USA: Response to President Bush
President Bush again failed to address longstanding concerns regarding US detention policies and practices in the context of the "war on terror", Amnesty International said in response to his comments today.

LIVE WEB STREAM TUESDAY MAY 31st 7pm PST

Emergency Grand Jury Teach-In

Enemy Combatant Radio broadcasts live from Station 40, San Francisco

At least ten local activists have been subpoenaed in the last week to appear before a federal grand jury convened in SF. In recent decades, the federal government has increasingly used the grand jury to intimidate and harass activists pushing for social justice.

Late Wednesday afternoon, teachers, union members, parents, students, and others rallied across California to protest Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's education budget cuts. Tens of thousands turned out in Sacramento, and about 3,000 rallied in downtown LA, while smaller events were held around the state, including Watsonville, where about 120 people gathered in the Plaza.

Californians from all over the state met in Sacramento to tell the governor: we won't be silent while you try to run over our cities, schools and hospitals like a spoiled, testosterone-poisoned movie star driving drunk behind the wheel of a giant gas-worshipping Hummer!

Pajaro Valley AFT 1936 Committee on Political Education organized a rally at the Plaza in Watsonville on May 25, which included students, teachers and their supporters. The theme of the demonstration was Broken Promises + Broken Schools = Broken Dreams. About 100 people where part of the energenic protest against Arnold and his neglect for youth and education in Watsonville. The rally was part of a statewide day of protest against Governor Schwarzenegger and his so-called "reforms." Photos: 1 | 2

In Sacramento, more than 25,000 people, including teachers, nurses, firefighters and labor unions, rallied against Governor Schwarzenegger and his broken promises to public services. Country Joe sang "I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die," his famous anti-Viet Nam War song. The crowd enthusiastically sang along in the heat. Representatives from the so-called special interests groups spoke and told their powerful stories and demanded that Arnold keep his promises to California. An airplane flew the message "California is not for sale!" Read more... || Reportback and Photos: (part 1)

In Los Angeles, about three thousand public employees attended a rally, “Action Day For a Better California,� in Downtown LA at Pershing Square. Parents, teachers, registered nurses, firefighters and police officers showed up to display their discontentment about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's policy agenda shortchanging them and their children." Photos

See also: Indybay's Education page