Dec 1 is World AIDS Day. At noon, DC Fights Back and supporters pitched tents in front of HUD's DC field office between N Capitol st and 1st st NE. They were demanding that all 278 people on a 2-year waiting list for subsidized housing be placed immediately and the waiting list ended. Read More & Pics | Download WSQT Broadcast Audio

The on-again, off-again harassment of Worcester’s livery taxis appears to have subsided, lessening frustration and anger within Worcester’s Latino community.

Community members and taxi drivers have reported harassment of patrons and drivers and multiple civil rights violations. On multiple occasions the Worcester Police Department has shut-down business completely, sending drivers home and leaving waiting patrons needing rides to doctors’ appointments and markets stranded.

The targeting of the taxis is another attack against Latino small business owners in Worcester where these businesses are primarily comprised of Ecuadoran and Dominican owners and drivers.

December 1, 2008 - As the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change opened today in Poznan, Poland, grassroots climate activists took over the Washington DC office of Environmental Defense. The activists stated that they had targeted ED, one of the largest environmental organizations in the world, because of the organization’s key role in promoting the discredited approach of carbon trading as a solution to climate change. Read More | | | Audio: Raw Audio courtesy of WSQT Radio | Finished WSQT Broadcast Audio | | | www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

The grassroots campaign to Elect Malik Rahim to Congress has shifted into high gear in recent weeks.  Here are some updates recently posted to the Indymedia newswire: Campaign to Elect Malik Rahim Kicks in to High Gear | Times-Picayune uses their media hegemony to disparage Green Party Candidate | Is Picayune Coverage of Rahim's Candidacy Biased, Inaccurate? | Malik Rahim Campaign Moves into High Media Profile!

Elsewhere, Jason Neville writes in the Indypendent (NYC Indymedia newspaper): In Final Days of Congressional Campaign, Green Party Candidate Fights Local Media Blackout in New Orleans | | | Past Coverage: Malik Rahim honored with 2008 Thomas Merton Award | Malik Rahim Speaks to Northwesterners of Unity, Preparedness, Faith

The worker occupation of the Republic Windows and Doors factory on Chicago's Goose Island by members of UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America) Local 1110 went into its third day on Sunday, and workers have vowed to continue the occupation until they are paid back pay and benefits, or until the plant is re-opened.

The occupation was declared on Friday, the day the company moved to shutter the plant with only three days notice — in violation of federal and state labor laws. Owners have also cut off employees' insurance and failed to pay back pay. The takeover has sparked a groundswell of support across the nation, with rallies, petition drives (2), fundraisers and plans for future actions. [ Updated news links ]

Company management blames the shut-down on Bank of America, which cut their credit line — after BoA received $25 billion in federal bailout money that the bank said they did not need. Since the bailout began, BoA — like big banks across the globe — has slashed credit lines to businesses, forcing a growing number of small and medium-sized companies to shut down. Workers plan to meet with company and bank representatives on Monday — and to picket BoA's LaSalle St. offices on Tuesday if Republic's line of credit is not restored.

The action at Republic Windows comes on the heels of a drive to kick out the company union, which had colluded with company owners and management for years. That effort succeeded after three years of struggle. Republic Windows' worker occupation is one of the first actions of its kind in the United States since the Great Depression, when a wave of sit-in strikes and occupations of factories and manufacturing operations marked one of the most militant phases in U.S. labor history.

Accounts from the CIMC newswire [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ] Blogs: [ 1 |2 ]
Photos: [ 1 | 2 ] Video: [ 1 | 2 | 3 |4 | 5 ]

This past weekend, December 5th and 6th, in San Antonio, Texas, grassroots organizations, from across the US, and other countries, gathered to celebrate 20 years of struggle by the Southwest Workers Union. The celebration was attended by activists from 10 states, as well as workers from Mexico and Puerto Rican freedom fighters.

The Southwest Workers Union was formed in 1988 to represent public school workers in the San Antonio area. Since its founding, the organization has put organizing and empowering working class, people of color, at the center of its movement. Currently, over 3000 member families form the foundation, from which their work is built upon. In addition to representing public school workers, the SWU organizes and trains young people in grassroots organizing, for clean energy and equal education, environmental justice communities fighting military toxics, immigrant families mobilizing for human rights, and rural communities like Hondo, empowering voters to make real change. [full story | Photos] | Audio: 1| 2] | Southwest Workers Union Website | SWU Blog

Philadelphians rally at the Central Parkway Branch on December 6, 2008 before marching to city hall to protest Mayor Nutter's plan to close branch libraries. Ironically, three years ago when he was a councilman Nutter denounced his predecessor's plan to do the same. Read More & VIDEO by Brian Rudnick | Photos by Joe Piette | Past Coverage by Hannah Jane Sassaman

RELATED: Santa Cruz Plans to Permanently Close Museums, Pool, and Community Center | Photos

The funniest thing during the court appearance of Finnish neo-Nazi Henrik Holappa (pictured here) was the makeup of all the court employees we encountered from the security guards to the clerk, to the government's attorney, right on up to the judge herself: Everyone of them, save for the security guards on the ground floor were black, and the ones on the ground floor, were Hispanic. Oh, wait, there was also a Spanish-speaking interpreter there, and she was Hispanic!

In fact, with the exception of the few lawyers here and there, the only white people in the courtroom the entire time were Holappa, deNugent and the two others that came with them! Welcome to America, Henrik. Read More | Past Coverage: "What, Another One?" Finnish Neo-Nazi Seeking Political Asylum in USA by One Peoples' Project 07 Dec 2008

In the overnight hours of December 11, a sit-in and plant occupation at Chicago's Republic Windows and Doors has, after six days, ended in victory. More than 200 workers and members of UE Local 1110 voted unanimously to end the sit-in upon agreeing on the terms of a $1.75 million settlement which includes eight weeks of back pay, two months of continued health coverage, and compensation for unused vacation time.

The effort also laid the basis for future initiatives. From the announcement: "UE announced the creation of a new foundation, dedicated to reopening the plant. It will be initiated with seed money from the UE national union and the thousands of dollars of donations to the UE Local 1110 Solidarity Fund that have come in from across the country and around the world in just the past five days. Melvin Maclin of Local 1110 announced the name of the foundation, which was chosen by the workers themselves: the Window of Opportunity Fund. Maclin said that the fund will be open to receive donations from all friends of the Republic workers and supporters of their struggle."

Accounts on Chicago IMC newswire: [1 | 2 | 3 ] Photos: [ 1 ]

Solidarity Protest Reports: Baltimore | Philadelphia, PA | Minneapolis, MN | New York, NY | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Santa Cruz, CA

From DC-IMC: A 16 year old boy was shot dead by the cops in downtown Athens on Saturday December 6. Massive punitive riots followed, similar to what happened here in DC when cops shot someone while handcuffed in Mt Pleasant in 1991... More from WSQT Direct Action Radio 88.1 FM

From Houston IMC: A "bilingual restaurant worker" in Athens has published English language coverage including an article, and photos: 1, 2 to the Houston Indyemdia open publishing newswire. You can add your thoughts about the riots and what effect they may have here. Read More & Pics

Ongoing Coverage (in Greek) from Athens Indymedia | More Solidarity Coverage from Portland Indymedia | | | Related Stories in the US: Protest Re Police Misconduct in Dover, NH | Minneapolis Police Taser Man to Death | Fouad Kaady Civil Suit Goes Forward; Trial Scheduled for April 2009

On International Human Rights Day hundreds of community and labor leaders gathered to make the link between workers' rights and human rights. The Massachusetts campaign for Employee Free Choice Act will tie broad economic recovery to passage of landmark labor legislation. Read More | Related: PEOPLES BAIL-OUT RALLY in MEDFORD, OREGON

Over four hundred days ago, a handful of activists climbed up into the trees on Science Hill as a symbol of resistance to the University of California's plan to destroy 120 acres of campus forest. On December 13th at approximately 8:00am, the tree sit drew to a close as police seized control of Science Hill, arresting one tree sitter. Later, a tree cutting company hired by the university cut down a grove of 100 year old redwood trees to make way for construction of a Biomedical building.

Lawyers for the RNC 8 reportedly received a letter today from the Ramsey County Attorney's office amending the complaint against them. The new complaint reportedly lists the charges as follows:

Count 1 - conspiracy to riot in the second degree in furtherance of terrorism (the original charge)
Count 2 - conspiracy to riot in the second degree (without terrorism enhancement)
Count 3 - conspiracy to damage property in furtherance of terrorism
Count 4 - conspiracy to damage property (without terrorism enhancement)

The timing of the additional charges from Ramsey County is unique, coming on the heels of a successful court solidarity action on Friday and upcoming call-in days to Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner. Ramsey County prosecutor Richard Dusterhoft also recently sent a letter threatening more charges to the lawyer for Dave Mahoney.READ MORE

RELATED: Preparing for the worst: The coming Heffelfinger/Luger report on RNC policing | First RNC Felony Sentence: Probation - Victory for Court Solidarity | DEMAND CONTINUANCE FOR NOAH JACOBS

December 11, 2008 -- A small group of protesters gathered in the freezing cold today in front of the Avery C. Alexander Charity Hospital demanding it be reopened. They also voiced concerns about the massive VA-LSU project that will demolish 70 blocks of lower Mid-City, ostensibly to replace Charity and the old VA hospitals. Read More

Also a related indymedia article on mass land acquisition in the footprint by a wealthy New Yorker: Land Acquisitions in Mid City Raise Questions by A. Caritas

HONOR IRAQI JOURNALIST FOR COURAGE IN ACT OF RESISTANCE BEYOND ABILITY OF U.S. LIBERALS

Even amidst the cacophony of construction equipment building Oprah's seat for the Inaugural Parade, Code Pink staged a mildly entertaining street theater and exhibit featuring the shoes of Iraqi civilian war dead, and a historic re-enactment of Iraqi reporter Muntader Al-Zaidi's bold, courageous "shoe-icide" attack on President Chimp at a Baghdad news conference last week. Still photography by Isis, via Flickr | Video by Mike Flugennock, streaming out of YouTube | More video by William Hughes, streaming out of YouTube | Broadcast audio via WSQT Direct Action Radio 88.1FM | Editorial cartoon by Mike Flugennock: "Mission Accomplished!"

Related: Muntadar al-Zaidi Did What We Journalists Should Have Done Long Ago by Dave Lindorff

More than one hundred students are occupying parts of New School University, demanding the resignation of President Bob Kerrey and other administrators, student participation in decision making processes, transparency and the immediate suspension of "capital improvement projects" that the students say take money away from financing their education. Students from CUNY schools have joined the protest as well, saying that this is the first step towards more occupations in their system as they face budget increases due to Governor Paterson's budget ax. newschoolinexile.com | newschoolinexile blog | | | PHOTOS: 1 | 2 | 3

UPDATE 12/19: New School occupation ends in victory

MORE: CUNY Students' statement of solidarity with students in New School | Rules of Thumb Learned by An Occupant of the New School in Exile | Notes From the New School Occupation

Chicago lost a giant tonight, with the death of community activist Beauty Turner, who died late this afternoon after suffering a stroke several days ago that left her in a coma. She was 51. For those who didn't know Beauty, she was a tireless fighter against police brutality and state violence, and lent her formidable organizing and writing skills to the battle for justice for public housing residents and working class people throughout the metro area. Read More | Housing activist Beauty Turner dies | Post Remembrances Here

Read Some of Beauty's Work: 'I Want You to See What I See' | Beauty's Ghetto Bus Tours | When it Rain it pours

On Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal filed his appeal to the US Supreme Court, asking it to consider his case for a new guilt-phase trial. One month before, the Philadelphia DA filed its separate appeal to the court asking to have Abu-Jamal executed without a new sentencing-phase trial. Both are appealing the March 27, 2008 rulings by the US Third Circuit Court. At this critical stage in Abu-Jamal’s case, supporters organized a week of global solidarity actions that began on December 6, the day of the main protest in Philadelphia.

RELATED: Journalist for Mumia's video report from Dec. 6, plus extended footage of the crime scene presentation (download presentation flyer) II PVN's video report from Dec. 6 II Reports from the US, Venezuela, Germany, and Mexico II From Mumia Abu-Jamal: Free the Atenco 13! II Legal Update II GeoClan.com interview with Hans Bennett II DVD video made for Dec. 6 events: Fighting for Mumia's Freedom: a report from Philadelphia

On December 19, The Yes on 8 campaign issued a brief seeking to nullify existing same-sex marriages in California. Kenneth Starr, the former independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton, co-wrote the argument and will argue the case as head counsel possibly as early as March 2009. The same day Attorney General Jerry Brown asked the California Supreme Court to strike down the same-sex marriage ban because it is inconsistent with the guarantees of individual liberty safeguarded by the California Constitution.

Gay rights activists have been organizing demonstrations since Proposition 8, largely backed by out-of-state donations, passed in California on November 4. The Courage Campaign and Join the Impact, joined by other groups, have called for peaceful demonstrations across the nation... Read More

Related: Proposition 8 Solidarity: Interview with Equal Rights Activist Katie Hunter-Lowrey | Couple Marching Through California to Revoke Prop 8 | December 10th "Day Without A Gay" Protest | Thank Cleveland City Council for Passing the Domestic Partnership Registry! | Mass Transgender Political Coalition working for anti-discrimination law | Candle Light Vigil for Equality in Ashland | US Opposes UN Declaration Affirming Gay Rights

Equality Texas mourns the death of Jennifer Gale, a 47-year-old transgender homeless woman who died December 17th. Jennifer's body was found Wednesday morning. She was lying in an outdoor walkway at the First English Lutheran Church in Central Austin. A perennial candidate for public office in Austin and Dallas, Jennifer's notoriety came through years of putting herself in the public eye. She took a shot at nearly every city office, from council seats, to the mayor's office. She never won, but in 2004, Gale came closer than ever, winning more than 38 percent of the vote for a seat on the Austin ISD School Board.

Jennifer’s voice rang through Austin Council Chamber doors every week, often times in support of the homeless population of which she was a part. "Let's give the homeless a place to exercise that need jobs and need help," said Gale Tuesday night before the city’s Health Services Board. Her death points to critical problems faced by the homeless, and especially by homeless women and the transgender homeless. “Jennifer most nights slept outdoors,” said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. “Jennifer, we believe, is the 136th person who has died sleeping on the streets (of Austin) over the last 12 months.” [read full article]

Related: The Longest Nights - Worcester Remembers Those Who Died From Homelessness | More Queer People Murdered. Lesbian and Gay Organizations Seem to Care Less by Bash Back! News

Those following Obama's earlier presidential campaign rhetoric recognize a substantial shift from his stump speech promises. Author Jeremy Scahill's Dec. 5th Alternet article ("Obama Doesn't Plan to End the Occupation in Iraq") notes Obama as recently as July telling his progressive anti-war constituency (a key voting block in his election), "I intend to end this war. My first day in office I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in, and I will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war — responsibly, deliberately, but decisively."

Obama's transitional website is now pledging to send an additional 65,000 American military personnel to Afghanistan, and expand the "Global War on Terror" (GWOT). An important feature of the expanded war on terror, according to the Obama website, will be the U.S. government's extensive investment in surveillance technology. The website also states that U.S. military incursions into Pakistan will be part of his plan for the "war on terror." Click here to read the full article.

lines join in faint discord and the Stormwatch brews
a concert of kings as the white sea snaps
at the heels of a soft prayer,
whispered
— jethro tull

On December 19, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin caught the Japanese whaling fleet - and immediately launched the Delta boat for a butyric acid attack on the Yushin Maru #2. A storm at sea forced them to abort the attack run-but now the entire whaling fleet is on the run! Read More & Audio by WSQT

12/26 UPDATE: "We still have them on the run and we intend to keep them on the run for as long as our fuel resources allow," said Captain Watson. Read More

March in Sacramento To Protest War On Homeless

On December 23rd, homeless people and supporters took to the streets of Sacramento to protest oppressive laws and discrimination. Marching through the cold streets of Sacramento they demanded safe ground, the right to live without being arrested, fined, and their property being confiscated. In Sacramento there are more then twelve hundred people who go to sleep under the skies every night.

Sacramento lacks affordable housing and places to rent often require high deposits and credit checks. There are not enough shelters, and a "anti-camping" ordinance is used to harass the homeless, despite the fact that they have nowhere to sleep. This law allows the police to arrest and fine people who are sleeping in the streets and to seize their personal belongings (blankets, personal documents, camping gear) making their survival even harder. A leaflet distributed by the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee at the demonstration reads "the powers that be have ordained that rich and poor alike are forbidden to sleep under a bridge. The problem is that only the poor need a bridge to sleep under on a rainy night."

The march started on 12th street and ended at Cesar Chavez Park. Homeless people spoke about the condition they face everyday, the difficulties of overcoming social barriers and their demand for a safe ground. At the end of the event the names of homeless people who died last year in Sacramento were read. This coincided with National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the homeless people who die every year.

Photos: 1 | 2 | | | Related Links: Sacramento Loaves & Fishes | Francis House of Sacramento | National Coalition for the Homeless | Sacramento housing alliance | Relocalize Sacramento! | Sacramento Food Not Bombs | His Streets Ministries

This year's AntiMall was held at East LA's Chavez Studio. As organizer Laura Palomares explained on Uprising last year (full interview here), the concept was inspired by her experiences with Zapatistas and the notion of an alternative, parallel economy. The AntiMall brings together many co-ops. “So the idea of El Puente is providing a space where you know you're buying something directly from the artisan, and that group of people are working on making things better for their community,” she explained to Uprising's Sonali Kolhatkar. “So they--for example, the Zapatistas--are not waiting for the government to come in and fix what's going on in their community. They're going to make a demand, but at the same time they're working on creating their own autonomous communities. So the purpose of El Puente is to support those communities in their struggles and not support things like Walmart and Target in our neighborhoods but really invest back into social change .” Story and photos: 2008 AntiMall (part 1) and 2008 AntiMall (part 2) by RP

A controversy began in 2007 when a young mother's profile photo of her nursing her infant suddenly disappeared from the social networking website Facebook. There was no explanation as to why the photo was removed, and Facebook has not responded to her inquiries. Despite queries from other women who have found similar family photos removed over the last year, Facebook still hasn’t changed its policy.

On December 27th, about twenty demonstrators gathered in front of Facebook's headquarters in Palo Alto to protest discrimination against nursing mothers. They told members of the press that in some cases their family pictures have been reported as "obscene" and they have been warned by Facebook that if they repost the photos they risk being banned from the online site.

A day after Israel's air raids on Gaza, which claimed at least 290 lives and more than 900 wounded according to the Palestine News Network, a coalition of groups in Boston gathered on Park Street to protest Israel's aggression. Protests have been carried out in several cities in the United States and around the world.

Haaretz, one of Israel's main newspapers, reported that the attacks had been in the planning for months. Hundreds in Tel Aviv came out to protest the bombings saying that military action against Gaza does nothing to improve security in Israel. Read More

More Solidarity Reports: Hundreds Rally in Houston | Thousands Rally in NYC (PHOTOS): 1, 2 | Protests Planned in Los Angeles, Portland and Twin Cities, MN | | | In Depth Reports From: Indybay | Rochester IMC | DC IMC | Indymedia.Org: Today We Stop The War and Massacre in Palestine - Responses and Developments | | | Alternative News Sources: Israel IMC | Palestine News Network | International Middle East Media Center and Radio Free Palestine

It is Christmas time, but there is little holiday cheer at the Stella D’Oro cookie factory in the Bronx. The 136 workers at the famous Italian biscuit company, members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers (BCTGM) International Union Local 50, have now been on strike for more than four months and it may be several more before they head back to work. The workers’ contract extension expired at the end of July and Local 50 called the strike when the owners walked out of negotiations on August 13. Read More | Audio from Building Bridges Radio

Related: Day Laborers in Woodbridge and Manassas Face Hunger

I have had personal experiences with this cash cow. Only problem is that the cash went back to them 5 maybe 10 times what was originally borrowed. I wanted the experience, one to see if it was real. Two, cause I could find ways to spend it. Read More

Past Payday Loan Coverage: DC Council Caps Payday Loan Interest; Check'N'Go Sues Whistleblower | "Check'n'Go" Payday Loan Sharks Protested In Anacostia

Since Sunday, dozens of demonstrations have taken place across the United States against the Israeli Defense Force's air strikes on civilians in Gaza. According to the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, at least 100 are scheduled for this week. The air attacks, which were ordered in response to the small scale rockets launched by Hamas earlier in the week, are viewed worldwide as a massacre of innocent civilians. The death toll in Gaza is now more than 390 people (with 1,600 wounded), contrasted to four Israelis killed by rocket fire. Israel has so far rejected international demands for a cease fire.

At least seven major Jewish organizations in the US are calling for an immediate end to the bombings, and for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. According to the Inter Press Service, these include Americans for Peace Now, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, J Street, and the Israel Policy Forum. Additionally, the Shalom Center, American Jews for a Just Peace, and the Jewish Voice for Peace have strongly condemned the attacks.

On Monday, about 100 activists protested Obama's silence on the issue at his transition headquarters in DC (includes Audio & Video links). In Los Angeles close to 1,000 people demonstrated outside the Israeli consulate, and in New York City, three successive protests have drawn thousands to the streets. Reports are coming in of other large demonstrations in cities around the nation: Boston, MA: Dec28, Dec29 (1 and 2), Dec30 (AUDIO), and Dec31 | Chicago, IL | Cleveland, OH | Denver, CO | Houston, TX | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA | Twin Cities, MN

Global Indymedia Coverage: Palestine Bleeds; the World Shudders | Massacre in Palestine - Responses and Developments | Today We Stop The War | | | Coverage From: Indybay | Rochester IMC | DC IMC | | | More Alternative News Sources: Israel IMC | Palestine News Network | International Middle East Media Center and Radio Free Palestine | | | More Resources: Background Information on Gaza | Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Below is a statement by a group of Austin-based community organizers that documents that a local activist, Brandon Michael Darby of Austin, is a government informant/provocateur. Using FBI documents previously unknown to us, but recently provided by one of the defendant's defense teams, we have positively confirmed the identity of the unnamed informant ("CHS 1" in the affidavit) as Brandon Michael Darby of Austin, Texas, based on the following evidence...

Darby operated in and around the Austin community for about 6 years, and this is the same Brandon Darby who participated in the Common Ground Collective in New Orleans during 2005-2006. Based on the evidence we have, Brandon has been giving the state information since at least November 2007, but there is also information that suggests his informant activities may go back further, at least to 2006 or earlier. In the documents, Darby makes numerous remarks that are inflammatory and often untrue or grossly taken out of context. There is also compelling evidence to suggest that Darby, more than just reporting on Crowder and McKay's activities, was actively encouraging, enabling, and provoking the two men to take illegal action. Read Full Document

Open Letter from Brandon Darby on his cooperation with the FBI | Past HIMC coverage: The cases of Brandon Darby, grand juries and our movements made a case in defense of Brandon | Police Continue Harassment of Texas Activists in Wake of RNC | Related: War At Home by Brian Glick