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Updated: 7 hours 46 min ago

Mehserle's Trial to Be Held Outside of Alameda

October 18, 2009 - 2:18pm
On October 16th, Superior Court Judge Jacobson ordered Johannes Mehserle's trial be moved outside of Alameda County. Jacobson apparently bought into defense attorney Michael Rains' arguments for venue change. Judge Jacobson attempted to distance himself from the racism in Mehserle's change of venue motion, but by granting the move, he has in effect given credence to defense attorney Michael Rains' assertions that due to news coverage and protester's actions the citizens of Alameda are not qualified to be impartial jurors.

The City of Oakland was involved in the timing of the announcement, sending city workers home early in anticipation of potential upheaval downtown, as well as other probable arrangements made by city leaders. No large protests materialized despite the fearful claims in both Mehserle's motion and the judge's order to change venue.

The California Administrative Office of the Courts in San Francisco will narrow a list of potential venues within the next two weeks and then Judge Jacobson will choose the final venue from their selections.

Read More

Related Change of Venue Court Filings and Reports: Town Hall Reports from Inside Venue Change Hearing and on Hayward Police Brutality, 10/10/09 | Notes from the Mehserle Trial's "Change of Venue" Hearing, Day One, 10/6/09 | Demonstrators at Superior Court -- Justice for Oscar Grant -- Keep the trial in Alameda County | Opposition Filing Knocks Down Mehserle's Racist Change of Venue Motion Point by Point | Mehserle's Change of Venue Motion Exhibit 1: Declaration of Edward J. Bronson | Mehserle's Change of Venue Exhibits 9, 10, & 12: CA Police Killings, Oakland Murders, and Mixon Flier | Mehserle's Change of Venue Motion Exhibits 13 & 14: Local Groups Involved in Protesting | Town Hall for Justice on Mehserle's Change of Venue Motion with BAMN Presentation, 9/26/09: audio | NOBLE Presents Disturbing Report on BART Police Department, 10/1/09: audio and full report

Previous Related Indybay Features: Mehserle's Attorney Accuses Community Activists of Spreading "Disinformation" in Change of Venue Motion | Indybay Coverage of the Justice for Oscar Grant Movement
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VIDEOS: Homeless Protest at City Hall

October 17, 2009 - 4:46pm
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Gen. McChrystal to Request 80,000 More Troops

October 16, 2009 - 2:03pm
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Contagious Disease Outbreak at Northwest Detention Center

October 14, 2009 - 9:30pm
Some form of contagious disease is causing enhanced precautions at the Northwest Detention Center located on the Tacoma Tarpits Superfund site. Over the weekend, visiting families, some coming from as far away as Portland, were turned away and told that an outbreak of a flu-like disease was on-going. Even though the persons they were coming to visit were not ill, they were still prevented from visiting.

Guards are reportedly wearing green face masks in the facility and these were confirmed by observations of guards on break outside of the facility with masks hooked to their belts. Those held inside, reportedly, do not have masks and are using socks and other items of clothing to cover their faces.

Some reports indicate a partial quarantine is in effect although a medical officer at the facility denies this. The official confirmed that there is an outbreak of flu although no testing for more deadly strains like H1N1 of Avian flu is being conducted. Severe cases are being monitored in the medical unit but the official could not confirm if this was flu or Tuberculosis.

As reported:
"When one person in a pod becomes ill with a communicable disease, other pod residents are placed under some restrictions in that their movement out of the pod is restricted for 7 days. They are still allowed to see visitors since there is no direct contact with the visitors. There can be delays in bringing the restricted people to the visitor because of the special steps that are required. As far as attorney visits are concerned, they will tell the attorney that the resident can come to see him, but must wear a mask. The attorney can reschedule or see his mask-wearing client. There is no requirement that the lawyer wear a mask."

The Pierce County Health Department has been notified and is working to confirm and clarify the situation.

The privately owned and privately operated facility has a checkered past when it comes to managing disease outbreaks such as measles and food poisoning and is loath to provide prompt notification to the public. Health care is managed by the Public Health Service, Division of Immigration Services.
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Christopher Columbus Protest in Santa Barbara

October 14, 2009 - 4:00pm
In Southern California, there were at least two protests of Columbus Day this year. One took place in San Juan Capistrano, the other in Santa Barbara. The latter had an impressive turnout with head counts varying from 35 to 70. Whatever the exact number, our presence was strong, and reactions were positive. Vehicles honked, and pedestrians stopped to watch and listen. Some of them expressed support for the cause.

The many signs included "We discovered a lost Columbus," "Make Columbus your mascot," and "Is there a Hitler Day?" There was also music, dance, and several good speakers.

Story and photos: Christopher Columbus Protest in Santa Barbara by RP

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Pirate Healers Treat Sick Sea Lion Stranded on the Coast

October 13, 2009 - 1:46am
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Champaign Police Fatally Shoot Unarmed 15 Year-old African American Youth

October 11, 2009 - 11:21pm
Although the names of the officers involved in the struggle have not been released, Champaign Police Chief R. T. Finney’s shoulder was sprained in the incident. The second youth was arrested, charged with residential burglary, and taken to the Youth Detention Center. Because he is a juvenile, his name is not being released.

Our condolences to the family of young Kewanne Carrington. Please stay tuned. Don’t believe the hype. Will keep you posted.

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Police Attack on Funk the War Still Raising Issues

October 11, 2009 - 1:00am
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New EPA study to finally examine atrazine health risks

October 10, 2009 - 2:34am
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Protests and Arrests Mark 8th Anniversary of Afghan War

October 9, 2009 - 3:53am
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Canadian Marc Emery Becomes a Political Prisoner of the USA

October 6, 2009 - 7:17pm
Canadian authorities, acting at the behest of U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials, arrested seed distributor, activist and magazine publisher Marc Emery, often referred to as the "Prince of Pot", and two associates on July 29th, 2005 on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering, following an 18-month investigation.

Emery and supporters spent years fighting extradition, but on January 14th, 2008, he agreed to a tentative plea-bargain with US authorities. The terms of the agreement were a 5-year prison term to be served in both Canadian and U.S. prisons. In return, he demanded the charges against his friends be dropped. On March 27th, 2008 the plea-bargain deal collapsed because of the refusal of the Canadian government to approve its side of the arrangement. On September 21st, 2009, he pleaded guilty to a charge of manufacturing marijuana. Emery surrendered into the custody of the British Columbia Supreme Court on September 28th, 2009 and is awaiting extradition to a US federal prison. He will try to get a transfer to a Canadian prison once he begins his term.

Read more | Cannabis Culture | NoExtradition.net | WhyProhibition.ca | Pot TV
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Chicago Public and Community Organizations Relieved by Lost Olympic Bid

October 4, 2009 - 7:15pm


"J.R. Fleming, an organizer with the Olympics Human Rights Project of Chicago, told CIMC that there were, “many issues that needed to be addressed before the Olympics. Homelessness, our transportation and educational structures are horrible. The demolition of public housing here in Chicago and nationally, there are 300,000 people a month are losing their jobs.”

“We dodged a real bullet today,” Tom Tresser exclaimed from Copenhagen via Skype to CIMC. Tresser is a long-time Chicago activist and an organizer with one of the lead opposition groups to Chicago’s bid, the coalition No Games Chicago. “This was a real wake up call to the mayor and his team who has been pushing this thing for years spending millions of dollars that should have gone to the neediest, not the greediest. This is a time to be giving more to people who are losing their homes, and instead it went to people who are planning a party that fortunately will never happen,” Tresser said.

"The final toll in terms of the city’s costs for promoting its bid for the Olympics was in upwards of $50 million dollars, including $3.1 million doled out to the powerful Hill and Knowlton public relations firm, hired three years ago by the city of Chicago to promote its bid." Read more

Additional Coverage: Victory: Chicago Loses The Olympics | Chicago Reader - 2016 Olympics: more post-mortem | Chicago Reader - Meanwhile, There's A City To Run | Think Progress: Bush Administration’s Tourist Visa Policy May Have Cost America The 2016 Olympics
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Not Our Mascot Rally

October 4, 2009 - 4:46pm
The march began at the Alma Mater and went up Green Street. University of Illinois and Champaign police had threatened organizers that they would be arrested if anyone walked in the street. A remarkably well-organized event, the crowd policed itself with designated individuals wearing red arm bands and ushering the marchers. There were two legal observers and medical technicians also present. There were fortunately no arrests.

As they marched, they crowd chanted, “One, two, three, four. Who is the Chief dancing for? Five, six, seven, eight. Not for us. Stop the hate!”

The group marched to Swanlund Administration building to deliver a petition to Chancellor Herman calling for the university to take action to retire its racist mascot once and for all. The march continued past Newman Center where a group of young white men stood yelling “Chief” and doing the “tomahawk chop.”

The marchers then proceeded to Assembly Hall where “The Next Dance” was taking place that night. A rally was held as Chief fans passed by to attend the event.
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Jeff Luers is back in prison

October 3, 2009 - 12:02pm
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Open Newswire

FREE GLUCOSE METERS + AMERICAN DREAM PROGRAM FREE 800 306 0990 24HRS
10 min 47 sec ago
Anonymous

Government Diabetes.Org located in Washington, DC has reported, "There are free watches for every state plus billions of dollars in assistance earmarked for people previously diagnosed as diabetic. Public and private funds are now available for them to repair homes, start a business, consolidate debts and any worthwhile purpose." In addition, he reported how new financial resources have been committed to help diabetics get job training and re-enter the job market.
"Now is the time for diabetics to act if they need money, Wall Street has no effect on theses funds," urged Greene. He also revealed that several reduced-cost and free programs now exist to help diabetics and the economically disadvantaged who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Such programs include energy assistance, free prescriptions, free diabetic watch,home repair and legal aid.

Free-Glucose-Meter-Rx.Com offers the free diabetic watch program that provides the latest information on assistance for diabetics. It covers job training, financial assistance, phone bill assistance, diabetic recipes, free grants, scholarship and loan resources available for a wide variety of purposes, including business start-ups for diabetics. The kit also includes a list of more than fifteen hundred professionals offering diabetics free advice and business guidance.

For additional information on Government Diabetes.Org, contact Charles Greene or visit http://www.government-diabetes.org http://www.free-glucose-meter-rx... , Diabetic-Testing-Supplies.Orgfor news on diabetes visit , http://www.free-diabetic-supplie... . . Government Diabetes.Org offers a free diabetics watch and a free glucose meter to qualified beneficiaries with diabetes. Free diabetic watch offers are available in all 50 states while supplies last.

Zhibin Gu: China entrepreneurship, open society revolution vs Communist dynasty: history, politics, economy, and corruption
15 hours 12 min ago
Anonymous

George Zhibin Gu summarizes the history of China's Communist Dynasty:

(George Zhibin Gu of China is an author of several new books, including: 1. China's global reach, 2. China and the new world order, 3. Made in China.)

The past 60 years of China's Communist history can be divided roughly into two phases.

The first phase, between 1949 and 1978, was this: the Communist bureaucracy had totally destroyed society, the economy and the culture. This was done by a total bureaucratic monopoly over all of nation's wealth, labor, markets, organizations and institutions. Furthermore, it completely destroyed the free press and the law. But this unprecedented bureaucratic domination immediately produced unprecedented man-made disasters in world history, not just China's. The disasters include endless violence and terror, the creation of the state sector and people's communes, the total bureaucratization of media, education, and thought.

In the end, beginning in 1958, the regime wanted to have a total bureaucratic miracle in the so-called Great Leap Forward (1958-60), and record disasters emerged all at once. Record deaths of some 50 million people occurred in the period of 1958-62, killing some 50 million people by an unprecedented famine as well as a record oganized violence.

What is more, these unprecedented miseries turned out to be the very beginning of bureaucratic disasters. Worse than the famine, three bureaucratic wars emerged against society and the people in the period of 1959-78, which ended to destroy countless millions of lives, or even more, by organized violence, not to mention a near total destruction of culture, education, thinking, wealth and all other good things in life.

Responding to Harmful Government Inaction, Protestors Stop Blasting on Coal River Mountain
2 days 3 hours ago
Anonymous

PETTUS, W. Va. – Early this morning two concerned citizens, Dea Goblirsch and Nick Martin, locked down to a drill rig on Coal River Mountain’s Bee Tree mountaintop removal site, effectively stopping blasting. Two others, Grace Williams and Laura Von Dolen, joined them in direct support, holding a banner with the message “Save Coal River Mountain”.

These nonviolent protestors have taken this action to bring attention to the extreme danger facing residents of the Coal River Valley from blasting near the Brushy Fork Impoundment. They plan to stay locked down until law enforcement removes them.

Resident of Rock Creek, W Va., Delbert Gunnoe, stated his concerns with the blasting, “You know when they put a blast over there, and it shakes the windows over here, at what, ¾-a-mile distance, imagine what it does over there.” Gunnoe continued, “if [the impoundment] did bust…what would be the destruction? The town of Whitesville would no longer exist.”

The four are fearful of the blasting that Massey Energy began in late October. These blasts are 200 feet from the Brushy Fork Impoundment, permitted to hold nine billion gallons of toxic coal slurry. The impoundment sits atop miles of hollow, abounded underground mines, further endangering its integrity. By Massey’s own estimates, roughly 998 people will die should the dam break. The emergency evacuation plan states that a 40-foot wall of sludge, cresting at 72 feet, will flow through the valley, reaching 20-feet-high about 15 miles down the road. Apart from the initial flood, the impact of this potential spill would be felt along the Coal River’s 88 miles.

EVIDENCE THAT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WELCOMES FBI INTEL OPERATIONS AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWER
3 days 3 hours ago
gsosbee

The universities across the nation (and AG) do more for the fbi/cia than assist in the search for foreign terrorists; today our colleges and universities directly encourage their campus police and civilian employees to engage in unlawful intel operations against whistleblower
GERAL SOSBEE.

 

 

 

In November, 2009, the Texas Attorney General (AG) grants near blanket authority (in Case number OR2009-16316 & Case ID#367454) to the University Of Texas Police (UTP) and Harlingen, Texas (HTP) Police to withhold from Open Records (OR) disclosure the key data in their possession relating to Geral Sosbee. The AG also states in each opinion that the AG has no authority beyond the scope of the OR statutes. The AG thus hides from his responsibility as a citizen and human being for civil and human rights violations behind the the OR guidelines ( which are designed to allow the police to engage in witch hunts, stalking, harassment, fraudulent stings and other crimes as I have documented at many pages of www.sosbeevfbi.com.) I have also provided the AG with evidence of ongoing felonies against my person (continuing in Texas and other locations for the past decade); by the AG letters referenced above the fbi now gains the AG approval and authority to use UT employees (including UTP) in efforts to silence or kill me; see for example the specifics of some of my reports at

http://www.sosbeevfbi.com/affidavit2007.html

 

Evening of Solidarity for Dr. Mutulu Shakur
3 days 3 hours ago
denverabc

An Evening of Solidarity for Mutulu Shakur
Presented by Denver and Aurora CopWatch, Sisters of Color United for Education, and Denver ABC

Saturday, November 28th
Sisters of Color 2895 8th Ave, Denver, CO (8th and federal across the street from the bus yard)
7:30-12ish
Sliding Scale 1-5$ (if you ain't got it don't let it stop you from coming)

Teach-in by Professor Ward Churchill

Live Music by:
Mike Wird
Ietef
Debajito (of Debajo Del Agua)

Hosted by Shareef Aleem

Please join us on Saturday, November 28th to stand in solidarity with Dr Mutulu Shakur before his appeals hearing on Monday, November 30th at the super-maximum Federal prison in Florence, CO.

Dr. Shakur is a New Afrikan (Black) man whose primary work has been in the area of health. He is a doctor of acupuncture and one of the most prolific, committed and conscious freedom fighters and political prisoners to whom the Black liberation struggle has given birth.

Since the age 16, Dr. Shakur has been a part of the New Afrikan
Independence Movement. As a part of this movement Dr. Shakur has been a target of the illegal Counterintelligence Program carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (COINTELPRO). This was a secret police strategy used in the U.S. starting in the 1960's to destroy and neutralize progressive and revolutionary organizations. It is believed that Dr. Shakur's resistance to this program led to his arrest and trial.

"Straight ahead, stiff resistance"

contact info: 970.302.7349/miketruswell@yahoo.com
www.mutulushakur.com
www.dare2struggle.org

The Shortwave Report 11/20/09 Listen Globally
3 days 21 hours ago
Anonymous

 Dear Radio Friend,
The latest Shortwave Report (November 20) is up at the website
http://www.outfarpress.com/outfa... in both broadcast quality (13.3MB) and quickdownload or streaming form (4.9MB) (28:59)
(NEW! If you have access to Audioport.org there is a higher quality version posted up there {26.7MB} http://www.audioport.org/index.p...)

Water and Imperialism
4 days 1 hour ago
NickB

(www.raimd.wordpress.com)

Water is essential, in various ways, to all human activity. Water is something that humans, literally, cannot do without. Every human needs water in order live and to have a good life. Societies need water in order to be provide for the survival of their populations. Usable water, as a resource, is finite and distributed unevenly across the planet. Most societies have difficulty providing water to their populations, especially in the Third World. The inability to access water is referred to as the water crisis.

la virgen de Guadalupe y los curas
4 days 3 hours ago
Anonymous

LA VIRGEN DE LA GUADALUPE ES DE TODOS LOS MEXICANOS, NO DE LOS CURAS

La Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (CEM) no está de acuerdo en que los Mexicanos utilicemos a la Virgen de la Guadalupe, como sucedió en la marcha de SME el pasado 11 de noviembre (2009) por “manipular el sentimiento religioso”, se ha afirmado en varias ocasiones desde que concluyó la 88ª Asamblea Plenaria del CEM. Los curas, junto con los políticos y las grandes transnacionales se han adueñado de nuestro país y de nuestros símbolos.

¿Ya se les olvidó a los curas que la Virgen de Guadalupe es el único símbolo religioso auténticamente Mexicano? ¿Ya se les olvidó que ellos llegaron con Hernán Cortés a robar y a imponernos su cruz a sangre y fuego? La Virgen de Guadalupe es Tonantzin y es nuestra, aunque no les guste a los extranjeros como ellos.

Lo que los curas del CEM no quieren es que el pueblo Mexicano, unido al SME, siga la trayectoria de don Miguel Hidalgo y les arrebate la jugosa ganancia.

Yo les pido a los curas del CEM que ya no nos “salven”.
¡¡Larguense de aquí!! ¡¡Larguense!! ¡¡Larguense!! ¡¡Larguense!! ¡¡Larguense!! ¡¡Larguense de México y de todo este continente!!
Josefa Ortiz
http://josefaortiz.hpage.com/sme...

 

PRESIDENT OBAMA ~ TAX EXEMPT U.S. FOUNDATIONS OF OUR AMERICAN WEALTHY ELITE HAVE BECOME TAX EVASION FOUNDATIONS THAT NEED NEW FEDERAL GUIDLINES.....
4 days 23 hours ago
Anonymous

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAX EXEMPT SLUSH FUND CHARITIES(FOUNDATIONS) FOR OUR U.S. WEALTHY ELITE AMERICANS WE ALL KNOW  are QUITE COMMON AND COSTING THE U.S.GOVERNMENT BILLIONS IN POSSIBLE TAX REVENUE.

***MANY OF THESE SAME AMERICAN WEALTHY ELITE NOT ONLY HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THEIRTX EVADING  FOUNDATIONS BILLIONS,BUT ALSO FIND IT NECESSARY TO HIRE LOBBYISTS TO ATTEMPT THE DIRECT CONTROL OVER VARIOUS USES OF AMERICAN TAX PAYERS TAX $$$ ???

WEALTHY ELITE AMERICANS HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER OUR U.S.CONGRESSIONAL TAX DOLLAR SPENDING WITH THEIR BEHIND THE SCENE LOBBY MONIES... AND ARE CONTINUING TO DENY MIDDLE~CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS PROPER HEALTH ~ CARE , PROPER LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN AMERICAN FAMILY COURTS,CIVIL COURTS,& FEDERAL APPEALS FROM STATE COURTS. **THOUSANDS OF POORER AMERICANS ALL ACROSS AMERICA ARE LOSING PARENTING AND VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, ARE BEING FALSELY IMPRISONED, WRONGFULY EXECUTED,LOSING THEIR HOMES OR APARTMENTS ETC...

** IS THIS REALLY WHAT MANY SAY APPEARS TO BE THE FORMATION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER IN AMERICA THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO BREAK DOWN AND DESTROY AMERICAN FAMILIES AND ESTABLISHED FAMILY VALUES ACROSS OUR GREAT COUNTRY ???

Chickenhawk Hall of Shame
6 days 2 hours ago
Anonymous

<p>Compiled by <a href="http://www.nhgazette.com/">The New Hampshire Gazette</a></p>

<p>When an American male (or an especially belligerent female) makes the challenging transition from late adolescence into early adulthood, he is faced with many decisions. One certain, specific combination of choices will result in his becoming a chickenhawk: choosing to “support” war, while also choosing not to serve in the military. His motto becomes: “Let’s you and him go fight; I’ll hold your coat.”</p>

<p>Depending on external circumstances, such an individual may become one of three varieties of chickenhawk:</p>
<p>• If there is no draft, and the nation is at peace, the individual becomes a Common Chickenhawk;</p>
<p>• If there is a draft, and the nation is at peace, the individual becomes a Chickenhawk First Class;</p>
<p>• If the there is a draft, and the nation is at war, the individual becomes a Chickenhawk First Class with Distinguished Fleeing Cross.</p>

<p>We currently have 132 Chickenhawks listed in our database. Here they are, listed chronologically by date of birth. <a href="http://www.nhgazette.com/chickenhawks/?sort_list=0">CLICK HERE</a> to see them listed alphabetically.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nhgazette.com/nominate/?id=-1&action=new">Nominate a Chickenhawk</a></p>

<p>posted by the <a href="http://wintersoldier.org">Thomas Paine Project</a> (FYI: the organization is run by veterans)</p>

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