Rachel Corrie, a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), was killed by a D-9 Caterpillar bulldozer driven by Israeli soldiers on March 16th, 2003 while non-violently attempting to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian family's home in the refugee camp of Rafah, Occupied Gaza. There has never been an independent investigation into her killing.

On March 13, 2005, George Cadman, host of Peace Talks on Free Radio Santa Cruz 101.1fm interviewed Joe Carr, an eyewitness to Rachel Corrie's killing. Joe spoke about what he saw on the day that Rachel was run over by an Israeli bulldozer. He also talks about what kind of person Rachel was, what motivated her to do the work she had done and how he and others are continuing her work. He also answers criticisms of the International Solidarity Movement, the movement that both he and Rachel were a part of. (31:29 / 21.6 MB)
Audio: Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3

After speaking with Joe Carr, George Cadman interviewed Cindy Corrie about her daughter Rachel Corrie. Cindy talks about what kind of person Rachel was, why she did the work that she did, how Rachel's killing has affected her family and how they are continuing her work. Cindy also reads a few short clips of Rachel's writings and talks about their efforts to get an independent investigation into Rachel's killing. (57:44 / 52.9 MB)
Audio: Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3

See Also: The Courage of Rachel Corrie | Family of American Woman Killed by Military Bulldozer Files Suit Against Catepillar, Inc | Santa Cruz's Recent Visitor Amy Goodman Spotlights Lawsuit | Maia Ramnath speaks about her recent travels to the West Bank with the ISM

On February 23, Amy Goodman accepted the first annual Ruben Salazar Journalism Award on the 35th anniversary of Salazar's untimely death. The next morning on Democracy Now!, she discussed the event and its significance.

Audio: Amy Goodman Accepts Ruben Salazar Journalism Award at UCSC
Photos: Amy Goodman at UC Santa Cruz

Skidmark Bob interviews Ron Anicich of Bad Cop, No Donut! before a media attack. Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino says Bad Cop, No Donut! promotes hatred of the police [see: Get 'hate mongering' off air: Fantino]. Ron talks about the show and support from CKLN. It will be interesting to see how this develops.

A commenter writes: Another critic who needs our support and solidarity! Put him on the list with Ward Churchill and Lynne Stewart, with Free Radio and WAMM. Seems like critics are getting silenced quick and fast in the third Bush administration.

Bad Cop No Donut, for those who aren't aware, is an excellent weekly digest of nationwide accounts of Police Brutality, from lawsuit settlements and legal decisions, to off duty officer conduct and corruption, to taser use, deadly force, and stories yet to be told.
Anicich gathers all the PIC [Prison Industrial Complex] news he can find and puts together a weekly compilation.

Audio: Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3 (18.4 MB)
Audio: Part Two: Interview w/ Ron Anicich of Bad Cop, No Donut!

Free Radio Santa Cruz airs Bad Cop, No Donut! every Thursday at 1:00pm PST
101.1fm in Santa Cruz, California

See also: [ Salinas man dies after getting hit by taser stun gun I The Shocking Truth about Tasers ]

On February 16, at 7pm, Naomi Klein dissected the failure of the "X-treme Makeover" known as U.S. foreign policy in Iraq.

Klein is an award-winning journalist and author of the international best-seller "No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies," and "Fences and Windows: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Globalization Debate".

Klein spoke about "War and Fleece: How economic 'Shock Therapy' backfired in Iraq" to a crowd of over 600 people gathered at UC Santa Cruz.

Audio: Peace Talks: Naomi Klein at UCSC

[ No Logo I More photos of Naomi Klein at UCSC ]

More than 300 students, parents, teachers, and administrators turned out at Scotts Valley High School on February 7 for a special board meeting to address charges that the school promotes a "Gay Agenda." Board members determined that Scotts Valley High is acting in compliance with AB 537, The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 which prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California public schools.

By far the most moving and important words came from students and from teachers. They spoke of the need for open dialogue and education about issues regarding safety and respect. They spoke of the ways they have gone about creating a space for this dialogue and education. They showed that there are problems at the school and that the faculty and administration have identified ways that they can and should be dealt with. They spoke of vandalism, intimidation, fear, violence, name-calling, intolerance. They spoke of communication, solutions, encouraging discussion, education, and dialogue. In short, they demonstrated before the large assembled crowd that they are doing their jobs in a way that deserves our applause.

Audio: Scotts Valley Parents Protest Gay Tolerance
Audio: Scotts Valley School Board Coverage
Photos and Reportback: Scotts Valley High's students and teachers speak out!
Photos: Community Comes Together To Support Through Differences
Photos: Respect All Families

The Zapatistas began today the first of a series of town-hall like meetings that will comprise the bulk of a six-month nationwide caravan dubbed as the Other Campaign. The campaign will touch every state in Mexico and aspires to form a wide-ranging non-electoral and anti-capitalist alliance that can be a powerful enough of a force to implement a new constitution for Mexico.

The Best Housing & Poverty Review of 2005: A day-by-day chronicle of the pitiful state of human need in the United States of America.

The city of New Orleans is attempting to destroy the homes of residents in the Lower 9th Ward. This is in spite of a temporary moratorium won by social justice groups against the city which blocks attempts to bulldoze the homes of Lower 9th Ward residents. The moratorium, which ends on January 6th, 2006, is being circumvented by the city through the unconstitutional use of eminent domain. Local residents are working alongside Common Ground Collective, a grass-roots organization working for the rights of displaced and neglected victims of Hurricane Katrina, and are protesting the action and calling on citizens everywhere to get involved.