The US Justice Department estimates more than three-quarters of a million people in the US are gang members. For decades, various street gangs have operated in large US cities, but in recent years, many small towns and rural areas have become fertile ground for gang activity. As the U.S. Conference of Mayors convenes today in DC for a National Summit on Gang Violence, FSRN's Vinny Lombardo examines how one California community is confronting these issues and crafting solutions.

On May 7th the UCSC Anarchist Research Cluster and the Center for Cultural Studies will host a one-day conference and conversation exploring and contextualizing contemporary anarchism.

Organizing questions include: How can we think adequately about anarchism’s place in current social justice movements? What resources does anarchism present us for addressing the current moment? What is it about this current conjuncture that resonates with anarchism? How might anarchism be a part of re-politicizing the academic left?

The conference will include two panels with ample time for discussion, and an extended lunch discussion. Conference speakers include Iain Boal, Arif Dirlik, Carwil James, John Holloway, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Barry Pateman, Roger White, and Eddie Yuen.

The open form of the conference will facilitate a roundtable atmosphere for all to participate actively.

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Pat True, a UC Santa Cruz worker and member of the local CUE (clericals) union, has been fasting since the night of Monday, April 18. He will not end his hunger strike until the UCSC administration releases information about who ordered the excessive force and pain compliance methods applied by police on non-violent protestors at Tent University.

The developmental process for a On-line litigation process for prosecution and defense against the U.S. Government results in an Illegal action on-line that has controlled the Santa Barbara Indy Media Web-page for postings from Bellingham Wa.:

Fort Lee, NJ - On Saturday, April 30, 2005, an international group of people will arrive in Fort Lee NJ. They will be met by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba, and Hiroshima bomb survivors.

No reasonable person would believe the investigation of former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros would have continued this long. Cisneros resigned from office on November 21of 1996. He subsequently pled guilty to a misdemeanor, paid a $10,000 fine, and received a presidential pardon.

Weekly Cartoon from Dirtworshiping Heathens Sketchbook...

Semana de la Raza 2005

Monday, May 2nd
7:00 pm
CSUMB University Center Ballroom (Bldg. 29)
FREE

Directions: csumb.edu/general/how-get-here.html

Key Note Address by Ward Churchill, Native Scholar and Activist, "On Perpetual War: U.S. State Sponsored Terrorism & the Limits of Academic Dissent."

Introduction by Rudy Rosales, Tribal Member Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation.

Presented by California State University at Monterey Bay, MEChA and Events Workgroup.

Camilo Mejia, the first Iraq military resister, will be honored by the Santa Cruz community and tell the story of his moral decision, going AWOL and later turning himself in to face trial and a year in the stockade - Wednesday May 4th, 7pm, at the Santa Cruz Veteran’s Hall, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz.