From the Open Publishing Newswire:: "Infrastructure projects are a weak point in capitalism that we should all be attacking."
Sunday evening, EarthFirst!'s Roadblock Roadshow 2007 made its southernmost stop at the Artery to entertain, teach, and prepare Houstonians for the arrival of Interstate 69. Audience members laughed and learned as the EarthFirsters explained the danger of this new privately owned superhighway with lectures, songs, a puppet show, and even a play replete with woodland creature costumes and a someone dressed as a cardboard CAT machine.
Interstate 69 is one part of several planned privately owned superhighways that will serve as a corridor for NAFTA. They will be used to more easily transport goods from export based economies in Mexico and South America to the United States and Canada. Its construction will mean the devastation and pollution of hundreds of thousands of square miles of pristine habitats as well as the eviction of the millions of people currently living in its path (not to even mention the economic effects of giving NAFTA a helping hand). [Read the full story]
From the Opening Publishing Newswire: We just received the following bad news about Martin Draughon ( pictured, third from right) who was released from prison after the courts threw out his death penalty case and sent him back to Harris County for a retrial. Harris County declined to retry him and they worked out a deal for 40 years. Martin was released on parole and TDCJ has been after him ever since. Since the day he was let out, Martin's ankle monitor has never worked. this is a fact. Martin never did one little thing to violate his parole. What his parole officer did was violate Martin's rights and lock him up for a faulty monitor and for spite. Martin's release was a tremendous political victory for him and all those on death row, particularly those who were screwed by the Houston Police Crime Lab.
Attorney Sean Buckly: Today I learned through my own investigation that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on February 9, 2007 voted to revoke Martin Draughon’s parole and return him to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Institutional Division.
In response, we are shocked at the Board’s flagrant disregard of the rules of evidence and procedure during this protracted hearing process. The Board’s action reflects a serious indifference to established Constitutional procedures. Despite this, we realize that we should not be altogether surprised, as this case has had all the markings of a politically engineered solution to the political discomfort that has flowed from Mr. Draughon’s successful prison-oriented radio show following his release from prison. [Read the full story]
Houston Indymedia Coverage of Martin Draughon's Release
Houston Indymedia has recieved 2 reports on the opening publishing newswire that Casa Juan Diego has been subject to regular protests by the Ku Klux Klan. John wrote: This past Wednesday, the 14th, the KKK showed up near Casa Juan Diego to harass clients and staff. They were in the parking lot of the Jack-In -Box , at Shepherd and Washington, yelling racist insults to any brown skinned person who was within shouting distance, this eventually grew to the point of yelling insults to anyone they thought had anything to do with Casa Juan Diego. According to some staff, they appeared to have the approval of Jack-In The Box management for use of their parking lot, as some sort of staging point.
Not only the Klan showed up, but the same sort of harassment was done by other folks as the minutemen. Not that there is any difference in their messages.
Casa Juan Diego has been in existence for more than 25 years, providing a safe place for immigrants to receive shelter and comfort., and is part of the Catholic Worker Movement, started by Dorthy Day, many years ago.
Post from Sarah Hernandez | The mission of Casa Juan Diego is from the bible's Book of Mark chapter 25: Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Casa Juan Diego website
The day after Valentines, Houston Anarchist Black Cross showed some love for Political Prisoners in Texas at a workshop in the freezing cold Sedition Books. It was the first time Houston ABC had done the workshop, for around a dozen attendees, so there were definatly some kinks that could be worked out, but the facilitators asked the crowd to bear with them, and there was a lot of room for participation and help from the audience.
ABC folks presented on the cases of 4 political prisoners held in Texas: Modern day robin hood Byron Chubbuck, Chicano freedom fighter and anti-police brutality organizer Alvaro Luna Hernandez, Ramón Labañino Salazar on of the Cuban 5, a group of folks who infiltrated Miami based anti-Castro groups to try and stop attacks on Cuba, and Randal Hendricks, imprisoned for ecologically motivated vandalism of SUV's in northwest Harris County.
At the end of the presentations we had a brainstorm about ways we can support political prisoners that came up with some general ideas as well as concrete things. The evening ended with everyone signing cards to each of the prisoners discussed, letting them know that folks are learning about their cases and struggling on their behalf. [read the full report]
There are more than one hundred political prisoners in the USA
Photo: Texas Death Machine, By Arnold Prieto - Death Row Prisoner
NEW Audio report on exhibit
From the open publishing newswire:
I went to the opening for the art show "Justice for All" at the M2 Gallery at 325 West 19th Street in the heights, There were a lot of folks there, very few of whom I recognized from progressive communities. Folks from the Texas death Penalty Abolition Movement were there, getting folks to sign letters for Joseph Nichols of Houston is set to be executed on March 7th. I was impressed by the quality of the whole show, with an interesting variety of types of art from death row prisoners and artists. I think it's only up for a week till the 18th, go see it while you can. [see photos]
Justice for All? Artists reflect on the Death Penalty (website of the project) | Texas Moritorium Network
On February 1st and 2nd Houston Indymedia hosted Greg Berger of Gringoyo Productions and Vladamir Flores of Indymedia Oaxaca and Mal de Ojo TV(eyesore TV) for 2 nights of short films from Mexico's front lines. The event at Rice Media Center was well attended by a diverse crowd and featured films from a number of additional independent and community media projects including Big Noise Films, Canal Seis de Julio, narco news and Jill Freidburg.
From the open publishing newswire: Central to all of the documentaries was the theme of the public vs. the state, the people vs. the police, humanity vs. imperialistic economic control. The films highlighted the corruption of the Mexican government and its ties to multinational corporations. PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, and General Electrics are among the 12 large corporations that fund illegal advertisements proclaiming the brilliance of President Fox. The advertisements shown on Mexican corporate television are reminiscent of the telescreens of Orwell’s 1984, bombarding the viewer with sportscaster-esque narration of disturbing images. [read the full review]
See photos and videos from the screenings | Houston Indymedia is pleased to continue to bring social justice documentary films to the Houston community as part of our monthly film series.
From the Open Publishing Newswire: From Mike EspinozaCOMMUNITY RESPONSE TO IMMIGRATION RAIDS:
Wednesday morning (January 31st) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers raided Republic Waste Company in Humble, taking 48 people into custody. We, as a community, cannot stand idly by as immigrant families are torn apart by these immigration raids being conducted all over the country.
We are calling for a MORATORIUM ON ALL IMMIGRATION RAIDS until JUST IMMIGRATION REFORM IS PUT INTO EFFECT. For that reason, we are calling for a DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE HOUSTON ICE DETENTION CENTER [read the full call]
From RoB: The protest that took place at the Greens Road ICE Detention Center in Aldine on Saturday February 3rd was something of a three way fight. The target of protest, a giant creepy building with an exterion iron bar fence and an interior fence of concertina wire loomed in the background as I joined anti-deportation and other human rights activists on the two lane Greens Road side of the building. I learned that the US Borderwatch folks were already there and were on the other side of the building, which is the entrance, but completely devoid of traffic. [read the full report with photos]
Protest ICE Detention Center by Periodico "El independiente" (with photos and video) | 'Melt That ICE' Rally by Rachel Clarke (audio) | "U.S. Border Klan" I.C.E. Support Rally Boderwatch call to "neutralize the voices of the illegal alien sympathizer. "
While migrating to our new host there we some hardware problems that left open publishing and site maintenance disabled for about a week. We are now being hosted by a friendly radical server provider who is charging us a small monthly fee for their services. If you like Houston Indymedia functioning smoothly, please consider donating to support the work we do and expenses we incur. We are an all volunteer media collective, all of the money goes into maintenance and media projects.
While we are on the theme of asking for money; if you've listed to KPFT this week we're sure you've noticed that it is pledge drive. The Houston Indymedia show needs your support. Please consider calling in on Friday at 7:30pm and making a donation to KPFT and support Indymedia's space in their schedule.
From the Open Publishing Newswire: Several hundred Houstonians gatherred on Saturday January 28 to protest the escalation of war in Iraq. Local representatives from many organizations were undetered by the wet weather. The marchers silently convened on a downtown park several blocks from Congresswoman Lee's office. They organized into a large arc in the park and held signs up.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee attended and her office helped organize the event.
1.27 silent march by retired photojournalist w/o a pension (photos)
From the World Social Forum website:
The 7th edition of the World Social Forum brings the world to Africa as activists, social movements, networks, coalitions and other progressive forces from Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Europe and all corners of the African continent converge in Nairobi, Kenya for five days of cultural resistance and celebration; panels, workshops, symposia, processions, film nights and much much more; beginning on the 20th of January and wrapping up on the 25th of January 2007.
A contenintal and international convergence of Indymedia activists have gathered in Nairobi to support Kenya Indymedia and produce independent coverage of this process. A report from the convergence space tells us: Since the first delegates arrived in Karen South guesthouse 14 days ago, the group of media activists forming the IMC Nairobi has increased daily. In the meantime people from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenia, the US and Europe are working and eating together, taking care of their food and housing as much as building a radio transmitter and set up a whole little internet hub.
From Satuarday the IMC location will move into Kasarani Stadium, the location of the WSF. While things are working out better everyday, the preparation process has not been without obstacles. Non less than 6 African IMC delegates (from IMC Mali, Ambazonia and Nigeria) couldn't travel to Nairobi because their special Visa requirements weren't taken care off in time. A delegate from Maurititus wasn't able to come after all.
Kenya Indymedia has undertaken an ambitious Radio Project in partnership with IMCs and radio stations in Barcelona, Ireland, Basque country and Philidelphia.
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This Thursday: Film Screening Workgroup Meeting
I-69: Coming soon to a previously undisturbed habitat near you.
Haris County Revokes Parole for Martin Draughon
Casa Juan Diego Under Siege by the Ku Klux Klan
Houston ABC Educates about Political Prisoners in Texas
Justice for all? Art on the death penalty
Undocumented Screening at University of Houston
Radical Encuentro Camp takes on Climate Change
Houston Indymedia Hosts Films from Mexico's Front Lines
Melt The ICE: Protest against immigration raids
Our website is back: consider donating
Houstonians Protest War with Sheila Jackson Lee
Indymedia Kenya covers the 7th World Social Forum
