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Community Residents Say No To Prison Expansion
rocky neptun,
Several hundred activists, former inmates and San Diego neighborhood residents gave a collective, thunderous no to Governor Schwarzenegger's recent proposed prison expansion scheme. Meeting at the Malcom X Library on Jan. 21st, participants blasted the deceit around a so-called "re-entry" facility proposed for the San Diego region; while others suggested it was time to look at changing the entire California justice system.
Community activists talked about the advantages of the prison industrial complex for corporations, district attorneys and prison guards and its failures for inmates. A huge petition was unfolded, signed by over 1,000 of the 10,000 women prisoners in California, opposing the Governor's prison expansion efforts. Most of the signers were from the twin prison complexes that sits amid almond groves near Chowchilla - the largest concentration of women prisoners in the world.
Forum participants ended the gathering with suggestions for follow-up actions, including attending a March 28th demo against the Governor's call for prison construction at the state capitol, putting pressure on local legislators to oppose all prison expansion schemes, and educating the general community about the need for real prison reform built on community-based treatment and justice programs.
More info: Curb Prison Spending
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WHY IS LEONARD STILL IN PRISON?
Janice Jordan,
Yes!, American Indian Movement Activist, Leader and Warrior Leonard Peltier is STILL IN PRISON! The 6th of February 2007 marks the 31st Anniversary of the illegal arrest and false imprisonment of Political Prisoner Leonard Peltier.
According to one of Mr. Peltier's lawyers, Barry Bachrach, "virtually every known AIM leader in the United States was incarcerated in either state or federal prisons since (or even before) the organization's formal emergence in 1968, some repeatedly. After the 1973 siege of Wounded Knee (SD), for example, the FBI caused 542 separate charges to be filed against those it identified as “key AIM leaders”. This resulted in only 15 convictions, all on such petty or contrived offenses as “interfering with a federal officer in the performance of his duty”.
FREE LEONARD PELTIER!
Please write Leonard Peltier: Leonard Peltier # 89637-132 USP Lewisburg, U.S. Penitentiary P.O. BOX 1000 Lewisburg, PA 17837
Links: Leonard Peltier Defense Committee | Defense Committee Blog | Leonard Peltier on Wikipedia | Free Leonard Peltier | COINTELPRO
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Stuart Timmons Researches, Writes on “Gay LA”
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,
Stuart Timmons, co-author of the new book “Gay L.A.,” discusses his research, his surprise as to just how far back the history of the L.A. Queer community started, changes in the way Queer folk identified themselves and each other, how AIDS and the rise of the radical religious Right affected Queer organizing, and whether the Queer community has fulfilled the demand of pioneer activist Harry Hay (whose biography Timmons wrote) to create “an ethical homosexual culture.”
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Greece: Anarchists take over the Polytechnic
@,
Greece: Anarchists take over the Polytechnic University of Athens in solidarity to the May 6 prisoners -2 of them are on hunger strike for 46 and 28 days respectively-
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Is The Official San Diego Martin Luther King Jr Parade Too Official?
Repost- San Diego Peace and Justice Coalition,
This year the Peace Resource Center and San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice have decided to not participate in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.
Why not? Over the years we have participated in the parade to honor MLK's values and vision and as a counter to the militarization of the local parade, which includes the FBI, Border Patrol, Homeland Security contingents as well as many JROTC units. This militarization of the parade continues and has been increasing--discussions with parade organizers have fallen on deaf ears. The parade has been increasingly marginalized in the community, first moved to Harbor Drive, then to a route around the outside of Petco Park--with fewer and fewer people attending the parade. --Read More--
Martin Luther King, Jr Day Events on Monday: --MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY COMMUNITY RALLY+PICNIC Mon Jan 15 1-4PM, MLK JR PARK, 6401 Skyline, Sponsored by King/Chavez Coalition for Justice and Unity. Info: KingChavezunite@yahoo.com --ALL PEOPLE'S BREAKFAST Mon Jan 15 7AM, Golden Hall, Downtown. Azi Khamisa, Tukufu Kalonji and Jason Russell. Limited ticket availability- Call 619-236-6413 for tickets or info --WORLD BEAT CENTER MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION Mon Jan 15 11AM-5PM World Beat Center, 2100 Park Blvd, Balboa Park. Reggae, R&B, Gospel
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13 Ene: Oaxaca, Detenciones y desalojo
oaxaca,
* Cárcel de Miahuatlán, Oaxaca: Desalojo y detenciones tras manifestación por la libertad de presos políticos * En las afueras del penal de Miahuatlán, en Oaxaca, donde se mantienen internadas personas detenidas tras la violenta entrada de la PFP al estado de Oaxaca, el día de hoy se reportan detenciones de manifestantes que participaron en una marcha pacífica, tambien se reporta el desalojo del plantón que con el fin de exigir la libertad de los presos políticos se mantenía a las afueras del penal desde el 1 de enero de 2007.
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Enero 13: Oaxaca, Desalojo y Detenciones
oaxaca,
* Cárcel de Miahuatlán, Oaxaca: Desalojo y detenciones tras manifestación por la libertad de presos políticos * En las afueras del penal de Miahuatlán, en Oaxaca, donde se mantienen internadas personas detenidas tras la violenta entrada de la PFP al estado de Oaxaca, el día de hoy se reportan detenciones de manifestantes que participaron en una marcha pacífica, tambien se reporta el desalojo del plantón que con el fin de exigir la libertad de los presos políticos se mantenía a las afueras del penal desde el 1 de enero de 2007.
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Venezuela 2006: Continued repression...
CRA - El Libertario, Venezuela,
* El Libertario, the voice of the Comision de Relaciones Anarquistas of Venezuela, analyzes the how and the why of the increasing state repression against the growing social discontent that belies the pseudo-revolutionary discourse of the Chavez regime.
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Sin Fronteras! Global Day of Action and Camps
Participants at Zapatista Encuentro,
This proposal we read at the Encuentro with the Zapatista Communities and the People of the World in Oventic on January 2nd 2007 in the plenary setion for the Intergalatic Encuentro as a proposal for a theme to the Intergalactic and a Global Call to Action.
In this effort we are organizing No Border Camps for 4-5 days in the fall 2007 in the border region in Calexico and Mexicali and also actions against the border between Mexico and Guatemala. We are making a international call to Tear Down the Wall! We know that this is not the first wall and will not be the last.
Esto documento fue leido en el plenaria final de El Encuentro de Pueblos Zapatistas con el PUeblos del Mundo como un propuesta para un tema en la Intergalactica y tambien como un llamada a accion global.
En este esfuerzo, estamos organizando un campamento contra las fronteras con duración de 4 a 5 dias en el otoño de 2007 en la región fronteriza en Mexicali y en Calexico y a la par organizar diferentes acciones contra la frontera entre México y Guatemala. Hacemos un llamado internacional a Derribar el Muro! Sabemos que no es el primer muro y tampoco va a ser el último.
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Against the repression in Oaxaca...
IPC,
Against the repression in Oaxaca, Anti-capitalist class struggle!
For several months the town of Oaxaca, capital of the Mexican State of the same name, has been the center (of a movement) of important struggles which have undergone (or suffered) repeated attacks by the forces of repression (police, army and paramilitary) with many victims: at the end of November the toll was 22 dead and 34 disappeared.
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Reports from San Diego Delegation to Oaxaca and Chiapas
Oaxaca Delegation 2006,
Activists from San Diego recently traveled to Oaxaca to deliver donations of media resources from San Diego folks and to Chiapas for the Zapatista Intergalactic Encuentro. Below is a compilation of their reports to date, which are being posted to Delete the Border.
From Luciente Zamora (dec 22): Concepcion said that she's not the same woman she was before all this happened... She wants to raise people's consciousness not just about the release of all the prisoners -- which she is fiercely fighting for -- but also to look around and see all the hunger, malnutrition, and ask why things are the way they are and do something about it. --Read More+Photos--
From donkilo (dec 24): After months of planning and a few weeks of worrying after all of the horrifying stories that we have heard by people who were in Oaxaca, the whole delegation is sitting in an internet cafe in Oaxaca, safe and sound. We are a few blocks from a federal police barricade. --Read More--
From j (dec 24): buses and trucks full of police drive through the streets. the police march through the zocalo. five indigenous women are violently harassed by these protectors of civil order. the police try to take the money the women made from their artesian work. the police grab one of the women. someone approaches this oppressive racist-classist scene, while two video cameras follow. the police walk away. an indigenous reality. --Read More--
Fom lotu5 (dec 24): The teacher introduces us to a man from the church who begins to tell us of their struggle. He says that even though the government says there have been 14 people murdered by the government, the community says there are more like 90 people murdered. --Read More--
From lotu5 (dec 27): I had read reports that the APPO decided to take down the barricades and decided to hand over radio universidad. But the personal story is very different. One of the women teachers answers me when I ask why was the cinco senores barricade taken down? She says that it was because 25 people from the barricade were taken away by the police and had their shoes taken off and were shot at point blank with rubber bullets in their feet. So parents of people in the barricades didn´t want their children to be tortured and they decided to take them down. --Read More--
From lotu5 (dec 29): we're in san cristobal now. lots of people are here from around the world to go to the zaptista encuentro. its so good to see old friends again and have a beer with them before spending a week in the jungle. --Read More--
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San Diego Con Oaxaca 22 Diciembre
compiled by san diego indymedia volunteer,
El viernes 22 de diciembre el grupo de la otra campana se reunio en el parque Chicano en solaridad con nuestros hermanos de Oaxaca.
Grandes y jóvenes hicieron presencia en ese día de solaridad. Aunque el grupo fue pequeño pero no fue pequeño su corazón, su lucha y su esperanza de un mundo mejor. Junt@s vimos que podemos cambiar el mundo que además otro mundo es posible siempre y cuando existan luchadores tenaces como nuestros compañeros. La esperanza vive en cada uno de nosotros y no esta muerta. Hoy con nuestra sola presencia dimos a conocer a los de arriba que nuestros compañeros de Oaxaca no están solos. Junto a ellos exclamamos al unísono ¡Por Oaxaca! --Leer Mas+fotos por Juan Sajche--
UPDATE 12/27: Festival Político Cultural, organizado por La Coalición vAPPOroaxaca, como una respuesta al llamado del EZLN para una jornada de movilización mundial en solidaridad con el pueblo de Oaxaca. El 22 de de Diciembre fue convocado para que todos, nos manifestaramos en contra de ese brutal estado de terror y guera que enfrentan nuestros hermanos oaxaqueños. El 22 de Diciembre vAPPOroaxaca se manifesto en Chicano Park por la tarde y en la mañana en el Consulado Mexicano. La Coalición vAPPOroaxaca, que desde Octubre de este año ha venido trabajando y haciendo actividades de solidaridad con Oaxaca. --Leer Mas+fotos por Angel Lita--
Related: From ~Bradley- On December 22nd, hundreds of people came together in Mexico City to honor the peoples of Oaxaca, Acteal and Atenco during a global day of remembrance and solidarity. The demonstration was held at the Hemiciclo a Juárez in Mexico City's Historic Center where people spoke about Oaxaca and the demonstrations taking place around the world. --Read More via Santa Cruz Indymedia--
From Xochitl- There are still frequent patrols of municipal police, and we tensed up every time one came near. We are not sure whether we are on their lists for apprehension and deportation, or worse. We were astonished and overjoyed to be released after just 4 hours of detention, but they may want to ask us more questions now. Or they may have released us as a strategic move, to follow us detain our friends. We do know that some of the people we know and love, and who we spent time with in these last days in Oaxaca, are on those apprehension lists, so we were all always on the alert. --Read Reports via LA Indymedia--
From Sean Donahue- My friend Todd sat up late at night with one of the artists who painted the banner on the Municipal Palace. The teenager pulled out small figurines of animals, relics from the archaeological site near the center of town. "These are a gift from my grandparents," he said, "The gift my grandparents gave me is resistance." --Read More via Portland Indymedia--
From an Unnamed Wobbly- It's a constant struggle to understand how best to be in solidarity from here. On the one hand, you want to be where all the action is -- that is, the physical, dangerous, and public stuff. On the other hand, the dishes need to be washed at the CIPO collective house, and it's my day to mop the floors. Trying to be an "observer," or independent journalist, seems to be a cop-out, an easy road for the already privileged First Worlder in a conjuncture in which thousands of Oaxacans are risking much more than deportation... On the one hand, you want to play a part in history. On the other, you only sometimes understand the colonia slang, and somehow ended up with the barricade name "Nacho," when others have "La Maestra," "El Comandante," "Ursula," or "Batman." --Read More via Infoshop--
Up-to-date Oaxaca Coverage Español: Centro de Medios Libres | CMI Chiapas | CMI Oaxaca | APPO ||| English: Narco News | Indybay | NYC Indymedia | el enemigo común
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Repression in Oaxaca Deepens, APPO Movement Driven Underground
Repost: Xochitl, via LA Indymedia,
A collection of dispatches from Oaxaca tell a personal story of continuing government repression and the targeting of foreign nationals in Oaxaca. Special thanks to Xochitl for their contribution to the newswire and the risks taken to tell the story of the people of Oaxaca. Summation of reports from the newswire by Xochitl: THE LAST DAYS IN OAXACA - A REPORT BACK BY XOCHITL 13th Day in Oaxaca - A Report 9th & 10th Days in Oaxaca - A Report Day 8 in Oaxaca - A Report 7th Day in Oaxaca - A Report Sixth Day in Oaxaca - A Report 5th Day in Oaxaca - A Report 4th Day in Oaxaca - A Report Many days in Oaxaca
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October 22 CopWatch Protest Highlights Police Abuse
san diego indymedia volunteer,
"To me, the police are gangs with guns... If they don't kill you.. they harass you in order to try to provoke you, so they will have reasons to do the things they do to you."
On October 22, the national day of protest against police brutality, the San Diego Sagon Penn Chapter of CopWatch held a demonstration outside of DA Bonnie Dumanis' home. The demonstrators left a list of three demands for immediate action on her doorstep in an eerily empty neighborhood in Rancho Bernardo.
Stemming from a long history of police abuse and murder of San Diego residents, the list of demands included: --Independent Elected Police Review Board, unlike the current rubber stamp review board whose reports must be approved by sdpd internal affairs board. --Community Hiring Practices, at least 50% of the officers who work in the communities must live in the communities. The sdpd has been hiring ex-military recruited from the south [presumably to keep pay low], leading to language barriers, cultural barriers and community barriers. --No Pay for Officers Under Investigation for Shootings. That loss of life is very important, it must be taken seriously, to respect the family and the community the officer should not receive pay until the investigation is completed.
Five plain clothes detectives in large SUVs kept an eye on the protesters throughout the afternoon, and followed them until they had left the neighborhood.
In front of Dumanis' house, one of the protesters, Bessie Johnson, talked about her frustration in dealing with the cops: "We don't have a voice. If our loved ones are killed, there is nothing we can do to the police to make sure they are held accountable." Her son, Darryl Johnson, was put in an illegal "sleeper hold" by the sdpd in July, and subsequently developed difficulty breathing and died while in sdpd custody.
Later in the day, CopWatch moved to Voz Alta, where they offered assistance in filling out police complaint forms, showed a Know Your Rights video and hosted an appearance by the San Diego Radical Fucking Cheerleaders.
Video: Janice Jordan, Bessie Johnson and the Radical Fucking Cheerleaders -- 12 min/16mbytes
Related: Sagon Penn Chapter of CopWatch | Who is Sagon Penn? | October 22 San Diego Forum in 2005 - Links to Audio and Transcripts | US-Indymedia Report on October 22 Actions | October 22 Coalition
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Venezuela 2006: represión a protesta popular
Rafael Uzcátegui,
* Un integrante de la redacción de El Libertario, vocero de la Comisión de Relaciones Anarquistas de Venezuela, describe y analiza cómo y por qué se ha venido agudizando la represión estatal contra el creciente malestar social que desenmascara el discurso seudo revolucionario del chavismo.
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Green Scare Benefit Reports
sdimc volunteer,
From Danny: On December 7th, 2006, around 20 people showed up at Voz Alta for a fundraiser organized to raise awareness about the Green Scare, and show solidarity with those targeted by it.
Janice Jordan took the stand and recounted... all the orange groves and untouched land that was Orange County... and the [subsequent] disappearance of agriculture and open space to make way for sprawling office buildings in the name of 'progress'. Rocky Neptun mentioned the 'SHAC 7', who are all serving prison sentences for running a website bent on shutting down Huntingdon Life Sciences, a notorious animal-testing corporation. Troy Picknard, a soon-to-be lawyer, drove home the point that it is never a good idea to talk to the police or FBI. --Read More--
From Rocky: They understand that the Green Scare is here. It is the weapon of choice by CEO’s and wealthy speculators to bring yet another generation to its knees by insuring that youthful animal rights activists and environmentalists, who commit civil disobedience for ethical or political reasons, get more time in prison than street thugs and rapists. “In defiance of the order that ushers our dying Earth to her grave, let us stand together so that the fires of our hearts may burn against this dark hour of repression,” a T-shirt proclaims as the young man talks about the need to support ecoprisoners. --Read More--
Background and Links: SDIMC Stories: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 | ecoprisoners.org | SHAC7.com | greenscare.org | FBIwitchhunt.com | greenisthenewred.com
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Report on Green Scare Benefit
Danny,
On December 7th around 20 people showed up
at Voz Alta for a fundraiser organized to raise
awareness about the Green Scare, and show solidarity
with those targeted by it.
The event organizer, Danae Kelley, welcomed
everybody and explained what the Green Scare was and
why those arrested urgently need support.
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Congress Votes 368-31 Against Mumia
Steven Argue,
Five California Democrats in Congress voted nay while 23 voted for the resolution. Those voting against were Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, Fortney Stark, Michael Honda, and Maxine Waters.
Joining in the racist lynch mob voting for the blood of an innocent black man were California Democrats C. Thompson, Doris Matsui, Nancy Pelosi, Ellen Tauscher, Tom Lantos, Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, Dennis Cardoza, Lois Capps, Jim Costa, Linda Sanchez, Brad Sherman, Adam Schiff, Henry Waxman, Hilda Solis, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jane Harman, Juanita Millender-McDonald, Grace Napolitano, Joe Baca, Loretta Sanchez, Bob Filner, and Susan Davis. Not voting were Diane Watson, Howard Berman, and Xavier Becerra.
Also voting for blood were California Republicans Walter Herger, Daniel Lungren, John Doolittle, Richard Pombo, George Radanovich, Devin Nunes, William Thomas, Elton Gallegly, David Dreier, Edward Royce, Jerry Lewis, Gary Miller, Ken Calvert, Mary Bono, Dana Rohrabacher, John Campbell, Darrell Issa, Brian Bilbray, and Duncan Hunter. Howard McKeon didn’t vote.
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The Cuban Five and US Terrorism
sended by F Espinoza,
Now is the time to demand the release of the Cuban Five. They were sentenced 5 years ago this month and have been imprisoned unjustly in the U.S. for 8 years for the crime of trying to defend their homeland against terrorist attacks.
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Murderous Former Dictator Pinochet Dies, Escaping Reckoning with Victims
reposts, san diego indymedia volunteer,
Augusto Pinochet, former dictator of Chile who presided over a US-backed reign of terror spanning the period 1973-1990, died on Sunday at age 91.
Under his rule, thousands were disappeared and murdered and hundreds of thousands, including briefly the current president Michelle Bachelet, were brutally tortured. Land redistribution programs and nationalization of industries under Salvador Allende, who was overthrown on September 11, 1973 in a coup led by Pinochet, were replaced with elitist theories of free market crazies like Milton Friedman (who died in November) and the "Chicago boys." The wealthy subsequently made out like bandits but ordinary people were devastated.
Using legal maneuverings, faked illnesses and the influence of friends in high places, Pinochet avoided being held responsible for his crimes. At the time of his death, he was under house arrest, charged with the murder of two of Allende's bodyguards. Numerous celebrations, protests and marches were held in Chile after the announcement of the dictator's death.
"You have a population that experienced those horrors and wants something to be done about it. That's why the issue of Pinochet has not died in Chile. When they keep saying that he is old, that he is sick, that he has dementia. For me, he is a criminal and should be brought to justice. Ask the people who lost their relatives, who lost their friends, who lost their dearest, dearest persons." -Cecilia, who helped broadcast Allende's last speech, speaking on radioActive sanDiego in 2004
From CMI Santiago: Muere quien fue causante de una de las dictaduras más sangrientas de la humanidad.
En un escueto comunicado público entregado por el hospital militar se informó que el dictador Augusto Pinochet murió hoy a las 14:15 hrs luego de una grave descompensacion.
A los 91 años el general estaba siendo juzgado por un sin fin de crímenes, entre ellos juicio de derechos humanos y por usurpacion de biene públicos.
Las organizaciones sociales están en estos momentos convocando a una gran fiesta popular en plaza italia, mientras la derecha pide honores de estado, la concertación aun no sabe que hacer. El pueblo está en la calle con bocinas, batucadas y festejos.
Minute-by-Minute Report from Santiago on Sunday | 2004 radioActive sanDiego Interview with Cecilia on Coup and Anti-Free Trade Demonstrations
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The FBI, Cell Phones and You
san diego indymedia volunteer and repost from CNET,
I am not a paranoid conspiracy theorist. I do not believe the twin towers fell because Dick Cheney planted explosives in them. I do not think the Kennedys were assassinated by space aliens. But I have one request: before you read another word of this story out loud to yourself or your friends, TAKE THE F*N BATTERY OUT OF YOUR CELL PHONE!
Let me explain. We all know that the NSA is monitoring our phone conversations and reading our e-mails, without warrants or oversight or any of that messy red tape, because, any one of us, especially if we have a tendency to question the corporate security state, could at any time turn into a TERRORIST. We also know that the FBI as well as local security forces have been infiltrating groups who advocate for peace, animals and the Earth, because, well, you know. These actions combined with the recently revealed Automated Targeting System and numerous other programs have led most people to self-regulate their speech and actions, to avoid the possibility of being branded an eco-terrorist (green scare), a potential presidential assassin or an Islamic terrorist.
But to the clever geeks at the FBI, this climate of fear and paranoia simply isn't enough. And so they, in partnership with their corporate collaborators, have devised a way to listen to our conversations using cell phones. But, you say, the NSA is already doing that! No, the FBI is listening to you even when you aren't talking to someone using your cell phone. What? As revealed in a judge's ruling related to investigation of the feds' competitors, the Mafia, the FBI's eggheads have figured out how to reprogram your phone, without ever having access to it, so that they can activate the microphone and listen by calling your phone from anywhere, without you having a clue. OK, you say, I will just turn off my phone. Nope. Many models of phones (thank you Verizon!) can be turned on remotely, again, without a trace.
And so all of us who have cell phones are wired directly to the den of thieves. Even amongst trusted friends, we have to "watch what we say, watch what we do." The only ways to defeat this intrusion are to take the battery out of your cell phone, leave your phone at home, or responsibly recycle it.
Welcome to homeland insecurity. How can we help you?
Original Report from CNET
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Green Scare Benefit: Thurs Dec 7 6:00PM Voz Alta
repost,
Vegan Potluck/Film Screenings/Know Your Rights to Benefit Victims of the Green Scare Thursday, December 7 - 6:00PM Voz Alta 1549 Broadway 1 Block from City College $5 with a Vegan Dish, $10 without.
Screening: The Lorax + Surplus Speakers: On the Green Scare and Know Your Rights Raffle: Vegan Stuff
Recent Articles, Background and Links: 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Vigil at Mexican Consulate
r.l. rodriguez,
The APPO, the popular assembly of the people of Oaxaca, called for the support from the international community. San Diegans responded by gathering in front of the Mexican Consulate on 1549 India Street Friday evening. 35 people gathered in front of the consultant holding banners, signs, and candles sending the message to the Mexican government that their violent and repressive actions will not go unnoticed.
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JOHN BROWN CAUCUS SDS/MDS STATEMENT
DM,
The John Brown Caucus of SDS/MDS says FIGHT STATE RACISM! STOP THE MURDERS!
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Teacher on PFP Terror in Oaxaca
interview, transcription, translation by O, J, B, R, E and K,
This is the testimony (via phone) of a teacher from an outlying village on November 21, the day after she participated in a women's march in Oaxaca City that was was attacked by Mexican Federal Preventative Police (PFP), who have been occupying Oaxaca since October 29. She talks about the attack on the march, repression of and violence against women and children, the failure of organizations such as Amnesty International to help and the importance of international solidarity. (Spanish with english translation)
"Right now in Oaxaca there is a generalized repression, but since last week, another form of repression started, one that is geared towards children and women. When we walk by the streets where the men of the PFP, with the excuse of looking for weapons, they search us. Touching all of our bodies, both men and female, and if that was not enough, they made fun... That is why the day before yesterday, the women decided to mach and protest against the violence towards our gender, and of course against their power and violence."
"The comrades of the village asked us (women) to lead the march, because they are angry at what they (PFP) are doing (to us)... Just as we were passing by the attacks started. There was an incredible amount of tear gas that did not let us breathe or see where we were headed. We had to protect the children with our bodies and hide them under our clothes trying to get them away and we would scream that there were kids and old people there. That they needed to stop the aggression, but they had it all prepared. There was no sense in running, they were attacking from all four sides. It was then that the youth from the university arrived and began taking the kids away from the area. We were able to see that some of the guys were pulled. That is why we were so anguished, and we wanted to know what had happened to our youth. And we were told that they (PFP) pulled a female too. For about two or three hours after that, they were shooting tear gas to where we were running. And well, they had us in that state of terror, and in those moments all we could do was to pull back to the church, and to ask for medical assistance."
"We also insisted that the people we had heard were present, from amnesty international; to show up and testify the state of terror and violence they have had Oaxaca in for more than 5 months now. Unfortunately, they told us they could not come, because they had a very busy agenda."
"I world like to say that it saddens me a lot to be in the streets, and to see that I am becoming part of a now normal and typical panorama, that these aggressors, these invaders are here in our streets. It is sad to see that the warm, beautiful Oaxaca filled with brave people now is invaded by these people (PFP). And I think to my self: how long will they be here; intimidating us?"
"I know that somewhere in this world there are many hearts that will hear and understand our call, and I can assure you that we feel those invisible hands, that even though we do not see, we know they are fighting for our dignity. Especially the women: don’t leave us alone. We are not afraid, we are filled with indignation, rage for what they are doing. Keep on answering our calls. I have a lot of confidence in the help of the international community, and of course of our people. We are going to accomplish it. This century will change all the things that need to change."
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BORDER PATROL & SDPD ARREST DAY LABORERS
Janice Jordan,
San Diego Police Department Officers and Border Patrol Agents arrested Day Laborers at the Home Depot on Imperial Avenue on Sunday. One of the Day Laborers told us that about six people were arrested. An elder in his late 50's or early 60's was handcuffed and surrounded by three very large white border patrol agents.
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Make Dec. 1 Rosa Parks Human Rights Day
Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee,
Make December 1 Rosa Parks Human Rights Day
Friday, Dec. 1
1:00pm - Rally/March
Dudley Square, Roxbury, MA
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Oaxaca’s popular movement suffers yet another
radio zapote,
A peaceful protest in Oaxaca was repressed by the federal police stationed in the center of the city. By nightfall, a few people were reported killed, hundreds arrested and hurt and many disappeared.
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Manifesto Presented to Consul as Oaxaca Solidarity Camp Closes
san diego indymedia volunteer,
With a press conference and presentation of a Manifesto to the Consul, the Oaxaca Solidarity Camp, which had occupied the sidewalk outside the San Diego Mexican Consulate since the invasion of Oaxaca City by Federal Preventative Forces (PFP) on October 29, closed Tuesday and moved to Chican@ Perk in Sherman Heights.
The Camp had become a center for education about the corrupt government in Oaxaca, ongoing repression and the resistance, as well as a hub for organizing activity. The Plantonistas communicated their messages using diverse tactics, including marches, rallies, banners, chants, photos, sidewalk chalk art, flyers, video showings and conversations.
As the Camp was being dismantled, the Consul Luis Cabrera presented himself to receive a copy of the VAPPOR-OAXACA Manifesto, signing a statement that he would forward it to outgoing President Vincente Fox and fraudulently elected incoming President Felipe Calderón.
Christy Will, who was present at the Camp Tuesday morning, introduced herself to the representative of the government that is violently repressing the resistance her brother Brad was documenting as he was murdered and that is sheltering his assassins. She earlier read a statement on Radio Universidad thanking the Plantonistas for their solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, expressing support for the demands of The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) and announcing the formation of a foundation to "support and contribute to nonviolent groups dedicated to the advancement of underserved people and communities throughout the world."
The Manifesto declares the solidarity of VAPPOR-OAXACA with the people of Oaxaca and their representatives, APPO. It connects the dots between the current struggle, the role of the international capitalist system stretching back 514 years to the European invasion, and the repression of Oaxaqueños and other migrants in the border region. It also submits demands paralleling those of APPO: immediate withdrawal of Mexican federal forces; a complete end to repression, harassment, torture and psychological warfare; freedom for all political prisoners and disappeared, with compensation; and the removal and immediate arrest, judgment and punishment of the corrupt governor Ulises Ruiz.
The Plantonistas reclaimed public space in front of the Consulate and held the space day and night despite harassment by cops and Consulate personnel in a heavily gentrified neighborhood of Little Italy, where private security forces aided by cops have made it nearly impossible to sit down, much less lie down, without buying crap.
The Camp was maintained by a coalition of individuals and groups operating on a consensus basis that came to be called VAPPOR (Vencera la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca en Resistencia) OAXACA, including Oaxaqueños in San Diego County, Adherents to the Zapatista Sixth Declaration, Anarchists, Students, Migrant Advocates and others. Members of VAPPOR OAXACA plan to continue their educational efforts and actions elsewhere in San Diego.
Numerous other solidarity actions around the world have been raising awareness of ongoing repression and resistance in Oaxaca, despite a corporate media near blackout.
The Seventh MegaMarch, called for by APPO with the intention of surrounding PFP troops in the Zócalo of Oaxaca City and ejecting them on November 25, is in progress. For live coverage, check out Radio Universidad (go here and look to the right column to find the latest reliable streaming links).
Video 8min 20sec: Press Conference (espanol), Christy Will (english and espanol) and dismantling of the Camp. Video:12min 17sec Presentation of Manifesto to Consul (espanol) Press Release and Manifesto
Continuing Updates: espanol: 1 2 3 | english 1 2 3
UPDATE: Photos From Last Day of Planton
SD Reports: 1 2 3 4 5 6
SD Photos/Reports with Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
SD Audio: 1 2 3
SD Video: 1 2 3 4 5 6
SD Features: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
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Rally in Solidarity with Oaxaca Nov 19
san diego indymedia volunteer,
On Sunday November 19, a Rally in support of the resistance in Oaxaca was held at the Oaxaca Solidarity Camp, which had been occupying the sidewalk outside the San Diego Mexican Consulate continuously for three weeks.
The Rally included numerous speakers discussing the situation in Oaxaca and the courageous resistance of the people, a reading of the manifesto written by VAPPOR OAXACA (Vencera la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca en Resistencia), the companer@s who been maintaining the Solidarity Camp, a phone call to Radio Universidad from a cousin of Brad Will who happened upon the Camp while visiting relatives in Little Italy, passionate and energetic music, and the dramatic arrival of marchers from another part of the city.
The Rally was part of a series of events leading up to November 20, for which the Zapatistas called for international actions in solidarity with the resistance in Oaxaca. Numerous events were held in the u.s. and globally, including a blockade of major roadways in Chiapas, a blockade, march and critical mass ride in San Francisco, and Oaxaca video showing, street theater and dance in Barcelona.
Video: Oaxaca Solidarity Camp Nov 19 Rally Part 1 Video: Oaxaca Solidarity Camp Nov 19 Rally Part 2
Past SDIMC Features on Oaxaca and the Camp: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
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