Change.org - 17-year-old son convicted as adult?

Heather’s 17-year-old son was tried and convicted by an adult court earlier this year. He will serve 38 years for illegal possession of a gun that he unknowingly gave to a person who used it for murder. Heather believes that too many juveniles are being tried as adults, and wants to change the law in Ohio. Add your name to her petition to help make the justice system fair for juveniles. End Mandatory Bindovers of Juveniles to Adult Court 3,481 have signed Heather Mullins’s petition. Let’s get to 5,000!

Sign now with a click

My son, at 17 years old, was tried and convicted as an adult earlier this year and is currently serving a sentence of 38 years to life for complicity to murder. He didn’t murder anyone,  he didn’t plan for anyone to be murdered or harmed, he wasn’t even there when the crime was committed. He was found complicit because he had at one point illegally possessed the gun and had given it to the shooter, without any knowledge that a murder would take place. In fact, the jury found him not guilty of conspiracy and the shooter acknowledged on the stand that my son did not tell him to shoot anyone.  I, after my son, am the first to admit that he isn’t perfect.  He’s made mistakes. However, my son is not a violent person and doesn’t deserve the charges nor the sentence he was given.  Our criminal justice system needs to change. While researching this issue, I have learned that over 80% of our kids that are mandatorily bound over to adult court are black, which is a huge racial disparity. While my son isn’t of color, he was on an IEP and struggled to understand throughout the entire legal process. We couldn’t afford to hire private counsel. My son wasn’t a star athlete (or any athlete), he doesn’t come from a prominent family or have connections...things that shouldn’t matter but unfortunately do. Current Ohio law allows for mandatory bindover of youth as young as 14 years old to face adult prosecution who have been alleged to  have committed certain offenses, despite the numerous research studies that have proven that the adolescent brain doesn’t fully develop until the mid-twenties, with some studies even suggesting later. In fact, former Supreme Court Justice Kennedy stated that "children are constitutionally different from adults in their level of culpability." Justice Kagan has recognized that adolescence is a time of "immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences." Ohio law recognizes that youth don’t have the ability to make adult decisions, such as buying cigarettes and alcohol, voting, serving on juries or getting married without parental consent. Yet, current Ohio law allows children as young as 14 to be tried and convicted as adults, despite the fact that research shows youth face a disadvantage in criminal proceedings because they are less capable than adults to assist counsel with their defense or in understanding their legal rights. On December 22, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that "the mandatory transfer of juveniles to adult court violates juveniles’ right to due process as guaranteed by Article 1, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution." The Court further went on to find that juvenile courts are in the best position to make the determination of whether a youth should remain in juvenile court or be transferred to adult court. Unfortunately, this decision was vacated following a motion for reconsideration filed by the State of Ohio. I firmly believe that the Ohio Supreme Court made the right decision in 2016, and urge you to sign this petition in support of Senate Bill 99, which aims to end mandatory bindovers. This bill would give the power back to juvenile courts, who are specifically trained to both recognize and address the unique needs of minors, to determine after careful, individual evaluation whether or not to relinquish jurisdiction. While the injustice done to my son is my biggest motivator, I also am now fighting for all the other young people who have been robbed of their youth. I can’t fight alone. I need your help to make our legislators take notice and end mandatory bindovers. Please join the fight by signing and sharing, for all of our children.

Sign now with a click

Visit petition page

At Change.org, we believe in the voice of everyday people. Is there something that you want to change? Start a petition today

WCC NEWS: Envisioning digital communication with justice: symposium will turn ideas into action

A one-of-a-kind international symposium—“Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age”—will offer a chance to explore new visions for digital justice, public space, and actions that will make a difference. Photo: Albin Hillert/ LWF 30 March 2021 The symposium, scheduled for 13-15 September, will be jointly hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), and will also be co-organized by Brot für die Welt, the Evangelical Church in Germany, Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW), and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF). The event takes place in the run-up to the WCC’s 11th Assembly, which will gather in the German city of Karlsruhe in August-September 2022, and where the digital-technological revolution sweeping the world has been identified as one of the major challenges facing the meeting.  The symposium’s unique structure will offer people all over the world the opportunity to reflect on key questions and provide input. A pre-symposium process will invite discussion and contributions from eight regions, then working groups will compile contributions related to three major strands—Digital Justice, Public Space, and Vision for the Future—for the main symposium sessions and dialogue.  It will build on the idea of “communication rights,” that support the dignity, integrity, equality and freedom of all human beings and their communities. The symposium will have small face-to-face groups and wider digital participation. An estimated 20 people will meet in Berlin, connecting digitally with small groups and individuals across the regions.  “The digital revolution – which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic – gives us new opportunities for connection but also new challenges to our sense of community and even our understanding of what it means to be human,” said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca.  “Having the possibility to communicate digitally brings the world closer together than it has ever been before. This new sense of community requires new common standards and steady reviewing to maintain the dignity of the human being behind the screen,” said Christiane Gebauer, chairperson of WSCF Europe. “To explore these challenges, to embrace the great possibilities and to find a balance between unlimited freedom and self-restricting for the sake of the other, in this sphere where restrictions are rare, might be one of the biggest tasks of my generation.”  "This is an opportunity to weigh the potential of digital communications against new problems of ownership and control,” said Philip Lee, general secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication. “In today's world, the watchwords are accessibility and accountability. How can we ensure inclusion and justice in the digital landscape?" “The spread of “fake news” and misinformation, online abuse, digital poverty, and digital surveillance are just some of the challenges we are increasingly facing,” said Rainer Kiefer, director, EMW. “Political, cultural and civil society actors are all struggling to respond effectively. What is still lacking is a comprehensive approach, based on social justice, to the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.” Such a comprehensive approach will be proposed by the symposium’s unique mix of participants, including church and ecumenical representatives, academics, human rights activists, the media, and others in a myriad of storytelling roles. “This is a broad group that will emerge with clear results,” said Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of Communication. “We will be able to share, with the WCC 11th Assembly and beyond, the actions we can take together to ensure a more just digital future.”   Click here for the event on “Communication for Social Justice in a Digital Age” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

Change.org - Rename school district

When students discovered their school district was named after a Ku Klux Klan leader, they were outraged. They don’t want their schools honoring KKK leaders. So the students took action, rallying outside of district offices demanding a name change. Their school board has now formed a committee to discuss the renaming. But the fight isn’t over. Over 45,000 people have joined their campaign. Sign now to help make sure the board changes the name. Rename USD 345 45,393 have signed Rename Seaman Schools’s petition. Let’s get to 50,000!

Sign now with a click

On October 16, 2020, two student journalists published a story revealing that Fred Seaman, the founder of the Seaman School district, was the leader of the Topeka Ku Klux Klan in the mid 1920’s. The school district was unanimously voted to be named after him by the staff and student body when the high school first opened. For decades, a rumor of his involvement in the KKK remained within the district, but it was not proven fact by any particular means and therefore continued to make students of color feel unwelcome throughout the district.  USD 345 named the district after Fred Seaman to honor the work he did starting the district, but that work is overshadowed by his leadership in the Klan. Our movement is working to change the name of the unified school district 345 to an all-inclusive, welcoming name that will represent the district in high honor and welcome students of all races and backgrounds. The USD 345 school board declared that they would only consider renaming the district if a grassroots movement from the community called for action. This petition will show the district board that we do not want to be affiliated with the KKK in any way. Please, join our movement and take a stand for justice by signing and sharing this petition.

Sign now with a click

Visit petition page

At Change.org, we believe in the voice of everyday people. Is there something that you want to change? Start a petition today

WCC NEWS: WCC condemns bombing of Makassar church in Indonesia

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca condemned a bomb attack outside a Catholic church on Palm Sunday in the Indonesian city of Makassar that left at least 14 people wounded. Police believe two suicide bombers perished in the attack. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 29 March 2021 “We pray for the victims of this cruel attack, for their families and loved ones, for the worshippers who were just concluding their Palm Sunday service,” said Sauca. “We pray for the perpetrators, who fell prey to such extremist ideologies that they were willing to destroy themselves in order to hurt others.” Sauca urged Indonesian government officials to increase security measures to protect innocent people from extremist attacks. “All people, everywhere should be able to safely attend church without fearing for their lives and their children’s lives,” he said. Sauca also called for solidarity from the world in bringing peace, security and justice not only to Indonesia but to all people, in every nation. “An attack on a local church—an egregiously misguided act targeting grandparents, and their children and grandchildren—as they worship, is an attack on us all,” he said. Member churches in Indonesia   See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

Breaking News: Statement from Bishop Reginald Jackson on Georgia Senate Bill 202

TCR Breaking News: Statement from Bishop Reginald Jackson on Georgia Senate Bill 202 March 26, 2021 Yesterday the Georgia State Legislature passed, and Governor Brian Kemp signed SB 202 which bring drastic changes to Georgia's voting laws. This law not only seeks to suppress the votes of Black and Brown people, but it is also racist and returns us to the days of Jim Crow. This bill like the more than 250 other bills proposed in more than 40 states is based on a lie, that the 2020 election was stolen, and that there was fraud. It does not matter that there has been no evidence of fraud and court challenges were thrown out as meritless or lacking proof. This bill places the future of our democracy at risk. The bill will do the following 1. Require absentee ballots to be verified by a driver's license or other documentation instead of voter signatures. This will make it much harder for more than 200,000 people to vote, many seniors who do not have a driver's license. 2. It changes rules regarding the use of ballot boxes. They will no longer be located outside where voters can deposit their ballots any time, especially after work. Now they will be located inside with doors locked when the business closes. 3. It will reduce the hours for weekend voting in urban areas of the state, where most Blacks and people of color live. 4, It will make it unlawful to provide water or snacks to people waiting in line to vote. This affects primarily those who live in the urban areas of the state, again Blacks and people of color. 5. Establishes a deadline of 11 days before the election to request an absentee ballot. 6. Would allow the State Election Board to remove County Election Boards and replace them with an interim manager from anywhere in Georgia. This is extremely dangerous. If this was in place in last year's election they could have easily changed the election results and declared that Trump won Georgia. This law will definitely be challenged in court. The South District will be one of the plaintiffs in the court cases. I am sure this matter will end up before the Supreme Court. It will give the Supreme Court a chance to clean up the mess they created by gutting the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This weekend I am meeting with major civil rights organizations to discuss a boycott of several major corporations. You will receive the information next week Also, I will be on the following news show this weekend: Don Lemon:  Friday at 10 pm EDT on CNN American Voices with Alicia Menedet: Saturday at 6:00 pm EDT on MSNBC Joy Reid: Monday at 7:00 pm EDT on MSNBC I ask that you include me and other faith leaders in your prayers, that God will use us and lead us through these difficult times. Bishop Reginald Jackson Presiding Prelate, 6th Episcopal District

Not on our list? Join Here The News Digest contains selected articles from the newspaper. Click below to get full access! Buy Here Share Tweet Forward

The Christian Recorder is the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the oldest continuously produced publication by persons of African descent.   Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Chair of the General Board Commission on Publications Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union Mr. John Thomas III, Editor of The Christian Recorder Copyright ©  2021 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.