CALIFORNIA, June 17, 2008 – Hundreds of marriages of same sex couples took place yesterday as the state of California officially ended discrimination based on gender. This Saturday, June 21st, more civil ceremonies will be conducted all day long in West Hollywood Park from 8 AM to 8 PM. While people are celebrating now there is concern about an anti-gay proposition on the ballot this November. A coalition of homophobic fundamentalist groups claim they have enough signatures for a measure that would amendmend the state constitution to ban same sex marriage. But for now wedding bells continue to ring throughout the state.
Reports from the newswire: VIDEO: Same-Sex Marriages: Orange County, California, USA

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2008 – Over 40,000 Los Angeles teachers sacrificed an hour of their pay to protest the proposed state budget cuts on Friday. The hour-long protests were held in front of the schools as students entered the campus and administrators were relegated to supervising children.

At Belvedere Elementary School in East Los Angeles, about 300 parents, teachers and students banged drums, shook maracas and hoisted bilingual signs reading "Save our schools," some hand-lettered in crayon and marker. "This affects all of us in the state. It's worth losing an hour [of school] if it gets kids Schwarzenegger's attention, because if they take everything away that would be worse," parent Lizbeth Roman, 25, of East L.A. said in Spanish as she marched with her three children, chanting, "More money for education!"

VIDEO: LA School Teachers Stage 1 Hour Walkout

6/6 Los Angeles Teachers Strike; General Strike Needed

Teachers Strike In LA by Echo Park Community Coalition

New report with photos: L. A. Teachers Fight Cuts in Education Budget by jlr - builder123

LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2008 – A group of about 50 people gathered today at Olvera Street and marched to the downtown federal building for a demonstration against the ongoing ICE raids in local communities and workplaces. The raids are tearing families apart when undocumented parents are seized and deported leaving their US born children behind. ICE raids have been increasing in scale and brutality. There are reports of violence and human rights violations by ICE officers during recent large scale raids locally and in Iowa this month. From the Newswire: VIDEO: Stop the Raids Demo | | Photos: Stop the ICE Raids Protest

The UCLA Clothesline Project is a student organization that aims to stop sexual violence. The project strives to take that first most difficult step: to break the silence surrounding sexual violence and raise awareness about a crime where it’s the victims that are made to feel guilty and ashamed.

Rape survivors are invited to make t-shirts about their experience and hang the shirts on a clothesline. For many it is a brave step they take toward speaking out about their histories with sexual violence. Families and friends of victims are also welcome to create t-shirts.

Most sexual assaults go unreported and the problem is more widespread than many realize. Even when the crime is reported the victim is often blamed for instigating the attack. Rape is also systematically used as a weapon of war by governments around the world. And the so called developed nations like the US are no exception to this.
From the newswire: Stop Rape: Breaking the Silence and The UCLA Clothesline Project by Survivors Ally

SANTA ANA, May 15, 2008 - Labor unions from Orange County and San Diego County gathered at the Civic Center in Santa Ana to protest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new round of budget cuts. Deep cuts to public education, health care, welfare recipients, law enforcement, parks, probation departments, and the disabled are expected. Massive layoffs of certificated and classified employees in school districts throughout California have already occurred. Report From the Newswire: Santa Ana Labor Rally: HEY, ARNOLD! NO BUDGET CUTS! by df

Related article: IS CALIFORNIA REALLY BROKE? by Alex Walker

NEW VIDEO: Hey, Arnold! No Budget Cuts 4 CA Education: Segerstrom Hi Students & Teachers Speak Out by df

Related - Video: Cal state LA students protest budget cuts with sit in, Part 1 | | Part 2

The Los Angeles Independent Media Center is proud to present the film, Bastards of the Party. The film explores the creation of two of Los Angeles’s most notorious gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, from the perspective of the Los Angeles community. The documentary features interviews with gang members; historian Mike Davis, whose book "City of Quartz" inspired the film’s title; former FBI agent Wes Swearingen; and Black Panther, Geronimo Pratt. The 2006 documentary film was produced by Antoine Fuqua and directed by former Bloods gang-member Cle Sloan.

Update: LA Indymedia Film Night Report Back

What started on May 1, 2006 as some of the largest political demonstrations in U.S. history for immigrants' rights have in 2008 brought together three fronts -- labor, immigrant, and antiwar -- in one struggle for peace and social justice.

The work stoppage at all 29 West Coast ports on May 1, 2008 by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) was an historic turning point for the U.S. labor movement. For the first time in more than seventy years, a major U.S. trade union led marches and a system-wide strike on May Day. And for the first time ever, it was not for economistic reasons, but for the political demand to end the disastrous and debilitating U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Story and photos: May Day revival on three fronts: labor, immigrant, and antiwar by Sharat G. Lin

On Thursday, May 8, the Ad-Hoc Working Group for Haiti launched a weekly vigil outside the Brazilian consulate in Beverly Hills for the return of Haitian human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antione. A weekly fast, begun last November and practiced around the world, continues.
Story/photos: A Weekly Vigil is Launched for Haiti and Kidnapped Human Rights Activist by Ross Plesset

Update: (5-15-08) Today was our second weekly vigil. Seven of us held our banner and signs and talked to pedestrians about the issue. There were lengthy and interesting conversations, and people signed our petition. Many of us continue to fast each week.

Update: (6-12-08) For over a month now, we have been standing here each Thursday with signs and banners. Today, nine of us turned out. Passing motorists seemed especially enthusiastic--even the double-decker Starline Tour buses honked. Pedestrians stopped and asked to learn more about the issue, and we got more signatures on our petition.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Monday, May. 05, 2008 - Approximately 200 people gathered today in honor of Jose Fernando Pedraza, a Jornalero (day laborer), leader, and friend, who died while defending his right to be a worker in Rancho Cucamonga. Pedraza died after being struck by a car. The motorist is said to have been distracted by the protest when they hit Pedraza. A march to city hall was held demanding Pedraza's dying wish: a day labor center for the city. Full Story Day Laborer Remebered, 1 year after Killed in Rancho Cucamonga during Minutemen Protest by miss x

LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2008 – May Day demonstrations and marches were held throughout the region yesterday. Two marches converged downtown at 5th and Broadway in the late afternoon. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people took part in the downtown demonstrations. Although not as large as the past two years the marches were described as festive and high spirited. Immigrant rights was the primary focus of the demonstration, but other issues such as the Iraq war were featured as well.

Scattered student walkouts and sit outs also took place at a number of local high schools. Dockworkers at the port of Los Angeles staged a one day strike that halted port operations for the day. The dockworkers’ strike, which included all west coast ports, was called by the workers to protest the continuing US war on Iraq.
Reports from the newswire: Workers/Immigrants March Rally in LA on May 1 by AJLPP | | Venice High School Students Walk out of Class by Marcus | | May Day Time Line by LA-IMC | | May Day Strike Against the War Shuts Down All U.S. West Coast Ports by Internationalist Group | | MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by AJLPP

PHOTOS: Marcha Primero de Mayo by Oliver Santana | | MAY DAY 08 in LA by Marcus | | MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by AJLPP
VIDEO: ¡Afuera Con La Migra! May Day Video & May Day March in Downtown. Video by Que Chido

From Democracy Now: Report on dockworkers' strike
In related news: Did Google Block ILWU Web Page?

Video report from Oxnard: May 1, Oxnard : Farmworkers, Longshoremen, and Youth Take to the Streets by FCR-VC

In a major step for the U.S. labor movement, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1, to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In a February 22 letter to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, ILWU International president Robert McEllrath reported that at a recent coast-wide union meeting, “One of the resolutions adopted by caucus delegates called on longshore workers to stop work during the day shift on May 1, 2008 to express their opposition to the war in Iraq.”
From the newswire: ILWU to Shut Down West Coast Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan by Internationalist Group
Website: here
More on: KPFK's Beneath the Surface (4/28/08 at 5:45 pm) and Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod(4/29/08)
Also: VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST SRIKE AGAINST WAR by Vermont AFL-CIO
From the calendar: Twin May Day Marches for All Workers! by MIWON | | Ventura County May Day: March for Dignity and Work by Frente Contra las Redadas
From the newswire: MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by CDIR-USA | | May Day March & United Rally for Immigrant Rights by by AJLPP | | Did Google Block ILWU Web Page? by A | | ¡Por un 1° de Mayo proletario y de lucha! by by PCInt. | | May Day 2008-The Internationale in Many Languages by & | | All Out to May Day 2008 March for Immigrant Worker Rights! by by Lee Siu Hin

LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2008 – Environmental activists from AmazonWatch with support from the LA Greens and other local groups paid a visit to Occidental Petroleum’s corporate headquarters today. Dressed up in Haz Mat uniforms demonstrators staged a mock toxic clean up outside the Oxy building in Westwood.

Activists are demanding that Oxy pay for the clean up of an area of the Amazon home to the Achuar people. Oxy is blamed for the poisoning of an entire ecosystem that the Achuar depend on for their survival. Today’s demonstration was the first of two planned for this week. The next protest will be held at Oxy’s shareholders meeting this Friday, May 2nd at 9am at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.From the Newswire: AmazonWatch Clean Up Crew Hits Occidental Petroleum Headquarters | | PHOTOS - From Oxy Protest | | "This is What a Clean-Up Looks Like!" by RP | | MP3 AUDIO – Protest at Occidental Petroleum Headquarters by A

On Wednesday April 30 and Friday May 2, there will be demonstrations against L.A.-based Occidental Petroleum over pollution and illness caused by nearly 30 years of oil sdrilling in the Peruvian Amazon. The first event, a mock clean-up will take place at the company's headquarters, the second will be outside the annual shareholder's meeting. According to Amazon Watch, Occidental Petroleum is sensitive to this kind of publicity. Full story: Two Upcoming Events to Expose Pollution, Sickness in Peru Caused by Occidental Petroleum by RP Announcements: *Wednesday event *Friday event

America’s racist rulers want to silence the powerful voice of Mumia Abu-Jamal. The March 27 Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding Mumia’s frame-up conviction for the 1981 killing of Police Officer Daniel Flulkner proves, again, that there is no justice in the capitalist courts. It is a slap in the face to all opponents of racist injustice. Mumia now faces the prospect of another sentencing hearing—not a new trial—where the death sentence could be reinstated or where he could be entombed in prison for life. We must not let this happen! Mumia must be freed now! All out on April 26 in Los Angeles.
From the newswire: FREE MUMIA NOW! by Partisan Defense Committee
From the calendar

Wadsworth UTLA, The Association of Raza Educators, and Parents of Wadsworth will DEMAND that the Los Angeles Unified School District to remove Wadsworth from the Prop. 39 Schools with Available Classrooms List. Prop. 39 requires the LAUSD provide public classroom space, if there is open rooms, for charter schools. However, THERE IS NO ROOM on the Wadsworth campus which operates on 4-tracks due to OVERCROWDING.
From the newswire:South LA School Resisting Charter Invasion by Jose Lara

Pomona, Calif - After being subjected an unannounced pay cut from $10/hr to $8/hr, Cal Poly student marketing representatives Austin Garrido and Sarah Doolittle were fired by their employer, Uloop.com, for attempting to organize a worker's union. The students were fired from their part-time jobs 20 minutes after posting a message in an online inter-company form announcing their intention to form a union. Doolittle and Garrido have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
From the newswire: Student Workers Claim They Were Illegally Fired by Cal Poly Community Activist