By Housing Works

In the very first, dark minutes of World AIDS Day, we began reciting the long list of New Yorkers who have died because of the failure to adequately address the AIDS crisis. In the 25 horrible years of the AIDS pandemic, heroes have successfully spoken out, sought answers and demanded solutions. Despite this, more than 80,000 New Yorkers have died.... Read more>>

Hundreds of community members in Jamaica, Queens mourned and protested this weekend on behalf of Sean Bell, a 23-year-old black man killed by police last month. Bell was killed on November 25 when when five undercover police officers fired 50 shots at a car carrying him and two friends. Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield survived the shooting but remain hospitalized. None of the victims were armed. The killing, which occurred on the very day Bell was to be married to his high school sweetheart, has provoked a barrage of criticism and community outrage. Photos by Stanley W. Rogouski: December 1: Funeral at the Community Church of Christ, December 2: New Black Panther Party Protest | Democracy Now Coverage: 1, 2

About 350 workers and activists marched in crisp but clear weather in Cleveland on Saturday, December 2 to show their opposition to the "Made in USA" war of aggression against Iraq. The march was a part of the US Labor Against the War national conference. Read Reportback >>

Pictures || Video: 1 | 2 | 3 || Conference Details

Related:
Nov 23: More than 200 dead in Baghdad’s deadliest day of bombings
What Price is the Bob Dylan in Each of Us?
Malachi Ritscher: A Martyr For Peace

Patrice Lumumba Ford's 18-year sentence will be reviewed by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on December 4 in Portland, Oregon. Ford received national media attention as part of The Portland Six, who were accused of being a "terrorist cell" in 2002. Ford's new lawyer, Shaun McCrea of Eugene, will argue that the sentencing guidelines for "treason" were erroneously applied in her client's case.

Ford made a trip to China in October 2001 in the company of five other Portland men--mostly African-American converts to Islam. In China, he was denied entry to Pakistan, where he hoped to help at the Afghani refugee camps. After a month abroad, he returned to his home in Portland. One year later, federal agents nabbed Ford and the others who had traveled with him to China. Attorney General John Ashcroft called the group a "terrorist cell." It was never proven that Ford or the others had any connection to Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or any other terrorist organization. The case was expected to be a challenge to the Department of Justice's expanded spying powers under the Patriot Act but, like other "terrorist" cases around the country, it never came to trial.

On Dec. 4 2006, the Supreme Court heard two cases from Seattle and Kentucky challenging the standing of Brown v. The Board of Education. About 1000 students from across the nation came to protest the Courts hearing of the case. Video || Audio

From the Newswire:At the crack of dawn on the coldest morning yet of the year, Howard University students set out for the US Supreme Court. At the Court, the protest swelled to many hundreds while inside Bush's new Supreme Court heard its first affirmative action case. Read More>>

World-renowned black death-row prisoner and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing white Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in a 1982 trial that Amnesty International has deemed unfair (see report). His court case has now hit the fast track with oral arguments beginning any month. Supported by the NAACP, NLG, UK Lawyers, and The German Parliament, Philly Journalists Linn Washington and Dave Lindorff have optimistically written of Abu-Jamal's chances for a new trial. In April, longtime French support (2005 photos) continued when the Paris suburb of St. Denis named a major street after Mumia (see video) and was quickly condemned with government resolutions in the US (pdf booklet), while local media continued a long history of bias. In November, Philadelphia Republicans (radio interview) filed criminal charges against St. Denis and Paris for allegedly "glorifying" a "cop-killer". Abu-Jamal's support network is organizing a mass demonstration at Philadelphia City Hall on December 9 -- the 25th anniversary of Abu-Jamal's arrest. Also, German author Michael Schiffmann just released a new book on Abu-Jamal.

RELATED LINKS: Philly IMC journalist's series on Mumia | Trial Transcripts (on anti-Mumia site) | Mumia on Oaxaca

Indybay: Worldwide Events to Observe 25th Anniversary of Mumia Abu-Jamal's Arrest

December 7th is the one year anniversary of the FBI’s first arrests in “Operation Backfire,” a multi-state sweep targeting radical environmental activists with charges of conspiracy and arson, threatening them with life in prison. This rise in systematic criminalization of dissent has been dubbed the Green Scare because of its use of tactics reminiscent of the Red Scares of the early twentieth century -- including grand juries, specialized legislation, and paid agents provocateurs. Today, people all over the world will be organizing and participating in educational events and protests to raise awareness about the Green Scare and show solidarity with those targeted by it. [Portland, OR | San Francisco & Fresno, CA | Santa Cruz, CA | New York City]

Worcester Reportback: Congressman McGovern Commits to Work to Repeal AETA
On November 29th protesters in Worcester, Mass scored a major victory in the fight to defend civil liberties against Green Scare tactics. Dozens rallied outside of Representative James McGovern’s in protest of The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) -- a law passed on November 27th that exposes animal rights activists to massive fines and jail time for being involved in nonviolent civil disobedience. After about an hour and a half outside, the group went into the office and presented McGovern's staff with a letter, petition, and proposed repeal bill. They were then able to speak to the Congressman via speakerphone. He subsequently released a statement agreeing to further dialogue with the activists regarding the AETA at a meeting in January and hopes to address the problems with the law. Read more >>

More Action Reportbacks: Durban, South Africa | New York City | Austin, TX

| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | San Diego, CA

Resources: cldc.org | olycivlib.org | Green is the New Red | Portland IMC green scare topic page | Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network | ELP Network USA | Jeff "Free" Luers | greenscare.org | fbiwitchhunt.com

Some Non-cooperating Greenscare defendants who have websites: Briana Waters | Daniel McGowan | Eric McDavid | Josh Wolf | Rod Coronado | SHAC 7

Outgoing lawmaker cites numerous abuses of the Constitution by President Bush "With a heavy heart and in the deepest spirit of patriotism, I exercise my duty and responsibility to speak truthfully about what is before us. To shy away from this responsibility would be easier. But I have not been one to travel the easy road. I believe in this country, and in the power of our democracy. I feel the steely conviction of one who will not let the country I love descend into shame; for the fabric of our democracy is at stake."

Full Story from Guerrilla News Network || McKinney's Statement || Download Articles of Impeachment (H.R. 1106) || Inymedia Coverage of Impeachment Campaign

Impeachment Protest at Pioneer Square

World Can't Wait Portland is holding an Impeachment Protest on National Human Rights Day, December 10. The focus will be upon the legalization of torture, Military Commissions Act and impeachment. Read more>>

From the newswire: "Police coerced teenager Harold Hill into falsely confessing to a murder and rape he did not commit. Recently tested DNA evidence demonstrated his innocence… Yesterday [December 8, 2006] Hill filed suit in federal court against nine current and former Area 3 police officers. Among the defendant officers is Lieut. Kenneth Boudreau, who has compiled a notorious record of false confessions of young and otherwise vulnerable defendants"

"Hill is one of over 100 African American men tortured or physically coerced into giving confessions to police under the supervision of then-Commander Jon Burge, who was fired by the City in February 1993 for torture after a 2-1/2 decade rein of terror at both Area 2 and Area 3 Police Headquarters. In Hill's case, police also deliberately suppressed exculpatory evidence, destroying documents and withholding physical evidence that would have prevented his 1994 conviction." Read more

Additional Resources: Harold Hill v. Chicago (PDF)

Nearly two months after Brad Will was gunned down on the streets of Oaxaca City while chronicling a popular revolution against the State governor, and more than two weeks after that uprising suffered a brutal wave of repression, the investigation into the murder of the NYC Indymedia journalist appears to be hostage to internal Mexican politics.

The goal of the Southern Human Rights Organizing Conference (SHROC) is to bring together human rights organizers to discuss common issues and develop more effective strategies for building a human rights movement in the Deep South. The sixth bi-annual SHROC conference was held in Houston the weekend of December 8th, which included Human Rights Day on December 10th.

Houston Indymedia hosted a Makin' Media Workshop on December 5th to encourage coverage of the conference which has yielded a large amount of coverage from the open publishing newswire:
~ Many of the central themes of the conference were explored in Sarah's article; The struggle is not over: 40 years of organizing in the Deep South and the Global South, including a sense of history, the effects of globalization and imperialism and black brown unity. Massoud covered the December 8th press conference that kicked off the weekend, showing some of the diverse participation in the conference; Decades of struggle was revealed at the SHROC press conference
~ During the conference Chickpea and Meg got a chance to interview Angela Davis, the keynote speaker and long time social justice activist [listen to the interview]. RoB wrote up some observations and published photos from workshops and keynote presentations on Saturday.
~ On Saturday afternoon SHROC moved out of the conference rooms and onto the sidewalks for a protest at Wal-Mart. Art B reports: At day's end on a very full Saturday, activists converged on the Wal-Mart at Westheimer and Dunvale for a happening full of healthy spirit to counteract the consumer spirit that corrupts the season and pollutes the planet! RoB had some photos and advised Dont Shop Wal-Mart, Dont Drink Coke
~ The Conference concluded on Sunday the 10th, John published these photos from the closing. Some people attending the conference left on the 10th for a field trip to Rio Grande City to observe the 40th anniversary of the farm workers' strike that took place in 1966.

At least 1,280 workers have been arrested in a series of immigration raids targeting six Swift & Co. meatpacking plants. The raids took place in Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Iowa and Minnesota It marks the largest sweep of its kind ever against a single company. Local Spanish radio host, Antonio Medina, describes the immigration raid as aggressive and ugly. “I went to the plant to see what was happening, but because I’m Latino they immediately asked me for my papers,” said Medina.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff justified the raids saying many of the detained men and women were using false or stolen identities. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union has filed an emergency lawsuit in an effort to release the workers who they say were illegally detained and are being held without access to legal counsel. In Iowa, immigration lawyers have accused the federal government of holding the arrested workers at the military site Camp Dodge near Des Moines. [New America Media Coverage | Democracy Now Coverage | WSWS Coverage]

UPDATE: AFSC Denounces Egregious Workplace Immigration Raids

It looks like the City of Miami is preparing for a raid on our "Umoja" Liberty City Shantytown, while local clergy demand 'Hands Off of Take Back the Land' Shantytown. Confirming the fears of Umoja Village residents and Take Back the Land organizers, the city of Miami pased by a 3-2 vote, including a 'yea' vote by the lone Black commissioner and Manny Diaz ally Michelle Spence-Jones, an "emergency ordinance" to redefine the meaning of "exempt public land," essentially gutting the Pottinger Settlement which protects the shantytown, and other homeless people, setting the stage for a government raid on the property.

Video: Take Back the Land

Dine' Establish Blockade Near Proposed Power Plant Site

Sithe Global & DPA are proposing to build the Desert Rock power plant , a 1,500 MW Coal Fired plant in the Four Corners area on the Navajo Reservation. This is an area already polluted by 2 other major coal power plants (Four Corners and San Juan power plants). Local Navajo residence and community members oppose this project for many harmful reasons!! This Desert Rock power plant is still in the environmental review process and has NOT yet been permitted.

However, Desert Rock company trucks have began moving onto the backyard of Alice Gilmore, an elderly Navajo woman, and her family on Wednesday to begin drilling efforts. Desert Rock officials and police have not shown any documents or permits to the local residents stating their purpose or permission to be there. Dine supporters and community members have joined Alice and her family to blockade the road. They are elderly women and youth, and they have been camped out on the road over night since Tuesday! Desert Rock trucks have repeatedly rushed them and have almost run-over people a number of times as they attempt to get by. Desert Rock power company is violating the lease rights of the local Navajo residences and is harassing elderly Navajo women and youth! This is an urgent time and support is needed!!! Read more >>

UPDATE: Navajo elderly served with restraining orders | More Updates from Desert-Rock-Blog.com | Infoshop.Org Story | NewStandard Report | UN Observer Account | Video: Making A Stand | Interview by First People's Radio | Audio From Firstvoicesradio.org

On Friday, December 15th, US District Judge Jeremy Fogel said that the State of California's lethal injection protocol may be unconstitutional. In his 17-page decision (PDF), Fogel urged Governor Schwarzenegger to immediately address "significant problems" with the state's lethal injection procedures before executions can resume on the nation's largest death row. Read more >>

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty plans to step up its efforts after this decision. CEDP and other organizations will hold a press conference soon in support of death row prisoner Kevin Cooper, who has an appeals hearing on January 9th, 2007. Death Penalty Focus is encouraging death penalty opponents to write to local papers, post comments on blogs and sites like Indybay, or call in to talk radio shows to discuss lethal injection. One of the key messages that the organization wants to impart is that this issue is just one symptom of the massive crisis that California's prison system is facing.

Statements from Campaign to End the Death Penalty and Death Penalty Focus | 12/15 Report from Vinny Lombardo | 9/28 Audio about a hearing | 10/2 Audio about hearings | Legal Challenges to lethal injection as "cruel and unusual" | Human Rights Watch Report: States Negligent in Use of Lethal Injections | Autopsy Results Expose Cruelty of Lethal Injection

David Hicks was captured in Afghanistan in November 2001 during the American invasion of the country. The 26-year-old father of two was transferred to Guantánamo Bay in January 2002. He is now one of the longest serving prisoners at the infamous jail. Last week thousands of people demonstrated in Australian cities to demand the immediate release of David Hicks from Guantánamo Bay. Hick’s lawyers have recently been granted a hearing in Australian federal court aimed at forcing the Howard government to formally demand the US repatriate the young Australian.

Stories from the Newswire:Australian lawyers launch court bid by Richard Phillips | | Bring David Hicks home by Parrot Press

NEW YORK CITY – This past Sunday thousands of people marched down 5th Avenue through the heart of New York’s mid-town shopping district. Organizers say over 10,000 people took part to protest the killing of Sean Bell by New York City police. Bell was slain on what was to be his wedding day in a hail of 50 bullets fired by undercover police. He was unarmed. Protesters are demanding justice for Sean Bell and an end to police violence and murder. Marchers counted off in unison from one to fifty for each bullet fired as they marched. No arrests or incidences of police violence have been reported from Sunday's protest. From the Newswire: December 16th March Against Police Brutality by Stanley W. Rogouski | Images: "Shopping for Justice" 5th Ave March by Fred Askew | Stop Police Brutality March by Antrim Caskey

Also from the Indypendent: The Fifty Shots Heard Around the City by Nicholas Powers | NYPD Story Full of Holes by Mike Burke

On December 14th, a US Army prosecutor subpoenaed independent journalist, radio producer and former Indybay volunteer Sarah Olson, seeking her sworn testimony at the court-martial of First Lieutenant Ehren Watada. Watada refused deployment to Iraq earlier this year. Olson was served with a two-page subpoena at 8:45 a.m. at her home in Oakland, demanding that she appear at Watada's court-martial in Fort Lewis, Washington, February 5 through 9. Independent journalists Sari Gelzer and Dahr Jamail are also both on the witness list.

Olson wrote a news story about Watada in June that was published June 7th on the Truthout web site. In that article, Watada publicly challenged the legality of the war, saying "as I read about the level of deception the Bush administration used to initiate and process this war, I was shocked. I became ashamed of wearing the uniform". It is believed that the Army wants Olson to authenticate the substance of her article and to confirm the statements Watada made to her.

Truthout.org Report | Inter Press News Service Report | Reporter Summoned to Testify Against War Resister | Sarah Olson Interviews Lieutenant Watada | Iraq War Vets' Support for Lt. Watada Growing | Previous Indybay Coverage Of Ehren Watada | Thank You LT Website

The privatized Hutto jail was the focus of a walk and vigil last week by Texas activists protesting the incarceration of immigrants and their children.

"Innocent children should not be jailed and forced to live under traumatizing and dehumanizing conditions," said a statement from vigil organizers, Texans United for Families. "It is bad policy and an impractical and inhumane response to a growing refugee crisis. The U.S. should seek alternatives to detention while making sure that it legislates policies that support families and keep them together and out of jail."

Jay Johnson-Castro, a South Texas businessman who earned recognition for his walk protesting the planned border wall, also walked from the nearby Texas Capitol to join the vigil. In a follow-up email, Johnson-Castro encouraged more activism: "Get access into these so called 'detention centers' which are little more than prison camps that exploit desperate people only to make obscene profits." read report >> | Call for Protest

From The Black World Today: Thousands of black men and women languish in federal prisons across America because Congress refuses to reform the harsh federal law on crack cocaine that results in racially discriminatory enforcement and long prison sentences. However, the same US Congress that consistently refuses to attack Drug War racism also ignored another justice system-racism issue when it approved a flashy but flawed resolution on December 6, 2006. This resolution condemned a suburb of Paris, France for naming a small street in honor of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the internationally respected author/journalist on death row in Pennsylvania.

Related: Dec22: "Tony Allen Reconsidered" by Eliot Lee Grossman, Atty | Dec8: Indymedia.org on 25th Anniversary of Mumia's Incarceration

Victory has come for activists and residents who have been fighting the development of a Casino in the Hill District.  On December 20th the state Gaming Control Board granted PITG Gaming Majestic Star the casino license to construct a a slot machine parlor on the North Side near the Carnegie Science Center.

In the preceding months an Anti-Casino on the Hill movement had been gaining momentum. On Saturday, December 16th over 100 Hill District Residents and supporters gathered on Freedom Corner to say "not one more inch"... Read report>>> | Photos | Audio | Previous coverage

Related from PhillyIMC: The Casino Decisions: Broken Politics All The Way Down | "The Casinos are Coming" Resource Page

While millions around the nation prepare to celebrate Christmas, hundreds of Haitian immigrants and their children are living in hiding in fear of deportation. On December 22nd the Haitian American Grassroots Coalition joined families and community leaders in a demonstration and prayer vigil in front of the INS Building, asking for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants.

San Diego: El viernes 22 de diciembre el grupo de la otra campana se reunio en el parque Chicano en solaridad con nuestros hermanos de Oaxaca. Grandes y jóvenes hicieron presencia en ese día de solaridad. Aunque el grupo fue pequeño pero no fue pequeño su corazón, su lucha y su esperanza de un mundo mejor. Junt@s vimos que podemos cambiar el mundo que además otro mundo es posible siempre y cuando existan luchadores tenaces como nuestros compañeros. La esperanza vive en cada uno de nosotros y no esta muerta. Hoy con nuestra sola presencia dimos a conocer a los de arriba que nuestros compañeros de Oaxaca no están solos. Junto a ellos exclamamos al unísono ¡Por Oaxaca! --Leer Mas+fotos por Juan Sajche--

Other Action Reports: Austin ||| Boston ||| Fresno ||| Houston ||| New York City: 1 | 2 ||| Portland ||| More...
Related: Bradley reports from Mexico City ||| Reports from Oaxaca: Xochitl via LA Indymedia | Sean Donahue via Portland Indymedia | Unnamed Wobbly via Infoshop
Up-to-date Oaxaca Coverage: Español: Centro de Medios Libres | CMI Chiapas | CMI Oaxaca | APPO ||| English: Narco News | Indybay | NYC Indymedia | el enemigo común

Since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council have sponsored National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or near the first day of winter to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless citizens who have paid the ultimate price for our nation’s failure to address the issue.

Philadelphia: Hundreds of Philadelphians gathered for the annual commemoration of Homeless Memorial Day... Advocates, housing/service providers, homeless and formerly homeless people, and members of the general public remembered the lives and dreams of homeless men, women, and children who perished this year in Philadelphia and will renew their commitment to end homelessness. read more>>

San Francisco: Sharing the reading of names of homeless persons who died in 2006 were: Hani, of the Islamic Society; John Fitzgerald of the St. Anthony Foundation; Buddhist Monks from the San Francisco Zen Center; Debra Salan from the Congregation Beth Sholom; M. Macha Nightmare, a pagan spiritualist; and a representative of the Tom Waddell Clinic. read more>> | Photos

Twin Cities: Almost 200 homeless people died in Minnesota in 2005. The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless is sponsoring a march to help remember those who passed in 2006... I attended last year, and I really encourage you to come - to show your support, to join with a wonderful group of people, and - for those of us who have not been personally close to this problem - to get a better feel for the impact of homelessness.... You won't soon forget this. read more>>>

Press from Other Events

James "Butane" Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) ~ R.I.P.

From Soul Imperialist: All I ask is that, as we begin to mythologize James Brown, we honor the fact that he never really fit our boxes, our categories, our stereotypes or even, honestly, our hopes. He never said exactly what we wanted him to say, he never became what we truly wanted him to become. Read more>>

Indybay: James Brown, the Godfather of Soul | Democracy Now: James Brown In His Own Words, a 1980 Interview on Race & The Music Industry

On Saturday December 23, Sunday December 24, and Monday December 25, Cascadia Forest Defenders and UO's Forest Action held a candlelight vigil in front of the Crest Neighborhood home of Seneca Jones Lumber CEO, Aaron Jones, who continues to log native forests in the McKenzie River watershed, Eugene's source of drinking water.

CFD and Forest Action set up at dusk in front of Jones' sprawling home and his massive display of Christmas lights (which have been attracting hundreds of visitors a night) with a large green and red banner reading: "Pray 4 Aaron Jones to see the light - stop logging our drinking H20 source" and several signs.

Boston's only progressive talk radio stations have been shut down and listeners are organizing to bring them back. Boston's only progressive talk radio stations, known as "Boston's Progressive Talk" at AM 1200 WKOX and 1430 WXKS, were abruptly terminated on Thursday, Dec. 21st to the dismay of loyal listeners. The stations now feature a Spanish language format. Among those who had been featured on the stations were shows hosted by Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, Rachel Maddow and Bobby Kennedy Jr. of Air America as well as Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz from the Jones Radio Network. Read Report | Save Progressive Radio Boston

Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode recently wrote a letter to his constituents, expressing his opposition to using the Koran during an unofficial and optional swearing-in ceremony for the nation's first elected Muslim congressman, Member-Elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota. Goode also expressed his, "fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped." Listen to interview of Mehdi Bray, director of the Freedom Foundation of the Muslim American Society, by Ryme Katkhouda and the DC Radio Coop.

United Steelworkers Union workers have voted by about two to one to end their strike at Goodyear and return to work. The strike tested the resolve of the Union to resist Goodyear's proposals.

The key proposals the Union resisted on principle were three: (1) A "two tier" wage structure with reduced wage levels for new-hire employees. (2) The closing of one Unionized plant - in this case the one in Tyler, Texas. (3) The establishment of a closed Trust Fund responsible for retiree health care, and the Company no longer responsible for adding additional funds.

Nothing but praise should be given to the workers who walked out, manned the picket lines, and risked their standards of living, health benefits, and homes. Unfortunately the international Union conceded on all three principles, although the package was sweetened from the Company's first offer. But 'sweetening' does not undo the evil of the basic nature of the proposals. Read More>>

The independent media community reflects on the top stories of 2006, the efforts to censor them, and our collective work to continue their telling.

Top 25 Censored Stories of 2006 from Project Censored

A Deadly Year for Journalists: Reporters Without Borders Report | Democracy Now Report

International News from 2006 from Indybay

Oaxaca, a year in review from FSRN

"The Age of Mammals: Looking Back on the First Quarter of the Twenty-First Century" from NYC-imc | The Ehrlich Report: A Reflection on Entering the New Year with Mr. Bush from Baltimore imc

2006 Year In Review from: Student Farmworker Alliance | A Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines

Houston IMC | Chicago IMC | Los Angeles IMC

Indybay's International News From 2006