A massive, violent upsurge in repression has occured in Haiti during the past four days, aimed at silencing the Lavalas movement and supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti. On Thursday September 30, Haitian police fired upon thousands of unarmed demonstrators who called for the return of constitutional order. On Saturday October 2, police surrounded a private radio station where three leading Lavalas parliamentarians had denounced the violence on the air. After a six hour standoff, police stormed the building and arrested them without warrant. Dozens of other Lavalas activists have been illegally arrested in the past few days, and the police have conducted raids on the populous neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, which are the backbone of the Lavalas movement. Bel Air, located in the center of the city, is under virtual siege.

On Friday October 15th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at United Presbyterian Church, 112 E. Beach St. in Watsonville, the Haiti Action Committee will present information gathered on a recent trip to Haiti. They will discuss the recent human rights abuses occurring there, as well as the potential for resistance and democracy taking place again in Haiti.

They will also be in Santa Cruz on Saturday October 16th, from 11am to 1pm at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

[ Indybay's Haiti Page I Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti I Haiti Action Committee I Flashpoints Radio ]

At 8:20 AM on Wednesday, September 29, armed US Marshals and FCC Agents raided the house from which Free Radio Santa Cruz broadcasts. Agents entered with guns drawn, showing the warrant to a couple of residents but not serving the warrant to anyone at that time. All residents, some wearing only their bathrobes and PJ's, were herded to the sidewalk in front of their house.

Free Radio Santa Cruz was airing Democracy Now! at 37 watts as the FCC Agents and US Marshals (we counted at least 16) worked to get into the studio. By this time FRSC 101.1 FM was airing a pre-programmed interview with Howard Zinn. This interview, in which Zinn read poems by Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan and cited Zora Neal Hurston’s comments against WW2, was in progress when the signal was taken off the air. Listeners of FRSC heard the sound of static for the first time ever due to governmental interference.

Agents videoed community members who lined the street and crowded onto the sidewalk in front of the house in support of the station. Residents were not allowed to bring cameras into their home, nor were they allowed entrance without first having their bags searched.

Freak Radio has been raided after almost 10 years of broadcasting for the Santa Cruz community and listeners around the world via online streaming. FRSC has received strong support from members of the community (audio mp3), including Representative Sam Farr, Mayor Scott Kennedy (audio mp3) and the Santa Cruz City Council.

From the Free Radio Santa Cruz collective:
PRESS RELEASE: Free Radio Santa Cruz Silenced By Federal Government
FRSC Responds to our Supporters
WISH LIST from Free Radio Santa Cruz
Call FCC to Complain
Audio: Station Alert
FREE RADIO SANTA CRUZ NEEDS YOUR HELP
Free Radio Santa Cruz Is Reviewing All Options

Coverage and Analysis:
Initial report I personal account I early update I follow up coverage I back online I internet relays
FRSC: the issue from one geek's perspective
Photos: 1 I 2 I 3 I video and slide show I 120 Photos from the Raid
Audio: On-Scene Coverage I Coverage Compilation I Call to KCSB During the Raid I "Press Conference"
Audio: Freak Radio Raid mix 1 I mix 2 I transmission cut
Audio: Tribute to Free Radio Santa Cruz I The Inner Side #24
Audio: Freak Radio Santa Cruz News Piece
Television: Free Radio Raid on Indynewsreal I Video
Pacifica Radio Board passes resolution in support of Free Radio Santa Cruz & KFAR
Rep. Sam Farr's Letter to Michael Powell of the FCC

Coverage from: Indybay I Portland IMC I DIYmedia I Democracy Now! I Indymedia I Sprouts I mediageek
Translations from Indymedia: english I français I deutsch I italiano I português I deutsch I español

more repression in...
Knoxville, TN: Knoxville First Amendment Radio (KFAR 90.9) Raided by the FCC
Oaxaca, Mexico: Members of Community Radio in Oaxaca Beaten and Jailed

[ Free Radio Santa Cruz I Donate to FRSC I FRSC's Raid Page ]

On September 23, Felton FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water) organized a film screening of Thirst at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz, CA. Thirst is a new documentary that examines community water conflicts on three continents. 'Thirst' demonstrates that popular opposition to the privatization of water ignites remarkable coalitions that cross partisan lines. When it comes to water, many people demand local control and fear the arrival of multinational corporations with large lobbying budgets and little local accountability.

Thirst also shows that the individual struggles of these communities raise the same profound questions: Is water a human right for all people? Or, is it a commodity to be bought, sold, and traded in a global marketplace?

After watching Thirst, a six speaker panel discussed water issues around the world with a focus on Felton, a rural community in the Santa Cruz mountains. For more information on Felton's struggle for community controlled water resources, visit FeltonFlow.org. Also visit ThirstTheMovie.org.

The City of Santa Cruz and Sushi Now owner Matisse Selman agreed to an out of court settlement of $5000 with activist Robert Norse who they falsely arrested on January 30, 2002.

City of Santa Cruz Police Department Sgt. Loran Baker arrested longtime activist Robert Norse for "obstructing the sidewalk" on a "citizen's arrest" from Sushi Now! owner Matisse Selman on January 30, 2002. After videotaping him for several days, Baker then handcuffed and transported Norse to the local police station - though the "crime" was a minor infraction normally handled like a traffic ticket. This was the third time within a 7 month period that Baker had custodially arrested Norse on charges that were later dropped or were never even filed.

Attorney Kate Wells, a long time Santa Cruz civil rights lawyer, along with attorneys Jim and Rhonda Fossbinder, then sued the City, Selman, and Baker in Federal Court for false arrest and violation of the First Amendment right to speak and assemble. Two years later on September 14, the Santa Cruz City Council approved an out-of-court settlement of $5000. Norse interviewed Kate Wells on Free Radio Santa Cruz. Selections from that interview are printed here and in the upcoming October issue of Street Spirit newspaper.

Audio: mp3 45.9 Megabytes of Robert's Interview w/ Attorney Kate Wells

[ HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship and Freedom) I Archive of Robert Norse audio from FRSC ]

The DNC2RNC March is a 258 Mile Movement from The Boston Common to Madison Square Garden; stopping, rallying, and spreading resistance the entire way. The March left from the Common the day after the DNC ended, on July 30th. Nearly 90 people rallied at 9am, ate breakfast provided by Seeds of Peace, and held a circle chant where we all met each other by saying our names and having the group repeat it. At around ten in the morning the march was off. The police escorted and the first day had little tension. (full report from Days 1 - 3)

DNC 2 RNC Democracy Uprising I portland indymedia dnc & rnc coverage

Social Justice Activists to March 258 miles from Boston, MA to NYC I Audio: RNC Not Welcome Interview

[ Boston Indymedia I Bl(A)ck Tea Society I Boston Social Forum ]

[ NYC IMC I NYC Grassroots Media Coalition I RNC NOT WELCOME I Counter Convention ]

I have posted an article with the title below on most all U.S. INDYMEDIAS in the last couple of days.Only a half hour ago a google of that title brought up about 8 pages.Now even if I add 'indymedia' to the word search I get 0 hits. I can hardly believe it myself and they may return to google search.

Lawsuits arising out of Dean’s unconstitutional appointment policies in Vermont still costing Vermonters.

Why, the question is being asked, does a high profile American defend people and causes that are not only anti-Establishment, but anti-American as well?

At a time when the police in Eastern Pennsylvania, along with law enforcement agencies all across the country are engaging in acts of political repression and harassment against anyone attempting to change the status quo in this country from anti-war and animal rights activists, to anti-fascists and environmentalists - we need your help more than ever.

Interview with Josh Sonnenfeld of UCSC Students Against War, discussing recent revelations of Pentagon surveillance activities targetting peace activists.