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As you know, the results of two federal elections — US Senate and Congressional District 1 were, in the words of numerous well-credentialed experts, “anomalous.” SC Progressive Network Director Brett Bursey filed a complaint in federal court on June 17 to require the state to preserve voting records in federal elections. Since then, the Network has worked to arrange an audit of the entire June 8 South Carolina primary vote. (For background on the case, click here.)
Federal Voting Machine Case Clears First Hurdle
On July 28, Federal Judge Cameron Currie ruled that the SC Election Commission (SCEC) had until Aug. 20 to defend itself against a complaint that the voting machines in South Carolina do not meet federal requirements for record keeping.
SC Progressive Network Director Brett Bursey filed the complaint June 17 and the judge gave the parties a month to try and resolve the matter. On July 19, Bursey filed a report that concluded there could be no agreement between the parties regarding an independent audit of the entire voting system.
“I believe that the Election Commission doesn’t want a full system audit for fear that it would conclude — like a recent audit in Iowa did — that these machines should be scrapped.” Bursey said. “We warned the SCEC in 2004 not to buy these machines, and their continued defense of a voting system that cannot reliably tell us who won an election is regrettable.”
Only six states now use a statewide, paper-less system like we have in South Carolina. (Maryland outlawed the paper-less machines last year, but have not funded a replacement.) According to the Verified Voting Foundation, ballots in 38 states are cast on “voter verifiable paper records.”
Email network@scpronet.com if you want to be on a list to receive regular updates on the lawsuit.
AUGUST CALENDAR
This listing is for Network member groups. Send items for posting to becci@scpronet.com.
• STATEWIDE •
Aug. 1-31: Mideast Peace is organizing groups of folks to meet with their local congressional representatives at their offices throughout August. Briefing, training and materials will be provided. For details, call 803-215-3263 or email aiken_peace@yahoo.com.
Aug. 13, 5:30-7pm: Protect it. Preserve it. Pass it on. Celebrating 75 Years of Social Security with US Congressman John Spratt, United Steelworkers Hall, 1024 East White St., Rock Hill, SC. FREE and open to the public! Join us for birthday cake, ice cream, hot dogs and live music by the TransGenerational Jazz Band. Come hear US Congressman Spratt speak on the future of Social Security. The Congressman serves on the President’s Fiscal Reform Commission, which will offer recommendations to Congress in December that may affect programs critical to seniors. For details, call 803-957-8740 or email scalliance@mindspring.com. Sponsored by SC Alliance for Retired Americans, SC AFL-CIO, SC New Democrats, SC Progressive Network, Rock Hill NAACP, Catawba Central Labor Council, Greater Columbia Central Labor Council.
Sept. 1, 7pm: Mideast Peace Working Group Meeting. Al-Amir Restaurant, 629 Main St. (near USC).bia Organizing Anna Baltzer speaking engagment & publicity and Fall events. RSVP by emailing or calling mideastpeace.cprc@gmail.com or 803-215-3263.
Sept. 8-10, SC AFL-CIO 51st State Conference, Georgetown, SC. Great speakers and old-time union solidarity. Open to supporters of organized labor. For details, email scaflcio@bellsouth.net.
Sept. 22: Anna Baltzer, author of “Witness in Palestine: A Jewish-American Woman in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” to speak. More detials to be announced. www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com.
Sept. 25, SC Progressive Network’s 16th Annual Fall Summit, CWA Hall, West Columbia. Stay tuned for details.
The SC Alliance for Retired Americans invites you to join the organization in advocating for seniors and retirees in the Palmetto State. Find us on Facebook by clicking here. To be added to the mailing list, or for more information, email scalliance@mindspring.com or call 803-808-3384.
To join the South Carolina Peace & Justice Coordinating listserv, email aiken_peace@yahoo.com or call 803-215-3263.
Join the Grimke Sisters, an online community of South Carolina feminists. To join our listserv, email GrimkeSisters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or join us on Facebook. For more information, call 803-808-3384.
Check out the Tell Them blog to learn about reproductive health in South Carolina.
Rainbow Radio moves to WXRY 99.3FM. After almost five years on a local AM talk radio station, Rainbow Radio has moved to The Independent Alternative, WXRY 99.3FM, which airs the weekly 30 minute program at 8am and streaming on www.wxryfm.org. Podcasts of past episodes are available for download through www.scpride. org.
• AIKEN •
First and Third Mondays, 5-6:30pm: Women in Black Vigil for Peace, Hitchcock Dr. and Whiskey Road. Vigil calls for an end to war in Iraq, handing over Iraq to Iraqis and bring our troops home. Call 803-215-3263 for details. Sponsored by Aiken Peace.
Second Mondays, 6:30pm: Aiken Peace meets, Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church, 115 Gregg Ave. Call 803-215-3263 for details.
• CHARLESTON •
Aug. 11, 6:30pm: Launch party for OUT Loud: The Best of Rainbow Radio, Fish Restaurant: the Chart Room, 442 King St. Listen to the voices of SC’s first gay radio show! The critically acclaimed OUT Loud is filled with stories that will inspire you, enrage you, and transform the way you think about what it means to be gay and lesbian in the South. Linda Ketner and Melissa Moore will be on hand to talk about their contributions to the book and sign copies (available for sale @$14.95).
Sept. 6, 11am – 1pm: Labor Day Lunch and Learn – “The Uprising of ‘34.” The revealing labor documentary hidden from the public for more than 60 years will be screened at the International Longshoremen’s Local 1422 Hall, 1142 Morrison Dr. Presented by the the SC AFL-CIO, ILA 1422 and the Charleston Central Labor Council. RSVP for lunch at 866-798-8300.
Sept. 9, 5:45pm: AFFA program meeting, Marriott on Lockwood. 5:45 pm cocktails, meeting 615pm.
Sept. 21: Anna Baltzer, author of “Witness in Palestine: A Jewish-American Woman in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” to speak. More detials to be announced. www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com.
First Wednesday, 6:30pm: Greater Charleston Central Labor Council meeting, 2556 Oscar Johnson Dr., N. Charleston. For details, email erinm776@gmail.com.
Third Thursday, 7pm: Charleston Peace meets at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. For details, call 843-763-7304.
First and Third Saturdays, noon: Peace vigil at Marion Square, corner of Calhoun and King. Sponsored by Charleston Peace.
Fourth Saturday, 10am-noon: Genetic Literacy, Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. For information, email jamesecj@aol.com or call 843-762-7139.
• COLUMBIA •
First Tuesday, 7pm, Columbia Central Labor Council meeting, 2025 Marion St. The 17 unions in the Columbia area meet monthly to promote issues important to working families. The SC Progressive Network is a union shop and member of the Central Labor Council. For details, email jennypatterson@knology.net.
Aug. 6, 7- 9:30pm: Official launch of OUT LOUD: The Best of Rainbow Radio! Food, cash bar, selected readings by contributors, and book signing! Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St.
Aug. 10, 7pm: Columbia Progressive Network meeting We will begin the discussion on reorganizing the Network’s leadership that will be voted on at the Sept. 25 statewide meeting. We will be considering ways to integrate new leadership from the Network’s individual members. If you are not yet a member, or behind in your dues, go here to sign up. For details, email network@scpronet.com.
To see the Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s programs and activities, see chaliceweb.org.
To see Garden of Grace United Church of Christ’s activities, go to gogucc.com.
First Sundays, 3pm: Regular working meetings at the Rosewood Community Garden, an organic vegetable garden at 1100 S. Holly St., behind Ben Arnold Center. All who live near the garden are welcome to become growers. Reap the benefits of fresh food and community! For more information on this and other Carolina Peace Common Ground projects, click here. Call 803-446-2772 or write to info@carolinapeace.org to join the community gardening listserv.
Sundays: West African Drum and Dance Classes, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, corner of Heyward and Woodward. Master drummer Amara Camara teaches drum lessons 2:30-3:30pm. West African dance classes 4-5:30pm. For details, call 803-260-6486 or email tonijones@sc.rr.com. The money is used to buy rice for the Ratoma neighborhood in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa.
Sundays, 3pm: The public is invited to a weekly discussion group on the environment, led by Mel Jenkins of Environmentalists, Inc., at the USC Green Quad (West Quad). Discussions include local environmental and energy issues. For details, call 803-929-0200.
Every Wednesday, 5pm: Women in Black, State House. For details, call 803-446-2772.
Every Wednesday, 6:15-8pm: Progressive Social Hour, Tio’s, 921 Sumter St. Sponsored by Carolina Peace.
Third Thursday, 6pm: PFLAG Columbia meets at St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church in the Community House, next to the parking lot behind the church, 5220 Clemson Ave. For information, call 803-781-0515.
• GREENVILLE •
Upstate Progressive Network. For information on Network activities, projects and meetings in the Upstate, contact Roger Finch at Ubitquitus@aol.com or 864-905-6690.
Every Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm: Protest the Iraq War, Greenville Federal Building at the corner of Washington and Church. For information, email admin@greenvilleantiwarsociety.com.
• HILTON HEAD •
Every Saturday, 10-10:30am: Women in Black Silent Vigil, Hilton Head Public Library, Hwy. 278 and Beach City Road. Email marysull@hargray.com.
Second Wednesday, 7pm: Hilton Head for Peace programs. For details, call 843-681-4010 or email fintaylor@hargray.com.
• MYRTLE BEACH •
Third Saturday, 2-3pm: Peace vigil at Chapin Park, Business 17, Myrtle Beach, next to the library. Sponsored in part by Low Country Peace Network. For information, email DwightFee@aol.com.
• ROCK HILL •
Aug. 13, 5:30-7pm: Protect it. Preserve it. Pass it on. Celebrating 75 Years of Social Security with US Congressman John Spratt, United Steelworkers Hall, 1024 E White St., Rock Hill, SC. FREE and open to the public! Join us for birthday cake, ice cream, hot dogs and live music by the TransGenerational Jazz Band. Come hear US Congressman Spratt speak on the future of Social Security. The Congressman serves on the President’s Fiscal Reform Commission, which will offer recommendations to Congress in December that may affect programs critical to seniors. For details, call 803-957-8740 or email scalliance@mindspring.com. Sponsored by SC Alliance for Retired Americans, SC AFL-CIO, SC New Democrats, SC Progressive Network, Rock Hill NAACP, Catawba Central Labor Council, Greater Columbia Central Labor Council.
Second Monday, 7pm: Catawba Central Labor Council meeting, 1024 East White St.. For details, email bwise1@gmx.com.
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