Tune in to the broadcast [link], Thursdays 4 to 5pm (PST), with news from across Northern California, produced by [NorthbayMDS.Blogspot.com]! Broadcast to the San Pablo bay area courtesy of Ozcat Radio 89.5FM KZCT Vallejo. Join the Community Journalist program, send news & info to [NorthbayMDS@gmail.com]. Know more with the Community Journalist's Notebook [link]!
ACTION HEADLINES!
The end of the celebrations for Martin Luther King, the beginning of Black History Month:
The best way to honor and celebrate someone who struggled for liberation and who was the victim of a politically-motivated assassination is to continue the work, build the movements, and speak the truth. The hypocrisy of the war criminals, imperialists, and human rights violators who feign to honor for Martin Luther King, Jr. is appalling (i.e. Obama, Virginia Bass, Rex Bohn, police chiefs). They exploit the sacrifices of millions of people in struggle then and now - and continue to work against their very lives.
Please listen to the recordings below!
* Martin's Song (2:47) by Mumia Abu-Jamal [prisonradio.org/media/audio/mumia/martins-song-247-mumia-abu-jamal]
Below are two links to a powerful speech that we hardly every hear.
* Reverend Martin Luther King, "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence", April 4, 1967, Riverside Church, New York City [youtube.com/watch?v=OC1Ru2p8OfU#t=3182], and at [archive.org/details/MartinLutherKing-BeyondVietnam-1967]
"In Wake of Protest Over Police Murder, Cops Crack Down on Journalism in Fullerton, CA"
by Steven Argue
[https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/19/18749428.php]
"State and federal agencies suppress dissent on twin tunnels"
by Dan Bacher [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/28/18749906.php]
Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) draft EIR available for public review [link]
“JCAL Blasts DA Ravitch and the SR Police Department’s Total Lack of Transparency in Deputy Gelhaus Shooting Investigation”
2014-01-30 from “Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez (JCAL)” [www.justicecoalitionforandylopez.com] :
Wednesday night, January 29, JCAL unanimously condemned the press release issued by Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch earlier that day. In what increasingly appears to be a concerted whitewash of the Oct. 22nd shooting of13-year old Andy Lopez by Deputy Sheriff Erick Gelhaus, DA Jill Ravitch and the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) continued to maintain an impenetrable cloak of silence blanketing the “Investigative Report” into Deputy Gelhaus’ murder of toy gun touting Andy Lopez.
TheDA’s press release failed to mention a single word as to the actual findings of SRPD’s Report. While DA Ravitch praised the SRPD for its “thorough review” of the Oct. 22nd shooting of Andy, the press release dodged the essential issue – the finding of the Report as to criminal liability by Deputy Gelhaus. After over 3 months, the public demands to know the results of theInvestigative Report, but mum is the word.
“The impenetrable code of silence surrounding the SRPD’s Investigative Report is precisely what we have both feared and predicted,” said JCAL attorney Jonathan Melrod. “JCAL has maintained from the outset of the Investigation that the SRPD is incapable of conducting an unbiased, transparent review of Deputy Gelhaus’ shooting of Andy. By not releasing a single detail the Report amounts to a continued whitewash of this wanton, brutal murder of a young Latino boy in the Moorland community.”
JCAL organizer Mary Moore agreed. "We have maintained even before Andy's killing that Sonoma County needs an independent eye looking at ongoing law enforcement issues in our community as this issue has a long history. In 1998, after a spate of police related deaths of civilians we were able to get the US Civil Rights Commission up here for hearings. Their report, issued in 2000 sided with the community concerns and made several recommendations which have been ignored since then" she said. "Independent oversight is desperately needed and that does not mean one local law enforcement group investigating another".
DA Ravitch went on to lay groundwork for not issuing her finding as to whether Deputy Gelhaus “violated criminal law” within the 90-day period allotted to her office to make a final decision. “I caution the public to remember that this timeline is not a legal requirement but a recommendation,” said DA Ravitch. Pushing her decision past the 90-day mark allows the DA to remain silent until after Election Day June 3d. JCAL dismisses talk of exceeding the 90-day period as a dodge to allow Ravitch to skate by Election Day without taking action to indict Deputy Gelhaus for the murder of Andy.
According to JCAL’s Jonathan Melrod, “Last night the Coalition endorsed a robust “90 Day Justice Campaign” to demand that DA Ravitch unequivocally respect the 90-day period and move to indict Deputy Gelhaus. We have plans for a concerted series of weekly and monthly protests that will continue to include mobilization of the Latino Community in SW Santa Rosa, marches and street demonstrations, aggressive lawsuits targeting police harassment and attendance at City Council and County Board Meetings. This spring’s Justice Campaign will culminate in a massive statewide march in Santa Rosa on June 20th in commemoration of what would be Andy’s 14th birthday.”
“South Korean Consulate Disrupts Solidarity Rally for Korean Rail Workers”
2014-01-20 by Richard Chen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Iu6RVh3eI]
On January 17th, 2014, the Transport Workers Solidarity Committee held a rally at the South Korean Consulate in San Francisco in defense of the Korean Rail Workers Union (KRWU). In retaliation, the South Korean Consulate, in cooperation with the US State Department, mobilized conservative Koreans and veterans from the North West Korean American Veterans Association to disrupt the rally.
The right-wing Koreans chanted "We Love Park Geun-hye", "Unions Suck", "Go Back to North Korea" and "Kill the Communists" and physically threatened a Korean union supporter. The Consulate also orchestrated media coverage from sympathetic journalists.
The KRWU waged the longest rail strike in South Korean history in December 2013 against a privatization drive by the right-wing government of Park Geun-hye. The Park government declared the strike illegal, put out arrest warrants for the union leadership and forced them into hiding.
On December 22nd, 2013, the Park government then assaulted the offices of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) with 5,000 police, who used tear gas and pepper spray on protesters. 120 unionists were arrested and the government succeeded in breaking the strike. Arrest warrants are still out for the union leadership and the government intends to continue with the privatization drive.
A General Strike has been called by the KCTU for February 25th. Another rally in support of Korean workers will take place in San Francisco on that same day.
* "Battle At SF Korean Consulate: Hands Off Korean Workers!" [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/19/18749442.php]
* "Korean Government Pays Demonstrators At SF Korean Consulate To Support Park Geun-hye Gov" by Transport Workers Solidarity Committee [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/18/18749377.php]
* "SF Teacher Solidarity With Korean Railway Workers And The Action At SF Korean Consulate" [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/30/18750007.php]
"Celebrating Fair Use for Copyright Week"
[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/01/celebrating-fair-use-copyright-week]
"The Law Belongs In the Public Domain"
[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/01/law-belongs-public-domain]
"Berkeley Gathering Calls for Defense of the Bill of Rights"
2014-01-27 from "Berkeley Calling" [http://berkeleycalling.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/berkeley-gathering-calls-for-defense-of-rights]:
On Thursday, January 24, 2014 over 400 Bay Area residents were treated to a panel of civil liberties leading activists at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Berkeley California titled “NSA Surveillance and Our ‘Almost Orwellian’ State.” The living Free Speech tradition of Berkeley, CA, the home of one of the University of California's most famous universities, was shining like a beacon to the world once again. An eloquent and heart-felt call to Defend the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States was issued by a group of distinguished and experienced speakers. Shahid Buttar, Executive Director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, was one of the main speakers at the forum. Shahid Battar was joined by Daniel Ellsberg, the iconic whistleblower of The Pentagon Papers fame, a national hero described by President Nixon as "the most dangerous man in America”; Norman Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction.org and producer of the film “War Made Easy”; Cindy Cohn, Legal Director and General Counsel to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Rainey Reitman, Activism Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and BORDC board member, kicked off the event with brief remarks. The moderator was Robert Jaffee, a volunteer attorney on the Hedges v. Obama case challenging “indefinite detention without due process”.
“Humboldt Sheriff's Throwing Out Homeless Persons' Belongings”
2014-01-05 from “Peoples' Action for Rights and Community (PARC)”:
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department, in the past few days, brought a dumpster to a place where people had tents and other belongings. The Sheriff's Department, I believe using the labor of people in jail or doing SWAP, took every homeless person's belongings and DISPOSED OF THEM.
I guess Mitchell, Birsso, Delaney and Vrieze law firm can again line its pockets with public money to defend human/civil rights violations. The City of Eureka just spent $13,400 dollars hiring the firm to prosecute one homeless man's camping tickets. No evidence of garbage, drugs, drinking- nothing but SLEEP. This same law firm lost in the civil case about the murder of Martin Cotton, beat to death by Eureka officers (Laird, Winkle, Whitmer, et al). This same firm milked Humboldt County people for seven years of failed litigation defending the use of q-tipped and sprayed pepper-spray in non-violent protesters' eyes. The disgusting list goes on and on. The more abuse, the more cases, the more money for Nancy Delaney and crew.
But the reality for homeless people, who are not making their "living" on the deaths, victimization, and abuse of others, is that the County of Humboldt and City of Eureka are leaving them with NOTHING. Imagine staying outside tonight for even just 5 hours with nothing- no blankets- nothing. Then throw out all of your photos, food, letters, clothes, memorabilia... It's cruelty what is happening. One woman who's every belonging was stolen and thrown out by the Sheriff's (and she has pneumonia) told me tonight that she can imagine how someone in a natural disaster feels, losing everything. And that it feels kind of like she was raped.
Crimes against humanity. Indecent. Unacceptable. We cannot let this continue.
Robert Manning died in December, froze to death sleeping on the streets of Eureka.
Politics of cruelty protect NO ONE.
P.S. We got the above-mentioned survivor two sleeping bags (one has a broken zipper) and, for the night, a yard and small tent. Tomorrow we need community help to get her anti-biotics, medications- St. Joe's Hospital only gave her medication while she was in as a patient- nothing to take with her- with pneumonia!
ACTION CALENDER!
Forum on Community Oversight/Review Boards - Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez
Thursday, Jan. 30, 4:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Forum - 4:30 to 6:00
Discussion - 6:00 to 6:45
At the Bertolini Student Center Dining Commons, Santa Rosa Junior College [1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa]
The Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez is studying models on community oversight/review boards in order to make recommendations to the County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa. People who have experience with various models will present their ideas at this forum.
* Alan Barnett- Marin Peace and Justice Coalition
* Brian Buchner - President NACOLE National Association Citizen Oversight of Law Enforcement
* Jayson Wechter - NACOLE Board of Directors - worked on the campaign of the ballot initiative that created the San Francisco Office of Citizen Complaints in 1982.
* Andrea Pritchett – Berkeley Copwatch
* Rashida Grinage - Executive Director of PUEBLO - People United for a Better Life in Oakland
* Dan Silva – Independent Investigator that worked on cases for SFOCC, Citizen's Police Review Board
What is Happening to City College of San Francisco?
Sunday, February 2, 2014 - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: NPML, 6501 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94609 [http://marxistlibr.org] [510-595-7417].
Public institutions and unionized workers are under attack. Anti-union neo-liberals have been advocating their privatization and transformation to better serve the needs of business to enable the wealthy to accumulate more wealth.
A leading example of a public college being targeted is California's largest community college, City College of San Francisco (CCSF). In addition to facing the current attacks on public education, the CCSF community has been brought under tremendous pressure by an out of control and abusive private accrediting agency that is threatening the college with closure. This agency's demands for "reform" are being carried out by a state imposed special trustee who has been granted dictatorial power to run the college. The changes enacted represent an assault on both the many working class and disadvantaged students the college serves, and its faculty and staff. CCSF has been significantly downsized.
Rick Baum, a part-time political science instructor at CCSF for over fifteen years, has been active in the fight to save the college. He will provide an overview of what has been happening and answer questions.
Justice for Andy Lopez
Confused? Curious? Want to Help? Come to the Monday Dialog
February 3 at 6:30 pm
At the Unitarian Universalist Hall, [547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa]
As the murder of Andy Lopez galvanizes the community into action, differing ideas about what happened and what should be done are circulating. Many believe this is a watershed moment for social justice in Sonoma County with national implications. Join an anti-racist dialog to explore questions such as
What are the long-term ramifications of Justice for Andy Lopez beyond the indictment?
What are the short-term goals?
What are the societal impacts of the indictment?
Is the killing an aberration? Is Gelhaus a "bad apple"?
If he is, do we need to reseed the police?
What is the function of the police under white supremacy?
Brought together by the Racial Justice Allies [RacialJusticeAllies@gmail.com]
Our mission is to create a space where white people explore and take responsibility for racism and white privilege, develop antiracist identities and practices, and work as allies for racial justice.
Capitalism, Climate Change and Alienation Public Forum and Discussion
Sunday February 2, 2014 1pm-4pm
Oakland Main Library [125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612]
Capitalism is destroying our planet. An overwhelming majority of scientists acknowledge that climate change is causing the mass extinction of numerous species of animals and plants, and is likely to make the planet unlivable for many more species in the near future, as well as threatening humanity with starvation, disease, and massive loss of life. What these scientists and the mass media are not telling us is that climate change is driven by the capitalist profit system, and its severity and effects cannot be alleviated without abolishing that system.
Climate change is already having devastating effects. One of the most powerful typhoons in recorded history just wreaked havoc in the Philippines, killing thousands, and destroying the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, 2013 is shaping up to be the driest year on record in California. Millions of people know that climate change is the most serious threat humanity has ever faced. To reduce the threat, we must take immediate steps to transform the global economy into one that is sustainable and environmentally sound. This can only be done by a society that is founded on rational planning to serve human needs, not profit. Only in this way can we reduce the impending suffering and loss of life, and avoid the potential ultimate destruction of the human race. Why are the masses not rising up to defend our planet and our survival? The answer lies in the alienated mentality instilled in us by capitalism and the culture it promotes.
Find out why we must fight for socialist revolution as the only way to prevent capitalism and climate change from destroying our planet. Find out why it is impossible to win without transcending the culture and psychology of alienation, which keeps millions demoralized and paralyzed, unable to wage the necessary struggle for the survival of the human race. Participate in an open discussion on why we need a revolutionary party and movement that can fight against climate change through the revolutionary means of the class struggle.
Sponsored by Humanist Workers for Revolutionary Socialism (HWRS) [HumanistsForRevolutionarySocialism.org] [HumanistWorkers@ymail.com] [facebook.com/pages/Humanists-for-Revolutionary-Socialism/80134436166]
Disclaimer: The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users.
Occupy Sonoma County!
Monday, Feb. 3, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Monthly discussion and organizing meeting for Occupy Sonoma County.
The Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
Close the Death Chamber Candlelight Vigil
Monday, February 03, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
at the West Gate of San Quentin Prison at San Quentin, CA
Katrina’s Dream [http://www.katrinasdream.org/] will be holding a Candlelight Vigil and Community Assembly on February 3, at 4:30 pm. We will meet in front the West Gate of San Quentin Prison. People of all faiths will be gathering, calling on Governor Jerry Brown and our Legislators to Close the Death Chamber at San Quentin Prison and abolish the Death Penalty here in California.
A small group from Katrina’s Dream, have been holding a monthly candlelight vigil, every first Monday since February 7, 2011. Unfortunately, the lead organizer passed away unexpected. Please see [http://www.marinscope.com/sausalito_marin_scope/news/article_3cb33422-cee3-11e2-bcd5-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=image&photo=0]
We are bringing back the vigils and need your support, presence and prayers more than ever. We are asking that you share the news of this vigil with all your friends and family. We hope that people of State of California will stand up and say, “NO MORE KILLINGS – NOT IN MY NAME”.
To attend in spirit please visit [http://www.facebook.com/events/228439577279777/]
"Wheatland 4", Anti-Drone Protestors to Put Drone Warfare on Trial
(Defendants: Martha Hubert, Robin Ryan, Bill Doub and Toby Blome)
When: February 3, (Original date was Jan. 13)
Where: Sacramento, U.S. Courthouse, 50l I St.
8:00-9:00 am: Pre-trial Anti-Drone Rally, and press conference outside the courthouse
9:00am: Trial begins.
In April, 2013, 5 activists were arrested on April 30, 2013, while attempting to deliver a letter to the Commander at Beale AFB during a nonviolent protest of drone warfare. 4 of the defendants face trespassing charges and a maximum of 6 months in jail. Barry Binks, the 5th arrestee had his charges dropped due to his veteran status. Please attend the pre-trial rally and join the trial to stand in unity with us against the brutality and illegality of drone warfare.
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