Representative Harry Readshaw has voted against women’s health an astonishing 31 times in the Pennsylvania legislature, and it’s time to show him that the women of South Pittsburgh deserve better.
Join us for a 31-minute protest out side Rep. Readshaw's district office against the 31 times Harry Readshaw voted to restrict women's access to reproductive healthcare in PA. Let's make Readshaw tell us why he thinks women are not capable of making our own medical decisions.Here are some photographs from the event:
[T]o have a medically unnecessary ultrasound 24 hours prior to an abortion. It also forces doctors to turn the ultrasound screen towards the woman’s face. It then forces the woman take TWO prints with her (one for her scrapbook, and the other one SHE has to bring to the doctor performing the abortion.) And, furthermore, it forces civil and criminal penalties for doctors and patients who dare defy their legislating of medicine.Here's the ad Planned Parenthood is running against him:
I've been to hundreds of demonstrations in my lifetime. This began as a pretty standard event. We circled the sidewalk in front of Readshaw's office until a woman in a large SUV backed up along the curb, nearly hitting some protestors and reporters. Jeanne Clark, a longtime Pittsburgh activist, walked to the driver's window and said "Stop. There are people behind you." The driver said "You don't care about killing babies", and she did it again. Deliberately. She sat in the car screeching "Abortion is murder." Apparently, she doesn't have a problem with vehicular homicide or critical injury. Pro-life my ass.
We learned that the woman is Megan Readshaw Perfetti, Harry Readshaw's DAUGHTER.
Perfetti is a health teacher and coordinates the health education curriculum for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. I guess she doesn't think women need health care.
Before the event even began, a man from the business next door strongly objected to our presence. He shouted that he was calling the police. No one cared, since we were protesting legally. A Pittsburgh Police car arrived a few minutes later, after Perfetti's stunt, and sat in a parking space across the street. Perfetti walked over to talk to the officer. I don't know what they discussed, since she was clearly the only person committing a crime at the time, but the officer never left his car. He drove away as the event ended.Wow! And they call themselves "pro life."
Mr. Ravenstahl referred comment to his attorney, Charles Porter, who said the former mayor took the computer because he was concerned the Peduto administration would move in, hide it and then concoct a story about it going missing.
"He didn't trust the administration, so he thought it prudent" to take the computer with him, Mr. Porter said, "so that people couldn't claim any derogatory things about him."Typical Pittsburghers reacted to the news with varying degrees of skepticism:
10:30 AM: Press Conference at the City-County Building (Led by Ka'Sandra's Family Members).
11:00 AM: After the speeches, we will proceed down Grant to Forbes, cross Forbes, and enter the Courtyard at the Courthouse.
11:10 AM: We will conduct the visual dramatization of 110 Murdered Women and Children in the Courtyard.
11:15 AM: From there, we will exit the Courtyard on the Fifth Ave side, and take Fifth Ave Back to Grant.
11:20 AM: The March will continue down Grant to the DoubleTree, where we will join One Billion Rising
11:30 AM: Vigil for Victims of Domestic Violence
12:00 PM: One Billion Rising Program will Commence!(https://www.facebook.com/events/619090258127854/)When Ka'Sandra Wade was murdered by her ex one year ago, there was more attention paid by the media than for most victims of domestic violence. Her story stayed in the news because it exposed problems within police policies on responding to 911 calls for "unknown trouble." Her family and advocates for women worked tirelessly to change those policies.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl tweets of work from off-site"
KDKA News: "Some Raising Questions Over Mayor’s Recent Tweets"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Ravenstahl defends tweeting about work from other locations"
On October 19, 2013 from 7 p.m. to midnight CHS will host a party—No One Survives Alone: A Benefit Party with Zombies—at Clear Story Studios at 1931 Sidney Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side. All funds raised through the ticket sales and raffle items will help CHS serve thousands of area families. No One Survives Alone is made possible through a generous sponsorship by Yuengling.
CHS wants you to have fun with this party. Have you long dreamed of dressing up like a zombie prom queen, but never had the chance? Here’s your opportunity. Fancy yourself the defender of the human race? Feel free to dress as a zombie hunter (though no weapons, fake or real; let’s be reasonable in our fun). Feel like you work best in a cocktail dress or a dress shirt? No need to dress like an extra of the Night of the Living Dead. Not sure how to get in character? CHS will have a professional makeup artist on site to help you out. The most important part is to come ready to enjoy yourself with food, drinks and music to support a good cause.Tickets are available in advance for $50, but they will go up to $60 at the door, so purchase yours now online here!
Deb Gross is the Democratic Nominee for City Council District 7Deadline for parties and independent candidates is today
Pittsburgh, PA--With the deadline for candidates nominated by political parties and independent candidates to file to have their name included on the ballot to run for Pittsburgh City Council, District 7, Deb Gross has been certified as the Democratic nominee for this special election.
The deadline comes one day after Judge Colville indicated that he would reject the request for an emergency special injunction by Tony Ceoffe to prevent the Democratic Party from nominating Deb Gross. A full hearing is scheduled for next week, but a preliminary injunction can be denied if—among other reasons—the judge believes that there is not substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case.
Deb Gross was nominated by the Allegheny Democratic Committee by a vote of 47-43.
“Today’s certification is a small victory for progressive politics in the race for City Council,” Deb Gross said. “Our neighbors are looking for someone to fill Patrick Dowd’s shoes who will focus on all of our neighborhoods—making sure that everyone shares in the benefits of our economic growth. The political games of the past do not help make sure that streets get paved, that police are on our streets, or that we are maintaining the character of our neighborhoods. I am looking forward to continuing a campaign that looks forward, not back, as the Democratic nominee.”Her Facebook page is here.
I'm not a racist, but...
The President is making this about race...
The media is stirring up trouble and making this about race...
It can't be about race because Zimmerman isn't white...
What about black-on-black crime...
You dress like a thug, people are going to treat you like a thug...
They always get away...Yes, it's about race. It was about race when this country was built on the backs of slaves. It was about race when there was a one-drop rule. It was about race when there were Jim Crow laws. It was about race when the first African American president had to show his birth certificate to prove he is a real American. It was about race when Acorn was attacked and destroyed. It's about race when states pass laws to try to suppress voting. It's about race when the NRA doesn't say that Trayvon Martin would be alive today if only he had a gun (like they do in every other newsworthy case where an unarmed victim is killed). And, it's about race when, "Only in America can a dead black boy go on trial for his own murder" (SyreetaMcFadden).
The Alliance for Police Accountability is calling all COMMUNITY MEMBERS (ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH), politicians, community organizations, faith based institutions, and community groups to stand together to protest the verdict in the case against George Zimmerman and demand that the DOJ file civil rights violation charges. The verdict has sent the wrong message. Stand with us as we send the right one!! We will not stand for any victims of profiling to be criminalized and go without getting justice.
This case has reminded us of the grave injustices and the many Trayvon Martin's that we have right here at home in Pittsburgh! Let's make a resounding noise and presence and make it clear that WE WANT AN END TO RACIAL PROFILING AND THE PROFILING OF ANY ONE IN OUR CITY!! No one should be subjected to such prejudice whether it be for the way that they dress, their race, religion and/or sexual orientation.
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The phenomenal and nationally known rapper/activist Jasiri X will perform his Trayvon Martin and Jordan Miles' songs. We will rally, be heard, discuss solutions, protest and then celebrate our commitment to fighting injustices and to one another!WHAT: Rally Seeking Justice For Trayvon Martin And All Victims Of Profiling
