Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Rustbelt Radio, every week from Pittsburgh Indymedia

On this week's show...

Rustbelt Radio reports from Mexico City about a recent solidarity march for the political prisoners of Atenco
Homewood Residents talk about a police chase that ends in two deaths
We'll hear from the group Pittsburgh Friends of Immigrants on issues facing immigrants in Pittsburgh and in the nation.
Local news on AIDS advocacy, the fight over mercury pollution controls currently raging in the Pennsylvania legislature, and more

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MP3 Format ]
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MP3 Format ]

[

Transcript and Audio ]
Tune in every week, Monday at 6pm or Tuesday at 9am on WRCT 88.3FM, Saturday at 5pm on WPTS 92.1FM, or listen online at radio.indypgh.org.

PA state legislature debates mercury standards

06/05/2006

The Republican-led Pennsylvania General Assembly is set to consider legislation that would prohibit the state Department of Environmental Protection from adopting regulations to limit mercury pollution.

[

read more | previous article |

previous Rustbelt Radio coverage | HB 213 text ]

Elaine Brown speaks on New Age Racism

04/14/2006

Elaine Brown, the former chairperson of the Black Panther Party and author of the books Taste of Power and The Condemnation of Little B spoke at Carnegie Mellon University on April 10th, 2006. In her speech about New Age Racism she spoke about Juvenile Justice, Standardized Testing, the Myth of the American Dream and various other issues.

The 27 minute interview aired on Rustbelt Radio on April 3rd. (The lecture is 1 hour and 8 minutes)

[

Interview: part 1 | part 2 ] [

Lecture | Q&A ]

Irate police officer interrupts Critical Mass

03/31/2006

During the March Critical Mass bike ride, an angry Pittsburgh police officer sped through the group of riders near Penn Circle in East Liberty. Shortly after, several more officers arrived, provoking a stand-off with the crowd.

In the end, several riders were given citations, and a young bystander who was not a part of the ride was taken away in a police cruiser. The entire event was videorecorded by a news crew from WQED-TV's OnQ program.

[

Report, with photos |

legal support meeting info ]

Anti-war protests mark the 3rd anniversary of Iraq invasion

03/19/2006

Thousands marched in protest from East Liberty to Oakland on Saturday on the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

One protestor arrested on Saturday was released on his own recognizance after 3 AM on Sunday morning. He is being charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Speakers and interviews from the march can be heard on this week's Rustbelt Radio (live Monday at 6pm, 88.3FM).

[ Photos:

Anti War Bike Ride, March 18 |

M18 Anti-war March Pics |

M18 Anti-War March pics 2 |

Iraq War Protest Photographs ]

[ see also: Previous Pittsburgh Indymedia coverage of anti-war demonstrations ]

The People, United - Pittsburgh Indymedia's video documentary of the January 2003 anti-war convergence - is now available for download via bittorrent. (Click here for help with video)

You can also download the video

here. And the DVD is available for lending from the Carnegie Library or for sale at The Big Idea Infoshop.

New documents uncover FBI monitoring of the Thomas Merton Center

03/18/2006

The Thomas Merton Center and the American Civil Liberties Union have released documents relevant to the FBI's monitoring of the Thomas Merton Center.

The documents indicate, among other things, that the FBI targetted the Thomas Merton Center because of their opposition to the Iraq War, and that the FBI used confidental sources "who are not in a position to testify" to monitor the activities of the Thomas Merton Center.

In protest of the domestic surveillence, the Merton Center's Anti-War Committee and the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign have organized a "spy-in" on Tuesday, March 21st at the Federal building downtown.

[ View the released documents (PDF Files): International Terrorism Matters , investigation of anti-war activity, confidential sources ]

[ Read more from the ACLU ]

Penn-Trafford teachers, lacking contract, strike

10/27/2005

Teachers in the Penn-Trafford School District, working without a contract since June, hit the picket lines Monday after months of contract negotiations. The teachers are among the lowest-paid in their area and their healthcare costs are among the highest.

Under current state law, teachers are permitted to strike for 26 days. If the strike is not resolved, school would remain closed until Thanksgiving.

[

Contract negotiations, strike affect Penn-Trafford |

P-T teachers continue strike for better benefits, salaries |

Strike Photos ]

[

Former student: Local teachers deserve compensation for efforts |

Senior: Strike spoils students' school year ]

[ links:

Penn-Trafford School District |

Penn-Trafford Educators ]