Saturday, December 13, 2008 LOS ANGELES - The organizers of the first annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair sent out a call for "dreamers, fighters, organizers, and rebels to come, meet, strategize, learn from each other, get books, attend workshops, participate, and join the movement." And despite the state's efforts to squelch our efforts, come they did--more than 700 people, mostly from the greater Los Angeles area, although some came from as far as San Diego, the Bay Area, Oregon, New York, and even Canada, to participate in this herstory-making event.

Story with photos: First Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair: A Beginning Marker of Resistance by Rockero | | PHOTOS: Photos from the Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair by Spicy Organic Tofu

PASADENA, Dec. 13, 2008 - Despite the threat of rain and many other competing activist events this Saturday there was a very good turnout at the demonstration in front of Forever 21 in Old Town Pasadena. Forever 21 intends to build warehouse space on the land of the South Central Farm, which developer Ralph Horowitz acquired by dubious means. (More details here.)

Story/photos: "BOYCOTT FOREVER 21! BOYCOTT FOREVER 21!" by RP

The 1st Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair - Saturday, December 13th, 2008 Zines, pamphlets, DVD, Cd's, radical bumper stickers, protest shirts, records, tapes, speakers, workshops, panels, open discussions, games, diy distros and much more...

Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair
Saturday, December the 13th, 2008
Southern California Library for Social Studies & Research
6120 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca. 90044

$5 includes vegan lunch and dinner, provided by Los Angeles and Santa Ana Food Not Bombs

From the newswire: First Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair by Joaquin Cienfuegos | | LA IMC CALENDAR | | AUDIO: Anarchist Bookfair By KPFK's Indy Media On the Air

At 1:30 am on Tuesday, October 28, Julian Alexander heard noises outside the middle class home he shared with his wife Renee, who is seven months pregnant. They had just gotten married about a week ago when Julian turned 20 years old. Feeling like their safety was threatened, Julian grabbed a broomstick and walked out on the front lawn to look around. Minutes later, he was killed by two bullets to his chest, one of which struck his heart. Hearing gunshots, Renee and her 15-year-old sister looked out the window and saw the killers—Anaheim police—turn Julian’s body over and handcuff him. Family members tried to rush to Julian’s side, but were told to get back…or else.

Full story from the newswire:Don’t Let Them Get Away with the Murder of Julian Alexander...Turn Grief into Resistance by Revolution newspaper

The recent exhibit Tongva: Our Voice, Our History, Our People, which ran from September 13 through November 22 at the Ruth & Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, demonstrated that Southern California's history goes back far beyond shopping centers, Hollywood, city lights, theme parks, car culture, missionaries, Cabrillo, etc., etc.

As Chief Red Blood Anthony Morales stated at the show's grand opening, Tongva people have lived here for many thousands of years. He added that the community of Aleupkingna (sometimes spelled Aluupkenga) encompassed the land currently occupied by the Santa Anita Mall, the Santa Anita Race Track, and the Arboretum.

Story and photos:Tongva: Our Voice, Our History, Our People by RP

November 25, 2008 GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala - Guatemalan women's organizations commemorated International Day Against Violence Against Women with a five-kilometer march from the Palacio de Justicia to the city's central plaza. Up to 2,000 women, men, and children from over twenty women's and human rights organizations participated, including a solidary group from Los Angeles.

Article with photos from the newswire:
Ni una muerta más - International Day Against Violence Against Women in Guatemala by Rockero

The conservative student at Cal State Long Beach invited Jim Gilchrist, founder of the anti-immigrant Minutemen, and Ted Hayes, homeless advocate-turned anti-immigrant opportunist, to speak on campus during immigration awareness week. The good people of CSULB ignored them, and the racists went away, proving that regardless of the strategies chosen, solidarity is the key in winning our struggles.
Article from the newswire:
Solidarity destroys fascism: LB activists unite to ignore racists by Rockero

LOS ANGELES - El Jueves 20 de Noviembre del 2008, Transgeneros Unidas de Bienestar por primera vez en la historia de Los Angeles cordialmente tuvo un evento en Espanol, llamado Recordando a La Comunidad Transgénero, especialmente recordar a las mujeres transgéneros Latina que han muerto por crímenes de odio. Este evento comenzo a las 5:30pm en el centro de Hollywood de donde una procesión tomo rumbo a la iglesia de la Comunidad Metropolitana de Los Ángeles. Durante la ceremonia hubo una remembranza de las mujeres transgénero que murieron por crímenes de odio a lo igual se dio un mensaje positivo hacia esta comunidad que siempre es oprimida, marginilizada, y discriminadad. Mas con fotos: Transgeneros Unidas | | More photos, video and English text: Transgender Day of Remembrance by SCHA-LA

LOS ANGELES, November 18, 2008 – All was going nicely at this Sunday’s opening night event for an alternative community art center, dubbed the TOW space, until some uninvited city employees ruined the party. Claiming to be in search of a shoplifting suspect police forced a group of about 50 people out of the space and into street for a line up. Everyone was searched and forced to line up for close to 30 minutes while police went down the line. Six people in all were arrested. At least 25 police officers took part in the raid with a police helicopter circling above and it seemed to those there to be a rather excessive response to a shoplifting incident. The shoplifting claim is widely believed to be a cover story for a police raid that appeared to many to be planned in advance. Speculation is that the space is being targeted by the LAPD for the political affiliations of some of the participants in the event last Sunday night. There are reports that two of those arrested are members of the Black Riders Liberation Party.
Reports and eye witness accounts: LAPD suppresses radical art space by tu_kuñ(A)'o | | Police Raid of Anarchist Event by johnaimani | | Anarchist bookfair meeting raided by LAPD by josh | | Media from raid on anarchists by witness | | Video: X-Vandals Benefit Show in LA Gets Raided by LAPD by Puerto Rican Alliance

[Opt. Ed. Special Feature] Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 – Two weeks ago Stephen Lendman in his article Obama Mania wrote: “On November 4, the world exhaled. The age of George Bush ended, and a new one under Barack Obama began. With high hopes he'll reverse the toxic legacy of the past eight years. Adopt socially progressive policies. End foreign wars. Govern the nation responsibly, democratically for all its people. Show his supporters that their faith in him was justified.” In the past two weeks the LA-IMC newswire has seen a wide range of reaction and commentary to Obama’s victory. Compiled here are some selected articles from the newswire. (Views expressed in the articles are those of the authors only and not necessarily those of the LA Indymedia collective) Selected articles from the newswire:
Obama Mania by Stephen Lendman
Obama Sweeps Presidential Election by H. Nelson Goodson
Election Night In Hollywood by Anna Kunkin
Obama and the Crisis of Expectation Workers Action
Barack Obama, new mouthpiece of ruling class interests PCInt
Obama Nation by Dylecsic goD
Not "Fascism or Obama": Fascism and Obama by DG
Obama and the Deep State: Is there Hope? by redpill8
HEY, BARACK! by df
Jeremy Scahill: 20 Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama's White House by Jeremy Scahill

LOS ANGELES, November 15, 2008 – Thousands of people rallied and marched for the right to marry for all people today in downtown Los Angeles. Early estimates have the demonstration at its peak at 8,000 to 10,000. The demonstration may well have been larger than these initial estimates. The march was at least seven full blocks long when it left City Hall with more still arriving.

The end rally point of the march was not the best choice and many dissatisfied marchers doubled back and scattered in the areas of Chinatown and Olvera St. Cafes and restaurants in the area were packed with marchers in the late afternoon. A smaller march of a few hundred rallied at back at city hall and set off on a non-permit march route with Hollywood & Highland their destination point. Police did not disperse the post-march and opened traffic lanes for the marchers to proceed West on Temple St. toward Hollywood. From the Newswire:
Photos: Downtown Prop 8 demo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 by SCHA-LA | | PHOTOS: March for the Right to Marry by A | | Prop. 8 and the Triumph of Theocracy by Mark Gabrish

VIDEO: Right to Marry Demo | | Right to Marry rally Nov 15 - audio montage by no2h8

LOS ANGELES, November 8 – Gay-rights protests continue to spread across California and the US. In Los Angeles as many as 10,000 people protested against the passage of Proposition 8. The protest went on without major incidents except for a few glitches with the organization of the march. In San Francisco more than 15,000 activists and supporters hit the streets to protest passage of an anti-gay marriage bill. Also in San Diego, 8,000 to 10,000 marched on the streets.

From the Newswire:No on 8 protest Silverlake | | Saturday night timeline of call ins to LA-IMC Newsroom | | Txt msg from march by Lesile
Video:11-08 Prop 8 Protest in Silverlake by SCHA-LA
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | by SCHA-LA
Reports & Commentary: PROP. 8 Demo: Overview of Silverlake to Hollywood and Highland 11/8/08 by Anna Kunkin | | ANSWER rally saved by Gay and Lesbian community leaders by No Discrimination | | ANSWER is not the Answer! by answer sucks
Report from San Diego: Anti-Proposition 8 Protests in San Diego by Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger’s News magazine
Audio: Right to Marry rally Nov 8 - audio montage by no2h8
Latest news: 1:35pm East LA No 8 March has started | | protest prop 8 East LA sunday nov 9, 2008 | | Solidarity from Chicago: Anti-Prop 8 Protest in Chicago

LOS ANGELES, November 6, 2008 – The Outrage over the Prop 8 election results that spilled into the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday night continued all day Thursday and well into the night. The main focus of Thursday’s protests was the Mormon Church in Westwood. The church is believed to have funded up to 40% of the Yes on 8 campaign.

Protesters had the numbers to take the street and spontaneous marches snaked their way through the Westside all day. Police were uncharacteristically restrained and even facilitated the marches by rerouting motor traffic. From the Newswire: Right to Marry Protests Rock West LA by A | | Photos: Prop 8 Demo in Westwood & part 2 by SCHA-LA | | Video: No on 8 demo by SCH-LA | | No 8 protest going on Now at Mormon temple West LA by FYI

NEW MP3 AUDIO: Victims of Hate Crimes at No 8 demo. | | Video from Thursday right to marry protest.

LOS ANGELES, November 4, 2008 – Local voting precincts are seeing an unprecedented voter turn out today. Long lines are reported polling places throughout the city at many locations. Waits of up to two hours reported at some polling places.

At one polling place at Clover Elementary School in the Mar Vista area, hundreds of voters were lined up around the block even before the polls opened at 7:00 am this morning. Both No on 8 and yes on 8 reps were there passing out flyers to voters waiting in line. Both observed the 100 foot electioneering rule and no incidents were observed between the rival groups.

The parents and school children set up a bake sale with coffee for those waiting in line. The mood seemed positive as people waiting in line and studied their sample ballots or chatted with fellow voters. Many people were seen busy absorbed in their blackberry or iPhone as they waited.
From the newswire: Record Turn Out and Long Lines at Polls by A

Surf the Internet and you'll find thousands of posts about Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia, India, Israel, and Palestine. Across the political spectrum, intellectuals obsess over world affairs. Want to know how the U.S.A. got into this mess? Want to know how we were overwhelmed by cynicism, divisiveness, demagoguery, "Pay-To-Play" governance, and sleaze? It didn't start in that mythical "Washington." It started in places like little Wasilla, Alaska... and big Los Angeles. I could write a long book about this. Today, I'll be brief, and just list the Dem screw-ups. One great thing about the Internet is that you don't have to take my word for it. Click the hyperlinks below and read the MSM stories for yourself.

From the newswire: Green Dissent: Why I Won't Vote for California Dems by Alex Walker | | Vote Green! Piera-Avila for Council by twirl

October 31: While some of the weekly vigils went on hiatus tonight, the Glendale vigil (at Brand & Broadway) proceeded as usual—except participants were encouraged to come in costume. Also, candy was handed out for a time. When the candy ran out, pencils publicizing the Glendale vigil were distributed. Flyers were passed, too, announcing an upcoming showing of the film Afghanistan (see glendalepeacevigil.org).

Full story: Halloween at the Glendale Peace Vigil by RP

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, October 25, 2008 - Student leaders of local high school Gay-Straight Alliances banded together this Saturday to demand equality for LGBT people and spread awareness about the insidious proposition 8. They were joined by teachers, community members, and families. Prop. eight, if passed, would eliminate the legal right for same-sex couples to marry. Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court decided that the right to marry was guaranteed by the state constitution, and could not be superseded by initiative.

Students from Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos High Schools began arriving to the corners of Foothill and Haven as early as nine o'clock. In the morning, several supporters of prop 8 gathered at the northeast corner. Students frantically began calling each other to increase their presence. Their numbers soon overwhelmed the "yes on 8" people, and opponents of 8 were able to establish a strong presence at all four corners. From the Newswire Rancho Cucamonga Youth Demonstrate Against Proposition 8 by Lalo

UPDATE: More No on 8 Protests: CSULB No on 8 Rally Oct 29, 2008 by Lady Madonna | | No On 8 Temecula by Bryan Thomas (Anarcat Collective) | | No on 8 in Upland by Lalo | | MP3 audio: No on 8 rally Downtown LA by A | | Images from the No 8 Rally Downtown LA by A

October 22, 2008 LOS ANGELES - The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has been organizing nationwide demonstrations since 1996. The Los Angeles actions have gained a reputation for being among the city's most lively and most youth-oriented marches whose participants tend to be from the very communities targeted by police. With some thirty police murders logged since the beginning of year, protestors had plenty to be angry about.
From the newswire: October 22 Demonstration Attracts Young to Anti-Police Terror Movement by Rockero | | Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality by Marcus

The Los Angeles Independent Media is pleased to present an evening of documentary films from the 2008 DNC and RNC conventions. Both Denver and Minneapolis/ St. Paul were the scene of massive state repression of peaceful protest this Summer. Those who get their news solely from corporate media channels are unaware of the events that occurred outside the convention halls. But those attuned to independent media outlets know well the level of police violence that took place at these conventions. LA Indymedia will be screening previews and rough cuts of films from documentary film makers who were on the ground in Denver and St. Paul this Summer. Details from the Calendar: 2008 DNC and RNC Conventions Report Back

LOS ANGELES October 15, 2008 – Members of the Los Angeles area immigrant community began a fast for their rights Wednesday downtown at La Placita. A diverse group of students, service workers, day laborers, and supporters have set up camp just south of the plaza. About 70 people have committed to the fast, there are currently about 25 tents in the encampment with room for up to 100. The fast plans to run from now until election day, a 20 day fast. Coming together with the organization, Rise, immigrants and their supporters are fasting to urge people to sign a pledge to vote or take some kind of action for immigrants rights.

The fasters are demanding an immediate end to the ICE raids that are terrorizing immigrant communities and tearing families apart. Children of immigrant parents who are US born citizens are being separated from their mothers and fathers by the raids and forced deportations. Supporters are welcome to visit or join the encampment and it is expected that the camp will grow as word spreads.
From the Newswire: Fast for Our Future: Immigrants Rights Encampment at La Placita | | MP3 Audio – Interview with a Faster: Frank Romero-Crockett, at La Placita Encampment | | Hunger Strike for Immigrant Rights! || VIDEO: Video from Day One of the Fast for our Future by Fatima Mojaddidy | | Video Day One & Day Five by A | | Live audio from the camp: Radio Ayuno

Day Six: 1,000,000 Signs Of Hope, Latino Immigrant Rights Activists Stage 27 Days Of Hunger by David Lee Frater
& CDIR SUPPORTS FAST FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS IN LA