President Obama, responding to the Pentagon report released this week, issued a stern warning to service personnel, saying, “If we find out somebody’s engaging in this stuff, they’ve got to be held accountable, prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.”
He also made a promise to individuals who report such crimes: “I’ve got your backs.” But does his administration really?
It’s great he’s saying this (while it’s sad that it’s necessary), but we need the administration to also walk the walk. Saying how perpetrators should be punished is vital, but…it means nothing if no one punishes.
For example, Occidental College apparently has a great sexual assault policy, but the administration in charge of enforcing it sucks; they refuse to do the right thing and this is why it has federal cases pending against it.
(Source: rhrealitycheck.org)
photo by lawrence agyei
Too often, it seems, we belittle – and even mock – people and situations that should garner love and support. Too often we fail to acknowledge the humanity and inherent imperfections in others, instead choosing to condemn and forsake them for falling short, being different or disagreeing. Ms. Lauryn Hill is one of those people, and her situation is one of those situations deserving of support and love.
The “Free Lauryn” project is not some fluff piece or propaganda tool; rather, it is aimed simply to present a front of solidarity with Ms. Hill as she confronts her legal difficulties in a more public arena than previous years have allowed. Instead of being in any way stymied, we want the shirt to be a sigil representative of those who stand in support – a symbol from which she can draw strength as she faces the oppression beset her.
L-Boogie may now embody the Lost One, but she is still the joy of many worlds. Help us help her remember that by sharing what makes Lauryn important to you, how she has impacted your life, well-wishes and any other positive energy via social media channels using the hashtags:
#FreeLaurynHill, #DearMsHill and/or #FreeLBoogie
*Like the Facebook fan page, here
*Purchase the “FREE LAURYN HILL” tee, Here
where do i get this t shirt?
!!!
In 1998, New Jersey state troopers sent Pope John Paul II a letter asking him to call for the extradition of former Black Panther Assata Shakur, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1973 murder of a New Jersey state trooper. In 1979, she broke out from prison, and now lives in exile in Cuba. In this open letter addressed to the Pope, Assata tells her side of the story.
Democracy Now! aired Shakur reading aloud this letter in 1998.
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