[Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - USA

Mon Apr 4 04:26:58 PDT 2005

SAIPAN: Workers strike at sweatshop
Pacific island sweatshop workers strike over
nonpayment of wages

Some 100 garment workers on the US territorial island
of Saipan in the Western Pacific's Mariana Islands
walked off the job February 14 claiming they haven't
been paid since December. Workers are owed between
$1,500-$2,000 in back wages by La Mode Inc.

Workers who gathered at the US Department of Labor's
office in Saipan to complain about the abuse were told
to wait until an investigation is completed. One
worker told Marianas Variety, "They are not giving us
answers. They told us to wait...but last time, like
three or four weeks ago, they told us they were
investigating. Now, they can't tell us anything."

Saipan has served as a haven for Asian Pacific
sweatshops for major US retailers. By shipping from
Saipan-a US territory-import barriers can be avoided.
At the same time, the island's labor force is not
protected by US labor law, resulting in windfall
profits for manufacturers and retailers.

HAWAII:  Protest against land-sale on Molokai; protesters try to stop the sale by storming the auction

http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=3805

http://khon.com/khon/displayStory.cfm?storyID=3937

http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=6769

http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=4780

UNITED STATES:

TACO BELL VICTORY!  Workers turn protest into party

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/11120984.htm

Unions hold "informational picket" over unfair labour practices by Ciminelli

http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20050215/localnews/1990644.html

Deerfield teachers protest over lack of new contract

http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/local/index.ssf?/base/news-11/110846281846820.xml

Social workers picket over healthcare dispute

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13944730&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

Library workers protest as bosses spend on RFIDs instead of staff

http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17602

Former Ozalid factory workers protest over benefits owed for decades
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/500/index.php
WalMart worker, fired for unionising, goes on hunger strike
http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10646/index.php

WalMart workers protest
http://kcindymedia.org/feature/display/2087/index.php
IWW stage rally in Milwaukee
http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/202997.shtml

Justice for Janitors rally, Oregon
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312617.shtml

Pizza Time workers strike
http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/07/1722220
Philosophers picket to support hotel workers
http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/23/6269749

Garbage strike ends in New Jersey
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m01.shtml
Transit, crane, chemical strikes
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml
Tire workers strike and demonstrate
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml
Long electricity strike ends in New Jersey
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml
UAW strike in Buffalo
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml
Virginia nursing home workers strike
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml
Truck drivers strike at postal agency
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml
Muslim workers walk out over attack on prayers
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m15.shtml
Miners and supporters rally in Utah
http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6912/691202.html

Veterans' Home nurses protest overtime policies

http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=90509D16-2061-455A-9DAC-9BF77AFEB9D6

http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/111054921836443.html

Florida taxi drivers protest against move towards smaller number of companies at airport

http://www.abc-7.com/articles/readnews.asp?articleid=2790&z=2&p=

Teachers storm city hall and briefly prevent controversial pay-bargaining meeting

http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-7/111225906975570.xml&coll=1

Georgetown students stage hunger strike to win living wage for uni workers

http://www.counterpunch.org/swanson03182005.html

http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1236&mode=&order=0

SPECIAL  -  24 Mar 2005 
BREAKING NEWS: Hunger Strike at Georgetown Over, All Demands Met 
At Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., the hunger strike has just ended. Twenty-two students went on hunger strike nine days ago to demand a living wage
for University employees. All 10 Demands that the Stundent Solidarity Group had made have been met by the University. 

Workers protest plan to raise SEPTA fares
Monday, February 28 2005 @ 03:59 PM PST
By Joel Bewley
Inquirer Staff Writer
A group of retail workers concerned about SEPTA's proposed fare increases and service cutbacks marched along South Street yesterday to rally support for mass-transportation funding. The South Street Workers Union's 20 or so members - "workers who are poor, without cars, who come from the ghettos of this city" - would be the most affected by the changes, march organizer Andrew Rothman said. "This would never happen in the suburbs or in a wealthy city," he said. "We are an easy target for a conservative legislature." SEPTA faces a budget shortfall of $49 million. The agency is preparing to raise fares by 25 percent and slash services by 20 percent. The changes, which would include a $2.50 cash fare, would go into effect Sunday unless another solution was found in Harrisburg. City representatives on SEPTA's board vetoed a move to increase the cash fare to $3. The board will try to override that veto March 24, SEPTA officials have said. If the legislature cannot agree on a funding package, Gov. Rendell has promised to transfer federal highway money to enable the state's mass-transit agencies to operate through June. Rothman said the inability of lawmakers to create a bipartisan solution showed they were out of touch with the workers who depend on mass transportation. The increase in a monthly pass, which would be $27.50 if SEPTA's board prevails, "would be devastating to people who are living at or below the poverty line," Rothman said. Also, a decrease in service would make it harder for some to get to work on time, he said. Rothman and about 40 others marched with a police escort from Broad Street to Second Street, carrying signs and chanting slogans such as "Stop the SEPTA cutbacks." The union, affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World, has workers at eight stores, Rothman said. As of yesterday morning, 97 of the 104 South Street businesses approached by the union had signed its petition calling for the legislature to fully fund mass transit. If the fare increases go through, the union plans to ask employers for higher pay to cover the difference. Marchers used a bullhorn to heckle businesses that had not signed the petition. The result was two more signatures.  "I'm just trying to help the people," said Mark Coskun, manager of a Domino's Pizza, who, after signing the petition, said he did not know whether he was authorized to do so. "I have nothing to worry about, right?" A plan to enter Whole Foods Market was thwarted when general manager Lance McAllister told the group the protest had to stay outside. "If you want to come in and shop, that's fine," he said. As the march ended, the petitions were handed to State Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.), who said she was the only member of the legislature who used public transportation instead of a car. Josephs said more grassroots demonstrations were needed to show how important mass transportation was to state residents. "There is nothing in this country that is good that does not start in the streets," she told the crowd.

Protests over school closures in Providence

http://www.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=2949288

Chadsey school closure protested

http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/4195392/detail.html

Walkout at second Detroit school over closure

http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3549527,00.html

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/4200284/detail.html

Demo over disability benefit cuts in Texas

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=131342

Protests over shortages in Ohio schools

http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4184771/detail.html

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4180492/detail.html

Parents protest end of special needs programme in Missouri

http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=12010

Maine mental health advocates protest cutbacks

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050209lynchswap.shtml

Minnesota students turn out to protest for freeze in tuition fees

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/10863297.htm

Benicia parents and children protest school cuts

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31531~2696278,00.html

School students rally against transfer of principal (and win)
http://miva.jacksonsun.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?NEWS/news_storyV2005.mv+link=200503137033486

Trade unionists march against service cuts and fare increases in Philly
http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/23/0014247
Harrsburg public transport rally
http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/20/0049256&mode=thread

Nashville residents demonstrate against wanton mosquito spraying
http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4734/index.php

Michigan protest against privatisation of social security

http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=3058714&nav=0RbQXKU2

New York health protesters target Pataki budget

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/03/10/healthca.htm

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--hospitals-statebu0309mar09,0,782015.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=3053423

War veterans protest over disability payments

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26774&archive=true

Memphis students protest cuts

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=3139035

School students boycott exams in corruption protest

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/032905/sub_leap001.shtml

"Pink slip" protest over education cuts in San Jose

http://www.nbc11.com/news/4318669/detail.html

Parents protest three-hour bus drives

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14215014&BRD=1714&PAG=461&dept_id=73829&rfi=6

Vigil protests South Bay school closure

http://www2.cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_081141438.html

Students, parents protest principal's firing

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=31934

Harsen Island residents protest at board meeting over school cuts

http://www.voicenews.com/stories/032905/loc_school001.shtml

Veterans heckle over disability payments

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26774&archive=true

Rally to support sacked radical academic
http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10676/index.php
Marchers support Ward Churchill
http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10617/index.php
CU faculty demand end to witch-hunt
http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10428/index.php
Hawaii students and staff  protest firing of art teacher

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/12/ln/ln31p.html

http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/11/423155eb3df5c

Parlier high-school students stage walkout to protest cuts

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/news/031105_nw_parlier.html

Students protest SUNY tuition fee hike

http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=3039259&nav=6uyNXAJs

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_066111624.html

California students rally against aid cut

http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_2600259

School students protest cuts to outreach programmes for deprived students

http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17909

Rally to support lecturer threatened with dismissal for refusing to teach weekends

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2005/03/09/local/iq_3424416.txt

Harvard women protest sexism

http://www.thecrimson.com/today/article506346.html

School students protest against ripped jeans ban

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14225792&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6

http://www.ksdk.com/news/illinois_article.aspx?storyid=77247

Oregon forest destruction protested - Earth First set up blockades

Biscuit and Fiddler "fire clearance" timber sales, which are cutting roadless, old-growth forests in the Siskiyou region, are targeted

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0307timbersale-protest-ON.html

http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2005/03/08/news/oregon/state02.txt

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1110209237299520.xml&storylist=orlocal

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0308/local/stories/01local.htm

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1000718&tw=wn_wire_story

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Timber%20Sale%20Protest

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-08-09.asp

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313999.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313534.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313412.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313420.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313303.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313080.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313319.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312907.shtml
http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/18/83411/5721

http://www.counterpunch.org/koehler03152005.html

http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly03092005.html

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/031605EC.shtml

http://counterpunch.com/white03232005.html

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/03/25/news/oregon/friore05.txt

200 rally in solidarity with forest defenders

http://rogueimc.org/en/2005/03/4126.shtml

Lake Wateree protesters target land sale

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11120950.htm

Protest to save electric cars - 2 arrested

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0316-08.htm

Farmland defenders refuse award in protest at funding cuts

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-20/111046957863750.xml

Protesters erect giant tripod in downtown Portland

http://www.koin.com/news.asp?RECORD_KEY%5Bnews%5D=ID&ID%5Bnews%5D=1894

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/03/31/d3.or.forestprotest.0331.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1112266957183770.xml

Taking Protest to Bank Chief's Home Street, 3 Activists Face Charges

By ALISON LEIGH COWAN 

Published: March 13, 2005

GREENWICH, Conn., March 12 - In this fashionable, well-to-do part of Connecticut, the home of a titan of industry could easily be mistaken for a castle. But what does that make the street outside his gated driveway?  Three environmental activists who ventured last weekend onto the well-appointed street where the chief executive of J. P. Morgan Chase lives may help settle the question. Within a half-hour of their arrival, they were charged with disturbing the peace for their roles in tacking posters critical of the bank's environmental record on telephone poles and trees. The posters were designed as old-fashioned "Wanted" posters, featuring photographs of the chief executive, William B. Harrison Jr., referred to as "Billy the Kid" in the accompanying text. The posters criticized the bank for what was described as its "reckless investment in environmentally and socially destructive projects in dozens of countries," and urged anyone who spotted Mr. Harrison to "ask him to do the right thing." Annette Lamoreaux, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said her office was considering getting involved in the case. "I find this extremely troubling," she said. "These arrests were clearly based on the content of the posters that were put up, which on their face are protected speech." Such activity, she said, "was protected under the First Amendment." She paused momentarily before adding, "even in Greenwich." The activists, who say they have never been arrested before, were working on behalf of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco, which seeks to stop climate change as part of its mission. It has accused the major financial companies of financing projects that damage the environment, in industries like energy, mining and logging. Last year, the group elicited broad concessions from Citigroup and Bank of America, two of the largest domestic banks, but not from J. P. Morgan Chase, another top-tier bank. A spokesman for J. P. Morgan Chase, Brian Marchiony, said the bank had said it would review its environmental policies by last fall, but had to delay a decision until next month because of its recent merger with Bank One. "We're on track for April," he said. He also noted that Mr. Harrison was not home on March 5, the day of the arrests. Both Mr. Marchiony and Lt. Daniel Allen, a Greenwich police spokesman, said the executive had had no contact with the police. The Greenwich police ordered the two activists who work as organizers for the Rainforest group, Althea Erickson, 24, of Manhattan, and Jess Eisen, 23, of Brooklyn, to appear in Stamford Superior Court for arraignment, now scheduled for March 28. They were charged under state law with disturbing the peace and violating the town's ordinance against posting unauthorized bills on public property and were released after posting $500 bonds.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/nyregion/13greenwich.html?oref=login

Police brutality protested - 100 rally over beating by Milwaukee police

Speaker calls politician "dumb-ass" and cops "KKK killers"

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb05/301803.asp

http://www.cbs58.com/cbsdata.cgi?_dhweb=form&_lt23r=home&kv=headlinenews.headlinenew_id=6516

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb05/300761.asp

Murder of child by LA police protested - rappers galvanised

http://www.sohh.com/thewire/read.php?contentID=6718

Oakland curfew for probationers protested

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2863347

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/03/BAGSKBJKJ01.DTL

Denver cops provoke confrontation with Colorado AIM

http://www.coloradoaim.org/blog/

Students and activists protest against imminent deportation of Boston schoolteacher
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/02/students_activists_protest_imminent_deportation_of_boston_school_teacher/
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=71207

Protesters target racist immigrant hunt
http://austin.indymedia.org/feature/display/19349/index.php
http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19347/index.php

Philly demo for Mumia
http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2005/02/819200.shtml
Hip-hop community rallies against HOT FM racism
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143676/index.php
Immigrants rally in Queens against crackdown on driving licenses
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143752/index.php

Home demo targets racist Feinstein

http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728519.php

Anti-immigrant crackdown sparks protests in California

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=620

Huge protest against attack on immigrants' driving licenses in Utah

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600117078,00.html

Protest at Dakota uni over use of Sioux logo

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/682

Tribes protest wastewater snow on sacred mountain

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410246

San Diego protest against Hannity and Fox News

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107977.shtml

Protesters claim Latina doll stereotypes neighbourhood

http://www.nbc5.com/news/4329682/detail.html

Protests after student suspended for fighting racists

http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8860~2790989,00.html

Protests against the murder of Terri Schiavo

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OGT1UVRM41GDKCRBAEZSFEY?type=domesticNews&storyID=7977535

Hero who takes gun to defend Terri Schiavo, arrested by pigs to protect murderers
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-brain-damaged-woman-arrest,0,5925065.story

Woman stages hunger strike in solidarity with Schiavo

http://www.ktbs.com/news-detail.html?cityid=1&hid=25909

Disability protesters rally for Schiavo in Houston

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4328274/detail.html

And in Austin, Texas

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=134189

Six children arrested for trying to deliver water

http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3129402&nav=2gQcXx66

"We Love Our Tubes!"
Disabled Activists are Demonstrating in Florida.
3-27-5 

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

      March 25, 2005 -- Disability activists are returning to Florida to tell the simple truths about tubes: feeding tubes, breathing tubes, peeing tubes and other tubes we need and love. Disabled people in wheelchairs will demonstrate and explain the realities of everyday life with tubes, confronting society's obvious horror and revulsion with our dignity and disability pride. 

      Terri's feeding tube is the central issue. This is the reason she is being killed. Disability activists must express our ridicule for the pathetic response of the nondisabled majority to these simple pieces of latex rubber. This case hinges on the fact that Terri uses a feeding tube, which to disabled people is no big deal -- it's just another piece of adaptive equipment. 

      "Right now the case is settled, people are thrown back on their own beliefs, while "experts" continue to present the story as a misbegotten political intervention in a private matter," said John Kelly of Boston Not Dead Yet, "a tragic medical case in which doctors are united in their certain diagnosis that nothing is going on inside her head , and a tragic family matter in which her "husband" really does want the best for her, which is death. And people agree -- and this is absolutely crucial -- because THEY THEMSELVES would rather be dead than like Terri Schiavo. 

      "We have been trained, over and over again, that if we only concealed our differences, tucked that legbag tube -- for draining urine -- under the pants leg, never talked about incontinence, that we could be (at least partially) accepted," Kelly continued. "But the shame that we are meant to bear keeps us down more effectively than anything that anyone could do to us." 

      "It's time for the press to talk to the real experts on the Schiavo case - the disability rights movement", declared Diane Coleman, president and founder of Not Dead Yet, leading the disability community's opposition to non-voluntary euthanasia for a decade. 

      "That's why 26 national disability rights organizations, including groups like Not Dead Yet, independent living centers, DQIA, and others have adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo's right to continue to receive food and water," affirmed Stephen Drake, research analyst for NDY. "People on the right are killing us slowly with cuts to the budget and Medicaid while the people on the left kill us quickly and call it 'compassion' -- either way we end up dead -- AND WE OBJECT." 

      Not Dead Yet is a national disability rights organization that leads the disability community's efforts to oppose legalization of assisted suicide, euthanasia and other forms of medical killing. -- 

Campaigns against WalMart in Oregon
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313184.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312777.shtml
Police harass Portland Critical Mass
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/312240.shtml
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/312263.shtml
New York Critical Mass still under police attack
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/142561/index.php
Anarchist/anti-imperialist march on St Patrick's Day
in New York
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/144679/index.php
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143775/index.php

Irish Republican Socialists Win Third Place Recognition
       in San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America's
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter participated in San Francisco's
annual St. Patrick's Day parade for their 19th time this year.

They did so by once again organising an anti-imperialist contingent
around the slogans: "No War But Class War" and "U.S. and Britain
Out of Iraq, Out of Ireland". Joining the IRSCNA's members in the 
marching contingent were members of the All-African People's 
Revolutionary Party and the Latin American Left publication
El Nuevo Topo. The IRSCNA extends its sincere _expression of
gratitude to these comrades for helping us ensure that statements
against the war and occupation in Iraq were heard within the parade
this year.

Following the anti-imperialist contingent was a panel van, converted into 
a moving billboard which both commemorated the 30 years of struggle
for national liberation and socialism by the Irish Republican Socialist 
Party and Irish National Liberation Army and reiterated the joint slogans:

No War But Class War! 
U.S. and Britain Out of Iraq, Out of Ireland!

The IRSCNA chapter was please to hear this week that their van entry
was awarded Third Prize in the "Irish, Other" category, while the Anti-
Imperialist Contingent took fourth place in its category.

Following the parade, as the have done for a number of years now, 
the San Francisco chapter celebrated with Nachos and Margaritas
at the office with their own comrades and the friends who joined them
in marching this year. Members of the chapter strongly attest to the
superiority of this combination of snacks and libations over the traditional
Irish American corned beef and green beer...and, befitting a post parade
celebration, a revolutionary good time was had by all.

A week later, the IRSCNA's Bay Area chapter joined in the March 19th 
demonstration against the war and occupation in Iraq, where they again 
raised the revolutionary anti-war slogans of the IRSP in city of San 
Francisco. Their information table at the rally in the San Francisco Civic 
Center was kept busy by a steady stream of interested sympathizers.

Colton, California school students protest dress code and sackings of staff

Two-hour class walkout held, roof occupied, some objects thrown

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2932474

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-iebrief11feb11,1,1390058.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=3&cset=true

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/10870304.htm?1c

UTEP students rally against Asarco smelter 
Darren Meritz
El Paso Times
Students at a rally and march at the University of Texas at El Paso on Wednesday urged school officials to state the university's position on Asarco's effort to re-establish smelter operations in El Paso. Several hundred students filed into UTEP's Leech Grove for "The Asarco Awareness Concert," a program organized by a coalition of student organizations that want to stop Asarco from re-establishing smelter operations in El Paso and that want to clean up land contaminated with lead, arsenic and other pollutants. But Asarco officials said several studies have been conducted that deem the soil and air at the university safe. "Several sources have said that the soil at UTEP is safe, the air at UTEP is safe and that no further action needed to be taken," said Teresa Montoya, outside public relations consultant for Asarco in El Paso.  According to an EPA study completed in August 2001, the average concentration of lead in the soil at UTEP exceeded current state and federal  limits for young children at three locations: Leech Grove, Memorial Triangle and Jack C. Vowell Hall.  But because the university does not have a large population of young children on its campus, and because the levels of lead and arsenic found in soil at UTEP's day-care center and student housing were below screening values, EPA officials said no cleanups were required at UTEP. University officials said Wednesday that they preferred to see the Asarco smelter remain closed.  "The university is not actively supporting the renewal of the permit," said Richard Adauto, assistant to the president at UTEP. "Much like everybody else in this area -- I don't know for how many years the plant's been closed -- but we would prefer it stay that way."  Students involved said that they were working with Mayor Joe Wardy's office, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, and several grass-roots neighborhood organizations, and that they also wanted to work with the university.  "All we want is what the rest of El Pasoans want --for (UTEP administration) to publicly state that they don't want Asarco to reopen, so we know we have the university at our back," said junior anthropology student Jacqueline Barragan, who has been active in student activities regarding Asarco. "We want to know that the administration is going to protect us." 
Darren Meritz may be reached at
dmeritz at elpasotimes.com; 546-6127 

Protester throws shoe at Perle

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=511955

Bush poster tagged
http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/122943.php

Bush statue redecorated
http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/37372.php
Neocon billboards tagged
http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/122927.php

Pittsburgh Bush visit protested
http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17579.php

Bush "greeted" by protesters in New Jersey

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0304-06.htm

And in Memphis

http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Jan-Feb/W_Jan-Feb05.htm

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3063529

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3063529

Anti-Bush road rage

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/national/main679334.shtml

Bush visit to Shreveport protested

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050311/NEWS/50311006

Soldier's uniform hung up in peace protest

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200502%5CNAT20050215a.html

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2953818

Military recruiters protested on campus

http://www.nyunews.com/news/campus/8878.html

Massachusetts march against war

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~7516~2713931,00.html

Beinicia peace vigil reaches its 100th Thursday

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/12/BAGQTB9I0F1.DTL

California "hour of resistance" rekindles student anti-war protest

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31914

Minnesota: Protesters stage rally and civil disobedience at weapons factory
http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/20202/index.php
http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/22596/index.php
Milwaukee banner drop
http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/203016.shtml
Santa Monica students protest military recruiters
http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123819.php
Police harass peace protesters in Venice, LA
http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123684.php

Oregon military families hold "troops out" demo
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312710.shtml
Women in Black protest in Dallas
http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1833

Code Pink Valentine's Day peace protest
http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/17333.php

Anti-war graffiti in Kansas
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/1386312.html

March defends anti-recruitment activists
http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/536/536_12_CCNY.shtml

Banksy smuggles peace art into US museums

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0325-01.htm

Students protest army recruitment test

http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p18c.htm

San Francisco peace activists target military recruiters on campus

http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_2603424

Seattle counter-recruiters mobilise

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/210741_protest04.html

http://montages.blogspot.com/2005/01/seattle-central-community-college.html

Fighting the poverty draft - protesters target recruitment centres

http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9257&s2=29

Imperial Recruiting Stations Under Siege

"I've had people throwing objects at me when I was driving by.  I've had people who as soon as they see me on the street, they cross to the other side.  Those situations never occurred before, and it makes me wonder how far is this all going to go."

February 21, 2005 By DAMIEN CAVE (Source Unknown; from internet.)

EAST ORANGE, N.J. - The five United States Army recruiters who work from a storefront office here arrived on the morning of Feb. 5 to discover that a plate-glass window above the main entrance had been shattered, along with a window in the Navy office next door.

By noon, about 35 protesters were marching out front with antiwar placards, condemning the American invasion of Iraq and the recruiters' efforts to enlist new soldiers.

The group's leader, Lawrence Hamm, a New Jersey civil rights activist, said the protesters had nothing to do with the broken windows, and he condemned any violence against the recruiters.  The police have not found any evidence of a political motive.

But for the men on the other side of the broken glass, and recruiters throughout the New York area, the vandalism here underscored what they say are the risks of signing up young people for the military during a war that has polarized the American public.

The shattering of windows here followed two similar incidents in New York City and a third in the Midwest that week.  On Jan. 31, authorities said, recruiters at a station near the Flatiron section of Manhattan reported that a door had been cracked, and that anarchist symbols had been scrawled in red paint on the building.

That same day, before dawn, the police arrested a 19-year-old Manhattan College junior who they said threw a burning rag into an Army recruiting station that was closed for the night in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, and jammed the door locks with powerful glue.  He was caught carrying a handwritten note declaring that a "wave of violence" would occur throughout the Northeast on Jan. 31, aimed at the "military industrial complex" in response to American military actions, the police said.

A day later in Toledo, Ohio, a bucket of manure was thrown at the window of a recruiting station that housed all four branches of the military, the police said, and antiwar obscenities were scrawled on a nearby wall.

Since the beginning of 2003, there have also been more than a dozen other often violent incidents aimed at military recruiters or property throughout the country, according to the police, recruiters and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

In a few cases, vehicles have been set on fire; in others, blood has been thrown through windows.  Spokespeople for the armed services have downplayed the incidents even as some recruiters have increased security at their stations.

Douglas Smith, a spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., said that no recruiters had been hurt and that most of the nation's nearly 1,700 Army recruiting stations had not been harmed or attacked.

"We're aware that there are some instances of damage to stations, and we're keeping an eye on this," he said. "But it is not something that has us overly concerned."

Several recruiters in the field, however, said that they remained on edge.  On Jan. 20, the day of President Bush's inaugural, several hundred students at Seattle Central Community College surrounded two Army recruiters on campus, shouting insults and hurling water bottles until the recruiters were escorted away by campus security.  The protest was covered by The Army Times, and several recruiters said that they feared such situations might become more common.

Sgt. First Class William C. Howard, a recruiter here in East Orange, said that the antiwar sentiment seemed to have grown more aggressive.  Though recruiters are still frequently thanked for their service, he said, the insults, dirty looks and other signs of discontent seem to be increasing.

"Within last year, the whole security issue has become more of a concern with me," he said.  "I've had people throwing objects at me when I was driving by.  I've had people who as soon as they see me on the street, they cross to the other side.  Those situations never occurred before, and it makes me wonder how far is this all going to go."

(from GI Special)

SCSU Antiwar Kicks Recruiters Off Campus!!

February 25, 2005, UIC Group

This is a report from a friend in New Haven CT

In less than 90 minutes, students at Southern CT. State Univ. successfully chased the recruiters from the Army National Guard from the student center on wed. Feb. 23, 2005. There were about twenty students that took part in making sure that the recruiters had no chance in signing anyone up for an unjust war that has devastated soldiers by the thousands in this country while destroying the people of Iraq by the hundreds of thousands.

The Army National Guard was scheduled to be on campus from 11am to 4pm on the 23rd via an "invitation from career services at Southern" according to a spokesperson in the student center office.  The SCSU Antiwar Coalition decided to arrive early (pre-emptively) and set up our message of antiwar at around 10:30 am at their reserved table. 

We made certain to have a ton of literature and information, such as, numerous CAN pamphlets like "The Growing Soldiers Discontent" and "Occupation is Not Liberation", as well as the Pablo Peredes Petition, and plenty of Traveling Soldier issues.  Also the recent Socialist Worker issue was extremely effective due to the fact that three of the most outspoken resisters are front and center: Peredes, Kevin Benderman, and recently freed Camilo Mejia.

We also made a concerted effort to let people know about the upcoming March 19 demonstration in Hartford, CT that marks the two year anniversary of the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq and how everyone that is disgusted by the continued occupation has to get involved now!

We stressed the need for people to get involved in building the strongest possible antiwar coalition at Southern and why it is such an urgent campaign for us to get the recruiters off this campus that has already seen 127 of our fellow students go off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Passing students were very receptive in hearing the argument as to why the recruiters are here in the first place at a working class commuter school, why they have to lie to get students to sign up, and why they should leave and not come back.

Southern students like millions across the country face increased tuition (going on nine consecutive semesters at SCSU) and numerous budget cuts that has created increased anger and frustration and the last thing we need is the Army claiming that they have "an alternative". 

As for the action itself, the Army set up around 11:15 am, next to us (after one of the vendors selling clothes gave up a table for them) and we immediately made their attempt to engage students impossible.  First, about four of us blocked their table and handed out counter-recruitment info while the students behind our table grilled the two recruiters with questions about why they were here, why do they openly discriminate against our gay, lesbian, and transgender brothers and sisters, and how quickly will those who sign up go off to war somewhere in the world that is based on lies. 

Needless to say they were not thrilled by any of this and like a couple of third graders "told on us" to the student center representative within twenty minutes.  By this time we had at least 8-10 students facing the Army holding signs ranging from "Get off our campus" to "Money for School, not for War" and Recruiters out, Troops Home! 

The student center rep wanted to meet with a couple of us and expressed that there was a problem to which we agreed by stating "yes there is a major problem, why is there an institution on this State campus that openly discriminates based on sexual orientation?" The response was typical "oh well they were invited by career services, if they were here on their own accord WE would kick them off for you".  Really, how comforting to know that.

Thus, the Antiwar Coalition has a meeting with career services to discuss why they would ever invite the Army on campus and do they plan on it in the future. 

Ultimately, we agreed to not to stand directly in front of the table, but it was at that time we started to get more confident and aggressive in our outreach and by 12:30 pm the Army needed reinforcements.

Along came the third recruiter who after only a few minutes was so angry and red in the face that he could have easily been in a cartoon where their head explodes. 

By 12:45pm they decided to pack it up and call it a day after not getting one person to even make an appointment, let alone sign up for "duty". Interestingly enough the student center rep walked them out and was heard apologizing for the trouble, what a stunner!

More importantly, the three recruiters left while we began chants of "Money for school, not for war...money for healthcare, not for war" which then erupted into cheers when they were completely off of OUR campus.

It was actually shocking to almost all of us that they left so early, we really did not anticipate them giving in so quickly but when they saw that they were wasting their time they took off.  We were extremely excited but were quick to say that this is just the first round; they will come back(just like they have at all the other schools in this country) and with more experienced, aggressive, and most likely intimidating recruiters that will do everything in their power to sign up the next round of students for war. 

That is why we wrapped up by explaining how crucial it is for those who took part to spread the word to everyone they know on campus and throughout the New Haven community that in the next round we will have to be even more organized, more aggressive, and more intimidating on our own by having increased forces taking part at Southern that demands loud and clear: WE KICKED YOU OFF ONCE, NOW STAY OUT!

Sorry this report was quite long but this initial victory was so damn inspiring and displayed to people that struggle is possible and necessary especially at a time when we in the antiwar movement are inundated with the myths that we cannot do anything, the country is so right-wing, and nobody will listen, let alone get involved. 

Well, as what usually happens when people come together and fight, these types of myths are destroyed and you have new activists that are ready and willing to continue the fight.  We saw the beginning of the re-emergence of the fightback in New Haven yesterday at SCSU, let the spirit of Seattle (and countless others) continue to spread!!!

The SCSU AntiWar Coalition

Vandals Attack City Recruiting Station
Graffiti Slogans Spray-Painted On Building
By WILL MORRIS
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
February 25, 2005
Someone busted a window and spray-painted graffiti on the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Harrisonburg, officials said on Thursday. The vandals scrawled messages related to the conflict in Iraq on windows and on the sidewalk in front of the recruiting station. They also threw two bricks through an office window, along with a jar full of red paint. One slogan read, "It's not liberation if the Iraqis don't want us there." Army Staff Sgt. Mason Ogletree, a recruiter at the center, said the vandalism didn't shock him. Recruiting offices across the country have received warnings from commanding officers saying that attacks could happen, Ogletree said. "Did we think it would happen in Harrisonburg?" Ogletree said. "No, but I can't say we were surprised." Harrisonburg police say they have no suspects, but think the vandalism took place sometime between 10p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday. Another slogan read, "You killed my brother" - a statement that baffles the recruiters. According to them, no one recruited from the
Harrisonburg center has died in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Valley has lost two men in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to military records, but the nearest casualty, Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Redifer, 19, of Stuarts Draft, was recruited in Augusta County. The sniper died in combat in Iraq in January. The third slogan spray-painted was, "Recruiting the poor to die for the rich." Ogletree said he found the statement ironic. "It's funny, we had two guys here today, and both of their parents were doctors," he said. The two men are set to enlist today. According to Harrisonburg recruiters, the office consistently meets or exceeds enlistment goals. The Shenandoah Valley and eastern West Virginia, they say, are known for the large numbers of people who volunteer for military service. [.]  By afternoon on Thursday, the paint had been cleaned and the broken window had been replaced.  In the Marine Corps recruiting office late that evening, volunteers for military service smiled while being processed. They seemed unfazed by the vandalism.
http://www.dnronline.com/story3.asp

US: COUNTER-RECRUITERS CHARGED

CITY COLLEGE STUDENT  COUNTER-RECRUITERS CHARGED WITH FELONY ASSAULT
March 9, 2005
Counter Recruitment  Watch
Projects from Peace No War  Network
URL: _http://www.PeaceNoWar.net_ (http://www.PeaceNoWar.net) 

March 9,  2005
e-mail: _wrigleyfield at nyu.edu_ (mailto:wrigleyfield at nyu.edu) 

Press  Conference:
Thursday March 10th 4pm 
100 Centre Street, New York,  NY

CONTACTS
Activist:  Meredith Kolodner (917) 881-3896
Lawyers: Sean Maher, Darlene Jorif (212)  876-5500

WHO: City  College Counter-Recruiters: Hadas Thier, Nicholas Bergreen, 
Justino  Rodriguez (pending their release) and their supporters: 
representatives from  civil liberties organizations, national anti-war 
organizations, student  anti-war organizations, veterans and military 
family members, and the legal  community

Three undergraduate students at the City  College of New York (CCNY) 
were arrested Wednesday in the course of a  peaceful protest against 
military recruiters. Hadas Thier, Nick Bergreen,  and Justino 
Rodriguez, along with approximately a dozen other protesters  attended 
a job fair organized by the college, and stood up in front of a  
National Guard recruitment table chanting anti-war slogans. Private  
security and campus peace officers immediately surrounded the  
protesters, pushed them into an empty hallway outside of the job fair,  
closed the hall door and assaulted two protesters and arrested a third  
who was taking pictures. The two students who were assaulted are now  
being charged with felony assault, and the third with obstruction of a  
government administrator.

MILITARY RESPONDING TO  COUNTER-RECRUITER'S SUCCESS

"Counter-recruitment" has become a  national issue (USATODAY "Counter-
recruiters shadowing the military" 3/7/5),  and it's working. Between 
these efforts, and general disagreement about the  war, recruitment is 
down - according to a 3/6/5 Reuters report, "The regular  Army is 6 
percent behind its year-to-date recruiting target, the Reserve is  10 
percent behind, and the Guard is 26 percent short." 

After similar  counter-recruitment efforts have taken off from New York 
to Seattle, the  military has clearly become concerned. At William 
Patterson University in  New Jersey an activist was arrested for simply 
handing out  counter-recruitment leaflets. Twice last semester, CCNY 
student protesters  drove military recruiters off the campus with 
peaceful protests. This time  campus security was ready. "We didn't 
even get through one round of  chanting," according to Tiffany Paul, a junior 
at CCNY and a 
member of the  Campus Anti-War Network, who was one of the 
protesters. "We were completely  peaceful, it was the officers who were 
violent."

UNNECESSARY  BRUTALITY

When Mr. Rodriguez was being arrested, his head was  slammed into the 
wall. He called out "look what they're doing to me!"  According to Ms. 
Paul, to silence him one of the guards pulled Mr.  Rodriguez's hood 
over his head and slammed his head into the  wall
again.

"He just stood on the guy," remembers Mark Turner, a staff  member at 
CCNY, recalling the manner in which Mr. Bergreen was subdued by a  
private security guard, Mr. Robertson. "His foot was on his back, 
after  he had tackled him. Private security are not supposed to touch  
us."

Ms. Thier was arrested simply for taking pictures. Several  witnesses 
recall that the guards were pulling on her hair. Juan Alduey  remembers 
that the guards pushed Ms. Thier when she tried to give a  statement to 
students who began filming the event. "I'm being arrested for  
exercising my right to free speech" Mr. Alduey recalled.

SCSU Antiwar Kicks Recruiters Off Campus!!

February 25, 2005, UIC Group

This is a report from a friend in New Haven CT