The scandal is unfolding in gigantic proportions. Responding to a publicity and solidarity campaign by Indymedia, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has been forced to admit that they were acting under orders from the US Government to carry out an intelligence investigation of Cyprus Indymedia and of one of its founding members, Petros Evdokas, in order to assess whether he "constitutes a threat to US interests."

Police had interrogated his family a few weeks ago and, during the affair, inadvertently blurted out that the source of this investigation was a directive by the CIA. After a series of denials and cover-ups (chronicled below) the Police Headquarters issued an official statement on Friday admitting to everything that Indymedia had accused them of, namely that directives of the CIA and the US Embassy have priority over their own mission which, believe it or not, is to protect the tiny and independent Republic from foreign intervention.

queer bashing and police neglect and the compromies of safety

Every year the "Ugly Mug" (a queer friendly coffee shop in Santa Cruz County California) throws a 'prom' fundraiser. This year the "under the sea" themed 'prom' complete with party goers decked in their own renditions of the theme were dancing and singing kareoke to raise money for chest reconstruction surgery for a few of my friends who are currently transitioning. One minute we were dancing and it seemed like a split second later that the front of the coffee shop had imploded.

Two extremely drunk white men decided to show up to this queer friendly event and demand to get in for free. And when they were told that that had to pay the cover of 5 dollars a semi brawl began, breaking bottles screams and people being shoved replaced the dancing. While trying to get these individuals to leave verbally, with a fire extinguisher, and with physical restraint two more biolgoical females were pepper sprayed while attempting to ask passing cars for help. Meanwhile the police had been called several times and the confusion and lack of resources turned the party into a queer bashing scene.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, gave its advisory opinion on the Apartheid Wall in Palestine on July 9th. In light of the recent opinion from the ICJ, the Israeli government is trying to manipulate the truth and disguise the colonial foundation of its racist apartheid policy. It has depicted a decision by its own High Court to move 30km of the Apartheid Wall as a Palestinian “victory�, but Palestinians see how, on the contrary, this decision validates Israel’s claim that the Wall is solely a security measure and how it states that the Wall can be built on Palestinian land.

The Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign calls on all people to remain critical of the ICJ opinion. Help bring the Palestinian grassroots struggle against the Apartheid Wall to the forefront of global action and amplify the claims of those resisting on the ground:

Tear Down the Apartheid Wall!
Stop the Occupation!
Sanctions and Boycott on Apartheid Israel!

Audio: Jamil Dakwar of Human Rights Watch speaks about the recent decision in the ICJ

[ International Court of Justice (ICJ) I Apartheid Wall I Stop The Wall ]

Liberty Bound - A US Citizen's journey of discovery into the lies, oppression, and corruption that has invaded her country since 9/11.

With all the recent press about Michael Moore’s new documentary Fahrenheit 911, very few people have yet to hear about a powerful independent film called Liberty Bound. Very few, that is, except for the large crowd that attended the premiere of the film in Paris on June 23rd.

Christine Rose, the documentary filmmaker, was present to answer questions about the film for over an hour after the screening to an inspired audience of young and old. This is Ms. Rose’s first film; and yet she couldn’t have picked a more powerful subject, or for that matter, a more controversial one. Even though there are similarities among the two films, Rose gets very personal with her investigation. She takes us to her home town and allows us to accompany her on her trip across the US to discover the great loss of liberty the American people have suffered since 9/11. She at once shocks us with her observations, and leaves little doubt that we are living in a different world: a world where the freedoms we once took for granted are becoming more tenuous and harder to hold onto day by day.

With the tremendous success of Moore’s film, which grossed over $21M it’s first weekend out, it's becoming obvious that people all over the world are wanting and needing to see and hear the truth, which is every bit as entertaining and shocking as anything Hollywood releases.

Starting Tuesday June 29, a series of marches and rallies against INS intimidation and for legalization and union rights-- launched by the United Farm Workers Union and joined by the whole labor movement-- will sweep through immigrant communities of the Salinas, Pajaro, San Benito and south Santa Clara valleys.

The campaign promises to be bigger and broader than anything since the historic strike movements of the 1970s. If successful, this may be a turning point in the long struggle for union rights for 50,000 unorganized immigrant workers in the fields and packing sheds of the Central Coast.

The campaign begins with a five-day march that begins Tuesday, June 29, at 8 AM at the King City Park. On Tuesday evening marchers will rally at Patriot Park in Greenfield after marching through the town. Marches and rallies will follow each day, moving north to Soledad, Gonzalez, Chualar and arriving in Salinas on Saturday. A similar campaign will move through towns to the north of Salinas during the following week, arriving again in Salinas on Sunday July 11.

Audio: Yadira Speaks About the June 29 - July 3 Pilgrimage Supporting Immigrants and Farm Workers

[ United Farm Workers I Monterey Bay Central Labor Council I Take Action for AgJobs S.1645 ]

New Jersey would become the first state in the 'modern era' to enact a moratorium law. (Two other states – Illinois and Maryland – enacted moratoriums as a result of executive orders).

**Four Directions Relief Project*
*Progress Report 12/16/05
Louisiana Coastal Tribes Solidarity*

The memorial service for Stanley Tookie Williams will take place Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 12 noon. The service will take place at Bethel A.M.E. located at 7900 South Western Avenue in Los Angeles. The service will be open to the public, but seating is limited.

On December 12, 2005, Maia and Sam, two Santa Cruz activists volunteering with Common Ground Relief in New Orleans, called into the Indynewswire show on Free Radio Santa Cruz, 101.1fm.

Audio: Download the mp3 (30 minutes / 13.7 MB)

Paul Ortiz, author and UCSC professor, will discuss civil rights issues current, local, and historical, on 101.1 FM (www.freakradio) Sunday December 18th at 9:30 a.m.