A press conference was held at the Independent Media Center on June 25, 2009, where community leaders spoke out about the police shooting of Toto Kaiyewu, a medical student from Carbondale. When Kaiyewu was passing through Villa Grove, a former “sundown town,” he was profiled by a local cop, stopped, and a chase ensued that ended with police gunning him down on I-74.

Those who addressed the media were (from left to right) Patsy Howell, reading a statement from the Muslim American Society, Tracy Parsons, who called the actions of the authorities “deplorable,” Erma Bridgewater, long-time community activist, and Aaron Ammons of CU Citizens for Peace and Justice, who called for changes to make this “more than just another black male killed by the police.” Read More

Past Coverage: Adding Insult to Injury: State’s Attorney Releases Medical Records of “Toto” Kaiyewu | Racial Profiling Incident Leads to Police Shooting of “Toto” Kaiyewu

On July 6th forest defenders from Cascadia and across the country set up road blockades at the Umpcoos Ridge timber sale to save some of the last native forests in Oregon from clearcutting. The Elliot State Forest is one of the few remaining intact coastal forest ecosystems, and provides critical habit for Spotted Owls, Coho Salmon, and Marbled Murrelets.

Logging has been halted in the forest but the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the state patrol, and the Douglass County Sheriffs have begun extracting people from the blockades using heavy handed police state tactics. So far over 23 people have been confirmed arrested in police raids on the blockade.

** We just got word that the remaining people in the forest have been arrested and the blockade taken down. These remaining 8 people will be processed today. All of these people desperately need your support! Read More | | | Past Coverage: Elliot Free State Locks Down, Resists Police Raid | Road Blockade Stops Logging In Elliott State Forest: Call For Action

A July 3 Rally in Washington DC against FBI entrapment of Muslims brought together family members and supporters of several so-called terrorism cases.

RELATED: Another Case of FBI Entrapment

On July 7th, California State prosecutors were forced to admit that they have insufficient evidence against the San Francisco 8. Charges against four of the defendants were dropped and Jalil Muntaqim pled no contest to conspiracy to commit voluntary manslaughter. He received credit for time served and 3 years probation. He will return to New York to fight for parole. Those for whom charges were dismissed were Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Hank Jones, and Harold Taylor. Read More & Past Coverage | Background on the SF8 Case

In post-Katrina New Orleans, anarchist truths found fertile, if toxic grounds to take root and grow. New paths were walked on. Antiauthoritarian principles emerged as important guides for both reconstruction and the struggle against disaster capitalism. A million or more equally important stories can now be told about mutual aid, cooperation, subversion of authority, disruption of state and capitalist plans. And yet Brandon Darby's morality tale has become a media darling, due in no small part to his perfect and full adoption of his role as a state agent, regardless of whether it was official in 2006, or whether the FBI is still cutting him paychecks. We owe it to ourselves to tell these other stories of New Orleans, St. Paul and beyond. Read More

photo taken in October 2005 in New Orleans by unknown photographer.

Related: Months After RNC, Three More Protesters Charged | Support the Texas 2 | Washington DC rally‏ against FBI entrapment

Past Coverage: 5/25 Texas Two sentenced to four and two years in prison | 5/24 Brandon Darby Doesn't Tell a Good Story on NPR | 3/18 David McKay Pleads Guilty in Minneapolis Court | 3/17 (with updates) David McKay may take plea deal in FBI entrapment case

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2009 - After many hours of waiting in the hot sun in front of the Federal Court House in Downtown L.A., members of the community were dismayed to receive the news that the judge had denied bail to Alex Sanchez; this although more than a million dollars had been gathered along with hundreds of letters of support from around the world. From the Newswire: ALEX SÁNCHEZ DENIED BAIL! By Anna

On Friday, June 26, the Chicago lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police held a reunion party to commemorate police veterans from the 1968 Democratic National Convention — the police who beat and harrassed Convention protesters, who attacked Puerto Rican activists in a 1966 uprising, and who assassinated two Black Panther organizers in an overnight raid.

In the wake of these shameful actions, and ongoing present-day police brutality and malfeasance by Chicago police, community activists and members of Chicago Copwatch assembled to rally at Chicago's Union Park. They then marched three blocks away to the Fraternal Order of Police lodge where the reunion was held.

The marchers were hemmed in just down the street from the lodge, but that didn't stop activists from starting a second rally, complete with protest picket and with speeches. Right after one speech ended, the rally got a major shot in the arm. Chicago Critical Mass, the once-a-month roving bicycle-theatrical-protest, included the Chicago Copwatch protest in their route, which meant that for nearly 20 minutes, thousands of bicyclists eluded the police blockade and joined in witness to the protest. Watch Video

Additional Coverage: Chicago 68 Demonstration Getting More attention | Links to Corporate Media Coverage of the Chicago Copwatch '68 Reunion Protest

UPDATE JULY 1: ALEX SÁNCHEZ DENIED BAIL

The FBI is alleging that Sanchez, who has dedicated the past 11 years to gang prevention and education, is a "shot-caller" with the Mara Salvatrucha. Despite Sanchez's hardly being mentioned in the indictment, mainstream media reports are focused on the allegation that he was involved in "conspiracy and racketeering." Community organizations who know Alex have rushed to his defense, declaring their confidence in his innocence and denouncing the arrest as part of a wave of repression against activists.

From the newswire: Homies Unidos activist Alex Sanchez arrested by repost | | Homies Unidos Statement on Arrest of Executive Director Alex Sanchez by Homies Unidos | | CISPES letter of solidarity with Alex Sanchez and Homies Unidos by Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador | | EPCC letter of Solidarity with Alex Sanchez and Homies Unidos by Echo Park Community Coalition | | Union Del Barrio In Support of Alex Sanchez & Nativo Lopez by Unión del Barrio

Alex Sanchez's supporters have organized a meeting to coordinate the efforts to exonerate him this Sunday, June 28 at 6:00 at the CARECEN office. From the calendar: Community meeting in Defense of Alex Sanchez | | UPDATE: Community Meets to Show Support for Alex Sánchez by Juan Carrillo and Oriel Siu

Police and "officials" clown community around the police shooting of young man and sadly, many in the "community" applaud and defend it.

Richard Silverstein Writes:, YouTube may have banned Max Blumenthal's Feel the Hate video, but I guess the hasbara (pro-Israel propaganda) crowd hasn't yet gotten around to complaining about the multiple YouTube abuse videos documenting verbal and emotional abuse of innocent Palestinian civilians by thuggish Israeli Border Police.

The Chicago Police Department have had a long sordid history of malfeasance and subsequent legal ramifications. Recent developments posted to Chicago Indymedia have revealed new lows even for Chicago's infamous police.

Exhibit A — Federal Jury Awards Victim Largest-Ever Amount in Chicago Cop Frame-up: A Federal jury awarded the largest-ever compensation for a wrongful conviction in Chicago history — $21 million in compensatory damages — against a Chicago detective who framed a Humboldt Park resident. That resident, Juan Johnson, was sentenced to 30 years in prison over a murder for whose evidence a Chicago police detective wholly fabricated. Read more

Exhibit B — CPD Hit With $625,000 Fine for Violent Police Assault During Traffic Stop: "A federal jury yesterday awarded 41-year-old Curtis Mason $625,000 in compensatory damages for a brutal beating he received at the hands of at least five Chicago police officers during a January 13, 2007 traffic stop on Chicago's south side. " The Police Department declined to discipline the accused officers over the assault and the Cook County States Attorney's Office did not prosecute them criminally. Read more

Exhibit C — Officer in Publicized Bartender Beating Case Receives Only Probation: In a case of Chicago police malfeasance which has received considerable Chicago corporate media coverage, the Chicago police officer who was caught on camera in a public beating was released on probation by a Cook County judge. Read more

It so happens that the Chicago lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police will hold a 1968 Riot Cop Reunion (the police involved in the 1968 DNC crackdown and in political assassinations), but Chicago Copwatch is organizing a protest and march.

WOLA’s main idea is the training of modern professional para-military police and other law enforcement and criminal justice officials, with what appears to be oligarchical oversight. They foresee police academy training and indoctrination, human rights [meaning forcing us to be their slaves], due process, leadership development, more effective patrol structures directed at the communities [like curfews?], internal and external controls, and community-oriented policing. [Don’t forget folks, these people want to be the only game in town. If they get their way, we’ll all be forced to play cops and robbers whether we want to or not. They have a lot of private jails to fill and they’re planning more.] Specialized police units with specific policing techniques and equipment [probably taught by the likes of BlackWater!] Develop detective units and a comprehensive “snitching” system to help police gather evidence to increase conviction rates. Here's the announcement of their upcoming event:

On June 21st, the Israeli State Prosecutor ordered police to start an investigation of Indymedia Israel. At the heart of the investigation is an article posted to the site with a picture of a soldier who, according to witnesses, murdered protest organizer Abu Rahma on April 17th. The posting with the heading "murderer" asks for the name and any other relevant information of that soldier so that he can face murder charges.

On April 6, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal for a new guilt-phase trial. Supporters are now calling for a federal civil rights investigation into Abu-Jamal’s case. This new essay, first published by The SF Bay View Newspaper provides an in-depth analysis of five key instances in Abu-Jamal’s case where campaign organizer Suzanne Ross argues that “evidence was withheld that could have led to Mumia’s acquittal.”

FEATURED VIDEO: Linn Washington Jr, speaks in Philadelphia on April 24 (watch parts one, two, three)

RELATED: Videos of Oakland, CA event for Abu-Jamal on April 24 II The Mumia Exception, by J. Patrick O'Connor II Sign Online Petition/Letter to Attorney General Holder II Open letters to AG Holder from Cynthia McKinney and U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means

Stung by his defeat in the City Council Tuesday, Mayor Fenty held a 3:30 PM press conference at the site of the June 18th shooting by Colombia Heights metro. He was there to promote another attempt to pass his "gang injunction" bill. Protesters showed up to oppose the bill.

The Radical Homosexual Agenda hosted its third parade without a permit to protest the parade permit law passed in New York City, that was deemed unconstitutional by a criminal court judge, but prevents groups of 50 or more from marching together without a permit from the New York Police Department. Photos by Andrew Hinderaker || Report by Radical Homosexual Agenda

The Santa Cruz City Council Measure K Oversight Committee held their most recent meeting on June 15th. As directed in Santa Cruz Municipal Code Section 9.84.060, the Committee is charged with overseeing the implementation of SCMC Chapter 9.84 which makes "Adult Marijuana Criminal Offenses" the "Lowest Law Enforcement Priority."

On Wednesday, Latino leaders decried the sentences of two teens acquitted in the beating death of Luis Eduardo Ramírez, for related charges to the July 2008 fatal incident in Shenandoah, Pa. "There was no Justice done for Luis Ramirez, and we should not and will not rest until all four perpetrators of such a hideous crime are duly prosecuted under federal hate crime statues and found guilty of murder," said Reverend Miguel Rivera, chairman for the National Coalition Of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC). Read more at Media Mobilizing Project

50-60 Minneapolis residents gathered at the Urban League on the north side's Plymouth Avenue Monday night to give testimony about brutality and harassment at the hands (and batons, tasers, guns, etc.) of the Minneapolis Police Department. Their stories showed that police misconduct against people of color and the homeless is not isolated, and nearly all present were in agreement that, as one speaker proclaimed, "they've got to be accountable. Minneapolis has one of the most brutal police departments in the U.S."

The primary aim of this public hearing and an upcoming hearing to be scheduled on the south side was to gather testimony, to be shared with federal officials, with the goal of putting the Minneapolis Police Department under federal receivership. With a decree of receivership from the Department of Justice, the MPD would be under official supervision from the federal government until it became in compliance with the law. This new strategy is being used, say its proponents, since a decade of organizing around civilian review boards, individual lawsuits, a class action suit, and federal mediation has not succeeded in stopping MPD violence and harassment.

With lawyers, activists, a representative of Keith Ellison's office, and many survivors present, the testimonies were mixed with calls for communal action. "The people receiving these brutalities," said one audience member after telling his story, "outnumber the people who are doing it." Related: Cop Culture Series on KFAI Radio | MPLS Civil Rights Department on Chopping Block | Community Members Rally in Reponse to Fong Lee Verdict | Ofiong Sanders Imprisoned for Lurking |  July 11: Hastings Rally One Year After Police Killing | CUAPB 

POMONA, June 17, 2009 – Residents of the Woodlawn Mobile Home Park in Pomona are demanding an explanation for a June 11 police raid on the community which terrorized the entire park. During the raid whole families with young children were forced to ground and terrified by the officers violent actions. At least five or more concussion grenades were thrown into the park by officers during the raid. To date no explanation for the raid has been given. Three men were reported arrested during the raid on unknown charges and there is no word where they are being held.

There is some uncertainty about which agencies are responsible for last Thursday night’s raid, but eyewitness accounts seem to indicate that a joint force of San Bernardino County Sheriff and possibly un-uniformed Pomona Police officers were involved.

Residents of the park attended the Pomona City Council meeting on Monday, June 15 and addressed the council during the public comment period. One by one, approximately thirty residents, representing adults, the elderly, and children, explained what happened to them. Some became so emotionally overwhelmed that they were unable to continue.

From the Newswire: Pomona police department uses explosive devices in raid on mobile home park & Audio testimony of eyewitnesses: Despite police abuse, mobile home park community pursues redress by Rockero