Steve Ahlquist

Last updated

Steve Ahlquist
OccupationReporter
Notable awardsSpirit of Pride Award; Red Bandana Award; DARE Award

Steve Ahlquist (born 1963) is an American journalist, comic book writer, graphic novelist, and humanist from Rhode Island.

Contents

Ahlquist is the founder and was the editor-in-chief of Uprise RI, a Rhode Island based news site covering issues of social justice, human rights, progressive politics and climate change. [1] He is also the President and founding member of Humanists of Rhode Island. [2] [3]

He is known for his reporting on Uprise RI, which has been credited with informing and sustaining the movement against a proposed fracked-gas power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island. [4]

Personal life

Ahlquist is the former owner of retail comics and video store Atomic Comics & Video. [5]

Journalism career

Jerry Elmer, a senior attorney with the Conservation Law Foundation, credits Ahlquist and his reporting on Uprise RI with informing and sustaining the movement against a proposed fracked-gas power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island. [4]

Previously he wrote for RI Future, but left around October 2017. [6] Shortly after, on November 1, 2017, he founded Uprise RI. [7] [8]

Burillville Power Plant movement

Through his coverage on Uprise RI, Ahlquist has been credited with informing and sustaining the movement against a fracked-gas power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island, which was proposed by Chicago-based energy developer Invenergy. [4]

In November 2017, Ahlquist was denied press access to an event related to the proposed power plant. A public relations officer representing the event, hosted by the New England Coalition for Affordable Energy and Rhode Islanders for Affordable Energy, wrote in an email that “We’re inviting only non-partisan/non-activist outlets like the ProJo, NPR, etc.". Providence Journal Reporter Alex Kuffner later gave Ahlquist a recording of the entire event. [4]

In 2019 Ahlquist was selected as a speaker at the TEDxProvidence conference, where he discussed his ongoing coverage of the proposed fracked-gas power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island. [9] [10]

Rhode Island Open Meetings Act controversies

In at least two notable instances, Ahlquist has been confronted by representatives of Rhode Island state or local government and asked to cease recording of public meetings. [11] Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act authorizes individuals to record public meetings. [11] In these two instances, Steven Brown, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union, has defended Ahlquist and reminded representatives of their obligations under the Open Meetings Act. [12] [13]

In 2017, at a Cranston City Council meeting, council President Michael Farina told the chamber audience that recording devices were prohibited. Ahlquist protested, saying “That's actually not legal.” Farina responded, citing municipal rule “34b.” Ahlquist continued objecting, and Farina said he would make a one-time exception. [11] Brown wrote a letter to Councilor Farina stating, "We have reviewed the City Council's rules and have been unable to find any rule, including Rule 34(b), that contains the ban you cited." Brown then stated that if a rule 34b existed it would be unlawful and cited precedents Belcher v. Mansi, Lemus v. Providence Board Zoning Board of Review, and Staven v. Portsmouth Financial Subcommittee. [14] [15]

In 2018, Wayne Kezirian, then chairman of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, sent Chief Security Officer James Pereira to the back of the room to instruct Ahlquist to cease recording. After Ahlquist noted that the law allowed him to record Pereira responded “That's just access. Access to the meeting.” [11] [13] [16] In a November 20, 2018 letter, Brown noted that, "...Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act authorizes individuals to record public meetings. There is thus no excuse for a public body, and particularly a major state agency like RIPTA, to claim ignorance of the law in this regard. That is especially true for an employee like Mr. Pereira, who is no minor functionary. [12]

Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Ahlquist is the creator of Oz Squad , [17] [ non-primary source needed ] a modern comic book continuation of the L. Frank Baum Oz children's book series. He is also the co-creator (along with Chris Reilly) of Strange Eggs , an anthology published by SLG Publishing. [18] His most recent work is Oz Squad: March of the Tin Soldiers, a novel continuing the Oz Squad comic book series, according to a press release. [19]

Recognition

Humanists of Rhode Island honored Ahlquist with their Rhode Island Humanist of the Year award in 2014. The award was established in 2013 to recognize a Rhode Island area resident who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of humanist values in the state through the force of ideas and action. [20] [3]

He was the recipient of Rhode Island Pride's 2015 Spirit of Pride Award for his coverage of same-sex marriage in Rhode Island, hate crimes committed against members of the LGBT community, HIV stigmatization, and other social justice issues on RI Future. Rhode Island Pride Chairman Kurt Bagley described Ahlquist as someone who “gives activists and protestors a voice, a microphone and a camera.” [21] [22]

In 2018 he was presented with the DARE award, for his coverage of DARE actions, and of Rhode Island activists generally, on Uprise RI. Justice Gaines, emcee of the event, stated that Ahlquist's journalism "...is invaluable work to our movement and the movements of our allies, partners and the overall organizing geography in Rhode Island.” [23]

At the seventh annual Red Bandana award ceremony, held in June 2019, Ahlquist was awarded the Red Bandana Award for his journalism on Uprise RI. [24] [25]

Ahlquist was selected as a speaker at the 2019 TEDxProvidence conference, where he discussed his ongoing coverage of the proposed fracked-gas power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island. [10] [26]

Bill Bartholomew, host of The Bartholomewtown Podcast, has stated that Ahlquist was one of the primary influences in Bartholomew's choice to enter political journalism in Rhode Island. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island Public Transit Authority</span> Public transport agency in Rhode Island, US

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) provides public transportation, primarily buses, in the state of Rhode Island. The main hub of the RIPTA system is Kennedy Plaza, a large bus terminal in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. In 2020 the authority served an average of 36,776 people a day, in 36 out of 39 Rhode Island communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Side Trolley Tunnel</span>

The East Side Trolley Tunnel, also known as the East Side Transit Tunnel or the College Hill Tunnel, is a bi-directional tunnel in Providence, Rhode Island, originally built for trolley use in 1914, and now used for public transit buses. The East Side Trolley Tunnel could be considered the first bus rapid transit link in North America, because of its exclusive and continuous bus use since 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Dickinson (politician)</span> American politician

Spencer E. Dickinson is an American politician from South Kingstown and formerly served as a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and candidate for Governor in the 2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election.

The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) is one of the oldest active Green parties in the United States. The party was founded on March 6, 1992, at a meeting of 40 activists from Rhode Island. In November 1996, GPRI was one of 12 founding parties in the Association of State Green Parties, renamed the Green Party of the United States in 2001. Several Rhode Island party leaders have served as officers of the national Green Party. The party's candidates have run for municipal councils in several cities and towns, such as running for Mayor of Providence, the State Senate and the State House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, and for Lieutenant governor.

<i>Ahlquist v. Cranston</i> 2012 US court case which required a public school to remove a banner featuring a written prayer

Ahlquist v. Cranston, 840 F. Supp. 2d 507, was a case where the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled that a "School Prayer" banner posted in Cranston High School West was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution and ordered its removal. The suit was brought by Mark Ahlquist on behalf of his minor daughter Jessica Ahlquist, a student at the school, with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Ahlquist</span> American atheist activist and public speaker

Jessica Ahlquist is an American activist and public speaker who filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Cranston High School West, where she was a student, to remove a religious prayer from its auditorium. The suit, Ahlquist v. Cranston, was filed with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union, and was ultimately decided in Ahlquist's favor. During the lawsuit, Ahlquist received hate mail and was verbally attacked by her peers, media outlets, and online. She received death threats, and required police escorts to and from classes. On the day following the ruling, Rhode Island State Representative Peter G. Palumbo spoke on a local radio show and referred to Ahlquist as "an evil little thing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island Comic Con</span>

Rhode Island Comic Con (RICC) is a three-day comic convention held during November at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Amica Mutual Pavilion, and Omni Providence Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. The convention was Rhode Island's first Comic Con. Organizers also run Terror Con, a horror convention at the same location, and starting in 2023, the Rhode Island Anime Con was held at the same location as well.

Jonathan Aaron Regunberg is an American progressive activist and politician who served as the member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 4th district from 2015 to 2019. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2018. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the RI 1st Congressional District 2023 Special Election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Rhode Island, concurrently with the election of Rhode Island's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

Moira Jayne Walsh is an American activist and politician who represented the 3rd district in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 2017 to 2021. Walsh is a member of the Democratic Party.

Marcia Ranglin-Vassell is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 5th District from 2017 to 2023. This district includes the Charles, Wanskuck and Elmhurst neighborhoods of the city of Providence. She is also an English language arts and special education teacher at E-Cubed Academy. She is the published author of Journeys, a collection of poems about faith, life, love and determination.

This is a list of protests in Rhode Island related to the murder of George Floyd.

Terri-Denise Cortvriend is an American politician, businesswoman, pilot, and yacht captain. She is a democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and before that served as a member of the Portsmouth School Committee.

Mario Mendez is a former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 13th district. Elected in November 2018, he assumed office on January 1, 2019.

David Morales is an American politician and activist. He is the state representative in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 7th district. A member of the Democratic Party, Morales took office in January 2021 with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, and other progressive organizations. At 22, he is currently the youngest member of the Rhode Island State Legislature and is the youngest Latino state lawmaker in the country.

Leonela Felix is an American politician and lawyer who is the state representative in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 61st district. A member of the Democratic Party, she won election in the 2020 elections, primarying incumbent Democrat Raymond Johnston, and beating Republican Robert Wheeler in the general election. A progressive, Felix primaried Johnston with the support of the Working Families Party.

Jose Batista is an American politician and lawyer who has represented District 12 in the Rhode Island House of Representatives since January 5, 2021.

Nathan W. Biah Sr. is an American politician and educator who serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 3rd district.

Liana M. Cassar is an American politician who was a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing District 66 from 2019 to 2023.

Katherine Kerwin is a lawyer and former politician who served as the youngest member of the Providence City Council from 2019 until 2023, representing Ward 12.

References

  1. "About Uprise RI". Uprise RI. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  2. "Steve Ahlquist Named RI Humanist of the Year". Rhode Island Coalition of Reason. December 9, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Humanists Participate in Historic People's Climate March". TheHumanist.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Meet the superhero covering Rhode Island's activists". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. "Steve Ahlquist". Motif Magazine. June 19, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  6. "Author: Steve Ahlquist". www.rifuture.org. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  7. "Steve Ahlquist". www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  8. "Armchair Activism: Why the pen is mightier than the sword". Motif Magazine. March 20, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  9. "TEDx Providence | 2019 Speakers" . Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "TEDxProvidence | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Ignorance of the law: Government Violated Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act". Government Secrecy in Rhode Island. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. 1 2 Andrade, Kevin G. "ACLU chides RIPTA after journalist told to stop recording board meeting". providencejournal.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  14. Ahlquist, Steve (January 26, 2017). "ACLU defends public's right to record open meetings". www.rifuture.org. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  15. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. Ahlquist, Steve (November 20, 2018). "RIPTA needs lessons in how the Open Meetings Act works". Uprise RI. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  17. Torres, J. "Open Your Mouth." Comic Book Resources. October 23, 2003. Accessed 6 April 2009. Archived April 6, 2009.
  18. "Banner Year for SLG at Comic-Con". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  19. ComicList (May 30, 2011). "Steve Ahlquist returns to THE OZ SQUAD". ComicList. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019.
  20. Isl, Author Rhode; Reason, Coalition of (December 11, 2014). "Steve Ahlquist Named RI Humanist of the Year". United CoR. Retrieved November 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  21. "Rhode Island LGBT Community Honors Steve Ahlquist". Motif Magazine. September 16, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  22. "RI Pride honors Steve Ahlquist, Kate Monteiro". www.rifuture.org. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  23. Ahlquist, Steve (February 24, 2018). "DARE presents awards at annual brunch". Uprise RI. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  24. "Red Bandana Awards Honor Memory of Richard Walton". Motif Magazine. June 12, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  25. "The Red Bandana Fund". www.redbandanafundri.org. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  26. Climate Change, Journalism and Democracy | Steve Ahlquist | TEDxProvidence , retrieved November 10, 2019
  27. Stated in Steve Ahlquist (Multimedia Journalist, UpriseRI) - The Bartholomewtown Podcast , retrieved November 14, 2019