activism & advocacy

Freedom Center and USNUSP collaborate on "Human Rights for ALL" Tour

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:13:22 -0400

I'm Leah Harris, co-coordinator of the U.S. Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (USNUSP), a newly-formed network seeking to use the language, framework, and principles of international human rights to end violations against users and survivors of psychiatry and to promote voluntary and compassionate alternatives to the traditional mental health system.

Victory!!! Poverty Is Not A Crime Campaign Succeeds!

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:16:43 -0500

The solicitation ordinance, which if passed would have de facto criminalized panhandling in most of downtown Northampton, has been withdrawn by the mayor's office & the police department from the Northampton city council'sconsideration and is "tabled indefinitely".

They cited "polarization around the issue" (that is, increased opposition to it!) making the discussion "no

Major UK Study Shows No Evidence For Forced Drugging

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:48:28 -0500

A major new study in latest Journal of Advanced Nursing says there is no clincal evidence in research that forced drugging helps people. Instead, the practice is "taken for granted." According to the BBC, "Very few rigorous investigations of the use of coerced medication have been done despite it being widespread, the Journal of Advanced Nursing reported.

The dearth of evidence is "unacceptable" and more should be done to find alternatives, the team said"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7764512.stm

Press Coverage of the Poverty Is Not A Crime Campaign

jenna — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:18:56 -0500

Here is some recent coverage of the latest PINAC (*Poverty Is Not A Crime) campaign against the anti-panhandling ordinance put forth by the "Downtown Northampton Business Improvement District". Freedom Center's Caty Simon is referenced in each article. It seems that we actually made a difference on this one!

Check out the Poverty Is Not A Crime campaign page here

Article From the Republican

Gazette Covers Panhandling Campaign

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:30:36 -0400

The Hampshire Daily Gazette just did a 10-17-08 story on the proposed panhandling law in Northampton that Freedom Center opposes, and quotes Caty Simon from Freedom Center speaking at a recent protest and City Council meeting:

"It's clear that this legislation does, de facto, criminalize panhandling, if not in the letter of the law, then in the spirit," said Catherine Simon, reading from a prepared statement at a recent council meeting....

Simon, meanwhile, said the homeless and the poor are already the victims of economic violence.

Poverty Is Not A Crime - Local Campaign

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:15:42 -0400

Caty Simon of Freedom Center is coordinating Freedom Center's involvement with the Poverty Is Not A Crime campaign, to stop the city from adopting anti-panhandling laws.

Get latest info at the Povery Is Not A Crime Blog here.

Listen to the recent WXOJ Madness Radio show on the campaign.

Freedom Center, Arise for Social Justice, Out Now Oppose PostPartum Depression Screening Program

lee — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:19:26 -0500

Dear MotherWoman,
We are writing to address our concern about your legislation on postpartum depression screenings. We propose that Motherwoman drop this legislation because we believe in the long-run it will do more harm than good.

Under the George Bush Jr administration there was an initiative called
“The New Freedom Initiative” which proposed mandatory mental health

Freedom Center, Arise for Social Justice, OutNow Question PostPartum Screening Program

lee — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:28:05 -0500

Join The Community Power Kickoff - DATE CHANGE March 28th

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:34:50 -0500

Freedom Center organizer Caty Simon is attending the Community Activation Network's Community Power Kickoff to represent us and would like other Freedom Center members & people interested in the mad movement to join her. The event is on DATE CHANGE March 28th at Hampshire College. 12-6PM--you'll be
directed by signs as soon as you get there showing you specifically where to go.

Here's a quick summary of the event.

Get Involved With Our Spring Speakout w/ Leah Harris!

caty — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:38:56 -0500

Freedom Center is organizing a spring Speak Out and we want your help! Join slam poet and mental health activist Leah Harris from DC, Caty Simon, Lee Hurter and others. We need speakers and volunteers for this upcoming event -- get in touch with caty(at)freedom-center(dot)org.