Central Valley Right to Life group claims vaccine protection law prohibits freedom of speech – Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

Right to Life

John and Barbara Willke came up with a strategy to reverse Roe v. Wade. Many anti-abortion activists think their plan is about to pay off.

Wochit

A new California law aimed at protecting the public and front line workers from being harassedwhile getting and administeringvaccineshas turned into a freedom of speechbattle for one Fresno anti-abortion group.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled in Right to Life of Central California versusBontathat Senate Bill 742likely discriminates against Right to Lifes outreach to women.

The law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October.

Free speech won the day not just for our client, Right to Life, but for every other speaker in California," said Denise Harle, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom."We applaud the courts decision to protect the First Amendment rights of every Californian, regardless of their viewpoint, and halt enforcement of this unconstitutional state law."

The bill was designed in the COVID-19 era and aims to protect the rights of people to get vaccinated, while preserving the right of protesters to assemble.

The law bans certain free-speech activities when a speaker is within 30 feet of another person and that other person is in a public way or on a sidewalk area and within 100 feet of the entrance or exit of a vaccination site and is seeking to enter or exit a vaccination site.

Right to Lifeis located next to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Fresno, which also administers the HPV vaccine.Under the law, Right to Life staff and volunteers are banned from speaking with potential clients outside itsfacility because the two organizations share a sidewalk.

SB 472 also makes it a misdemeanor to harass, intimidate, injure or obstruct people on their way to get vaccinated. Those found guilty of breaking the law face amaximum $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail.

Right to Life is not the only organization to voice its concern with the measure. Many have questioned whether SB 472 violates the First Amendment.Free speech advocates including First Amendment Coalitions Glen Smith believe the 30-foot barrier is "excessive and out of compliance with court rulings."

However, Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who authored the bill, said SB 472 gives local officials the tools they need to protect patients and frontline workers when getting the COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine.

"Health care workers administering vaccines and saving lives need local officials to have SB 742 to keep them and their patients safe from extremists who obstruct and threaten people with violence and loss of privacy for participating in COVID-19 vaccination clinics," Pan said in October.

The court order stated that the defendants arguments demonstrate that SB 742 is so vague that it is conducive to different and conflicting interpretations on what conduct is even prohibited by its terms.

Right to Life shares free resources, provides support services, and offers informational leaflets while standing on the public sidewalks in front of its Outreach Center and between the Outreach Center and Planned Parenthoods property, according to Alliance Defending Freedom.

The court granted the anti-abortiongroups request for a temporary restraining order to halt enforcement of discriminatory parts of the law against any speaker while the lawsuit moves forward.

The court rightly acknowledged SB 742s double standard in restricting prolife outreach while permitting other types of speech, such as picketing about a labor dispute,"Harle said. "We are thankful Right to Lifes staff and volunteers can continue their critical mission of serving vulnerable women in the central California region with their free, life-giving services.

Sheyanne Romero covers Tulare County public safety, local government and business for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @sheyanne_VTD. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

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Central Valley Right to Life group claims vaccine protection law prohibits freedom of speech - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

Investigative Journalist Roohollah Zam Tops November Ranking Of The One Free Press Coalitions 10 Most Urgent Press Freedom Cases – Forbes

The One Free Press Coalition Publishes Its November 2021 "10 Most Urgent" List.

NEW YORK November 1, 2021 Investigative journalistRoohollah Zam,who was executed by Iranian authorities in December 2020 after facing anti-state charges for his coverage of 2017 protests, tops the November rankingof the One Free Press Coalitions 10 Most Urgent list of press freedom cases. The 10 Most Urgent list, issued today by a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers, spotlights journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice.

To coincide with The UN-recognizedInternational Day to End Impunityon November 2nd, this months list highlights cases of journalist murders around the world where the victims perpetrators have not been held to account. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists2021 Global Impunity Index, there hasbeen impunity in 81% of journalist murders during the last ten years.Ending impunity for crimes against journalists is one of the most pressing issues to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.

Published this morning atwww.onefreepresscoalition.comand by all Coalition members, the 33rd10 Most Urgent list includes the following journalists, ranked in order of urgency:

1.Roohollah Zam(Iran)

Iranian authorities executed journalist Zam by hanging in December of 2020 after sentencing him to death on anti-state charges for his coverage of 2017 protests. Intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) lured Zam out of exile to Iraq, where he was abducted in 2019 and taken to Iran.

2.Tara Singh Hayer(Canada)

Hayer, publisher ofIndo-Canadian Times, Canadas largest and oldest Punjabi weekly, was shot dead in his home garage in Vancouver in 1998. Ten years prior, he had been partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair after an assassination attempt. In the months prior, Hayer let the police know he had received multiple threats.

3.Valrio Luiz de Oliveira(Brazil)

The sports journalist and commentator at Radio Jornal was killed in July 2012 after being shot four times by an unidentified gunman on a motorcycle. The trials for the suspected perpetrators have been repeatedly delayed and were suspended in 2020, with no future court dates set.

4.Regina Martnez Prez(Mexico)

Martnez, a veteran reporter at national magazineProceso,known for her in-depth reporting on drug cartels and the links between organized crime and government officials, was killed in 2012 after covering several high-profile arrests. A2021 report from A Safer World For The Truthfound strong indications for obstruction of justice by local authorities in her case.

5.Nikolai Andrushchenko(Russia)

Veteran journalist Andrushchenko died in 2017 related to injuries sustained in a beating from unknown assailants, and there has been little progress in the investigation. He was known for his criticism of President Vladimir Putin and his investigative reports alleging corruption and human rights abuses. He had suffered similar attacks in the past.

6.Sardasht Osman(Iraq)

Osman, a contributor to multiple independent news sites, was found shot to death in 2010. Prior to his murder, he had received threatening phone calls telling him to stop writing about the Kurdistan Regional Government. Authorities claim he was killed by a member of extremist group Ansar al-Islam; however, CPJ and other press groups have said the report lacked credibility.

7.Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela(Ghana)

Divela, a member of the investigative journalism outlet Tiger Eye Private Investigations who reported on issues such as sports, corruption and human rights, was shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in 2019. Divela told CPJ in 2018 that people had attempted to attack him and that he feared for his life after a politician made comments about him on TV.

8.Sisay Fida(Ethiopia)

Sisay, a coordinator and reporter with the Oromia Broadcasting Network, was walking home from a wedding when he was shot and killed in May this year. There has been little progress in his case, and colleagues believe he was murdered in retaliation for his reporting.

9.Gauri Lankesh(India)

Unidentified assailants shot and killed Lankesh outside her home in Bangalore in 2017, as she returned from work. Lankesh published and editedGauri Lankesh Patrike, a Kannada-language weekly tabloid known for its criticism of right-wing extremism and the establishment. While arrests have been made of those suspected to have ties to her killing, impunity remains.

10.Sagal Salad Osman(Somalia)

A university student and producer of a childrens program on state-run Radio Mogadishu, Osman was killed in 2016. She was leaving campus when three gunmen shot her in the head. Somalia ranks worst among countries for impunity in cases of journalist murders.

The One Free Press Coalition is comprised of 32 prominent international members including:AgenciaEfe; Al Jazeera Media Network,AmricaEconoma; The Associated Press; Bloomberg News; The Boston Globe; Corriere Della Sera; De Standaard; Deutsche Welle; Estado; EURACTIV; The Financial Times; Forbes; Fortune; HuffPost; India Today; Insider Inc.; Le Temps; Middle East Broadcasting Networks; Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Quartz; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty; Republik; Reuters; The Straits Times; Sddeutsche Zeitung; TIME; TV Azteca; Voice of America; The Washington Post;andYahoo News.

One Free Press Coalition partners with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) to identify the most-urgent cases for the list, which is updated and published on the first business day of every month.

The mission of the Coalition is to use the collective voices of its members which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide to stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth. News organizations throughout the world can join the Coalition by emailinginfo@onefreepresscoalition.com.

Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.

One Free Press Coalition

The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the 10 Most Urgent journalists whose press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The Coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by standing up for journalists under attack for pursing the truth. To see the 10 Most Urgent list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visitonefreepresscoalition.comor @OneFreePress on Twitter.

Contacts:

One Free Press Coalition PR:pr@onefreepresscoalition.com

Committee to Protect Journalists: Bebe Santa-Wood,press@cpj.com

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Investigative Journalist Roohollah Zam Tops November Ranking Of The One Free Press Coalitions 10 Most Urgent Press Freedom Cases - Forbes

Stalin inaugurates exhibition on freedom struggle – The Hindu

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday inaugurated an exhibition of photographs titled Viduthalai Poril Thamizhagam to commemorate the 75th year of Independence.

The exhibition, being organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations at Koyambedu Bus Terminus, is open to public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be on till November 7.

The exhibition has prints of cartoons drawn by poet Subramanya Bharathi in the India magazine, a section on the contribution of women in the freedom struggle, a section from the archives showing old maps of Chennai, Rock Fort in Tiruchi, Cuddalore Fort and Vellore Fort, pictures of all manimandapams of freedom fighters maintained by the department and a section on visits of Mahatma Gandhi to Tamil Nadu with contributions from the Roja Muthiah Research Library.

The section of photographs published in The Hindu include those of Mahatma Gandhis meeting in January 1937 at the Hindi Prachar Sabha; C. Rajagopalachary, popularly known as Rajaji, presenting his first Budget in the Assembly in September 1937; a protest by women at Rattan Bazaar where police dragged and arrested them in March 1931.

Photographs relating to the Salt March to Vedaranyam in Tiruchi and at Thiruvaiyaru too find a place on this panel.

TNPSC aspirant B. Akshaya, who hails from Dindigul, said she was impressed by the coins section and the one on women freedom fighters.

I have learnt about some of them, but this exhibition wants me to learn more about the lives of people like Mayakka, Anjalai ammal, Leelavathi and K.P. Janaki ammal.

Mr. Stalin flagged off a mobile exhibition on the life and contributions of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, which would be taken to schools and colleges.

The vehicle, apart from carrying photographs, would have short documentaries that would be shown to students during weekdays.

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Stalin inaugurates exhibition on freedom struggle - The Hindu

G-20 Needs a Freedom and Prosperity Agenda More Than Ever – Heritage.org

The first in-person gathering of the worlds 20 biggest economies, theGroup of 20, since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic will take place in Rome, Italy, from Oct. 30 to 31. To say the least, the summit should not be business as usual. Regrettably, theres reason to believe that the meeting will fail to address the issues that are most relevant to the G-20.

Italys climate-focused G-20 has billed people, planet, and prosperity as the top priorities for the summit, largely echoing the themes of the G-20 talks in the past.

When G-20 heads first congregated about a decade ago in November 2008, the trigger of the gathering was the global financial crisis, with the composition of the group reflecting the shift in the worlds economic center of gravity towards Asia and the emerging economies around the world. Unfortunately, G-20 summit meetings since then have been long on wordsmountains of the same wordsbut short on real, concrete accomplishments.

President Joe Biden will attend this years G-20 gathering to promote his big government build back better agendaand agenda chock full of issues that are not pragmatically relevant to restoring optimal conditions for global economic recovery and growth.

The focus of the G-20 meeting, in which Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivansaidthe U.S. and Europe would be energized, united, and driving the agenda, is expected to be about whether and how to undertake an economic rearrangement with climate change and social equity at the core.

Equallynotableis that Chinese president Xi Jinping, who hasnt leftChinasince early 2020, will participate just virtually, along with his comrade Russian President Vladimir Putin. Japans new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obradorwill be also absent. And the United States, Australia and France will be at the same table for the first time since Washingtons recentannouncementof the U.S.-Australia-U.K. trilateral security partnership that made Frances Emmanuel Macron quite unhappy.

Despite the less than optimal setting of the upcoming G-20 meeting, the U.S. needs to be clear in its principles at the summit, particularly based on the foundations ofeconomic freedomanddemocratic values.

Unambiguously, the past months since early 2020 have been extraordinary for the global economy, with slowing growth and turmoil gravely inflicted by the ongoing pandemic.

The principles of economic freedom have always been questioned by dictators, autocrats, and others who might benefit from centralized planning and control.Now, however, populist attacks on the free marketfueled by politics in the United States and other countries, as well as by actual coronavirus-related setbacks to the economyhave gained notable momentum.

More than ever, however, it should be reminded that fundamentally a nations capacity to grow and prosper hinges on the quality of its institutions and economic system. As documented by The Heritage Foundations annualIndex of Economic Freedomthat evaluates the extent and effectiveness of policies in four key areas of rule of law, size of government, regulatory efficiency, and open markets, countries with higher degrees of economic freedom tend to measurably prosper in far morelasting and resilientways.

Thats because they capitalize more fully on the ability of the free market system to not only generate, but also to reinforce, dynamic growth through efficient resource allocation, value creation, and innovation.

Regrettably, some of the policy measures undertaken or planned by governments around the world in response to the global health crisis run the risk of undermining economic freedom and, thus, long-term economic growth and prosperity.

Policymakers in Washington and around the globe cannot simply spend their way back to prosperity after the toll public health responses have taken on local economies. For a meaningful economic recovery, its essential that economic freedom is not curtailed by extended government emergency powers.

The path by which the global economy can emerge from this pandemic stronger than we were before runs through a recommitment to the proven ideas of the free market system. It would be a tragic mistake to assume that in a time of crisis we must abandonour commitment to economic freedomin the hope of politically resetting the situation.

That freedom has unambiguously made our societies vibrant as well as flourishing.

This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal

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G-20 Needs a Freedom and Prosperity Agenda More Than Ever - Heritage.org

Do vaccine mandates violate or support our freedom? Avoid anyone who thinks this question is easy – The Dallas Morning News

The whole world, its like its Ghostbusters II.

Everyones miserable and angry, like theres something in the sewers, some sludge underneath us making us mad at each other. You could be forgiven for thinking it a little supernatural, although it isnt. Its all too human. This time, however, its not Vigo the Carpathian but wherever we are on all these pandemic rules and regs about masks and vaccines.

How one behaves at the store or at church or at school or work, its all confused. Different rules, or the absence of any, in different places, all of it together day after day, wears on body and mind. Nearly two years in, it makes sense were all a bit worn out, many on edge.

Me, running a large church, I take it in the shorts daily from both sides. Some days Ive about had it with all of them. It has got a little better, though, and I think Ive chilled out a bit. But I am exhausted, like Ive been in the middle of some drawn-out family fight. Perhaps you understand me, especially if you run any sort of organization.

And it all comes to a head it seems, the tension most acute, when we start talking about vaccine mandates. All over the country, fights have broken out about it, from Maine to New York City to Alabama and beyond. Its an emotional, moral and complex fight, and one for which we are, I suggest, quite ill-equipped. Not only psychologically are we ill-equipped, worn out as we all are, but philosophically so. The problem, you see, is that not only are we tired, were also lost.

Heres what I mean: After these long, tired pandemic days, were now confronted by a first-order problem about freedom, and we dont know what to think or do. Can a COVID-19 vaccine be required by legitimate authority, or does that violate an individuals freedom? This isnt an easy question to answer; avoid, please, those who think it is.

Rather, underneath the specific question about vaccine mandates, at its root, its a riddled and ancient question about freedom; which, I am convinced, we as a society will not be able to answer any more clearly than our ancestors. Freedom either as detachment or domination, the ancients wrestled with the idea of freedom, too, and with equally limited success. At issue is not our philosophically degraded modernity; this is just a very difficult question. Again, steer clear of those who dont think so.

By one account, admittedly Christian, a person is truly free only when she freely acts according to her undeceived intellect and well-formed will. To choose something foolish or contrary to truth, by this line of thought, is but some form of ignorant enslavement. This, applied to our present predicament, becomes a question about the vaccine itself. Is it moral, and is it good for physical and public health?

On this, outside the fantasies of social media, the Catholic Church (to which Im obedient) is clear: Yes, it is. But can it then be required? To this, the Church hasnt said yes. Rather, I assume, both out of pastoral wisdom and solicitude and because of what Catholics believe about conscience, the Church here is rightfully reticent.

What this means for the many other mandates the Church accepts for example, the many other vaccines required in Catholic schools well, thats a big question. It cant be the case that vaccines, like many other things in the public interest, may never be required. To suggest that would be to step away from Catholic moral thought and, to say the least, public health. As I said, this isnt an easy question.

Henning Jacobson famously took his case against a smallpox vaccine requirement to the U.S. Supreme Court back in 1904. At some level, I appreciate his hesitancy; rolling out vaccines in his day wasnt like waiting in line at CVS. Vaccinations sometimes were exercises in brutal coercion for frightened immigrants and people of color. Philosophically, Jacobson thought mandating a vaccine was a violation of his freedom. But the Supreme Court, ruling in 1905, disagreed.

The court likened smallpox to an invading army; as in times of war, the state could compel a person to serve in the military and risk bodily health and even life, so too when fighting disease, the state does have interest in mandating vaccines. This, aside from our nice impotent theological and philosophical discussion, is the real question.

Will the heirs of Henning Jacobson be denied again? And if so, is it a violation of their freedom? But what if, like other sometimes necessary coercive measures, its in the public interest? Again, would that all people saw the good of vaccinations and willfully and joyfully rolled up their sleeves, but what if they dont? Is freedom at stake?

Again, not an easy question. Aristotle said that freedom does not mean doing what a man likes. That superficial notion is all wrong, he said. Freedom is not free will; thats a dangerous, socially destructive idea and one shared by plainly too many people across the political spectrum. But how do we think all this through when were so worn out and angry, when the body politic and the social imaginary are so degraded and sick?

Honestly, I dont know. Which is why Ive personally decided to get vaccinated, to adapt myself to the comfort of others, to love gently, and to be willfully friendly to the vaccinated like me and the unvaccinated, too. Especially them. Because this isnt an easy question.

Yet no matter how confused I am, I can at least still love the other.

Joshua J. Whitfield is pastoral administrator for St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas and a frequent contributor to The Dallas Morning News. Email: jwhitfield@stritaparish.net

Find the full opinion section here. Got an opinion about this issue? Send a letter to the editor and you just might get published.

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Do vaccine mandates violate or support our freedom? Avoid anyone who thinks this question is easy - The Dallas Morning News

When Jane Johnson jeopardized her freedom for the people who aided her to escape from slavery – Face2Face Africa

On July 18, 1855, Colonel John H. Wheeler, who had just been appointed U.S. Minister to Nicaragua, arrived in Philadelphia with plans to travel on to New York City and then by ship to Central America. A well-known North Carolina slaveholder, he was accompanied by his family and three of his slaves Jane Johnson and her two sons.

Wheeler knew very well that traveling with Johnson and her two sons was not a good idea as they were enslaved property and could be freed at any time in Philadephia, where slavery was illegal. Pennsylvania had in 1780 passed what was the countrys first emancipation law, making the state the first place in the history of the world to begin the end of slavery, according to historians.

Per a clause under the 1780 law, slaveowners visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were allowed to keep an individual enslaved for six months. But in 1847, some years before Johnson and her slaveowner arrived in Philadelphia, authorities in Pennsylvania repealed that clause. That meant that now, the moment someone brought the slave into the state, that slave was free, Paul Finkelman, an American legal historian, was quoted by Smithsonian Magazine.

All in all, the 1780 law turned Philadelphia into a mecca for free Blacks in America. History says that throughout the early 1800s, many Black migrants who wanted to escape southern slavery fled into the Pennsylvania counties, where many of them were helped by conductors on the Underground Railroad towards New York and on to Canada. But this became difficult following the passage of the federal Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, which compelled northern citizens to help in tracking and returning fugitive slaves back to their southern owners. The law threatened anyone who assisted runaway slaves with prosecution and imprisonment.

And it was during this period that antislavery societies including the Vigilant Association of Philadelphia (later the Vigilant Committee) emerged in Pennsylvania, aiding people seeking freedom with shelter, food and direction. Kidnappers at the same time searched for runaway slaves and freed Black people to sell them back into slavery.

In July 1855 when Wheeler and Johnson alongside her children arrived in Philadelphia, Wheeler knew that per the laws, the moment someone brought a slave into the state, that slave was free. So, he told Johnson that if anyone asked her who she was, she should say she was a free Black woman traveling with a minister.

On July 18, before Wheeler made plans to move with his family including Johnson and her two children to Central America by way of New York, he decided to have dinner at the Bloodgoods Hotel on the river next to the ferry that would take them to Camden and on to New York. Even though he dined away from Johnson and her sons, he watched them closely.

Johnsons plan at the time was to escape in New York but she realized she could do that now. I and my children are slaves, and we want liberty, she told a Black restaurant worker at the hotel, who promised to help, an article by the Smithsonian Magazine said. By 4:30 p.m. on July 18, 1855, the young Black restaurant worker rushed to the office of the Vigilance Committee, which was within the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society (PASS) office.

The worker had drafted a note about Johnsons plea. He sent the note to abolitionist William Still, who worked as a clerk at PASS and was the leader of a team of four that aided those seeking freedom. With just 30 minutes for Wheeler to leave Philadelphia, Still told Passmore Williamson, the only White man on his team, of Johnsons plea. By the time Still and Williamson, alongside five Black dockworkers, got to Johnson, she was about to leave with Wheeler and her two sons, aged six and 10.

She was seated on a steamboats upper hurricane deck with her two boys. Johnson, according to the article by Smithsonian Magazine, later testified to the following exchange under oath.

Are you traveling with someone? Still asked Johnson.

Johnson said Yes.

I want to speak to your servant and tell her of her rights, Williamson told Wheeler.

If you have anything to say, say it to me. She knows her rights, Wheeler said.

Williamson asked Johnson if she wanted her freedom. She said she did but belonged to Wheeler. You are as free as your master, Williamson told her. If you want your freedom, come now. If you go back to Washington, you may never get it.

Wheeler, who began protesting, was restrained by the dockworkers. Still rushed Johnson and her sons to a waiting carriage that drove them to his home in the city in what Williamson later described as a quick operation. Wheeler appealed to his friend, Judge John Kane of the Federal District Court, who summoned Williamson before him with a writ of habeas corpus ordering him to bring Johnson and her two sons before the bench.

Williamson told the judge it was impossible since Still had only told him that Johnson was safe without revealing where she was. Kane, after a week, charged Williamson with contempt and sent him to federal prison. Newspapers for over three months carried Williamsons story, reporting that a federal judge was unlawfully keeping him in prison. At the same time, Wheeler had also named Williamson in a civil case after he filed charges of riot, assault and battery against Still and the dock workers who came for Johnson.

Wheeler had claimed that the group threatened to slit his throat and the defense knew that this will not help them in court. At that moment, they had to get a defendant. Johnson risked her freedom and emerged from hiding. On August 29, 1855, she appeared as a surprise witness at the trial of Still and the five dockworkers who had been accused of assault and battery.

She came alongside a police officer and four Quaker women who accompanied her to the crowded courtroom. There, she told the court that she had not been forcibly abducted. I went away of my own free will, she testified. Thanks to her testimony, Still and three of the men were acquitted. Two others were convicted of assault but received fines of $10 and jail sentences of one week.

While Johnson and her team were leaving the courthouse, they were followed by federal marshals determined to arrest her. But state and local officials were there to protect her from federal custody. Records show that her carriage moved quickly through the streets, followed by police officers protecting her. She even had to change carriages many times on her way out of Philadelphia.

And after more than three months in prison, Williamson, who had become almost a national hero in the anti-slavery movement, was released by Kane. Johnson, after a brief stay in New York, moved to Boston, where she married and lived as a free woman until her death in 1872 at the age of 59.

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When Jane Johnson jeopardized her freedom for the people who aided her to escape from slavery - Face2Face Africa

Letter: Responsibility of Freedom | Opinion | thepilot.com – Southern Pines Pilot

Many thanks to Karla Keating of Pinehurst, who wrote so well recently about the price of freedom. It was even more apropos published in the shadow of Nick Lasalas piece on risk, yet another tantrum concerning the attack of personal liberties during the COVID crisis.

Lasala states, Risk can only be managed effectively at the individual level, and is completely subjective, as it should be in a constitutional republic.

If we all truly lived in a society existing only of ourselves, Mr. Lasala might have a platform to speak from, but then again no one would be around to hear him. But the personal risk he talks about is not just his, as we all well know how the virus is transmitted from one person to another.

I think its safe to say if the unvaccinated werent a risk to others, most of us would happily want them to exercise their personal liberties to risk catching the virus and let the pieces fall where they may. But, as Ms. Keating quotes Eleanor Roosevelt, With freedom comes responsibility.

Mrs. Roosevelt went on to say, For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect. We shoulder that responsibility when we put aside our personal risk-taking and care about the potential risks to all Americans.

Publishers Note: This is a letter to the editor, submitted by a reader, and reflects the opinion of the author. The Pilot welcomes letters from readers on its Opinion page, which serves as a public forum. The Pilot is not in the business of suppressing public opinion. We are a forum for community debate, and publish almost every letter we receive. For information on how to make a submission, visit this page: https://www.thepilot.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/

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Letter: Responsibility of Freedom | Opinion | thepilot.com - Southern Pines Pilot

Positive Vibes Only: Mayorkun Performs Liberating Track "Freedom" From His New Album ‘Back In Office’ – grammy.com

It's nearly impossible to define what exactly counts as neo-souland that's how it should be. A subgenre known for its all-encompassing elements and unshackled structure can't be put in a box.

The best definitions of neo-soul come from examples Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Jhen Aiko, and early SZA. In the newest episode of Positive Vibes Only, Canadian singer-songwriter a l l i eadds her soothing performance of "Alchemy" to the ever-growing list of examples that help explain the indescribable subgenre.

Watch the Toronto native's calming performance below.

"Alchemy" served as the final track on a l l ie's 2021 album Tabula Rasa, which roughly translates from Latin to English as "clean slate." The term stems from an ancient Greek theory that humans are born with no mental expertise and all knowledge comes from experience.

The philosophical title is fitting since a l l i edescribes the 11-track album as "an amalgamation of her collective experiences, two years worth of material, a trip across Europe, and a cathartic homecoming to Jamaica."

Check down below for more episodes of the Positive Vibes Only performance series.

Didn't Cha Know?: 20 Years of Erykah Badu's 'Mama's Gun'

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Positive Vibes Only: Mayorkun Performs Liberating Track "Freedom" From His New Album 'Back In Office' - grammy.com

Passing reveals pursuit of happiness, freedom and safety – District

Written by Sarah Elizabeth McVicker, Image courtesy of Netflix

When I was a few weeks old, my parents went to shop at a department store. A Black woman mistook my mother for my fathers maid while she was holding me. In grade school, my fellow students constantly asked me, What are you? This question taught me that people didnt know how to see me and this made me unsure of myself.

Although I am a light-skinned, biracial woman, it took me years to understand what passing was and how I could use it in my own life if I chose to. The film Passing posed a central question of what it means to be happy, safe and free.

Passing is Nella Larsens 1929 novella about two long lost friends who reconnect and experience the world differently through the act of passing as white. Director Rebecca Hall uses black and white cinematography to beautifully juxtapose both Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Bellews (Ruth Negga) world.

The act of passing is creating ambiguity.

For Irene, the idea or acceptance of passing isnt black or white but a mixture of the two. We see this from the very first sequence. Irene is uncomfortable with passing for fear of getting caught, but will use it when she feels it is necessary. The opposite can be said for Clare. For her, passing is a strict black and white. There is no right and there is no wrong. It just is. Clare enjoys the thrill and treats passing as a way of life and as a means for survival. This is not to say she is completely without some fear. She is married to John Bellew (Alexander Skarsgrd), a racist white man who is unaware of her ancestry.

As I grew up, I must have taken passing a bit too seriously and denied my heritage in a sense. One day, my godmother sat me down and said, Here watch this. This is how you act. She played the 1959 Imitation of Life to show me that my behavior was similar to the protagonist, Sarah Jane, who passes for white. At the time, it was hard for me to accept that I could act that way.

Passing is sometimes seen as a way of denying not only ones heritage, but themselves. Clare seemed to be so happy and free amongst Black people. She no longer had to pretend. This is why Clare craved to be around Irene, because she secretly wanted more freedom and happiness. Their relationship is truly a yin and yang where Clare is the bold free spirit and Irene is level-headed. It creates a balance between them. They need each other to feel happy, free and safe. I remember it wasnt until my second year of college that I finally felt happy in my skin, free in my thoughts and safe among the world because I had accepted both sides of my heritage.

Nella Larsens novel is at the peak of a hundred year anniversary and her story is still relevant today. Clare and Irene are living in a world where they are trying to achieve the happiness, freedom and security within themselves and the world they move through. Ruth Negga, Savannah Film Festivals Spotlight Award Honoree said, The act of passing is creating ambiguity. The passer may be unclear of who they are or where they truly fit in society or they may mold to the situation. On the other hand, they may be open and fluid to the idea of passing and accept all that comes along.

Passing has graciously opened the door for more understanding of these characters experiences and those alike in todays world who still choose to pass.

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Passing reveals pursuit of happiness, freedom and safety - District

Freedom to Roam: The Rhythms Of Migration – Folk Radio UK

A swallow awakens in Africa, its journey northwards knows no borders.A green shoot bursts from the ground, reaching upwards towards the sky.A child leaves home, seeking safer shores.

The rhythms of migrations have no boundaries.Freedom to roam is nature.Our humanity, wildlife and biodiversity undeniably connected.

Freedom to Roam: The Rhythms Of Migration

Goatskin Records 26 November 2021

Sometimes a piece of music transcends being merely a listening experience, however excellent a listen it may be, and The Rhythms Of Migration, certainly far in excess of being merely excellent, is one such creation. The album is one element of a triptych, the two other components being a film documentary by multi-award-winning director Nicholas Jones (A Greenlander, You Are Here) and an album launch concert, hosted by, and in aid of, the Born Free Foundation, whose founder, Virginia McKenna, along with her son Bill Travers, have been its champions.

The Freedom To Roam project is the brainchild of Eliza Marshall, flautist with Ranagri, whose genre-crossing work has seen her perform with the likes of The Divine Comedy, Paul McCartney, The Who and a plethora of orchestras in a variety of shows such as The Lion King, Les Misrables and Miss Saigon, together with recording numerous soundtracks for the likes of Ridley Scott, Peter Johnson and David Attenborough. Originally conceived just over a couple of years ago from the germ of an idea during a visit to the Isle of Coll in the Outer Hebrides, music was to be used as a platform, harnessing fresh ideas related to the environment, wildlife and humanitarian concerns. The COVID 19 lockdown provided both the catalyst and opportunity for time to focus on it and the pandemics associated lost freedoms gave even more resonance and poignancy to the projects title.

As a result of discussions with musicians and others, there was a realisation that there was an interconnection between the, often enforced, migration of humans seeking to cross borders to ameliorate their lives, and the unbridled migration of animals in the natural world, and that the two impacted upon each other, although not always symbiotically. To reflect this as a soundscape in The Rhythms Of Migration, Eliza has garnered the talents of eight leading exponents from the realms of folk, classical and world music and between them, they have created a migratory musical masterpiece.

Given the circumstances under which the album evolved, physically getting the musicians together for rehearsals proved problematic, despite a supportive St. Georges in Bristol, which necessitated learning new technical skills and adapting to different working patterns, not least the use of the internet to collaborate. Perhaps ironically, this is perfectly in keeping with the central tenet of the album, for as Eliza says, online there are literally no borders. Kickstarter funding ensured that the project could proceed, and the album was eventually recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales.

In addition to Elizas own contributions on flutes, whistles and Indian bansuri, which underpin the album, the award-winning record producer, pioneer of the British Bhangra sound and breaker of boundaries of the Indian tradition, Kenyan-born Kuljit Bhamra MBE, plays tabla and electronic tanpura and is joined by diverse percussionist Joby Burgess, with additional bodhran from Evan Carson (Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, and more recently Ranagri). Catrin Finch, with whom Eliza studied at the Royal Academy of Music, former Royal Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, and more recently no stranger herself to the theme of migration with her 2018 SOAR collaboration with Seckou Keita, provides harp and piano. Other strings are provided by another award-winner, Robert Irvine (Director, Red Note Ensemble, Da Vinci Piano Trio, Kyle Quartet) on cello and Lydia Lowndes-Northcott, who has vast experience in the orchestral sphere and is currently a member of the English Chamber Orchestra, on viola. Andrew Morgan adds additional percussion and synth and is also the albums producer, whilst Dnal Rogers (much sought after multi-instrumentalist, lead singer and writer in Ranagri), contributes bass guitars, piano and percussion. Completing the octet on violin and piano is another Royal Academy graduate, Jackie Shave, leader of The Britten Sinfonia, a musician with vast experience who also toured alongside Eliza with Peter Gabriel.

With such an array of talent pooling their resources, it is hardly surprising that the result is a totally mesmeric hour-long aural experience of transcendent quality, in which African, Celtic and Indian influences coalesce as classical fuses with folk, with just a hint of electronic. The soundscape created is widescreen and cinematic in its effect, akin to the visual equivalent of a painter utilising a vast palette of colours. The fourteen tracks on the album, some of which flow seamlessly from one to the next, are all original tracks composed by Marshall, Finch, Shave and Rogers. Their compositions pretty much appear in that order, a reflection of the fact that rather than just a set of disconnected tracks, there is a story threading through the whole album, a little like the aforementioned Peter Gabriel with his Last Temptation Of Christ.

Our journey begins, appropriately, with Awakenings. Elizas piece perfectly captures the quietness of the dawn, with its peaceful tranquillity suggesting that both time and space are standing still, before a change of tempo and mood is introduced with the title track, The Rhythms of Migration, in which the movement and rhythms suggest the awakening world is moving on, a journey is about to begin. The melding of the various instruments creates an immensely uplifting, joyous feeling, but one which, reflecting the reality of life and the fragile eco-system, is to be immediately shattered in Arctic Lament. An improvised piece, melting ice caps, disappearing landscapes, and the vast expanses of ocean are explored in a sobering, melancholic track. However, is there a ray of hope to be found in Catrins solo, which concludes the track?

The following two compositions, both by Catrin, possibly allude to tentative optimism. The former of these, Turning Tides, certainly has within its title the possibility of being interpreted as an indication that with appropriate action from humanity, the raising of awareness and a more altruistic approach, then a change for good could be affected. In terms of sentiment, I am drawn to make a comparison with Ian Andersons What-ifs, Maybes and Might-have-beens from Thick As A Brick 2. Musically, the introductory harp melody is gorgeous; before other instruments weave their magic; there is no escaping the rippling tide evinced by the sound created. The latter track, Freedom, a word encapsulating one of the albums central themes, not only for humanity but also for nature and wildlife, initially with piano and strings to the fore, embrace interesting chords changes, intriguing vocalisations and a tremendous electric guitar solo from Dnal, and immediately transported me to Attenboroughs Serengeti and the great migration of wildebeest and zebra.

Our journey pauses, momentarily, with A Quiet Place, the first of Jackies seven compositions, as we are given a brief opportunity to collect our thoughts, possibly unaware of the gathering rain clouds, before the rain finally comes, by way of Rain Coming. Another joyous, upbeat, celebratory offering, the violin and cello parts reflecting the life-giving energy and relief felt by those in Africa when it arrives. The rain passes, and the sun sets. Below, the growth of tiny shoots, above the desert sky. Green Shoots and Galaxies, written for the tabla, initially gentle and lilting, before, at around one minute thirty seconds in, it bursts into percussive, rhythmic life before returning to a calm serenity reflecting the awe and wonder of the stars above.

The haunting cello which underscores Leaving My Homeland creates a mood that echoes the grief, fear, hardship, and often terror that accompanies having to flee ones home because of climate change, conflict, famine or persecution, but this hardly prepares the listener for the following track, Brutal. Appositely titled, mans inhumanity to his fellow humans, and indeed the earth is perfectly encapsulated in this angry, relentless, aggressive piece, which runs straight into Run Wild! Again the title is pertinent, as the ferociously fast, Moroccan influenced tune, exhilarating, feral and raw, suggests escape, flight and freedom. In complete contrast, the gentle, delicate Cherish creates the impression of calm after the turbulence of the preceding three tracks; safety, refuge and a safe haven have been attained.

The two remaining tracks, credited to Dnal, reflect optimism and enthusiasm. Jazz-tinged piano introduces Seekers, an open, uplifting composition which, to these ears, continues the journey incorporating different influences and flavours, Cuban, South American, Middle-Eastern, Indian sub-continent, pastoral Britain, before the destination is reached in the final track, Coming Home. Partially inspired by watching the Perseverance Rover landing on Mars, five minutes of cheerful, musical ebullience give a reminder of the importance of home to both man and beast and the percussive beats that conclude the album affirms the heartbeat of compassion and hope for a sustainable planet Earth.

The Rhythms of Migration is an outstanding album. If academics, or others, wished to exemplify the power and ability of music to touch and affect the range of human emotions, then they need look no further than this release.

A drink from this global watering hole will leave you enriched, enlightened and, hopefully, a more altruistic, compassionate being.

Watch the accompanying video to The Rhythms of Migration:

Freedom to Roam Launch Concert: 18 December 2021 at Cecil Sharp House, London (Tickets)

Freedom To Roam is released on 26 November 2021. Pre-Order here: https://smarturl.it/fiv7rw

More details:

https://www.freedomtoroam.earth/album/

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Freedom to Roam: The Rhythms Of Migration - Folk Radio UK

Diversity Dialogues Raise Issues of Women’s Rights, Sexual Identity and Individual Freedom – University of Arkansas Newswire

Shirin Saeidi, assistant professor of political science serving as University Housing's Faculty in Residence for the north end of campus, will sponsor a series of talks this academic year addressing several social topics.

Saeidi planned a series of dialogues with on-campus residential students on topics that include vaccinations, woman's rights, sexual identity and what freedom means.

The first dialogue of the spring semester had Adam Blehm and Blake Hereth as guest speakers focusing on public health and compulsory vaccinations. Blehm is a doctoral student in philosophy and Hereth is an assistant professor of philosophy. They recently published a paper on the debate surrounding mandatory vaccination.

Students had the opportunity to participate in the discussion and interact with faculty members throughout the presentation.

"My favorite part of the Diversity Dialogue regarding the COVID-19 vaccination was when the differing arguments on mandatory vaccination were presented. Seeing the logic and information behind each side's opinion was rather helpful in formulating my own stance on the subject," said freshman psychology major, Andrew Ruegsegger.

"That's why I think the Diversity Dialogue sessions are so critical for the student community understanding the various reasons by which people arrive at their beliefs allows us to form our own educated, moderate and diverse opinions."

Ruegsegger encourages other students to join the conversation and benefit from the explored areas. Topics he would like to see in future sessionsinclude safety measures for women working in food delivery services, ridesharing, and other jobs where one-on-one interactions are required.

This series is open to students, faculty and staff. The Diversity Dialogues are a hybrid series where participants can join via Zoom or in-person at Morgan Hall room 108. Student participants also have the chance to win an Amazon gift card for their contribution to the discussion.

RSVPs to the Diversity Dialogue Series are done through Living Learning Communities' pages on HogSync.

Saeidi, organizer of the dialogue series, shares that "the purpose of the Diversity Dialogue is to introduce students to the various forms of inequality and discrimination that exists in our world, and how we can address them collectively."

She believes conversations about diversity and inclusion are crucial at this moment in time.

"It is urgent for our students to have access to leading scholars, activists and artists concerned with different aspects of US politics and society. Such conversations will facilitate progressive change and connect us better locally."

This is Saeidi's second semester as a Faculty in Residence and she continues to bring light to the current issues that contribute to the evolving dynamic of society.

During Fall 2020, the Diversity Dialogue Series hosted conversations about cultural competence, public discourse, becoming an ally in the fight against racism and the psycho-historical and socioeconomic development of "Latinx" individuals in the United States.

All events will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

About University Housing. University Housing is a department within the Division of Student Affairs serving a residential community of around 6,200 on-campus students. More than 200 students find employment opportunities with University Housing each year. We offer educational programs that support the success of students and services that help students focus on academics at the University of Arkansas. Living on campus starts with a housing contract.

About the Division of Student Affairs. The Division of Student Affairs supports students in pursuing knowledge, earning a degree, finding meaningful careers, exploring diversity, and connecting with the global community. We provide students housing, dining, health care resources, and create innovative programs that educate and inspire. We enhance the University of Arkansas experience and help students succeed, one student at a time.

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Diversity Dialogues Raise Issues of Women's Rights, Sexual Identity and Individual Freedom - University of Arkansas Newswire

Capitol Talk: Antifa; ‘Religious Freedom’, And Limits On Local Control – MTPR

Capitol Talk: Antifa; 'Religious Freedom' And Limits On Local Control

Bills heard this week at the Capitol seek to: limit the ability of local governments and health departments to require restrictions during a public health emergency; limit services to LGBTQ people in the name of religious freedom; make Montana a right-to-work state; declare antifa a domestic terrorist organization even though there isn't such an organization.

And after years of criticizing dark money groups, former Gov. Steve Bullock raises eyebrows by taking a position with a PAC tied to dark money.

Listen now onCapitol Talkwith Sally Mauk, Holly Michels and Rob Saldin.

Sally Mauk Holly, the House on a mostly-party-line vote has passed a bill that would prohibit local government and health officials from forcing local businesses to take health precautions, like wearing masks that are designed to prevent the spread of disease.

And Republican supporters say this is a way to protect those businesses from being hurt economically. But Democratic opponents and others say it will hinder efforts to control things like the COVID pandemic that we're all experiencing right now.

Holly Michels This bill is actually one of quite a few that are moving through. I think at one point there was more than two dozen I counted that aim to do things like limit local health authority in a pandemic and also there's some that would try to limit the governor's power.

But this one would really remove any power from local governments to make businesses follow public health orders like closures, limits on hours, capacity, masks and it would also stop governments from issuing fines for businesses that don't comply with those orders.

Rep. Jedediah Hinkle from Belgrade is carrying this, and he's arguing that businesses have suffered because of these mandates.

In debate before the full House, Hinkle and other Republicans who spoke in support of the bill really didn't talk about public health very much, just about the economic fallout from the virus. Hinkle talked about businesses that have closed in his community, ones that are teetering on the edge, but we did hear Democrats who oppose the bill talked a lot about public health.

Rep. Tom France of Missoula said that there's the very real possibility of another virus, something worse than COVID, and if this bill passes, it would put communities in a real bind in the future. We also heard from Democrats there's heightened concern because last week Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte lifted the statewide mask mandate.

And what Gianforte said is he thinks local governments and businesses are best equipped to make decisions for their own communities and right now, they have that ability to put in more restrictive mandates. But this bill, if it were to pass and Gianforte were to sign, it would take that away.

Mauk And of course, we don't at this point know if the governor would sign it or not. He hasn't really indicated that.

Michels No. We asked this week specifically on this bill, and like a lot of other bills, Gianforte said that he wouldn't speak about his actions until the bill reaches his desk. But Gianforte, again, has said that local businesses, local government should be the ones making these decisions. And, of course, local businesses do have control over what happens on their property.

Mauk Rob, former Gov. Steve Bullock has a new job co-chairing a super PAC called American Bridge 21st Century, and this PAC has strong ties to a dark-money group called American Bridge.

This wouldn't necessarily be newsworthy, except Bullock has been a longtime critic of dark money groups. And to say this new job reeks of hypocrisy I think would be an understatement, Rob.

Rob SaldinYeah, well, Sally, I mean, you're right. Bullock's most prominent issue, arguably dating back to his days as attorney general, has been dark money and trying to reduce the influence of money in politics. And now here he is signing on to co-chair the super PAC that has a dark-money affiliate.

Now, the hypocrisy charge is certainly not new on this front: Bullock and Tester too, who's also very much associated with campaign finance reform have both been hit with the hypocrite charge in the past. The allegation is basically that these guys are out there running around piously condemning the supposed evils of money in politics and then they go off and engage in the very activities that they denounce.

Well, in the past, that's never struck me as a particularly compelling charge, because it's entirely reasonable in my mind to say, one, that the rules of the game ought to be changed. But two, until they are changed, it's unreasonable that I should unilaterally disarm and put myself at a huge disadvantage in the election.

And so the real key distinction in my mind has always been between those who think that money, and particularly dark money, have too big of a role in our politics and those who don't think that that's a problem. And it's always been clear where Bullock stands on that.

But Sally, I think you're right, this case is different. Bullock is now a private citizen. He certainly didn't have to sign up to co-chair this super PAC with the dark-money wing. So the hypocrisy charge seems to me to have more merit in this instance.

Mauk Holly, Kila Rep. Carl Glimm is sponsoring a bill called the Montana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and this act would basically allow someone to use their religion as a reason not to provide service to an LGBT person.

Missoula Democrat Bryce Bennett, who's gay, gave emotional testimony against the bill. Here's what he said:

"This bill is very personal to me, and the testimony that we heard today was personal to me as well because I have lived those experiences. This bill would allow people like me to be denied housing, to be kicked out of restaurants, to be denied health care, to be fired from my job, not because of something that I did but simply because of who I am."

Mauk And the bill's sponsor, Holly, denies that that would be the bill's effect, but it's hard to argue otherwise, I think.

Michels Yeah, what this bill says is people don't have to do things that burden their religious expression, and it would also allow people to make arguments in court based on claims their ability to exercise religious beliefs had been limited.

Supporters have argued that it would safeguard religious freedoms against government interests, but we heard a lot of opponents to the bill give testimony, like Bennett's, that was pretty impactful, talking about concerns that this would just really affect their ability to get jobs, rent, apartments, you know, have plumbers come over to work on their house.

We had just four supporters of the bill, they were saying it would do things like stop florists from having to provide services for a same-sex wedding. But opponent after opponent ... you know, there's one who talked about he was worried the doctors would not provide him with necessary medical care.

Sen. Glimm, he countered, from what we heard from Sen. Bennett there, Glimm saying that he doesn't believe that would be the outcome of the bill. But we do know there's a similar federal law this is modeled off of that's gone through court several times.

One ruling in 2008 said it couldn't be used to justify discrimination against employees, but in 2019, a judge said that this federal law, again, could allow providers or insurers to deny health care treatment or coverage.

And this is sort of a theme in recent days at the Capitol. We've seen tensions collide between a lot of these so-called religious freedom bills and then LGBTQ rights. There's this hearing, there's another one on campus free speech laws and we've heard from people advocating for rights of LGBTQ people that this is just something that's been a lot more pressured this session.

We're looking at the first Republican governor in 16 years, and a lot of legislation like this has been vetoed before by Democratic governors, so there might be different outcomes and it's definitely something that's been a central theme of this last week up at the Capitol.

Mauk Rob, similar bills have passed in other states and that has prompted boycotts in some instances that have hurt those states' economic bottom lines.

SaldinSure, Sally, and there's actually some longer history to that sort of pressure.

You know, this was a thing back in the day when the Martin Luther King holiday was being debated. Arizona's resistance to that led the NFL to yank the Super Bowl out of Pheonix one year. South Carolina faced a similar boycott from the NCAA back when the Confederate flag was flying over the state capitol.

And then, as you suggest Sally, right, more recently, you've got these LGBT issues that have led to boycotts of various sorts.

Probably most notable was North Carolina. North Carolina faced a backlash over the so-called "bathroom bill," including, once again, the NCAA. And you had Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, among others, canceling concerts, this sort of thing. Idaho is another place where this has been an issue.

Idaho is apparently currently under scrutiny by the NCAA, and might have Boise as a host site for the NCAA tournament moved elsewhere. So yes, there are some potential economic costs to this kind of legislation for sure.

Mauk Holly, another bill sponsored by Republican Caleb Hinkle would make Montana the 28th so-called "right to work" state. And this bill drew a lot of opposition, not just from union workers, as one would expect, but also from some prominent employers.

Michels Yeah, there were a lot of people opposed to this bill. What it would do is prohibit the requirement of belonging to a union as a condition of employment, and it would also bar private-sector unions from requiring non-members covered by bargaining agreements to pay union dues.

On the public union side, there's already been significant changes after a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018 that said public sector unions can't collect fees for bargaining on behalf of non-members. But that's not something that applies to private sector unions.

We heard, you know, from who you'd expect: AFL-CIO, other big unions that this bill would hurt their ability to negotiate fair wages and good benefits. They also said that many of them already bargain on behalf of workers even if they don't pay dues.

One opponent was a steel worker who works at the Stillwater Mine, and he was saying that a lot of employees and union members are saying these union jobs are their ticket to the middle class. This worker also made a pretty interesting point that, he was saying himself and a lot of union members are politically conservative which felt like he was trying to say to the committee, "You know, this isn't just liberals or Democrats that are opposing the bill, but it's politically-conservative folks, too."

But like you said, two of the state's larger employers, the company that operates the Stillwater Mine and other operations and NorthWestern Energy, also spoke in opposition to the bill. They argued it would create division between the work force and harm productive relationships that they say exist between the union and employers.

There were individuals who backed the bill, but most of the support we heard came from groups like the national right to work organization, Montana Right to Work and Americans for Prosperity. These groups argue that what they called "forced unionism" doesn't really make sense, and that if a union was doing a good job advocating for people, it wouldn't need to require dues.

But there was, like you said, a lot more opposition. There were so many people opposed that we hit a point in the hearing where people were just limited to giving their name and their employer any affiliation they had just because they ran out of time for opponents.

I think it's interesting, too: one layer to this is during the election, now Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras told people at a campaign stop in Sydney that Gov. Greg Gianforte, if he were to become governor, wouldn't veto a right-to-work bill.

The campaign later had Juras clarify that she says she hadn't spoken to Gianforte when she made that statement, and it wouldn't be a priority for them. The campaign also tried to say audio that came from this event was edited.

But even though it's not a priority for Gianforte, it is for at least some Republican legislators, so it'll be something he'll have to weigh in on if it reaches his desk.

Mauk Rob, another Republican-sponsored bill would designate antifa as a domestic terrorism group, even though there is no antifa organization, per say.

SaldinRight. Antifa obviously stands for antifascist. It's this kind of very loose, amorphous network of hard-left activists and they absolutely have been involved in violence in parts of the country, which is appalling but they've also, I think, arguably been blown up into something a little bigger than they actually are.

Notably, former President Trump talked about antifa a great deal, falsely claiming, for instance, that it was antifa, not his own supporters, who were behind the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. But, you know, Sally, you noted that critics of the bill point out that here in Montana, we haven't actually had any antifa activity.

Now, supporters of the measure say they want to send a message that antifa isn't welcome in Montana, but that doesn't pass muster with opponents, who say this is a silly distraction, especially when we have much more serious threats from far-right-wing extremists.

But you know Sally, the thing that stood out to me this week as being most notable is that at the beginning of the week, this bill had over 50 co-sponsors. But after a hearing, over half of those co-sponsors withdrew their support, which is extremely unusual.

And it seems that the primary reason for those members doing that is that the bill's sponsor, Braxton Mitchell of Columbia Falls, wasn't willing to add other extremist groups to his list of domestic terror organizations. So, you know, bottom line, losing over half of your co-sponsors certainly doesn't bode well for the future of this bill.

Mauk Holly and Rob, thank you. Talk to you again next week.

SaldinThanks Sally.

Capitol Talk is MTPR's weekly legislative news and analysis program. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center Fellow Rob Saldin. Tuneduring the legislative sessionFridays at 6:44 p.m.,via podcastorlisten online.

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Capitol Talk: Antifa; 'Religious Freedom', And Limits On Local Control - MTPR

John Mayall: The blues have given me musical freedom – Olean Times Herald

John Mayall doesn't compare his success to that of his former Bluesbreakers bandmate Eric Clapton

The 87-year-old blues legend recruited the 75-year-old guitar hero to join his influential group John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1965.

Over the years, the band featured the likes of the late Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac and former Rolling Stones strummer Mick Taylor and inspired a whole generation of blues and rock legends.

Mayall, dubbed The Godfather of British Blues, insists the most important thing to him is being an authentic artist rather than chasing fame and he has always been happy for Clapton regarding his many achievements in the music business.

When asked if he had ever envied Clapton, Mayall said: I dont think it really works that way. You do whats natural to you and see if it works for the public in the same way it does for you."

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he continued: My philosophy has always been to work as honestly as I can with the kind of music that was natural to me, to put those songs into words, its a great feeling to have had that freedom.

Clapton quit the Bluesbreakers in July 1966 and was replaced by Green. He was then invited by late drummer Ginger Baker to play in his new group Cream, the now-iconic band which also featured former Bluesbreakers member Jack Bruce.

Before Cream, Clapton was not well known in America, and had left his other group, The Yardbirds, before their track 'For Your Love' hit the US top 10.

Mayall also insisted he would never work with just any musician and is very selective when it comes to his collaborators.

The Bare Wires rocker said: You know you do something which is natural to you and natural to the musicians you are working with. I dont think theres been any point in my career where Ive ended up sticking with someone I wasnt really fully into ... Ive had total freedom really; I think one of the good things about being a bandleader is you get to choose who you want to work with.

Mayall - who was awarded an OBE in 2005 for being a pioneer of blues music also admitted music has always been a source of "improvisation and exploration" for him since he was a child.

He said: I dont think anybody really knows what draws them into any kind of music. I think it was a good thing for me to find something I was attracted to. Its not just blues. It's jazz. Its the whole thing. Its the improvisation and its the exploration through music and the feelings.

John Mayall: The First Generation' a 35 CD limited edition box set - is out now via Madfish Records through Snapper Music.

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John Mayall: The blues have given me musical freedom - Olean Times Herald

Greta comes out in support of Disha, says freedom of speech and right to peaceful protest non-negotiable – The Tribune India

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, February 19

Lending support to the call for setting free Disha Ravi, who was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly editing the controversial farmer protest toolkit, climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday said that freedom of speech and right to peaceful protest were non-negotiable human rights and these must be a fundamental part of any democracy.

The tweet comes six days after Disha was arrested by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police from Bengaluru and over two weeks after Greta was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity.

Greta in her tweet said: Freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest and assembly are non-negotiable human rights. These must be a fundamental part of any democracy.

Disha, a 21-year-old climate activist, has been accused of editing the controversial farmer protest toolkit posted on Twitter by climate campaigner Greta and was sent to five days police custody by a Delhi court on Sunday.

Greta had shared the toolkit to lend her support to the farmers agitation against the three farm laws, but later deleted it.

In the document, various urgent actions, including creating a Twitter storm and protesting outside Indian embassies, were listed which were needed to be taken to support the farmers protest.

Greta had taken to the microblogging site to express her concerns over farmers agitation and shared a post stating solidarity with the farmers.

I still #StandWithFarmers and support their peaceful protest. No amount of hate, threats or violations of human rights will ever change that. #FarmersProtest, she had tweeted.

Taking cognisance of her tweets in support of farmers agitation, Delhi Police had registered a case against the Swedish teen climate campaigner under Sections 120B and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (OPC) on charges of criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity on February 4.

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Greta comes out in support of Disha, says freedom of speech and right to peaceful protest non-negotiable - The Tribune India

Creative freedom restricted by cloaking it in religion – The Hindu

Haasyam, Jayarajs penultimate work in the Navarasa series, part of IFFKs International Competition section

Award-winning filmmaker Jayaraj has been a genre hopper of sorts. From outright crowd-pleasers like Johnnie Walker and Thilakkam to the ambitious Navarasa series, the filmmaker has swung between extremes while being pilloried for his alleged affinity towards right wing politics. Attending the Kochi leg of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) where Haasyam, his penultimate work in the Navarasa series, was screened in the International Competition section, Jayaraj talks about his works and the present climate of fear hampering creative freedom.

Do you think filmmaking is being straitjacketed by the prevailing political climate?

There is a sense of fear that wasnt there in the past. One has to think before doing anything. The creative freedom is being restricted by cloaking it in religion, which is the biggest tragedy of the supposedly progressive times. I try to steer away from potentially controversial things, which in itself is a lack of creative freedom.

With the ambitious Navarasa series nearing completion with only one more film left to be made, is there a sense of emptiness? Which was the most challenging work?

That is something I ask myself. It is the same feeling as a sprinter who has breached the record and is left with nothing more to achieve. I will be content if I am able to finish that series. It has to be Karunam as it featured an aged couple in a restricted space. Apart from Karunam in the Navarasa series, Deshadanam was my other major experiment and and both were well received and successful financially as well.

I have been accused of different things at different times. I could be called the most rebellious Leftist for making a film like 4 the People while I am stamped a right winger to this day for making Paithrukam.

What are your plans for the next movie, Sringara, the last one in the Navarasa series?

I am still undecided as it has many shades. I even spoke with MT sir [M.T. Vasudevan Nair] on what constitutes the right interpretation of Sringara. I had a somewhat similar dilemma in the making of Haasyam (humour), which also has many shades before I decided on black humour.

I have just completed shooting the movie Niraye Thathakalulla Maram, which is an independent movie, and the edit is under way.

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Creative freedom restricted by cloaking it in religion - The Hindu

Statutes of Liberty: Freedom of Information Act Requests are Free for Immigrants and U.S. Citizens – ARLnow

This sponsored column is by James Montana, Esq. and Doran Shemin, Esq., practicing attorneys atSteelyard LLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice,contact Jamesfor an appointment.

The best things in life are free. The best things in law are expensive, with one exception: Freedom of Information Act requests, which are free, free, free.

The Freedom of Information Act is, as readers surely know, a useful tool for journalists and ordinary citizens to obtain information about what our government does. But it is extremely useful and vastly underused in the immigration context. Submitting FOIA requests for immigration records is a simple process that helps immigrants and practitioners alike by giving us a look at someones entire immigration history.

FOIA requests are filed with USCISs National Records Center online or by mail on a simple form called the G-639. The form can be used to request specific documents, such as an old application or certificate of naturalization, or an individuals entire immigration file. There is no charge unless the government sends a bill; in our experience, the government never, ever does.

The results of FOIA requests have given us some of our most exciting cases. Weve found:

Any time you have questions about what happened in an immigration case or if youve lost your documents, file an FOIA!

FOIAs are also helpful for American citizens researching family history. You can submit a G-639 seeking the records of a deceased family member using an obituary or death certificate. For example, Doran wanted to learn more about her grandmother Lillians immigration history and submitted an FOIA request to USCIS with a copy of her grandmothers obituary.

In the FOIA results, Doran received a copy of Lillians Argentine birth certificate, a copy of Lillians visa application and Lillians application for U.S. citizenship. Doran also learned that her grandmother did not legally change her name from Luisa to Lillian until Lillian became a U.S. citizen in 1956. All of this information was sitting in a government office waiting to be discovered and would have otherwise been unknown.

Analyzing FOIA results are some of our favorite things to do at our office. Were happy to help our clients request their file and make recommendations about how to move their cases forward. We do an FOIA request at no extra charge whenever we think it is necessary as part of a consultation information wants to be free, and we want to help you liberate it.

Weve participated in the immigration FOIA review process at an even nerdier level helping sue USCIS to try to compel the production of allegedly exempt material but thats a story for another day. For now, our message is: File an FOIA request! Youll learn a lot, and your future lawyer will be deeply grateful.

As always, we welcome any thoughts or comments and will do our best to respond.

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Statutes of Liberty: Freedom of Information Act Requests are Free for Immigrants and U.S. Citizens - ARLnow

Mosaic Announces Long-Term Partnership with Freedom Forever – PRNewswire

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Mosaic, the leading financing platform for U.S. residential solar and energy-efficient home improvement projects, today announced a unique, multiple-year partnership with one of the fastest-growing residential solar power providers in the country,Freedom Forever.

This partnership marries Mosaic's credit expertise and innovative technology with the most efficient solar sales and installation organization nationwide.As a result, Freedom Forever can now offer its customers the most attractive solar financing rates and boost the adoption of residential solar power.

"Lowering the cost of solar enables dealers to help more families make the switch to clean energy," said Billy Parish, founder, and CEO of Mosaic. "This partnership will accelerate Freedom Forever's already impressive growth by powering their robust sales organization with Mosaic's industry-leading financing platform. As we align and enhance our companies' technologies and operations, it will be faster and easier to offer more financing options to more people. It's a win-win."

Mosaic's financing solutions make it possible for homeowners to invest in sustainable energy home improvement projects, such as generating and storing solar energy. Empowering providers such as Freedom Forever to offer the best financing broadens the residential reach of clean energy.

"We have become one of the fastest-growing residential solar providers because we are always looking for new ways to say 'yes' to solve climate change," said Brett Bouchy, CEO of Freedom Forever. "What makes me so excited about this partnership with Mosaic is their innovative technology, years of proven financial performance, and high approval rates. The end result is a better sales process and industry-leading conversion rates for our authorized dealers. Mosaic, like Freedom Forever, is agile and responsive to the needs of their customers. Together, we will be able to offer solar to more people, in more states, beginning right now."

About Mosaic

Mosaic makes financing solar, solar-plus energy storage systems, and other home improvements accessible and affordable for homeowners by providing the simplest borrower experience in the industry. Customers are referred by approved solar installers and home improvement contractors and can qualify instantly for no money down loans with fixed interest rates and multiple term options. For our network of hundreds of solar installers and home improvement contractors, Mosaic provides a streamlined financing platform to drive sales growth. Since 2012, Mosaic has helped more than 125,000 households go solar with its financing products. For more information, visitwww.joinmosaic.com.

Financing applied for and processed through the Mosaic platform is originated by Solar Mosaic, Inc. or one of its lending/financing partners. All PowerSwitch ZERO and other Home Improvement Loans through the Mosaic platform are made by WebBank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

About Freedom Forever:

Freedom Foreverand its family of companies focuses on residential solar installations that deliver best-in-class Engineering, Procurement, and Construction for its dealer network. Since 2011, Freedom Forever has enabled its dealer network to succeed with a premium offering and aggressive pricing flexibility. Freedom Forever's 25-year production guarantee provides the ultimate peace-of-mind for homeowners reluctant to make a big investment when purchasing their solar systems. With Freedom Forever, homeowners know what they're getting every time. For more information, please visithttps://freedomforever.com.

SOURCE Mosaic

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Mosaic Announces Long-Term Partnership with Freedom Forever - PRNewswire

Woman who fought for racial equity as a Freedom Rider reflects on the past, gives outlook on the future – WLWT Cincinnati

REMEMBERS THE HORRORS OF THE RACIAL STRIFE AND VIOLENCE IN THE DEEP SOUTH >> WE KNEW THAT EVERY TIME THAT WE TOOK A RIDE, THAT IF W DIED, WE DIED. ASHLEY WAS THERE A FEAR THAT YOU ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS OR GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACES? THAT YOU WOULD BE STOPPED BY POLICE OR HARASSE >> IF THEY TELL YOU MOVE -- IF YOU GOT ON A METRO BUS AND A WHITE PERSON WANTED YOUR SEAT, THEY COULD INSIST THAT YOU MOVE AND GO TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. IF YOU DID NOT DO WHAT THEY SAID , HE WOULD BE ARRESTED, SO YOU ALWAYS HAD TO DO IT, OR YOU PAID THE CONSEQUENCES. ASHLEY AT 21 BETTY DANIELS ROSEMOND THEN BETTY DANIELS DECIDED TO LEAVE SCHOOL AT LSU TO JOIN THE FREEDOM RIDERS. >> I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE TRAINING. ONE OF THE GIRLS SLAPPED ME AND ALMOST KNOCKED ME DOWN, BUT THAT WAS PART OF YOUR TRAINING, TO SEE IF YOU COULD -- IF YOU WOULD RETALIATE. YOU COUL NOT RETALIATE. ASHLEY BETTY AND 4 OTHERS WENT ON A FREEDOM RIDE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO MOBILE, ALABAMA JUST DAYS AFTER ANOTHER GROUPS BUS WAS BOMBED. ON THE WAY BACK, WHEN WE GOT TO A LITTLE TOWN IN MISSISSIPP NOW, FREEDOM RIDERS WERE TESTERS. THEIR JOB WAS TO TEST THE FACILITIES TO SEE IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE LAW. MY JOB WAS TO MAKE A PHONE CALL. WHEN I GOT TO THE PHONE BOOTH, A TRUCK OF MEN IN A PICKUP TRU WHITE MEN PULLED UP AT THE , LITTLE BUS STATION. THEY LITERALLY DRAGGED FRANK AND THRE GIRLS OUT, PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK AND DROVE OF NOW I KNEW IF THEY FOUND ME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTH LYNCHING THAT NIGHT. ASHLEY: ALL OF THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE BLACK? >> OF COURSE. EVERYTHING WAS BECAUSE OF THAT. YOU JUST DID NOT STAND A CHANCE. ASHLEY: AND HERE WE SIT TODAY IN 2021, WEVE HAD OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT HAVE HAD OUR FIRST FEMALE AND BLACK AND SOUTH ASIAN VICE PRESIDENT. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY? >> OH, I FEEL GOOD. I REALLY DO. GOOD TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL WILLING TO TRY TO SEE TH CHANGE WILL COME AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO RISKED THEIR LIFE TO SEE THAT THIS HAPPEN ASHLEY DO YOU FEEL THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED OR ARE CLOSE TO THE DREAM THAT D KING SPOKE OF? >> WE HAVE WORK TO DO. IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL GOD SAYS IT IS OVER. THE BIBLE SAYS W MUST LOVE EACH OTHER, LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES. WE ARE COMPELLED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THAT IS WHAT IS MISSING IN THE WORLD TODAY. ASHLEY IT WAS MY COMPLETE HONOR TO SPEAK WITH HER. TODAY, THE 81-YEAR-OLD WHO JUST RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING LAST YEAR STILL SPEAKS TO AUDIENCES ABOUT THE WORK THEY DID AND THE HOPE OF A BETTER FUTUR SHE PLANS TO RELEASE A BOOK OF HER POETRY SOON. SHE SAYS WHAT DROVE HER THEN AND WHAT SHOULD DRIVE US ALL, IS TO BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THE WORL TO SEE MORE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS IN OUR HISTORY AND HOPE SERIES GO TO THE PROJECT COMMUNITY SECTION OF WLW

Woman who fought for racial equity as a Freedom Rider reflects on the past, gives outlook on the future

Updated: 5:59 PM EST Feb 16, 2021

Betty Daniels Rosemond, 81, grew up with Jim Crow laws and segregation being the norm in New Orleans, Louisiana. She saw firsthand how racism held her family back when her mother tried to vote or buy a home and was ultimately denied.She decided she wanted to be a part of a movement that was changing the country, so she joined CORE, or the Congress of Racial Equality, to become a Freedom Rider."We knew every time we took a ride that if we died, we died," Rosemond said.Rosemond said there was a general fear growing up that she could be stopped by police or harassed at any moment for simply being out.You would be stopped, but you had to, if they tell you to move, for instance, if you got on a metro bus, and a white person wanted your seat, they could insist that you move and go to the back of the bus because that part was for Black people, she said. And if you didn't do what they said, you will be arrested. So there was always you had to do it, or you pay consequences."At 21, she decided to leave school at Louisiana State University to join the Freedom Riders."I went through some of the training and one of the girls slapped me and almost knocked me down, but that was part of your training to see if you retaliate, and you couldn't retaliate," Rosemond said.Betty and four others went on a Freedom Ride from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, just days after another group's bus was bombed.On the way back, when we got to a little town in Mississippi, now, Freedom Riders were testers. Their job was to test the facilities to see if they were following the law," said Rosemond.Her job was to make a phone call back to their headquarters in New Orleans."When I got to the phone booth, a truck of men in a pickup truck, white men, pulled up at the little bus station. They literally dragged Frank and three girls out, put them in the back of a truck and drove off. Now, I knew if they found me, it would have been another lynching that night," Rosemond said.We asked Rosemond how she feels now that the nation has seen its first Black president, and its first female, Black and Southeast Asian vice president. Oh, I feel good. I really do, she said. Its good to know that people were still willing to try to see that change will come and there are still people who risked their life to see that this happens."Rosemond said she believes we're close to the dream that Dr. King spoke of, but there's still work to do."You know, we have work to do it. It's not over until God says it's over. The Bible tells us this, that we must love each other, love our neighbor as ourselves, we are compelled to love one another. And that that's what's missing in the world today," Rosemond said.

Betty Daniels Rosemond, 81, grew up with Jim Crow laws and segregation being the norm in New Orleans, Louisiana.

She saw firsthand how racism held her family back when her mother tried to vote or buy a home and was ultimately denied.

She decided she wanted to be a part of a movement that was changing the country, so she joined CORE, or the Congress of Racial Equality, to become a Freedom Rider.

"We knew every time we took a ride that if we died, we died," Rosemond said.

Rosemond said there was a general fear growing up that she could be stopped by police or harassed at any moment for simply being out.

You would be stopped, but you had to, if they tell you to move, for instance, if you got on a metro bus, and a white person wanted your seat, they could insist that you move and go to the back of the bus because that part was for Black people, she said. And if you didn't do what they said, you will be arrested. So there was always you had to do it, or you pay consequences."

At 21, she decided to leave school at Louisiana State University to join the Freedom Riders.

"I went through some of the training and one of the girls slapped me and almost knocked me down, but that was part of your training to see if you retaliate, and you couldn't retaliate," Rosemond said.

Betty and four others went on a Freedom Ride from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, just days after another group's bus was bombed.

On the way back, when we got to a little town in Mississippi, now, Freedom Riders were testers. Their job was to test the facilities to see if they were following the law," said Rosemond.

Her job was to make a phone call back to their headquarters in New Orleans.

"When I got to the phone booth, a truck of men in a pickup truck, white men, pulled up at the little bus station. They literally dragged Frank and three girls out, put them in the back of a truck and drove off. Now, I knew if they found me, it would have been another lynching that night," Rosemond said.

We asked Rosemond how she feels now that the nation has seen its first Black president, and its first female, Black and Southeast Asian vice president.

Oh, I feel good. I really do, she said. Its good to know that people were still willing to try to see that change will come and there are still people who risked their life to see that this happens."

Rosemond said she believes we're close to the dream that Dr. King spoke of, but there's still work to do.

"You know, we have work to do it. It's not over until God says it's over. The Bible tells us this, that we must love each other, love our neighbor as ourselves, we are compelled to love one another. And that that's what's missing in the world today," Rosemond said.

Continue reading here:

Woman who fought for racial equity as a Freedom Rider reflects on the past, gives outlook on the future - WLWT Cincinnati

Sudan: Forces of Freedom of Change refuses army appointments as governors – Middle East Monitor

A leader in the Forces of Freedom and Change coalition, one of the components of the ruling council in Sudan, said the movement has refused to see military leaders governing states which are facing security problems.

The military component of the Sovereignty Council suggested that some states which have been classified as having "fragile" security situations, such as Kassala, the Red Sea, West Kordofan and West and Central Darfur, be governed by military leaders.

The Sudan Tribune newspaper quoted the leader of the Freedom and Change Alliance, Ahmed Hazrat, as saying: "We do not believe that a military governor can control the situation more than a civilian."

He added, "In principle, there is no acceptance. There are also no justifications for the military to assume the rule of governors."

He indicated that the governors of the states are nominated by Freedom and Change and appointed by the prime minister.

Temporary governors were appointed to the states on 22 July 2020 by the prime minister.

READ: Ethiopia would welcome Turkish mediation in border conflict with Sudan

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Sudan: Forces of Freedom of Change refuses army appointments as governors - Middle East Monitor

Rescue horses move to Freedom to teach, provide therapy for people in need of rescue – Boothbay Register

FREEDOM On one side of a window, an elderly person with dentures looks out at the same time as a mini horse with no top teeth peers in.

Belfast nursing home residents will soon have a day when horses clip clop through the parking lot. For residents game to get a little close to brush their hands against the fur a small paddock meet-and greet circle will be set up as well. The equines love attention, love to work, and love to bond.

Grateful Pony Art and Equestrian Center has settled into the town of Freedom, expanding its existing programs and pursuing potential futures as it sows a transplanted organization into the local roots.

Four rescue horses freely roam the new Smithtown Road property. They sidle up to the doors and windows of the main house, peer through the glass, and if given the opportunity, invite themselves in. Some of them love being in front of cameras, assisting in phone conversations, and posing for portraits.

This is the reality for Danielle Roberts, who, along with her husband and son, moved her certified equine therapy program from Connecticut to rural Maine in October 2020.

The platform for Roberts therapy is arts and crafts: on the road with mini horses, on site around the barn, or online during COVID. She and her team work with all groups: children, teens, families, spectrum, special needs, addiction, disabled Veterans, and (someday) caregivers, first responders, and residential facilities. Roberts personal passion is for older folks, Veterans, and homeless women, though shes watched children grow, and celebrates all breakthrough moments with her endless passion for equine therapy, the people it serves, and the community around her.

Whats more gratifying than helping someone I dont really know? said Roberts. Its just the best feeling to make someones day with a pony, and a piece of art they can keep forever... And making sure that with our traveling therapy program we can go back to the people that we have helped, and continue to be a part of their lives.

In her sessions, the vibes are with the horses. And the horses are well aware.

When Roberts conducted her first COVID-19-safe group teleconference session (for grieving children), she had no idea how shed incorporate a live horse into the activity. Her concerns quickly faded when one horse strutted up to the video camera and posed for self portraits, standing still for 45 minutes.

Onsite, the horses might linger over the picnic tables as clients work or dont work, if they choose. Some clients help in the stables, finding their personal purpose through gratifying responsibilities. Regardless of program, any stress for the clients tends to fade away as a long snout hovers over a shoulder.

Roberts has stories of non-verbals who suddenly speak, of people whose hidden talents only surface after being around Hersey, Hiro, Kit Kat, and Snickers, each of which has a story to tell.

In their own way, they nicker, they whinny, they show you their body language, and thats what I teach, to explain to people how theyre feeling.

Roberts once described to a blind client the appearance of a horse that happened to be afraid of a slinky brought by another client as a comfort item. Roberts asked the blind woman what she thought the pony needed. When the woman said the pony needed a hug, the pony leaned down and kissed her on the neck.

Another time, a different horse refused to participate in an activity. A non-verbal client in the group started making stressed grunting noises and pointed to her own abdomen as if in pain. The staff were left with confusion, but not the horse. The horse strolled over to the woman, nestled its head above her head, and fell asleep. The woman laughed, breaking the spell of her rising anxiety attack.

Horses are smart, said Roberts. They can connect with people. And because of their own backgrounds aging, being saved from slaughter, going through surgery, mourning friends, losing their teeth from a stress-triggered jaw joint problem called cribbing the clients can relate.

People really connect on this level that is so healing for the horses as well as the human, she said. The horses get so excited when they see groups come. Like youre here for me, I get to teach you.

Roberts said she cannot pick which horse will bond with which person. The horses pick the person, and then they fight over the attention.

Along with adopting rescue horses, and providing therapy, The Grateful Pony is open to helping other organizations create their own equine therapy programs. Its also interested in partnering with local businesses for fundraising efforts when Grateful Pony obtains its 501c6 nonprofit status within the next month

Its not about the money, according to Roberts.

Its the gift of the experience, she said.

For more information:www.brightstrides.org

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com

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Rescue horses move to Freedom to teach, provide therapy for people in need of rescue - Boothbay Register