Rolling up our sleeves, Diving back in!

Please join the Save Our Poolz coalition at the Ship Room in the Hotel Vernon in Kelley Square, 5pm until 9pm, as we re-energize, come together as a community, and reflect on why we keep fighting for pools and our neighborhoods, families, and youth, on what we've won, and the new leaders we've seen rise up, and on where we're going: creating participatory democracy and a strong, organized inner city!

There'll be some great, diverse entertainment of several genres, including, at this time: Serge Castillo, Nat Needle and Cha-Cha Connor, AcapElote-Veda, more to come!

On December 27, 2008, Israel began its bombardment on Gaza and then on January 3, 2009 began its ground offensive. The bloody operation in Gaza came after the expiration of a six-month-long ceasefire between Israel and resistance groups in Gaza, including Hamas. However, Israel failed to ease the embargo on the Gaza Strip that continues to cripple economic life further creating a humanitarian crisis, and was one of Israel's obligations under the ceasefire. Although Israel unilaterally withdrew its illegal settler population from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it remained the occupying power as it controlled the borders, sea and airspace, as well as the population registry.

A December 2009 report prepared by Oxfam International, Amnesty International UK, United Civilians for Peace, Christian Aid, and a dozen other international NGOs found that even one year later, Due to the Israeli embargo which blocks goods and equipment from entering Gaza, Gaza residents are being prevented from rebuilding the extensive damage to their shattered society. Many feel that the world community and Arab world have done little to stop Israel, despite the pledged aid for the re-building of Gaza. Here in Houston hundreds gathered to commemorate the 1 year anniversary of the Israeli attack on Gaza. [full article with audio]

The top 10 features of 2009, as judged by page views on your local IMC:

#1) 11/15: Anti-Racists Steal the Show at White Supremacist "Tea Party Against Amnesty" (9,790)
#2) 4/9: Everything for everyone, nothing for just ourselves:  Zapatista Coffee in Minnesota (7,505)
#3)8/13: Photos and Quotes from Rosemary's (6,832)
#4) 5/27: Hacking Batsheva: Cultural Boycott In The Face Of Genocide (6,213)
#5)2/9: University of Minnesota Grad Students Protest Student Fees (6,186)
#6) 6/16: Drop Dead, Minnesota: Pawlenty nixes education, health & public safety today (5,321) 
#7)4/28: May 1 March and Festival To Go Ahead -- Community Calls for Immigrants' and Labor Rights (5,243)
#8)6/18: "Out of control!": As Summer Heats Up, Testimony Describes MPD as Brutal, Lawless (4,864) 
#9) 8/2: Minnesotans detained in and deported from Israel return home and speak out (4,761)
#10) 10/17: White supremacists versus the community: Austin and Twin Cities activists confront the NSM (4,605)

What are your "New Year's Revolutions"?  Make one of them to publish your/your group's news and views to TCIMC.  Download, print and fold this brochure and leave some at your favorite coffee house.  And for more ways to become involved in the collective, contact us.

CU Citizens for Peace and Justice is launching a petition drive to demand that State's Attorney Julia Rietz drop all charges against Jeshaun Manning-Carter.

The best friend of Kiwane Carrington, Jeshaun was with him on Oct. 9 when he was killed.

He is currently being prosecuted with felony charges of resisting a "peace" officer.

His next court hearing is Jan. 19 at 2pm in Courtroom C.

Until then you can sign the petition here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dropthecharges/

You can also call State's Attorney Julia Rietz at 384-3733.

Tell her the best thing to do for this youth is to drop the charges against him - not send him to juvenile detention or reform school.

BD

“Most of us there know that the Westboro Baptist Church’s message of hate is ridiculous and it’s pointless, but we didn’t want the mainstream media to show up and film them without a visible critique of their presence. Our music and our dancing was a kind of joyful expression of inclusion designed to counter their dourness and hostility.”

Voters in Texas have outlawed gay marriage and a Houston city referendum on granting benefits to same-sex partners of city employees failed [article and link to audio]. Counter protesters responded to calls for a Big Happy Dance Party and pumped up the jams till the Westboro Baptists went back to Kansas. [see photos from the protest]

Year in review features from previous years: 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | Features going back to 2002

2009 marked the 10 year anniversary of the indymedia experiment. The first indymedia website was created in November of 1999 to cover the protests of the World Trade Organization in Seattle. Many took this time to look back: Ten Years Later: Still No to the WTO! | N30 + 10 years - Remembering and celebrating "The day the political landscape changed forever"

UC-IMC Film Festival Announces “Call for Submissions” for Second Annual Event to Take Place on February 5-7, 2010!
 
The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (IMC) is proud to announce that it will host the second annual IMC Film Festival during February 5, 6, and 7, 2010, and is now accepting submissions! This celebration of the art of cinematography will once again highlight local and regional independent artists, giving them an opportunity to share their work and connect with other artists, community members, and organizations.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their works by filling out the attached Submission Sheet (attached in word and in pdf format) and following those instructions.  As well, the IMC Film Festival is open to all – free of admission charges! SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010, 5 p.m.

Here is the link to the IMC Film Fest 2010 website:http://production.ucimc.org/node/17105

On Jan 6, in response to the PT109-style ramming and sinking of the Sea Shepherd ship Ady Gil, the Bob Barker Brigade protested at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., warning that Sea Shepherd could be provoked to sink the whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru.

The Shonan Maru #2, used by the whalers as a security ship, rammed the Ady Gil, a high speed stealth ship, in the Southern Ocean. The bow was torn off, but the crew was successfully evacuated.

Nobody likes to have a boss. And the former employees at T.J. Scallywaggle's Vegan House of Pizza in Boston, Mass., were no exception. Luckily, they did not have a boss. From January 2008 until the restaurant's close in July 2009, T.J.'s operated as a collective, making consensus-based decisions and rotating responsibilities. Read Full Article by Hannah E. Dobbz

On December 31st, Raymond Merchant appeared in front of Hennepin County Judge Barnette for a scheduling of his trial date. After brief discussion in chambers, Judge Barnett, the prosecutor, and Raymond's attorney Robert Kolstad settled on trial beginning Monday April 5th at 9am. The trial is expected to last three or four days including jury selection.

Kolstad said of their trial preparations, "This is going to be a tough trial and we have a lot of work to do. There was no actual proof of robbery on Ray, no gun was found, and there was never an actual police lineup of suspects, but we still have our job cut out for us. We're thankful to have a number of volunteers who will help with the investigation."

Related: Fundraiser at Bedlam Theatre, Sunday January 10

The Urbana-Champaign community has had a deficit of realistic personal
computer support options since Prairienet faded away.

The existing options for computer support in Urbana-Champaign are
limited to Best Buy's Geek Squad, two or three local businesses and
UIUC's CITES. These organizations discriminate through cost and
association between those they will serve and those they won't. Geek
Squad's services start at exhorbitant prices or require subscriptions
to service plans. Local business support services may be less
expensive, but they still charge astronomical rates for what can be
quite simple procedures. CITES only serves students, faculty and staff
of the UI. Worse, for-profit support services such as Geek Squad have
an interest in misleading users about their computers. Geek Squad
offers ill-defined and suspicious services such as "Computer
Tune-up". These services are often nothing more than a collection of
easy system maintenance procedures such as performing updates or
uninstalling unused software.

But the real crime of companies like Geek Squad is their lack of

Peabody had been planning to combine both their Kayenta and Black Mesa mines, pump more water for transporting coal, reactivate the Black Mesa mine, and acquire a "Life of Mine" permit. Peabody's expansion plans were initially approved in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) by the Bush Administration.

That was the Critical Mass ride one year before the RNC, which the Minneapolis Police decided to use as a test case, beating, arresting, tasering, and macing a number of the participants for no cause. Gus was among those arrested, maced and abused. He was held overnight and eventually charged with assaulting a police officer and obstructing the legal process using force - both gross misdemeanors - and fleeing a police officer, a misdemeanor. On April 14, 2008 he was acquitted of all charges, after a one week trial and five minutes of jury deliberation. Videos and testimony showed that the cop who arrested him was lying.

More Info: PDF of Settlement/Background Info from City Attorney's Office | Related: Bicycles and hauling trash, recyclables and delivering packages

The Oakland coalition originally formed itself out of a spontaneous rebellion when Mehserle, a BART police officer, shot Oscar Grant in the back execution style last New Year’s day. The coalition and the Oakland community insured, through a relentless effort, that the cop would be tried for murder and not a lesser charge.

When the trial was moved to Los Angeles after the Mehserle defense argued that he couldn’t obtain a fair trail in Alameda County, the Los Angeles community banded together in a show of strength to show solidarity with the Oakland coalition and the family of Oscar Grant in order to guarantee a conviction of the police officer.

From the Newswire:
1ST HEARING FOR OSCAR GRANT/MEHSERLE MURDER TRIAL by Anna Kunkin
LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant Press Conference, 1/8/09: photos and full audio by dave id

Eye on Justice to air locally, online

In metropolitan Minnesota, Comcast pays a price for its media monopoly. The internet, cable, phone, and billboard company's contract monopolizing the cable TV running throughout the Twin Cities mandates opening several cable channels to locally produced PEG-- Public, Education, and Government programming.

Groundbreaking new shows are being prepared to air on Minneapolis Television Network and St. Paul Neighborhood Network, like a news/talk show about police brutality and local politics: Eye On Justice. This project is an effort of the entirely volunteer-driven grassroots group, Communities United Against Police Brutality, to reach out to the public and open people's eyes to some famous cases of police misconduct.

Shows: Ramona and Mike Africa (above) | RNC 8 | Murder of Brandon Rodriguez

Buffalo has been experiencing an outbreak of hate crimes over the last several weeks and United We Stand-Buffalo is offering an event as a response. The Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus will perform and a petition will be available for anyone interested to sign, requesting a more open relationship between the BPD and the GLBTQ community of Buffalo.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 7 - 9PM at Asbury Hall @ Babeville, 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202.

read more

At this time, there is no reason to believe that Steve is cooperating, and he still needs your support. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

pdf of plea agreement

Steve's support site is: supportsteve.org

From Miami Autonomy and Solidarity

A natural disaster has descended upon Haiti whose scope we only are seeing the surface of at this time. The Haitian people will be struggling to rebuild their lives and their home possibly for decades in light of unprecedented collapse, both physical and social. Yet despite the unpredictability of earthquakes, this disaster is unnatural, a monstrosity of our time. The extent of the damage of the earthquake is part of the cost of unrestrained exploitation which at every step put profit above the health, safety, and well being of the Haitian people. While the world watches on ready to help, power is being dealt an opportunity. The Haitian workers and peasants have been fighting for their rights to even the most basic level of existence for decades, while the UN-occupying force, the state, and the ruling elites maintain the social misery without relenting. Now as Port-Au-Prince is in rubble, new opportunities arise for rulers to rebuild Haiti in their own interests, and likewise for the Haitian workers and peasants to assert their right to their own Haiti, one where they will be not be forced to live in dangerous buildings, and work merely to fill the pockets of elites, foreign or domestic.

As we move from watching in horror to taking decisive action, progressives can offer an alternative. There is a strong and beautiful desire to do something, to help others in this time of need. Our actions are strongest when we organize ourselves, and make a concerted effort in unity. Right now we can have the deepest impact by committing ourselves to act in solidarity with the autonomous social movements of Haiti directly. They present the best possible option for the Haitian people, and are in the greatest need. At the same time, we are in the best position to help them out our common interest as people engaged in struggling against a system that works to exploit us all. We are calling for solidarity people-to-people engaged in common struggle. It is not only a question of money for AID but also an autonomous and independent act of international solidarity that illuminates the bankruptcy of the occupying forces, multinational corporations, and Haitian elites that are primarily responsible for the decayed state of Haiti. There will be aid flowing and money given as a form of charity until the next disaster. Our act of solidarity should, in no shape or form, be solely an act of humanitarian aid. It should not be an apolitical act, and we shouldn’t give the green light to those that wish to capitalize on the suffering of others. It should be an act of solidarity to the struggling people of Haiti and their organizations while at the same time rejecting the totally inept Haitian elites and their state apparatus for bankrupting Haiti. The earthquake is a natural disaster, but the state of Haiti, the abject poverty of the masses and the vile injustice of the social order, are unnatural.

We have a relationship with one organization, Batay Ouvriye, and are putting our resources and time into helping Batay Ouvriye to help rebuild from the catastrophe and maintain the struggle for a better Haiti and a better world. Batay Ouvriye is a combative grassroots worker and peasant?s organization in Haiti with workers organized all over Haiti, especially in the Industrial sweatshops and Free Trade Zones. We have set up a means to send money to Batay Ourviye. If others wish to send money to Batay Ouvriye, please use paypal here DONATE NOW.

read more

Grassroots organizations in Haiti are struggling to ensure their voices are not lost amidst the outpouring of donations to traditional NGOs and religious charities. Meanwhile, on Friday, the Obama administration granted undocumented Haitians currently in the United States temporary protection status, a move pushed for by immigrant advocates since December of 2008. It's unclear what exactly this means for Haitians like activist Jean Montrevil currently in immigration detention. But Obama also recruited former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to lead relief efforts, and and one of the more popular places to donate, Yele Haiti, has echoed calls for U.S. military intervention in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas.

Indybay: Largest Earthquake in 200 Years Devastates Haiti | Houston IMC: Tragedy in Haiti. Expressions of solidarity and support. | Call for Solidarity and Funds for the Working People of Haiti! from Miami Autonomy and Solidarity via Buffalo IMC | More coverage from Port-Au-Prince at Media Hacker | Support: Haiti Action Relief Fund | Partners in Health | Pastors for Peace | Grassroots International

Managing Director Steven Karpas told the Rainforest Action Network team, "higher ups at Chevron are freaking out" and threatened to arrest the peaceful runners. Police then ejected the runners from the city-owned and operated building... Read More | More Info: Chevron Toxico

The Community Education Task Force was formed as follow-up to a parent and community speak out held at the Rochester Museum & Science Center on January 9, 2010, which was attended by at least 150 parents, community activists and others.

It became clear to us that a large group of those who attended the September 9th speak out oppose mayoral control of the Rochester City School District.

• IMC Video of Press Conference
• Mayoral Control Press Conference Interviews (mp3 version) (ogg version)

Join International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal on Monday, Jan. 18th in Philadelphia for petitioning outside a downtown Martin Luther King, Jr. luncheon in Philadelphia. Meet at 17th & Arch Sts. at 11am.

This most recent story about Brandon by the BBC is amazing in that it shows the capacity and courage of individuals to make amends and stand up for justice. Brandon takes the really brave step of reaching out to folks detained in Guantanamo with the goal of apologizing for the mistreatment they experienced being detained by the US military, and the role that he played in it.

It is also quite brave of Shafiq and Ruhal to be willing to meet with Brandon and speak about their experience on television as well to accept his apology. Shafiq and Ruhal both appreciate Brandon's apology, and his sharing his experiences about Guantanamo, because it corroborates the story they have been telling, which was meet with skepticism by a public, where large sectors of the population buy into the mainstream media narrative that everyone detained at Guantanamo was a terrorist, and for that matter, that most muslims are terrorists. While Shafiq and Ruhal really appreciate Brandon's apology, they put the blame where it belongs saying "I dont hold you responsible" and "its the government that needs to apologize" [read full article]

Watch the Show - Tales from Guantanamo: Part one - the guard's story | Part two - the reunion

More than 10,000 demonstrators came out on January 16 to protest against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his repression of unauthorized immigrants. In the latest and largest in a series of protests against Sheriff Joe, demonstrators marched to MCSO's "tent city", an urban concentration camp where inmates, many arrested on immigration charges, are held 24-7 in the open air.

While marchers focused on Arpaio's 287g arrangement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and his high-profile immigration raids, other participants questioned the focus on immigration alone, given the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office's role in foreclosure evictions, and also that the Phoenix Police Department turned over more unauthorized migrants to ICE in fiscal year 2009 than did Arpaio's sheriff's department.

Related: Phoenix PD attack marchers, mace children at Arpaio protest | Video: 1, 2, 3

This week, workers fired from the Cort guitar plants in Korea came to Southern California to demand their jobs back with a series of actions targeting the NAMM trade show, a global trade show for the musical instrument industry. Cort, known as a midrange guitar brand, is also a contract manufacturer for many well-known guitar brands, like Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, and others, producing budget-priced guitars for the global market. The work was carried out in sweatshop conditions - and when the workers organized a union, the company shut down their Korea factories, offshoring manufacturing work to Indonesian and Chinese factories owned by Cort.

In Los Angeles, they gained the support of world famous guitarist Tom Morello, as well as rapper/activist Boots Riley, MC5's Wayne Kramer, SOAD's Serj Tankian, local Asian American artists Skim, Shin Kawasaki, David Tran, and other artists. The workers also got labor solidarity from United Steelworkers 675, the Korean Metalworkers Union, individuals from LA and OC unions. They also achived meetings with representatives from Gibson and Fender guitar companies.

Cort Guitar Workers Action - main activist site.
Video: The ugly truth behind Cort
KPCC: Tom Morello Plays Concert for Korean Guitar Workers
Paper Planes
Guerilla Radio
Cort Guitar Worker Support Event at Nanum Cultural Center K-Town

In Philadelphia, demonstrate Wednesday, Jan 20 at 4pm at the SE corner of City Hall (Juniper St).

A juvenile hearing was held at 2 p.m. with about 15-20 supporters showing up at the Champaign County Courthouse, although they were not permitted in the courtroom as is routine in juvenile cases. State’s Attorney Rietz appeared in court and local African American attorney Alfred Ivy represented the defendant. Attorney Ivy asked Judge Heidi Ladd for a continuance, saying that he and the State’s Attorney were working toward a resolution. Rietz had no objection, stating that according to Principal Richard Kelly of the READY Program where Jeshaun goes to school, he was attending class and doing well. Yet despite this good record, Rietz was still willing to drop the charges. Read More

Past Coverage: Sign the petition to drop the charges against Jeshaun Manning-Carter! | FOIA’d Emails in Kiwane Carrington Case Reveal Monitoring of Local Activist Groups | CU Citizens Pre-empts Release of Report on Police Shooting of Kiwane Carrington | CU Citizens for Peace and Justice Participate in "National Day of Outrage" for Kiwane Carrington (video) | Courthouse Rally in Kiwane Case: “Felonies Ain’t Favors! Plea Bargains Ain’t Either!” | The Champaign Police Department: A Modest set of Standards The News-Gazette Called in for Damage Control in Police Shooting | "No More Stolen Lives! We Remember Kiwane!" - Hundreds Gather to Speak Out on National Day Against Police Brutality | Chief Finney Must Resign! says CU Citizens for Peace and Justice | Hundreds Turn Out To Vigil for Kiwane Carrington | Kiwane Carrington Press Conference Audio

From: Lawyers Against The War [mailto:law@portal.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 7:11 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: ICC Complaint Against Bush, Cheney et al

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, TENET, RICE AND GONZALES; INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANTS REQUESTED

Champaign, U.S.A./The Hague, Netherlands (19 Jan 2010). -- Professor Francis A. Boyle of the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, U.S.A. has filed a Complaint with the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) in The Hague against U.S. citizens George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Condoleezza Rice, and Alberto Gonzales (the “Accused”) for their criminal policy and practice of “extraordinary rendition” perpetrated upon about 100 human beings.  This term is really their euphemism for the enforced disappearance of persons and their consequent torture.  This criminal policy and practice by the Accused constitute Crimes against Humanity in violation of the Rome Statute establishing the I.C.C.

With a response to the State's Attorney's refusal to press charges against Champaign police for the killing of Kiwane Carrington by Kerry Pimblott, a report on juvi "justice" statistics by Durl Kruse, a memorial to Honduran gay rights activist Walter Trochez, plus our first ever article in both English and Spanish about the DREAM Act.

Click here to read the full issue.

Join us for a fundraiser for the Public i and WRFU 104.5 Radio Free Urbana on Monday, Jan. 25, 6-9 pm, at the Clark Bar in Champaign.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence, finding that the judge in the case had failed to properly instruct members of the jury to consider possible mitigating circumstances during sentencing. However, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision, opening up the possibility that Abu-Jamal, who has always maintained his innocence, could return to death row. Full Report: Free Mumia! Los Angeles Rejects High Court Ruling by Rockero | | En español: ¡Libertad Para Mumia! Los Angeles Rechazó el Juicio de la Corte Suprema por Rockero | Photos from Philly Emergency Demo

RELATED: FREE MUMIA! by Echo Park Community Coalition | Pam Africa on the Supreme Court ruling against Mumia by San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper | Voices with Vision 2010-01-21 US 'Democracy' from Mumia Abu Jamal's Case to the Fate of the Iraqi Refugees by Ryme Katkhouda, Hanan Tabbara, DCRadioCoop.org | Supreme Court opens door to Mumia’s execution by Jeff Mackler | Aotearoa New Zealand solidarity with Mumia by Anarchist Black Cross

Those arrested on the Capitol steps held banners reading "Broken Promises, Broken Laws, Broken Lives." Inside the Capitol, 14 activists performed a "memorial service" for the three men whose deaths at Guantanamo in 2006 were initially reported as suicides and callously described as "acts of asymmetrical warfare" by military officials. New reports provide strong evidence that the men may have been tortured to death at a CIA secret prison in Guantanamo.

Signs said “Haiti – Help Not Occupation. Return Aristide,” and asked people to question “Where is the Red Cross?” and to consider supporting earthquake victims through HaitiAction.net. Many signs simply called for humanitarian aid to take precedence over a U.S. Military presence. Others condemned the ongoing occupations in both Haiti and Honduras.

It was reported that other emergency vigils for Haiti were being held around the world including ones also organized by the Global Women’s Strike in London and in Philadelphia protesting that survivors are dying as the US military blocks food, water and medical supplies from getting through, and calling on the US to prioritize getting help to grassroots communities. And Haiti Action Committee has called a vigil in San Francisco on Monday, January 25.

Full story and photos: Emergency Vigil in Support of Haiti by Ross Plesset

"Inside the cyber cafe, everything was fine. But once we stepped outside, it was chaos," said Sis. Mawiyah. "Concrete buildings had fallen. There was rubble all over. Where can you run in the middle of an earthquake? So everyone ended up standing in the middle of the street. And even as I'm sitting here talking to you, it seems so surreal. When it first happened I was in shock like everyone else. But the tremors continued. Even until the day I left on Saturday, tremors were still occurring," she said in a slurred tone. She described an unforgettable image of a woman running down a mountain covered in blood and dust and yelling that her home had collapsed and her baby girl was still trapped. "That was within five minutes of the earthquake," said Sis. Mawiyah. [Full article with photos]

Coverage from indymedia.us: Independent Reporting and Mutual Aid Initiatives in Haiti Continue; Supporters in US Hold Vigil | Fresh Stuff from Mediahacker: No help forthcoming for Haitian journalists determined to keep broadcasting | Plane full of medicine turned away while health workers strain to treat patients in Port-Au-Prince | Tell CNN to stop hyping fears of violence in Haiti.

At around 1:30am on January 14th Nicholas Orrange, an amazing student activist from the University at Buffalo, died in a tragic car accident. Nick was an inspiration to many students at the University through his activism. He was currently serving as the Special Interest, Service, and Hobby Council Coordinator of the UB Student Association. At various points he was involved in efforts with UB Students Against Sweatshops, UB Anti-War Action, UB Freethinkers and UB College Democrats becoming a very close friend to many activist there. Many will remember him as a frequent participant in the Buffalo midnight bike rides.

He will be greatly missed. The Spectrum has created a space for friends to share their memories of him here.

Many others have written about Nick and his passing (The Spectrum 1 2 3 4, The Generation, UB Freethinkers)

read more

Leading the charge in linking immigrants as a scourge on Houston is Gary Blankinship (pictured), president of the Houston Police Officers Union. Following the shooting of Houston police officer Rick Salter in March 2009, Blankinship openly criticized Chief Hurtt and then Mayor Bill White for defending the City of Houston “sanctuary city” policy, a policy that does not allow officers to question the citizenship status of any person (General Order No. 500-5). READ MORE

From the newswire: Anarchist Book Fair – short report & photos by A | | Full report: Actions + Conversations + Intersections 2010: Second Annual Los Ángeles Anarchist Bookfair (part one) and Actions + Conversations + Intersections 2010: Second Annual Los Ángeles Anarchist Bookfair (part two) by Rockero

VIDEO: Videos from the L.A. Anarchist Bookfair by anarcho paparazzi | | AUDIO: Audio from the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair and Audio from the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Anarchist Bookfair (part 2) by Rockero

En Español: Acciones + Conversaciones + Intersecciones 2010: Segunda Anual Feria del Libro Anarquista (primera parte) y Acciones + Conversaciones + Intersecciones 2010: Segunda Anual Feria del Libro Anarquista (segunda parte) por Rockero

RELATED: OJORE LUTALO ARRESTED GOING HOME FROM LA ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR by LA-ABCF

2/1

Quench Series
Queer Qualifications: Disclosing LGBT Involvement
Illini Union, Rm 323, 12-1pm

Knit & Craft Nite
St. Jude Catholic Worker's House, 6pm

2/2

AEMS 2010 AsiaLENS Screenings:
Up the Yangtze
Spurlock Museum, 7pm

"Out in the Silence"
Etc Caf, Wesley Foundation, 7pm

Bike Project
Women & Trans Night
Feb 2, 6pm

2/3

"Mugabe and Reconciliation: the Genesis and Meaning of We Are All Zimbabweans Now"
101 International Studies Bldg, 12pm-1pm

Ojore has denied the charges, saying that he was having a conversation with a friend on the phone at the time. Ojore has been released and is out on $30,000 bail. He is currently staying with friends in Denver. Those who wish to help should contact Denver ABC for information.

Many see the arrest as suspect coming just days after Ojore’s appearance at the Los Angeles anarchist book fair. The arrest also follows an interview with Ojore aired on the local Pacifica station KPFK on Monday. Latest from the Newswire: Ojore Lutalo Update and Support by Mapache LA ABCF | | OJORE LUTALO ARRESTED | | VIDEO: OJORE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS ARREST ON AMTRAK & THE BOGUS CHARGES | | PhillyIMC Coverage

U.S. Attorney Clifford R. Cronk III is using his office’s investigation of a 2004 animal rights-related break-in at the University of Iowa to harass and punish targets whom he claims identify as anarchists, a political ideology dating back to the early 19th Century. To date, neither his superiors in the Department of Justice, nor the federal courts, have done anything to curtail his abuse of power. In behavior reminiscent of the darkest days of the McCarthy witch hunts, Cronk argues in court documents that anarchists are domestic terrorists who should be locked up for posing a threat to civil society based on nothing but the prosecutor’s unfounded political bias.

In the latest updates from the Davenport, Iowa grand jury cases that Cronk used as a springboard, a judge denied Scott DeMuth's motion to extend his upcoming "animal enterprise terrorism" trial date of March 1, even though he has not yet received any discovery from the government.  A new motion to extend the date will be filed; meanwhile DeMuth is still slated for a pretrial hearing on February 8.  Carrie Feldman, meanwhile, is still in Washington County, Iowa jail, despite a host of legal issues that should set her free.  Her recent appeal for release was denied 2-1, with the majority judges citing secret evidence.

Related: DeMuth Denied Continuance for Trial | Appeal for Carrie Feldman's Release Denied | TCDP: The Secret Case Against Carrie Feldman | Peter Young: Ex-U of Iowa Grad Student/Humane Society Lawyer Subpoenaed to Iowa Grand Jury | Grand Jury Resistance Project Statement of Solidarity" | davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com

FULL SCHEDULE WITH HIGHLIGHTS

The IMC is pleased to announce our second annual IMC Film Fest!  This celebration of the art of cinematography will once again highlight local and regional artists, giving them an opportunity to share their work and connect with other artists, community members, and organizations.  We’ve received a record number of submissions and expect a big turn out this year!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Healthcare: Local and Global Perspectives
On Friday night, we will open the festival with a discussion on the healthcare system, touching on both local and global aspects of this complex and timely issue.  The UCIMC has close ties the Gesundheit! Institute (http://www.patchadams.org/), a non-profit organization founded by Patch Adams in 1972.  Several IMC members work closely with the project and we now have an AmeriCorps serving at the UCIMC who is working directly with Patch and Gesundheit!  Don't miss the opportunity to view global healthcare systems from a new perspective:

"Clownin' in Kabul" (Directors Enzo Balestrieri & Stefano Moser, 2002) will show from 6:00pm - 6:55pm