USARiseUp

On the northern shore of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, stands the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Opened in 2004, the massive 158,000 square-foot facility educates visitors about slavery and parallel injustice issues. The Center houses slavery and abolition exhibits as well as theaters presenting informative documentaries and programs relevant to past and present human rights violations. The Center’s mission is to “Reveal stories about freedom’s heroes, past and present, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.”

The intense vitriol in the public sphere over the past month against President Obama’s healthcare plan—the raucous town halls, insulting signs, the Birthers’ crusade, and Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst—begs to what degree these sentiments are fueled by racism as much as ideological differences concerning the president’s healthcare proposal.

Immediately after Ted Kennedy’s unfortunate death, pundits and hopeful Democrats began positing that his death could actually serve as an emotional springboard for the final version of a healthcare bill that can pass. These remained whispers in the days immediately following the senator’s death. But now his colleague, and only living senator senior to Kennedy, Robert C. Byrd (WV) has offered to rename the bill in Kennedy’s honor.

Florida Senator Mel Martinez has left the US Senate amid intra-party conflict over immigration. As he leaves politics, his fellow Cuban Americans leave the GOP.

“Forty-two years ago, I arrived in this great country,” Martinez said during an impassioned 2004 campaign speech. “I was fifteen…I arrived alone, but with faith in God and the hope to be able to live in freedom.” Now, Martinez has resigned before fulfilling his six-year term perhaps ironically due to his lack of freedom within his party.