Progressive News, Opinion, and Analysis
A group of Brown graduates have sent a letter to the university expressing their disappointment with the way the school reacted to students and community members protesting NYC top cop Ray Kelly in October. The architect of New York City’s controversial stop and frisk policy, Kelly was shouted down at a Brown presentation in October …
Continue reading “Brown alumni say school handled Ray Kelly protest poorly”
Recent organizing efforts and protests in Providence, most recently, the protest of New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly at Brown University, have not only received the ire of reactionary conservatives, but also established “progressive” voices. Certainly, the conservatives have a lot to lose in capitulating to the demands of groups like the Providence Student …
Every few years, protestors shout down a conservative speaker at an American University. Every few years, rancorous debate ensues. Yet every few years, the warring sides simply yell past one another; the opponents of the ‘shout-down’ uphold the sanctity of ‘free speech’ while the protestors decry the awful ‘real world impact’ of the conservative speaker’s …
Continue reading “Neoliberal myths and why Ray Kelly protestors did the right thing”
Yesterday’s action against New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly by Brown University students and local activists has sparked the usual outrage from both liberals and conservatives about the loss of civil discourse. Rod Carri, commenting on ProJo.com, said, These spoiled brats would be the first to holler about their First Amendment rights being violated. …
By preventing New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly from speaking at Brown University yesterday, local activists and students sent a strong message: “racism is not for debate,” members of the crowd yelled over Kelly, who eventually abandoned the podium. “A grim-faced Kelly left the List Arts Center via a side door after university officials …
The ad hoc coalition of college and urban activists who prevented Ray “Stop and Frisk” Kelly from speaking at Brown University on Tuesday have been largely denounced across the political spectrum today. Dan Yorke of WPRO even went so far as to suggest that they be retroactively arrested! But one person who isn’t (besides Steve …
Continue reading “DARE on Ray ‘Stop and Frisk’ Kelly shout down”
Donald Trump will be holding a rally at 1pm Monday at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, and some Rhode Islanders hope to shut the rally down… My aim in this article is to argue against trying to shut down the pro-Trump rally.
Trump could never handle Rhode Island.
That’s why he ran away.
A young student in New England stands up against a long held tradition in a public school for reasons of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. His example leads to a student uprising that is a model of non-violent civil disobedience. The actions of the student(s) polarizes the community, gains national attention and is used …
Continue reading “Thomas Whall, civil disobedience and freedom of conscience”
The shout down at Brown has led to the creation of the “Committee on the Events of October 29,” said Brown President Christine Paxson today. The committee will “identify issues that may have contributed to the disruption” and “address the broader issues of campus climate, free expression, and dialogue across difference,” she wrote. Paxson authored …
Continue reading “Brown, Paxson create ‘Committee on the Events of Oct. 29’”
Travis Rowley is a writer who I don’t pay much mind to. He is a sometimes amusing distraction whose hyperbolic attacks on liberals and progressives are too extreme and careless to be of interest to any but his small coterie of fans. The manic style of his arguments owes less to the surgical precision of …
Continue reading “An indictment of Travis Rowley and his ridiculous rhetoric”
It’s well worth noting that I, for one, was really looking forward to hearing Ray “Stop and Frisk” Kelly defend his deplorable practice of what he calls “proactive policing” earlier this week and I didn’t get to because of the widely-reviled Shoutdown at Brown. But I don’t believe it is the only thing worth noting …
Continue reading “Wingmen: When is civil disobedience worthwhile?”
Speaking of civil disobedience, Congressman John Lewis will be in Providence on Friday and I can hardly wait to ask the this living legend of the struggle for civil rights what he thinks of the instantly infamous Shout Down at Brown. Lewis, like those who prevented Ray Kelly from lecturing on his controversial and currently …
Continue reading “Shout down at Brown: what would John Lewis do?”
In a sign of either Brown University’s ignorance of reality, or their support for oppressive practices, (or love of causing a stir), they will host the controversial Commissioner Ray Kelly tomorrow at 4pm, at List Art Building. Naturally, Kelly will explain that in order to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. …
Continue reading “NYPD comish at Brown after losing ‘stop/frisk’ suit”
Last Wednesday, RIDOT presented what it is calling a “boulevard-highway hybrid” model of the 6/10 Connector. I’ve dubbed their proposal “6/10 Dig” because it replicates the mistakes of the “Big Dig” in Boston. Our proposal at Moving Together Providence continues to be a true 6/10 Boulevard. Kevin Proft at Eco RI News has done the …
Continue reading “The drivers’ argument for a 6/10 boulevard”
“We’re here,” said Kelly Medieros, who has worked for BVCHC for ten years, “because we want fair wages and affordable health care.”
Across America people are processing news that the Ferguson police officer who killed Michael Brown will not be held criminally responsible. There have already been protests at PC and at URI. Tonight at 7pm there is a protest at Central High School in Providence. We reached out to several local Black leaders and asked for …
Earlier this summer, the Warwick Public Library held its first annual Quahoggers Jamboree, a celebration of the quahaugging industry that included displays of quahaugs and quahaugging equipment manned by real live quahauggers, an installation on the history of quahaugging in Rhode Island put together by the Warwick Historical Society, and a performance by The Aristocats, …