We began our march at the site of the Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site and marched 8 blocks through part of downtown Topeka to the grounds of the Capitol building. It was cool with storms headed our way but there were about 200 or so of us who came to protest the legislation of bigotry in Kansas. The speakers were heard over rolling thunder and the rain began to fall before we were done. By the time we broke up the wind was turning umbrellas inside out and the rain was cold and driving. Still we marched and felt an enormous bond as we started working together to stop the rightward move of our already right tilted state. I have an album on Photobucket with pictures. The link is at the bottom. :-)
- Secretary of State Kris Kobach amended his voter ID bill yesterday in a way that will require transgender Kansans to out themselves when they register to vote.
- State Representatives Jan Pauls and Lance Kinzer have ensured that... the unconstitutional Kansas law banning same-sex relationships stays on the books.
- Our repeated attempts to secure protections from discrimination based on our sexual orientation or gender identity continue to be attacked by the far-right.
- Our allies in this action are also having their rights attacked:
* Kobach's voter ID bill will create enormous barriers to voting for low-income and minority voters.
* The Arizona-style "papers please" law is making its way through the Legislature.
* Kansas unions are facing "Wisconsin-lite" legislation that will severely damage their ability to represent workers.
There's more than this - these are just the most egregious attacks on the civil rights we all cherish. Please join us at tomorrow's march and rally!
Make signs!
Get out your pride flags!
On Saturday, March 19, 2011, please join Kansas Equality Coalition, the Topeka chapter of the NAACP, and the Topeka Center for Peace and Social Justice in an action to defend the civil rights of all Kansans. We will be marching on the Kansas state Capitol to protest Governor Sam Brownback’s threat to dissolve the Kansas Human Rights Commission, and to condemn his plan to politicize enforcement of our anti-discrimination laws.
KEC is currently working on our latest version of a bill that would include sexual orientation and gender identity in the Kansas Act Against Discrimination. If Governor Brownback has his way, not only will our efforts be dealt a critical setback, but the civil rights protections gained by all minorities will be in jeopardy.
First passed in 1953, Kansas’ anti-discrimination laws have, for decades, been enforced by the non-partisan, independent KHRC. Governor Brownback’s plan to abolish the KHRC could set enforcement back to where it was in the 1950s; his goal of transferring KHRC’s responsibilities to the Attorney General could turn protection of our rights into a game of political football.
Together, we can deliver a message to Governor Brownback that fair-minded Kansans refuse to turn back the clock on nearly 60 years of civil rights progress.
The march will begin at the Monroe Elementary School, the location of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, 1515 SE Monroe, in Topeka, at 12 noon on the 19th. The march will proceed to the south steps of the Kansas State Capitol for a rally.
KEC chapters will be working with our NAACP counterparts, in cities where both organizations have a presence, to arrange carpools and bus transportation. If you have a reliable vehicle and are willing to give a lift to other activists, please let your chapter chair know, or contact me directly.
Be there! This could be the most important civil rights demonstration in Kansas in many years, and we must all be a part of it.
Contrary to rumor, *yes*, this civil rights march and rally are still on! Our rights are still at risk, and we must still send a message to the Governor that we expect to be treated decently and fairly!
- Secretary of State Kris Kobach amended his voter ID bill yesterday in a way that will require transgender Kansans to out themselves when they register to vote.
- State Representatives Jan Pauls and Lance Kinzer have ensured that... the unconstitutional Kansas law banning same-sex relationships stays on the books.
- Our repeated attempts to secure protections from discrimination based on our sexual orientation or gender identity continue to be attacked by the far-right.
- Our allies in this action are also having their rights attacked:
* Kobach's voter ID bill will create enormous barriers to voting for low-income and minority voters.
* The Arizona-style "papers please" law is making its way through the Legislature.
* Kansas unions are facing "Wisconsin-lite" legislation that will severely damage their ability to represent workers.
There's more than this - these are just the most egregious attacks on the civil rights we all cherish. Please join us at tomorrow's march and rally!
Make signs!
Get out your pride flags!
On Saturday, March 19, 2011, please join Kansas Equality Coalition, the Topeka chapter of the NAACP, and the Topeka Center for Peace and Social Justice in an action to defend the civil rights of all Kansans. We will be marching on the Kansas state Capitol to protest Governor Sam Brownback’s threat to dissolve the Kansas Human Rights Commission, and to condemn his plan to politicize enforcement of our anti-discrimination laws.
KEC is currently working on our latest version of a bill that would include sexual orientation and gender identity in the Kansas Act Against Discrimination. If Governor Brownback has his way, not only will our efforts be dealt a critical setback, but the civil rights protections gained by all minorities will be in jeopardy.
First passed in 1953, Kansas’ anti-discrimination laws have, for decades, been enforced by the non-partisan, independent KHRC. Governor Brownback’s plan to abolish the KHRC could set enforcement back to where it was in the 1950s; his goal of transferring KHRC’s responsibilities to the Attorney General could turn protection of our rights into a game of political football.
Together, we can deliver a message to Governor Brownback that fair-minded Kansans refuse to turn back the clock on nearly 60 years of civil rights progress.
The march will begin at the Monroe Elementary School, the location of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, 1515 SE Monroe, in Topeka, at 12 noon on the 19th. The march will proceed to the south steps of the Kansas State Capitol for a rally.
KEC chapters will be working with our NAACP counterparts, in cities where both organizations have a presence, to arrange carpools and bus transportation. If you have a reliable vehicle and are willing to give a lift to other activists, please let your chapter chair know, or contact me directly.
Be there! This could be the most important civil rights demonstration in Kansas in many years, and we must all be a part of it.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/MuseRider/Civil%20Rights%20March%202011/
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