Jo Freeman, Author at Public Seminar

Feature

Protesting the Inaugural

Reactions from Washington, D.C. on January 20th

February 8, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Protesting the inauguration of a President has become a tradition. While those who shouted “not my President” and other things as Donald Trump ascended to the highest office in the land clearly did not like him, most of them would have demonstrated had it been Hillary Clinton who took the ...

Multi Media

An Open Letter to Donald Trump

About the January 21st Women’s March

January 30, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Dear Mr. Trump: I just returned from the Million Women’s March on Washington, one of 673 that took place around the world today. I want to thank you for making this possible. It was your “locker room talk” that gave us the kick in the pants we needed to get off ...

Multi Media

Protesting the Inaugural

The Day Before

January 23, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Protests at the 45th inaugural began the day before when CodePink, the women-led anti-war group congregated at the line to the inaugural concert to display their signs. Holding a banner that said “Kiss Me, I’m Peaceful,” about a dozen pink Ladies of Liberty promoted several issues. Currently these have more ...

Race

A Brief History into Jeff Session’s Past U.S. Attorney Experience in Alabama

An Open Letter to Representative Jerrold Nadler

January 18, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

The Hon. Jerrold Nadler 2109 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Dear Jerry: Even though confirmation of Jeff Sessions to be the Attorney General is not a House function, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I know you are concerned with who heads the DoJ. Therefore I want to give you a little ...

Uncategorized

Adventures in Hillaryland

High expectations. Unexpected failure.

November 9, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

I vote in Brooklyn. When I heard that Hillary’s election night watch party would be in the Javits Center on the Hudson River, I thought that somewhere in that 1.8 million square feet arena there might be room for me. In all the Presidential elections I’ve worked in, I’ve never been ...

Feature

Organized Women at the Democratic Convention

October 25, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

While women faded into the background at the Republican Convention, they were front and center at the Democrats’. Women were everywhere, and not just sitting in the seats. Women were roughly half of the delegates because Democratic Party rules require equal division by sex. The Republicans do not have such a ...

Organized Women at the Democratic Convention

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Class and Culture at the Republican and Democratic Conventions

September 29, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

Walking around the conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia one could see that there have been many changes in class and culture both inside and outside of the parties in the last fifty years. In Cleveland I was able to tour the Q while it was still being turned from a sports ...

Class and Culture at the Republican and Democratic Conventions

Multi Media

Police and Protesters at the Republican and Democratic Conventions

September 20, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

Every four years Congress gives each city hosting a major party convention $50 million dollars to protect the convention and police the protestors. They usually use it to bring in cops from across the country. In Cleveland I saw shoulder patches from the California, Florida, and South Carolina Highway patrols, ...

Police and Protesters at the Republican and Democratic Conventions

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Satellite Events at the Republican Convention

September 12, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

Party conventions aren’t just about politics and parties. They are also about education and promotion. Groups come looking for supporters, or just to inform the public. They push their products as readily as any merchant. Some groups ask for money, some don’t; some feed you, some don’t. All want your ...

Satellite Events at the Republican Convention

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Cleveland’s Other Conventions at the RNC

August 30, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

Political conventions attract strange bedfellows. Over the weekend preceding the Republican Convention, two other conventions met to talk about issues that were almost polar opposites to those of the Republicans. Both were held in black Baptist churches. The traditional Sunday protest march was small and peaceful, organized by the Worker’s ...

Cleveland’s Other Conventions at the RNC

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Credential Chaos and Confusion at the RNC

August 22, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

"I'm not a member of an organized party. I'm a Democrat." If Will Rogers had said this today he would be describing the Republican convention in Cleveland, or at least the preconvention meetings. Unlike the Democrats, the Republicans hold their Committee meetings the week before the actual convention. There, important decisions ...

Credential Chaos and Confusion at the RNC

Feature

Jo Freeman Captures the Republican National Convention

August 3, 2016 • by Jo Freeman

Noted feminist, political scientist, and photographer Jo Freeman went to the Republican National Convention. Amongst the madness, Freeman managed to capture a humanity rarely seen on the political stage. It's a reminder to us all that, at the end of the day, the foundation of our nation's political economy lies with ...