongly in favor of marriage as the union of one man and one woman." - Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage.

Its time to face the music Brian.. Gay Marriage is now and its growing.. while groups like your are dying..  Don’t leave mad, JUST LEAVE.

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Ann Coulter on the Election,

"If Mitt Romney cannot win in this economy, then the tipping point has been reached. We have more takers than makers and it’s over. There is no hope.  Mitt Romney was the president we needed right now, and I think it is so sad that we are going to be deprived of his brain power, of his skills in turning companies around, turning the Olympics around, his kindness for being able to push conservative ideas on a country that no longer is interested in conservative ideas. It is interested in handouts." - Ann Coulter,

Please Bitch.. get a fucking clue.. better yet go have your roots done..

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Karl Rove Claims Obama Was Suppressed the Votes..

Yea Right, the only folks that were trying to suppressed the Votes were the Bigoted Tea Partiers and the GOP..

Hey Karl get over it.. I’m sure this isn’t the first time you wasted so much money and didn’t get want you wanted..

Mitt Romney lost the election because President Barack Obama engaged in voter suppression, according to Republican political strategist Karl Rove. "He succeeded by suppressing the vote," Rove said in an interview on Fox News with anchor Megyn Kelly on Thursday afternoon, "by saying to people, 'You may not like who I am and I know you can't bring yourself to vote for me, but I'm going to paint this other guy as simply a rich guy who only cares about himself.'"

also in the video note that Fox Have Ohio and Virginia to Romney..

also,

Rove's groups American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS spent more than $300 million on the 2012 election; the candidates it supported overwhelmingly lost on Tuesday, raising questions about Rove's effectiveness and the larger overall strategy of throwing so much money into attack ads.

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The President On Hurricane Sandy (official transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

______________________

For Immediate Release

October 28, 2012  

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON HURRICANE SANDY 

FEMA Headquarters

Washington, D.C. 1:55 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, good afternoon, everybody.  Obviously, all of us across the country are concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy.  This is a serious and big storm.  And my first message is to all the people across the Eastern seaboard, Mid-Atlantic, going north, that you need to take this very seriously and follow the instructions of your state and local officials, because they are going to be providing you with the best advice in terms of how to deal with this storm over the coming days.

We just had an excellent meeting with the FEMA team here, the various agencies that are in charge, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and others that are going to need to respond very quickly. 

Under Craig Fugate's leadership here at FEMA we've had a chance to talk to the regional officials as well.  And I just had a phone call with the governors of the potentially impacted states, as well as some of the major cities in the region.

At this stage, everybody is confident that the staging process, the prepositioning of resources, commodities, equipment that are going to be needed to respond to this storm are in place.  But as Craig has emphasized, this hasn't hit landfall yet, so we don't yet know where it's going to hit, where we're going to see the biggest impacts.  And that's exactly why it's so important for us to respond big and respond fast as local information starts coming in.

I want to thank all the members of the team for the outstanding work that they’re doing.  But the other thing that makes this storm unique is we anticipate that it is going to be slow moving.  That means that it may take a long time not only to clear, but also to get, for example, the power companies back in to clear trees and to put things back in place so that folks can start moving back home.

So my main message to everybody involved is that we have to take this seriously.  The federal government is working effectively with the state and local governments.  It’s going to be very important that populations in all the impacted states take this seriously, listen to your state and local elected officials. 

My message to the governors, as well as to the mayors, is anything they need, we will be there.  And we’re going to cut through red tape.  We’re not going to get bogged down with a lot of rules.  We want to make sure that we are anticipating and leaning forward into making sure that we’ve got the best possible response to what is going to be a big and messy system.

So again, thank you, everybody.  Craig, would you like add to something?

MR. FUGATE:  Again, as the President says, it’s going to really come down to the public heeding those evacuation orders, taking protective measures.  If they haven’t gotten ready, they can go to Ready.gov.  Get information on how to protect them and their families, but also check on your neighbors.  This is going to be a big storm.  We need to be there for each other.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Let me emphasize that again -- Ready.gov -- for the general public.  If you need to know how to respond, that’s where you can get centralized information.

But I think Craig’s point is exactly right.  In times like this, one of the things that Americans do is we pull together and we help out one another.  And so, there may be elderly populations in your area.  Check on your neighbor, check on your friend.  Make sure that they are prepared.  If we do, then we’re going to get through this storm just fine.  But we’re going to have to make sure that we are vigilant, and vigilant for a couple of days.  Don’t anticipate that just because the immediate storm has passed that we’re not going to have some potential problems in a lot of these communities going forward through the week.

All right.  Thank you very much, everybody.

                                           END

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Reselling your stuff make become illegal thanks to the Federal Court and the Supreme Court

Read about the case here, click 
Are you in?  More than 3,000 sites -- including prominent allies like the Electronic Frontier Foundation -- have signed up to take part in today's day of action. The Supreme Court is hearing that case that will decide if you have the right to resell the things you own.
Ebay, Craigslist, and even the old-fashioned garage sale are under threat.
Sites will be using our ribbons and ball-and-chain icons to sound the alarm about the Kirtsaeng vs John Wiley & Sons case:
The Supreme Court might side with Big Business and decide that you don't have the right to resell things that were made abroad: books, clothes, iPhones -- almost anything.
If you're planning to take part, please click here to grab the code for one of those icons, and post it on your site! (And maybe write up a blurb about why you're taking a stand.)
Here's what it'll look like:


We expect to have a legislative fight on our hands come winter, no matter how the Supreme Court rules.  So we want to drive thousands of emails to lawmakers before Big Business sics its brigade of lobbyists on them.
Whether or not you're posting on your site, will you spread word to your friends -- and especially anybody who you know who sells things online?
You can use these links, or forward the email below:

If you're already on Facebook, click here to share with your friends.

If you're already on Twitter, click here to tweet about the campaign: Tweet

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Big Oil Buys a Congressman for the rock bottom price of 2.5 mil

On Friday, it was learned that Big Oil giant Chevron wrote a $2.5 million check directly to Speaker Boehner’s Super PAC. It’s likely the largest corporate donation in the history of Super PACs!

So I wonder what special requests come tried to the donation..

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Dennis Morgan demands Ann Coulter to apologize for using the R-word (retarded).. Also Please Sign Petition

As the father of a special needs son, I can't tell you how angry it makes me when people use the word "retard" in a derogatory manner. One of the worst offenders is Ann Coulter, who this week referred to President Obama as "the retard" on Twitter.

I'm a Republican, and I'm not voting for President Obama, but that doesn't matter. This isn't about Democrats or Republicans, it's about right and wrong. And calling anyone a "retard" or "retarded" is just plain wrong.

When Ann Coulter uses that word, she's telling bullies all over America that it's okay to make fun of special needs people like my son. Even worse, she's insinuating that my son is stupid or less human just because he has a disability.

I started a petition on Change.org demanding that Ann Coulter apologize and stop using this hateful word. Will you sign it?

When my son was born, the doctors said he had a 1% chance of living. He has been in and out of hospitals his whole life, and he has technically died several times. But Caleb is a fighter, and he always pulls through. 

My son has fought to stay alive for twenty years. He deserves better than to be insulted by someone looking to score cheap political points.

I know that Ann Coulter just says things like this to get attention, and part of me doesn't want to give her any more. But the things she said this week were just too much for me. She needs to know that her words hurt parents like me and children like mine. If she wants attention, she needs to find some other way to get it.

Click here to demand that Ann Coulter apologize to the special needs community and stop using the words "retard" and "retarded."

Thank you,

Dennis Morgan
Norlina, North Carolina

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Brian Brown full of crap as usual.

Brain Obama doesn’t have the sole power to change or rewrite our Constitution..  You damn dumb ass..

"In just 10 days, you can change history. You could wake up the morning after the election to watch the shocked expression on the faces of all the pundits, the politicians, the out of control judges, and see the headlines: HISTORIC NATIONAL VICTORY FOR MARRIAGE! Just 10 days until the polls close, when America will choose. The future of our country—and also the future of marriage—could be decided for generations to come. Nationally, Americans will choose between Mitt Romney, a pro-marriage candidate for President who will defend DOMA and appoint judges that respect our Constitutional values; or the openly pro-gay marriage incumbent, Barack Obama, who has surreptitiously undermined the legal defense of marriage for four years and who, if he gets a second term, will have the power to position a fifth vote on the Supreme Court to invent a right to gay marriage and insert it in our founding document." - Hate group leader Brian Brown

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Palin hits the books, and come up with this racist tweet..

I still have to wonder if it was Palin are some poor intern work for her sorry butt..

Over at her Facebook page, they are fast blocking those who don’t agree with statements..

Palin comments about recently release emails.

We now know that the State Department sent an email to the White House, the Pentagon, the FBI and others in the intelligence community about this Islamist group claiming responsibility. And yet for days afterwards the White House and State Department led everyone to believe that the attack was the result of a spontaneous protest over an obscure YouTube video that had been uploaded months prior. Anywhere from 300 to 400 people from the administration and our intelligence community would have seen that email. Why the lies? Why the cover up? Why the dissembling about the cause of the murder of our ambassador on the anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil? We deserve answers to this. President Obama’s shuck and jive shtick with these Benghazi lies must end.

this is from a commenter on this above story,

Palin is a Queen of "shuck and Jive"..She bailed out of her responsibility as a Governor..She is a Honky tonk Queen..

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Look what lying Ryan has done this time

A charity that operates a soup kitchen in northeastern Ohio has faced an exodus of donors ever since vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan staged a photo-op on the premises.

“It appears to be a substantial amount,” Brian Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society in Youngstown, told The Huffington Post. “You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash.”

however if you like you can help to fix this,

If you're interested, you can make a donation here:

Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul
Society
P.O. Box 224
Youngstown, Ohio 44501

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Press Release: Defend our Water

October 18, 2012

For immediate release

DEFEND OUR WATER: BCGOP URGES CITY VOTES TO VOTE NO ON WATER REFERENDUM

Asheville, NC-With early voting upon us and a referendum about the regional water system on the ballot for Asheville city voters, the Buncombe County Republican Party releases the following statement:

"In the wake of Asheville City Council's move to privatize the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, we do not see it as wise for them to also attempt to privatize an asset they do not own and which roughly half of its customers reside outside city limits. We urge all city voters to vote "no" on this referendum."

The official language of the referendum reads: "Shall the City of Asheville undertake the sale or lease of its water treatment system and water distribution system?"

Voters interested in "Defend Our Water" yard signs can find them at: Clean Water of North Carolina, 29 1/2 Page Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 or by calling (828) 251-1291.

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DOMA Unconstitutional

Via press release from the ACLU:

A federal appeals court ruled today that the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) unconstitutionally discriminates against married same-sex couples. In striking down DOMA, the court held that government discrimination against lesbians and gay men now is assumed to be unconstitutional and that DOMA’s defenders could not offer any good reason for treating married same-sex couples differently from all other married couples. This is the first federal appeals court decision to decide that government discrimination against gay people gets a more exacting level of judicial review, known as “heightened scrutiny.”
The law had been challenged by Edith “Edie” Windsor, who sued the federal government for failing to recognize her marriage to her partner Thea Spyer, after Spyer’s death in 2009. Windsor and Spyer, who were a couple for 44 years, were married in Canada in 2007, and were considered married by their home state of New York. “This law violated the fundamental American principle of fairness that we all cherish,” said Windsor. “I know Thea would have been so proud to see how far we have come in our fight to be treated with dignity.”
In her lawsuit, Windsor argued that DOMA violates the equal protection guarantee of the U.S. Constitution because it requires the government to treat same-sex couples who are legally married as strangers. Windsor's lawsuit was filed by the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Key passage from the ruling: "In this case, all four factors justify heightened scrutiny: A) homosexuals as a group have historically endured persecution and discrimination; B) homosexuality has no relation to aptitude or ability to contribute to society; C) homosexuals are a discernible group with non-obvious distinguishing characteristics, especially in the subset of those who enter same-sex marriages; and D) the class remains a politically weakened minority."
Yet another domino falls! View the ruling here or below.
Windsor 2d Cir Opinion PDF Windsor 2d Cir Opinion PDF

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Some Truth today about the Republican party, who is truly to blame.

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Did Romney steal intellectual Property for his Campaign Logo????

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Chris Barron on Ann Coulter comments about being disowned for being gay

GLAAD denounced Ann Coulter's tweet making fun of gay kids who get disowned by their parents.  Today, as he does every time GLAAD is mentioned, GOProud's Chris Barron responded.  Via the Advocate:

GOProud cofounder Christopher Barron, however, told The Advocate on Wednesday, that GLAAD was overreacting to the author's joke. He added that he knows Coulter personally, and that she "has been a strong ally of gay conservatives. Indeed, Ann has gone into the lion's den at places like CPAC to make the case that gay people should be welcomed in the conservative movement. The criticism of Ann by an organization like GLAAD is laughable."

everyone who belongs to GOProud are self hating, loathing fags..

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Paul Ryan Fake Wishing Dishes for Photo OP.

Paul Ryan showed up at an Ohio soup kitchen where he posed for the cameras by scrubbing already-cleaned pots. Dan Amira snarks at New York Magazine:

I can only guess he didn’t want to get dishpan hands.

He was only really to wash clean pans instead of dirty one.. What a user…

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It’s about Racist, Period.

man showed his racist pride by wearing a shirt that read "Put the white back in the White House" at a Mitt Romney campaign rally

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ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

ORANGE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT

 

Media Contact

Ginger Holler, Children's Programs: 919.245.2532

Jessica Arnold, Teen/Adult Programs: 919.245.2537

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

 

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (October 11, 2012)—The Orange County Main Library will host the following Halloween activities throughout October:

 

Thursday, October 25: Halloween Movie Double Feature

Families can arrive at 5:30 p.m. to watch a short Halloween cartoon classic followed by the feature show—a zany Halloween favorite about three 17th century witches who are accidentally conjured up in present-day Salem, where they brew a hilarious cauldron of mischief and mayhem. Bette Midler stars with Sarah Jessica Parker in a fun-filled tale of madness, mayhem and witchcraft.  Rated-PG.  The movie titles cannot be publicized, due to copyright, but please call the library at 919.245.2536 for more details.  

 

Tuesday, October 30: Live Performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Main Library invites everyone to the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," performed by Bright Star Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, at 3:30 p.m. In this version of the Washington Irving classic, bumbling schoolmaster Ichabod Crane is in love with the prettiest girl in town, Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina, however, is in love with Brom Bones, the town prankster. One stormy night, Ichabod finds himself being chased by the legendary headless horseman – or is it another one of Brom Bones' pranks?

This special performance is open to all ages, but especially recommended for 2^nd – 6^th graders.

 

Wednesday, October 31: Story Time and Trick-or-Treat

Halloween stories and trick-or-treating will be hosted at the Main Library on Wednesday, October 31.

Lap Sit Story Time for one to 2-year-olds, begins at 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Story Time for three to 5-year-olds, begins at 11:00 a.m.
Costumed ghosts and goblins of all ages are invited to trick-or-treat at the library, during regular business hours.

 

Wednesday, October 31: Halloween Party

The Library's Teen Advisory Board is hosting a Halloween Party at 6:00 p.m. and everyone is invited. Enter the costume contest and enjoy face-painting, various activities and, of course, lot of treats!

 

For more information about these festivities and other library events, please call the library at 919.245.2532 or visit the Orange County Library online at www.orangecountync.gov/library

 

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Gay men Body Standards, so true

Duke student Jacob Tobia has wrote a great commentary about Gay men body image and self-esteem. this is a great read..

Here is an interesting piece:

Isn’t it ironic that in the course of my life, the most traumatic factors affecting my self-esteem have been the standards imposed on my body by the gay community? It’s no wonder that a study at Columbia University found that gay men are three times more likely to have an eating disorder than their heterosexual counterparts.

to read the full commentary surf over to HuffPost …

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Press Release- ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST COMMUNITY READ: 150TH ANNIVERSARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

Media Contact

Tara Fikes, Director

Human Relations Commission

Phone: 919.245.2487

housingcd@orangecountync.gov

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST COMMUNITY READ:
150^TH ANNIVERSARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (October 8, 2012)—The  Orange County Human Relations Commission is hosting a Community READ and inviting book clubs and reading groups in Orange County to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

The famous Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, and the history and results of that act have been discussed and debated ever since. 

The community can participate by reading The Emancipation Proclamation: An Act of Justice by John Hope Franklin. This narrative is an historical account of the events that led to the drafting and proclamation of the Emancipation of American slaves.  Franklin was a distinguished historian and a long time professor at Duke University whose work is internationally acclaimed.

The Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro Libraries will order additional copies of this book in hopes that book clubs and all citizens of Orange County will read it in preparation for a community-wide discussion in March 2013, led by Dr. Reginald Hildebrand of the University of North Carolina History Department.

Additionally, the Anniversary Planning Committee has prepared an annotated bibliography of other recommended books on the subject. The panel is requesting for book clubs to let the Human Relations Commission know if their group has added the book to its reading list.  

For more information about the Community READ, please contact the Human Relations Commission at 919.245.2487. 

###

 

 

Regards,

 

Carla Banks

Director of Public Affairs

Orange County Government

200 S. Cameron Street

Hillsborough, NC 27278

 

Office: 919.245.2302

Mobile: 919.475.6650

www.orangecountync.gov

 

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New Jersey might follow California ban on "ex-gay" therapy for minors

New Jersey Assemblyman Tim Eustace says he will introduce a bill similar to California's ban on "ex-gay" therapy for minors.

"I see it as a form of child abuse," Eustace said. Being gay "is not an illness, so what are they fixing?" "Conversion" or "reparative" therapy has been discredited by all major mental health organizations, according to the American Psychological Association. Since parents may force their children to undergo the therapy, the state should protect them, Eustace said. The bills will face stiff resistance from the New Jersey Family Policy Council, a group that opposes gay marriage. Government should not interfere with parental decisions, said the group's founder and president, Len Deo. "The American Psychological Association has been very 'progressive' in their viewpoints. I would say there are thousands who have have utilized this therapy that have left the gay lifestyle," he said. "Assemblyman Eustace now becomes the parental authority for all . . . kids? Give me a break," Deo added. "A kid can't get a tattoo in New Jersey without a parent's consent. To take the flip side on this and take away the right of the parents on this issue is ludicrous."

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