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Fri Jul 8 2011 (Updated 07/13/11)
Pelican Bay Hunger Strike Solidarity Actions Continue in Oakland and San Francsico
UPDATE 7/12: Hunger Striker’s Health Rapidly Deteriorates |
![]() Thousands of California prisoners have come together in solidarity with the prisoners at Pelican Bay SHU. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s own figures acknowledge 6,600 prisoners participated in the hunger strike across 13 prisons in California this past weekend. The first solidarity actions were held on July 1st on both sides of the SF Bay. Further solidarity actions were held in Oakland on July 8th and San Francisco on July 9th. ![]()
Thu Jul 7 2011 (Updated 07/09/11)
Activists Openly State Their Plans to Travel to West Bank & Help Palestinians
A "Welcome to Palestine" campaign scheduled for July 8th through July 16th has begun at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. It is intended to draw attention to the Israeli blockade on the West Bank. As part of the campaign, hundreds plan to arrive in Tel Aviv and openly declare their intentions to travel to the West Bank to support peaceful Palestinian efforts for human rights. Already, dozens of activists and journalists have been denied entry to Israel after having been blacklisted or have been deported once they truthfully state their intentions.
Thu Jul 7 2011 (Updated 07/08/11)
Police Violence Doesn’t Stop Homes Not Jails Takeover in San Francisco
Homes Not Jails took over the former Hotel Sierra at 20th and Mission streets in San Francisco on July 4th. The Hotel Sierra has been vacant for nearly 20 years. Almost 50 rooms have been empty on the building’s second floor. The action began in the afternoon with a rally in Dolores Park, then a march right into the Hotel Sierra, which had its doors wide open. There was music, food, sunbathing on the roof, and dancing in the streets. Police reportedly assaulted and hauled away one man without provocation.
Thu Jul 7 2011 (Updated 07/09/11)
U.S./Israeli Efforts to Enforce Blockade Draws Out Media Exposure for Message to Free Gaza
The 2011 Stay Human Freedom Flotilla has faced repeated threats and admonishments from the U.S. and Israeli governments, the pullout of the Turkish contingent, meddling from Zionist law firms, sabotage to the propellers of the Greek and Irish boats by underwater divers, and an order from the Greek government banning the flotilla from embarking on the journey to Gaza from Greece. At this point, it remains uncertain how many boats will be able to set sail for Gaza.
Sun Jun 26 2011 (Updated 07/08/11)
Prisoner Hunger Strike Begins at Pelican Bay in Crescent City
Prisoners in the Security Housing Unit (SHU) at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California announced that they are beginning an indefinite hunger strike on July 1st to protest the conditions of their imprisonment, which they say are cruel and inhumane. An online petition has been started by supporters of the strikers. Key demands include the elimination of group punishments, modification of active/inactive gang status criteria, and the provision of adequate food.
Tue Jun 28 2011 (Updated 07/08/11)
Defend First Amendment Rights and Support Food Not Bombs Co-Founder Keith McHenry
The City of Orlando, Florida is being sued in court over a city law that has effectively made it illegal for any group to feed more than 25 people at a time in downtown parks without a permit. Over the past month, more than 20 members of Food Not Bombs, including Keith McHenry who helped found the organization, have been arrested for providing free meals to the poor and homeless. Acting in defense of First Amendment rights, in solidarity with Keith McHenry, and to end the criminalization of poverty, Food Not Bombs-Santa Cruz organized a free meal and overnight vigil on June 30th outside Santa Cruz City Hall.
Sun Jun 26 2011 (Updated 06/28/11)
Rally Protests Proposed Bill that would Eliminate Collective Bargaining in San José
Three San José Council Members and Mayor Chuck Reed are pushing for a bill that would strip city workers of benefits and take away their collective bargaining rights. Activists say the proposed bill is similar to the attacks on workers' rights that were recently rammed through Wisconsin’s legislature by an anti-labor governor. On June 23rd, they called for an end to the city's union-busting tactics in a loud rally in front of City Hall.
Sun Jun 26 2011 (Updated 06/28/11)
Modesto Picket of Exit Realty Gets Keys Returned to Locked Out Renter
Modesto Solidarity Network has launched a campaign to defend renters who are victims of unscrupulous landlords. The Network's first action was against EXIT Realty, a company with offices in Modesto and elsewhere in Northern California. The dispute was centered around the illegal lockout of a renter from her apartment. In California, an illegal lockout refers to the practice of landlords changing locks and harassing tenants until they leave their homes even though they have not legally been given 30 days notice. Since this is a frequent practice in Modesto, this first Network action may be a harbinger of more to come.
Read more on Indybay's Health, Housing, and Public Services or Global Justice and Anti-Capitalism pages
Mon Jun 20 2011 (Updated 06/29/11)
March for Alleged WikiLeaker, Gay Hero Bradley Manning
A Bradley Manning Pride Contingent joined the SF Pride parade on Sunday, June 26th. Dedicated to equal human rights, Army Private Bradley Manning stood openly against Don't Ask Don't Tell, and now is imprisoned as the alleged WikiLeaks whistle-blower. Bradley faces life in prison, and even the death penalty, for sharing the "Collateral Murder" video and files pertaining to the Iraq War, Afghanistan War, and Guantánamo.
Thu Jun 23 2011 (Updated 06/28/11)
PG&E Threatens Installation in Santa Cruz County, as Showdown with Local Governments Looms
Joshua Hart, Director of Stop Smart Meters! was arrested on June 21st after blocking the entrance to the Capitola PG&E payment center in protest of PG&E’s illegal “smart” meter installations in the County. The County of Santa Cruz, as well as the Cities of Capitola and Watsonville, have adopted urgency ordinances prohibiting the installation of wireless “smart” meters within their jurisdictions. Forty-three local governments throughout the state have formally demanded a halt to the program because of concerns about health, privacy, accuracy, and fire safety.
Bay of Rage writes Last Friday [June 17th], we marched on downtown banks behind a bloc of book shields in an anti-capitalist defense of the Oakland libraries. Tensions were high throughout the afternoon and the action quickly escalated into a showdown with police that took many off guard. We started assembling at Broadway and Telegraph in downtown Oakland at 3pm last Friday. There were about 60 of us. It was immediately clear that OPD had been monitoring the Bay of Rage website and was out in full force to crush the march.
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Thu Jun 23 2011 (Updated 06/29/11)
Homeless Activist Gary Johnson and Rights Attorney Ed Frey Jailed for Sleeping Protest
On June 10th, homeless activist Gary Johnson — repeatedly ticketed and arrested in the 3-month long Peace Camp 2010 protest against the Sleeping Ban at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse — was sentenced to six months in jail and taken there in chains for violating California's 'anti-lodging' law (647e). Activist-attorney Ed Frey, who initiated, supported, and was arrested during the protest, was jailed at the same hearing. Judge John Gallagher refused to suspend sentencing pending appeal and denied a motion for a new trial after several jurors complained of juror misconduct.
Tue Jun 21 2011 (Updated 06/23/11)
SF Rally and March Protests 40-Year War on Drugs and Criminalization of the Poor
Hundreds of people turned out at San Francisco City Hall on Friday, June 17th, to participate in the "Communities Rising to End the Drug War and Mass Incarceration" rally and march to protest the 40-year "war on drugs" and continued criminalization of the poor, the addicted, and communities of color. The protest then marched to the state and federal buildings nearby.
Tue Jun 21 2011 (Updated 06/26/11)
Direct Action Resistance for Richardson Grove Brought to Bay Area & Sacramento
After six months of organizing rallies and actions behind the "redwood curtain" protesting CalTrans' plan to expand Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park, Richardson Grove Action Now took the fight to the state capital in Sacramento, where they carried out a flash mob action. The highway expansion plan threatens some of the last 2% remaining ancient redwoods on Earth.
On June 17th, about 75 LGBT activists protested outside the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, which accepted Israeli government sponsorship and financing for the second year in a row. The Brass Liberation Orchestra was on hand to provide a spirited soundtrack. QUIT! launched the campaign to get Frameline to divorce the Israeli Consulate in 2007. In 2008 and 2009, the festival did not accept Israeli sponsorship, after having done so for years. But last year, under pressure from the consulate, the new festival director and executive director renewed their partnership with the Israeli government.
Sun Jun 19 2011 (Updated 06/21/11)
YouTube Deletes Videos of Police Infiltrators in Spain Allegedly for Privacy Reasons
On the morning of June 16th, the front pages of Spanish newspapers carried stories of demonstrators for democracy performing acts of violence. Amateur footage exposed that police infiltration was to blame, but YouTube blacked out some of the videos because they allegedly violated the privacy of the infiltrators. The incident happened just days before an announced nationwide protest against economical austerity measures to be imposed by the government.
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Dozens of Bay Area activists rallied on June 16th in front of the Federal Building in downtown Oakland to “resist government attacks against activists”. On May 17, 2011 the SWAT Team of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and members of the FBI raided the home of Carlos Montes, a long time Chicano activist and active member of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. Courage to Resist activists joined the rally to support Bradley Manning Support Network organizer David House who refused to answer questions from a Grand Jury in Virginia on June 15th.
Sun Jun 19 2011 (Updated 06/25/11)
AHIP -- American Health Insurance Plans -- Lobby Group Unwelcomed at Moscone Center
CODEPINK Activists confronted GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty on his anti-gay and anti-reproductive rights stance at the annual America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) conference in San Francisco on June 16th. Showering the GOP presidential candidate with pink glitter and confetti, they shouted, "Where's your courage to stand up for gay and reproductive rights? Welcome to San Francisco, home of gay hero Harvey Milk!" Outside the Moscone center demonstrators rallied for a single payer healthcare system and satirical Billionaires for Wealthcare aped the wealthy who benefit from the insurance industry's huge profits.
Tue Jun 14 2011 (Updated 06/15/11)
Class Action Lawsuit Asserts Constitutional Violations at Oscar Grant Demonstrations
The National Lawyers Guild filed a class action lawsuit against the Oakland Police Department on June 13th, in the United States District Court. The lawsuit asserts constitutional violations stemming from the November 5, 2010, mass arrest of 150 peaceful protesters following the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle, the BART police officer who killed Oscar Grant. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief as well as monetary damages for those 150 people who were unlawfully corralled by police and incarcerated in overcrowded holding cells for up to 28 hours.
Sun Jun 5 2011 (Updated 06/19/11)
Oakland Protests Greet Release of Killer Cop Johannes Mehserle on June 12th
A community protest was called for the day that Johannes Mehserle was to be released from jail. Mehserle is the former BART police officer convicted of killing Oscar Grant, a young unarmed African American man, on New Years Day 2009. The Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant called for two protests in Oakland the day Mehserle was released: the first at Fruitvale BART at 3:00 pm and then at Broadway & 14th Street at 5:30 pm. Hundreds protested in Oakland on June 12th. Mesherle was released from Los Angeles County Jail just after midnight on June 13th.
Sat Jun 4 2011 (Updated 06/06/11)
Home of Famous Latina Pioneer Juana Briones Is Being Torn Down
After more than a decade of legal battles, a decision by a final court ruled against the group Friends of Juana Briones House. The oldest house in Palo Alto, named for its famous resident who was a latina pioneer, is being dismantled, piece by piece. Juana Briones healed the sick and cared for the poor. An elementary school and park in Palo Alto both bear her name. Her house, parts of which were built in 1844, is being destroyed by the current property owner.
Tue Jun 7 2011 (Updated 06/17/11)
"Bay of Rage" Summer Series of Anti-Austerity Protests Underway in Oakland
Bay of Rage writes:
Thanks to everyone for coming out to Anticut 1 on Friday [June 3rd]. The consensus seems to be that this was a very successful evening, a promising opening act to what we hope will be a long, hot summer. There were probably about 100 of us in the streets — good turnout for something organized with only a couple of weeks of notice, especially after a period of relative quiet. Let's see if we can double this next time [on June 17th].
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Wed Jun 1 2011 (Updated 06/10/11)
Demonstrators Demand Bay Trail Cut Ties with Glen Cove Development
UPDATE 6/7/11: Bay Trail and Association of Bay Area Governments Suspends $200,000 Grant to GVRD!
On May 31st, supporters of the Glen Cove native encampment converged outside the offices of the Bay Trail project in downtown Oakland to demand that Bay Trail divest from desecration of the Sogorea Te sacred burial ground in Vallejo. Over 65 people gathered in front of the Bay Trail offices and vowed to pursue further action if the $200,000 is not immediately pulled from plans to bulldoze the burial grounds and build on top of it.
On May 10th, the Santa Cruz City Council defeated a resolution supporting AB 1081, The Trust Act. The resolution would have supported opting out of the "Secure Communities" (S-Comm) program in Santa Cruz County. On May 25th, over 50 activists entered Coonerty's lecture class at UC Santa Cruz to make his support of "Secure Communities" more publicly known, and point out the contradictions in his "progressive" ideals.
On May 22nd the "Coalition Standing Up for the Right to Sit" held their first "chair-a-pillar" at Berkeley BART. More than 30 people participated in the action, sitting in colorful chairs on the curb and sidewalk along Shattuck Avenue. The City of Berkeley, led by local merchants/property owners, is considering following in the footsteps of San Francisco by introducing an anti-sitting ordinance this summer. A coalition made up of homeless service providers and homeless people is organizing to fight the ordinance.
Sun May 22 2011 (Updated 05/26/11)
Teachers, Students, & Parents Signal they are Tired of Education Cuts, Ready to Fight Back
Several thousand teachers, students, and parents rallied to defend public education in San Francisco on May 13th. Many participants said that they are tired of fighting education cuts every year and are now ready to fight back. The rally was sponsored by the California Teachers Association, the Parent Teachers Association, and student groups, amongst others. Labor unions and community organizations were also represented among the diverse crowd.
May 15th marked 63 years since the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe). In 1948, more than 750,000 Palestinians were permanently displaced, with more than 500 Palestinian villages depopulated and destroyed. In San Francisco, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and across the globe, Palestinians and solidarity activists commemorated the Nakba. In the West Bank and Gaza, thousands took to the streets to demand an end the occupation. Israeli forces responded with live gunfire killing at least 16 protesters and injuring hundreds.
07/19/11 In Protest of BART Police Killing of Charles Hill, Trains Disrupted for Over Two Hours police 07/18/11 Santa Cruz Police Department Adopts Predictive Policing police | santacruz 07/12/11 Richard Snow, Local Activist, Dies poverty | santacruz 07/12/11 Bad Cop Documents Police Abuse of Authority and Highlights the Double Standard police | santacruz 07/08/11 Pelican Bay Hunger Strike Solidarity Actions Continue in Oakland and San Francsico police | globalization | northcoast | california 07/07/11 Activists Openly State Their Plans to Travel to West Bank & Help Palestinians international | palestine 07/07/11 U.S./Israeli Efforts to Enforce Blockade Draws Out Media Exposure for Message to Free Gaza international | palestine 07/07/11 Police Violence Doesn’t Stop Homes Not Jails Takeover in San Francisco poverty 06/29/11 California Laws Make it Illegal for Homeless People to Sleep at Night poverty | santacruz 06/28/11 Defend First Amendment Rights and Support Food Not Bombs Co-Founder Keith McHenry poverty | santacruz 06/26/11 Modesto Picket of Exit Realty Gets Keys Returned to Locked Out Renter poverty | globalization |
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