The Dryden Theater hosted a public forum on health care justice November 15, 2009. It was organized by Progressive Democrats of America and moderated by Jeff Cohen, a journalism professor and founder of the media-monitoring group Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting(FAIR).

The House of Representatives recently passed bill HR3269 which was intended to make health care more accessible and affordable. Republicans and 39 Democrats voted against the bill, mostly over concerns of cost or ideology. But two of those Democrats, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Eric Massa of the 29th district in New York which includes parts of Rochester, voted against it for a different reason. The bill does not go far enough in addressing health care inequity in America. Massa was present at the conference and Kucinich called in by phone. Both Democratic representatives favor a different approach toward health care reform, HR676 which would expand the current Medicare system to all Americans beginning at birth. HR676, sponsored by Rep John Conyers (D-Michigan) was never put to a vote. Conyers attended a similar conference here in May and was invited to this one, but could not attend. Also present were Donna Smith of the California Nurses Association, who appeared in Michael Moore's documentary Sicko, Steve Cobble, the founder of Progressive Democrats of America and Dr Emily Queenan, MD, a member of Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP).

Video: health justice forum

Additional Information: Advocates for Universal Health Care Target MVP Insurance | Change We Need – And Can Afford

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The waiting room at Judicial Process Commission is small, with a worn, older-looking blue carpet. Two fans whirl in the background. And a quarter-pot of coffee smolders below a plaque, the type you see in hospitals and nursing homes, that says - the Virginia and John Mackey Reception Area.

If you were just released from prison - with no job and no money - this modest little room off Ormond Street is a welcome sight. For many, it's a place to start over.

Additional Information: Justicia: Newsletter of the JPC

Related: Rochester Calls for New Independent Civilian Review Board After October 7th Police Riot | Mainstream Media Absent as Activists Against Racism Movement Delivers 700 Signatures | No Ballistics, No DNA, No Fingerprints, No Eyewitness: Somehow Jury Finds 15 Year-old Guilty | Demonstration Against Abuse in Erie County Jails | Rallying Against RICO | Critical Resistance | INCITE! WOMEN OF COLOR AGAINST VIOLENCE AND CRITICAL RESISTANCE: STATEMENT ON GENDER VIOLENCE AND THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX (.pdf)

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On Monday, October 26th, Shaiasia Williams, a student at Edison Tech, was defiantly walking the halls of her school when she was subsequently sent to the In School Suspension room. That particular day in the ISS room, Williams was there with five other students, when, allegedly, the teacher in the room, Mrs. Mezzola, found her cell phone missing. Instead of Mezzola taking the proper protocol of reporting her lost cell phone to the principal, security and/or the school resource officer, she phoned her husband who happens to be an officer of the Rochester Police Department.

Read the full letter from Shonda Hannah—the mother of Shaiasia Williams—by clicking here. The letter describing this egregious abuse of power was sent to RCSD Superintendent Brizard, Mayor Duffy, Darryl Porter, Chief Moore, Adam McFadden, RCSD Officials, and many others.

Related: Rochester Calls for New Independent Civilian Review Board After October 7th Police Riot | Counter-Recruitment Activists Organize to Protect Student Privacy

Protesters chanting “Hey Obama let mama marry mama” and “LGBT we demand equality” gathered in front of the Federal Building on November 4 to condemn actions in the nearby state of Maine. Earlier in the year, courts in Maine determined that marriage was a civil right under the state's constitution and extended that right to all couples. Those rights were then taken away by a close ballot referendum on November 3. The protest was organized by the Civil Rights Front and participants included the Gay Alliance, Pride At Work, International Socialist Organization and Students For A Democratic Society. Read more; click here!

Video: From the Maine Video Activists Network: Gay Marriage and Petitioning

Additional Information: Chicago IMC: Maine: Analyzing Failure #31 | Seattle IMC: November 14th: Victory! Approve 71 Thank-You Rally