Featured Editorials

Minnesota man writes about his transgender child

Submitted by Robyn on Thu, 02/25/2016 - 1:58pm

Louis Porter has an Ed. D., has been a teacher for a long time, and is executive director of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage.

He is also the parent of a transgender child. And he fears for his black transgender child's life.

Even when my child was an infant, I had a premonition that our precious baby girl was going to throw some curveballs our way. Something in this long-awaited baby’s spirit let me know that a wild ride was ahead for my wife and me.

So, several years ago when my then-middle school child came out as queer, I was caught off guard, but it was news I could handle. “Your daddy’s love comes with a lifetime guarantee,” I said, paraphrasing a song by Sade, a generation-bridging family favorite. Then, as a native of the South steeped in black-middle-class tradition, I said: “I wonder if they’ll still let you be a debutante.” We both immediately laughed that hearty, authentic family chuckle that eases tensions.

--Porter

Hellraisers Journal: Moyer, Haywood, & Pettibone Arraigned at Caldwell; Refuse to Enter Pleas

Submitted by JayRaye on Thu, 02/25/2016 - 12:57pm
There are no limits to which powers of privilege
will not go to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

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Sunday February 25, 1906
From the San Francisco Call: W. F. of M. Men Refuse to Enter Pleas

From the Call of February 22, 1906:

MINERS REFUSE TO ENTER PLEAS
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Special Dispatch to The Call.
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Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case, Attorney Edmund F Richardson of Denver, Boise, May 11, 1907, w: text.png

BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 21.-Charles E. [H.] Moyer, William D. Haywood and G. A. Pettibone, leaders of the Western Federation of Miners, today were taken to Caldwell, where they were arraigned before the Probate Judge on information charging them with the murder of former Governor Frank Steunenberg. Each of the prisoners stood mute, refusing to plead.

Attorney E. F. Richardson, representing the prisoners demanded an immediate preliminary hearing, but it finally was agreed that the case should go over until next Tuesday, when a further continuance may be ordered.

Attorney Richardson maintained that the information filed against the prisoners was not sufficient, as the affidavit charged the commission of a crime in Caldwell, whereas Moyer had not been in the State of Idaho since October last, and the two other prisoners had not been in Idaho in years. There was in the information no word of conspiracy, he said. The court overruled his objection to the information and his motion for the dismissal of the prisoners. They were committed without bail.

The three prisoners were brought back to Boise this afternoon and were again taken to the State Penitentiary, where they will be kept in close confinement. They will be permitted to read books.

Daugaard meets transgender people

Submitted by Robyn on Wed, 02/24/2016 - 2:48pm

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard noted recently that he had never "knowingly met a transgender person."

He can't truthfully say that anymore. Yesterday the guv met with three transgender South Dakotans, including two students who would be severely adversely affected by HB 1008 for about a half hour..

Hellraisers Journal: Haywood, Moyer, & Pettibone Held on Murderers' Row at Idaho Penitentiary

Submitted by JayRaye on Wed, 02/24/2016 - 12:54pm
Through the window that faced the rear wall I could see
what I afterward learned was the death-house,
where the condemned were hanged.
-Big Bill Haywood

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Saturday February 24, 1906
Boise, Idaho - More Arrest Made in Steunenberg Case, Men Held in Idaho State Pen

From the Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times of February 21, 1906:

MORE ARRESTS IN BOISE CASE
-----

OREGON GOVERNOR GRANTS REQUISITION PAPERS FOR
TWO MORE ALLEGED ACCOMPLICTS
IN STEUNENBERG CASE.
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Steve Adams, Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case of 1906-07, Darrow Collection.png

SALEM, Oregon, Feb. 20.-Gov. Chamberlain has granted requisition papers for the arrest and return to Idaho of J. L. Simpkins and Steve Adams, wanted as accomplices in the murder of Former Gov. Frank Steunenberg of Idaho. Simpkins is believed to be in this state. Adams is under arrest at Baker City.

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BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 20.-It has been arranged that Moyer, Haywood, Pettibone and Steve Adams, held here on a charge of murdering Former Gov. Frank Steunenberg, shall be taken to Caldwell tomorrow morning and given a preliminary hearing. A special grand jury is to be called to be in readiness to meet any emergency, such as habeas corpus proceedings, etc.

Steve Adams was arrested at Haines, Oregon, yesterday. He was in Caldwell just before the murder and was seen with Orchard walking along the railway track in the vicinity of the Steunenberg home. Vincent St. John, who was arrested at Wallace, it is thought will arrive in Caldwell tomorrow morning, making five to be given a preliminary hearing. Adjutant General Bulackley [Bulkeley] Wells of Colorado has remained over to testify at the preliminary hearing....

Hellraisers Journal: The Only Convictions from Colorado Mine Wars of 1903-04: Mine Owners Gunthugs

Submitted by JayRaye on Tue, 02/23/2016 - 12:54pm
The intent is to hang the officials of the Western Federation of Miners
if any courts can be gotten together subservient enough
to do the dastardly deed.
-Montana News

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday February 23, 1906
From the Appeal to Reason: Report on Mine Owners' Hired Gunthugs

The Appeal of February 17th offers this account of the results of the "law and order" campaign made by the Mine Owners' Association and the prominent gentlemen who supported that organization in its endeavors to make criminals of the metal miners of Colorado during the recent strikes in that state:

NO COLORADO MINERS CONVICTED.
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co mine owners ass, ryan walker, appeal to reason, july 30, 1904 (2).jpg

Readers of the APPEAL will remember that this paper repeatedly called attention to the fact that the mine owners of Colorado during the labor war is that state in 1904 employed thugs and criminals to carry out their nefarious ends. Since that time five prominent "law and order" gentlemen who fought under the flag of the Mine Owners' association and who were paid by the mine operators and railroads, have been sentenced to the penitentiary and are now serving behind the bars for various crimes. Three more of the delectable gang are in the toils of the law with chances good for their being sent to join their companions.

It is also a significant fact that with all the charges that have been made against the members of the Western Federation of Miners, not a single conviction has been made. And, mind you, the law is in the hands of the mine operators and they have been moving heaven and earth to convict some member of the miners' organization. These are facts which show on which side of the fence the real criminals operated and who were in reality the law-abiding citizens of Colorado. Gradually the inside history of that momentous struggle is being written, and when all the truth is known there will be disclosed the mangled reputations of a number of highly respected politicians.

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