Undercurrents

Nashawn Williams was brutally attacked by racist whites in Plainfield while waiting for a school bus in Oct 2007.  Minister Cornell Lewis will bring the family to Hartford for a Press Conference on Saturday July 12th at 11 AM.  This is the first time Nashawn Williams will publicly speak about the attack and having a group of whites taunt the family while inside their home.  Police are trying to close the case; no witnesses or arrests.

Place: Charter Oak Cultural Center

Address: 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford

Date/Time: Saturday, July 12 at 11 AM

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Thank goodness for a Ct General Assembly that finally uses its super-majority to override one of many gubernatorial veto’s over the years, HB 5105 An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage

Some grim statistics:

A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes that the Wealth INEQUALITY grew more in Connecticut than any other state (2004 -2006). Some statistics from their report are:

1. The richest 20 percent of families have average incomes 8.0 times as large as the poorest 20 percent of families; this ratio was 4.6 in the late 1980s;
2. This growth in income inequality is largest in the nation;
3. The very richest families - top 5% - have average incomes 14.8 times as large as the poorest 20 percent of families;
4. The gap between Connecticut’s richest and poorest families is 7th largest in the nation;
5. The average income of the poorest fifth and middle fifth of families did not significantly change, while the richest fifth of families rose by $20,000 from $148K to $169K (more…)

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I spent eight minutes with Dennis House in an interview that will be aired Sunday morning at 11 on WFSB’s “Face the State.”  I think I was able to keep my seething core from blowing on camera, but I did manage to utter ”thug” and “fascist.”  Check it out.  And if you haven’t signed my petition, drop me an email at sfournier1945@yahoo.com  and I’ll pay you a visit. 

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The state of Minnesota will put up $38 million to divide among 158 victims as compensation for losses sustained in last year’s collapse of a bridge under Interstate 35 in Minneapolis. Thirteen were killed in the accident, which was the result of structural defects.  Law buffs might reasonably wonder why victims of the levee collapse in New Orleans aren’t entitled to similar relief. (more…)

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Today at the Capitol a coalition of social justice and criminal justice reform groups, including the Clean Slate Committee, Black Lowe, The Alliance Connecticut, People Against Injustice, American Friends Service Committee, and Youth Rights Media from New Haven, held a rally and press conference against the “three strikes” legislation proposed by Governor Rell.

(more…)

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Angela Davis will be speaking at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain on Thursday, April 24th. She will be taking part in two panel discussions, the first at 2:00 titled “Are Prisons Obsolete?” and the second at 5:30 titled “Race, Class and Gender Issues in American Society.” The talks are in Torp Theatre in Davidson Hall.

(more…)

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Are past convictions affecting your present and your future? Find out how to apply for a Non-Inmate Pardon to clear your record and move forward with your life! Your privacy will be respected. Or if you have completed your sentence, and are violation-free, you MAY be eligible to apply for a Pardon to expunge your criminal record.

Pardon Forum

Presented by
the Connecticut Pardon Team
And the UCONN School of Social Work
And Keynote by STATE REPRESENTATIVE DOUGLAS MCCRORY

Tuesday, April 1 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Hartford Public Library Downtown Library, Main Floor 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103

Registration required: Call TOLL-FREE 1-866-251-3810 Or visit www.connecticutpardonteam.com

For directions or more information, please call the library at 695-6295 or visit our web site www.hplct.org.

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The political opportunities of third-party candidates may be unconstitutionally impaired by Connecticut’s campaign finance law, a federal judge has ruled, and a legal challenge to the law will have its day in court. (more…)