In response to a suggestion that the City of Chicago should act mature and take some resposibility for the tragic deaths of six County workers, Mayor Daley scoffed: "We have a great fire department."

Eighteen months after a brutal DEA raid on the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) collective in Santa Cruz County, the seriously ill collective members finally got the protection from future raids and harassment they have sought since filing suit against the federal government one year ago. After reconsidering his earlier decision in the high profile case County of Santa Cruz et al. v. Ashcroft, Judge Jeremy Fogel of the Northern District of California has granted Plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and denied the government's motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint. Wednesday's (4/21/04) ruling will protect WAMM while the lawsuit is pending, and allow the collective to resume cultivation.

"The federal government can no longer ignore the will of the people of the State of California and the City and County of Santa Cruz to protect the health and welfare of terminally and chronically ill individuals," stated Neha Shah Nissen, an attorney with Bingham McCutchen.

"We applaud the Court's decision and we are profoundly pleased as we prepare to replant our garden," said Valerie Corral, co-founder of WAMM. "But we also steady ourselves for a tug of war with the present administration's unwillingness to honor the democratic process."

previous coverage: [ DEA Raids Santa Cruz Dispensary! (9/5/02) I WAMM's Medicinal Cannabis Distribution at City Hall I Audio from the WAMM Pot Giveaway (9/17/02) ]

[ Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana I Drug Policy Alliance I Americans for Safe Access ]

motion

Santa Cruz March for Women's Lives
April 16, 2004

(see the comments for a spoken word performance of Trouble in Paradise by Fritz)

Arnold's recent visit 2 UC Davis heralded his hydrogen highway HUMvee plan 4 CA. The water needed 4 the hydrogen fuel cells no doubt diverted from the local rivers?

Mujeres de la comunidad kolla de Mecoyita, Departamento de Santa Victoria Oeste, provincia de Salta , Argentina, bolquean camino a funcionarios corruptos

EDITORS' NOTE: The following is part of a series of questions and answers that followed a talk given by Bob Avakian, Chairman of the RCP, last year. It has been edited for publication here (and notes have been added).

U.S. War in Venezuela

The Campus Earth Festival will take place on Saturday, April 24, at 12:00 PM at UCSC's College 8 Plaza. The Festival is a combination of a bonanza music festival, a celebration of the local environmental movement, and an opportunity for the entire community to unite toward the wider purpose of sustainability.

The UCSC Student Environmental Center (SEC) is partnering with College 8 to coordinate the largest Earth Day celebration in campus history (2002 Festival). The "SlugStock" Campus Earth Festival, organized in the spirit of community, will feature the live music of five accomplished bands, who will join students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members in celebration of the university's pioneering sustainability movement.

RadioActive from Spearhead, one of the Bay Area's most popular and socially-conscious musical powerhouses, headlines a diverse line-up of popular artists. Also performing will be San Francisco-based indie pop rockers the Botticellis, Latin hip-hop troupe East L.A. Sabor Factory, Santa Cruz psychedelic rock group illumination, and UCSC "homegrown" Still Searchin'.

Keynote speaker Ocean Robbins, a Santa Cruz native and internationally acclaimed environmental activist, will deliver an address titled "When Hope Takes a Stand," a clarion call to people both young and old to embrace their particular vision for a better world.

The UC Santa Cruz Muslim Student Alliance presents "Women in Islam Week." All are welcome to this week-long event of educational talks, dialogue, and a poetry performance to challenge and deconstruct stereotypes and misconceptions of Women in Islam.

On Tuesday, April 20, there will be a Question and Answer panel of four Muslim women from different backgrounds sharing their unique experiences.

Wednesday's event, Women and Islamic Law (Shariah), will be presented by Stanford Professor Hina Aza.

On Thursday, April 22, there will be a spoken word performance by an artist collective based in the Bay Area called Calligraphy of Thought.

UC Santa Cruz Muslim Student Alliance