Mark Winston Griffith brings up interesting points on the DMI Blog about the role of ACORN in big-city politics:

An issue that also deserves public debate is the role that ACORN continues to play in New York City politics and community development. From Bertha's famed spit swapping with Mike Bloomberg, to ACORN's penchant for striking shady, self-profiting, deals with huge corporate interests, ACORN has muddied the idea of community organizing as a process of developing grassroots leadership and building community power.

link

Giffith's comments have spurned additional commentary worth considering and debating:

"When community organizations play the real estate development game, the people who made up the game- real estate developers- will always win." — thfs

"Kudos to you Mark for daring to say what so many of us have only considered in hushed tones in fear of making the wrong people angry." — hushed

"What's the point of 50% "affordable" housing when a) they're evicting people who own homes already and b) no one will want to live in a congested nightmare that is going to become, as if it were even imaginable before, an even more congested nightmare?" — Brian F

Plus a comparison between ACORN and Sharpton's protests against Ratner in 2000 and their partnership in 2005 and political analysis by US Congressional Candidate Chris Owens.

Ridge Street Neighborhood is facing numerous new housing developments. There is a strong tradition in Charlottesville that developers consult with neighborhoods regarding their plans. The most recent planned development in the Ridge Street Area is being pursued by Legend Development without consultation with the neighborhood. If this project goes forward, it will be the only significant housing development built in modern Charlottesville history without community input, and would set the precedent that developers could come into your neighborhood and build what they damned well please without any public process.

...

In contrast to community-based democratic planning, the Institute's alternative solutions rely on property rights, and market incentives. Cascade Policy's stand on unbridled "laze faire" capitalism, and their statement of principles illustrates that even the thinly-enforced, loosely defined environmental protections still in effect are too much for this hard-right think-tank. With statements like: "Over the last three decades America has increasingly looked to the federal government to protect the environment. Yet laws such as the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, Superfund, and The Endangered Species Act have proven costly and disappointingly ineffective." CPI clearly demonstrates their intent to rob us of our few hard won gains. CPI's president and CEO published the following classics: Free Market Environmentalism: Not an Oxymoron Wheels to Wealth: Why Low-Income Workers Need Cars, Not Transit Save the World, Ignore Global Warming

These are just a few examples of CPI's efforts to normalize the hard rights conspiracy to privatize our common resources. Their efforts stem from a bipolar worldview of America's political landscape. Recently libertarians ran a $100,000 Enron-funded campaign to keep "Portland's" General Electric private. The people of Portland need to ask our selves: What do we stand for:

The Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court) outraged Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue on December 8 by decreeing that Dumarsais Simeus was wrongfully disqualified from the upcoming Presidential elections. Latortue retaliated the next day by firing five of the Cour's justices, replacing them with henchmen. The judiciary went on strike, which has shut down the justice system for four weeks. It is a measure of how far Haiti has strayed from constitutional rule since the February 2004 coup d'etat that both sides in this dispute are wrong. The Cour de Cassation wrongly reinstated Simeus' illegal candidacy not once, but twice. Simeus cannot be President because the Constitution requires Presidential candidates to have lived in the country for the last five years, and to have never taken foreign citizenship. Mr. Simeus readily concedes in media interviews that he resides in Southlake Texas and has obtained U.S. citizenship.

Prime Minister Latortue's objection to the Cour's decision is right, but he is the wrong man to make it. The same residency requirement applies to Presidents and Prime Ministers alike, and Mr. Latortue lived in Boca Raton Florida for years before being illegally installed as Prime Minister by the U.S. and Haitian elites in March 2004. The Constitution requires an interim government to hold elections within 90 days from taking office, but Latortue will have 700 days in office, at the very least. Latortue's response to the Cour's decision is equally wrong. As in the U.S., justices in Haiti can only be removed through specific procedures, for duly established wrongdoing or permanent physical or mental incapacity. Latortue did not even give lip service to any of these procedures, he just fired the justices. Later his aides claimed that the justices were old and needed to be retired, but the Constitution does not recognize that claim.

Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste, for example, was arrested without a warrant in October, 2004. When the government could produce no evidence against him, a courageous judge, Judge Fleury, ordered him released. The Minister of Justice then forced Judge Fleury off the bench, This "pre-trial" detention may be a death sentence- Fr. Jean-Juste has just been diagnosed with leukemia. The kind of leukemia he likely has can be treated, but not in Haiti's prisons. Amnesty International, the UN Human Rights Commission, 45 members of the U.S. Congress and human rights groups all over the world have criticized the injustice of Fr. Jean-Juste's persecution. Not one member of the Haitian judiciary has spoken against it, at least in public.

Half Hour a Week for Haiti | Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti

Our website has undergone some serious revamping thanks to the efforts of Democracy Catalyst. There is a main page with articles on a variety of relevant topics. There is a page dedicated to each show, including our pilot show, "And Why ANWR?", our first hour long show "Clean Cars Go Far!", and one we are working on called "Is Hydro a Go?"

There is also a new section called Programs In Progress. On this page, we will upload clips and hyperlinked text as we put together the show for next week. You are encouraged to participate by telling us what you think as well as what you'd like to see. You even have a chance to submit content, or to edit or remix our content in whatever way you see fit, so long as it's not for commercial use and you give us credit for the content.

EcoTV now has a one hour TV series on community access cable. You can watch us on the following days, times, and channels beginning January 1st, 2006:
Sunday 11:00 A.M. on Channel 21
Monday 9:00 P.M. on Channel 21
Saturday 6:00 P.M. on Channel 11

Be sure to watch for our show! "Clean Cars Go Far!" airs between all different kinds of shows, so enjoy your EcoTV sandwich in whichever flavor you prefer. You may also view our show from the website. EcoTV is gearing up to create as much educational content as possible for possible inclusion in projects designed to educate people about energy and its place in our economy and lifestyle.

EcoTV would like to take this opportunity to thank you for participating in this and other efforts to protect our public lands and energy future. Through our efforts, we can educate people about the realities of our current energy situation, and what people can do about it now to be better prepared and even proactive as we transition from a way of life reliant on fossil fuels to more sustainable energy technologies.

ecotv.org

boisevoice.org

Our server died. The most recent backups we have of the site are from July. So we lost everything posted since then. Trying to rebuild as best we can. -- the cvilleindymedia crew -- ...

Video of interview

Its you, the readers and contributors, who make this site possible. Thanks for being the media, and happy 2006.

Resistance: Hundreds Protest FBI Assassination of Puerto Rican Nationalist || NYC Indymedia and "Selective News Coverage" || Hip Hop Community Rallies Against Hot 97 || Radical Faeries Drag March || Bronx Students Protest Metal Detectors || Coronation Parade Stopped By Protesters

Labor: IWW increases pressure on Starbucks || Columbia Committee Finds 'No Evidence' of In-Class Anti-Semitism || Columbia Provost Threatens Blacklist Against Strikers || Town Hall Meeting on NYU Union-Busting || Miguel Malo Found Guilty of "Reckless Assault" in Hostos College Protest Case || Graduate Students Strike at NYU || TWU Strike || Bad UFT Contract to be Sent to Membership for a Vote

Counter-Recruitment: Invisible Soldier (and reader reaction) || Two Army Recruiting Centers Vandalized, Teen Held on 150,000 Bail || Three City College Students Charged With Felonies For Counter-Military Recruitment Protest || Counter-Recruiting in the Red Zone || NYPD Stops Cindy Sheehan Speech, Cuts Mic, Disperses Enraged Crowd

RNC Aftermath: Manhattan DA Launches Investigation Into "False RNC Testimony" || RNC Protestor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Assault: 7 Months in Prison || Confirmed: NY State Drops Charges Against Josh Banno, RNC Dragon Arrestee || NYCLU: Prolonged Detention Prior to Arraignment a Common Occurance || Republican National Convention, One Year Later

Disaster>: Aceh: Epicenter of a Disaster || Hurricane Katrina's Brutal Aftermath || Katrina’s Aftermath: The Catastrophe Continues

2005 Mayoral Race: Bloomberg Launches 2005 Re-election Campaign Inside South Bronx Security Bubble || Bloomberg Disses Harlem's Apollo || Where Have All the Fighters Gone? || Bloomberg Wins

Departures: John Hess || Ossie Davis || John Paul II || Andrea Dworkin Marla Ruzicka || Jonnie "Pat" Lumpkin Ellis || Rosa Parks

Critical Mass: Critical Mass: Mess or Success? || NYC Files Suit to Censor TIME'S UP! and End Critical Mass || Riding Out the Storm || < a href= http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/54931.shtml>Jury Trial of Critical Mass Bicyclist Underway || A Requiem for Critical Mass?

Repression: NYPD Spying On Activists || Lynne Stewart Guilty; Faces Up to 35 Years in Jail || Brooklyn activist faces life in prison on 16-count arson indictment; Bail Denied, Extradition to Eugene, Ore. Pending

Arts and Culture: NYC IMC Readers Weigh in on 'The Gates' || Basquiat in Brooklyn: A Review || Second to Nun || The Museum of Now

(Indy)media: Judges Tosses Out Latest NYC Indymedia Subpoena || IMCistas Organize, Socialize in Austin || National Conference on Media Reform, St. Louis || < a href=http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/54967.shtml> NYC Indymedia Redesigned || Announcing: Indy Kids || Requiem for the Alt Weekly

Global: Let A Thousand Militias Bloom || || Vegetarians Between Meals: This War Cannot Be Stopped By A Loyal Opposition || Rwanda's Skeletons

NYC Errata: Long Island Social Center Opens Its Doors! || East Side Eviction Scam || Stadium Plan Dead || Billy Graham's (Thankfully) Last Crusade || The Crusade and the Closet || Teacher caught on tape pulling chair from under student refusing to stand for the national anthem.

[IMC Year in Reviews from Houston || CMRN || Austin || LA || Chicago

Alongside the minutiae that made for interesting reading of the recent Newsweek piece by Thomas and Wolffe, "Bush in the Bubble," a complementary thought did cross my mind. What if we, the American citizenry, are the ones living in a bubble. isolated, clueless, without a clear fit in the world's puzzle?

On the air since 2001, this KBOO show features voices from around the globe talking about bicycle news and views. The program is live on the air every first Wednesday from 9-10 am.

Streamed: kboo.fm
Podcast: bikeshow.portlandtransport.com

INFO: www.YeaBikes.net/radio

Neigborhood activists in Brooklyn are breathing a sigh of relief this morning, upon hearing the news that big Ratner booster Bill deBlasio has conceeded to and announced his support for Concilmember Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) in the race for City Council Speaker. [Read More]

Now, it seems that posting the complete transcript of an important interview has boomeranged back on NBC in a big way.

• Friday: Art Walk: Robert Moog, Walmart Movie, exhibits by Dianne Hodack, Marie McKenna
• Sunday: Vegetarian Dinner
• Monday: Peace Vigil
  

See inside for more details and a complete listing of this week's progressive events and outreach.

If you'd like to see your group's event listed here, please send info to 'announce@binghamtonimc.org'

SOUTH BRONX: Drained of support

In the poverty-stricken South Bronx, where rates of both HIV/AIDS and children orphaned to the disease are among the highest in the city, a 15-year-old community health nonprofit called Health People works with local HIV-positive parents to help connect them to proper medical services and prepare crucial guardianship papers should they fall ill or die. It also offers mentoring programs for children neglected by overtaxed parents. [Read More]

This last week I've been talking to a lot of people about the recent arrests. I know what it is like to be where these people are now. In my conversations with people I can tell they are afraid. Not just for those arrested, but for themselves. Scared to talk, scared to act, and scared to support.

These people need your help. You might not know them. They might not be part of any activist community. But they represent the heart of this movement and this struggle. Because they are the ones accused of actions that have become legendary and made into songs. They are the ones bearing the brunt of this struggles' resistance. They are the scapegoats for the Department of Justice. They are suffering for every act of defiance this movement has carried out under whatever banner.

We owe it to these people to support them. We owe it to them to not be controlled by fear. YOU have to help them! If you ever considered yourself part of this struggle, a part of this movement, if you were ever just thankful somebody was brave enough to make a stand - YOU have to help them!

(As of this writing, Stanislas "Jack" Meyerhoff, one of those arrested, has agreed to testify against the others charged. Jacob Ferguson has been identified as another informant and is still free and uncharged. These men are cowards and scum of the lowest order. They should be treated accordingly.)

December 25, 2005 Dispatch

The news is incredibly sad. If William did in fact take his own life it is the first time an earth/animal liberation prisoner has done so. It is a devastating precedent.

There are four people left who desperately need your support. Write to them. Support them. Let them know they are not alone. Let them know there are people who will stand by them until they are released. Be there for them. - Jeff "Free" Luers

Free's Defense Fund; PO Box 3; Eugene, OR 97440
Portland IMC prisoner support page w/ updated info on these and other political prisoners | freefreenow.org

Carbondale, Illinois, December 22, 2005

But even with the recent CNN and NBC statements, questions remain about the NSA spying program.

An 2004 investigative video filmed at a KFC supplying slaughterhouse in Moorefield West Virginia showed workers stomping on chickens, ripping beaks off, twisting heads off, spitting tobacco into eyes, spray-painting faces, and squeezing them so hard feces were expelled. These animals were alive and conscious. Still KFC continues its cruelty. 736 Million chickens per year are subjected to painful debeaking with a hot blade, electrified and scalding water bath while still alive, and other cruel practices. The Colonel has got to go. Please join us to protest and educate the public.

and on the 8th, get redy for Peta PR street theater in New York | Rev. Sharpton and other civil rights leaders condemn KFC cruelty | http://www.kfccruelty.com

The whale hunt was last disrupted by activists from two Greenpeace ships on December 21 & 22, 2005. After this, the Nisshin Maru factory ship and the other whaling vessels took off at full speed, chased by the Greenpeace ships, Esperanza and Arctic Sunrise. The Sea Shepherd vessel, the Farley Mowat, intercepted the Nisshin Maru on the December 25, 2005, with the Japanese factory ship threatening to ram the Sea Shepherd ship.
Read More On Indybay's Environment Page

Fifteen groups and hundreds of activists, mostly young and of Indigenous or Mexican descent, teamed up with migrant workers at six locations across the San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties, where the minutemen had determined to hold "secret" protests. As in the rest of the US, the activists handily outnumbered the minutemen. Full Story: ¡NO MAS! A Day of Anti-Minuteman Protest by Leslie Radford

Also from the newswire:Mexica Movement Turns The Tables on Save Our State Rally by John Q. Bystander || Santa Monica Counter-protest: Don’t Teach Your Children Hate by Ixachilanka || SOS is Opposed in Glendale, Again. & SOS fakes Alhambra Rally By Next Move

Well, it is now four months since Officer Bergin (Sandy P.D.) and Deputy Willard (Clackamas County S.O.) took it upon themselves to terminate the young life of Fouad Kaady, who was much beloved by his community, and who will be deeply missed.

His killers reasoned, that since he was naked, burning, and bleeding, they would somehow be turned into werewolves if they touched him, so they tasered him, and when that did not have the desired tranquilizing effect, they shot and killed him, knowing that he was unarmed, and unable to inflict any harm on anyone (a citizen had already dumped him on his ass once, just a short time earlier, out of the same fear, and lived through the encounter).

Naturally, these paragons of courage were exonerated by a not so grand jury, which was fed it's "facts" by the hopefully soon to be ex District Attorney. These tried and true citizens could find no fault in killing an injured, unarmed, naked and bleeding human being.

read more >>

[ More of Fouad Kaady's paintings | Kaady update | 3 months since the murder of Fouad Kaady | Hey! You there with the Kaady police reports.... | more articles about Fouad Kaady ]

If you go outside of your house for long enough you will see the oppressive police state all around you. I live in Salem, a small town in comparison to most larger cities and I can see the police state. Recently I went downtown on my bike to one of the local bike shops. I was obeying all of the oppressive laws that pertain to the downtown sector, when I went maybe 20 feet onto the sidewalk where the bike shop was I noticed a pig on a bike, ON THE SIDEWALK! As soon as he saw me he biked over to me on the sidewalk for about 2 blocks and demanded to see all of our Id's. I asked him what we were being stopped for and he told us that we were riding our bikes on the sidewalk. So I said to him, "um weren't you just on the sidewalk also. He said "well I'm law enforcement and I'm not bound by that law." He rambled on some more about how he took special training so he could ride on the sidewalk. So I asked to see his certificate of training and he started to stumble over his words. I said that I also had special training. He took our Id's and proceeded to write tickets and threaten to confiscate our bikes if he caught us doing again. Now I got angry and started to talk to the oppressor about my rights and equality under the law. I said "if you get to ride on the sidewalk so do I." He just laughed and said this wasn't 1776. [ read more >> ]

Missing persons and the cops

The other day, I had a very uncomfortable dilemma. I admit I probably handled it badly. I'd love to hear advice from others about alternatives I could have pursued.

The problem was, my father went missing for several days. He is getting along in years, has some mild dementia, and is prone to getting confused and losing his bearings sometimes. He also suffers some vision impairment. I worry that he could get injured or taken advantage of by someone if he's not careful.

Now, I generally know better than to deal with cops, if I can possibly help it, most of the time. Because people who need their help all too often wind up dead at their hands. And, having done a lot of observation and thinking about the matter, I think I have a pretty good inkling about why that is. [ read more >> ]

See DragonBallYee for photos and commentary as they stormed up Broad Street from Fairmount Ave with a vengance.

From the Newswire: Stop execution by the state: Save Clarence Ray Allen || Former San Quentin prison warden opposes the execution (on 1/17) of Clarence Ray Allen

Homophobes are furious that the Lawrence decision removed a major club with which they could use against gay people. They will continue to use what remaining weapons they can find in their arsenal to defeat our drive for gay equality. ...

Activists representing the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed By the Bush Administration tried to deliver an indictment against George W. Bush today at the White House. While the papers -- carried to the gate by former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern -- were ultimately not accepted, about two dozen participants and supporters attracted the attention of media, tourists, and the secret service as they held a press conference and then approached the White House's Northwest Appointment Gate.

Martin Luther King Parade by International Action Center LA

Join the Antiwar Movement at the MLK Day Parade Veterans for Peace & A.N.S.W.E.R. will March Against War & Racism Monday, January 16, 10 am Meet at the SW corner of Western and MLK Blvd. * Or meet at the A.N.S.W.E.R. Office (1800 Argyle Ave, #410, LA) at 9 am to carpool.

Join the Antiwar Movement at the MLK Day Parade by ANSWER LA

• Friday: Great Bear Trio
  
• Saturday: Teachers For Peace Counter-Recruitment planning
• Sunday: Club Veg Potluck
  
• Monday:  Peace Vigil, WSKG Community Advisory Board
• Tuesday: Sierra Club potluck and awards dinner, HAVA presentation in Owego
  

http://www.binghamtonimc.org OR http://binghamton.indymedia.org

Submissions due Wed night @ midnight for publication Thursday eve. Send submissions to announce@binghamtonpmc.org

On that historic morning in 1968, Thompson set his helicopter down near the irrigation ditch full of bodies. He asked a sergeant if the soldiers could help the civilians, some of whom were still alive. The sergeant suggested putting them out of their misery. Shocked, Thompson turned to Lieutenant Calley who was giving the orders. Lt. Calley told him to mind his own business.

Thompson reluctantly got back in his helicopter and began to lift off. Just then one of Thompson crew yelled, "My God, they're firing into the ditch!" Thompson landed his chopper between the troops and the shelter where more civilians were running to hide, then jumped out and confronted the Lt. Calley again who was directing the chase and war crimes.

Last Friday (Jan 6) some friends and I took a hike to Fall Creek, where we encountered a logging operation happening in the hills. This, I believe, is the sale that was bought by Silver Creek Timber Company on November 2nd, 2005 (note, Silver Creek is the same company that's been reaping the benefits of the Biscuit Fire). If this is correct, this sale is 4.22 million board feet, or about 500 logging trucks full of trees.

In terms of what we saw, there were two or three logging trucks (just pickups, as of last Friday, they're not yarding yet), and "fellers" in what seemed to be two locations up the hill. There was also one law enforcement officer, who allowed us to enter into Bedrock Campground across the river. We hiked up the rocks and got some video footage of the mountainside and watched some of the trees fall. This is definitely not roadside salvage -- they're cutting well up the hill, in areas with burned trees. This is why I draw the conclusion that this is the Silver Creek sale. If anyone has more information about what's going on in Fall Creek, or would be interested in investigating, I'd be good to have more information out there. Forests should not fall in silence; let's find out what's going on.

THIS IS MY STORY: In May of 2004 I asked Mr Schoning to allow me to refinance the house I purchased from him on contract without paying the pre payment penalty. He refused. Interestingly, he was ALREADY in default on his senior loan at the time. My refinancing could have ended his default. He chose instead to continue to take my money and divert it for other needs.

I first learned of the default in September 2004 when I got a letter notifying me that my house was up for auction. Apparently, Mr Schoning had not made a payment on his loan for some time, in addition, I learned his contract stated that he was prohibited from resell the property he sold to me.

The Friends of Yaquina Bay want the Port of Newport to deny a letter of intent with Bay Bridge Enterprises. Another opposition group is called the Save Yaquina Bay Committee. Both groups have a common goal of keeping a shipbreaking operation out of Yaquina Bay. Their methods, however, differ.

/a> | Shipbreaking on the Oregon Coast? | background info | Greenpeace analysis of Shipbreaking

This is a story written from Camille. The past few days, it has been past around various web forums, and internet networking websites. The story is unedited, and goes as follows:

I met up with Amanda outside of Elm St. Tattoo, and there was a derby girl skating from the bar across the street to the tattoo parlor. No big deal. But a cop stopped her to give her a ticket. Well, she gave some attitude, but went with it. Kept her hands on the car while he wrote her a ticket. I crossed the street to the bar, and another skater went past me, nothing happened to her, even though her friend was getting a ticket for skating in the street.... very wierd. I turned back around to look at the girl and the cop, and I see him wrestling her to the ground. She's screaming, this tiny girl, is struggling, while about 50 people gather and start yelling. Turns out someone on the sidewalk yelled something to her, she turned to see the person, took her hands off of the car, and the cop got pissed. ...

The theme for this year's event is "MLK Every Day: Traveling the Road of Change Through Nonviolence." Our plans for the day include closing the caf? down at 1pm so everyone--staff, customers, and friends--can participate. We'll gather in front of the caf? between 2 and 3, making and passing out signs and getting organized. The march begins at 3pm.

St. Mary's Academy is our destination. St. Mary's address is 1615 SW 5th Ave. The rally, which begins at 4pm, will include a student essay, speakers, a Master of Ceremonies from the Sisters' community, music, and fun! Keynote speaker, Sharif Abdullah, will inspire to use non-violence to create a world that works for all. Also speaking will be Jeri Sundvall, founder of the Environmental Justice Action Group, a grassroots organization dedicated to developing and utilizing community-based leadership in people of color and low-income communities to address the issues of health, safety and environmental justice.

I still believe | Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon MLK Jr Remembrance Events | Links to Text and Audio of some MLK speeches

We have a plethors of baby and small child clothes here at the Freecycling Center. In the last few weeks, we have had so many clothes donated we had to open up the Community Library space for donation storage. One thing that we seem to have trouble moving are baby and small child clothes.

Currently we have about 5 large milk crates full of them. We are looking for a good place (a place that will reach folks that need them and give them for free) to donate them or to raise awareness and bring folks into the store that can use them. [ read more ]

Best Of North Portland By St Johns Sentinel

I just found this checking out the St Johns Sentinal website and needed to share it. Thanx to everyone that has stopped in, donated books, or their dirty laundry. The community support for the blackrose collective space, has been both amazing, and at the same time, heartbreaking. The most rewarding & sad part of the bookstore for me is my collection of stuffed animals. I won't go into why I have such a love for them, but I started taking them out of the freebox area and hiding them amongst the bookshelfs, and little nooks and crannies. We have alot of single parent families who come in regularly with their young children to get clothes, food, and to see the joy on the childrens faces when they find a little animal pocking out from a bookshelf, it has become a game of hide and seek, and then to let them know that they can take it and give it a home (often a car, or couch). I, like them for that moment am overcome with a feeling of warmth, love and caring, it is a beautiful feeling, that I want so much for these children to have the opportunity to feel forever. But the despair & sadness of their situations hits me every single night when I put my head down to sleep..... And I know my work is just beginning... [ read more ]

Report for members/contributors of OKIMC.org ...

Photos from the MLK parade by Cornelius Cardew // Report and Photos MLK Parade 2006 in LA by Marcus

WSKG's one day fundraising drive is Wednesday January 25th. They are looking for 600 new and lapsed members.

If you're a current member then we need you to make an additional membership pledge to be paid only when they follow the advice of their Community Advisory Board and put the award-winning Democracy Now! program, hosted by Amy Goodman, on their large (Classical) station, WSKG-FM.

Rule number one: Shut the fuck up! Never, ever, ever talk about an action after it has happened. What could be the point? To relive old times? Too risky. The USA PATRIOT Act has removed all "statute of limitations," labeled even our weakest actions "terrorism," and increased sentencing guidelines tenfold. Take your actions back to the earth with you. The FBI would be nowhere in their investigations if no one was talking.

Once in custody, shut the fuck up! Get a lawyer. (If your lawyer advises you that talking will get you a lighter sentence, get a new lawyer.) Don't admit to anything. REFUSE TO SPEAK ABOUT OTHERS. Anyone who watches TV knows (and for those of you who don't) THE POLICE LIE TO GET YOU TO TALK. How basic is that? You can't believe a word they say. They will break every law and civil right on the books to get information. They are motivated by arrests and convictions, not truth and justice, not saving the planet, not being your friend, or even being a respectable cop. They have no shame. They are NOT trying to help you. They DO NOT have the power to make deals, plea bargains or "talk to the judge or DA." They are out to screw you and/or all of your friends.

We cannot let the feds and a few snitches deter our "movement." Instead, we need to learn from our mistakes and get back to the important work of stopping the real eco-terrorists.

Jonathan Paul arrested in Southern Oregon

The FBI's witch hunt against activists continues, with two more charged with arson in the last 36 hours, both Cascadian environmentalists. Jonathan has long been an outspoken advocate for direct action for environmental causes, gaining the attention of numerous industry backed anti-environmental [1, 2] watch groups and the FBI for his activism. Jonathan also was involved in Earth First! campaigns, was on the Sea Shepard crew, and was involved in founding the American Whales Alliance and Ocean Defense International. Jonathan also spent 6 months in jail in 1992 for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Animal Liberation Front activities.

Suzanne, also an environmental activist, had been visited in on December 7th by two FBI agents and several state police officers who subpoenaed her to appear before the grand jury hearing scheduled for February 16th in Eugene. [ read more ]

Further Developments in Sacramento arrests: FBI infiltrator was running in activist circles

On Friday, January 13th Eric McDavid, Zachary Jenson and Lauren Weiner were arrested in Auburn, California and accused of "conspiring to damage or destroy by explosive or fire" cell phone towers, power plants and US Forest Service facilities. No arson occurred, however: the charges allege the 3 were planning one.

The latest development here is the release of the FBI's affidavit in the case, which relies heavily on a deep cover, paid infiltrator. According to the affidavit "Anna" has has provided information in at least 12 anarchist cases since 2004. She has traveled to and infiltrated various anarchist gatherings and protests across the country including the Biodev 2005 demonstrations in Philadelphia, a CrimethInc. convergence in Indiana and the Feral Visions green anarchist gathering in North Carolina, all the while recording conversations and communicating with the FBI. [ read more ]

All this follows 6 arrests of people accused of Earth Liberation Front activities last month.

• Saturday: Art films in Owego, Woody Allen flick at Art Mission
• Sunday:  Mass for SP4, El Slavador Arts group meets
  
• M-F: Saint Pat's Four Sentencing 
  
• Tuesday: Progressive Coalition, Walmart Movie Norwich, WSKG Board of Trustees
• Wednesday: Dahr Jamail, Bing. IMC
  

http://www.binghamtonimc.org OR http://binghamton.indymedia.org

Submissions due Wed night @ midnight for publication Thursday eve. Send submissions to announce@binghamtonpmc.org

PROPOSAL: FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT— A North American No Border Network
Through our work we have met some amazing sisters and brothers in struggle in Mexico, Canada, the United States and all across the world. We have begun to learn about each other and as a result, learn more about other groups and struggles emanating from what we believe to be similar and related causes.
//
PROPUESTA: LIBERTAD DE MOVIMIENTO – Una Red Norteamericana que dice No a las Fronteras
Por medio de nuestro trabajo hemos conocido algunas / os hermanas y hermanos en la lucha en México, Canadá, los Estados Unidos y por todo el mundo. Hemos comenzado a aprender acerca de uno y el otro y como resultado, aprendido mas acerca de otros grupos y luchas surgiendo de lo que nosotros creemos ser causas similares y relacionadas.

Sunday, January 22nd
2pm @ Lava
4134 Lancaster Avenue

Readers will likely remember that these seven activists are facing the possibility of years in prison for the "crime" of speaking out against the abuse and torture of non-human animals. I had the opportunity to talk to Josh Harper tonight, one of the accused. And may I say, he truly rocks. He spoke eloquently about the need to wake up and do something positive in defense of animals, as well as the importance of avoiding "tactical dogma." (As I am tired tonite, I will not attempt to paraphrase him right now. Rather, I will let him speak for himself in an upcoming Video from the Resistance, since he gave a lengthy interview on camera.)

Since he's facing the possibility of some heavy time behind bars just for speaking, I asked whether he was nervous about talking to me on camera, whether this experience would silence him. He smiled and shook his head, then laughed, "I'm a big mouth." He went on to say that facing jail time for talking has made him wonder, "What good is talking." He pointed out that he and the other activists are facing the same kind of sentences as if they had been out participating in real direct action that would possibly have made a bigger difference.

If you are unfamiliar with the history of the SHAC 7, see these sites and others: www.pressaction.com; www.shac7.com/"; SHAC-7 trial: Wednesday, June 1st in Trenton NJ.

Photos: 1

from the daily Zero: The National Socialist Movement, a large Nazi organization, plans a march Sunday in Olympia.

About 15 people are expected to gather around noon to participate, said Justin Boyer, the organization's Washington state leader. The event is intended, in part, to promote a larger gathering being organized this summer on the Capitol steps, he said.

Participants will carry flags and wear brown storm-trooper uniforms, he said. The Olympia Police Department will bolster its ranks to monitor the event, police Cmdr. Tor Bjornstad said.

Participants plan to gather at the Y-intersection of Fourth Avenue, State Avenue and Martin Way, and march to Sylvester Park, Bjornstad said. Representatives said they'll abide by traffic laws and stay on the sidewalks, he said.

Seattle Nazi Rally Sunday Jan 22 @ 11:30 pm at Seattle Center

100 Anti Racists and 7 Nazis in Olympia: Seven Nazis came to Olympia today to hold a National Socialist Movement rally. With only 48 hours notice the Olympia community came out to show the Nazis they were not welcome to Olympia.

For more than an hour and a half the Olympia Police department used them selves and their bikes to seperate the march of anti rascists from the Nazis. The younger man with the beard claimed to be thier "leader" and stated he was in Olympia to protest "White european genocide". He also said he was inspired to be Nazi by a dream he had of Hitler where Hitler asked him to "fight for you race, fight for your nation." (Quote taken from video of rally)

The turn out of Olympians for the anti racist rally seemed to indicate sucess for those opposed to the presence of Nazis in Olympia. The Nazis also believe their day to be a sucess, according to nukeisrael.com/, where they call the anti racist rally "commie scum". Full Story & photos

One Nazi and 100 Anti-Racists Show Up For Nazi Rally in Seattle: Nazi rallies were publicized for Olympia and Seattle on Jan. 22, 2006. But upon arrival at Seattle's Space Needle, I found about 150 anti-racist protesters and one lone self-proclaimed skinhead. Typical protest speeches were made, under a banner that said, "No Racists in Our Towns! Stop the Nazis!" But the really interesting part of the protest revolved around the lone Nazi who did show up and felt let down by his racist buddies. Full Story

About 30 people showed up at Schumacher Furs (811 SW Morrison) to protest the intense cruelty to animals in the fur trade. Protestors handed out literature, vigorously chanted, and held up signs letting passers-by and the few who chose to enter the store know about what goes on in the fur business (see http://www.furisdead.com for info and videos).

Every week Schumacher's comes up with a new tactic to try to intimidate protestors. Schumacher's has now hired two cameramen to videotape every minute of the protest, which lasted 5 hours today. They claimed to be "independent reporters."

It was a relatively quiet protest until the last three of us (who had been alone for an hour and a half with two cameras trained on us!) got ready to leave at 5:30pm. For some reason Schumacher's did not close the shop at 4:45 as usual, but waited for us to leave. We were all packed up, waiting to cross the street when suddenly four people (all Schumacher employees/owners) stormed out, including a woman with a dog. I said to her, "Do you know they use dog fur in China?" She ran towards me yelling, "Fuck you! Fuck you! Get the fuck out of here!" Classy. I thought the woman was going to attack me. One of the Schumacher owners then got extremely close to my face and yelled, "Get the fuck out of here!" We overheard one of the Schumachers tell a cameraman to "get this on film." I sat on my big plastic box and said, "I don't have to go anywhere. I'm not leaving." We were nowhere near their front door or property. They were yelling at us when their security guard told them to back down and go back inside. Then old Mr. Schumacher started telling us their fur is killed humanely and we should be protesting baseball instead (Don't even ask). [ read more ]

Schumacher finds someone unashamed to wear their fur!

I'll call him/her "lassie" (S)he came in to the store with her friends dressed in a gorgeous exotic, 100% real fur coat rivaling anything on Schumachers racks.

Probably ten people in the store. The only one wearing fur came in on four paws and laid on the floor to have her tummy scratched.

In a less "hostile" environment I'd have the rubber lenshood up to the glass to get a picture.

It is beyond fascinating to me that the salespeople in there dont wear the clothing.- but, then again, it isn't clothing, it's pure status. Still- if you walk into a jewelry store the salespeople are wearing jewelry.. [ read more ]

Who are Bernard Madoff? Seaboard Securities are a Broker Dealer only whereas Bernard Madoff are an Executing Broker i.e. Seaboard get customer orders but they can't execute the order themselves so they pass it on to Bernard Madoff who buy and sell the shares for them. Unwittingly Bernard Madoff would have traded over a million shares in LSRI for Seaboard!

Please ask Bernard Madoff, politely of course, not to trade in LSRI stock.

Remember HLS are in a precarious position financially, with them failing to get on the NYSE last year and the bonds coming up, so please remember these financial action alerts are vitally important.

Thanks and good luck!

www.madoff.com | www.shacamerica.net | http://insidehls.com

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