Nichelle Mitchem

In Memory of Trayvon Martin

The story of Trayvon Martin’s senseless shooting death and the police response has garnered both national and international attention and has resulted in protests across the country. Martin’s death February 26, 2012 at the hands of a volunteer Neighborhood Watch leader, George Zimmerman, in a small, gated Florida community has rippled through many corners of the nation’s justice and political system and raised questions about the relationship between the black community and police in small towns.

Zimmerman, 28, pulled the trigger on the unarmed Martin as he walked home from a convenience store. The police officers engaged in the investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin assert that Zimmerman was not charged because of a Florida law, Stand Your Ground, that makes it difficult to arrest and prosecute homicide suspects who claim self-defense.

Given the facts of this case, the police department’s conduct has caused some to question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-American’s in the state of Florida. There have been similar cases in the state of Florida where the victim of a violent crime was African-American and the perpetrator was white and there were little or no sanctions imposed by the “justice system” for the commission of a serious crime.

Trayvon’s story has inspired millions to call for justice and an end to racial violence. It also moved writer/activist Kevin Powell, Akila Worksongs, Jasiri X and the folks at MoveOn and ColorOfChange to record a new powerful video “A Song for Trayvon.”

Please watch the YouTube video and share it with your family and friends to inspire more people to join this growing movement: http://moveon.org/SongForTrayvon?id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=2.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to take action to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin. If so, here’s what you can do to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin:

1. Sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin

2. Plan or attend a solidarity rally in your city. There are actions springing up all over the country as people continue to voice outrage over the murder of Trayvon. You can find a list of actions here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/justice-for-trayvon-martin/updated-upcoming-events-across-the-us-3212012/350015705040795.

3. Pass around articles about Trayvon and the petition on social networking sites and e-mail lists.

4. “Like” the Justice for Trayvon Martin Facebook page to stay updated about this case.

Source(s): www.change.org. www.cedp.org. www.nytimes.org. What Happened to Trayvon Martin, Explained, Politico Mojo, David Corn, Kevin Drums, and The News Team, March 23, 2012. President Obama Addresses Trayvon Martin Shooting, Amy Powell, March 22, 2012. The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and The Today Show. Trayvon Martin: Zimmerman was not following Neighborhood Watch ‘rules,’” Chicago Tribune, March 24, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273396&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=6 . “Calls for justice rage on a month after Trayvon Martin’s killing,” CNN, March 26, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273406&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=7. ”Obama: Shooting death of Trayvon Martin a ‘tragedy,’” Newsday, March 23, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273398&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=8 . ”Obama: Shooting death of Trayvon Martin a ‘tragedy,’” Newsday, March 23, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273398&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=9. ”Trayvon Martin’s Family Calls For Arrest Of Man Who Police Say Confessed To Shooting (UPDATE),” The Huffington Post, March 8, 2012, http://www.moveon.org/r?r=273399&id=38007-18765278-XWgISwx&t=10.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

 

House Republicans Passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013: A Nation Divided

House Republicans Passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013. The House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., entitled his FY2013 budget plan “The Path to Prosperity”. The Ryan Budget Plan for FY2013 has faced strong opposition by House Democrats and others. Many opponents assert that the Ryan budget irresponsibly seeks to balance the federal budget on the backs of the poor and other vulnerable citizens. Opponents to the Ryan budget assert that, we, as a nation, must find a balanced approach to the federal budget that will serve to protect investments in our nation’s greatest resource its people.

On Thursday of this week, the Republican-led US House of Representatives passed the Ryan Budget Plan FY2013 by a partisan vote of 228 to 191. Ten Republicans voted against the bill, and no Democrats voted for it. The Ryan Budget Plan and the resulting vote in the House highlight the deep divisions in the vision for this nation.

Opponents to the Ryan Budget Plan call it anything but a road map to financial health for this nation. One such opponent to the Ryan Budget Plan is Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)[i]. Van Hollen is the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Since the passage of the Ryan budget by the House, Van Hollen and others have been writing and speaking about the devastating implications of the Ryan Budget.

When discussing his budget plan, U.S. Rep. Ryan promised that it would free America “from the crushing burden of debt now threatening its future.” Opponents to the Ryan Budget Plan assert that it would do no such thing. To the contrary, the Tax Policy Center says that “… major tax cuts included in the Ryan budget would reduce federal revenue by $418 billion in 2015 alone; by 2019, revenue losses would exceed half a trillion dollars each and every year. That will make the deficit worse, not better…”

US Rep. Van Hollen asserts that the Ryan Budget Plan is a $3.5 trillion budget bill that has no chance of becoming law but that draws a clear line in the sand between Republican and Democratic goals for our nation. Van Hollen and other opponents have stated that instead of working with President Obama on a balanced approach, House Republicans passed a radical budget that seeks to: not only maintain but expand the Bush tax cuts; end the Medicare guarantee; Medicaid budget would be cut by $810 billion. Two-thirds of Medicaid spending covers seniors and people with disabilities; reduce the number of Pell Grant awards; and allow interest rates on loans to double in July. If House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan, has his way with his proposed budget resolution, Medicare will be privatized and Medicaid, food stamps, and countless other federal entitlement programs will be eliminated. The cuts under Ryan’s budget proposal, if implemented, would drastically increase income inequality and poverty.

While the Ryan budget reduced health, education, welfare, and transportation spending, the defense department budget was increased. Although, the Defense Department recommended a decrease in defense spending, its budget recommendation went unheard by House Budget Committee Chairman, US Rep. Paul Ryan. In response to the divided opinion on the defense department budget line, Ryan responded that, “the Generals aren’t giving us their “true advice”…” Meanwhile, the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy aren’t just extended, they’re vastly expanded. Billionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas would receive millions while seniors are forced to pay more for their health care.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art.

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[i] “Van Hollen was elected to Congress in 2002 in a high-profile election that received national attention. He quickly earned a reputation as an active, engaged, and effective member of Congress, rising to become one of the youngest members of the Democratic leadership in 2008. In addition to representing the Eighth District of Maryland and serving in House leadership, Congressman Van Hollen was elected by his colleagues in 2010 to serve as the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. In this position, he is working to advance policies that support job creation and economic growth, reduce the deficit, and put America on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability.”

“The Washington Post named Chris Van Hollen one of “10 members to watch in the 112th Congress.” Roll Call has noted that “Van Hollen gets near-universal respect from his colleagues for his intellectual firepower and combination of policy and political chops.””

“Congressman Van Hollen is a tireless advocate for Maryland in Congress, and his leadership has helped to obtain funding for a wide range of critical investments in our community, including infrastructure, biotechnology and education; public transportation in the Washington National Capital area; and anti-gang initiatives. Congressman Van Hollen was recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as the ‘Best Metro Area Member of Congress’ in 2010 and as the ‘Best Local Elected Official’ by Bethesda Magazine in 2008.”

“Throughout his career, Congressman Van Hollen has been a champion of education, energy, the environment, health care, and civil rights. He is a leader on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, and fought successfully to obtain a historic boost in federal funds for the Bay as part of the Farm Bill and to secure provisions in the Recovery Act that provided loan guarantees for renewable energy projects. He also played an integral role in the effort to pass comprehensive health care reform and fought to ensure that young adults receive expanded access to health insurance. He has been a staunch advocate for critical government reforms. He led the fight to pass far-reaching lobbying disclosure reform and has been a key supporter of whistleblower protections. A former professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congressman Van Hollen has a strong background in national security policy. He lived and studied abroad in South Asia and has remained active in issues related to U.S. foreign policy in that region and around the world.”

“Congressman Van Hollen has received numerous leadership awards for his legislative activities, including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s “Climate Champion of the Year” award for his contribution to clean-energy policies; the “Community Health Superhero Award” from the National Association of Community Health Centers for his efforts on behalf of the uninsured and medically underserved Americans; the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s “Legislator of the Year” award; Progressive Maryland’s “Champion of Working Families” award; the Maryland Executive Council for Educational Opportunities’ “Excellence in Educational Advocacy” award; and the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s “Representative of the Year” award.”

“Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Van Hollen served 4 years in the Maryland House of Delegates and 8 years in the Maryland Senate. His legislative record in Annapolis earned him the praise of The Washington Post, which called him “one of the most effective members of the Maryland legislature.” He is a graduate of Swarthmore College, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Kensington, Maryland with his wife, Katherine, and their three children, Anna, Nicholas, and Alexander.”

Source: US Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s Congressional website. US Rep.Van Hollen Action Alert. Van Hollen Congressional website. “Why Paul Ryan’s budget would explode the deficit”, Jay Bookman, Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 30, 2012. “House passes GOP budget with no Dem support” Stephanie Condon, CBSNews.com., March 29, 2012. www.examiner.com. Washington Post. Wall Street Journal. www.MSNBC.com. “Republican budget: Ryan Plan would hurt seniors”, Daily Koos, Joan McCarter, March 30, 2012, www.dailykos.com

House Republicans Reject Violence Against Women Act

The House Republicans Reject Violence Against Women Act. In response, this evening, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) posed the question, “How could anyone oppose the Violence Against Women Act?” This landmark legislation provides support to domestic abuse survivors and gives prosecutors the resources to convict violent abusers — but Republicans refused to reauthorize it on the House floor today. Tradtionally, this legislation has received bipartisan support--but not in this session of Congress.

As the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reminds us that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a cost-effective, time-tested, constitutionally sound compendium of laws that guarantees equal protection to all victims seeking help under its auspices. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking look to Congress to keep this critical program going.

“VAWA, which is up for reauthorization, has changed the way our society views domestic and sexual violence. Once a “private family matter,” domestic violence is now recognized in every state and territory as a crime of violence against an intimate partner. VAWA has also encouraged states to adopt new and more effective strategies to respond to dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Thanks to Congress’ efforts in drafting and passing VAWA, approximately $430 million is distributed to the states, tribes, and territories every year to fund the training and work of courts, prosecutors, police officers, and victim service providers. Each state and territory receives a proportionate share of the formula grant funding, allowing them to develop best practices and resources to address the needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in their jurisdictions.”[i]

VAWA has been very instrumental in providing the necessary funding to support efforts to eradicate domestic violence. With that, in the words of Congresswoman Maloney, How could anyone oppose the Violence Against Women Act?

Sources: Action Alert Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. NCADV.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

 

 

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[i] National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

 

Say No To The Ryan Budget Plan FY 2013

The Ryan budget plan severely and disproportionately cuts programs for hungry and poor people. Poverty in America not only affects the millions of people who are deprived of the common necessities to live, but it also affects the idea of progression and hopefulness in this country. The more than 46 million people in America living in squalor, poverty, and hunger are not invisible. Their concerns must be our concerns.

If passed, the Ryan budget plan would strike is a very serious blow to vulnerable children and families far into the future. Millions of children are in danger of budget cuts to vital health and income supports. House budget chair Paul Ryan, in his budget plan would rather the money go to defense spending and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Much of the $4.1 trillion in proposed cuts in the Ryan Budget Plan comes from vital programs, while much of the savings goes to $4.3 trillion in new tax cuts. The members of the house supporting the Ryan budget plan are opting to balance our federal deficit on the backs of the most vulnerable. This proposal fails to create a circle of protection around programs vital for hungry and poor people in our country and abroad.

The Ryan Budget Plan gouges the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) by billions, and turns it into a block grant, which would prevent SNAP from responding to economic downturns. Additionally, the proposed budget cuts the funding levels negotiated by Congress last August, and it eliminates the protections established for all major low-income entitlement programs. It also slashes other crucial programs, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, WIC, and Head Start. International food aid and poverty-focused foreign assistance would also be deeply cut. Cuts to this vital funding would endanger lives and our own national security.

The Ryan plan cuts Medicaid funding by 20 percent next year, gutting a popular program that helps more than 28 million needy children receive care. And Medicaid is slashed by one-third over 10 years. By defunding the Affordable Care Act (health reform), millions more could also lose out on the chance for coverage. Education is hard hit, too, with billions slashed to services kids need to compete in the future. Pell Grants, which help students afford college, would face a budget freeze, and the interest some pay for student loans could double.

As an advocate for indigent children, youth, and families, I see the impact of poverty and need on those that we serve every day. I know first-hand, what poverty and dependence look like and how they destroy lives, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. We pray and cry with children who are hungry and parents who have lost hope. It is what we are, it is what we do.

In spite of the seemingly limitless prosperity that many Americans enjoy, millions of others are going hungry, foregoing medical care, doing without winter coats and gloves, struggling to break free from poverty. Last year, 46.2 million Americans lived below the poverty line – $22,314 a year for a family of four – marking the fourth year in a row that poverty has increased.

With 46.2 million residents, Poverty, USA, is the largest state in America. Today, the unemployment rate stands at 8.6 percent and despite recent economic growth more than 43 million Americans -including 14.7 million children – live in poverty, the highest in the more than 50 years that the data has been tracked. Yet a recent Gallup poll found that only 5% of Americans believe poverty and homelessness are important problems for the country. So let’s look at some facts and make our own determination:

Over 25 percent of the children in the US under the age of six live in poverty. The poverty rate among women climbed to 14.5 percent in 2010 from 13.9 percent in 2009, the highest in 17 years. As poverty surged last year to its highest level since 1993, median household income declined, leaving the typical American household earning less in inflation-adjusted dollars than it did in 1997. One out of every six Americans is now being served by at least one government anti-poverty program. Child homelessness in the United States is now 33 percent higher than it was back in 2007. More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid, the U.S. government health care program designed principally to help the poor.

According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, 1.6 million American children “were living on the street, in homeless shelters or motels, or doubled up with other families last year”. The percentage of children living in poverty in the United States increased from 16.9 percent in 2006 to nearly 22 percent in 2010. One out of every seven mortgages in the United States was either delinquent or in foreclosure during the first quarter of 2010.

The number of children living in poverty in the U.S. has risen for four years in a row. There are 10 different U.S. states where at least one out of every four babies is born to a family living in poverty. 28 percent of all U.S. households have at least one member that is looking for a full-time job. There are seven million children in the United States today that are not covered by health insurance at all.

Hundreds of advocates for families in crisis have called Congress about the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget being debated by the House of Representatives. We have analyzed the budget, and the news is bad for people who are struggling: The proposed budget cuts the highly effective Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by 17 percent over the next 10 years. This will put millions more American families at risk of hunger. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that the cuts are so severe that most of the government—aside from health care, Social Security, and defense—would cease to exist by 2050.

The budget severely and disproportionately cuts programs for hungry and poor people. Much of the $4.1 trillion in proposed cuts comes from these vital programs, while much of the savings goes to $4.3 trillion in new tax cuts.

The next 24 hours are crucial as the House of Representatives plans to vote on this budget tomorrow, March 29. Please call your representative now. Use our toll-free number, 1-800-826-3688. If the line is busy, please redial and call again. Please let your elected officials in Washington know that you care about children and families.

We can only make a difference when we take action.

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Gandhi

Source(s): Action Alert Voices for Americas Children. Action Alert Bred For the World. St. Vincent de Paul Society. National Center on Family Homelessness

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

 

 

Equal Protection Under The Law......Trayvon Martin Death?

The tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an African-American youth, has been covered heavily in the media[i] and online[ii] and brings into question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-Americans. As Trayvon parent’s aptly stated, their “…son didn’t deserve to die.” Trayvon Martin was just 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Trayvon wasn’t doing anything besides walking home with a bag of Skittles and some iced tea in his hands…”

The victim, Trayvon Martin, did not have a history of violent behavior or an arrest record. Zimmerman, the shooter, on the other hand, has a history of violent behavior and an arrest record. Was it rational for the police to conclude that an unarmed 17 year old youth would attack a 28 year old man that was armed with a gun and out weighed him by more than 100 pounds? Apparently not, amid the outcry over the lack of charges against Zimmerman, the Sanford police chief and state's attorney in the case have both stepped aside. The U.S. Justice Department has opened a civil rights probe into the shooting, and a grand jury is scheduled to meet April 10 to consider evidence in the case.

The story of Trayvon Martin’s senseless shooting death and the police response has garnered both national and international attention and has resulted in protests across the country. Martin’s death February 26, 2012 at the hands of a volunteer Neighborhood Watch leader, George Zimmerman, in a small, gated Florida community has rippled through many corners of the nation’s justice and political system and raised questions about the relationship between the black community and police in small towns.

Zimmerman, 28, pulled the trigger on the unarmed Martin as he walked home from a convenience. The police officers engaged in the investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin assert that Zimmerman was not charged because of a Florida law, Stand Your Ground, that makes it difficult to arrest and prosecute homicide suspects who claim self-defense. Given the facts of this case, the police’s conduct has caused some to question whether or not there is equal protection under the law for African-American’s in the state of Florida. There have been similar cases in the state of Florida where the victim of a violent crime was African-American and the perpetrator was white and there were little or no sanctions imposed by the “justice system” for the commission of a serious crime.

Because of the petition posted on Change.org by Trayvon’s parents and the interviews that were granted to media outlets, the conduct of the officers on this case has and continues to have a high level of scrutiny. There are a great many questions about the police handling of this case including but not limited to: (1) Why did the police check the victim’s blood for drugs and alcohol and failed to so for the shooter? (2) Did the police seize the shooter’s weapon?; and (3) Did the police interview any of witnesses that heard the cries for help? The online petition requests that the “general public” engage in the requisite actions[iii] to help ensure that justice would prevail.

Trayvon’s parents’ cry for justice has been heard; and it has served to ignite protests, across the United States including a “Million Hoodie March” in New York City and a rally in Sanford, Florida, the location where the shooting took place. The rally in Sanford was led by, civil rights activist, Al Sharpton. Further, Trayvon’s parents have amassed more than 600,000 signatures on their online petition calling for charges to be filed against the shooter. As protests spread across the nation in response to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, President Obama weighed in on the controversy Friday, saying it’s imperative that authorities investigate every aspect of the case.

“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” President Obama said. “I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”

At the protests related to this death, many protesters have donned hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin. On the day he was fatally shot, the Florida teen was spotted wearing a hoodie by his killer, George Zimmerman. The article of clothing reportedly made Martin appear suspicious to Zimmerman. Assuming for the sake of argument, Trayvon appeared suspicious to Zimmerman. The question remains, why did Zimmerman exceed his authority as a volunteer Neighborhood Watch member. The Neighbor Watch handbook simply encourages its members to simply report the “suspicious” person(s) and/or crime to the police. Despite the Neighborhood Watch manual’s clear instruction on what is to be its members’ response to “suspicious” person(s) and the statement by the 911 to Zimmerman that the police were coming and he needn’t pursue the person, Zimmerman pursued, confronted, shot, and ultimately killed an unarmed person.

Geraldo Rivera has asserted that the victim’s hoodie could have precipitated the shooting and death of Trayvon Martin. How can a hoodie be responsible for the death of Trayvon? Many protests have asserted that George Zimmerman’s pursuit and fatal shooting of Trayvon was not the result of the victim’s attire but rather a racist act which should be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law. The case has resonated for many who assert that Martin died because of stereotypes of young black men as violent criminals. Trayvon’s death is already being compared with high-profile and historic civil rights cases. Currently, an edited photograph has circulated throughout many social media sites that compare Martin to Emmett Till, a young man lynched by white men in 1950s Mississippi.

How should we look at this tragic death? Was it simply the act of self-defense? Was the shooting an act of racism by Zimmerman? Professor Mark Neal, a professor of African and African American Studies at Duke University, was asked to comment on the conduct by Zimmerman and the resulting tragic death of Trayvon Martin. Professor Neal stated that, “It’s not about these individual acts of racism. It’s about the way that black males are framed in the larger culture … as being violent, criminal and threats to safety and property.”

Public outrage has helped to bring national attention and a federal investigation to the case of Trayvon Martin. Travyon’s parents have asked that the public continue to build pressure to demand George Zimmerman be brought to justice.

Here’s what you can do to obtain justice for Trayvon Martin:

1. Sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin

2. Plan or attend a solidarity rally in your city. There are actions springing up all over the country as people continue to voice outrage over the murder of Trayvon. You can find a list of actions here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/justice-for-trayvon-martin/updated-upcoming-events-across-the-us-3212012/350015705040795.

3. Pass around articles about Trayvon and the petition on social networking sites and e-mail lists.

4. “Like” the Justice for Trayvon Martin Facebook page to stay updated about this case.

Source(s): www.change.org. www.cedp.org. www.nytimes.org. What Happened to Trayvon Martin, Explained, Politico Mojo, David Corn, Kevin Drums, and The News Team, March 23, 2012. President Obama Addresses Trayvon Martin Shooting, Amy Powell, March 22, 2012. The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and The Today Show.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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[i] Just to name a few, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and The Today Show have all covered the death of Trayvon Martin which occurred in February of 2012.

[ii] Mother Jones, Politico, Care.org

[iii] Public activism has played a pivotal role in bringing national attention to the case and ultimately leading to a top-to-bottom review of what happened that day. A wellspring of social media grew by the day and became relentless, demanding that the spotlight return to Sanford. It’s the only way to galvanize people in such cases, says Neal, the Duke professor.

“If folks aren’t on Twitter tweeting stories and giving particular testimonies; if you don’t have artists doing videos on YouTube talking about what Trayvon might have experienced … I don’t think we get a moment where suddenly the Justice Department is saying we need to investigate this case,” Neal says.

 

A Tragic End to Two Young Lives: Tyler Clementi and Dharun Ravi

Prior to the Rutgers University freshman’s suicide in the fall of 2010, relatively few people knew Tyler Clementi before the student jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge, but the wake from that sad and desperate act is now felt around the world.

According to prosecutors, no one is certain why Tyler Clementi took his life in September of 2010 but his suicide occurred after his roommate, Dharun Ravi, used a webcam to watch Tyler have a sexual encounter with another man in their dorm room. It is reported that Tyler’s roommate, Dharun Ravi, set up a webcam and watched with a friend, Molly Wei, in her dormitory room. Clementi appears to have found out about the webcast and had filed a complaint with the resident assistant. After the webcam matter was discovered by the authorities, both Ravi and Wei were charged with invasion of privacy.

Today, Dharun Ravi was found guilty of all fifteen (15) charges against him, including invasion of privacy and anti-gay intimidation. The jury decided that he not only spied on Tyler Clementi and another man as they were kissing but also singled out Clementi because he was gay. Ravi, 20, former Rutgers University student, could get up to ten (10) years in prison by some estimates and could be deported to his native India even though he has lived legally in the U.S. since he was a child. Months ago, Ravi and his lawyers rejected a plea bargain that would have spared him from prison, and prosecutors would have even helped him avoid deportation. In rejecting the prosecutors’ plea deal, Ravi gambled big and lost.

Many assert that intolerance is growing at the same rate cyberspace has given us the ability to invade the lives of others. Tyler Clementi’s suicide highlighted the need for more stringent anti-bullying law. After Tyler’s tragic death, many advocates assert that New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie signed a bill that is the toughest anti-bullying law in the country. Some argue that, New Jersey’s law is vastly different and much better than anti-bullying laws that exist elsewhere across the country.

New Jersey’s “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” is intended to eliminate loopholes in the state’s first anti-bullying law, enacted in 2002, that encouraged school districts to set up programs to combat bullying but did not mandate it. The new law requires training for most public school teachers, administrators and other employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form a “school safety team” to review complaints. School districts will be graded by the state on their efforts to combat the problem.

Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school. The effective implementation of this law should serve to provide children and youth with a sense of safety and freedom from being intimidated or harassed.

For further information on bullying, there are several websites you can visit including but not limited to: www.fightcrime.org; www.bullypolice.org; www.healthline.com; www.cyberbullying.us; www.stopbullying.org; www.isafe.org ; and others.

Source(s): “College student guilty in webcam suicide case”, Geoff Mulvihill, Duluth New Tribune, Friday, March 16, 2012. §2 – C.18A:37-13.1 §1 – C.18A:37-13.2 §16 – C.18A:37-15.3 §§17; www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/AL10/122_.PDF. Fight Crime.org; Bully Police USA, Inc.; Healthline.com; Politics Daily; MyFoxPhilly.com; NJ.com; Cyber Research Center; Stop Bullying, Inc.; and i-Safe, Inc.

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

2012 National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings, and rape combined. And studies suggest that up to ten (10) million children witness some form of domestic abuse annually. Everyone has a right to be safe.

Research data indicates that when different members of the community coordinated their efforts to protect battered women and hold batterers accountable, these efforts were more successful. Coordination helps to ensure that the system works faster and better for victims, that victims are protected and receive the services they need, and that batterers are held accountable and cease their abusive behavior. A critical first step toward coordinating responses is developing a common understanding of domestic violence.

Law enforcement agencies, advocates, health care providers, child protection services, local businesses, the media, employers and clergy can—and ideally should—be involved in a coordinated community response. Health care providers, in particular, can be important participants. Doctors, nurses and emergency room workers may see and treat women who do not or cannot seek other kinds of assistance. Coordinated community response programs often work to create a network of support for victims and their families that is both available and accessible. Coordinated community response programs often use the full extent of the community’s legal system to protect victims, hold batterers accountable, and enforce the community’s intolerance of domestic violence. Coordinated community response programs also often engage the entire community in efforts to change the social norms and attitudes that contribute to domestic violence. (From American Medical Association, Family Violence: Building a Coordinated Community Response 12 (1996).)

The conference aims to advance the health care system’s response to domestic violence. The Conference attracts the nation’s leading medical, public health and family violence experts from across the U.S. with increased international participation. In addition to the institutes, workshops, and plenary session, award winning actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith will perform part of her one-woman show on healthcare, Let Me Down Easy, during the biennial National Conference on Health & Domestic Violence.

Conference Logistics:

Event Date: March 29-31, 2012

Location: San Francisco, California

Sponsor: Futures Without Violence

The 6th Biennial National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence will feature cutting-edge research and practice on the intersection of healthcare and violence prevention. Workshops, scientific posters, and plenary sessions highlight the latest research and most innovative clinical responses to domestic violence, with a focus on the work being done by physicians, physician assistants, dentists, nurses, nurse midwives, mental and behavioral health providers, social workers, domestic violence experts, researchers and others. The Conference includes an Exhibit Hall to feature local and national resources. The Conference is primarily funded by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

With thirteen (13) in-depth Pre-Conference Institutes, one hundred and seventy (170) workshop presentations, in addition to plenary and keynote sessions, the Conference is one of the largest forums of its kind for advocates, clinicians, and researchers.

Prevention Pre-Conference Topics:

The prevention pre-conference institutes, workshops, and plenary sessions are as follows:

Prevention: Here are some of the prevention related titles of sessions:

Pre-Conference Institute: Promoting healthy relationships & preventing teen dating violence in the middle school years

Pre-Conference Institute: Intersectionality and gender based violence

Pre-Conference Institute: What’s your role in ending violence against women on campus?

Teen dating violence trajectories: Expect respect and gender matters intervention projects

Evaluation of the green dot bystanding intervention program in high school and college campuses

Weathering tough economic times through relationships: Innovations in teen dating violence prevention with youth at the center

Preventing IPV among Hispanics: Family, partner and community violence exposure, innovative training programs and impact on reproductive health of gang-affiliated Latina women

Interactive multimedia and online tools to understand teen perspectives on relationships, teach about IPV, and to transform negative social norms to positive ones

The fourth R: Classroom and small-group strategies to reduce dating violence and abuse

Promoting healthy relationships among adolescents in health care and school settings

Engaging men and boys as allies: Prevention programs and therapeutic tools for young men exposed to violence

Closing plenary session on Transformers: Risk, Resilience and the Promise of our Teens

Conference Sponsor: Futures Without Violence’s

Mission

“Everyone has the right to live free of violence. Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, works to prevent and end violence against women and children around the world.”

Service(s)

From domestic and dating violence, to child abuse and sexual assault, Futures Without Violence works to end some of the most pressing global issues of our time. We advance the health, stability, education, and security of women and girls, men and boys worldwide. In 1994, Futures Without Violence was instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by the US Congress. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, we train professionals such as doctors, nurses, athletic coaches, and judges on improving responses to violence and abuse. As well, we work with advocates, policy makers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships – the relationships that all individuals, families, and communities need and deserve.

For further information on the conference or to register, please visit www.nchdv.org.

Source(s): Prevent-Connect. Futures Without Violence website.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art.

The Face of American Poverty

Hunger in America is pervasive. Food security is necessary to lead a productive, healthy, and active life. It has been reported that more than 49 million Americans lack reliable access to the food. Childhood hunger is a growing reality in America. In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the prevalence of childhood hunger is a national travesty and for many a well kept secret. With that said, I will continue to highlight the problem and steps that can be taken by all to address this growing problem.

Approximately, one in four children in America is food insecure. As is aptly stated in the materials by Share Our Strength i “No Hungry Kid”, “…their bodies may not be rail thin, nor their bellies bloated like their counterparts in other countries, but they’re at risk of hunger all the same. They lack the energy to learn, grow, and thrive.” It is a well known fact that proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of healthy children.

Statistics on childhood Hunger in the United States: • According to the USDA, over 17 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2009. ii • 20% or more of the child population in 16 states and D.C. are living in food insecure households. The states of Arkansas (24.4 percent) and Texas (24.3 percent) have the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food. (Cook, John, Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-2008. iii • In 2009, households that had higher rates of food insecurity than the national average included households with children (21.3 percent), especially households with children headed by single women (36.6 percent) or single men (27.8 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (24.9 percent) and Hispanic households (26.9 percent).v

These heartbreaking facts about the prevalence and the face of hunger in America have drawn the attention of many people including but not limited to Oscar winning actor, Jeff Bridges. Jeff Bridges is serving as the national spokesperson for the “No Kid Hungry Campaign”. To ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve success, we must first ensure that their most basic needs are met.

Last year, advocates for children, youth, and families, faced a big battle in Congress. Advocates stepped up their efforts to support Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation. Their advocacy efforts helped to ensure the passage of the Healthy Hunger Free Kid Act. This year, advocates will face yet another big battle in Congress with the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill governs federal farm and food policy. A strong Farm Bill is critical. Vulnerable families are counting on not simply anti-hunger advocates but each of us to help protect vital anti-hunger programs.

To get involved in an anti-child hunger campaign or to gain further information on the prevalence of childhood hunger in America, visit www.share.org, www.feedamerica.org, and www.nokidhungry.org.

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; U.S. Census Bureau; Feeding America (online); Rhoda Cohen, J. Mabli, F., Potter,Z., Zhoa. Hunger in America 2010. Feeding America. February 2010; Nord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008 and 2009; Cook, John. Feeding America. Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-2008; www.share.org; www.feedamerica.org; www.nokidhungry.org; and Food Research and Action Center.

Photo credit Microsoft Clip Art

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iIn 1984, Share Our Strength, was started by the brother and sister team of Bill and Debbie Shore started the organization with the belief that everyone has strength to share in the global fight against hunger and poverty, and that in these shared strengths lie sustainable solutions.

iiRhoda Cohen, J. Mabli, F., Potter,Z., Zhoa. Hunger in America 2010. Feeding America. February 2010.

iiiNord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008.

iv Cook, John. Feeding America. Child Food Insecurity in the United States:2006-2008.

vNord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2009.

NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

March 10th is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) as National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Fortunately, HIV/AIDS is preventable. Nevertheless, each year, HIV/AIDS continues to destroy countless lives. HIV/AIDS takes the greatest toll among African-Americans, Latinos and MSM of all races. The rate of new infections among blacks is seven times the rate among whites. Among Hispanics, the rate of new HIV infections is three times as high as that among whites. And according to a recent CDC analysis, the HIV diagnosis rate among MSM is forty-four (44) times that of other men.

One out of four HIV cases in our nation are among women and girls, thirteen years of age and older; and two out of three of these women and girls are African-American. Given these grim statistics, this pressing public health issue challenges each of us to be “our sisters’ keepers.” This National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, you can choose to make a difference in the lives of others. Toward that end, take action in the fight against HIV and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls. Get tested. Encourage every female within your sphere of influence to be tested for HIV/AIDS. Additionally, you can plan or support HIV prevention efforts in your community.

With an equal amount of conscience, mind, heart, and collective action, each of us can educate members of our community about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the importance of knowing your HIV status. For further information about HIV/AIDS, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov.

Source(s): Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), HIV Surveillance Report: Diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2009.; Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI)

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Children, Youth, and Families

Children, Youth, and Families

Domestic violence is a pressing public health issue. Over 15 million children in our nation live in homes where there has been at least one incident of domestic violence in the past year, and seven million children live in families where severe partner violence has occurred.[i]

Data indicates that 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home.[ii] Growing up in abusive household can pose a threat to not only the child’s physical health but his mental health as well.

Research indicates that the non-abusive parent is often one the most important protective factors in the lives of children who witness domestic violence. All women, children, and men have the right to live in a safe environment and to conduct their lives without emotional, physical or sexual abuse or the fear of abuse.

Often, one of the greatest concerns for battered women is the affect of living in a violent home environment on children. In some instances, the domestic becomes so severe that women with children leave their homes without a place to go. Research indicates that domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness. In a 2007 report by the United States Conference of Mayors, thirty-nine percent of the city leaders who were surveyed identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness among households with children.[iii]

Social science research indicates that children’s reaction to witnessing domestic violence may appear immediately after the traumatic event or days or even weeks later. Some children are more vulnerable to trauma than for others. It has been shown that the impact of witnessing a domestic violence incident is likely to have the greatest impact in children or adolescents who have experienced or witnessed other traumatic events.

Children with poor family supports is more at risk for a poor recovery. It is important for children that have witnessed incidents of domestic violence receive counseling to discuss their feelings and ways to keep them safe. To find counseling programs in your area specifically for child witnesses to domestic violence you should reach out to your local domestic violence program.

Source(s): Center for Disease Control and Prevention; McDonald, Renee, Ernest N. Jouriles, Suhasini Ramisetty-Mikler, et al. 2006. Estimating the Number of American Children Living in Partner-Violent Families; Edelson, J.L. (1999). “The Overlap Between Child Maltreatment and Women Battering.” Violence Against Women. 5:134-154; U.S. Conference of Mayors. 2007. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities: A 23-City Survey. Washington, DC.

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

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[i] McDonald, Renee, Ernest N. Jouriles, Suhasini Ramisetty-Mikler, et al. 2006. Estimating the Number of American Children Living in Partner-Violent Families.

[ii] Edelson, J.L. (1999). “The Overlap Between Child Maltreatment and Women Battering.” Violence Against Women. 5:134-154.

[iii] U.S. Conference of Mayors. 2007. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities: A 23-City Survey. Washington, DC.