From the open publishing newswire: Video Entitled "This is Coast Salish Territory"

On Monday April 28th, 2008 Indigenous Warriors on Coast Salish Territory blocked a vital intersection used for commercial shipping to the United States. The action was done in solidarity with the Tyendinaga Mohawk community. Five Warriors from Tyendinaga had been arrested and attacked by the OPP days before. SWAT teams and paramilitary units were on Tyendinaga Territory surrounding dozens of other unarmed Warriors who were peacefully occupying a rock quarry claimed to be on their territory.

Solidarity actions also happened in Six Nations and Guelph. With the mounting pressure from coast to coast, and steadfast position of the Tyendinaga Mohawks the SWAT teams and paramilitary units left Tyendinaga Territory without additional attacks.

Since their arrest, three of the five Warriors have been released on strict bail conditions. Two Warriors, Clint Brant and Shawn Brant are still in state custody.

mostlywater.org | friendsofgrassynarrows.com | ottawa.indymedia.ca | news.infoshop.org

From the open publishing newswire: Ecuadorian police detained five journalists associated with Ecuador Indymedia late Tuesday night. Four of the five were released from custody on Wednesday afternoon. The government says that the four activists were detained because of their relationship with the fifth detainee, Ecuadorian resident and Colombian national Antonio Alcívar.

The government at first refused to issue a statement on the matter or inform the detainees of the reason for their arrests. The Regional Foundation for Assistance in Human Rights (INREDH) noted that this was a violation of the detainees' constitutional right to be clearly informed of the reason for their detention along with the identities of those who ordered and carried out the arrests.

According to Ecuador Indymedia and INREDH, the Judicial Police (PJ) and the Intervention and Rescue Group (GIR) executed the arrests. The journalists were arrested on the street and then taken to their homes where searches were violently carried out. Agents reportedly confiscated computers, documents and hard drives from the journalists' homes. Agents also reportedly confiscated a Che Guevara poster as "evidence."

According to INREDH, the detainees were not permitted to see their lawyer and were forced to undergo interrogation in the presence of a lawyer provided by police.

It is unclear why the Ecuadorian government made the arrests and whether the detentions are related to the recent conflict with Colombia. It seems possible that President Correa, in an effort to counter Colombian allegations, may be attempting to demonstrate the government's resolve to root out guerrilla presence in Ecuador—and intimidate some critics on his left in the process.

From the open publishing newswire: ALL of the westside under-bridge areas now have "illegal camping" notices. People on the street are reporting that both the west and east sides are being swept, as well as downtown doorways in the middle of the night. I met three people last night who had lost their blankets and belongings to the popo in these sweeps. There are aslo scattered reports of camps and sleeping spots off in wooded areas, even out of town, being swept, so don't anyone plan on sleeping anytime soon.

The City Hall camp is 20-40 strong at any given time. All are welcome to come for a safe drug and alcohol free place to sleep for the night. So far the city governments response has been to try to hide the poor until after the tourist festival season is over.

The best way to get up to the minute info is to walk yourself down to the Camp and ask someone what's going on.

Portland Homeless Watch

From the open publishing newswire: On Sunday April 27, 2008, 16 animal activists held an outreach protest at the neighborhood of two University of Utah primate vivisectors to educate the neighborhood about the atrocities occurring at the University of Utah animal resource center. When activists showed up - they discovered that the University of Utah had hired 24 hour security for the homes of some of its personnel - surely with a hefty price tag!

Activists were well-aware that the city had recently adopted an anti-speech ordinance requiring activists to remain off of public property near a 'targeted residence' during a 'targeted residential protest' - so they tailored their protest with that in mind. Rather than do a targeted picket, activists continually marched around the neighborhood - never remaining stationary - to educate the general neighborhood about the barbaric treatment of animals at the U of U facilities. The march also had no targeted residence - no names were ever even mentioned as being associated with the cruelty inside labs.

From the open publishing newswire: APRIL 25: HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY, YOUR HOLINESS!! April 25th is the Birthday of a little boy kidnapped by the Chinese government...perhaps a nice birthday present for him would be your signature on this petition...

Tibet's stolen child is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima; the boy recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as inherently and potentially one of Tibet's most important religious and cultural persons. He is known as the Panchen Lama and is one of the young victims of China's brutal repression of the Tibetan people.

Determined to control religion in Tibet, the Chinese authorities kidnapped this young boy and his family in 1995 just days after he was recognized as the Panchen Lama. He is growing up under house arrest. Despite repeated appeals to gain access to him, no international agency or human rights organization has been granted contact with the young Panchen Lama or His family.

But the story is not over...

petition for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama

From the open publishing newswire: Salem, OR ?Sweatfree Northwest hosted its official kick-off for the Oregon Sweatfree Campaign at 12noon on April 1, 2008, on the Capitol Steps in Salem. Union and faith leaders, human rights advocates, and students groups from Portland and Salem came to show their support of the statewide campaign. The Oregon Sweatfree Campaign will encourage Governor Kulongoski to pass an Executive Order for Sweatshop Free Purchasing for Oregon. This policy will ensure that tax money spent on purchasing uniforms for state departments will go to ethical suppliers that can ensure good working conditions at the point of assembly.

The Oregon Sweatfree Campaign kickoff was an excellent demonstration of Oregon values. "Oregon is known throughout the world as a leader in sustainability," said Arthur Stamoulis while addressing the group, "As a state that develops the programs and projects and policies that serve as models for others to follow. Clearly, the current global economy?which pits nation against nation and worker against worker in a race to the bottom?is not sustainable. By championing sweatfree purchasing, Oregon can continue its role as a leader in sustainable development."

For more information about Sweatfree Northwest news and events, visit sweatfree.org or call 503-236-7916.

Sweat Free Consortium Flyer

From the open publishing newswire: [From infoshop.org ] SAN FRANCISCO -- No one was injured when a group of people threw a molitov cocktail type device at The Chinese consulate early Thursday, morning. The device charred the back entrance of the building. No one was arrested.

Related Links: freetibet.org/ | Dalai Llama 3/10 | 3/18 update | EU Statement | Guardian coverage | photos of some who were murdered in Tibet last week (warning: horrifying and very graphic) | Tibetan Monks Riot in Tibet

From the open publishing newswire: Along with the new Mike Africa Jr. interview, this video features archival footage from May 13, 1985, including an excerpt of a police video of the fire taken from across the street, where a cop is actually heard joking that: "They won't call the police commissioner a motherfu**er anymore," followed by enthusiastic police laughter.

This is part of a new video series about the upcoming parole hearings for the eight remaining MOVE prisoners, which are scheduled for early April. The central pieces in the video series feature interviews with MOVE members Ramona Africa (the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 police bombing of MOVE headquarters) and Mike Africa Jr. (the son of MOVE 9 prisoners Debbie and Mike Sr.) where they talk about the upcoming parole hearings.

MOVE 9 Parole Blog

Watch the video

From the open publishing newswire: You don't know me and one of you will never have an opportunity to read this letter but you have each left your mark upon my soul.

If you don't already know it, the US military can train a man to kill but can not train that man how to handle it when he does. For this reason amongst many others my Marine son, John, who touched your lives in Iraq, (and through him, so did I), is in treatment along with other veterans of this and earlier wars.

There was a firefight in Baghdad, a 360 degree battle with the Marines taking fire from all around and overhead. You were there, not as a participant just a civilian and you are my first connection though I learned of you last because my son couldn't tell me about you until recently. Training had the Marines firing back reflexively at anything that moved, vehicles, stray dogs a blur of a shirtsleeve. The Marine who fired upon your husband and two children was almost 100 yards away and he jerked his weapon up in horror at the end of the burst and watched your family fall. You didn't know it at the time but he watched you run out to your family. He saw you in your light blue wrap as you went from one body to the other. He tried to avert his eyes as you picked up your dead child and then the other and wailed in your grief. He tried to look away but that light blue color was always in his peripheral vision, pulling at him drawing him back.

From the open publishing newswire: Last week, Portland Indymedia ran an article detailing the curious downfall of officer William Bergin, the cop who tortured and shot Fouad Kaady to death. Bergin, it seems, was arrested almost a year ago, after drunkenly menacing his former girlfriend at around 3 in the morning on March 8, 2007. I want to make it clear that this incident was a serious one, especially given Bergin's record as a killer. I would like to know why this man is still working as an officer of the law. More than that, I want to use Bergin's own testimony to point out that there is a culture of violence, cover-up and dishonesty in the Sandy PD that bears looking into, especially if one is interested in justice for the many people who have suffered violence and injustices at the hands of Sandy police officers and been ignored. So this week, I am going to quote liberally from the Sherwood police report describing his arrest and subsequent behavior and statements to the police.

According to Newton's report: "As I was completing the paperwork for Mr. Bergin asked me if I could just take him to Detox [sic]. He said that he has pulled over plenty of drunken cops and has given them a ride home. I informed him that I had to do my job and that Detox was not an option, he was already arrested. He told me that in Sandy it is still the 'good old boy' system and he could just go to Detox or home. I informed him that I had a job to do and it was nothing personal. He told me that he understood and apologized for trying to mess with me. He told me that it was at least worth a shot."

The problems in Sandy go much deeper than this one man, and the public should know this. As Bergin himself has stated, there is a "good old boy system" in Sandy, that has caused immeasurable suffering for the people of that town. The Fouad Kaady murder has helped to bring this nest of nasties to light, but Mr. Kaady was not their only victim. For years, the people of Sandy have been telling horrific tales of racism, abuse, persecution, and cover-up.

From the open publishing newswire: To mark the one year anniversary of their weekly peace vigil the Oregon Trail Democrats, (Sandy Ore) along with other local peace and justice advocates, will be holding a "24 Hour Peace Vigil"on the corner of 362nd Ave and HWY 26 in Sandy, PM Friday,February 1st until PM Saturday, February 2nd, 2008.

From the open publishing newswire: Earlier this week, a long-awaited report came out regarding the performance of the Independent Police Review division (IPR) including the Citizen Review Committee (CRC). The release of this document concludes a 6 month study by consultants into the competence, effectiveness, and behavior of the IPR, and by extension, the Portland police. And the report is scathing.

Many of us were skeptical about this report, since we have seen so many other reports, recommendations, panels, committees and so forth come and go nowhere, left to languish without response.

Some of the many problems described by Luna-Firebaugh et al include the following: 1. The majority of complaints filed against the PPB (67% in 2006) "were processed and closed by the IPR without any investigation of the propriety of police conduct."2. The sustain rate (or number of complaints whose allegations are sustained by the IPR) in Portland is exceedingly and unjustifiably low. In fact that rate is just over one percent. 3. The system lacks transparency. 4. The IPR has never once conducted any investigations of complaints against the police. Instead, it has always simply accepted the word of the Internal Affairs Division (IAD). 5. IAD "investigations" were often conducted in a very poor manner, in which only officers were interviewed, and no neutral witnesses were heard. Even so, the IPR failed to question the results of the IAD investigations. 6. There was often a failure to hold officers accountable for admitted misconduct, as well as for violations of PPB codes and protocols. 7. The system has failed to learn from its mistakes. The IPR has not participated adequately in facilitating changes of policies and procedures based on lessons learned from patterns of complaints. 8. Complaints involving even the most serious allegations of use of force, racism, and illegal activities by police are steered into mediation, rather than addressed in a manner that would result in a sanction for the officer involved.

This city wallows in process. We have processes for everything. Every time another citizen is gunned down in the street "accidentally," because some officer "feared for his life" for no apparent reason, there is a process for dealing with it. Every time we are beaten and pepper sprayed and dragged away for daring to speak, there is another process. When we are stopped in our cars or harassed on the streets for no other reason than the color of our skin or the emptiness of our pockets, there is yet another process. But none of these processes ever results in any changes. No new policies, no sanctions, no satisfaction. Indeed, no justice. Process without result is often worse than no process at all. Because it sets up an expectation that is never fulfilled. It gives the impression that, something is being done when it isn't. This is more disrespectful than being honest about doing nothing. Because it assumes that we are ignorant. That we are unable to recognize that nothing is being done, that we are fools who are easily duped into complacency with this simple minded sleight of hand. In fact, we are not fools, and this is why we are angry.

From the open publishing newswire: Judi Bari was an Earth First! organizer who was one of the first to place as much importance on the legacy and future of the trees as she did on timber workers' lives and families. But that strategic relationship was too much of a threat. Her car was bombed in 1990, and three hours later, she was arrested as a terrorist--charges that were later dropped. Convinced it was a ploy by the FBI to discredit her and Earth First!, Judi decided to sue. Sadly, Judi died of breast cancer before the litigation ended. She remains an inspiration to generations of activists.

The Forest for the Trees is an intimate, behind-the scenes look at an unlikely team of young activists and old lefties who come together to battle the U.S. government. Filmmaker Bernadine Mellis is the daughter of civil rights lawyer Dennis Cunningham, who started out his career representing the Black Panthers and the Weathermen. Ben Rosenfeld, attorney on the Judi Bari v. FBI legal team will introduce the film and take questions afterwards.

Saturday, January 26, 7 pm, Hollywood Theater.