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NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Scott Davidson and Adam King
Volume 6, Issue 10
October 10, 2006
Contents:
Introduction
New Youth Rights Book Set for Publication
House Passes Anti-Students' Rights Bill
Martin Luther King, III Supports Lowering of Voting Age
NYRA Member Charged with Felony
NYRA Freedom Gets ISSN Number
Staff Changes, Requests
News from the Web
Conclusion
Introduction
By Scott Davidson
The past month has been one of both disappointment and promise. Despite the
work of activists both within and outside of the youth rights community, the
US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass the unjust "Student
Teacher Safety Act." However, an important youth rights book is to be
published and is expected to get a lot of media attention. Martin Luther
King, III has come out in favor of a lower voting age. Perhaps most
importantly, NYRA member Jesse Hunter had the courage to vote before his 18
th birthday. In the great tradition of the women's suffrage movement, Jesse
is likely to face the wrath of the law for exercising this most sacred
right.
New Youth Rights Book Set for Publication
By Scott Davidson
The noted scholar Dr. Robert Epstein has written a book entitled* "*The Case
against Adolescence: Reversing the Artificial Extension of Childhood,
Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen.*"* NYRA received an advance copy of
this book several months ago, but at the time Epstein was having a hard time
finding a publisher. "The Case against Adolescence" will come out in March
of 2007, and NYRA is expecting a significant reaction and a great deal of
media attention.
The book argues that adolescence is an unnecessary part of life, and that
young people should be treated more like adults. Epstein is the west
coast editor of Physchology Today, and is a highly respected
individual in his field, his book is sure to turn some heads. Be
sure to keep an eye out for this book in March.
House Passes Anti-Students' Rights Bill
By Scott Davidson
The US House of Representatives recently passed the so-called Student
Teacher Safety Act of 2006 (HR 5295). The Student Teacher Safety Act
requires all schools receiving federal funding to adopt authoritarian
policies. It would
essentially require most school districts to allow teachers and other school
officials to search any student at any time for any or no reason at all. NYRA
members are encouraged to contact their US Senators, and ask them to oppose
this legislation, should a Senate version come to the floor.
Rep. Geoff Davis, who is facing a tough reelection, introduced HR
5295. Cosponsors included Judy Biggert Charles W. Boustany, John R.
Carter, Phil English, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jim Gerlach, Sue W. Kelly,
Mark R. Kennedy, Mark Steven Kirk, John Kuhl, Ron Lewis, Jon C.
Porter, Christopher Shays, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Mark E. Souder,
and Curt Weldon. Among the groups opposed to the bill are the
National School Boards Association, the American
Association of School Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers,
and the Great City Council Schools, Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, and
of course, NYRA.
The bill made its way through the House of Representatives by an anonymous
two-thirds voice vote, which would not have been possible without the tacit
approval of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Youth rights activists
should demand to know if their Representatives voted for this atrocious
legislation. A few members of Congress had the courage to stand up and
speak out against HR 5295 - particularly Rep. Pete Stark, Rep. Lynn Woolsey,
Rep. Danny Davis, and Rep. George Miller.
Martin Luther King, III Supports Lowering of Voting Age
By Scott Davidson
According to NYRA Board Member Alex Hull-Richter, Martin Luther King, III
supports NYRA's efforts to lower the voting age. Martin Luther King, III,
the son of the famous civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and he
has become an influential figure in his own right.
NYRA Member Charged with Felony
By Adam King
Calling it the biggest thing he has ever done in his entire life, Jesse L.
Hunter voted in the Minnesota primaries on Sept. 12. However, Hunter is
unlike other voters casting their ballots this year. He is only 17 years
old.
"They [polling officials] examined my driver's license and asked for my
social security number," Hunter said, "but they never seemed to notice that
I wrote '1989' as the year of my birth. I voted, and walked out euphoric,
bearing an 'I Voted' sticker upon my forehead."
Hunter tells fellow members at the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA)
that he never intended to actually vote, but wanted to spark a conversation
on the voting age. He considers the current voting age to be unfair to those
under the age of 18. "I learned about the importance of voting from my high
school government teacher," he said.
Hunter's mother broke down in tears after receiving a phone call from the
district attorney's office informing her that her son will be charged with
voting fraud, a class one felony in the state of Minnesota. According to the
Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, a judge is allowed to give a
sentence of up to 12 months in jail or other non-jail sanctions as
conditions of probation for someone with no criminal history.
"Many adults take the right to vote for granted: more than 80 million
eligible adults failed to vote in the 'high turnout' 2004 election," said
Alex Koroknay-Palicz, NYRA's Executive Director. "Yet for exercising the
central civil right in this country, Jesse is being charged with a felony."
"If Jesse was a year older, he would be applauded for doing his civic duty,
but instead, he is being charged with a crime," said Adam King, NYRA's Vice
President. "Jesse had the courage to stand up for what is right - for
democracy - and he could go to jail for doing so."
NYRA Freedom Gets ISSN Number
By Adam King
In June of 2006, I applied for an ISSN (International Standard Serial
Number) number from the United States Library of Congress. After waiting
for nearly three months, I finally received word from the LOC. The ISSN is
free, and it can prove valuable to us in the future. Other publishers use
the number to make it easier for libraries to catalog their publications. Our
ISSN is 1933-5229, as of Sept. 15, 2006.
Staff Changes, Requests
By Adam King
There are no new staff changes, except to report that I have been promoted
to moderator status on the NYRA Forums.
We still need interested members to volunteer for the positions of Central
Region Captain and South Region Captain. If you are interested, apply
online at http://www.youthrights.org/chapterformation.php, and contact me.
News from the Web
Party's over for bars selling booze to kids
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8888
Congressman sent explicit messages to underage male pages
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8852
In Many Public Schools, the Paddle Is No Relic
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8813
Police: Teen Forced To Drink Turpentine
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8785
'Millions unaware' of ageism laws
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8779
Today's teens care more about news than teens in the past
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8768
Teen might be charged with providing alcohol to minor
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8754
Congress literally stripping away students 4th amendment rights
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8732
Curfew crackdown
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8720
Woman allegedly forces kids to eat own vomit
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8708
Requiring Pledge of Allegiance brings mixed response
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8666
Drug Use Up for Boomers, Down for Teens*
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8641
Conclusion
By Adam King
It is great news that we have finally received our ISSN number from the
Library of Congress and that Martin Luther King, III has revealed his
support for a lower voting age. The NYRA Board of Directors continues to
make great progress in advancing youth rights, and it is assisting Jesse
Hunter with his case. If you want to be a part of exciting grassroots work,
become a paid member today.
------NYRA------
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