This week's Sprouts is a documentary on the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ten days after the storm, Vinny Lombardo, a radio producer from Santa Cruz, CA travelled to Houston, TX, and New Orleans, LA to speak with Katrina survivors displaced by the hurricane.

Audio: Download the mp3 (29:10 minutes / 26.7 MB)

Surely, this isn't a complete picture of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, only a glimpse at a moment in time, after the flood.

see also: Audio, Photos and Written Reports from Houston and New Orleans

Last month CODEPINK, South Bay Mobilization, ANSWER, De Anza College students, faculty and others participated in a three day protest against former Secretary of State Colin Powell at De Anza College Flint Center in Cupertino. On November 11, 2005, eight students were arrested at the event; one student was arrested inside the hall for disrupting Powell's speech. The seven youth arrested outside were all youth of color. They were singled out and brutally arrested though they had not broken any law. Santa Clara County Sheriffs claim two of the students committed felonies though there were numerous witnesses who have stated the law enforcements claims are false.

The arrests seem to have been motivated by religious and racial profiling as six were visibly dressed Muslim students and one was an African American graduate student. A police officer present at the protest interviewed by a reporter said, "Many officers associate such garb to terrorists because of the training videos they see in which 'terrorists prepare themselves for Jihad and martyrdom.'"

The arrestees from the protest against Colin Powell, who have come to be known as the De Anza 8, their lawyer, and community groups will hold a press conference on December 12 at 5:00pm outside the Office of Human Relations of Santa Clara County located at 1880 Prunridge in Santa Clara (map) protesting the racial profiling that occurred on November 11, 2005. They are demanding that the charges against the De Anza 8 be dropped. Over 1,500 letters have been delivered to Santa Clara County District Attorney George Kennedy demanding that the charges against the youth be dropped. (Send an on-line message via ANSWER)

More coverage and information on how you can help: Students Arrested at Powell Protest Accuse Police of Targetting Muslims || South Bay Mobilization || American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee - San Francisco || Colin Powell De Anza College Resistance Blog

[ Update on the De Anza 8 ]

December 1st is World AIDS Day. The Santa Cruz AIDS Project, in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to AIDS and those who live bravely with the disease every day, hosted a candlelight vigil in downtown Santa Cruz.

participant wrote: "Me and my girlfriend went to the vigil. It was moved inside the Vet's Hall because of the rain. There was about 50 people crammed into a smallish room. The group held candles while listening to a few musicians and names of their loved ones who have lost the fight against AIDS were read. The feeling of being there was much like the rain showering down outside, but it was good to be with other folks who have been affected by this epidemic."

SAVE STANLEY "TOOKIE" WILLIAMS

The State of California has set December 13th as the execution date for Stanely Tookie Williams, whose remarkable change from co-founder of the Crips gang to Nobel peace prize nominee was made into the movie "Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story" starring Jamie Foxx. Foxx has spoken up for Williams, saying "We can't let it happen. We've got to do everything we can to get the word out."

Take part in the international day of action locally at a teach-in taking place at UC Santa Cruz this Wednesday, November 30th at 7:30PM featuring professor Angela Davis, professor Paul Ortiz and a special performance from Rainbow Theatre.

Audio: Save Tookie Williams Teach-in at UCSC

additional action earlier in the day: "At 12 noon (on Wed, Nov 30th, 2005) , a protest rally at Santa Cruz City Hall (809 Center st., Santa Cruz) will feature speakers from the ACLU, Santa Cruz City Council and Death Penalty Focus. Santa Cruz will be declared as a "World City Against the Death Penalty" by Santa Cruz Mayor, Mike Rotkin." ( Photos and Audio)

Audio: FRSC: Interview with Barbara Becknell Tookie Willams advocate/editor || FRSC audio PSA

Photos: 11/19/05 Save Stan Tookie Williams Rally at San Quentin, CA

see also: Save Stanley "Tookie" Williams

from Indybay.org: Teach-ins, Day of Action Demand Clemency for Stanley "Tookie" Williams || November 30th Day of Action Against Executions || December 8th People's Clemency Hearing for Stanley Tookie Williams

[ Campaign to End the Death Penalty] [ SaveTookie.org ] [ Tookie.com ] [ Critical Resistance ]

Second report from George Cadman working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Bil'in village of Palestine. George is watching/waiting for the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to observe and document the soldiers entering the village to arrest boys for allegedy throwing rocks.

George describes the demonstration today (11-19-05) at the Qalandia checkpoint, the main entry way between the West Bank and Jerusalem where a wall is being constructed which will in its completion effectively cut off 80,000 residents of east Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

Audio: Download the mp3 (9:53 minutes / 4.5 MB)

Keep tuned to Free Radio Santa Cruz 101fm for more reports this month.

previous coverage: Report from Occupied Palestine 11-15-05

The principal freedom Iraq and the rest of the world will intentionally be denied.

Four of Louisiana’s coastal Native American tribes issued an urgent appeal for support in the aftermath of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. Despite the buzz of recovery activity in New Orleans and on other parts of the Gulf coast, tribal leaders say they have been forgotten and their people continue to suffer.

Take action now to protect your constitutional rights by helping stop Alito's confirmation.

While the Bush admininistration defends its use of wiretapping to monitor the activities of US citizens, city officials in Santa Cruz, CA are coming under fire over revelations that undercover police were caught spying on locals planning a Do-It-Yourself New Year's parade. The case raises serious questions about the legality of the surveillance, and has city residents and civil libertarians shook up. FSRN's Vinny Lombardo has more.

The Downtown Commission will be reviewing the proposed "10 minute limit" on "lingering" in public parking structures at its 8:30 AM meeting Thursday January 26th in City Council Chambers.

The agenda can be accessed at:

www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/dc/2006/agenda/012606a.pdf