New Year's Eve Noise Action targets Jails and Prisons.

(THIS ACTION ROCKED!!!)

"Resistance."

 Tent City, Phoenix, AZ. 

April 2011

-----------from Phoenix COPWATCH--------

Global Noise Demo: NYE 2011/2012

Saturday, 31 

December 2011 

12 noon - 2pm 

31st Ave & Durango, PHX

• In response to the international callout for New Year’s Eve prison solidarity noise demos, we are organizing an action at the Durango jail in South Phoenix. Noise demos break the isolation and alienation of the cells that the state creates, and reaches those inside to let them know they have not been forgotten. You’ll want some signs, banners, pots & pans, drums, and lots & lots of noise! Abolish prisons and the world that maintains them! We will play for all until the walls fall!

We are One: Defy Wells Fargo! APRIL 4, 2011.

Needless to say, all of the immigrant-chasing people like Brewer and Pearce do has only distracted the working class from who our real enemy is: the people in power who profit from exploiting us all. We need to take back our money.

These protests and days of action are all good and well, but one thing the King of Love knew well was the power of the extended boycott. These people just can't make enough money to make themselves happy without doing so at our expense, and we aren't really going to hurt them unless the whole working and struggling middle class (and their unions) divested economically from Wells Fargo - private citizens, community organizations, schools, and governments all being screwed by these people just need to walk away.

Enough with the lip service to "social responsibility" from corporations that just bury their body count more effectively to boost their bottom line, too. It's time to really push for meaningful public investment standards and tax laws that protect the rest of us from the corrosive greed of a few.

Anyway, I honestly don't know what protests are organized for Phoenix today - there's just an AFL-CIO lunchtime MLK/CHavez celebration listed on these' folks' website. (If you didn't already RSVP, forget it). I have my chalk and my autonomy, though, so I'll hit someone's sidewalk by the end of the day.

------------------------------

April 4 – Union, Community and Student Activists will mark the anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Job Actions, Sit-Ins and Protests

The union movement has called for “We Are One” actions across the country to mark this important anniversary and to call for solidarity with Wisconsin workers and the struggle for justice every where. Thousands of actions both big and small are being called not only by the unions but by community and student groups who are joining on this day.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he stood fighting for the dignity of 1,300 sanitation workers and their right to a union.

Workers across the country -- public sector and industrial like port workers -- are sick and tired of union busting and attacks on the working class. Here are just a few of the exciting things planned for April 4:

*Sit-in with Oakland teachers. More than 600 teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians who serve the mostly Black community in Oakland are facing layoffs. They will march to Wells Fargo bank, sit-in to demand that the banks pay their share. They will set up a classroom inside the bank to teach about the role of the banks and the economic crisis.

Find a Wells Fargo bank in your area to picket or leaflet. In Los Angeles, Baltimore and other cities Wells Fargo solidarity actions are already planned. In LA, SEIU health care workers and the Bailout the Peoples Movement will demand Wells Fargo stop foreclosures and evictions, too. For info call Betty Olson-Jones, Oakland Education Association President at 510-866-3676 in Oakland and in Los Angeles call John Parker at 323-899-2003.

*Wisconsin workers -- at the epicenter of the struggle for the rights of all workers -- continue their struggle with a variety of statewide events on April 4. Major marches Milwaukee and Madison will welcome Sanitation workers from Memphis, Tenn. and the California Longshore workers' ILWU Local 10 Drill Team

In Milwaukee, 3:30-6:01 pm, MLK Statue on MLK drive, march and rally with a moment of silence at 6:01 pm. In Madison, the Poor People’s March, meets at Madison City Hall at 5 pm. At t he Capitol's State St. Steps gather for "From Memphis to Madison Rally" and candlelight vigil on MLK Blvd. from the Capitol to Monona Terrace.

*In North Carolina a dynamic coalition of the NAACP, UE 150, Black Workers for Justice and the NC State AFL-CIO is spearheading actions. These organizations have been leading the fight for workers rights in the South. For a events go to: http://tinyurl.com/NAACPWeAreOne.

*In New York City area — Communication Workers of America (CWA) and student and community activists are marching on City Hall to demand and end to budget cuts and attacks on workers and "March and Rally for Jobs, Peace, Justice and Equality" 5:30 pm, Corner of Broad and Market Streets, Newark, NJ - For more info call 973-801-0001.

*Replaced UAW Local 174 drivers say, “You don’t have to go to Wisconsin. Union Busting Ryder Is Here In Detroit.” GM is using non-union drivers for "just-in-time" parts deliveries. Picket the GM Hamtramck Assembly plant in the morning. "We are one" event gathers at Campus Martius Park, marches to Labor Arch. http://www.metrodetroitaflcio.org/

The revolution is being televised: Wisconsin police resistance.

This is from last week, the night the cops joined the labor union members protesting in the Wisconsin state house in a show of solidarity. They were serving their own interests, maybe, but how much of what's going down with the unions in Wisconsin is really about bringing EVERYONE up a notch for the greater good, anyway? I wonder who'll end up getting thrown under the bus after all this...probably ex-felons and prisoners.

Nevertheless, it's a great moment for the history books.

Fascists, White Supremacists dominate AZ Republican Primaries.

The Fascists all but swept the Republican Primaries here last night, and in most of their strongholds the Democrats won't have much chance come November. We're still holding out hope that the corrupt Andrew Thomas loses to the incompetent Tom Horne, but overall, it's a bleak Wednesday morning in Phoenix.


Having no tv is a good excuse to get out and about on a night like last night, so I brought my "Bury Hep C..." signs with me to the AZ GOP Party HQ to witness the tragedy unfold. It was far worse than I expected. It looks like many of my friends took one step closer to spending the next few years in an Arizona state prison, all for the love of Food Not Bombs, music under the bridge, and sidewalk chalk. Freedom of expression and human rights will soon be tossed out of the back seat by Thomas' Law and Arpaio's disorder.


I was pleading more than protesting with my signs to fight Hep C , standing quietly across the street. When I saw what was happening on their big screen - and in the audience of small people - I thought it would be foolish to be caught disrupting the occasion without my own witnesses. The media was out in full force, of course, but seemed to be thoroughly co-opted. With the exception of a few words of encouragement from parting celebrants, I was virtually ignored.

from Monday morning's demonstration,
the message I brought to the Republicans Tuesday night.

The scene at the Republican's party - ringed by MCSO deputies - was truly disturbing. I had to close my eyes and imagine that it was just a bloodbath between klansmen and skinheads, as whomever was left standing would likely still go on to try to destroy the rest of us.


Huppenthal - chair of the Senate Education Committee that brutalized teachers and children last year - may be the next State Superintendent. They're moving in for the kill with the kids.


Unless there's a Libertarian coup in November, the Maricopa County Attorney's office is actually losing Romley to Arpaio's buddy, Bill Montgomery. I never thought I'd be sorry to see that guy go so quickly, but I think darker days are ahead.


Whoever went up against Russ Pearce didn't stand a chance in hell, of course - I haven't even trolled the internet to find out if there was some miraculous upset in his race. He wasn't to be seen in Phoenix, as far as I could tell - I suspected he was celebrating in Mesa with Tea Partiers, Neo-Nazis, and the other white supremacists out there.


Most troubling, perhaps, is that last nights winners didn't come out of far right field without a lot of help from the "center". These people were the official nominees of their party. The crowd unabashedly cheered Arpaio and Thomas (whose race remains too close to call) as they slapped each other's backs and smiled for the cameras without another protester in sight.


The list goes on and will be verified and complete to be pondered over by pundits soon enough. Suffice it to say, it looks like it's about to get a whole lot worse in this state before it gets better, so watch each other's backs out there, my friends. SB 1070 is what brought these people their victories last night. This may have been the Summer of Human Rights, but this fall will undoubtedly see some ethnic and political cleansing in a Season of Hate as this Republican slate solidifies their base by doing what they do best: demonizing unions and immigrants, incarcerating the poor for profit, and dismembering the traitors in their own ranks.


We can certainly hope that the legions of registered Republicans who voted for the lesser of their many evils will join the Democrats and the independent voters in an upset in November - it would suggest that we finally have a more progressive electorate, if nothing else.


For my part, though, even with a Democratic sweep I don't expect the oppressed to be liberated by any part of this political machine. Instead, I pray for revolution. Perhaps this blatant horror will be precisely what we need in order to unshackle our own feet, free our own neighbors, and take back both the land and the resources for the people and other living beings whose ancestors long pre-dated the Anglo invasion.


Until the next time we meet dancing in the streets, comrades - be strong, and remember the power of song. There remains a hell of a battle ahead, which will come to us if we don't go out and meet it full on.


With my utmost respect to the Resistance -


In solidarity, forever.


Peg

Decimas para Marilyn Buck: Carlos Quiles.

Thanks to Freedom Archives for putting this out where we can find it.

-----------------------

En Memoria Marilyn Buck

Sentada al frente Marilyn Buck, detras las hermanas Lucy y Alicia Rodríguez

Ida Luz Rodríguez
Especial para CLARIDAD

Se nos ha ido nuestra hermana y compañera Marilyn Buck. Pasó a otra vida el 3 de agosto rodeada por el profundo amor de amigas y amigos quienes dieron testimonio que Marilyn enfrentó la muerte de la misma manera que vivió la vida, con amor y valor.


En 1985, Marilyn, fue sentenciada a 80 años de cárcel por su incansable defensa del derecho a la dignidad y libertad de los seres humanos. Luchó contra la injusticia, el racismo y el colonialismo que tanto daño le ha hecho a la humanidad y la naturaleza. Durante sus 25 años en cárceles del gobierno de los Estados Unidos logró engendrar solidaridad, amor y respeto internacional.


Al final de 2009, Marilyn fue diagnosticada con un sarcoma uterino, un cáncer poco común y muy agresivo. El 15 de julio de 2010, fue excarcelada del centro médico carcelario en Carswell, Texas y vivía en Brooklyn, Nueva York en la casa de su entrañable amiga y abogada Soffiyah Elijah. El ser que fue Marilyn caló profundamente en mi corazón y en el de mi hermana Alicia. Nosotras como prisioneras políticas compartimos momentos muy importantes con la compañera. Su humanidad y brillantez nos sirvió como una luz.


Alicia y yo pensando en Marilyn nos acordamos de un domingo, 5 de septiembre de 1999 en la cárcel en Dublin, California cuando todavía estábamos dialogando y reflexionando sobre si aceptar o no la oferta del Presidente Clinton. Esa mañana nosotras nos encontrábamos frente al televisor mirando el programa Meet the Press con un moderador y tres invitados. Uno de los panelistas fue el congresista puertorriqueño Luis Gutiérrez quien bravamente enfrentó la cólera y el racismo de los otros panelistas enfurecidos con la oferta del Presidente Clinton. Ya habían pasado casi tres semanas de una gigante ola de represión y racismo desatada por gran parte de los medios noticiosos y represivos que buscaban las formas de impedir nuestra salida de la cárcel.


Como puertorriqueño Luis Gutiérrez sintió el impacto racista y peligroso de las palabras de los panelistas, miró fijamente la cámara, y dijo “que salgan ya”. Nosotras entendimos que se dirigía a nosotros los prisioneros políticos. Marilyn, Alicia y yo entendimos que había fuerzas poderosas que buscaban mantenernos encarcelados costara lo que costara y que la salida nuestra de la cárcel sería una victoria para la nación boricua. Nos acordamos que Marilyn nos miró y nos dijo ustedes no pueden negar la oferta. Tienen que salir ahora. Esas palabras nos tocaron el corazón porque sabíamos que ella se iba a quedar encarcelada.


De nuevo pensando en Marilyn nos acordamos del 10 de septiembre, día de nuestra salida de la cárcel. Alrededor del medio día nos despedíamos de las compañeras de prisión cuando oí un profundo llanto. Pregunté quién lloraba y las mujeres me dijeron es tu hermana Alicia. Había muchas mujeres dándonos la despedida así que no podía verla. Luego Alicia me dijo que el llanto fue producto de una profunda indignación que sintió porque no salían todos los presos políticos particularmente Carlos Alberto Torres, Oscar López Rivera y Haydée Beltrán. Mi hermana sintió un estado de paralización del cual se percató Marilyn y fue ella la que agarró a Alicia y la movió hacia la puerta y afuera la llevó hasta el lugar donde nos procesaron antes de salir de la cárcel. Para Alicia, Marilyn fue su puente hacia la puerta de salida de la prisión. Ésa fue Marilyn Buck. Tuvo un corazón noble y muy bravo.


El testimonio del compañero Carlos Quiles surge de su encuentro con Marilyn a través de la poesía, llamadas telefónicas y cartas.

Décimas para Marilyn Buck

Compañera, para ti
una décima criolla,
la más genuina, que apoya
lo más genuino de aquí.
Del terruño el frenesí
en humilde convivencia,
del campo la luz, la esencia,
los olores mañaneros
y los nocturnos luceros
testigos de tu conciencia.

Es que te siento tan nuestra,
tan nacional, tan cercana,
tan genuina, tan hermana,
del isleño amor la muestra.
El sentir patrio demuestra
lo que tú me has demostrado,
tú eres surco que el arado
ha abierto de libertad,
tú estás en mi vecindad,
tú eres boricua a mi lado.

Yo no quisiera llorar
pero tengo atragantado
tu sentimiento que ha dado
tanto, tanto por amar.
Yo no quisiera mirar
con mis ojos lagrimosos
esos tuyos tan hermosos
más no puedo contener
la rabia ni el llanto al ver
lo que te causó el acoso.

Con los brazos de esta tierra,
Marilyn, quiero abrazarte,
compañera, y quiero darte
todo el amor que ella encierra.
Tú eres patria, nuestra, guerra
por nuestra liberación
ajena a nuestra nación
ante los ojos del mundo,
presente en cada segundo
de nuestra revolución.

Tú eres la décima mía,
la de Llorens y Virgilio,
eres extranjero idilio,
tú eres cercana alegría.
La octosilábica via
para cantar nuestra historia,
tú eres lucha, eres memoria,
eres canto libertario,
eres fusil necesario
para llenarnos de gloria.

Marilyn Buck, compañera,
reconozco tu presencia,
tu lucha y tu consistencia
y tu entrega siempre fiera.
Esa voluntad sincera
que se acercó a mi nación
fue un acto de devoción
y de solidaridad
y apoyo a la libertad
desde lejana prisión.

Maravillosa mujer,
que mi patria te conozca
y que en tu ser reconozca
lo valioso del poder.
El poder de poder ser
en valor y sacrificio
chispa y fulgor, el indicio
que siempre estará presente
en las manos de la gente
para ser del fuego inicio.

Una décima sencilla,
una décima de amor,
una décima cual flor
que representa a mi Antilla.
Para tí, la maravilla
de mujer universal,
para tí ese cideral
espacio de gloria eterna
en la décima más tierna
de nuestro espacio vital.

5 de agosto de 2010

Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org

Questions and comments may be sent to claude@freedomarchives.org

SB1070 Resistance: No more business as usual.

Just scavenged this off of the Resistance to SB 1070: No Borders... blog - It's really inspiring. These people were pretty serious about their protest. Watch this whole thing. Then send it to a friend or two who might be joining us on the 28th. We have to undo SB 1070, which means we also have to undo everything that supports it: the vicious racism, the fear, the greed, the charades of "democracy", and the fascism, which isn't even veiled anymore...

----------------------

Costa Mesa action against the "Rule of Law"

June 15, 2010 — The City of Costa Mesa passed a resolution labeling itself a "Rule of Law City" against the undocumented immigrants! Costa Mesa has declared war on our community! The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has provided the city an ICE agent in their local jail to deport anyone without the "proper documentation". How can we help the police if we don't trust them? Our families will be torn apart and we cannot let that happen! The city has no jurisdiction on laws related to immigration, but yet the City Council has made of its city a smaller version of Arizona with the same harmful consequences on the people of Costa Mesa! *** This protest was organized by the people of Costa Mesa

Pei Wei: Workers of the World, Unite!

Friends and Supporters of the IWW,

(Español a continuación)

For those that haven't heard, the Phoenix IWW has been supporting the 12 Pei Wei restaurant workers who were fired for skipping a day's work to participate in the historic May 29th Demonstration Against Hate in opposition to SB 1070. Because Pei Wei has rarely terminated employees for 'no call, no shows', the firing of these 12 long time employees carries sickening political overtones.

This has been a very exciting campaign and the workers involved have been immensely inspiring. On June 16th, a delegation of workers and supporters visited the PF Chang corporate fortress in North Scottsdale in order to speak to a company representative. In response to these workers' request to talk, PF Chang corporate reps said little more than "Get off our property before we call the cops." This affront speaks volumes on PF Chang - Pei Wei's fundamental disrespect for the workers that make the profits for their company.

This Friday, June 25th at 6pm

we will be stepping up the pressure on Pei Wei and PF Chang's (their parent company) by picketing at several Pei Wei restaurants around the city simultaneously.

We are organizing demonstrations at at least three restaurants (7th Ave. & McDowell, 44th St. & Indian School, Guadalupe & McClintock) and possibly also at the Chandler Pei Wei (54th St. & Ray Rd.) which is the scene of the original crime against these brave workers.

Please join us Friday night at one of these locations. Check out the Phoenix IWW facebook page and Boycott Pei Wei/PF Chang's facebook for more details and updates.

We will be coordinating picketers for maximum impact so please let us know if you are coming and which restaurant is nearest you. Text call, and forward this message on to friends so we can demonstrate to PF Chang's that we will not let them punish these workers for exercising their right to participate in the against SB 1070 and a fight for their survival.

Thanks, Solidarity, and see you Friday!

Phoenix Industrial Workers of the World union

phoenix@iww.org

***

Compañeros y compañeras de la IWW,

Para aquellos que no han oído hablar, la IWW Phoenix ha estado apoyando a los 12 trabajadores de restaurantes Pei Wei que fueron despedidos por faltar un día de trabajo para participar en el histórico 29 de mayo de Demostración Contra el Odio en contra de la SB 1070. Debido a Pei Wei rara vez ha terminado empleados para 'no llame, no se presenta' el despido de estos 12 empleados lleva repugnante connotaciones políticas.

Esto ha sido una campaña muy emocionante y los trabajadores en cuestión han sido inmensamente inspirador. En el 16 de junio, una delegación de los trabajadores y simpatizantes visitaron la PF Chang fortaleza corporativa en el norte de Scottsdale con el fin de hablar con un representante de la compañía. En respuesta a la petición de estos trabajadores para hablar, PF Chang representantes de la empresa, dijo poco más que "bajar de nuestra propiedad antes de llamar a la policía." Esta afrenta dice mucho de PF Chang - Pei Wei la falta de respeto fundamental para los trabajadores que hacen que los beneficios para su empresa.

Este Viernes, 25 de junio a las 6pm

vamos a intensificar la presión sobre Pei Wei y PF Chang's (su empresa matriz) por piquetes en varias Pei Wei restaurantes alrededor de la ciudad al mismo tiempo.

Estamos organizando manifestaciones en al menos tres restaurantes (7th Ave. y McDowell, 44th St. y Indian School, Guadalupe y McClintock) y posiblemente también en el Pei Wei Chandler (54th St. y Ray Rd.) que es el escenario de la crimen original en contra de estos trabajadores valiente.

Únase a nosotros la noche del viernes en uno de esos lugares. Echa un vistazo a las páginas de facebook "Phoenix IWW" y "Boicot Pei Wei/PF Chang's" para obtener más detalles y actualizaciones.

Estaremos coordinando piqueteros para el impacto máximo así que por favor déjenos saber si usted viene y qué restaurante es más cercana a usted. LLame, texto, y la transmitirá el mensaje de este a amigos para que podamos demostrar a PF Chang's que no les permite castigar a estos trabajadores para ejercicio su derecho a participar en la contra SB 1070 y una lucha por su supervivencia.

Gracias, Solidaridad, y vemos el viernes!

Ramal de Phoenix de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo

Immigration Rhapsody, Arpaio, and Klan

This comes to us via my friend at the blog Chaparral respects no borders. This is what blogs and Indymedia are for. Check out what the Phoenix New Times covers later today, too, and take a look at Humanleague002's Youtube site in the next few days - he's got hours of footage from last night to edit before he can post. He's a great videographer (I hope that's what you're called, Dennis), and he's got all the Anti-Joe and Anti-racist rallies in Phoenix up there - plus a bunch of Copwatching. He's everywhere in this town with his camera in white supremacists' faces in particular - including the ones with badges and guns.


Keep up with the solidarity visits out there, by the way - just keep in mind that whenever you land here and wherever you link to from here, your IP addresses can get registered by more than just me. Things are kind of ugly in nevada, but they need outside support to get some transparency. We're still in a pretty heated battle out here too, of course; last night was definitely a manifestation of our potential collective power, though. 

Here's the song that sent Arpaio home. I don't think he'll be running for governor.  It was an incredible, liberating event, the whole First Amendment theme was right on. I think Arizona's going to be hard, but we might come through alright. There are some civil rights activists agitating herewho are rooted in their communities deeper than Pearce et al will ever be planted. 

Find footage of this if you can...pictures to come later today.


- Peg

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Immigration Rhapsody: Song Interrupts Arpaio

Protesters started singing towards the end of the event at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU on Monday. They sang the following song:

Immigration Rhapsody

http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2009/11/75603.php

Is this legitimate?
Is this atrocity?
Caught up in politics-
No sense of reality-
Open your eyes
Look down to the south and see-
The border stops brown folks, they cannot cross the line.
But its easy come, easy go,
for the rich, n’their cargo.
Anyway the migrants flow, doesn’t really matter to me,
To me

How do you… just kill a man,
Let him wither on his route,
Criminalized and shut out,
How do you… detain someone,
Because you perceive a threat to your privilege?
NAFTA, ooo,
Caused folks to lose their land
Just so the rich could profit off the outcome
Limit choice, lower pay, as if their lives don’t matter.

The hate, minutemen promote,
Sends shivers down my spine-
Heart is aching all the time,
Goodbye to bigotry –you’ve got to go-
Gotta leave this place behind n’reveal the truth-
Freedom ooo- (any way the migrants flow)
Without walls and jails,
What does it take for freedom to ring for all?

I see a little editorial ‘bout some creeps,
Russell Pearce, Russell Pearce could you be more fascistic?
Andrew Thomas presiding -very very frightening me-
Hey Arpaio , Hey Arpaio,
Hey Arpaio Hey Arpaio
Hey Arpaio payaso- payaso-o-o-o -
The border stops brown folks, they cannot cross the line -
Yeah the border stops brown folks, breaks up a family-
Spare all these folks from this monstrosity-
Easy come easy go, will you let them go?
Tent City! no-,they will not let you go-let ‘em go-
Tent City! they will not let you go-let ‘em go
Tent City! they will not let you go-let ‘em go
Will not let them go-let them go
Will not let them go let them go
No,no,no,no,no,no,no-
Hey Arpaio , Hey Arpaio, Hey Arpaio , let them go-
Rising up are the people in the streets, you see, you see, you see -

So you think you can jail me and spit in my eye-
So you think you can hate me and leave me to die-
Oh Arpeeo-cant do this to me Arpeeo-
Just gotta get out-just gotta get out of Tent City-

Media only matters,
Anyone can see,
Attention only matters-, ego only matters to he/me

SOLIDARITY

I'm going to spare you my long narrative justifying the actions I'm about to propose : Figure it out and if it's something you can do let us know the results - we'll start a blog dedicated to dealing with incidents of racial profiling and how the community can deal more effectively with it.

1. challenge racial-profiling: drive only with the minimum ID needed to identify you as the legal driver, that you are properly insured, etc. Leave any documentation you may have indicating citizenship at home. Ask police if they can independently verify your citizenship. If the police doubt your citizenship, it is up to them to prove they are wrong. Now keep track of two things for us:

What do white people get pulled over for to begin with?

How long do white people get detained pending verification of their citizenship?

Send your answers to my email.

2. Congregate at the Tuscon courthouse where Walt Staton will be sentenced for littering. That will be August 11. I'm sorry. That's all I know. I'll try to keep updated. Anyway, bring a jug of water, because the sentencing judge is going to ask him if he can refrain from continuing to commit this particular crime, and if 100 or 1000 people raise their jugs when he says no, he's going to keep doing this, then something's got to be done about this stupid choice of laws to enforce. Why is there no outcry over dead bodies littering the scenery in the Wildlife Refuge? It is because this has nothing to do with litter.