OMB Editorial

There aren't many moments in politics where a fast phone call can really make a difference, but this is one of them. Advocates from the Mass. Alliance Against Predatory Lending - a coalition of labor, community, homeowner and religious organizations - have fought for a state bill to "Prevent Unlawful and Unneccesary Foreclosures" (MA House 4096/Senate 2298) that would at last provide victims of toxic home loans in Massachusetts a modicum of protection against banks trying to seize their homes.

Like many other progressives, I watched the weekend of No NATO protests in Chicago with great concern. Not because - like the more ill-informed and/or right-wing media commentators - I was scared of "terrorists" or "The Black Bloc" (as the more ill-informed, right-wing and/or just plain lazy members of the fourth estate have been typing it recently ... as if the black bloc tactic were an actual organization). Rather because I believe in democracy. And therefore I believe in the fundamental democratic right to dissent.

Earlier this week, the Boston Bruins hockey team was knocked out of the NHL playoffs when Washington Capitals Winger Joel Ward scored a game-winning goal in overtime. And true, the Bruins were the defending champions. But, as the saying goes: too bad so sad. That would have been that. Were it not for the fact that Ward was black, and all but a small percentage of other NHL players and Bruins fans (and hockey fans in general) are white.

Whatever you think about the Trayvon Martin case, it's clear that a major travesty of justice occurred in Sanford, FL a few weeks back. So it's no surprise that a large spontaneous nationwide movement arose to see Martin's killer, George Zimmerman, brought to trial, and ideally to usher in a top-to-bottom housecleaning in the Sanford Police Department - and possibly in the Sanford city government itself for good measure.

And it's great to see such a movement grow so quickly. It gives me hope.