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Wed Nov 11 2015 (Updated 11/14/15)
Santa Cruz District Attorney Attempting to Criminalize and Chill First Amendment Activity
On March 3, six UCSC students blocked California Highway 1 using lockboxes and garbage cans filled with concrete. Independent journalist Alex Darocy, long-time Indybay contributor and editorial collective member, shot several photographs of the student demonstrators from his car as he passed the blockade, and for that he is currently being prosecuted, facing the possibility of jail time. A Motion to Dismiss, which argued that the prosecution is attempting to criminalize and chill conduct that is protected under the First Amendment, was heard on November 13. Judge Paul Burdick denied the motion and set a trial date for February 22, 2016.
A U.S. District Court has struck down Idaho’s “ag-gag” law as an unconstitutional attempt by the agriculture industry to silence journalists, animal advocates, and whistleblowers who expose cruel farming practices. The ruling — the first of its kind — spells trouble for the agriculture industry’s attempts in other states to outlaw photography and video recordings of animal welfare, workers’ rights, and environmental violations. The lawsuit was brought by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and PETA, with support from a wide-range of organizations.
Read more on Indybay's Animal Liberation page
Wed Mar 25 2015 (Updated 03/26/15)
Fire Ravages Long-Time Anarchist and Artist Warehouses on 23rd and 24th Streets in Oakland
Before dawn on March 21, a fire erupted in a warehouse on 24th Street in Oakland. Two resident artists died. The fire quickly spread to the adjoining warehouse on 23rd Street commonly known as the AK Press warehouse. On the AK side, three residential units sustained severe damage, at least one being totally destroyed, with a beloved cat succumbing to the smoke and heat. Other units have borne varying degrees of damage. Businesses on the first floor are struggling with major water damage. Even worse, with both warehouses now red-tagged by the city, residents and businesses are not allowed inside either building, leaving dozens homeless. A new relief fund has been created that will be evenly split three ways between AK Press, 1984 Printing, and affected neighbors.
Read more on Indybay's Arts + Action page
Sat Mar 7 2015 (Updated 03/08/15)
Station 40 Collective Faces Eviction as Mission Gentrification & Displacement Continues
hanna quevedo writes: We received eviction papers from our landlords, Ahuva, Emanuel, and Barak Jolish. Their legal documents aim to displace us from our affordable, eleven-year-old home, Station 40. It is no coincidence that Station 40 is being evicted on the same intersection as the proposed development by Maximus Real Estate Partners of a 350-unit luxury apartment building in what is a predominantly working-class neighborhood.
On December, 15, Spain passed the "ley de mordaza", a gag law that makes it a crime to insult a cop, film a cop, or assemble in large groups. On December 16, seven anarchists were arrested on charges relating to terrorism. On December 22, a group of anarchists stormed the Spanish consulate in San Francisco. After throwing leaflets into the consulate, tipping over the Spanish flag, and yelling curses, the group left without incident.
Read more on Indybay's International page
Sun Nov 30 2014 (Updated 12/01/14)
First Independent Media Center Kicked Off on N30 at Seattle WTO Protests in 1999
The Indymedia (Independent Media Center) project started in late November of 1999, to allow participants in the anti-globalization movement to report on the protests against the WTO meeting that took place in Seattle, Washington, and to act as an alternative media source. The San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, commonly known as Indybay, started in 2000. By 2002, there were 89 local IMCs around the world spread between 31 countries (plus the West Bank) and 6 continents. By January 2006, the Indymedia network had grown to over 150 Indymedia outlets around the world.
Read more on Indybay's International page
Tue Nov 18 2014 (Updated 11/19/14)
Indybay Journalist Assaulted by Leon Panetta's Security; Protesters Banned from Bookstore
On November 10, peace activists in Santa Cruz protested a book signing appearance by Leon Panetta, the one-time Secretary of Defense and CIA Director. Bookshop Santa Cruz hosted the event with a crowd of hundreds in attendance. By the end of the evening, five individuals were "banned for life" from Bookshop Santa Cruz, in retaliation for activities related to the evening's peaceful protest. Additionally, Panetta's security assaulted an Indybay journalist who was documenting the event.
Fri Nov 7 2014 (Updated 11/12/14)
US District Judge Rules Choyce Copyright Claim Against Indybay Was "Objectively Baseless"
On November 3, United States District Judge Jon S. Tigar awarded legal fees of over $87,000 to the open-publishing news website Indybay and internet service provider Layer42 after dismissing an "objectively baseless" lawsuit filed by Bay Area attorney Dionne Choyce. Indybay is represented pro bono by Roger R. Myers, Leila C. Knox and Jessica Mar of Bryan Cave LLP, who will be redistributing any and all fee payment made by Dionne Choyce to 501(c)(3) organizations.
Fri Sep 19 2014 (Updated 10/02/14)
“Be on the Look Out” Flyer Depicting Dave Id was Distributed to BART Police Officers
On September 22, former BART Police Deputy Chief Dan Hartwig will be called to account in federal court for his role in targeting and arresting independent journalist David Morse during a “No Justice No BART” protest at the Powell Street BART station three years ago. Morse was the only credentialed journalist who was handcuffed, arrested, and held in police custody for several hours, while other reporters with and without credentials were all released without citation from a police encirclement.
UPDATE: Verdict in BART PD Trial, September 29: The jury in US District Court found that — despite BART Deputy Chief Fairow ordering a flier be created identifying Dave Id as a subject for police focus during the 9/8/11 Powell Street station protest, despite BART police discussing arresting Dave Id at a planning meeting prior to the protest (even though all officers who testified said Dave Id had never committed a crime at a previous protest), and despite Deputy Chief Hartwig choosing Dave Id to be very first person arrested when all other journalists were released from a police kettle — Deputy Chief Hartwig did not retaliate against Dave Id for his hundreds of critical reports on BART police. Dave Id and Indybay strongly disagree.
Fri Aug 29 2014 (Updated 09/02/14)
Journalist Brad Kava Attempts to Use Media Hype to Cash-in on Crime with 'Cane-O-Mite'
Former Santa Cruz Patch editor Brad Kava, who is still a journalism teacher at Cabrillo College, is now selling a device he invented that offers senior citizens the ability to secure a pepper spray can to their canes. He has named it: "Cane-O-Mite." It is essentially a holster for pepper spray and, in the Indiegogo campaign and YouTube video produced to market it, Kava preys on the fears of the elderly. He cites an increase in news reporting on crime as a justification in his sales pitch for the product, saying "everyone who follows the news knows how bad it [crime against senior citizens] can get."
Mon Mar 17 2014 (Updated 04/24/14)
Documentary About Lovelle Mixon Challenges Mainstream Narrative
The new documentary "The Ghosts Of March 21" focuses on March 21, 2009, when a shoot-out between Lovelle Mixon and members of the Oakland Police Department resulted in the death of Mixon and four police officers. The documentary examines the encounter’s underlying contradictions and challenges the mainstream narrative of the confrontation. The film opened in Oakland and Berkeley on March 20 and 21, San Francisco on March 22, and Santa Rosa on March 23.
Santa Cruz Sentinel photographer Dan Coyro has called members and supporters of the Santa Cruz Eleven "roaches" and "street vermin" in recent public statements, in addition to making comments disparaging the local needle exchange program, and calling the homeless "bums" while blasting their photo on social media. The Santa Cruz Sentinel is considered by many to be the newspaper of record in Santa Cruz County, which has some questioning the ability of Coyro to function objectively at his position.
The corporate media's narrative on the opposition protests in Venezuela is that the Venezuelan government caused this crisis, because it is a dictatorship that has ruined the economy in a failed attempt to impose Cuban style socialism. In San Francisco, activists gathered for a rally at the 24th and Mission BART Plaza on February 17, to protest the one-sided media coverage. Another event on March 6 featured a reportback from Venezuela and commemorated the one-year anniversary of the death of President Hugo Chavez.
Tue Feb 18 2014 (Updated 02/19/14)
Indybay Reporter Targeted by BART PD Prior to & Arrested at Powell Street Station Protest
On February 11, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ruled that Indybay reporter David Morse should take his civil rights lawsuit against BART police to trial. Morse was arrested while covering a "No Justice No BART" protest on September 8, 2011. Prior to the demonstration, BART police commanders commissioned an intelligence officer to profile Morse, publish his photograph, and prepare officers to make his arrest. The Magistrate has now ruled that Morse has sufficient evidence to pursue his First Amendment claim against BART for arresting him in retaliation for his extensive and critical reporting on BART's police department.
Tue Oct 8 2013 (Updated 10/09/13)
Benefit Screening in Oakland of "The Battle for Oscar Grant Plaza" & "Manufacturing Guilt"
The National Lawyers Guild and Prison Radio will present two films on repression and resistance on Saturday, October 19 at the The New Parkway Theater in Oakland. The Battle for Oscar Grant Plaza is a short documentary about how the City of Oakland and its police tried to shut down the budding "Occupy Wall Street" movement, turning downtown Oakland into a teargas-filled war zone and injuring numerous people. Manufacturing Guilt takes on Abu-Jamal's contentious case, distilling a mountain of evidence and years of oft-repeated falsehoods which illustrate a clear and conscious effort to frame Mumia Abu-Jamal for murder.
Sat Jul 6 2013 (Updated 07/08/13)
NLG Obtains $1.17M and OPD Reforms for Injured Occupy Oakland Protesters and Journalists
Twelve people injured by the Oakland police department during Occupy Oakland demonstrations have settled a federal civil rights lawsuit with the city of Oakland for a total of $1.17 million. The injuries came as a result of OPD's violent response to Occupy Oakland on October 25 and November 2, 2011. Injured plaintiffs include long-time Indybay journalist David Morse. OPD has agreed to allow the federal court to enforce its compliance with its own crowd control policy, which prohibits police from shooting "less lethal" impact munitions or tossing explosive teargas grenades into crowds, and prohibits mass arrests without warning or opportunity to disperse.
Thu May 23 2013 (Updated 05/25/13)
Video Shows Clean Team Member Threatening and Prodding Camper with Trash Grabber
On May 12, writer Jeremy Leonard re-posted a video to YouTube of a member of the Clean Team threatening and harassing a homeless camper in Santa Cruz as he and others did one of their regular "clean-ups." The video and a long interview Leonard did with former Clean Team founder T.J. Magallanes was only up very briefly on the internet before it was taken down, as reportedly there were numerous threats made against Leonard.
From the Calendar:
7:30PM Saturday Mar 12
Writers With Drinks with Joyce Maynard and Helene...
7:30PM Monday Mar 14
Amy Goodman Celebrates 20 Years of Democracy Now!
2PM Saturday Mar 26
KPFA Community Input Meeting
7:30PM Wednesday Mar 30
An Evening with Leonard Pitt: "Brain on Fire"
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Is Palestinian children's art "appropriate" for KPFA and its Local Station Board?
More Local News...
Wednesday Oct 28th 5:38 PM
Call for Action Save Palestinian Journalist Mohammed Al Qeeq & IFJ Support For Al Queeg
Friday Feb 26th 5:49 PM
Warning from the Birding Community to the Terrorists in Oregon: We're Watching You
Wednesday Jan 6th 4:33 PM
Never Silenced, Herman Wallace's Spirit is Smiling --An Interview with Angad Singh Bhalla
Monday Dec 14th 11:43 AM
IGF Brazil 2015 APC-LaborNet Interviews And Action On Democracy, Privacy & Internet Rights
More Global News...
Monday Nov 30th 12:34 PM
Mike Raccoon Eyes Kinney: Native Candidate Write-In Candidate For US President 2016
Saturday Nov 21st 11:44 AM
Former Pacifica ED and Leader of "Save KPFA" Targets Flashpoints Host Dennis Bernstein
Wednesday Nov 11th 2:50 AM
Why T-Mobile, and other companies, have to charge you so much to use your data.
Monday Sep 21st 7:10 PM
KPFA Host/PNB treasurer Brian Edwads-Tiekert Grabbing More Air Time On KPFA/KPFK As Pacifi
Open Newswire...
Sunday Sep 13th 7:18 PM |