Although this peaceful but emotional rally didn't technically qualify as a counter-protest, many of the participants were definitely focused on countering the immigrant's-rights march planned for the next day in downtown Dallas, with a few intent on addressing negative public perceptions of their issues.

There were slightly more than 100 in the small but noisy crowd gathered in North Dallas, which was 98 percent Anglos. The rally was organized by the Citizens for Immigration Reform, and they are also planning a similar rally Sunday in the midst of the Immigrants' Rights March. They plan to meet in front of the Morton Meyerson Symphony Hall on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Individual participants gave a wide variety of reasons for opposing immigrant's-rights, citizenship amnesties, and Latino cultural influences; However, this reporter was strongly impressed by the problem the small minority of reasoning people were having -- they were greatly outnumbered by people who were fearful of "others" in "their" society.

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The March to Redeem the Soul of America was launched with a press conferences and march at ExxonMobil Headquarters in Irving, Texas on April 1. The March called on ExxonMobil to work to end the war against Iraq and to spend its $7 billion in 2005 war profits on human needs related to the war and ExxonMobil's operations.

On April 2, the March held press conferences at the County Courthouse and Jail, and, after a march, at the VA Hospital. Speakers highlighted the human and economic costs of war.

Thus began a 120-mile walk that will arrive in Crawford, Texas on Thursday, April 13. The March will participate in "Easter in Crawford" - with President Bush planning to take his usual Easter vacation at his ranch - and the celebration of the third anniversary of the Crawford Peace House and "Easter in Crawford."

March to Redeem the Soul of America
Starts at ExxonMobil Headquarters


See complete coverage with audio (mp3) and photos: http://www.traprockpeace.org/texas_march_april_2006.html

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Support grassroots groups lead by people of color/low income communities working on the destruction in the Gulf Coast Region.

As a 'white allied' organizer working in NOLA, it is important to support grassroots groups lead by people of color/low income communities working on the destruction in the Gulf Coast Region.Some of the groups are national, with local NOLA chapters.Many of these groups were doing work in the region before Katrina struck or the leveees broke.

As mostly 'white allied' groups we are asking that groups with access to networks of people/resources please use this to get information out about these groups who could use support in their continued critical work.

Common Ground Collective has benefited from our privilege of access to many resources and want to make sure other groups are not overlooked in this process. Our work in the region is linked to many of these groups; we need to mutually support each other for the rights of dignity and self determination for many historically marignalized communities.

related link: http://katrina.mayfirst.org/

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A two-week march to the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas, starting April 1, that will call for an end to the Iraq War and immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq - endorsed by peace worker Cindy Sheehan and historian Howard Zinn - will also call on ExxonMobil Corporation to spend $7 billion of its record $36 billion 2005 profit to alleviate war suffering and to compensate thousands more who have documented harm from its operations.

Schedule for the event is in the body of this article.

related link: http://www.marchtoredeem.org/

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In a guest lecture at the University of Texas School of Law on Wednesday, FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent G. Charles Rasner (photo at left) listed Indymedia, Food Not Bombs, and the Communist Party of Texas as "Terrorist Watch" cause groups in Austin.

Rasner gave a presentation entitled "Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Texas"? to a U.S. Law and National Security class at the Law School. He used PowerPoint slides to illustrate the nature of the terrorist threat in Central Texas. The word "Unclassified"? appeared prominently in bold red letters on the opening PowerPoint slide.

Listing three categories of cause groups potentially linked to terrorist activity, Rasner named white supremacist groups, Islamic terrorist groups, and anarchists. When asked what anarchist activity in Austin the FBI was investigating, Rasner referred the questioner to the Ted Kaczynski Unabomber case, claiming that Kaczynski "was an anarchist."? He did not discuss Austin-specific anarchist activity when pressed.

Rasner used a map of Texas to illustrate the existence of the three kinds of terrorist groups in the state. Austin was listed as a site of all three kinds of terrorist activity.

Rasner then placed the FBI's Central Texas "Terrorist Watch List"? on the screen. On a list of approximately ten groups, Food Not Bombs was listed seventh. Indymedia was listed tenth, with a reference specifically to IndyConference 2005. The Communist Party of Texas also made the list. Rasner explained that these groups could have links to terrorist activity. He noted that peaceful-sounding group names could cover more violent extremist tactics.

related link: http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/26784/index.php

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On Wednesday, March 8th, International Women's Day was celebrated by a rally in Ferris Plaza in downtown Dallas, with speakers, ending with an impromptu march to the military recruiters' offices at the Federal Building a few blocks away.

Even though International Women's Day has been celebrated worldwide since 1913, observation has lagged in the United States. Millions of women across spans of years and within diverse societies have organized for their struggles to achieve genuine dignity (not the false "pedestal"? kind), genuine individual freedom, and peace (a true family value). According to this event's organizers, "Women must be honored politically, economically, and socially."?

One of the primary organizers of this event was the Iranian Women's Association of Dallas (214-686-6357), who were key to its success. They brought the focus onto the politics and culture of Iran, which has been ruled for many years by "the most misogynist government in the world." One of the group's leaders cited the Iranian government's murders of over 1,500 out of 3,000 prisoners in 1988, many of them women, many of them pregnant.

The fundamentalist religious communities in Iran have continued and amplified non-Islamic anti-woman tribal practices, including stoning, "honor" retribution, and rigidly-enforced behavior and dress codes.

The group's leaders emphasized that the Iranian Women for Peace are demonstrating to communicate several basic concepts to the American public:

-- There should be more public acknowledgment of the conditions within the Iranian society;
-- International support is needed for the Iranian women's movements; and
-- Democracy must be grown from within Iran and cannot be imposed by outsiders.

A poem, "I'll Never Return", by Meena, was read in tandem by Heather W. and Lida A.. Heather read parts of it in English and Lida read parts in Farsi. The first line of each stanza, "I'm the woman who has awoken"? was powerful and emotive, especially in its conclusion, "I've found my path and will never return". Meena was the founder of the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan, RAWA, and was assassinated for her activism.

related link: http://www.azadizan.com/english/archive/2006/02/0228_1_8mars.htm

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Camp Casey Dallas sets up outside Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office most Fridays, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Camp Casey Dallas has been an on-going demonstration since October, 2005, as an effort to call attention to concerns about the war and to urge the Senator to meet with her constituents.

Although requests for a town hall meeting with the Senator have been repeatedly denied, the response from the motoring public has given renewed energy to the CCD anti-war coalition.

At the last few demonstrations, "campers" have been passing out flyers with information about how to contact local peace and justice groups to get involved in the movement and about the upcoming March 19th downtown Dallas peace rally and march. On March 19th, the "End the War Now & Bring the Troops Home" rally and march will mark the 3rd anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

related link: http://www.MeetWithCongress.org

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The City of Denton is excited to announce the airing of SourceCode, FreeSpeech TV’s news magazine, which will feature Denton as a community striving to make a positive impact on its environment. The show will feature several of the Denton's successful environmental programs.

The season opener of SourceCode, Episode 1- Climate Change, takes a look at the reality and effects of climate change and activists and organizations that are working to address the problem. The episode will feature Denton as a city that is working to enact the Kyoto Protocols at the local level. It will be broadcast this Sunday, February 19 at 9 a.m. EST on the DISH Satellite Network. Denton citizens who don't subscribe to DISH Satellite Network can log on to the Internet and access the show at http://sourcecode.freespeech.org. For citizens without Internet access or DISH Satellite Network, the City of Denton will be replaying the show on DTV Channel 26 starting around the first of March. Tune in to DTV to catch SourceCode featuring the City of Denton.

SourceCode is Free Speech TV’s weekly news magazine, focusing on social justice issues with the aim of turning audiences into activists. The show reaches 25 million homes.

related link: http://sourcecode.freespeech.org.

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About 40 protesters greeted George Bush last Friday, February 3, 2006, as he visited a DISD magnet school in Oak Cliff. He came to Dallas to tout his no- child- left behind program.

Local activists made sure he knew there were people in Dallas who didn’t agree with him. Many came to protest the federal student aid cuts as well as the war in Iraq.

Johnnie Wolf co-founder Crawford Peace House, Beatrice Saldivar of Gold Star Families as well as membesr of CODEPINK Ft. Worth and CODEPINK of Greater Dallas were in attendance.

The group was also encouraged by a phone call of support from Cindy Sheehan who was calling from Washington, DC.

related link: http://www.codepinkdallas.net/

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke to a crowd of World Social Forum participants on January 27, 2006. The following is a brief summary from a US citizen who sees optimism and progress in the political actions of Mr. Chavez, especially his efforts to "re-invent socialism" and openly cooperate with other nations.

On January 27, I was fortunate enough to spend my Friday evening inside a giant stadium in the middle of Caracas, Venezuela. President Hugo Chavez was addressing a spirited assembly of some 15,000 Chavez supporters and other participants of the 6th annual World Social Forum being held nearby in the city. One of the highlights of the 5-day event, Chavez’s speech encompassed everything from Venezuela’s history and its revolutionary turning points to the current inter-South American trade pacts, not to mention the most notable theme of the Forum itself – opposition to what has been called neo-colonial imperialism. Alongside a panel of distinguished guests, including peace activist Cindy Sheehan, the President spoke with his usual fervor and commitment to solidarity.

However, the World Social Forum itself was not situated in Caracas in order to promote Chavez’s fiery brand of anti-imperialist policies. Nor was Chavez himself simply trying to promote local issues. While he spoke of plans to establish new trade deals with Bolivia and Ecuador (Venezuelan fuel in exchange for soybeans, beef and chicken) and how literacy projects were creating 10,000 new scholarships for Venezuelans and Cubans, his message ultimately pointed toward a uniting theme of political action fused with political re-invention. Chavez challenges the United States to be more devoted to tackling poverty than inducing wars. “Let’s imagine a U.S. Administration that brings peace to the world,� he says, giving $400 Billion instead to foster education and produce medicine and food for the people. His highest vision entails freeing Venezuelans from illiteracy, but misery cannot be overcome with merely “a few pennies.� Referring to the US as a superpower, he declares, “This giant needs to wake up.�

While not everyone (especially the average WSF participant) agrees free-market capitalism alone provides an end-all political/economic solution to the world population’s basic needs, unchecked socialism can obviously have its downfalls as well. It is for this reason, I personally believe, Chavez warned that 20th century socialism was a mistake. He says we must invent a “new type of socialism.� Time is short indeed, with so many resources being squandered at such tremendous rates. Western capitalism of today is destroying the ecological equilibrium of our planet, according to Chavez.

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