January | 2015 | Atlanta Progressive News

Monthly Archives: January 2015

Orrock, Drenner Introduce Citizens United Resolution, Call for U.S. Constitutional Amendment

January 31, 2015 AMANDA HILL-ATTKISSON Leave a comment

Photograph by Steve Eberhardt (APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S., State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) and Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) announced the introduction of resolutions calling for a U.S. Constitutional Amendment to allow U.S. Congress to place common-sense […]

Moral Monday Takes On Law Enforcement Reform at Capitol

January 29, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Moral Monday Georgia took action for the second time during the 2015 Legislative Session on January 26, 2015, when members of the coalition convened at the State Capitol, urging lawmakers to pass a Law Enforcement Reform package. Over one hundred people formed a circle in the Capitol Rotunda, singing Civil Rights songs adapted to address the […]

Sen. Curt Thompson Will Keep Pushing Medical Cannabis Bill

January 26, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 6 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Today, Monday, January 26, 2015, State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) is formally introducing language to replace the original, placeholder language of HB 1, to provide immunity for individuals with CBD oil, but not allow for in-state growing. However, State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Tucker) tells Atlanta Progressive News that he will keep pushing his medical cannabis bill, […]

FEATURE: The Many Eric Garners of Georgia

January 24, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The police murders of Mike Brown of Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner of New York may be dominating national headlines–having inspired a diverse national movement against police brutality–but here in Georgia, there has been a long history of the same that has been equally as deserving of concern. A TIMELINE OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDERS […]

Sen. Fort, Activists Unveil Law Enforcement Policy Reform Package

January 21, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, January 21, 2015, State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) today introduced to the public a broad Law Enforcement Reform package. It is sponsored by a bipartisan group of Georgia legislators. Events in the news have prompted an outcry across the nation for police reform and the demilitarization of the police: From the death of Michael […]

Black Lives Matter “Reclaims MLK” with Powerful Parade Takeover

January 20, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, January 20, 2015, Atlanta’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day parade was imbued with a spirit of resistance this year, as local members of the Black Lives Matter network took action to “Reclaim MLK.” As protests have continued nationwide, in response to heightened awareness surrounding police murder of young people of color, community leaders […]

Atlanta Councilman Bond Settles Multi-Issue Ethics Investigation (UPDATE 1)

January 19, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) has entered into a settlement with the City’s Board of Ethics regarding several violations of Atlanta’s Code of Ethics. The settlement was approved by the Board during their January 15, 2015 meeting. Atlanta Progressive News contacted Bond for an interview, but he noted that one of the conditions […]

City of Atlanta Pursuing Annexation of Druid Hills Neighborhood (UPDATE 3)

January 18, 2015 BARBARA PAYNE One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta is about to get a whole lot bigger, as the City is pursuing two annexation proposals. As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, the City is looking to annex part of unincorporated south Fulton County. In addition, the City is looking to annex part of the Druid Hills neighborhood in unincorporated northwest DeKalb […]

Legislature May Approve Solar Panel Lease Financing, with Limits

January 15, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 4 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — 2015 may be the year in which the Georgia Legislature takes a step forward on allowing for more Georgia homes and businesses to invest in solar power. On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, a subcommittee created by State Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta), who chairs the House Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications Committee, approved legislation drafted by State Rep. […]

Some Georgia Faith Leaders Oppose Religious Freedom Bill

January 14, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, several faith leaders held a press conference at the State Capitol to deliver a letter from over sixty faith leaders of diverse traditions, who oppose HB 29, the so-called “Religious Freedom Bill.” Here is a link to their letter: http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Georgia-Faith-Leaders-Unite-Against-Discrimination.pdf The speakers were Rev. James Lamkin, Pastor, Northside Drive Baptist […]

Moral Monday Activists Protest Gov. Deal’s Policies at Inauguration

January 14, 2015 GLORIA TATUM One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, January 12, 2015, while Gov. Nathan Deal was being sworn in for his second term, hundreds of Moral Monday supporters laid down in the halls of the State Capitol to protest some of the Governor’s policies. Signs were displayed to express their concerns. Without Medical expansion, an estimated over eleven hundred Georgians have died. […]

Atlanta’s Ferguson Protesters Appear in Court, Several Cases Dismissed

January 11, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 2 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — City of Atlanta Municipal Court Chief Judge Herman L. Sloan’s courtroom was filled to capacity on January 07, 2015, with social justice activists, their supporters, and their lawyers. Numerous young activists faced various charges including obstructing traffic, obstruction of walkway, and disorderly conduct, stemming from their arrest on the night after the Ferguson, Missouri Grand Jury decision […]

Activists Furious over Changes to Peake’s Medical Cannabis Bill

January 10, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 2 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Medical cannabis activists in Georgia are livid after State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) sent out a press release stating that he would gut his own medical cannabis bill, HB 1, following a meeting with Gov. Nathan Deal. “I have been in intense conversations with the Governor over the last several days about HB 1, and I view […]

EDITORIAL: Atlanta Must Pay APS Beltline Debt, with Interest, Immediately

January 9, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — It is time for the City of Atlanta to end the theft from Atlanta Public Schools, to end the “negotiations”–there is nothing to negotiate, unless the subject is how much to steal from school children–and to pay the approximately fifteen million dollars or more, when interest is included, to APS immediately. Hypocrisy on Cheating Scandals […]

Federal Judge Declines to Dismiss Georgia Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit

January 9, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — U.S. District Judge William Duffey has denied a motion to dismiss the case brought by several same-sex couples in Georgia, challenging Georgia’s statutory and constitutional provisions prohibiting same-sex marriages. The court’s denial of the motion means that the case, Christopher Innis, et al., v. Deborah Aderhold, et al., can now go forward. In 1996, the Georgia […]

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