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Political Prisoners in the United States? Depoliticizing our criminal system

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Does the United States actually have political prisoners?

Green states do not disenfranchise. Yellow states only disenfranchise those who are actually in prison. Purple states also disenfranchise felons who are out on parole. Red states disenfranchise prisoners who are on parole or probation. Orange states restrict the rights of some to vote even after they have completed their sentences. (Source: The Sentencing Project)

Green states do not disenfranchise.
Yellow states only disenfranchise those who are actually in prison.
Purple states also disenfranchise felons who are out on parole.
Red states disenfranchise prisoners who are on parole or probation.
Orange states restrict the rights of some to vote even after they have completed their sentences.
(Source: The Sentencing Project)

Probably not by the strict definition of the term: people incarcerated for their political beliefs. But there are millions of American citizens in the criminal justice system who are pawns in our political system. The criminalization of an activity and the pursuit, arrest and incarceration of people engaged in those activities have political ramifications which, in turn, can tempt lawmakers to make decisions which favor their own political viewpoints.

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March on Harrisburg Aims to Repair Trust in Our Democracy

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— Michael Pollack

March on Harrisburg PosterMarch on Harrisburg is a grassroots, nonpartisan group dedicated to healing our wounded democracy and repairing the relationship between “We the People” and our elected representatives. We have a solid plan underway to pass three crucial and important laws in Pennsylvania, but first, it is important to understand the disease we are working to alleviate, the deep disease in our society, rooted in the way we relate to one another. [Read more…]

Yes, I Can Be A Zionist And A Feminist

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A side-by-side of Mayim Bialik (left) and Linda Sarsour (right). Photo courtesy of Fox News.

A side-by-side of Mayim Bialik (left) and Linda Sarsour (right). Photo courtesy of Fox News.

This article was originally published on Huffington Post.

Linda Sarsour, the Palestinian-American political activist, expressed back in March how feminists need to care for Palestinian women, and alluded to the sentiment that Zionism and feminism are incompatible. Sarsour said to The Nation, “It just doesn’t make any sense for someone to say, ‘Is there room for people who support the state of Israel and do not criticize it in the movement?’ There can’t be in feminism. You either stand up for the rights of all women, including Palestinians, or none. There’s just no way around it.”

Big Bang Theory actress and Orthodox Jew, Mayim Bialik, retaliated by writing an article for Grok Nation, which outlined how Sarsour’s statements were not only offensive, but also false. Bialik wrote on her Facebook page, where she also apologized for making it seem as though Sarsour directly said that Zionism and feminism are incompatible, “[The] conversation surrounding Zionism finally went too far for me to keep my big mouth shut.” Bialik vocalized her frustrations, and now I am following suit. I am tired of the discrimination against my people and of activists, such as Sarsour, who think they can pit my identity as both a Zionist and feminist against each other.

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When we say, ‘Never Again’ we must mean it.

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PA Representative Dwight Evans’ statement in response to White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s comments on Adolph Hitler.

Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer mentioned Hitler in reference to the most recent chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Assad and said, “you had someone as despicable as Hitler, who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” This incredibly careless and disrespectful comment demonstrates Mr. Spicer’s clear mischaracterization of history.  Mr. Spicer’s inexcusable comments fall during Passover. We can never tolerate Holocaust denial, but it certainly is in even greater distaste during this reflective and meaningful time for Jewish communities across the US and our globe.  Holocaust denial and a general lack of understanding for communities who have suffered the worst form of persecution throughout our history and those who are still being persecuted today is something we as a nation cannot and will not stand for. I am glad to see Mr. Spicer apologize for his comments yesterday but I repeat when we say, #NeverAgain we mean Never Again.

Watch Sean Spicer’s original comments comparing Hitler and Assad:

Filibustering Is Not Obstructing

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Empty Chair at Supreme Court. Photo: OneNewsPage.com

Empty Chair at Supreme Court. Photo: One News Page.

When the Democrats launched a filibuster against the confirmation of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, some claimed that it was only nasty revenge for the refusal of the Republicans in 2016 to vote, or even hold hearings, on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland. The comparison is not apt.

Judges Gorsuch and Garland are both highly gifted members of the U.S. Courts of Appeals, judicial offices second in rank only to the justices of the Supreme Court. There the similarity ends. [Read more…]

Muslim Laptops?

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Muslim man has his bag checked at the airport.

Muslim man has his bag checked at the airport. Photo courtesy of France 24.

With its new ban, the Transportation Safety Administration has adapted to the Trump Administration too easily. “Intelligence showing that the Islamic State is developing a bomb hidden in portable electronics spurred the United States and Britain on Tuesday to bar passengers from airports in a total of 10 Muslim-majority countries from carrying laptop computers, iPads and other devices larger than a cellphone aboard direct inbound flights, two senior American counter terrorism officials said,” according to the New York Times.

We need to take a long breath and think about what is happening. Laptop computers and tablet readers might pose a danger to air travel. But singling out ten Muslim-majority Middle East nations is not our way, and is not logical.

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Rep. Adam Schiff Opens Security Hearing With a List of What We Know — and It’s Amazing

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By Mark Sumner

Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) provided a calm, measured opening statement for the security hearing. In doing so, Schiff went through a list of the things we know, including actions of Flynn, Gordon, Manafort, Sessions and Page. A list so long that hearing it all together sounded very much like an indictment.

In running through the lengthy set of connections, perhaps the most amazing thing was that Schiff drew on already public, already confirmed information. J. D. Gordon has confirmed the Trump team’s actions in making the RNC platform more friendly to Russia. Flynn did lie, repeatedly, about both the frequency and nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador, as well as the payment by Russian sources. Sessions lied before the Senate committee. It was extensive, but it wasn’t speculation.

It was also interesting that Schiff brought up the dossier compiled on Trump by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. Schiff introduced the dossier in noting the remarkable similarity between the statements made regarding a deal involving Carter Page and the Russian state oil and gas agency, and an actual deal that subsequently occurred. Even though Schiff didn’t directly raise the well-known claims the dossier makes against Trump, his example showed that information in the dossier seems to be accurate on those points we can check.

Schiff closed with a note that everything he brought up could be only coincidence, but if so, it was certainly a long line of coincidences.

This article appeared in the Daily Kos on March 20, 2017. The links were added by The Philadelphia Jewish Voice.

March on Harrisburg

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By Emily DiCicco

March on Harrisburg was born in a D.C jail cell in April of last year. Well, not quite a jail cell. A warehouse-turned-holding area for the thousand plus protesters that had been arrested at the Capitol building. We, participants of Democracy Spring, a non-partisan movement to get big money out of politics, were arrested at the culmination of a 140-mile march from Philadelphia to D.C. — the final push to force legislators to acknowledge our demands. They didn’t. [Read more…]

What You Lose With Trump’s Budget

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Head Start Program. Photo: Campfield.bcps.org

Head Start Program. Photo: Campfield.bcps.org

by Congressman Dwight Evans

In reading through the new budget proposal I am reminded of a question President Trump asked this summer when he was speaking to the African American community at a rally in Philadelphia. The President asked the question: “What do you have to lose?”

This is what we have to lose:

  • President Trump wants eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program, whose sole mission is to combat poverty nationwide.
  • President Trump aims to cut funding for Head Start and before and after school programs for our kids.
  • President Trump supports a new health care law that dramatically strips funding for Medicaid, a service that provides critical care to our most vulnerable.

The President’s budget proposal puts America’s communities at greater risk of tilting towards decline. All of the proposed cuts do not give our seniors, our children, or our working families a chance to get ahead. The President’s budget undermines and cuts the crucial investments we have made in our communities nationwide. Without adequate funding our communities will not have the resources needed to make our neighborhoods stronger, block by block.”

Congressman Dwight Evans represents Northwest, West, North and parts South and Center City Philadelphia, and the western suburbs of Narberth and Lower Merion Township. He serves on the House Agriculture Committee and House Small Business Committee.