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The spirit of resistance has captured the imagination of a new generation in France, as youth-led opposition to neoliberal labour “reforms” has spiraled into full-on rejection of the whole capitalist system on the street and squares. The situation took on a new dimension after the general strike and day of action on March 31. There was a call for people not to go home afterwards but to stay on the streets, beginning a wave of overnight “Nuit Debout” occupations that has spread from Paris across France and into the Iberian peninsular, Belgium and Germany.
On April 1, at Creech AFB in Indian Springs, Nevada, morning traffic was diverted by dozens of peace and justice activists attempting to shut down the armed drone attack program through nonviolent civil resistance. Twelve peaceful resisters were arrested at the two main gates of Creech. Another six were arrested at the main East Gate while blocking the entrance with "crime scene" tape, referring to the criminal activity of weaponized drone terrorism conducted at Creech, killing thousands of non-combatants and civilians over the past decade.
Wed Mar 30 2016 (Updated 04/07/16)
Grassroots Effort Under Way for New Oakland Police Commission, Tenant Rights, $20 Min Wage
Community activists working independently on separate ballot measures have come together under the umbrella of the Oakland Justice Coalition. Together, the three measures they propose would radically transform police accountability, renters' protections, and the minimum wage in Oakland. On March 24, Oakland Justice Coalition members made a formal announcement of their intentions in front of Oakland City Hall. The canvassing kickoff will be held on April 2.
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Sun Mar 13 2016 (Updated 03/16/16)
Business as Usual: SCPD Targets Homeless after City Council Re-Affirms Camping Ban
On March 8, the Santa Cruz city council voted 5-2 to oppose an amendment to municipal code 6.36.010, also known as the camping ban. The proposed amendment would have removed references to sleeping and covering up with a blanket from the text of the law, as well as removing references to sleeping in cars. Effectively, these changes would have made it legal for people sleeping outdoors to do so without fear of citation by police.
Terrie Best of San Diego Americans for Safe Access writes: On March 1, the prosecution began its case against John Mazula, who was being charged with manufacturing medical cannabis concentrates. The case came down to whether the process John used to extract cannabis concentrate made use of butane gas or not. Without hesitation each juror at the table one-by-one pronounced John not guilty. Then they discussed why. The jurors blamed the police. They knew the case was poorly put together with no evidence to convict John.
Sat Feb 27 2016 (Updated 03/01/16)
Demonstrators Insist FBI Wrong to Want to Break into Phones
![]() Elsewhere in the US, demonstrators in more than 40 cities across the US rallied in front of Apple stores to protest the Department of Justice demand that Apple help hack an iPhone used by one of the San Bernadino shooters. One of the major rallies held on the February 23 national day of action was in front of FBI headquarters in Washington, DC. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has said it will be filing an amicus brief in support of Apple with the courts. Shahid Buttar of EFF wrote: "The FBI’s demands reflect a familiar pattern of security agencies leveraging the most seemingly compelling situations—usually the aftermath of terror attacks—to create powers that are later used more widely and eventually abused. The government programs monitoring the telephone system and Internet, for example, were created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Those programs came to undermine the rights of billions of people, doing more damage to our security than the tragic events that prompted their creation." ![]() ![]() The California Police Bill of Rights as it is known today could be on its way out if California SB1286 becomes law, shining increased light on police misconduct in the state. Police "unions" and lobbyists like the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) are expected to fight to maintain the secrecy that currently shields their bad behavior — and legislators historically tend to kowtow to their wishes. The public, however, clearly wants greater access to police records. Polling data shows that nearly 80 percent of Californians believe the public should have access to the findings of police misconduct. ![]()
Fri Feb 19 2016 (Updated 03/11/16)
Rate of Camping Citations Remains Constant Since Homeless Sweeps Began in 2012
This month the downtown post office in Santa Cruz was cleared by police of what had been a large and regular presence of sleepers at night. The post office had been used as shelter for 6-12 people a night for some time. A homeless man who was sleeping outside of Bookshop Santa Cruz and cited with two other sleepers for trespassing this month said he thought the police were ticketing at increased rate recently to get homeless people to move along before the next rains arrived.
![]() The SCPD blog entry about the BearCat has intentionally toned down their description of the military style vehicle that has attack features: "The truck, based on a shortened Ford F-550 chassis, has a smooth ride despite its size. It can go as fast as most standard cars. About a dozen officers can fit inside." They describe it as a "rescue" vehicle, and the word rescue is printed in large letters on the BearCat itself. In March of 2015, the organization Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization (SCRAM!) released the following statement shortly before the city council meeting where the BearCat would be re-approved for purchase: "SCRAM! has been organizing grassroots action to compel the City Council to rescind approval for the BEARCAT purchase and to develop policies that prevent military equipment from flowing into law enforcement." ![]() Previous Coverage: Rallies Opposing Police Militarization Become Fixture at Santa Cruz City Council Meetings | Activists Say Santa Cruz Police Lied to Secure $250,000 Armored Vehicle Purchase | Santa Cruz Residents Continue to Call for Police to "Give Back the BearCat" | Protesters Shut Down City Council Meeting after Purchase of Armored Vehicle Approved
Freedom Sleepers writes: Beginning last July 4th, advocates for people experiencing homelessness have been working to directly address the criminalization of homelessness and for the repeal of the city’s camping/sleeping ban. Activists have been consistent in their position that ordinances prohibiting and criminalizing lying, sitting, and sleeping in public are unconstitutional and such laws pose a grave danger of being selectively enforced against an entire class of people. In August, this position found unexpected support from the Obama Administration.
Sun Feb 7 2016 (Updated 02/09/16)
Protests at "Super Bowl City" Against Inequality, Anti-Homeless Policies & Police Killings
![]() In an interview for The Nation magazine, Davey D explained the rationale behind the large protests that have targeted the Super Bowl. He said, "There’s a lot of anger and a lot of concern over two main things. First, the Super Bowl is coming at a time when massive amounts of people have been displaced. So, it’s added insult to injury to see this pageantry, all this money being spent, record amounts of police, elected officials falling all over themselves, while you have folks who gave this region its soul and its heart who can’t afford to live here anymore... The second thing that’s going on are all the police killings that have been taking place." Amongst the protests were one on January 30, when hundreds of Justice for Mario Woods protesters gathered in Union Square and marched to Super Bowl City. On February 3, hundreds of women and children, former and current homeless residents of San Francisco, and advocates for the homeless held a protest along the Embarcadero in front of a Super Bowl City entrance. On February 6, hundreds of activists marched through downtown to the site to protest unrelenting economic displacements. SFPD repressed all of these protests with at least one hundred cops each time. Read More with Photos, Video, and Audio: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() See also: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Previous Related Indybay Feature: Protesters Disrupt SF Mayor Ed Lee's Inauguration Over Police Killings ![]()
5:30PM Saturday Apr 9
Toward Justice: The Black/Palestine Solidarity Tour
6:30PM Wednesday May 4
Oakland Privacy Working Group Meeting: Fighting Against...
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