Monthly Archives: August 2013

Champaign-Urbana Rallies for Immigration Reform

Posted on 08/31/2013 by Brian Dolinar

On Saturday, August 31, 2013, a rally organized by the local Immigration Forum took place at West Side Park in Champaign. Some 300 people attended in the 90 degree heat. The rally was aimed at swinging the vote of Rodney … Continue reading →

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Brazilians marching on the street: what´s behind 20 cents

Posted on 08/21/2013 by admin

By Walênia Silva: Walênia Silva is an adjunt professor at the Music School at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, in Brazil. Dr. Silva completed her PhD. at the College of Education at UIUC. Last June, Brazilians decided to march in … Continue reading →

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Treyvon Rally in Douglass Park

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Brian Dolinar

On Sunday, July 14, a rally was held for Treyvon Martin. The rally also corresponded with the birthday of Kiwane Carrington, who in 2009 was killed by a Champaign police officer.

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Vehicle for Hire

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Aaron Ammons

The twin cities of Urbana-Champaign both have ordinances which contain language that discriminates against citizens with a felony conviction. In Urbana, the Vehicle for Hire (VFH) ordinance section 26-43, under “qualifications of an applicant” reads: (a) No license shall be … Continue reading →

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How Privatization Destroyed Award-Winning Suicide Prevention Program in Champaign County Jail

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Brian Dolinar

Several years ago, while working at our local Books to Prisoners, I met a volunteer who had formerly worked as a mental health counselor in the local jail. This was just after there had been three jail suicides within a … Continue reading →

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Sunlight Has Begun to Shine on the Urbana Free Library

Posted on 08/01/2013 by JP Goguen

Public scrutiny of the book weeding controversy at the Urbana Free Library last month has shed light on the leadership of the beloved institution. The Executive Director, Deb Lissak, who had pressured the staff to perform the weeding of books … Continue reading →

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Shooting the Messenger: Reflections on the Court Martial of Whistle Blower PFC Bradley Manning

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Niloofar Shambayati

I spent five days in and around Fort Meade military base in Maryland, attending the first two days of the court martial of the whistleblower, Bradley Manning.  The trial started on June 3rd, after he had already spent three years … Continue reading →

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Racism in the Land of Lincoln

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Belden Fields

    From: Jim Allen <jimallen@consolidated.net> Sent: 06/18/13 10:59 PM To: dibendahl@mail.com Subject: 13th Congressional District reply Rodney Davis will win and the love child of the D.N.C. will be back in Shitcago by May of 2014 working for some law firm … Continue reading →

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GMOs Are Not the Answer

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Jessica Nolen

This past Fourth of July, a nationwide coalition of concerned mothers and their supporters joined the fight for food freedom. Mothers across the country who have been struggling with the increase in food-related allergies, autism and other health problems that … Continue reading →

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Update from Food and Water Watch

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Lois Kain

Food and Water Watch (FWW) is a national organization fighting for clean water issues ranging from contamination from hydraulic fracturing (fracking), to pollution caused by factory farms (CAFOs), to the bottled water industry. Our insidious and dangerous food system, which … Continue reading →

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Saying Goodbye to Marianne Ferber

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Patricia Simpson

The Champaign-Urbana community lost a pioneering “second-wave” feminist scholar and social justice advocate with the passing of Marianne Ferber at her Clark-Lindsey home on May 11, 2013 at 90 years of age. Marianne’s rich life history began in 1923 when … Continue reading →

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CU Immigration Forum Steps Up Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Richard Esbenshade

(Compiled from material provided by CU Immigration Forum) Champaign-Urbana activists and other supporters of immigrants and a diverse and stable community have been working on a number of new initiatives to pressure legislators to make immigration reform a reality. During … Continue reading →

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What is a nüz/böx?

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Mike Lehman

What is a nüz/böx? First, it’s spelled with an X, a Z, two ümlaüts and a slash/. Even the name calls your attention. The pronunciation of nüz/böx is intentionally ambiguous. How do you pronounce it? Pronunciation, like many aspects of … Continue reading →

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Juneteenth Bike Ride

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Public i

Community members organized a bike ride throughout Champaign-Urbana for Juneteenth. The ride helped publicize the opening of the Lifecykle Bike Klub, a partner of the Bike Project which also has shops at the Independent Media Center and on the University … Continue reading →

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Summer Classes at Common Ground’s Flatlander Classroom

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Public i

Visit Urban Bees! Led by Maggie Wachter $10 owners/$15 non-owners Saturday, July 27th, 1-3pm Min 4/Max 12 Local beekeeper Maggie Wachter will take you on a thrilling journey in her teaching apiary located just a few blocks from the Common … Continue reading →

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