Topic: Civil Rights

MLK Day: A day we should celebrate all year

By Scott Beasley | January 16, 2008 |

January 21st is Dr. Martin Luther King Day,

Dr. King was an American leader, not solely a leader for African-Americans. He taught us to fight racism and bigotry with intelligence, knowledge, and education, not violence. He wanted people of every color to have the same rights and opportunities, and tremendous progress has been made in those arenas for which he is directly responsible.

Sadly, we still have a long way to go and I’m not sure some will ever view others as equals because of their skin color. Skin color is a descriptive characteristic holding no more importance than eye color or height. Unfortunately, no matter how people are viewed, some only see the differences among ourselves in a negative way. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

Unconstitutional Acts to Protect the President from Protestors

January 15, 2008 |

In the waning days of this administration’s tenure, President Bush’s lack of interest in opinions contrary to his own is as striking as ever.  Most recently in New Mexico, a group of peaceful demonstrators was removed from the president’s sight, continuing the administration’s long-held tradition that dissenters should be neither seen nor heard.  Sound undemocratic? Indeed.

Last August, President Bush attended an exclusive, high-priced fundraiser for New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici.  Local activists opposed to the president’s policies were, of course, not invited.  To let the president know that not everyone agreed with him, they planned to stand along his motorcade route holding up signs expressing their views, especially their opposition to the war in Iraq.

The peaceful demonstrators’ attempt at free speech was quickly squashed when police officers forced them to stay at least 150 yards away from the motorcade route, walling them off by placing numerous police cars and officers on horseback between the protesters and the president.  Meanwhile, a group of Bush supporters was allowed to stand right along the motorcade route, where their “God Bless George Bush!  We pray for you!” sign was in plain view of both Bush and the journalists accompanying him. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | No Comments

DDP redevelopment meeting canceled; Piper to recommend amendment

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 9, 2008 |

Failure to use due diligence, failure to follow state law cited…tumbles “blight” ordinance…

Coalition group to meet 6 p.m. today in APSU’s Clement Auditorium, in lieu of the previously planned city meeting…City Council members invited to attend…

Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper, has taken a bold step and reversed direction on the “blight” ordinance. He has decided to cancel a community meeting that was scheduled for Thursday evening at Austin Peay State University, where members of the Downtown District Partnership were to review the Clarksville Center Redevelopment Plan. The meeting was planned to allow the DDP the opportunity to inform property owners in the redevelopment area about the plan that they developed and recommended to the City Council.

“I have great concerns about how this was handled and presented to the City Council by the DDP,” Mayor Piper

The Mayor’s office has received many phone calls and comments from concerned residents over the past few weeks on this issue. In addition, the formation of the Clarksville Property Rights Coalition (CPRC), fueled by angry residents of the downtown area, and two standing room-only grassroots public meetings, provided a highly visible evidence of public discontent with the ordinance and the way it was developed and presented. «Read the rest of this article»

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Voters concerned about electronic ballots flock to UnCounted screening

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 8, 2007 |

The Clarksville screening of UnCounted, a film targeting issues in electronic voting, drew fifty people to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Friday evening, filling the screening room to capacity for this special event. The film’s producer, Patricia Earnhardt, and activist Bernie Ellis, addressed the group and fielded questions about the film and the increasing controversy over the accuracy and security of electronic voting machines.

Bernie Ellis introduces “UnCounted”

Producers describe UnCounted as “an explosive documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 — and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This controversial film examines…how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity…” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News | 1 Comment »

Gay Adoption: Prepare for legislative battle

By Todd Hughes | October 25, 2007 |

The polemic surrounding legal rights for GLBT [Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgendered) people to adopt children is clearly well established. Every few years, the question is revisited, either as part of a moral debate or as a legal battle. During the next few months, we can anticipate introduction of this question, once again, in the Legislature. We should begin by considering some important facts.

First, according to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the following are the particulars regarding adoption by same sex couples in our state:

• Single GLBT people may adopt children
• There is no explicit prohibition against adoption for same-sex couples;
• It is unclear as to whether or not a person can adopt the child of a same-sex partner.

Second, there are currently no bills in the Legislature that would restrict the rights of GLBT individuals or couples to adopt.

So, where’s the “problem” and why are we talking about a “battle?” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

TTPC, TEP review discrimination law, lobby for transgender rights

By Todd Hughes | October 22, 2007 |

US House Resolution 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, represents a bold move to enact legislation prohibiting discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation. At face value, the Resolution appears to represent a progressive move towards equality for gays and lesbians in the workplace. Unfortunately, it falls short of that goal. The major shortcoming of this legislation is that it completely ignores the rights of the transgender population in the workforce.

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) is holding an organizational meeting on November 12, at 7:00 PM, at Borders Bookstore Café, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., in Clarksville, to present the issue and discuss the reality of and omissions in the non-discrimination law. TEP can assist Montgomery County residents in making their opinions on this bill and other issues of equality heard at both the state and national levels.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues, Politics | 1 Comment »

A Look Back: A community teetering on the edge

By Turner McCullough Jr. | October 14, 2007 |

As the city faces ongoing questions related to its Title VI compliance status, it’s worth reflecting on observations noted in a Leaf Chronicle editorial (5/17/06) in the aftermath of the city’s ADA lawsuit settlement. Is it still just ‘the Clarksville Way’ to needlessly waste taxpayer dollars?

Kudo’s to the Leaf Chronicle editorial staff for their editorial acknowledging the need to bring the City into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A second round of Kudo’s to the three members of the ‘Wheel Me On’ group who brought the lawsuit in the first place.

This excerpt from the Leaf Chronicle seems to acknowledge, for the first time, that we have a community problem:

“All of this is eerily similar to the City’s approach to the minority rights [issues] in the police department where ongoing claims of racial discrimination by black officers have led to millions of dollars lost in judgments against the City in Federal Courts.”

“ It’s time to change this mindset about oversight of civil rights. For when the Federal Court has it’s say, you do it right, or pay. And too frequently, that [the latter] is the Clarksville way.”

But does it have to be? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Tennessee Equality Project forms Montgomery County Committee

By Todd Hughes | October 12, 2007 |

The Tennessee Equality Project is presently in the process of forming “ TEP Montgomery County,” a special group that is concerned with the needs of citizens in the Clarksville Region. They need your help and support. An organizational meeting will take place on November 12 at 7:00 PM in Clarksville at the Borders Bookstore Cafe at 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. The meeting should last no more than one hour. Please plan to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Todd Hughes at todd@TNequalityproject.org.

Elsewhere in Tennessee: Nashville

The Tennessee Equality Project held a meeting with Nashville Community Members and Leaders to Solicit Opinions for non-discrimination ordinance for Nashville, TN.

A group of approximately sixty community members met on the evening of Wednesday, October 12, at the East End Methodist Church in Nashville to discuss the possibilities for a non-discrimination ordinance and other positive legislation for Metro Nashville. «Read the rest of this article»

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