AltWeeklies Wire
Backward Expert-Witness Law Creates Advantage for Jerry Sanduskynew
Though the grand jury report outlining allegations that former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky routinely raped young boys entrusted in his care is damning, when it comes to the trial, Sandusky and his lawyer Joe Amendola have a few home-court advantages here in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
12-15-2011 |
Crime & Justice
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Yanks Offensive Rape Adsnew
By now, you’ve probably seen the controversial Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board ads. You know, the ones that feature photos of what appear to be a young girl’s legs splayed on a tiled bathroom floor with underwear around her ankles. The ads send the message that women are not only at fault for getting themselves raped—a societal bias reflected in and re-enforced by too many court decisions—it’s your fault if your friend gets raped, too.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
12-08-2011 |
The War on Women
Two Distinct Stories Emerge From Night of Occupy Philly's Evictionnew
In turns out in Philly, the revolution will not be Instagram-ed. The eviction came and went without a meme-worthy Sgt. Pepper-Spray moment. Instead, we have hours and hours of messy footage and a handful of allegations of police brutality.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
12-07-2011 |
#OCCUPY
Unhappy Members of Occupy Philly Form Splinter Groupnew
As of tomorrow, there will be two groups occupying Philadelphia—just not together. The new group, calling themselves Reasonable Solutions/OWS Philadelphia, launches today. Occupy Philly calls RS's new daytime occupation of Paine Plaza a "back-door deal made by a few power-hungry people … not affiliated with our movement."
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
12-03-2011 |
#OCCUPY
Penn Prof Asks: Why Aren't American Cities Burning?new
Income inequality between blacks and whites has been widening since 1973. Segregation is more severe. Since all data reveals that the inequality that motivated riots of the 1960s and early 1970s has only gotten worse, why then, Michael Katz wonders, has no one lit the match?
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
11-23-2011 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Is Occupy Philly a Man's World? Sounds like it.new
It's sad to think that people optimistic enough to believe that marches and sit-ins can dismantle greed in the hearts and minds of bankers and politicians they'll never meet think it's impossible to help the women working every day alongside them to protect themselves.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
11-18-2011 |
#OCCUPY
The Strange Odyssey of the Ron Paul Tent at Occupy Phillynew
Ron Paul supporters and Occupiers make for strange bedfellows. In Philly, the rift hit a tipping point when an unknown intruder broke into the tent, stole campaign literature, and left a "steaming pile of shit" on the floor.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
11-09-2011 |
#OCCUPY
Pa. Abortion Bill 732 is Bad Medicinenew
Journalist Steve Lopez once wrote that Philadelphia is a city without pretense in a state without shame—and that was long before Harrisburg legislators stooped low enough to exploit murdered babies to push a bill into law that would result in what critics call a “back-door ban” on abortion in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
10-26-2011 |
Policy Issues
I Can't Stop Reading Philly.com Commentersnew
Calling black people animals, references to monkeys, phrases like "welcome to the jungle, baby" and "That’s how it go in da hood" are all standard comments beneath crime stories on Philly.com when the perp is black. And we haven’t even gotten to the anal rape fantasies that regularly litter sexual offender and police corruption stories. So why do I read them?
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
10-19-2011 |
Commentary
Tokin' Femalesnew
While pop culture has been connecting women and weed for a few years now—there’s Showtime’s Weeds, of course, and a smattering of articles in women’s glossies with titles like “Stiletto Stoners” and “Marijuana Moms”—the organized campaign to change drug laws has also been bringing women and weed together: Welcome to the first meeting of NORML's new program for recruiting women in Philly.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
09-28-2011 |
Civil Liberties
Mob Attacks Terrorize Philadelphia Neighborhood, Retaliation Threatenednew
About an hour after police disperse kids after a fight some say was racially motivated in a Philadelphia park, a mob of 50 - 75 teens crossed paths with 37-year-old Mark Lavelle. He says one kid swung a gun in his face, as others kicked in his door and beat him with pipe in front of his wife and kids. The next day, another mob--possibly the parents-threatened him. That night, more assaults that end with a cop shooting a man.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
09-14-2011 |
Crime & Justice
Sister Pact: Finding Strength After Convictionnew
With just charm, drive, nickels and dimes, reformed ex-on Michelle Simmons has mustered up a program that is accomplishing what the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections—with its bloated budget of $1.8 billion—states as its No. 1 goal: reduce the recidivism rate of ex-offenders.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
08-11-2011 |
Crime & Justice
Organized-Labor Pains: MilkBoy's Union Saga, Continuednew
MilkBoy Coffee owners Tommy Joyner and Jamie Lokoff are mild-mannered artists-turned-entrepreneurs building a new concert venue in Philadelphia. The landlord didn't hire all-union labor, and they found themselves caught in the middle of a public debate about the role of unions in the U.S. "Honestly, we feel like we’re being picked on by a large, highly funded, highly organized organization, not to be redundant," says Joyner. There’s just no way to get back at them because you think you’re getting somewhere, and [then] your place gets lit on fire.”
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
08-04-2011 |
Business & Labor
Reality Check: Pennsylvania's Rape Laws Perpetuate the Mythsnew
It’s easier to get away with sexual assault in Pennsylvania than anywhere else in U.S.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
06-22-2011 |
Policy Issues
Philadelphia Editor Spews Vile Rape Commentarynew
Dan Rottenberg, editor of online arts mag Broad Street Review (and way back, editor of this publication when it was Welcomat) wrote an editor’s letter last week that’s drawing criticism from national media watchdog outlets like Women’s Media Center—and deservedly so.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
06-15-2011 |
Civil Liberties
