On June 26, 2003, Governor Bob Taft granted clemency for the first time in his tenure. Jerome Campbell, an innocent victim of the faulty justice system in Ohio, was not executed as scheduled in late June. Taft’s statement read as follows:

“First, Mr. Campbell presented significant new DNA evidence that was not available to the jury at the time of trial. Although this new evidence does not exonerate Mr. Campbell, it does contradict an impression that was left in the minds of some jurors during the trial. Second, attorneys for Mr. Campbell have presented evidence bearing on the credibility of two important prosecution witnesses. It is now apparent that two informants who were incarcerated at the time of their testimony were, in fact, interested in seeking more lenient treatment from prosecutors as a result of their testimony. This information was not presented at trial even though it would have enabled the jurors to more fully assess the veracity of the witnesses’ testimony.”

Two thousand progressive leaders from around the country gathered in DC June 4-6 to take stock of their prospects to “Take Back America.” Co-Convener Robert Borasage also described it as an “idea primary” in which many of the Democratic primary candidates would speak. Absent were the two candidates most directly responsible for passage of the Congressional resolution for war against Iraq, Senators Joseph Lieberman and Congressman Dick Gephardt. (Gephardt sent a videotaped address.) Also absent was Ralph Nader, who had declined to throw his support as a Green Party presidential candidate in 2000 to Al Gore. Neither fostering war in violation of the UN Charter nor giving up on the Democratic Party as the opposition to the Republican Party, the Conference theme was unity in support of progressive politics.

Wes Boyd, one of the founders of Moveon.org, discussed the Internet as a “sticky medium.” Those who sign on to an Internet site tend to stay, he said, in contrast to those who see a TV ad. The Internet enables two-way communication and, therefore, a greater sense of involvement and opportunity for grassroots politics.

The experience of protesting Bush’s imperialist agenda on a military base was an eye-opener for some of us from Columbus -- freedom of speech may still be alive, but its voice is faint. The whole event at the Dayton Air Museum was orchestrated to give them the ability to keep us fragmented with the least visibility possible. Most certainly this is the reason that the event was moved at the last minute from Philadelphia, where United for Peace was planning a mobilization.

The now-forming Third Hand Bike Cooperative has received enthusiastic support at its one fundraiser and six meetings. The Co-op has adopted the Third Hand name and the mission to advocate socially and environmentally responsible transportation and recreation through the promotion of bike use, bike culture, and community education in the Columbus metropolitan area. This project is just getting rolling, and anyone who has interest is more than welcome to help. Contact info@thirdhand.org or Jason at 614-222-8933. Weekly meetings are currently at 7 PM, Thursday at 205 East Crestview Rd.

     We’re living in an era when news coverage often involves plenty of absurdity.

     That’s the case with routine U.S. media spin about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So, on the July 29 edition of NPR’s “All Things Considered” program, host Robert Siegel and correspondent Vicky O’Hara each recited scripts referring to a “security barrier” that Israel’s government is building in the West Bank. The next day, many news outlets -- including the Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, New York Times, Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press -- also used the “security barrier” phrase without quotation marks, treating it as an objective description rather than the Israeli government’s preferred characterization.

     Meanwhile, in contrast, a Washington Post article managed to be more evenhanded. When the phrase “security fence” appeared, it was inside a quotation from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And the Post story explained that part of the barrier “divides farmers from their fields, or other Palestinians from their neighbors.” It takes varied form as a 20-foot-tall concrete wall and fortified stretches of razor wire, trenches and electronic fencing.