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Start: Nov 11 2009 8:00 pm Start: Nov 11 2009 8:00 pm

Help defend and support social justice movements in Denver and beyond!
A benefit event for the Denver ABCF Mutual Aid Fund

"Martyr's Ball: Remember the dead and dance like hell for the living"
Wednesday November 11 (Haymarket Day) 8pm
Mercury Cafe 2199 California Street (22nd St and California), Denver

Enjoy a night of music and food to commemorate Haymarket Day, the anniversary of the execution of the Haymarket Martyrs, four anarchists executed during the height of the struggle for the 8 hour day in 1887. We will remember fallen comrades while also helping to raise funds for
contemporary social justice movements active in Denver and across the globe.

In the spirit of remembrance, we are encouraging attendees to come dressed as a martyr or fallen comrade from a social justice struggle. We are also encouraging participants to contact us in advance to let us know who they will come as, so we can compile educational materials about many of the martyrs represented at the event.

All funds generated by the event will go to benefit with Denver ABCF Mutual Aid Fund, a project that aims to provide financial support to members of social justice movements in need of economic relief and assistance.

For more information about the event you can contact the Denver ABCF at denverabc@rocketmail.com or contact Whitney at 303-995-3899

For more information about Denver ABCF you can visit our blog at
denverabc.wordpress.com
 

Link:  PCRM

Are Senior Meal Providers Linked to Pork Producers In their Unhealthy Offerings

The privately owned Area Office on Aging, based in Unionstown Ohio,
seems to be aligned with Pork Producers in the senility engendering
meals it is approving for seniors.
In 4 days of 1 week, ham, bacon, pork and pork were featured,
with their high cholesterol, amyloid plaque (cause of Alzheimers's), ecoli,
uric acid, bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, food dyes etc. In aeddition these foods cause global heating, animal agony, energy waste, deforestation, pollution of our water system.

Mature Services is another group promoting food guaranteed to send
seniors out of their bodies earlier than God's design.

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 EDITOR’S NOTE—This document recently fell in our laps. It’s the Spanish-English phrase book for Grand Junction’s finest. Notice there is nothing about rights translated. Its also insightful on how the police view their interactions with the community both hispanic and otherwise.

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Former Israeli Minister of Internal Security and Zionist hard-line supporter of genocide of the Palestinian people, Uzi Landau, will be speaking about the supposed threat of Iranian Nuclear Weapons on his first trip to the United States. The speech will be taking place at the University of Colorado at Denver on the Auraria Campus on Wednesday Oct. 28 from 1:30pm - 3:30pm at Saint Cajetan's Church across from the King Building (please come early around 1pm)

For those of you unfamiliar with this war criminal and human rights violator, he was opposed to the 2004 disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip. He encouraged armed resistance by settlers to the plan and was actually banned from traveling abroad by Ariel Sharon due to his extreme views (hard to believe he was too extreme for Sharon). He was also Minister of Internal Security at the time of Rachael Cory's murder by Israeli forces. He was previously sponsored by the Zionist of America in a failed speaking tour and continues to support human rights violations of the Palestinian people.

Please come with signs and a spirit of "vigorous" protest. This should not go un-resisted!!!

 Hey Everybody:

Big shout out from the Federal Supermax.

First, I hope you'll all keep an eye on my new website in progress jordanlitigation.com, 

Second, a cry for help, my attorney Paula Ray, will be arguing on my behalf before 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on November 17th, 2009, to reverse the district court's denial of my motion for post-conviction DNA testing under the Innocence Protection Act. As I'm from Philly, I am pleading with all Colorado-area friends to attend in a show of support. Need ID to get into the courthouse. It's Bryon White Courthouse 1823 Stout Street, Courtroom IV. United States v. Mark Jordan, No. 081431. Its a huge case dealing with ability to access DNA when it will prove innocence. I really hope some folks can show. Some other neat cases are being argued also. Please show, (I'm looking for #'s).

Third, my sis could use some web building tech support. Anyone? 

My best to all

In Struggle & Solidarity,

Mark Jordan

note---We got this call to support, and wish we could make it. Mark has won a case about the right of prisoners to publish, and fought another on censorship of reading materials that he lost. He was originally sent to prison for bank robbery, and while serving his time he was convicted of a jail-house stabbing homicide. This hearing is about his right to have DNA evidence examined that may prove that he is innocent. I hope some of our comrades in Denver can attend in our stead.

Solidarity form Junktown

The independent media movement started ten years ago to expose the mainstream media’s thin veil of objectivity. Recent editorials about the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington in the local News-Gazette reveal the newspaper’s role in protecting the police and other powerful interests in Champaign.

On Thursday, October 22, two days after a heavily attended city council meeting and the day of a planned march, the News-Gazette ran an editorial titled, “An Angry Night at City Hall.” The editors assured readers that the police were in the right the day Kiwane, an unarmed 15 year-old African American youth, was shot and killed. “Circumstances point to an accidental shooting,” the editorial confidently states. Officer Daniel Norbits, it continues, “did not intentionally discharge his service weapon during his struggle with Carrington.”

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

 

 

Over forty-five members of CMAGE/CWA Local 4502 flooded the Columbus City Council Session last Monday night, October 19th 2009. The Union represents workers from all departments of the City of Columbus, including the Columbus Police and Fire Departments and Parks and Recreation, and includes professional and technical staff and supervisors.

 

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 Steven Kilcrease a local activist was arrested during critical mass and his board was confiscated for over 3 months.

On october 13th 2009 he was sentenced to 10 days in work release (road crew) and over 1,100 dollars in fines. This is what petty skating where prohibited and petty disregarding police charges get you in Backwards Grand Junction Colorado? No! Others with the same charges walked away with fines, and nothing else. Steven kilcrease has been targeted by the GJPD because if his affiliation with and participation in local grass roots organizing activities. The Grand Junction Police department needs to LAYOFF of grand junction activists. WE (A)RE TIRED OF YOUR BULLSHIT GJPD!

Tonight, Champaign Council chambers were so packed to capacity, with overflow in the lobby, numbering over 300 attendees.  CU Citizens for Peace and Justice called for the resignation of Chief RT Finney.  Below is their prepared statement. 

Here is the link to the Champaign Police new Use of Force Policy referenced in this talk that allows for the police to shoot to kill someone resisting or fleeing arrest. 

Here is the list of grievances against Finney justifying his resignation or removal.

Council member LaDue said last night that this policy, which went into effect October 1, 2009, was never passed by council.  LaDue said tasers, which are also discussed in the policy, had been rejected by the council and that this discussion was "not pending" despite Finney's statements to the contrary.  Council called for a study session on police Use of Force policies.

 

AttachmentSize CPDUseOfForce1009.pdf3.26 MB Why Finney Must Go.doc47 KB

From the newswire: "[On Thursday, October 15, a]pproximately 30 activists — mainly students from area universities — disrupted a lecture given in Chicago by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday which was hosted by the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. While Olmert's speech was disrupted inside the lecture hall, approximately 150 activists protested outside the hall in the freezing rain.

"Protesters inside the hall read off the names of Palestinian children killed during Israel's assault on Gaza last winter. They shouted that it was unacceptable that the war crimes suspect be invited to speak at a Chicago university when his army destroyed a university in Gaza in January. They reminded the audience of the more than 1,400 Palestinians killed during the Gaza attacks and the more than 1,200 killed during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006. Both invasions happened during Olmert's premiership. With interventions coming every few minutes throughout his appearance, Olmert had difficulty giving his speech and often appeared frustrated. At one point he appealed for 'just five minutes' to speak without being interrupted." Read more

Additional Coverage: Watch Video | Chicago Maroon coverage: Jeers Stifle Olmert's Speech

After failing to prevent fascist neo-Nazi David Irving from holding a public speaking engagement at a restaurant in Arvada as well as allowing “performance artist” Buju Banton to spew homophobic hatred with impunity at a recent show in Denver, Colorado activists and radicals have some explaining to do. Unity is short between fragmented, sparsely attended groups and actions are few and far in between. In times like these, those that espouse theories of direct action and organizing for a better world should be taking advantage of the political climate and mobilizing. As the post-DNC activist vaccum continues to delay serious change, many groups are starting to find a good routine with steady participation, but there are still holes to fill.

Hard economic times breed violent xenophobia and nationalist sentiments. Fascist elements can and will take advantage of this climate, and providing a militant counter in the street to that threat is the only answer. Racists, white supremacists, homophobes, sexists, and fascists should never be given the opportunity to organize publicly. That makes communities unsafe for anyone marginalized by the views of irrational, hateful individuals and groups, and fighting for the physical safety of the marginalized in the face of violent bigots should be a priority for anyone looking to destroy oppression.

By allowing this hate to propagate in the region, anyone in Colorado looking to make positive change has failed. This was because of lack of organization, not willpower. Plenty were interested in countering these events, many of which in a militant fashion, for Colorado has no shortage of determined individuals ready to defend their communities; however because of a complete lack of framework, infrastructure, or even basic social network, much needed mobilizations never occurred.

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 The Police here in Grand Junction have for a long time been able to do whatever they want with little or no oversight by the community. Skateboarders, Latinos, poor people, and political activists have long known that the police have grudges they settle with force or through the justice system.

Recent arrests and firings of two GJPD officers for beating a woman and raping a woman, Coutrney Crooks and Glenn Coyne, respectively, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Former Police Chief Bill Gardner resigned this fall, because of another case that was successfully kept off the pages of the newspapers. It involved nine GJPD officers beating a woman in her own house, and then charging her with felony assault on an officer, she threatened to sue the PD and an agreement was reached which dropped the lawsuit and the chargers. The victim is still too traumatized by the incident, she just wants to put it behind her, but we as citizens need to know what happened in that incident.

The GJPD is notoriously secretive and non-transparent. Multiple open records request have been denied, or simply ignored. The process for people to make complaints about the department is not open or accessible. No hotline, No form, No advocate outside of the Police Department. To make a complaint you have to go to the station and into a locked corridor and into a locked room and make a complaint to an uniformed officer.

The Police also have a long history of selectively enforcing petty laws against the poor and homeless of this town. Smoking in the Park Tickets are only issued to homeless people. Forty-nine percent of ‘walking-violations’ are issued to homeless people. While houseless people represent maybe two percent of the city’s population.

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On Wednesday night, October 14, a large vigil was held at the house where the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington occurred. Several hundred youth, neighborhood residents, and community members came to pay their respects to Kiwane. After the vigil, the crowd marched up Prospect Ave., many of the youth spilling into the street. Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies were there to direct traffic (Champaign police were nowhere to be seen). The crowd was managed by several members of the Nation of Islam who had come from Chicago and throughout the region to serve as security for the event.
 

Denver Protests Ongoing Imperialist Wars

(raimd.wordpress.com)

October 7 was the 8th anniversary of the start of the current war in Afghanistan by the United States. A number of national groups in the remaining U.S. anti-war movement called for actions. Locally the Denver Anti-War Network (DAWN) called for a march many months ago, and it kicked off this day. Many activists gathered for two separate events in Denver on October 7th, a march against the Afghanistan war, and a “Justice and Peace Jamboree” right after the march.

About 50 people mobilized for a rally and march that started at the Denver Federal Courthouse downtown. A rally was held there for an hour. A street theater was held about the situation in Afghanistan. The crowd consisted of nominal anti-imperialists, anarchists, national liberation supporters, and anti-police brutality activists, along with RAIM members and supporters. As it was a broad-based march against the war in Afghanistan, there were many who advocated First Worldist, pro-Amerika politics. RAIM provided many anti-imperialist, anti-Amerika, anti-troop, and pro-Third World signs and slogans to promote our politics. After the rally the march then set down 16th Street mall. It was small in comparison to previous anti-war rallies, but was spirited and opted for more charged slogans. “Number One Terrorist, U.S. Imperialists” were chanted by a large majority of the protesters for much of the march. The protest itself stayed on message, the notable interject of the so-called health care debate in the march was a sign brought by a RAIM comrade: “The Real Health Care Crisis- Amerikan Imperialism.”

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Follow this link for the audio file: http://www.ucimc.org/content/kiwane-carrington-press-conference-audio-0.

Community leaders, family members and concerned citizens gathered for a press conference this morning at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center to address the police killing of unarmed 15 year-old African American youth, Kiwane Carrington.  He was shot dead at a residence in Champaign on October 9, 2009 after police responded to a call of an alleged burglary in the 900 block of W. Vine St. at 1:20pm.

Kiwane Carrington press conference.

Location: UC-IMC

Date: Monday, October 9, 2009. 10:00am.

On Friday afternoon, Oct. 9, 2009, Champaign police fatally shot an unarmed 15 year-old African American named Kiwane Carrington. The name of the Champaign police officer who did the shooting or how many police officers were involved has not been released. The Illinois State Police are currently investigating the death.

Champaign police responded to a call at 1:20 p.m. of an alleged burglary in the 900 block of W. Vine St. According to a statement from Champaign police at 5:30 p.m., they were “confronted” by two 15 year olds when they arrived. Both refused to obey the officers and get on the ground. A physical struggle ensued during which a weapon “was discharged resulting in the fatal wounding of one of the subjects.” 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 Kiwane Carrington.

The October episode of Chicago Independent Television features a film by the Unlympics Committee, a Chicago grassroots group asking critical questions (and organizing fun activities!) about Chicago's recent bid for the Olympics. That is followed by two segments pertaining to the 2008 Republican National Convention — one in which a St. Paul prosecutor comes to Chicago to face a protest, and another which covers one year since the infamous 2008 crackdown in St. Paul against RNC activists. And finally, we'll visit peace activists who make their presence felt at the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show.

Read more about Episode 51 | CIMC TV Podcast | CIMC Video Page | CITV on YouTube