Bob McDonnell's Virginia:

On March 3, 2012, a group of peaceful protesters opposed to the Republican Party's War on Women were surrounded by riot police and dragged away under the guns of a SWAT team.

Coverage: Video | Speak Loudly With Silence | solidarity1015 ustream | Kontra Video

Instead of celebrating with her son for his birthday, Cindy Fisher was found rallying in front of the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver with dozens of supporters. She made a cry out for help after her son was recently taken into custody and faced charges for what boiled down to a coat he found that had been stolen. After returning the jacket, he was apprehended and blamed for the crime. Due to his history of mental health issues and the fact that he was on a high dosage of a drug he had been prescribed at the time, he acted in fear of the cops and was arrested. Cindy gathered much support since her son was put in jail, and all her hard work has paid off. She broke the good news to all those in attedance that her son had contacted her early that morning to tell her that the charges had been dropped and now he is under care at a facility. The facility however is giving her son large doses of medication and this worries her because she knows the effects of these drugs and believes there should be a better treatment solution. She showed us how she prays in a meditative state for her sons healing every day.

We can only hope for a better future that will provide those with mental health issues more than just a suppressive drug. Cindy Fisher still needs over $5,000 to meet the $9,000 cost to put Siddharta in a new program which offers better treatment. If you would like to know more, contact Cindi below. Read More | VIDEO: Happy Birthday Siddharta - Rally on Clark County Courthouse Steps - 2.28.12 | www.joeanybody.com

House of Delegates Passes Sweeping Legislation Granting Constitutional Rights to Fertilized Eggs and Advances Mandatory Ultrasounds

Today, the House of Delegates approved Delegate Bob Marshall’s (R-Prince William) so called "personhood” bill by a 66-32 vote. The bill’s intent is similar to the recently defeated Mississippi ballot amendment that voters rejected by 58%. H.B. 1 would ban birth control and abortion upon the overturning of any U.S. Supreme Court precedent that protects a women’s constitutional right to privacy. Read Full Report

For the eighth year, anti-choice Walk for Life demonstrators bussed into San Francisco from across the state marched to protest the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion 39 years ago. However, pro-choice activists celebrated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade with gatherings in the city's Justin Herman Plaza and in downtown Los Altos. Supporters of the Walk for Life West Coast event bemoaned the lack of news coverage given their march.

At San Francisco's pro-choice rally, speakers included Dr. Sophia Yen, who promoted the Silver Ribbon Campaign and Trust Women Week. Dr. Yen said, "The Silver Ribbon is the only ribbon I've ever worn." She also addressed the crowd in the San Francisco Peninsula city of Los Altos where a second rally was held.

Early this morning, January 25, 2012, Portland Police officers shot and killed a man in downtown Portland. Prior to today's shooting, it had been over a year since a Portland police officer killed a civilian. That this is notable at all highlights a serious problem in the way Portland police interact with citizens, especially those citizens with active mental illness and/or untreated addiction. The Mental Health Association of Portland has collected the names and known history of over 220 persons shot and/or killed by Portland area police officers since 1970. The list is not comprehensive, but it clearly shows a correlation between active mental illness or addiction and the chances of being killed or wounded by police officers.

The year-plus from Thomas Higginbotham's death on Jan. 2, 2011 until today may be the longest duration without a police-caused death in Portland's history. Higginbotham, age 67, was described by friends as a late stage alcoholic. His shooting death was described by police through the media as having occurred as he advanced toward two officers holding a "large knife." It is unknown if the Multnomah County District Attorney convened a grand jury to inquire about the death of Higginbotham, or what parts of the county's use-of-force plan were followed. Read More

More Coverage:mentalhealthportland.org | theskanner.com | blogtown.portlandmercury.com | Related: PUBLIC Meeting - Speak Up! Community Oversight of Portland Police

Alondra Nelson, the author of 'Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination,' writes that "the Party's focus on health care was both practical and ideological." On a practical level, the BPP provided free community health care services, including preventative education. Simultaneously, the BPP railed against the medical-industrial complex, declaring that health care was "a right and not a privilege."

One of the lessons that the BPP offers today's activists is that they should be more loyal to the desired outcome than to the tactic. The sit-in came to be associated with the southern civil rights movement just as the mic check is now emblematic of the Occupy movement. But these groups also used other tactics: marching, occupying, sermons, etc. Social movements are dynamic phenomena; circumstances are constantly changing. So too should tactics. Full Report & Interview | www.angola3news.com

Vermont Workers’ Tour give hope for universal coverage in Oregon.

One on five Oregonians do not have health insurance. Among those living without insurance, some are able to establish relationships with health clinics such as the Community Health Centers in Jackson County and get rudimentary care on a sliding scale basis, but many are forced to use emergency rooms for medical care. Recently Southern Oregon Jobs With Justice brought Sarah Weintraub and Kate Kanelstein, two organizers from the Vermont Workers Center to the Unitarian Church in Ashland to discuss how Vermont won a single payer health care system for their state and learn what Oregonians can do to organize a similar campaign. The event was facilitated by Debbie Herzog, a retired school teacher and local activist.

The Vermont Center workers outlined five key elements in building a campaign for universal health coverage. Read More

Related: Single Payer Health Insurance Would Give Everyone A Very Merry Christmas | Medical Self Defense & the Black Panther Party -- An interview w/ Alondra Nelson

Nurses Say Lady Liberty Is Sick, But A Wall Street Financial Speculation Tax Could Heal Her.

The Statue of Liberty apparently got “sick” over what’s happening to this country’s working class so, the nation’s nurses rushed to N.Y.C. to try and heal her. One by one, members of National Nurses United (NNU) attempted to diagnose what was making Lady Liberty ill. They concluded her malady was because of the foreclosures spawned by Wall Street’s greed, because of the broken health care system and joblessness.

3/11/11 Salem, Oregon -- Intro by Wes Brain: Southern Oregonians travelled to Salem to join with Single Payer health care reformers from all across the state for a day full of activism. A noon time rally on the steps of the Capitol combined with legislative lobby visits and then a hearing before the Oregon House Health Care Committee. Single Payer advocates made the case for House Bill 3510 which will provide better health care for ALL. This news features a report back from Irene who made the trek from the Rogue Valley... I shot a few photos and they are included. My testimony in Salem is recapped in  this short video...

From Irene: A major philosophical difference that emerged summarized: Whereas single payer advocates repeatedly stated that "health care was a human right" a couple of well-heeled members of Americans for Prosperity (the Koch brothers-funded group) flatly--and chillingly--stated that "health care IS NOT a human right..." Meanwhile, regarding our lobbying efforts, the politicians are adhering to their own "political" personalities on this issue, and quite frankly, supporters know what an uphill battle this will be. Nonetheless, the winds of change which are sweeping the rest of the nation and the world, may indeed eventually even blow into Salem's chambers..."

from the open publishing newswire: On February 26th, Scores of Houstonians marched from Cherryhurst Park to Menil Park in Montrose as part of the (inter)national day of action Walk for Choice. Here are some totally sweet photos from MelEP.

Peaceful protests are planned for cities around the world in response to Congressional bill H.R. 3. The bill, called the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” was introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ). Walk for Choice 2011 rallies took place in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Alaska, the United Kingdom, and even Pakistan.

ABOUT WALK FOR CHOICE Walk for Choice 2011 was created directly in response to the events in Congress surrounding H.R. 3. Women and allies around the world will peacefully protest against limiting a woman’s right to choose and the right to have a safe, legal abortion. Abortion is a legal procedure that saves the lives of 70,000 women each year. Walk for Choice will take place in multiple cities on February 26th, 2011. The official Walk for Choice website is http://walkforchoice.tumblr.com. [Read full article with photos]

By Bridge the Gulf to the open publishing newswire: Alarming levels of toxic chemicals from the BP disaster have entered the blood of some Gulf Coast citizens, who are showing symptoms like internal bleeding, kidney infection, muscle atrophy, pain, headaches, and bleeding from the ears. 

At a community forum last Saturday in New Orleans, Dr. Wilma Subra presented these results and more based on months of testing from the Louisiana Environmental Action Network. Several Gulf Coast residents from the study discussed their symptoms, and expressed their fear, sadness, and outrage at the lack of health care and attention the health crisis has received.

Paul Doomm, a 22 year-old from coastal Navarre Beach, Florida, was one of those to speak out. He has not yet received his blood test results, but has become wheelchair-bound since swimming in the Gulf and eating seafood this summer. He attributes his ailments, which include chronic seizures, constant headaches and pain, vertigo and partial paralysis, to the BP disaster. He says that none of the 93 doctors he’s seen in the past months have found a definitive cause. [Full article with Photos and Video]

Solicitation for support of Oregon's Measure 74 (medical marijuana dispensary regulation) Happy Friday, Beaver Staters! What are your weekend plans? How about voting YES on Measure 74 and submitting those ballots! Many leading Oregonians have spoken out in support of Measure 74, including several physicians. Doctors Frances J. Storrs, Peter Goodwin, Glenn M. Gordon, John Pearson, Nancy Crumpacker, Philip Newman, Susan Katz, and James P. Scott all agree that "Measure 74 will enhance the care and well-being of thousands of seriously ill patients. It will reduce pain and suffering and improve quality of life."

New Leaf, a 35-year-old San Francisco center that offered mental health and substance abuse services for low income, queer, and trans folks for the last 35 years, has closed.

On October 12th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Bruesewitz v. Wyeth. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act protects vaccine manufacturers from liability for certain injuries caused by their vaccines (giving injured patients compensation from the government instead). The court examined whether that immunity applies when the victim claims that the design of the drug created an avoidable and unnecessary risk to patients.

Rosehip Medic Collective presents a Fall season Street Medic training--Oct 15th-17th (Fri 5-9, Sat/Sun 9-6). Learn basics of emergency medicine, radical support work, anti-oppression, & folk/herbal remedies. While largely focused on first aid/comfort care in urban marches & actions, this training is easily tailored to wilderness spaces, your place of work, and your home neighborhood. Registration is limited so sign up now!

We teach from our own manual, with lecture, hands-on practice, and scenarios--materials are provided. Out-of-towners will be accommodated, as will other needs to the extent possible. Some food will be provided. Childcare references are available upon request. Participants vary in level of medical background from complete noobs to doctors, nurses, experienced herbalists & paramedics--but we confer no legal certification

To register for the training, get on our email list, and/or have your questions answered, please email RIGHT AWAY.