"National Public Safety" Paramilitaries Invade Hillcrest / Paramilitares de “National Public Safety” Invaden Hillcrest (05/12/08) "National Public Safety", a San Diego County based private security corporation, made their presence known in Hillcrest today. NPS "officers", in full outfit (based on the US Border Patrol outfit) including guns, handcuffs, radios and mace, patrolled University delivering letters to the business owners of Hillcrest. NPS has ambitions to militarize San Diego streets in the name of profit. Offering their "clients" intimidating officers, cruisers and holding-cell vehicles with future plans of obtaining helicopters. The next Hillcrest Business Association meeting is Tuesday, May 13 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM at the Joyce Beers Community Center (1220 Cleveland Ave.) if wish to let the members know how you feel about privatized quasi-paramilitary forces in the community. --Read More from Scar Media Collective--
“National Public Safety” (Seguridad Publica Nacional), una corporación privada de seguridad basada en el condado San Diego, mostró su presencia hoy en Hillcrest. “Agentes” del NPS, de uniforme completo (basado en el uniforme de la patrulla fronteriza de EEUU) incluyendo armas de fuego, esposas, radios, y spray pimienta, patrullaron la avenida University, repartiendo cartas a los comerciantes de Hillcrest. NPS tiene ambiciones a militarizar las calles de San Diego en el nombre de ganancias. Ofrecen a sus clientes agentes atemorizantes, coches patrullas, y vehículos con celdas de detención, con planes de obtener helicópteros en el futuro. La próxima reunión del Hillcrest Business Association (Asociación de Negocios de Hillcrest) es el martes, 13 de mayo, de 5:00 a 6:30 por la tarde al Centro Comunitario Joyce Beers (1220 Cleveland Ave.) si quiere compartir con los miembros sus pensamientos sobre estas fuerzas cuasi-paramilitares privatizadas en la comunidad. --Leer Mas por Colectivo Scar Media--
National Public Safety Corporate Website || Main Office: 892 East Madison, El Cajon | North County: 110 Escondido Ave Suite 103, Vista -----------------------------------------------------------------
SDPD and Border Patrol Collaborate on Arrest in City Heights/Policía y patrulla fronteriza se colaboran en una detención en City Heights (05/08/08) At approximately 10 am on Thursday, May 8, a woman was stopped by SDPD officers at the corner of University and Euclid in City Heights. Soon after being detained by the SDPD, several Border Patrol and SDPD vehicles arrived on the scene. She was then arrested, transferred to Border Patrol custody and taken away. Neighborhood residents said that for the past four or five days, the Border Patrol has been seen driving along University Avenue and even setting up checkpoints at the intersection of University and Winona. --Read More from city heights copwatch--
El jueves, 8 de mayo, aproximadamente a las diez de la mañana, policías del SDPD pararon a una mujer en la esquina de University y Euclid en City Heights. Poco después de la detención, llegaron varios vehículos de la patrulla fronteriza y SDPD. Ella estuve detenida, trasladada a la custodia de la patrulla fronteriza, y sacada. Residentes del vecindario dijeron que por los cuatro o cinco días pasados, la patrulla fronteriza ha estada vista manejando a lo largo de Avenida University y aun estableciendo puestos de control en la cruce de University y Winona. --Leer Mas por city heights copwatch-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
From Indybay:San Francisco Protests Against ICE Raids (05/06/08) On Friday, May 2nd, immigration agents conducted a large-scale raid at taquerias across San Francisco and the East Bay. Agents arrested about 60 employees at several locations of the El Balazo chain.
ICE claims that it targets those involved in criminal activity and doesn't do random enforcement. But most of the Balazo employees had no criminal records. They were arrested for the crime of working to support their families.
On Monday May 5th, immigrant rights activists marched on the I.C.E office in San Francisco to protest the raids. --Read More on Indybay--
El viernes, 2 de mayo, agentes de inmigración realizaron una redada de gran escala en taquerías a través de San Francisco y la Bahía Este. Los agentes detuvieron unos 60 empleados en varias ubicaciones de la cadena El Balazo.
Algunos trabajadores han estado puestos en libertad pero obligados a llevar tobilleras electrónicas mientras que esperen sus vistas de deportación. Otros todavía están encarcelados. Muchos estuvieron interrogados sin representación legal.
ICE afirma enfocarse en los que tienen vínculos con actividades criminales y no hacer aplicación al azar. Pero la mayoría de los empleados de Balazo no tenían antecedentes penales. Fueron detenidos por el crimen de trabajando para alimentar a sus familias.
El lunes, 5 de mayo, activistas de derechos inmigrantes se manifestaron en la oficina del ICE en San Francisco para protestar las redadas.--Leer Mas por Indybay-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
May Day March for Immigrant Rights (05/04/08) On International Workers Day, several hundred demonstrators rallied and marched from City College to Pantoja Park in downtown San Diego in support of immigrant rights, specifically: legalization for all; to stop the raids and deportations; for the right to dignified work for all, the right to migrate, the right to a just and equitable education, and the right to live in peace. A small group of minuteklan attempted to create a disturbance, but failed. A public assembly was later held at Chican@ Park.
International Workers Day began as a commemoration of the Haymarket Martyrs, who were falsely accused and convicted of involvement in the explosion of a bomb that killed a cop in Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886. At the conclusion of a rally in favor of the eight hour work day on that date, several hundred cops charged a dwindling crowd at the rally, ordering them to disperse. A bomb was thrown into the advancing cop lines, killing one cop and prompting the cops to start shooting into the crowd indiscriminately, killing at least four demonstrators and an additional six cops, and wounding scores. Eight anarchist labor organizers were tried in the death of the first cop killed by the bomb - George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Albert Parsons and August Spies were executed, Louis Lingg committed suicide shortly before execution, and Samuel Fielden, Oscar Neebe and Michael Schwab were pardoned by the Illinois governor. A ninth, Rudolph Schnaubelt, escaped arrest. The bomb-thrower was never identified, but speculation has centered around agents from the Pinkertons, a private paramilitary force employed by wealthy elites to suppress labor organizing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
El Día Internacional de los Trabajadores, varios cientos de manifestantes se reunieron y marcharon de City College al Parque Pantoja en el centro de San Diego para apoyar los derechos inmigrantes, específicamente: legalización para todos, un fin a las redadas y deportaciones, el derecho a trabajo dignificado para todos, el derecho a migrar, el derecho a una educación justa y equitativa, y el derecho a vivir en paz. Un grupo pequeño de minuteklan trató de crear un alboroto, pero fracasó. Más tarde, se celebró una asamblea publica en Chican@ Park.
El Día Internacional del Trabajadores empezó como conmemoración de los mártires de Haymarket, que fueron acusados falsamente y condenados por implicación en la explosión de una bomba que mató a un poli en la plaza Haymarket en Chicago el 4 de mayo, 1886. Al final de un mitin a favor del día de trabajo de ocho horas en esa fecha, varios cientos de polis atacaron a una muchedumbre menguante en el mitin y ordenaron que ellos dispersen. Una bomba fue tirada en las líneas de polis, matando a un poli y les provocando a disparar indiscriminadamente a la muchedumbre, matando a por lo menos cuatro manifestantes y seis polis, e hiriendo a muchos. Ocho sindicalistas anarquistas fueron juzgados por la muerte del primer poli asesinato por la bomba- George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Albert Parsons y August Spies fueron ejecutados, Louis Lingg se suicidó antes de la ejecución, y Samuel Bielden, Oscar Neebe, y Michael Schwab fueron indultados por el gobernador de Illinois. Un noveno, Rudolph Schnaubelt, evitó arresto. La persona que tiró la bomba nunca se identificó, pero especulación se ha enfocado en agentes de los Pinkertons, una fuerza paramilitar privada empleada por las elites ricas para suprimir actividades sindicalistas a fines del siglo diecinueve y principios del siglo veinte.
Arizona Bill would Outlaw MEChA and Courses that Denigrate "American" Values like Capitalism (4/20/08) Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by a legislative panel. Additionally, the measure would prohibit students of the state's universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University. Those groups would be forbidden from operating on campus. --Read More from kilo-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
radio.indymedia.org returns to the web (4/17/08)
After an absence of over a year because of a dysfunctional server, radio.indymedia.org and its archives are back. radio.indymedia.org is the Indymedia network's global radio site, including links to grassroots independent radio projects around the world, a live internet radio directory, an aggregated listing of sound files published to Indymedia sites around the world, and open publishing of radio news and content.
The return of radio.indymedia.org has particular significance for San Diego, as it was the repository for many years of programs from the activist radio station radioActive sanDiego, including nationwide and local coverage of protests against the bush inauguration, programs from Radica Radio to the Al Uh Looyah Show to Resistance Remixed to The Children's Hour to Lying Media Bastards to Temporary Autonomous Zones, DJs from Aymara to (DJette) Aporetics to lotu5 to Onto, and much, much more. A rich section of San Diego's history has come alive once again (or something like that), thanks to the hard work of the of techies at radio.indymedia.org
New Trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal is Denied (3/27/08) On March 27th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected all of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s demands for a new trial. In 1982 Jamal was convicted of the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a trial where most African American jurors were systematically excluded and where critical evidence that would have proved the defendant’s innocence was excluded. The State of Pennsylvania has been ordered to hold a new sentencing hearing within 180 days. In that hearing the jury's decision will be limited to a finding of either life imprisonment, or execution by lethal injection. Jamal’s attorneys will appeal the Third Circuit's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. --Read More from Indybay--
All Nations Healing Through Music Festival - Peace + Dignity Journey Benefit (3/21/08) The Peace and Dignity Journeys are six month spiritual runs originating in Chickaloon, Central Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, traveling through hundreds of Indigenous communities, and meeting in Panama. The goals include reuniting the Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere and healing the individual Indigenous communities by helping to reconnect these communities with their spiritual practices and traditions. One strand of the run will pass through San Diego in July, with the runners staying at Chican@ Park.
Four members of the San Diego community will participate as core runners in 2008, three on the northern route leaving May 1 and one on the southern route, leaving April 1. Runners Gabriella and Arturo talked about the run and their past experiences: Gabriella - "We could just hear the drums from far away while we were running. We got closer, one of the songs we could hear was called the Warrior Women Song, of the Secwepmec Nation. We get there but there was all elder women with the drums, and I am used to seeing the brothers with the drums. It was so powerful - however late we get there, the community is anxious to receive us, they're excited and pumped up and singing for us... At the end, all the elder women on the fourth verse of the song, they held their fist up - we are one people, we are all united, we are all warriors." Arturo - "I remember running with the main staff, it's called the Eagle Staff. Three o'clock in the morning, I wasn't prepared to run, I was just going to help with the food. One of the brothers, he put me on the spot, Jose, it's really dark, you couldn't see nothing, he said 'Who's Arturo?' ... He told me 'Look at that staff, that's the Eagle Staff, I want you to pick that up.' I was like -that's an honor dude. I went over and grabbed it in a good way. When someone really puts me out there like that, I humble myself, I really humble myself, because to grab something like that, it's a blessing to be a part of that."
All Nations Healing Through Music Festival - Peace + Dignity Journey Benefit
Saturday, March 22 6pm (doors open 5pm) MAAC Charter School 1385 Third Avenue, Chula Vista ALL AGES $10 Red Warrior Drummers, Kumeyaay Bird Singers, Olmeca, Cihuatl-CE, War Club, Raiz Muzik, Guerrilla Queenz, Tierra Y Libertad, Indigenous Radio, DJ Poncho, MC Ras Pablo Aztlan
San Diego War Profiteers (3/20/08) from b: Corporate nano/bio tech industries have a major presence in San Diego. As well as other defense contractors profiting from the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan:
San Diego Indymedia Volunteer Recruitment Presentation (3/16/08) San Diego Indymedia is looking for volunteers! If you are interested in participating, come to Chicana Perk on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30pm for a presentation that will cover -- background on Indymedia and the San Diego Independent Media Center; projects San Diego Indymedia is currently working on and future directions; how to post articles, photos, audio and VIDEO!; how you can plug in as a volunteer; and how you can work towards becoming a member of the San Diego Indymedia collective.
San Diego Indymedia Needs Laptops! (3/16/08) San Diego Indymedia is seeking donations of Mac laptops (G4 with usb 2.0 and later) to loan to community/activist groups to help increase participation in media making, and, in particular, to help increase access to video production through San Diego Indymedia's Video Project.
If you have a laptop you would like to donate, please contact us at imc-sd AT lists.indymedia.org
or leave a message on our voice mail:
619.378.O946
Film Shorts at THE FRONT Friday March 14 (3/13/08) As part of International Womyn's Month, THE FRONT will be showcasing film shorts on Friday, March 14 at 6:30PM, including: And if Iron Stand In Our Way (Womyn crossing the border), California Coalition Against Poverty, Beyond the Bling: Going Back to the Roots of Hip-Hop, Cafe en La Calle, Arte en Barrio Logan, Artificial Border and Keep it Alive; Keep it Real (Oaxaca).
Education Not Arms March 11th Protest at School Board (3/13/08) Students from Mission Bay and Lincoln High School continue to organize and protest the tracking of students into JROTC courses, as well as the existence of weapons training facilities on school grounds. Two students and one parent spoke during the public testimony portion of the March 11th school board meeting and about forty students protested in front of the building. Alex Velarde, a Lincoln High School student, spoke of being misled when enrolled in JROTC and forced to remain in the program until the end of the semester. Petitions with 1000 signatures were given to the board. There was an indication from some board members that they were willing to put the issue on their agenda in the future.
However, more pressure may be needed and activists intend to continue organizing. Petitions continue to circulate and supporters can sign at Chicana Perk Cafe (129 25th St in Sherman Heights) or download a petition (return by mail). Also, there will be outreach efforts taking place at a number of upcoming events, including this Saturday's anti-war rally in City Heights... new volunteers are welcome and appreciated! --Full Report from n--
El caso de Juan ha sido resuelto/Juan's Case is Resolved (3/13/08) Juan Esteban Ruiz fue arrestado durante el Campamento Contra las Fronteras en la frontera entre los EE.U.U. y México el 11 de noviembre de 2007, mientras tocó el tambor, en otras palabras, ejercer sus derechos a la libertad de expresión, asamblea pacifica, y la reparación de daños especificado por la primera enmienda de la constitución de los Estados Unidos. El fue acusado de dos cargos de asaltar un agente federal. Este cargo fue reducido a "interferir" con un agente federal. Su caso ya esta cerrado. --Leer mas--
Juan Esteban Ruiz was arrested during the No Borders Camp at the U.S./Mexican border on November 11, 2007, while playing the drum, in other words, using his rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and redress of grievances specified by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He was charged with two counts of assaulting a federal officer. The charge was reduced to "interfering" with a federal officer. The case is now closed. --Read More-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Education Not Arms! Demonstration February 12 (3/11/08) On February 12, a mixed group of students, parents, educators, and community members protested the existence of rifle ranges in San Diego schools, as well as the practice of tracking of lower-income students into JROTC programs, often done without the informed consent of students or their parents. The protesters attended the beginning of the school board meeting, and four participants addressed the school board during the time reserved for public comment. It remains to be seen whether the school board will make the issue an agenda item for a future board meeting, which would be the first administrative step necessary for addressing the problems. When the public comment time ended, the board members moved on to their agenda items while the protesters walked out and held a demonstration outside the building.
A subsequent protest was held at the board meeting on March 11 (information forthcoming...) More info: projectyano.org/educationnotarms
South American Anarchists and Anti-Militarists Say NO to War (3/08/08)
The threat of armed conflict involving the governments of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela has mobilized anarchists and anti-militarists across the continent, in words and in action, to repudiate what would be a monstrous aggression by state powers against our peoples.
We don’t need another war. We, conscientious objectors and antimilitarists from Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean together, categorically refuse to participate in belligerent escalades that will lead to a war that, again, will attempt to divide us. We have enough with hunger, corruption, rampant militarism, the obscene military budget, insecurity, the continuous violations of human rights by our governments, for them to give us yet another armed conflict...
The only solution to the governmental madness is the people, a revolutionary tide that will run over the demagogues, the populists and those who sell their mothers on both sides of the border, dedicated to building a strong civil society from below, independent of that power that always tries to perpetuate itself, a self-managed society, revolutionary by vocation and nature, without blinding leaders, internationalist and in solidarity, that recognizes that the people of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador are brothers for many reasons, brothers in suffering, brothers in their desire for peace and justice. For starters, nothing would be better than not being deceived by war proclamations and totally rejecting war among states, any war except class war. --Read More from Anarquistas y antimilitaristas-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Peace and Dignity Journeys 2008 Benefit Concert (2/19/08) The Peace and Dignity Journeys are six month spiritual runs originating in Chickaloon, Central Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, traveling through hundreds of Indigenous communities, and meeting in Panama. The goals include reuniting the Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere and healing the individual Indigenous communities by helping to reconnect these communities with their spiritual practices and traditions. One strand of the run will pass through San Diego in July, with the runners staying at Chicano Park.
A series of events in March will treat different aspects of the Peace and Dignity Journeys from the perspective of San Diego Indigenous communities and participants. According to San Diego Runner Berta, "This run is the representation of everything that is around me, all the love, all the struggles that have been happening, all the sacrifices that people have been making... I can take the time off to be able to pray with them, to carry this prayer of so many years, of all this exploitation, all this pain. To be able to take this prayer all the way down to Panama, to carry their prayer, that is the least thing I can do. It is a very beautiful thing, I feel extremely blessed to be able to that."
Peace and Dignity Journeys Benefit Concert
Cultura Profetica (Puerto Rico) Alika (Argentina) and Quinto Sol (East LA)
Wednesday February 20 8PM
World Beat Cultural Center 2100 Park Blvd Balboa Park
$12 Adv $15 Door ALL AGES
Journalist Assulted By County Officials at News Conference (2/18/08) San Diego slid ever further into a police state last Thursday, February 15, as independent journalist and blogger, Pat Flannery, was assulted and thrown out of a press conference at the Westgate Hotel. Under the eye of San Diego Sheriff William Kolender and apparently directed by the District Attorney herself, a county official grabbed Flannery, without warning, and shoved him out of the room.
While the corporate media stood by, Flannery was ejected from the public, open press conference as he filmed DA Bonnie Dumanis endorse fellow San Diego Oligarch, Judge Jan Goldsmith, for City Attorney.
Flannery, who has been critical of the DA's heavy-handedness and unethical dealings with a Chula Vista businessman, also runs a blog where he exposes the good ol' boy network downtown, which depends on wealthy CEO's and developers for slush funds. --Read More from Rocky Neptun-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Marcha Migrante III at the Canadian Border (2/14/08) UPDATE (2/16): 2/14 Great to see MECHA and Brown Berets alive and well in Idaho where we meet with Padre Jesus and community leaders to inspire and be inspired …no small potatoes here…SI SE PUEDE ! After a powerful lunch meeting we continue East/South on our way to Utah…another long drive…we are quickly winding down our journey...
2/15 Salt Lake City, Utah…a return to the snow covered wonderland, where I spent many a long weekend screaming down the mountains I now am joined by the remaining magnificent seven; Estela, Marta, Vicente, Danny, Roberto, Pablo and yours truly as we scream in unison SU VOTO ES SU VOZ. We meet with local leaders and community members, including local elder of the Church of Later Day Saints…encourage to be more supportive of immigration reform (after all Mexico did give Mormons SANCTUARY, when they were being persecuted in the US) and we also meet with Utah’s Bishop who now heads the bishops national committee on Immigration. We are very encouraged by their words, as their support of our cry for justice, grows every day.
2/16 Off to Las Vegas y manana SAN DIEGO!
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2/12: Off to Canadian Border ELVIRA ARELLANO DENIED VISA AS SHE LANDS IN CANADA !!! Elvira not welcome!!! Something is terribly wrong with this picture. Sleepless in Seattle but MARCHA MIGRANTE continues as we make it to Blaine (border with Canada) ..after days of snow and rain the roads open up…the sun likes us and we like the sun…as we get to Peace Arch Park…we meet our brethren from Canada and other countries…at the international border..the park is open on both sides and we join in the center to share stories, prayers, unity”la gente Unida, jamas sera vencida”
We discuss with sadness the raids and separations of families. Elvira Arellano will not be with us as she was denied entry once she arrived in Vancouver…but Elvira calls us and inspires and tells us she will meet caravan at the US/MEXICAN border upon our return on Sunday February 17 @ 1:00pm. --Read More from Enrique Morones--
ALF Direct Action: USA, Mexico, Spain, Germany, UK and Netherlands (2/12/08) Recently, concerned citizens rescued 47 rats who were apparently part of a breeding program at Scripps 'Mercy' Hospital in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. We entered through an unlocked door and found these beautiful innocent creatures living in squalor. Eight were crammed into each tiny barren cage. Their white fur was matted in urine and feces. Their babies were to be stolen from them and tortured in useless experiments, but now they are in loving homes where they will spend the rest of their lives as individuals, rather than research tools to be discarded when no longer necessary.
Who are the terrorists in this situation: those who peacefully rescue neglected beings from abuse and cruelty, or those who terrify, torture and destroy innocent life? --Read More from Animal Liberation Underground-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. (2/10/08)
Remembering Black History, this past month we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of struggle and love for humanity. This event, sponsored by the King Chavez coalition for Justice and Unity, took place on January 21, 2008 in the community of Encanto, San Diego, California.
On a day that stopped raining to permit some rays to shine... food was shared and Mumia Abu-Jamal's message on this holiday was heard. Together we heard speakers from the unions, the community and then we listened to MLK Jr's speech on Vietnam. Then the event ended with some future events in mind, music and poetry. --Read More from Carlos-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Longfin Smelt Moves Closer to State Endangered Status (2/10/08) The California Fish and Game Commission in San Diego today voted 3-0 to designate the longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys), a native fish that has dropped to record low numbers in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and is nearing extinction in other northern California estuaries, as a "candidate species." This is the first step toward a formal listing as an endangered or threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act, according to a press release from a coalition of three environmental groups.
The abundance of longfin smelt, a cousin of the delta smelt, plummeted to a record low in 2007, according to the Department of Fish and Game's fall midwater trawl survey. The longfin smelt population collapse occurs within the context of the dramatic decline of delta smelt, juvenile striped bass, threadfin shad and other species.
Scientists believe that the number one cause of the food chain collapse is massive increases in water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta since 2001, followed by toxics and invasive species. The state and federal governments exported a record 7,000,000 acre feet of water from the California Delta to subsidized agribusiness and southern California in 2007. --Read More from Dan Bacher-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Update on Marcha Migrante III (2/10/08) Thanks to the 200 or so people that came to see us off on the Historic MARCHA MIGRANTE III. We even had the rejected minutemen of Caltrans fame seeing us off! (great video for CALTRANS TO SEE) Aztec dancers, prayers, Mexico’s Human Rights Commission and more that 50 organizations represented in a rousing send off of two dozen autos on our 4500 mile journey (one mile for every known death on the border). Our first stop as tradition, was the Holtville Cemetery where 600+ of our more than 10,000 brethren who lost their lives since October of 1994 (when Operation Gatekeeper began) are buried.
When we arrived in Coachella late at night on Saturday the villagers were there to receive us with the warmth and charm that only a small town can deliver. We went to sleep at midnight then were suddenly awakened (5:00 am) by half the town with “las mananitas”, musica de danza, mariachis, flowers, food and even a short skit prepared by the locals in appreciation of our work and MARCHA MIGRANTE III. A wake up call we will remember fondly for the rest of our lives. --Read More from Enrique Morones--
Reports: Los Angeles | Portland -----------------------------------------------------------------
Reflections on the Mujeres Discussion: Feminismo y Que at Enero Zapatista (1/20/08)
A week into 2008, I attended the first discussion of this year's Enero Zapatista at Chicana Perk [San Diego, CA]. Coming in from a long day of work, I neither knew what to expect nor had I had a moment to give it thought. What I found was pleasantly surprising and inspirational. A group of more than a dozen folks came together for the Mujeres Discussion: Feminismo y Que - the group itself was diverse in some ways, not in others, but certainly offered a variety of perspectives and experiences...
What I cannot emphasize enough is that throughout the discussion, a constant theme was violence. Without patriarchy, almost all participants noted, violence worldwide, from wars to domestic violence, would exist on an incredibly lower level. What was great was that both men and women discussed their relationship to this violence. I think that it would be impossible or, at least worthless, to discuss patriarchy without talking about how overwhelmingly prevalent violence against women is in this and every culture in the world. Rape and sexual assault, partner violence and more were brought up. And, what was incredible was that as people spoke, they seemed to really come from a place of day-to-day experience that was so valuable for the rest of the group to hear. What woman doesn't think about what her weapon is if she's walking down the street alone. How many of us carry mace or other means of defense? It's a given. What was again incredible, in addition, was that men talked about the threat of violence that they experience which I feel is not discussed enough. --Read More from owl--
Previous Enero Zapatista Coverage: Opening Night -----------------------------------------------------------------
11 to 1 to Acquit, But It's Re-trial for Medical Marijuana Patient Nathan Archer (1/17/08) I am a medical marijuana patient and born and raised in San Diego. Last year (2007) I went through a jury trial that ended up with the numerical breakdown being 11 to 1 to acquit on both counts alleged against me. This year (2008) I am being re-tried for the same crime. My next trial is on Jan 22, 2008 Division 11 8:30 am at the Superior Court of San Diego Central Division (on Broadway)...
I am requesting your assistance in organizing a class action law suit against San Diego County. Including but not limited to Qualifiable Medical Marijuana Patients, their Care Givers, their Doctors and non-patients land owners who have had their freedom and/or property threatened to be seized or seized by San Diego County.
We can get organized and unite. It isn't often that we have a case with such clear prosecutorial misconduct to work with. --Read More from Nathanial D. Archer-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
San Diego's Corporate Owned Mayor Exposed! (1/16/08)
This is a tale of two cities. A San Diego of wealth and privilege, where corporate welfare, through CCDC and other city departments, abounds, and taxes on the rich are the lowest in the nation. And the other city, where those of us who work struggle with dangerous roads, obscene rent and low wages. -- Read More from Rocky Neptun-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Latino Rights Coalition Says ‘Basta Ya!’ to Hate Crimes (1/12/08) In November 2007, the FBI reported that the number of ethnicity-based hate crimes in San Diego County doubled from 2005 to 2006. Although official statistics are not yet available for 2007, the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes prosecutor says Latinos are the primary target. Local law enforcement estimates that Latinos, regardless of immigration status, were the victims of approximately 75% of the reported hate crimes committed here last year. These victims include both documented and undocumented immigrants as well as U.S. citizens.
With local fringe groups like the San Diego Minutemen spewing anti-Latino invective, and presidential candidates exploiting the “immigration issue” as a means of diverting attention from social, economic, and foreign policy issues, it is probably safe to say that Latinos’ safety is increasingly at risk. A North County coalition of Latino rights groups has had enough. --Read the Full Story by Diane--
San Diego Indymedia Video Project (1/10/08)
San Diego Indymedia has initiated a project to increase access to and encourage the use of video to document and share struggles in the many communities of the San Diego region.
The current components of this project include:
•Providing video cameras to activist groups (we currently have eight to loan).
•Skill sharing with activist groups on video editing software (currently iMovie and Moviemaker), and working to provide laptops and internet access (using our mobile media unit) on an episodic basis.
•Providing a noncommercial, noncorporate outlet (no to you-tube!) for community video reporting. In addition to the newswire on San Diego Indymedia*, we are publishing a (currently) monthly compilation of excerpts from video posted to the newswire, San Diego Indymedia N O O Z R E A L, with plans to screen N O O Z R E A L in communities where access to the internet is limited.
We are working on the following additional components:
•Obtaining video editing workstations that can be placed in community acessible locations.
•Incorporating basic open source online video tools into the new website.
If your activist group is interested in participating in the SDIMC Video Project or you would like to volunteer, write us an e-mail at imc-sd AT lists D0T indymedia D0T org or leave a voicemail message at *67.619.378.O946.
*currently generously being hosted by Indybay, and soon to be hosted on our new locally-based drupal website -----------------------------------------------------------------
"National Public Safety", a San Diego County based private security corporation, made their presence known in Hillcrest today. NPS "officers", in full outfit (based on the US Border Patrol outfit) including guns, handcuffs, radios and mace, patrolled University delivering letters to the business owners of Hillcrest. NPS has ambitions to militarize San Diego streets in the name of profit. Offering their "clients" intimidating officers, cruisers and holding-cell vehicles with future plans of obtaining helicopters. The next Hillcrest Business Association meeting is Tuesday, May 13 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM at the Joyce Beers Community Center (1220 Cleveland Ave.) if wish to let the members know how you feel about privatized quasi-paramilitary forces in the community. --Read More from Scar Media Collective--
At approximately 10 am on Thursday, May 8, a woman was stopped by SDPD officers at the corner of University and Euclid in City Heights. Soon after being detained by the SDPD, several Border Patrol and SDPD vehicles arrived on the scene. She was then arrested, transferred to Border Patrol custody and taken away. Neighborhood residents said that for the past four or five days, the Border Patrol has been seen driving along University Avenue and even setting up checkpoints at the intersection of University and Winona. --Read More from city heights copwatch--
On Friday, May 2nd, immigration agents conducted a large-scale raid at taquerias across San Francisco and the East Bay. Agents arrested about 60 employees at several locations of the El Balazo chain.
On International Workers Day, several hundred demonstrators rallied and marched from City College to Pantoja Park in downtown San Diego in support of immigrant rights, specifically: legalization for all; to stop the raids and deportations; for the right to dignified work for all, the right to migrate, the right to a just and equitable education, and the right to live in peace. A small group of minuteklan attempted to create a disturbance, but failed. A public assembly was later held at Chican@ Park.
International Workers Day began as a commemoration of the Haymarket Martyrs, who were falsely accused and convicted of involvement in the explosion of a bomb that killed a cop in Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886. At the conclusion of a rally in favor of the eight hour work day on that date, several hundred cops charged a dwindling crowd at the rally, ordering them to disperse. A bomb was thrown into the advancing cop lines, killing one cop and prompting the cops to start shooting into the crowd indiscriminately, killing at least four demonstrators and an additional six cops, and wounding scores. Eight anarchist labor organizers were tried in the death of the first cop killed by the bomb - George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Albert Parsons and August Spies were executed, Louis Lingg committed suicide shortly before execution, and Samuel Fielden, Oscar Neebe and Michael Schwab were pardoned by the Illinois governor. A ninth, Rudolph Schnaubelt, escaped arrest. The bomb-thrower was never identified, but speculation has centered around agents from the Pinkertons, a private paramilitary force employed by wealthy elites to suppress labor organizing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by a legislative panel. Additionally, the measure would prohibit students of the state's universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University. Those groups would be forbidden from operating on campus. 
On March 27th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected all of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s demands for a new trial. In 1982 Jamal was convicted of the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a trial where most African American jurors were systematically excluded and where critical evidence that would have proved the defendant’s innocence was excluded. The State of Pennsylvania has been ordered to hold a new sentencing hearing within 180 days. In that hearing the jury's decision will be limited to a finding of either life imprisonment, or execution by lethal injection. Jamal’s attorneys will appeal the Third Circuit's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. 
The Peace and Dignity Journeys are six month spiritual runs originating in Chickaloon, Central Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, traveling through hundreds of Indigenous communities, and meeting in Panama. The goals include reuniting the Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere and healing the individual Indigenous communities by helping to reconnect these communities with their spiritual practices and traditions. One strand of the run will pass through San Diego in July, with the runners staying at Chican@ Park.
San Diego Indymedia is looking for volunteers! If you are interested in participating, come to Chicana Perk on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30pm for a presentation that will cover -- background on 
San Diego Indymedia is seeking donations of Mac laptops (G4 with usb 2.0 and later) to loan to community/activist groups to help increase participation in media making, and, in particular, to help increase access to video production through 
As part of International Womyn's Month, THE FRONT will be showcasing film shorts on Friday, March 14 at 6:30PM, including: And if Iron Stand In Our Way (Womyn crossing the border), California Coalition Against Poverty, Beyond the Bling: Going Back to the Roots of Hip-Hop, Cafe en La Calle, Arte en Barrio Logan, Artificial Border and Keep it Alive; Keep it Real (Oaxaca).
Students from Mission Bay and Lincoln High School continue to organize and protest the tracking of students into JROTC courses, as well as the existence of weapons training facilities on school grounds. Two students and one parent spoke during the public testimony portion of the March 11th school board meeting and about forty students protested in front of the building. Alex Velarde, a Lincoln High School student, spoke of being misled when enrolled in JROTC and forced to remain in the program until the end of the semester. Petitions with 1000 signatures were given to the board. There was an indication from some board members that they were willing to put the issue on their agenda in the future.
Juan Esteban Ruiz fue arrestado durante el Campamento Contra las Fronteras en la frontera entre los EE.U.U. y México el 11 de noviembre de 2007, mientras tocó el tambor, en otras palabras, ejercer sus derechos a la libertad de expresión, asamblea pacifica, y la reparación de daños especificado por la primera enmienda de la constitución de los Estados Unidos. El fue acusado de dos cargos de asaltar un agente federal. Este cargo fue reducido a "interferir" con un agente federal. Su caso ya esta cerrado. 
The 
San Diego slid ever further into a police state last Thursday, February 15, as independent journalist and blogger, Pat Flannery, was assulted and thrown out of a press conference at the Westgate Hotel. Under the eye of San Diego Sheriff William Kolender and apparently directed by the District Attorney herself, a county official grabbed Flannery, without warning, and shoved him out of the room.
Recently, concerned citizens rescued 47 rats who were apparently part of a breeding program at Scripps 'Mercy' Hospital in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. We entered through an unlocked door and found these beautiful innocent creatures living in squalor. Eight were crammed into each tiny barren cage. Their white fur was matted in urine and feces. Their babies were to be stolen from them and tortured in useless experiments, but now they are in loving homes where they will spend the rest of their lives as individuals, rather than research tools to be discarded when no longer necessary.
The California Fish and Game Commission in San Diego today voted 3-0 to designate the longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys), a native fish that has dropped to record low numbers in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and is nearing extinction in other northern California estuaries, as a "candidate species." This is the first step toward a formal listing as an endangered or threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act, according to a press release from a coalition of three environmental groups.
I am a medical marijuana patient and born and raised in San Diego. Last year (2007) I went through a jury trial that ended up with the numerical breakdown being 11 to 1 to acquit on both counts alleged against me. This year (2008) I am being re-tried for the same crime. My next trial is on Jan 22, 2008 Division 11 8:30 am at the Superior Court of San Diego Central Division (on Broadway)...
In November 2007, the FBI reported that the number of ethnicity-based hate crimes in San Diego County doubled from 2005 to 2006. Although official statistics are not yet available for 2007, the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes prosecutor says Latinos are the primary target. Local law enforcement estimates that Latinos, regardless of immigration status, were the victims of approximately 75% of the reported hate crimes committed here last year. These victims include both documented and undocumented immigrants as well as U.S. citizens.
The current components of this project include: