In an effort to save Salinas, California’s public library system, which is slated to shut down because of budget shortfalls, dozens of authors, community activists, and supporters organized an Emergency 24-hour “Read-In� outside the Cesar Chavez Public Library in Salinas, from Saturday, April 2 at 1pm to Sunday, April 3 at 1pm. Then at 1pm on Sunday, the Read-In merged with the annual Cesar Chavez March and Holiday Celebrations.

“We’re telling people to bring their tents, sleeping bags and favorite books. We’ll be here all day and all night to show our determination to keep our libraries open,� says Efren Barajas of United Farmworkers of America, one of the groups organizing the read-in.

The read-in included actor Hector Elizondo; poets Gary Soto and Jose Montoya; community leaders Dolores Huerta and Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero; musician Dr. Loco; and writers Maxine Hong Kingston, Riane Eisler, James Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, Jack Kornfield, Meredith Maran, and Wes “Scoop� Nisker, among others. In addition to the read-a-thon there was also music, movies, children’s activities, and an overnight camp-out.

Salinas is one of hundreds of communities throughout the United States whose libraries systems are facing severe cutbacks or elimination. According to the American Library Association, projected and announced library funding cuts have topped $111.2 million in the last 18 months, and almost every single state in the U.S. is facing library funding cuts of up to 50 percent.

Audio: Interview with Peter Kwiek of the Salinas Action League | Mike Farrell

Photo Coverage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Read More: Raza Work to Stop Library Closings | Chicken Soup for the Soul

Previous Coverage: Salinas Public Libraries will Close in the New Year
Audio: Salinas City Concil Votes to Shutter Libraries

[ Salinas Action League | Save Salinas Libraries! | CodePink's Actions Page | Governor Schwarzenegger, SAVE OUR LIBRARIES! ]

Evento en celebración del Día de César Chávez
Musica en vivo, Pelicula, Comida, Plactica, y mas Jueves el 31 de Marzo a las 5:30 en Holy Cross Church Hall de Santa Cruz [170 High St – al lado de la Missión]

Ven para aprender más del salud de campesinos, de inmigración, y del trabajo del campo, en celebración de la legacia de Chavez. Salud para la Gente placticará sobre el salud de campesinos en el condado de Santa Cruz. Para más información...

Cesar Chavez Day Celebration in Santa Cruz
You're invited to attend this fantastic program in celebration of Cesar Chavez's birthday and legacy, with music, food, film screening, raffle, photo display, discussion, and presentations on farmworker health. The event will take place on Thursday, 31 March, 5:30pm, at the Holy Cross Church Hall [170 High Street - Next to the Mission]. Read more...

Cesar Chavez Day: Walk for Dignity
In Los Angeles, we’ll pay homage to the 40th anniversary of the historic Delano Grape Strike, lend solidarity to the UFW and all workers who organize for a better future and salute the people's hero, Cesar Chavez, by attending the 7th Annual Cesar Chavez Walk at East Los Angeles College on Saturday, April 2nd, at 8am. Read more...

[ Davenport Resource Service Center | Salud Para La Gente ]

At a memorial today, friends and family shared memories, poetry and song, celebrating the generous spirit of Albert Walter Guzman, the patron of many community programs for supporting positive lifestyles in an era of increasing urban decay.

UCSC Students and Workers Got Some Action This Valentine's Day!

On Monday, February 14th, the Student & Worker Coalition for Justice, AFSCME Service Workers, CUE Clericals, and other campus unions "welcomed" incoming Chancellor Denise Denton on her first day at UCSC.

Several hundred students and workers marched from McHenry Library to Kerr Hall. At Kerr, the Budget Office was noisily occupied, with the large crowd flowing out onto the upper patio.

Photos: [ 1 I 2 ]
Video: Welcoming Chancellor Denton to UC Santa Cruz
Audio: Rally Against UC Budget Practices

See Also: Labor Struggles Continue at UCSC

	"You make an issue. The issue isn't there, just lying around waiting to be picked up off the sidewalk. It is what the author is intense about in his life." Last night (2/11/05) the curtain came down on the life of playwright Arthur Miller. His most renowned works dissect social and political issues from an intimate viewpoint.
New York Times Photo

Visions of Guadalupe

Art Opening Reception

Local Artists Envision

La Virgen de Guadalupe

Saturday, December 10, 2005 / 6-8pm

On December 8, anti-corporate christmas carolers performed some of their greatest hits, including Consumer Wonderland, God Bless You Very Wealthy Men and Some of my Favorite Things in front of the GAP on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.

The first film of the GDI winter series! What? You thought it was over for the year? Ha! Never. We go year round. (Tell your friends who are not on the list.) We found an indoor space thanks to extra effort by Friday's host. We'll be ath Resource Center for Non-Violence on Broadway near Ocean.

Around 1am last night a truck rear-ended the tour bus of Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping

Holiday City, OH (December 07, 2005): Around 1 am last night on Route 80 en route to Indiana, a semi-truck rear-ended the tour bus of anti-consumerism activists Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. The rear of the vegetable oil-powered tour bus was up-ended, sending equipment, furniture and Church members tumbling toward the front until the bus came to rest. A team of 15 emergency vehicles, plus 1 helicopter, shut down that segment of Highway 80 for several hours.

Author Luis Urrea talks about his latest book, The Border Patrol, and the difficulty of Western Civilization