 |
 |
| About us | Contact us | Subscribe | Calendar | Publish | Radio | TV |
|---|
The NLG is requesting that anyone who witnessed the incidents which took place at the July 8th Anti-G8 march to contact them at: 415.285.1011. They are also asking that folks check in with the hotline number above before
posting any further photos / videos from the event...especially those
where faces are visible. More
Hundreds gathered in San Francisco on July 8th for an anti-G8 solidarity protest organized by Anarchist Action. With corporate property targeted for destruction and an officer injured after police drove their car into protesters, the protest incited a "feud" within the SFPD and sparked discussion in the community. A week later, one protester is still being held on a $50,000 bond and the FBI is now investigating the incidents. Read the full story
The Ringling Brothers Circus stands accused by central valley animal advocates of torturing elephants with whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade. With this summer's circus season in full swing, the industry is already facing several fines nationwide levied for injuries and mistreatment of animals. On July 14th, five Fresno Voices For Animals activists were arrested outside Selland Arena in downtown Fresno while protesting animal cruelty at the Ringling Brothers Circus. The digital video camera of activist Maria Hele, who had been filming the arrests, was taken from her, and she was placed under arrest when she shouted to the crowd waiting to get into the circus: “These cops have to arrest us for speaking out against animal abuse.” Hele was charged with resisting arrest and battery on an officer. Shawn Putnam and Ruben Jimenez were arrested while trying to retrieve Heles's camera and charged with obstructing an officer and battery on a police officer. All were later released. Photos and Full Report
Fresno Voices For Animals Circus Protests in 2004: 1 | 2
On Sunday, July 17th, the United Farm Workers will be holding a march in San Francisco to support the Gallo boycott. Farm workers and UFW supporters will gather this Sunday at 11:30 am in Dolores Park, at 18th and Dolores Streets, on the Mission High School side. Read more The UFW has been bringing attention to how the Gallos abuse, cheat and deny the great majority of their Sonoma County vineyard workers benefits, job protections and humane living conditions. They also pay wages that are lower than other area wine grape growers. Article that includes a list of Gallo wine labels, by Arturo S. Rodriguez, President of the UFW. The UFW's Campaign Against Gallo was inaugurated on June 14th.
More Labor News 
This weekend marks the 25th annual protest against the Bohemian Grove. Protests in the Sonoma County Russian
River community of Monte Rio have been planned. Every year, elite members of the San Francisco's Bohemian
Club gather for two weeks of revelry and
"throwing off the cares of the marketplace" among the redwood
groves. The club's members
include past and present US Presidents such as George H.W. Bush, and US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Events: Friday, July 15th Protesters will greet the Bohemians as they make their way to the Grove. There will be a vigil and an evening drum circle 11 am until sunset, followed by overnight campout. Saturday, July 16th: Protest March and Resurrection of Care. People will gather 11 am and march to the Bohemian Grove Gate for an afternoon counter ceremony performed by members of the International Treaty council. Vigiling, protesting, speakers, and entertainment will be part of Saturday evening's planned overnight campout. Sunday, July 17th: A Green Convergence for Peace, about global justice, anti-corporate resistance, and ecological defense, will be held from 10 am-6 pm. News Release from CA Greens | Audio about the protests | Interview with organizers Paul Encimer and Don Eichelberger Past Indybay Coverage of the Bohemian Grove: Report from 2004 Bohemian Grove Protest Coverage of 2003 Protests: Video | Photos | Audio Interview Read more on Indybay's Government and Elections Page 
7/15 Update: Americans for Safe Access reports that vigils are being planned in 16 or more cities.
Steve McWilliams committed suicide by overdose this week. He had been fighting federal charges for growing a small garden for the Shelter from the Storm Collective, in San Diego, was saddened over the Supreme Court decision in the Raich v. Ashcroft case. He was in a lot of pain, since he had been denied access to medical marijuana since his arrest in 2002. He had had to take powerful pharmaceutical opiates, anti-nausea, anti-migraine, etc. drugs in far higher amounts than when he had been able to medicate with marijuana. Apparently these medications were used in the overdose. Read more Americans for Safe Access has put out a call for people all over the US to organize vigils to honor Steve McWilliams for the patient, caregiver, and activist he was. ASA is suggesting that the vigils be held on the night of Tuesday evening, July 19th. More info about Steve's activism and the vigils | Indybay's Drug War Page 
On Wednesday July 13th, local environmental and social justice activists hosted a lunch-hour sidewalk “cook-in” at Wells Fargo’s headquarters in San Francisco’s busy financial district. Activists called on the banking giant to "get on the wagon" and stop profiting at the expense of communities and the environment. The protest was timed to coincide with Wells Fargo's 153rd anniversary festivities.
Wells Fargo is one of the largest US banks still operating without meaningful social or environmental safeguards to prevent destructive investments. Despite their surprise July 11 announcement of a so-called "10-point environmental commitment," Wells Fargo continues to be a top financier of environmentally and socially destructive corporations like Burlington Resources, a Houston-based company drilling for oil on indigenous homelands in Ecuador, and BlueLinx, a timber-importer linked to illegal logging and human rights abuses in Indonesia. Unlike competitors, Wells Fargo refuses to take seriously its role as a bankroller of global warming, and consistently avoids making any specific commitments to curtail oil investments, safeguard endangered ecosystems, or to uphold human rights in areas where it invests money. Moreover, Wells Fargo profits from other types of social injustice such as predatory lending and charging exorbitant fees to low-income immigrants seeking to wire money home to their families overseas. Photos Of the Demonstration | Indybay's Environment Page 
This Spring, Rick Delgado was fired from HOT 97 in New York for producing and airing an explicitly anti-Asian and racist song about tsunami victims. Now Clear Channel has hired Delgado to produce the morning show at local hip hop station Wild 94.9. He started work Monday July 11th. Media Alliance is calling to "Join with us in standing against hate in the Bay Area: Don't let Clear Channel import racism from around the
country and push it on our community's airwaves!"Read More | Indybay's Racism Page 
5 p.m.: Michael Cardenas answered questions in front of the Grand Jury and was not taken into federal custody. Most of the questions were about a videotape of a Rod Coronado speech. The Grand Jury in San Diego will convene until December 31, 2005. The Grand Jury may then reconvene for another six months in 2006. Danae Kelley and David Agranoff are being held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, a U.S. federal prison in San Diego. Danae and David will be provided foods for a vegan diet. MCC San Diego is said to be the largest detention center for undocumented immigrants facing deportation from the U.S.
3 p.m.: Danae Kelley and David Agranoff have been taken into federal custody. Michael Cardenas is back in front of the Grand Jury, but it is not clear if he will answer any questions. He too may be taken into federal custody. There will be a demonstration tonight at 8 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse on Front and Broadway which is right next to the jail. 10 a.m.: The judge denied all motions to dismiss the subpoena. The three activists were ordered to go back in court at 1 p.m. to testify and answer all questions from the grand jury. If they refuse to answer questions, the activists will be remanded into custody for as long as the grand jury is convened, or up to 18 months. Last month, a number of activists were subpoenaed to testify before federal grand juries in both northern and southern California. A bay area teach-in on grand juries, entitled The Master’s Tools: How the Government Manipulates the Legal System to Suppress Dissent, will be held tonight in Oakland at 7 p.m. On July 12th, three San Diego activists were scheduled to appear before a federal judge to appeal their subpoenas on constitutional grounds. Full coverage at San Diego Indymedia 
On July 6th, over 200 immigrants and supporters convened on the State Capitol to demand drivers licenses without special markings to undocumented residents and to oppose border vigilantes in California. They met inside with State Senator Gil Cedillo and then held a press conference at the steps of the Capitol while a group of up to ten citizens practiced civil disobedience at the Governor’s office.
Two buses of immigrants from San Francisco and dozens more from the Northern California area met with State Senator Cedillo in a crowded meeting room inside the Capitol to talk about the driver license legislation. In this session immigrant workers and families expressed their strong opposition to the proposed markings on the drivers licenses to undocumented residents. “We do not want markings, we are not animals,” chanted a day laborer from San Francisco. Senator Cedillo seemed to agree but could not guarantee passage of the driver license legislature without such marking. Similar legislation has been vetoed by Governor Schwarznegger once already, and he is expected to do so again if the marking isn’t included. The State Bill SB60, introduced by Cedillo, awaits a hearing later this summer. Read the full story | Central Valley news | Radio interview 
In addition to the West Coast Anti-Capitalist Mobilization Against the G8 on the evening of Friday, July 8th, there were two other U.S. actions organized by Anarchist Action in solidarity with the mobilization against the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland. East Coast: Hundreds of activists converged on Richmond, Virginia in solidarity with Appalachian residents fighting for self determination and community control and in solidarity with G8 protesters in Scotland and around the world. The primary focus of the actions was the issue of Mountain Top Removal, but connections were made to the global struggle against global capitalism’s dominance over every sector of people’s lives. Read More Midwest: The Heartland G-8 anti-capitalist mobilization drew roughly 50-75 people from various places in the mid-west including people from Arkansas, Des Moines, St. Louis, and Kansas (and others). It was held in Kansas City, Mo with a diversity of groups from KC there to stand together in opposition to the G8 (Group 8) and the Free-Market principles it represents. These principles inevitably lead to environmental degredation, the erosion of worker's rights and social stratification among the poorest of the poor. Read More |
