News :: Civil & Human Rights : Government & Elections : Police State
Government Manipulation of the Legal System to Suppress Dissent
From racist attacks targeting
Lodi, California’s Muslim community, to attempts to silence and imprison political activists in
San Francisco and
San Diego, dissent and freedom of speech are under attack. As government repression in general increases, so does the use of the federal grand jury to intimidate, incarcerate and render impotent activists across social movements. In recent years, pressure on the animal rights, environmental justice, anti-war and anarchist movements has increased exponentially. Government officials seem anxious to pin the label “terrorist� on anyone that is effectively campaigning against injustice. At a recent hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, John E. Lewis, Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, testified that, “Investigating and preventing animal rights extremism and eco-terrorism is one of the FBI’s highest domestic terrorism priorities.�
Activists and people of color are not the only people being persecuted, lawyers are feeling the heat as well. On Febuary 10, 2005, New York civil rights attorney
Lynne Stewart was convicted of conspiracy, providing material support to terrorists and defrauding the US government. Yet, Stewart never provided any financial support, weaponry or any other concrete aid for any act of terrorism. No act of terrorism is alleged to have resulted from her actions. Lynne and her supporters argue that all she did was represent her client effectively as a good attorney should.
audio:
New York Human Rights attorney Lynne Stewart interview
updates:
San Diego:
Judge to Hear First Amendment Objections
San Francisco:
Reprieve for Activists
resources:
FBIwitchHunt.com ||
Just Cause Law Collective ||
National Lawyers Guild ||
No Compromise
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No on X - Santa Cruz utility tax hits poor people
In a vote-by-mail election set for August, 2005, Santa Cruz residents will be asked to approve another utility tax. Of all the things to tax, essentials are the worst possible choice. Whether you're rich or poor, you still have to flush the toilet.
The proposed 3 to 12% utility tax comes on top of a 7% utility tax and is made worse by a massive, multi-year, 124% increase in city water rates, not to mention a backward water pricing scheme that already has small users paying up to 580% more per gallon than big users.
As usual, Santa Cruz City Council calls itself progressive but doesn't behave that way. Please join me in voting no on Measure X.
[
No on X ]
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News :: Animal Rights : Government & Elections : Police State
First Grand Jury Hearing in SF on June 22nd
21 Jun 2005
by from www.Indybay.org
Call for Solidarity with Animal Advocates and Others Subpoenaed
Ten Bay Area residents, who include animal advocates, alternative media members, prisoner rights activists, and members of the greater Bay Area progressive community, have been subpoenaed to a Federal Grand Jury in San Francisco. The first hearing is scheduled for
Wednesday, June 22nd. Supporters of the Bay Area residents, as well as all those who seek to defend and keep free speech rights, have been invited to attend on a show of solidarity with those subpoenaed. The hearing will take place at 9am in the Federal Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. The date is subject to change, so people who plan to attend are encouraged to check
FBIwitchHunt.com for updates. Animal Liberation supporters believe that the grand jury is an effort to intimidate them.
Read More
In addition, as of 6/20, at least eight activists in
San Diego have received grand jury subpoenas, and the Activist San Diego house in City Heights was visited by three federal agents.
Read More ||
Audio
Listen to Grand Jury Teach-in Audio | Fault Lines story
Read More on Indybay's Animal Liberation News Page
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Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights : Government & Elections : Health & Drugs
Protest Supreme Court Decision
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News :: Education & Youth : Government & Elections : Labor & Economics
Demonstrations Against the Terminator held in Watsonville, Sacramento and LA
25 May 2005
by Terminate the Terminator, Support Schools
Action Day for a Better California Rallies Against Governor's Reforms
Pajaro Valley AFT 1936
Committee on Political Education organized a
rally at the Plaza in
Watsonville on May 25, which included students, teachers and their supporters. The theme of the demonstration was Broken Promises + Broken Schools = Broken Dreams. About 100 people where part of the energenic protest against Arnold and his neglect for youth and education in Watsonville. The rally was part of a statewide day of protest against Governor Schwarzenegger and his so-called "reforms."
Photos:
1 |
2 ||
Audio
In
Sacramento, more than 25,000 people, including teachers, nurses, firefighters and labor unions, rallied against Governor Schwarzenegger and his broken promises to public services. Country Joe sang "I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die," his famous anti-Viet Nam War song. The crowd enthusiastically sang along in the heat. Representatives from the so-called special interests groups spoke and told their powerful stories and demanded that Arnold keep his promises to California. An airplane flew the message "California is not for sale!"
Read more... ||
Reportback and Photos:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 ||
Audio
In
Los Angeles, about three thousand public employees attended a rally, “
Action Day For a Better California,� in Downtown LA at Pershing Square. Parents, teachers, registered nurses, firefighters and police officers showed up to display their discontentment about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's policy agenda shortchanging them and their children."
Reportback and Photos:
1 |
2
Read more on
Indybay's Education page
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Good-bye, Canada? --- USA Military Occupation
13 Jan 2006
by
Leon Gunin
Why Harper is an American tool for turning Canada into US colonial enclave
Read the full article...
Announcement :: Government & Elections
Download Recall Arnold Petitions On-line, NOW!
11 Jan 2006
by
savecalnow.com
Recall Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Read the full article...
(1 comment)
LOCAL Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights : Globalization & Capitalism : Government & Elections : Poverty & Urban Development
Fighting Mass Evictions in New Orleans (1/17)
11 Jan 2006
by
passin' it on
PLEASE FORWARD:
Fighting Evictions in New Orleans
Hundreds of people have been evicted everyday from their houses in New Orleans. Investors and developers are rushing to take advantage of the crisis, overshadowed by a criminal negligence by the Bush Adminstration.
Come hear Jeremy Prickett, an organizer with Labor's Militant Voice, speak about the work he has been doing in New Orleans fighting evictions through direct actions, and how people here in Santa Cruz can help these efforts.
Jan 17, Tuesday 8pm, at the Women Center, UCSC.
Read the full article...
(1 comment)