On July 20, 2010 members of Women of Color in the Global Women's Strike, GWS/LA and the weekly vigil for Haiti visited the Bolivian Consulate in L.A. Their concern: Bolivia's ongoing participation in the U.N. force that's been occupying Haiti since the 2004 coup which removed the democratically-elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The recent earthquake has been used as an excuse to further militarize most aspects of Haitian society, say sources on the ground there.

[. . .] Bolivia's participation in the occupation has been contrary to the efforts of President Evo Morales to oppose war and exploitation. Bolivia's own constitution is against war (and thus occupation). The delegation asked why Bolivia, which is fighting for self-determination at home, would want to associate itself with the occupation of a country whose president was removed with the backing of the same foreign power which has been trying to topple President Morales of Bolivia and President Chavez of Venezuela?

Full story: An Appeal to Bolivia: Withdraw from the U.N. Occupying Force in Haiti by Ross Plesset

From Arizona Indymedia - On July 28th at about 10:00 a.m. Federal judge Susan Bolton issued a preliminary injunction against four provisions included in Arizona's anti-immigrant law, SB1070. These provisions include the mandate that law enforcement officers solicit the immigration status of anyone they encounter; the portion that makes failure to carry immigration documents a state crime; the portion that makes it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to perform work in Arizona; and the portion allowing for warrantless arrest of anybody who is suspected of having committed a "deportable offense". Judge Bolton's injunction is only temporary, which means that each of these provisions can still go into effect if the judge decides, after fully hearing the case, that they are acceptable.

Locally demonstrations in solidarity with those in Arizona impacted by the new law were held. One civil disobedience in the mid Wilshire area resulted in 10 arrests. Reports from the Newswire 75-100 Rally Against SB1070 in Pomona by Cameron H. | | Lockdown at Highland and Wilshire

Are you going to Arizona? Are you staying in L.A.?

Dozens of actions are happening this week to protest the implementation of AZ SB1070, the state law that, according to opponents, will violate civil rights and is unconstitutional. The law is presently being challenged by the Federal government, but whether an injunction against the law is passed or not, thousands of people from across the country will converge on Phoenix, AZ, to join in the massive protests already taking place at the state capital.

LA events: Demo at Macarthur Park.

See: Alto Arizona, Southern California Immigration Coalition, The Sound Strike, Interfaith Worker Justice National Weekend of Prayer & Action for Immigrant Justice, Resistance to SB 1070: No Borders, No Papers, No State, El Gran Paro.

The Immigration Coalition may still have seats available on their bus. If you're in a labor union, there's a bus caravan, but it's full LA County Fed. of Labor.

On the 29th, read news and post information to Arizona Indymedia, and promote it on the various social networking sites and in comments.

Hashtags in use are #arizona #sb1070 #1070 #july29 #altoarizona #fucksb1070

Social media pages: Against SB 1070, Repealing 1070, Shame on Arizona, 1 Million Strong, Todos Somos Arizona. SB1070 on Photobucket, SB1070 at Google Video, SB1070 at Flickr, SB 1070 at Wordpress.

Local immigrant rights organizations: CHIRLA, IDEPSCA, MIWON, PWC, Thai CDC, NILC, KIWA, CARECEN, NISN.

Miscellaneous blogs and news sites: ColorLines, Phoenix New Times Blog, Blog for Arizona, AZ Central.

Across America, daily incidents of police brutality and state terrorism occur. One of many the cold-blooded killings occurred January 1, 2009 with the murder of Oscar Grant - unarmed, offering no resistance, thrust face-down on the ground, shot in the back, and killed. The event captured on video by at least four individual cameras.

His killer: Bay Area transit officer, Johannes Mehserle was tried for the killing. The jury was told to consider four possible verdicts: innocent, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter, jurors decided the latter.

Grant's family will appeal the verdict and is suing the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for $25 million, his mother Wanda Johnson saying "My son was murdered (and) the law has not held the officer accountable." It rarely does for Black, Latino, or other minorities, no matter the injustice. Civil rights lawyer, John Burris, representing Grant's family in the civil suit, said: "The system is rarely fair when a police officer shoots an African-American male." Full article: Police Brutality in America by Stephen Lendman

Also from the Newswire:Statement on Johannes Mehserle Verdict by LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant | | by LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant | | PHOTOS: Oscar Grant Verdict Reaction Photos by Robert Stuart Lowden | | Los Angeles Solidarity with Oakland: Justice for Oscar Grant After Verdict Rally by LA-IMC | | VIDEO: Rally in support of Oscar Grant day of verdict. by GamepitDee

Related state repression incident: Black Riders Liberation Party Being Raided

COSTA MESA, Monday June 14, 2010 – Recently, the Costa Mesa city council passed an ordinance declaring the city a "Rule of Law" city, a label they use to indicate their status as a city that is hostile to undocumented immigrants, unlike the "Sanctuary Cities" where the paperless can find refuge.

The Costa Mesa community has been battling its city council and its anti-immigrant mayor, Alan Mansoor, for years. Last week, Monday, immigrant rights activists engaged in civil disobedience to shut down a busy intersection for several hours in Costa Mesa. Activists set up a table in the middle of the intersection and chained themselves together around the table. A total of 12 immigrant rights activists were arrested as a result of this action. From the Newswire: The People Against The "Rule of Law" Of Costa Mesa City! Lady Madonna | | VIDEO: Costa Mesa action against the "Rule of Law" by NouvelleMaude

LOS ANGELES, June 14,2010 - Hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Los Angeles Superior Court at 210 W. Temple to demand justice for Oscar Grant on Monday. Angelenos made it very clear that the significance of the trial of Johannes Mehserle is bigger than just Oscar Grant's case, and that police brutality is part of systematic oppression. Connections were drawn between police killings in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, as well as in New York.

From the Newswire: Hundreds Demand Justice for Oscar Grant Outside L.A. Courthouse by ~Bradley | | Justice for Oscar Grant Courthouse Protest by Anna Kunkin | | Mass Rally for Justice for Oscar Grant on June 14th! by LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant

See: IndyBay for back story and more detailed information

SAN DIMAS, California - Jueves, 10 de junio, 2010 - Unas treinta personas, entre ellas electores, activistas por los derechos de los inmigrantes, estudiantes, y miembros de la comunidad, entraron a la oficina del congresista David Dreier para pedir una reunión con él y para preguntarle sobre su postura hacia la reforma migratoria. Cuando su personal no rehusó a recibir la petición, los activistas declararon que no iban a partir hasta que se les concedieran sus demandas. Mantuvieron su presencia en el despacho por alrededor de una hora, y se retiraron después de negociar con oficiales del departamento del alguacil de Los Ángeles. Sit-in at Rep. Dreier's office Protesta en la oficina del congresista Dreier by Rockero

The American Indian Movement (AIM) is planning a demonstration outside the MTV Music Awards in L.A. on June 6. People of all races are being encouraged to attend, and participants are being asked to wear red shirts. A second action may occur simultaneously on the east coast. (Additional information can be found here: http://www.aimsb.org.)

Recently, MTV ran an episode of its "reality" show The Dudesons. In it, four buffoonish Finnish men visit Buffalo Hills, California in the hopes of becoming “honorary Native Americans.” Their “rites of passage” include riding a canoe down a normally waterless hill, a "rite" called "Balls of Steel," and another that involves “Indians” breaking other “Indians” out of jail.

According to AIM, MTV has not apologized for the content on the show nor have they ceased broadcasting it.

More about the show: MTV's The Dudesons Offends Many American Indians by RP

Also: Corine Fairbanks of AIM on possible MTV boycott (American Indian Airwaves, 2nd segment)

Sunday, May 16, 2010
CLAREMONT, California - The arrival of Homeland Security Secretary (and former Governor of Arizona) Janet Napolitano to this community at the far east end of Los Angeles county propelled a march and rally of about 300 people in denunciation of the policies of immigration agencies, which fall under her purview.
Report with photos and video: Napolitano in Claremont by Rockero

Domingo, 16 de mayo 2010
CLAREMONT, California - La llegada de la Secretaria de Seguridad Interna y ex-gobernadora de Arizona, Janet Napolitano, a esta comunidad del extremo oriente del condado de Los Ángeles provocó una marcha y manifestación de alrededor de 300 personas en denuncia a las políticas de las agencias migratorias, las cuales conforman departamentos del ministerio que encabeza.
Informe con fotos y video: Napolitano en Claremont por Rockero

VIDEO: Napolitano Protest-Claremont, Ca May 16, 2010 by WSSACSULB

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, May 6, 2010, 10:30 am - About 100 people protested in front of the Downtown Los Angeles ICE building Thursday. Fourteen immigrant rights activists chained themselves together in the street blocking the entrance and exit of ICE buses. The protest was held as a civil disobedience action against deportations and the new Arizona law, SB 1070.

Reports From the Newswire: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE:14 Chained together BLOCKING ICE ENTRANCE IN LOS ANGELES by phuk minutmen | | Breaking: Cell phone photos of lockdown in street | 10:30 am - BREAKING: 100's take street at downtown detention center

2:45 pm UPDATE: Police still cutting people out of lock boxes. Caller from the scene reports arrests sill being made. 100s witnessing from sidewalk as in support of the activists. Arrestees believed being taken to Parker Center. Action has been able to block ICE buses for close to five hours now.

- 2:00 pm: Police have started making arrests of those in the street.
- 1:35 pm: BREAKING NEWS: police bring force against protestors
- 12:00 Noon Protesters still holding the street. Alameda Blvd sill closed off. Police appear to be getting ready to give dispersal order and start cutting people in lock down out of metal tubes. Police horse units reported in the area. Situation peaceful at this time.

VIDEO: Civil disobedience at immigration detention facility downtown Los Angeles by Musicamante