A New (London) Low
Jonathan O'Connell,

Those who believe in the adage "when it rains, it pours" might take the tale of the plaintiffs in Kelo v. New London as a cue to buy two of every animal and a load of wood from Home Depot. The U.S. Supreme Court recently found that the city's original seizure of private property was constitutional under the principal of eminent domain, and now New London is claiming that the affected homeowners were living on city land for the duration of the lawsuit and owe back rent. It's a new definition of chutzpah: Confiscate land and charge back rent for the years the owners fought confiscation.
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WAKE UP SAN DIEGO !!!
Jonathan O'Connell,

Those who believe in the adage "when it rains, it pours" might take the tale of the plaintiffs in Kelo v. New London as a cue to buy two of every animal and a load of wood from Home Depot. The U.S. Supreme Court recently found that the city's original seizure of private property was constitutional under the principal of eminent domain, and now New London is claiming that the affected homeowners were living on city land for the duration of the lawsuit and owe back rent. It's a new definition of chutzpah: Confiscate land and charge back rent for the years the owners fought confiscation.
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Nicole Fink Rescheduled for Grand Jury
cari beltane,

Today in court, activist Nicole Fink was surprised to find that there was no contempt hearing after refusing to testify before a federal grand jury on August 2.
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Activist Refuses to Testify, Faces Jail
m,

UPDATE 8/15: David and Danae in Jail, Danae's husband subpoenaed to the Grand Jury as well.

On August 2, 2005, Nicole Fink, a local animal rights activist invoked her First Amendment right to freedom of association by refusing to testify before a federal grand jury. She is scheduled to appear before a judge on Wednesday, August 17 at 10:00 a.m. to hear the outcome of civil contempt charges, and it is likely that she will be jailed that day.
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Anti-Immigration Forum Protested – Riot Police Add Tension
sdimc volunteer,

On Thursday, August 11, 2005 protesters and anti-immigrant activists turned out to a forum. The big names (James Gilchrist and Rep. Tom Tancredo) and potential conflict brought out media and the riot police. Although the corporate media downplays events when no outright mayhem ensues, there is a lot that can be learned from this event.

This summer has seen increasingly bold shows at anti-immigrant demonstrations. The violence against immigrants has increased with gun carrying minutemen patrolling the border. Now the leaders of this anti-immigrant movement are bringing their message of hate into our communities to breed fear and distrust among naive conservatives.

If you think that this is just your everyday "freedom of speech" issue look at the police presence - 150 cops in riot gear!? When has anything in Carlsbad ever had riot police?

Photos - Seeds of Hatred- photos from Carlsbad

Articles - Opposition Grows, Police Defend Racist Forum, RACIST HATE SPEECH in Carlsbad, Minutemen Sick Cops on Residents in Carlsbad

Commentary - How to talk to a Minuteperson

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Danae Kelley back in federal custody
support,

This morning at 10am Danae Kelley was back in federal court in downtown San Diego. Once again she refused to testify before the grand jury and was put back into federal custody. The grand jury is in effect until december and can be extended for 6 months unless an indictment is made. It is unknown how long she will be held for, but any support morally or financially would be greatly appreciated.

More info to follow soon on how you can help support danae.

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Grand Jury resistors under new threat
Earth Warrior,

David Agranoff and Danae Kelley are being threateend with a return to jail for "contempt" fopr refusign to rat on their fellow activsts before a witch-hunting grand jury. THEY ARE HEROES for standing firm and refusing to testify.
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Activists Will Likely Go Back to Jail Friday
cari beltane,

Two activists, David Agranoff and Danae Kelley will likely go back to jail on Friday morning for continuing to resist grand jury harassment. Their hearing is scheduled for August 12 at 10 a.m. They expect to be jailed again following the denial for appeal by the 9th Circuit Court. The hearing will follow a rally outside the Federal Courthouse at 9 a.m.
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Residents Protest Toxic Termite Tenting
James Schmactenberger,

At the August 1st meeting for the residents on the upper half of the complex (all of Via Morella and the top part of Via Terrassa), George Landt (upper management) and Mike Dewey (Dewey Pest Control) were met with an overwhelming response from the tenants, that they strongly opposed the toxic gassing method of termite eradication and did not want their homes and families to be subjected to the risks involved.

It was quite clear that most residents did not believe the process to be risk free and some said they would rather move out permanently than return to homes and belongings that had been saturated with Vikane. Residents also objected to the huge inconvenience and costs of being out of their homes during tenting (food, hotels, renting storage units and trucks as needed), the costs to them far exceeding the $150 compensation offered by Mission Ridge.

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8/9 Vigil Draws 100, Demands End to Nukes
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger's Newsmagazine,

Over 100 peace activists turned out for an August 9 rally and procession at the U.S.S. Midway site on the Embarcadero to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the atomic-bomb attack on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945 and demand an end to nuclear weapons and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
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BREAKING NEWS: Racist Town Meeting Back On
Mark Gabrish Conlan,

BREAKING NEWS: State Senator Bill Morrow just announced on the Roger Hedgecock show (August 9, 5:30 p.m.) that the racist anti-immigrant Town Hall meeting, originally scheduled for August 11, then cancelled, is BACK ON. The original post on this is at  http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/110404.shtml
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Radical Film “The Edukators” in S.D. 8/12-18
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

“The Edukators,” a great new radical film from Germany, plays Friday, August 12 through Thursday, August 18 at the Ken Cinema, 4061 Adams Avenue in Kensington. Focusing on three young anti-capitalist activists who mind-fuck the rich by breaking into their homes, rearranging their furniture and leaving notes reading, “Your years of plenty are numbered,” the film explores issues of generational conflict and how personal emotions affect people in their political lives. Please call (619) 819-0236 for showtimes and other information.
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Restless Soul ... Enjoy Your Youth
E.A. Barrera, Espresso Newspaper,

Daren Alan Miller died at the age of 34 this Summer. He was a free spirit of youth hounded by demons and his story is a tale of friendship born, lost, and refound.
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106.9FM FCC Letter, 8/05
1069fm,

In the interest of Freedom of Information, here is the letter the FCC sent to 106.9FM.
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106.9FM Threatened by FCC, Refuses to Comply
106.9fm ,

Around mid-day on August 2nd, the FCC issued a 24-hour demand for the shut-down of 106.9fm with a threat of a $10,000 fine. 106.9fm, one of two pirate radio stations operating in San Diego, has been reclaiming the airwaves for a little over one year. The FCC has visited the undisclosed location three times before, however never with such a serious threat. 106.9fm rebroadcasts the content of a local internet radio station, Radioactive San Diego, which can heard at www.radioactiveradio.org.

UPDATE: View the letter from the FCC to 106.9FM, here:
 http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/08/110322.shtml

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Another Activist will Refuse to Testify
cari beltane,

Nicole Fink, a local activist who advocates on behalf of farmed animals is the latest to stand up for her First and Fifth Amendment rights by refusing to cooperate with the undemocratic process of secret tribunals.

“I strongly believe that the government should never have the authority to harass innocent people in secret courts. This has become the front line in the battle for the First Amendment, and if we don’t stand up now it will be taken away forever”, said Nicole Fink.

There will be a press conference and demonstration outside the Federal Building on Broadway and Front St., downtown San Diego on August 2, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.

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Mysterious shooting of 2 migrants, Chase suggests "rogue" Minutemen
Chicomozteca,

UPDATE: Two audio reports from Campo, CA on 2005-07-31:
 http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/08/6263.php
 http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/08/6264.php

Two migrant people were shot under mysterious circumstances last week in the border region where the Minutemen have been patrolling. One was shot in Mexico and one was shot inside the US. While "Mexican authorities" have claimed that "bandits" were behind it, the victims were quick to point out that nothing was stolen from them. This strange circumstance is added to by the fact that these "bandits" used laser scopes to target their victims.

Numerous calls have been made to the sheriff in Campo, CA, but still no investigation is taking place. In addition, James Chase admits to transporting undocumented people, which is a crime, but he is also not having charges pressed against him, unlike the volunteers in Ariznoa who were sent to jail for taking migrants in critical condition to a hospital. Many are saying, "Chase and Co. MUST be investigated". Gente Unida held a press conference on Friday, July 29th to address this issue.

To contact the sheriff, Phone: (619) 478-5378 Fax: (619) 478-9076 or go to:  http://www.sdsheriff.net/rural/substations_campo.html

Click Read More for more comments and corporate news coverage.

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Pack The Courthouse Tomorrow to Free David and Danae!
freespeechdefense,

Instead of holding our standard demo on Tuesday, a support rally will be held at the Federal Building (880 Front Street & Broadway) for David and Danae this Thursday at 2:30pm. A press conference will be held at 3:00pm. Please arrive on time! We are asking people to pack the courtroom for their hearing immediately following the rally and press conference. Please bring signs, noisemakers and friends for the rally!

On Tuesday, July 12th, David Agranoff and Danae Kelley were arrested for civil contempt for refusing to cooperate with the grand jury. Of all eight people known to have appeared before the grand jury, only these two refused to testify on the grounds of First Amendment objections. This Thursday, Judge Irma Gonzalez has agreed to hear a motion brought by their attorneys to release them. David and Danae can only be kept in prison as long as their imprisonment is believed to serve coercive and not punitive purposes. As soon as Judge Gonzalez believes that no amount of time in prison will coerce them into testifying, by law she must release them. David and Danae will be presenting that argument in court on Thursday.

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Black Box Voting Board Member Arrested in San Diego
Bruce,

The Registrar of Voters knew of the security flaws in the voting system.
But he refused to allow the public to view the screen display of the main machine used to count all the ballots.

Jim March, a member of the Black Box Voting board of directors,
was arrested Tuesday evening for trying to observe the Diebold
central tabulator (vote tallying machine) as the votes were being
counted in San Diego's mayoral election (July 26).

More info:  http://www.blackboxvoting.org
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Coalition to Stop Sudan Genocide Holds Vigil
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger's Newsmagazine,

The San Diego Coalition to Stop the Genocide in Sudan held two events on Thursday, July 21 to build local awareness of the continuing crisis in Sudan: a rally at the Civic Center at noon and a vigil at a North Park church at 7 p.m. Most of the speakers at the vigil were Sudanese immigrants who discussed the genocidal conditions in their home country and their difficulties in assimilating in the U.S. At least one speaker also said that President Bush had helped push the Muslim-dominated government of Sudan to negotiate with the country's Christian populations, and said that the prayers of Sudanese-Americans had helped Bush beat Kerry in last year's election.
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Anti-MinuteMen, No Border Camp Continues
san diego indymedia,

From the beginning, there has been resistance to the border vigilantes. Since the protests and confrontations at the VFW on June 16th, actions against the MinuteMen have continued throughout the week as the Gente Unida, Anti-MinuteMen, No Border camp in Campo was maintained. During the week, there were reports that the people of Campo were making efforts to remove the MinuteMen [report here]. Tuesday night, the Buenas Noches Brigade disrupted the MinuteMen for over an hour [photos here]. Starting on Wednesday, the 2nd Virtual sit-in against the MinuteMen, by SWARM the MinuteMen and Electronic Disturbance Theater began taking anti-immigrant sites offline [interview here, announcement, more info].

Thursday morning a press conference was held at Playas De Tijuana, the site where the border is being torn down and reconstructed [photos and story].

Saturday night, about 60 demonstrators with the Gente Unida Coalition held a vigil at the border wall with the Mexican press, to highlight the injustices and 3200 deaths that this metal scar has caused. Following the vigil, a march along the wall to the Minutemen camp ensued, with ended in a series of tense, face-to-face confrontations. The Buenos Noches Brigade arrived with music, poetry, speeches, and humor to lighten the situation that the armed vigilantes presented. [photos and story, another report]

Also on Saturday night, a report has come out that there were nonfatal shootings of two Mexican men in the border area between Campo and Tecate early Saturday. [corporate story].

Video from First Weekend | Rejection of Minutemen | We're not racist! | 5 Myths of Immigration Explained | A Coalition of Minutemen and Migrant groups? | Explotation+Capitalism= Immigration | The Minuteman Mixup
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TWO WEEKS IN JAIL! What's the crime?
SDIMC,

It has now been two weeks since David and Danae were sent to jail for standing up for their (and our) first amendment rights. Conditions are not great in the jails where they are being kept. David has been put in solitary confinement multiple times (mostly to punish him when there have been support rallies outside) and Danae is feeling sick and malnourished.

Please help raise money for their support and defense.
-Wednesday, July 27th - Vegan dinner, slideshow and the film "Office Space" at Voz Alta - 7pm, 1544 Broadway, $3-$10
-Saturday, July 30th - Garage Sale in Hillcrest (location TBA)

Attend the next support Rally - Thursday, July 28, 3pm at the Federal Courthouse on Front and Broadway. This rally coincides with the court case that could get David and Danae out of jail.

The Love and Death of a San Diego Activist
rocky neptun,

The Challenge of Steve McWilliams death, the courage of his life, gives balance to our struggle for freedom and justice. . . [read on]

Steve McWilliams committed suicide by overdose on July 12th. Read Steve's Last Words and commentary from his wife. He had been fighting federal charges for growing a small garden for the Shelter from the Storm Collective, in San Diego, was saddened over the Supreme Court decision in the Raich v. Ashcroft case. He was in a lot of pain, since he had been denied access to medical marijuana since his arrest in 2002. He had had to take powerful pharmaceutical opiates, anti-nausea, anti-migraine, etc. drugs in far higher amounts than when he had been able to medicate with marijuana. Apparently these medications were used in the overdose. Read more

Americans for Safe Access put out a call for people all over the US to organize vigils to honor Steve McWilliams for the patient, caregiver, and activist he was. On July 19th vigils were held in 16 or more cities. In San Francisco, a vigil was held at 12 noon at Civic Center Plaza. In Oakland, there was a vigil at 5:30pm before the City Council meeting. There was a vigil in Santa Rosa at 8pm.

More info about Steve's activism and the vigils

Free David and Danae! FUNDRAISER Wed. July 27
sdimc,

No right to legal representation? No right to free association? No right to remain silent? That's what happens when you've been subpoenaed to a grand jury.
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More Grand Jury Subpeonas
Alex,

At least one more grand jury subpeona has been served.
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Letter to Union-Tribune's "Radical" Editor
rocky neptun,

On July 19th, the Union-Tribune published an editorial suggesting the Danae Kelly and David Arganoff were using the "Wrong Argument" for participating before the grand jury.
Here is my letter to the editor over that editorial.............
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Please take 5 fucking minutes out of your day
Paco,

Only 4 letters to the judge have been recieved on behalf of David and Danae.


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Anti-Fascist Protection Wall Needed
NE Socialist,

A socialist solution for border problems
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“Lavender and Red”: Leslie Feinberg Speaks
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

Transgender Lesbian activist and author Leslie Feinberg spoke at the International Action Center in San Diego July 17 and discussed her series "Lavender and Red," published in "Workers' World" newspaper. She argued that not only does the U.S. need a socialist revolution but that racism, sexism, anti-Queer prejudices and all other forms of oppression need to be dealt with now, not "after the revolution," to build the unity needed to win. Feinberg also discussed the so-called "REAL ID Act" and how it will hurt Transgender people and women who've fled abusive relationships, as well as the undocumented immigrants it deliberately targeted.
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“Guantánamo” Play Dramatizes Rights Abuses
Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s Newsmagazine,

The British play "Guantánamo: 'Honor Bound to Defend Freedom'" was presented in a staged reading at the First Unitarian-Universalist Church July 12. Drawn exclusively from testimony from Guantánamo detainees and public statements by defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other officials, the play brings a human dimension to the allegations of torture and abuse of the Guantánamo prisoners by the U.S. military. After the play, local attorney and law professor Marjorie Cohn led a discussion which touched on recent allegations in the "New Yorker" that the abuses at Guantánamo are part of a deliberate psychological strategy to wear down the prisoners and get them to talk.
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