LOS ANGELES - March 5, 2010 – Nationwide student demonstrations took place yesterday. Here in Southern California reports are still coming in of actions on the campus of every public university and college in the region. There was also a large march and rally in downtown Los Angeles students, parents and teachers marched against privatization of the public schools at the K through 12 level.

UCLA students staged a 5 hour sit-in at the chancellor’s office demanding to met with him. The only response from the office was from a vice chancellor who stated that there would be no statement or meeting. In addition to the sit-in there were a number of rallies, marches and teach-ins on the UCLA campus. UCSD, UC Riverside, UCSB, Cal State University Northridge and many others are also reporting sizable student actions throughout the day.

There reports of up to 6 arrests at CSUN and at least one arrest at the downtown LA march. There are also many disturbing reports of mass arrests and police violence at campuses in the bay area. See IndyBay for more on Northern California student actions. Latest from the newswire: Los Angeles Teacher Phyliss Williams Testimonial | | UCLA Students Sit-In at Murphy Hall -updated 2:21 | | March 4 Education March Downtown Los Angeles | | Los Angeles March 4th Day of Action Photos Set 1 0f 3 | | Video: UCLA Students Murphy Hall Sit-in | | March 4th: Santa Barbara and UCSB stormed by large student-worker movement by UCSB Campus Left

Photos: Los Angeles March 4th Day of Action Photos Set 1 of 3 | Set 2 of 3 | Set 3 of 3 by Robert Stuart Lowden
LA Student Protest 1st set | 2nd set | 3rd set | | 4th set | | 5th set | | 6th set | | 7th set | | 8th set | | 9th set by SCHA-LA
March 4 in Riverside (photo set 1) | (photo set 2) by Rockero

Video: Video: UCLA Students Murphy Hall Sit-in
March 4 in Riverside (with embedded video) by Rockero
March 4 video, part 1 | part 2
CSUN Students Demand Fair Access To Higher Education: Reseda / Nordhoff March 4, 2010 by phoenix
Riverside March 4 No Cuts to Education Rally by briancomicsnumba1
AnakBayan San Diego | March 4 Education by anakbayanusa
Student Protest @ CSU Fullerton, March 4, 2010 by devcolbert
Save our Education Movement March 4 by sandrita0tita
March 4 Rally at Pershing Square by hbutcher28
March 4, 2010 CSUSB Protest for Education by Atomicwarrior76
March 4 Protest CSUSB
March 4 interviews by schock

STATEWIDE - March 3, 2010 - Campuses across California have exploded in protest, leading up to the large demonstrations planned on March 4th to demand the right to a public education - PRE, K-12, and COLLEGE.

For Breaking News, to see what's happening on March 4th, in real-time, see our March 4th Student Actions page.

The list of actions reported on the LA IMC newswire, below, is only a partial list of numerous large and small actions students have taken to protest the sustained attacks on public education. The protests have enlarged to include all levels of budget cuts aimed at social services.

Please click to contribute your links to the March 4th Updates page.

Most recent reports:
UCR March 4 banner drop by Invisible Committee-IE
Pomona College Labor Intervention by pomonawfj
Students Support Worker Demands for Independent Unions and End to Abuses by Rockero
Apoyo Estudiantil a Exigencias para Sindicatos Autónomos y Cese de Abusos Laborales por Rockero
Karl Rove Chased Out of UCSB 2/25/10 by TheMillerb88
Latest from UCLA Sit-in/Occupation of Murphy by Occupy everything-UCLA
Cal Poly students protest credit card fees by Rockero
UCI Muslims join LGBT Protest  by Yosef Aziz
Shut down LA March 4th! Mtgs by LA M4- Strike
LA Students & UTLA Teachers Speak Out On Privatization-No More Give Aways, Save Our School by Labor Video Project

BORON, CA - February 24th - A caravan of four big rig trucks and around 150 cars carried over 200 people and $30,000 in food to support lock out miners in the town of Boron last week. The miners have been locked out since January 31st by the Rio Tinto Corporation, a giant foreign-owned mining firm that operates one of the world’s largest borax mines near the town of Boron in California’s Mojave Desert.

Miners were lockout and scabs bused in from out of state after new contact negotiations with Rio Tinto broke down. The situation, although barely mentioned in local corporate media, has drawn international attention in what many see as a clear case of illegal union busting. At stake is the livelihood of nearly 600 families. Full Report: Caravan to Rio Tinto to support miners locked out | | Also: UFCW Delivers Food to Locked Out Miners in Desert | Boron, CA Miners Lockout

The latest in the ongoing trial of Johannes Mehserle, accused of shooting Oscar Grant in the back early New Year's Day 2009. Mehserle is the first police officer in California history to be tried for murder committed while on-duty. The Grant-Mehserle saga has sparked unrest and rebellion in the Bay Area, leading to the transfer of the trial to Los Angeles, where social justice advocates have placed immense pressure to ensure that the truth comes out and that the structures permitting this type of injustice are challenged.

The preliminary hearing on February 19, 2010 dealt with four main things: the reduction of bail, the removal of the Alameda DA, a ruling made by Judge Espinoa, and the schedule of the case. Full report: The People vs. Johannes Mehserle Second Los Angeles Hearing by Traci and Erinn

RELATED: Lessons from the Oscar Grant Tragedy – We Need to Get to Work by Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi

February 6, 2010
RIVERSIDE - Between 30 and 50 people, most of them young, attended a series of presentations on feminism, local struggles, and worker's cooperatives held at a local coffee shop. They strategized about where to take the movement, and ended the day with a concert--after the requisite police harassment.

From the newswire: Reportback & Analysis of 'Anarchy in Riverside' & Some Thoughts on 'Building the Party' by Los Angeles Anarchists | | Anarchy in Riverside by Rockero

See also: Dana Ward Pulled My Prole Card by Crudo from the Vengeance blog

Related Story: The Sierra Madre Anarchist Picnic

After indicating that the Southwest Museum would fully reopen, the Autry, which owns the facility, recently closed the museum store and discontinued the monthly NELA Art Gallery Walk. Also, various community events, which had been free, are now $10 for non-Autry members. Autry closed the exhibit space in 2006 to allow for some earthquake retrofitting (which was completed last summer).

The demonstration on Wednesday afternoon was well-attended and occurred on Marmion Way, just outside the museum grounds and adjacent to the Gold Line's Southwest Museum Station. Thus, many rush hour commuters, whether they were in cars or trains, could see the event.

Story and pictures Protest at the Southwest Museum, its Future More Uncertain by Ross Plesset

COSTA MESA - La Unión de Libertades Civiles Americanas (ACLU), el Fondo Educacional de Defensa Legal Mexico-Americano (MALDEF) y la Red Nacional Organizadora de Jornaleros (NDLON), interpusieron el martes pasado una demanda ante la corte federal del distrito central de California contra la ciudad de Costa Mesa, por aplicar una ordenanza que viola los derechos civiles de las personas que buscan trabajo en las calles.

Informe: ORGANIZACIONES COMUNITARIAS DEMANDAN A LA CIUDAD DE COSTA MESA POR VIOLAR DERECHOS DE TRABAJO por Siete Filos

January 28, 2010: Severe Ice Storms and Freezing Temperatures Have Knocked Down 3,000 Utility Poles – Tribal Residents Have Been Without Electricity, Heat and Running Water for Six Days.

EAGLE BUTTE, S.D. – The Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has declared a State of Emergency in central South Dakota, an Indian reservation approximately the size of Connecticut with nearly 15,000 Tribal members. The Tribe is still awaiting Presidential disaster declaration.

Days of ice storms and strong winds have downed over 3,000 utility poles across the reservation. Thousands of already impoverished tribal residents have been without electricity or heat for five days, with wind chill factors well below zero. Experts estimate it may be as long as a month before all areas have electricity restored.

“Making matters worse,” said Tribal Chairman Joe Brings Plenty, “the loss of electricity has also knocked out the Reservation s aging water system. We have no running water on the entire Reservation, it is also affecting of Reservation communities such as Faith, whose water is supplied from pipes running through the Reservation.”

Help needed!

More information: DISASTER DECLARED ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA by Larry Smith | | More on American Indian Airwaves (February 1, 2010, 8pm). Listen here

Ojore Lutalo, (Black Liberation activist) was pulled off an Amtrak train in La Junta, Colorado on his way home to New Jersey this past Tuesday. He was arrested and charged with, “Interfering with Public Transportation”. Train passengers alleged that Ojore had made “terroristic, [sic] threats against the train”.

Ojore has denied the charges, saying that he was having a conversation with a friend on the phone at the time. Ojore has been released and is out on $30,000 bail. He is currently staying with friends in Denver. Those who wish to help should contact Denver ABC for information.

Many see the arrest as suspect coming just days after Ojore’s appearance at the Los Angeles anarchist book fair. The arrest also follows an interview with Ojore aired on the local Pacifica station KPFK on Monday. Latest from the Newswire: Ojore Lutalo Update and Support by Mapache LA ABCF | | OJORE LUTALO ARRESTED | | VIDEO: OJORE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS ARREST ON AMTRAK & THE BOGUS CHARGES

HOLLYWOOD - For the second consecutive year, Los Angeles anarchists organized a bookfair, which, in addition to facilitating exchanges between vendors and literature-hungry readers, also provided an array of panel discussions, workshops, and most importantly, quality interactions with fellow activists in the liberation movement.

From the newswire: Anarchist Book Fair – short report & photos by A | | Full report: Actions + Conversations + Intersections 2010: Second Annual Los Ángeles Anarchist Bookfair (part one) and Actions + Conversations + Intersections 2010: Second Annual Los Ángeles Anarchist Bookfair (part two) by Rockero

VIDEO: Videos from the L.A. Anarchist Bookfair by anarcho paparazzi | | AUDIO: Audio from the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair and Audio from the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair (part 2) by Rockero

En Español: Acciones + Conversaciones + Intersecciones 2010: Segunda Anual Feria del Libro Anarquista (primera parte) y Acciones + Conversaciones + Intersecciones 2010: Segunda Anual Feria del Libro Anarquista (segunda parte) por Rockero

RELATED: OJORE LUTALO ARRESTED GOING HOME FROM LA ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR by LA-ABCF

Despite the heavy rain, 24 people took part in an emergency vigil for Haiti at the Downtown Federal Building, Thursday eve, Jan 21. The vigil's purpose was asking people "to donate money to go to grassroots women and their families, and therefore communities, rather than to thieving elites and their corrupt NGOs." One very dedicated participant had been waiting for us since noon when the weekly vigil for Haiti usually takes place.

Signs said “Haiti – Help Not Occupation. Return Aristide,” and asked people to question “Where is the Red Cross?” and to consider supporting earthquake victims through HaitiAction.net. Many signs simply called for humanitarian aid to take precedence over a U.S. Military presence. Others condemned the ongoing occupations in both Haiti and Honduras.

It was reported that other emergency vigils for Haiti were being held around the world including ones also organized by the Global Women’s Strike in London and in Philadelphia protesting that survivors are dying as the US military blocks food, water and medical supplies from getting through, and calling on the US to prioritize getting help to grassroots communities. And Haiti Action Committee has called a vigil in San Francisco on Monday, January 25.

Full story and photos: Emergency Vigil in Support of Haiti by Ross Plesset

LOS ANGELES, Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - Despite heavy rain, a group of about 30 people attended a demonstration for the freedom of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The last-minute action was organized by anti-racist activists who were reacting to the overturning of a judgment that favored the condemned journalist.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence, finding that the judge in the case had failed to properly instruct members of the jury to consider possible mitigating circumstances during sentencing. However, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision, opening up the possibility that Abu-Jamal, who has always maintained his innocence, could return to death row. Full Report: Free Mumia! Los Angeles Rejects High Court Ruling by Rockero | | En español: ¡Libertad Para Mumia! Los Angeles Rechazó el Juicio de la Corte Suprema por Rockero

RELATED: FREE MUMIA! by Echo Park Community Coalition

This week, workers fired from the Cort guitar plants in Korea came to Southern California to demand their jobs back with a series of actions targeting the NAMM trade show, a global trade show for the musical instrument industry. Cort, known as a midrange guitar brand, is also a contract manufacturer for many well-known guitar brands, like Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, and others, producing budget-priced guitars for the global market. The work was carried out in sweatshop conditions - and when the workers organized a union, the company shut down their Korea factories, offshoring manufacturing work to Indonesian and Chinese factories owned by Cort.

In Los Angeles, they gained the support of world famous guitarist Tom Morello, as well as rapper/activist Boots Riley, MC5's Wayne Kramer, SOAD's Serj Tankian, local Asian American artists Skim, Shin Kawasaki, David Tran, and other artists. The workers also got labor solidarity from United Steelworkers 675, the Korean Metalworkers Union, individuals from LA and OC unions. They also achived meetings with representatives from Gibson and Fender guitar companies.

Cort Guitar Workers Action - main activist site.
Video: The ugly truth behind Cort
KPCC: Tom Morello Plays Concert for Korean Guitar Workers
Paper Planes
Guerilla Radio
Cort Guitar Worker Support Event at Nanum Cultural Center K-Town

The first hearing of the Mehserle murder trial in Southern California took place on Friday January 8, 2010. The 7am gathering and press conference in front of the L.A. Superior Court Building was in many ways a meet-and-greet between the newly formed LA Coalition For Justice for Oscar Grant and representatives from Oakland.

The Oakland coalition originally formed itself out of a spontaneous rebellion when Mehserle, a BART police officer, shot Oscar Grant in the back execution style last New Year’s day. The coalition and the Oakland community insured, through a relentless effort, that the cop would be tried for murder and not a lesser charge.

When the trial was moved to Los Angeles after the Mehserle defense argued that he couldn’t obtain a fair trail in Alameda County, the Los Angeles community banded together in a show of strength to show solidarity with the Oakland coalition and the family of Oscar Grant in order to guarantee a conviction of the police officer. From the Newswire: 1ST HEARING FOR OSCAR GRANT/MEHSERLE MURDER TRIAL by Anna Kunkin | | LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant Press Conference, 1/8/09: photos and full audio by dave id

Update from the LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant: Report from inside (and outside) court room - The People vs. Johannes Mehserle