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Addressing Violence in Prison |
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by Jason Lydon, info (nospam) commchurch.org |
 Usually when I talk about prisons I begin with a whole bunch of numbers and statistics. 2.4 million people in prison, 1 million Black people in prison, 1 in 9 Black men between the ages of 18 and 34 are in prison. Women of Color are the fastest growing population in prison. 25% of people in women’s prisons are raped during their sentence, 20% of people in men’s prisons are raped during their time. Nearly 100% of out queer and transgender people in men’s prisons experience some form of sexual assault. The numbers and statistics go on and on. I have pages and pages of them if you want. When we talk about systems of oppression it is often so much easier to talk about numbers rather than people. Whether we’re talking about the millions killed in war, the high percent of people losing their homes, or the rate at which people are losing access to food and water sources, we continuously use numbers to hide faces.
[Reposted Sermon from The Community Church of Boston at www.communitychurchofboston.org] |
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SDS Takes Over Evergreen State College with Style |
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by Sofia Jarrin, sofiajt (nospam) yahoo.com |
 It has been twelve days since the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) took over the fourth floor of an administration building in Evergreen State College (TESC) in Olympia, Washington, to protest the unilateral decision of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Art Costantino, of taking away their student group status. The sit-in was originally organized “to draw attention to the diminishing rights of students at TESC and to regain SDS’ status as a student organization” but it quickly evolved into a mobilization of wits against the establishment. Since the takeover, students have organized political concerts, speeches, and radical workshops that range from queer theory to direct action and economic alternatives to neoliberalism. They have also re-named the building where they're staging the sit-in, the People's University. |
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02 Jun 2008
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Filed under: News / Education : Gender : GLBT/Queer : Globalization : Media : Organizing : Politics : Race |
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10,000 Strong Boston - A Call to Action |
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by 10,000 Strong Boston, blackstonian (nospam) verizon.net |
 It is time to stand up, take responsibility and be accountable. Who Cares? We do. We doin' good in the hood. Are you tired of the drugs, guns, violence, crime, broken families, lack of guidance and direction. Are you in need of service? Will you serve? Do you need support? Will you support? Together we are 10,000 strong. If one can make a difference, what will 10,000 strong do? Think of it as a mini Million Man March for Boston.
A Rally...A Gathering... A Call to Action: Sunday June 22, 2008, Franklin Park. |
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22 May 2008
Modified: 09:16:08 AM |
Filed under: Announcement / DNC : Education : Environment : Gender : GLBT/Queer : Globalization : Human Rights : International : Labor : Media |
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To Snitch or Not To Snitch: The View From The Other Side |
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by Robert Saleem Holbrook, |
 I decided to write this article in response to the endless criticism that is being directed against the “Stop Snitching” movement by critics claiming that Hip Hop is responsible for the “Stop Snitching” movement and the “Us vs. Them” mentality youth of color have towards law enforcement agencies. As a former gang member and street combatant of the drug wars that dominated the streets of Philly in the late 80’s and a member of the generation that came of age listening to Hip Hop I believe I am qualified to offer a frontline perspective from the other side of the issue, especially as one who was sentenced to life without parole as a juvenile because of the testimony of a snitch co-defendant that was close to 10 years older than I. |
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Why I Won’t Vote for Obama... Or for Hillary, And Certainly Not for McCain, And Not Even For Ralph |
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by Wayne Price (personal opinion)- NEFAC member, |
An Anarchist View of the U.S. Elections.
In the United States, there has developed an enthusiastic movement of support for the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. Besides the large forces he appeals to, especially among young adults, he is overwhelmingly supported by the left: liberals, social democrats, and Stalinists. I appreciate the movement-like aspect of his popular support, yet I personally will not vote for him. |
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Organizing Lessons from Civil Rights Leader Ella Baker |
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by repost: Chris Crass, |
 Ella Baker, who was born in North Carolina in 1905, was politicized and radicalized by the poverty of the Great Depression. She participated in self-help programs throughout the 30s and developed an understanding and respect for the process by which people take control over their own lives while also protesting injustices.
[This is an excerpt from an essay written by Chris Crass on organizing lessons to be learned from the life long revolutionary organizing work of Ella Baker.] |
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WSF Global Day of Action: People Mobilize Locally and Globally for a Better World |
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by BIMC Editors, |
 Boston, Mass.—Hundreds of thousands around the world will join forces tomorrow, January 26, 2008, for a historical celebration of social movements and social justice as they take action locally on the Global Day of Action called forth during the World Social Forum (http://wsf2008.net/). People all over the world will hold talks, demonstrations, concerts, vigils, and many other creative ways of resistance to clamor “another world is possible.”
In the Greater Boston area, the Global Day of Action launched last weekend with a Winter Soldier event organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War and their supporters, followed today by an immigration rally organized by the Boston May Day Coalition, and a People’s Music Winter Gathering tonight that seeks “to promote progressive ideas and transform ourselves and our communities through music to bring about a better world.” Other activities include an event to challenge the Free Trade Agreement in Colombia, two demonstrations in support of Palestinians, and a talk about human rights in Haiti. |
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25 Jan 2008
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Filed under: News / DNC : Education : Environment : Gender : GLBT/Queer : Globalization : Human Rights : International : Labor : Media : Organizing : Politics : Race : Social Welfare : Technology : War and Militarism |
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Bolivian Anarchism and Indigenous Resistance: Interview with Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui |
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by By Andalusia, |
 The South American nation of Bolivia has filled the headlines of the global press with their fight against water privatization, struggle for nationalization of gas, non-compliance with free trade policies, and the election of South America’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales. These struggles are rooted in the long history of indigenous resistance to colonialism and imperialism in Bolivia. In an interview conducted during her recent stay in Pittsburgh, subaltern theorist, Aymara sociologist, and historian Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui discussed Bolivian Anarchism, the health benefits of the Coca plant, and the Cocaleros' (Coca Growers') fight for sovereignty.
For Audio Listening:
http://media.indypgh.org/uploads/2007/03/Silvia_Rivera_Cusicanqui.mp3 |
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13 Nov 2007
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Filed under: Interview / Education : Environment : Gender : GLBT/Queer : Globalization : Human Rights : International : Labor : Media : Organizing : Politics : Race : Social Welfare : Technology : War and Militarism |
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