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Sun Nov 19 2006 (Updated 11/20/06) Monday: 12PM SANTA CRUZ, 4PM SAN FRANCISCO
Following the call put out by the Zapatistas for a nationwide general strike in Mexico on November 20th, actions have been planned internationally. In San Francisco activists are calling for a convergence and critical mass at 4pm at the Mexican Consulate (532 Folsom at 2nd Street). Flier. In Santa Cruz there will be a rally at noon at UCSC's Quarry Plaza.

The November 20th actions fall on the same day where Obrador, the candidate who lost the summer elections to fraud, is to be inaugurated by his supporters. Women, Political Parties, Barricades and Autonomy and March Against Sexual Assualts by Federal Police by Barucha Calamity Peller. Meanwhile the Oaxacan Attorney General has blamed APPO for the death of Indymedia journalist and anarchist Brad Will. Report, Audio and Photos by danielsan.

Read more on Indybay's Globalization & Capitalism, International, Americas or Santa Cruz Indymedia pages
On Sunday November 19th, there will be a benefit for exonerated former prisoners at 4:00pm at the Marin Academy Theatre, 1600 Mission Ave. in San Rafael. Pam Maffei's Justice in America class will show the film, "After Innocence," and several exonerees will be present.

Read more on Indybay's Police State or North Bay / Marin pages
On Friday, November 17th, supporters of local animal advocate Nadia Winstead held rally at 10am in front of the Federal Building in San Francisco. Afterwards, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston found Winstead to be in civil contempt for her refusal to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the animal liberation movement. Judge Illston stayed the enforcement of the contempt order for two weeks to allow Winstead to file the appeal.

Read more on Indybay's Animal Liberation page
On Thursday, November 16, nine DeNuke activists were forcefully dragged from the UC Regents meeting at UCLA after they informed the Regents that they would not allow the board to convene its committee in charge of UC’s nuclear weapons research, design, and manufacturing labs in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Livermore, California. The protesters argue that the resumption of manufacturing of plutonium bomb pits at the Los Alamos Lab has created a crisis situation in which they feel it is their responsibility to do whatever they can to prevent the UC Regents from facilitating nuclear militarism. Read more on LA-IMC.

Read more on Indybay's Education & Student Activism or California pages
At noon on Tuesday November 14th, in front of the Federal Building a press conference was held as part of the release of the Western Regional Advocacy Project's (WRAP) report called, "Without Housing: Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures." In seven cities across the country similar press conferences were held, including ones in Seattle, Washington, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photos

Read more on Indybay's Poverty & Housing page
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. On November 12th, the Raging Grannies demonstrated in the SF Bay area against PVC, which is found in shower curtains, consumer packaging, and even rubber duckies. Photos

Read more on Indybay's Environment & Forest Defense page
In Sacramento, the UNITE HERE Local 49 "Hotel Workers Rising" campaign, to gain better union contracts for hotel employees, has been escalating this fall. It has gained the support of a large coalition of local clergy, community leaders, elected officials and even some small businesspeople.

Read more on Indybay's Labor & Workers or Central Valley pages
The San Francisco Board of Education voted on Tuesday, November 14th to phase out its JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program over a two-year period. It is believed that this is the first time any school district has eliminated an existing JROTC program. The Board of Ed members who voted in favor of eliminating JROTC from San Francisco’s schools are Dr. Dan Kelly, Sarah Lipson, Eric Mar, and Mark Sanchez.

Read more on Indybay's Anti-War or Education & Student Activism pages
The Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca had a weekend-long Congress from November 10th-12th, and marches were planned for every day this week. The support at the barricade in front of Radio Universidad has been thinning out and two fast food restaurants near the university were firebombed over the weekend. A Student and Youth Conference also vowed to protect the University. In Oaxaca City, graffiti that is covered up goes back up daily. Pictures of people putting up slogans in Oaxaca and Oaxaca at Any Cost (article and photos) by Barucha Calamity Peller | Report and photos from the APPO Congress by Tristan | Message from the Student and Youth Conference by Danielsan

Upcoming Events and Worldwide Direct Action in Support of Oaxaca on November 20

Read more on Indybay's International page
On November 7th, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 83, or "Jessica's Law." It adds extra punishments, retroactively, for Registered Sex Offenders (RSO's). One provision of the law says that RSO's cannot live within 2,000 feet of a park or school. This portion of Prop. 83 was blocked by a judge the day after the election, pending a November 27th hearing. Critics of the residency requirement point out that it would force RSO's to move to rural areas, where those at risk of offending again might not find the services they need or government monitoring that Prop. 83 requires. Although it was named after a little girl who was raped and killed, Jessica's law does not distinguish between violent sex offenders and those who were convicted of more minor offenses, such as indecent exposure or public urination.

Read more on Indybay's California page
Update November 13th: The House has passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act with little discussion or dissent.

11/12: The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (H.R. 4239) which could stop people from protesting or speaking out about cruelty to animals. While it claims to target violent protests, activists warn it could be used to ban even peaceful protests, letter-writing, or leafleting that make those who profit from the use of animals feel “intimidated” or “harassed,” or if actions result in "loss of profits."

Read more on Indybay's Animal Liberation page
A new group called Mandate for Peace has emerged in the wake of the 2006 elections. They say that the mid-term elections were a referendum on the war, and that the results showed that the voters said that they want peace. The organization says that the next step is to make sure that the new Representatives implement the will of the people and get the troops out of Iraq. Code Pink, Grandmothers for Peace, United for Peace, and others gathered outside of Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office on November 9th to demand that she speak up for the antiwar majority and take immediate action to bring the troops home. Video and Photos: 1 | 2 Mandate for Peace has encouraged others to take similar actions.

Read more on Indybay's Anti-War page
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has organized several GE-free education and dialogue events to be held around the state, with Percy Schmeiser speaking. Schmeiser is the Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with GE seed, and who in turn was sued in 1998 by Monsanto. Tour dates include Monday, Nov. 13th in Santa Cruz; Tuesday, Nov. 14th at UC Berkeley; Thursday, Nov. 16th in Sonoma; Friday, Nov. 17th in Ukiah; Saturday, Nov. 18th in Pt. Arena/Manchester. Flyer All programs begin at 7 p.m.; proceeds will go to the Schmeisers' efforts to fight Monsanto and GE contamination, as well as to efforts to educate about the risks associated with GE crops.

Audio: "They [Monsanto] tried to do everything to destroy us"

Read more on Indybay's Environment & Forest Defense page
On Monday, November 13th hotel workers and their supporters gathered for an evening rally against threatened mass firings at the Woodfin Hotel in Emeryville. Audio Report Woodfin Hotel workers are still demanding what is owed to them under the new living wage law in Emeryville, Measure C, which took effect last December. After the passage of Measure C, the Woodfin Hotel bosses began to claim that many of the workers' social security numbers are "incorrect," and are threatening to fire the workers unless they fix their alleged, unproved worker authorization problems.

Read more on Indybay's Labor & Workers page
Mon Nov 13 2006 (Updated 11/14/06) California Leads, Feds Still Lag on Medical Marijuana
November 5th was the tenth anniversary of the passage of California's medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 215, which was approved by 56% of the voters in 1996. Since then, acceptance and use of cannabis as medicine have advanced in California and worldwide. The federal government continues to prosecute people for growing and distributing cannabis to patients, while it also blocks studies into the medicinal properties of the herb. Meanwhile, cities and counties that recognize the validity of cannabis dispensaries have profited from taxing and regulating dispensaries. Dale Gieringer of California NORML writes, "the shockwave of Prop. 215 is still spreading."

Read more
On Saturday November 11th over 500 Berkeley residents and Bay Area environmentalists marched on the Pacific Steel Foundry calling for an immediate halt to the companies discharge of heavy metals into the atmosphere. Photos Pacific Steel Casting is known as a major chronic polluter, emitting noxious odors and toxic pollutants into the air-- the odors, which have been described as smelling like "burned brakes or burned pot handle," can be detected miles south of the facility.

Read more on Indybay's East Bay page
On Thursday, Nov. 9th, The Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored imprisoned videojournalist, Josh Wolf, and Chronicle sports writers, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, with the distinction of Journalists of the Year "for upholding the principles of a free and independent press." They were recognized for the award because they chose the risk of jail time, rather than reveal confidential sources or turn over unpublished parts of their work to federal grand juries. Josh Wolf was also awarded Best Male Vlogger and Most Controversial Video at the first annual Vloggy Awards in San Francisco on Nov. 5th.

Read more on Indybay's Indymedia or San Francisco pages
Sat Nov 11 2006 (Updated 11/13/06) Sandinista Back to Power
The Sandinista Party’s Daniel Ortega was elected President of Nicaragua November 5th with a substantial lead, enabling him to win outright. The Liberal Party, which held the presidency since the Sandinistas lost it in 1990, had recently split over issues related to the conviction for corruption of the previous president, Arnoldo Alemán. Ortega has the enthusiastic support of President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and is causing consternation in Washington.

Read more on Indybay's International or Americas pages
Sat Nov 11 2006 Beit Hanoun
On November 7th, dozens of Bay Area activists stood in solidarity with the people of Beit Hanoun and protested the Israeli aggression against the people of Palestine and the siege of Gaza. The group started out at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco where many police and a handful of Israel supporters waited for the vigil to begin. The demonstration progressed to Montgomery and Market to bring the atrocities in Gaza to the attention of the people of San Francisco. Photos | Video

On November 10th a vigil was held in front of the Israeli Consulate. Photos

Read more on Indybay's International or Palestine pages

On November 7th, voters around the US went to the polls. Nationally, the Democratic Party took control of the House of Representatives and San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi will be the first-ever woman speaker. Control of the Senate is not yet known. More on national results

In California, Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected thanks in no small part to support from California Democratic Party leaders. Most state propositions were rejected by voters, as was notorious anti-environment Congressman Richard Pombo. More on state results

In Bay Area races, Chris Daly has retained his seat as San Francisco Supervisor, despite strong opposition from the business community and major newspapers. In Berkeley, Kriss Worthington retained his seat on the City Council.
Bay Area supporters have announced that on the day after the next attack on Oaxaca, protests will be held at the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco (532 Folsom St.) at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Nov. 10th–12th: APPO Constitutional Congress convenes in Oaxaca | Oaxaca at Any Cost

Nov. 10th: The Names of Oaxaca's Disappeared

Nov. 8th: Shortly after midnight, Ministerial (State) Police reportedly shot live ammunition at people on the Carrillo Puerto barricade; no one was injured. At around 1 a.m., gun shots were reported near the Soriana barricade, and there were six arrests at the Carrillo Puerto barricade. Women's march | Student's march | Memorials to the fallen | More APPO photos | The story of the takeover of Canal 9 state-run TV station

Nov. 7th: The APPO women's march in Oaxaca was attacked by the Policía Federal Preventiva (PFP), and a total of 16 protesters were arrested in Oaxaca throughout the day, including eight people kidnapped off the street by agents in a white van, according to reports on APPO Radio. Report and photos | Faces of Oaxaca | More photos from the barricades

Nov. 6th: Radio Universidad (in Spanish) Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Nov. 5th: After a week of defending their barricades, more than a million people joined the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca's (APPO) 6th Mega March. This morning, paramilitary forces repeated their pattern of early morning gunfire at the barricades, wounding 22-year-old Marco Sanchez Mertinez; he is in grave condition. 12 buses and a caravan of cars arrived from Mexico City for the march. Photos and Audio Report and Written Report from today. Read minute-to-minute updates from Oaxaca on NYC IMC. Nov. 5th in Oaxaca by Tristan | Photos from Nov. 5th by Barucha Calamity

Nov. 3rd: Radio Universidad, the movement's only remaining radio station, was successfully defended on Nov. 2nd after fierce battles with the Federal Police. Photos: 1 | 2 | Listen to live Radio Universidad coverage | Foreigners and Journalists Threatened in Oaxaca by Danielsan and Ariel

Read more on Indybay's International page
Sun Oct 29 2006 (Updated 11/01/06) Bay Area Protests The Invasion of Oaxaca
In San Jose, people will gather for a protest at the Mexican Consulate (115 4th y St. John at 2pm and at 540 N. 1st St. at 3pm) today from 2-7pm, and on Saturday, November 4th, a 6pm prayer vigil and rally, followed by a screening of films from Oaxaca, at Mi Pueblo Market at Story and King Roads.
At 5pm on Tuesday, October 31st, hundreds of people protested at the Mexican Consulate to condemn the repression in Oaxaca. Fake blood was thrown on the door of the consulate and one person was arrested. ( Photos: 1 | 2 ). Protests and vigils were held at Mexican consulates all over the world starting in the morning on Monday Oct. 30th. List In SF, protesters met Monday at the Mexican Consulate (532 Folsom St) at 7am ( Photos: 1 | 2 | Video ), and 5pm.
Reports from Oaxaca: 10/31: Photos | 10/30: Text by Tristan | Photos and text by Danielsan

On Sunday in Oaxaca, tanks and large machinery were used in the government in efforts to tear down barricades. Thousands of women, children, and men were in the streets, enduring attacks with tear gas and other chemical weapons. There were reports that several protesters were killed by the police, including one child. Many who have been abducted are being taken to Ixcotel Penitentary and military camps and are being beaten there. They are also raiding and destroying homes in Oaxaca, as happened in Atenco.

A film screening will be held at Station 40 on Wednesday night at 7pm, with funds raised going to people in Oaxaca.

Read more on Indybay's Globalization & Capitalism or Americas pages

11/19/06 Monday: 12PM SANTA CRUZ, 4PM SAN FRANCISCO     globalization | international | americas | santacruz
11/19/06 6 Month Long Uprising Faces a critical point with the Formation of the APPO Congress     globalization | international | americas
11/18/06 Coalition Demands UC Regents Dump Nuclear Labs, Research Sustainable Energy Instead     education | california
11/18/06 Raging Grannies Against PVC     environment
11/18/06 "Stop the criminalization of homelessness"     poverty
11/16/06 Federal Grand Jury Threatens Local Animal Activist with Jail     animalliberation
11/16/06 Indymedia presents... Benefit for Oaxaca     indymedia | santacruz
11/15/06 JROTC to Be Out of SF Schools in Two Years     antiwar | education
11/15/06 Bay Area Vegetarians Advocate and Educate About Vegan Lifestyle     animalliberation
11/14/06 UNITE HERE Local 49's Campaign Escalating in Sacramento     labor | centralvalley
11/14/06 Solidarity Demonstrations Planned Around the Globe for November 20     international
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FLYER: Oaxaca Resources el enemigo común
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Heavy casualties across Iraq Al Jazeera (reposted)
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London Marches Against Islamophobia IOL (reposted)
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Open Newswire...
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