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Here are the [six] video clips on YouTube from the longer version
The Mayor and Commissioner discuss the (their) new proposal for a Human Rights and Equity Office. Filmed at the monthly Portland Human Rights Meeting on 9.9.11.

Six Parts with Mayor Adams & Commissioner Fritz discussing the new Equity department for Portland

(previous PIMC post for September HRC meeting is here)
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2011/09/410358.shtml

(Portland Human Rights Website is here)
 http://www.portlandonline.com/humanrelations/index.cfm?c=48749

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A rally for Troy Davis was held at Portland State University at 4pm after he was executed on September 21st following conviction for killing an off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail on August 19 1989 in Savannah, Georgia. Later in the day around 75 people held a vigil opposite The Pioneer Courthouse in downtown Portland.

homepage:  http://alexmilantracy.com

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Let's have the cop screw with everyone!
What The Hell Is The Matter With This Council?

We were outside the City Council for our weekly protest against Portland joining the Joint Terrorist Task Force, The Sit-Lie ordinance and the water rate increase when Dan from Cop-Watch told us of a woman who was going to confront the Council about being harassed by a Portland Police Officer when she sat down to rest at the 6th Ave. Max station. She had her young son in a stroller and decided to sit on the stone wall that surrounds the Federal Courthouse. There were other people sitting, so she thought it would be OK for her to rest for a time. The new Sit-Lie (Lie) ordinance makes this illegal, even if you are just going to rest for a few minutes. A police officer approached her and ordered her off the wall in a way that upset her so much that she took the time to come before the City Council to report the incident and maybe hope for an apology; what she got was BS.

Our mayor thanked her for coming in his normal dismissive way. Fish and Saltzman had the good sense to be quiet but not our Amanda. Commissioner Fritz thanked her for coming and made a statement that cause my head to hurt. She thanked the woman for reporting the incident and added that the city has been criticized for using the new ordinance against just "Houseless" persons and it was good that the police were being even handed when telling people to move. I almost threw up my breakfast. After the woman completed her story I applauded and that caused our dear mayor to tell me that applauding was not allowed. I said something about him being a dictator and did my Irish walk-out and rejoined my friend outside to continue our protest.

The thought I had when leaving the council chamber was, we now have equal harassment of our citizens by the police, "Isn't that special!" First and foremost, the police have questionable jurisdiction here because the wall in question surrounding the Federal Courthouse is federal property and it is the Federal Marshals that have jurisdiction, not the PoPo. In our tight budget times it seems the cops should just deal with their responsibilities and not go shopping for new work.

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Right 2 Survive put out a call to pitch a tent in downtown Portland to support the rights of the homeless to survive. This peaceful direct action raised awareness that there are not enough shelters or resources for the homeless. On any given day, there are 1,500 people sleeping in the streets, with nowhere to go, but city laws forbid them to set up tents. For 1 day only before the Rose Parade, the city allows everyone to camp out. For homeless activists, it's unfair that people are allowed to camp out for fun, but not for survival.

For most people, being homeless is one of their biggest fears. Yet millions of Americans have experienced homelessness. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reported in 2007 that about 3.5 million people have experienced being homeless, 1.5 million of them children. [...]

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Shoppers at Portland's Concordia New Seasons were greeted with an unexpected performance this afternoon when about two dozen Portlanders broke into song and dance. "New Seasons, you say you're local but you buy into Israeli occupation," participants sang, referencing the 19 Israeli products New Seasons carries. The flash mob, coordinated by the Portland BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction) Coalition, was part of an ongoing campaign calling on New Seasons to stop selling Israeli products.


"New Seasons cannot claim to be friendly and local while it continues to stock products made by Israel, a gross violator of international law," said Wael Elasady, member of Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and flashmob participant. "There's a glaring discrepancy between their ethical image and the products they profit from."

The now-burgeoning BDS Coalition, endorsed by groups such as Jews for Global Justice and the ILWU Local 5, has submitted a petition with over 500 signatures from New Seasons shoppers. The petition asks New Seasons to respect the boycott call issued by Palestinian civil society in 2005, and stop selling Israeli products until Israel complies with international humanitarian and human rights law. Additionally, hundreds of customers have submitted "comment cards" supporting the boycott.

homepage:  http://pdxbds.wordpress.com

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An estimated four people were killed Sunday on the Syria-Israel border, five killed on the Lebanon-Israel border, 52 injured in Gaza, and at least 24 injured in the West Bank as Israeli forces attacked Palestinian refugees trying to re-enter their former homes in what is now Israel. The day of protests was a commemoration of the 'Nakba' or 'Catastrophe', the day when Israel was created on Palestinian land 63 years ago.

The Israeli military confirmed firing at protesters on the Israel-Syrian border, as thousands of refugees tried to cross into the Golan Heights - a territory that was traditionally Palestinian, but is now a disputed territory claimed by both Israel and Syria. Many Palestinians who lived in the area found their towns and families split in half by the border. Initial reports indicate that four people were killed by Israeli gunfire on the Syrian border, and dozens were wounded, as Palestinians crossed dangerous unmapped minefields to cross into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. At least 63 Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces at protests in the West Bank and Jerusalem since Friday.

UPDATE

International Middle East Media Center

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A clear analysis of major problems in Mayor Sam Adams' JTTF proposal.

The draft JTTF resolution does a very good job trying to balance the interests of FBI with local interests in the abstract given that proposal choses to entangle the PPB with the JTTF once again. It is a really tremendous first effort and shows its roots in the diversity, creativity and populism of Portland and the Mayor's office. Certainly, a proposal not to coordinate with the JTTF except to receive information would be the more wise choice for safety and privacy of our citizens. Notwithstanding the poor choice to engage with the JTTF at all, there are several fatal flaws in the proposal as it stands which will ultimately fail again to protect the civil rights and liberties of Portland and Oregon citizens. Unfortunately, the proposal in its current form amounts to a return to business as usual for the PPB and JTTF. This draft is just the a kinder, gentler Old Emperor in new clothes that are not so transparent.

Link to Draft Resolution

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Portland Human Rights Commission (HRC) Meeting 4.6.11

This is an out-take from the most recent monthly meeting of the Portland Human Rights volunteers, (Commissioners) who are discussing the NEW department of Equity, and the impact it is having on their own commission. The city has been SECRETLY changing the way this Human Rights Commission will interact, and is creating an office of Equity.

No one know what this means or what will be the outcome. I am not pleased to say the least in the way the city council is treating this commission.. (transparent? whats that?) Here's a link to the video

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This protest was just outside of downtown Portland on Sunday at 4PM. at the Mittleman Center.

There was over 100 people demonstarting peacfully and loudly against AIPAC.

No corporate media, no arrests.
This is video is Part 1 of 3 videos from the 2 hours I was there

14 min video

[RELATED:] Do The Right Thing - by The Lone Vet

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On a chilly Sunday, about 75-100 folks gathered outside the Mittleman Jewish Community to protest against the annual AIPAC event yesterday. The protest was organized by AUPHR (Americans United for Palestinian Human RIghts) and SUPER (Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights). For about 2 hours, we shouted, chanted, and stood our ground, saying "No to AIPAC! No Support for Occupation! No Support for Apartheid!"

We went there to let AIPAC and its supporters know that we vehemently oppose US aid to Israel to continue its 60+ years of brutal and illegal occupation of Palestine. Israel would not be able to keep committing crimes and atrocities against the Palestinian people if it weren't for US support. According to If Americans Knew, Israel is the largest recipient of US military and economic aid since 1976. US gives Israel about $3 billion per year, about one-fifth of the US' entire foreign aid monies. The US currently provides Israel with $8.2 million in military aid every day! Israel continues to build illegal settlements on Palestinian land, demolish Palestinian homes, farms and orchards, destroy businesses and shops, arrest and torture the Palestinian people without due process, and bomb, shoot and kill them with impunity. We are always told that the budget deficits make it necessary for politicians to cut social programs, education and health care for us, but when it comes to funding wars, occupation and attacks on civilians in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and other countries, there's always endless amounts of money!

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Portland Human Right Commission Meeting on 2.23.11
This public meeting covered two topics. It was held in NE Portland.

(1) The discussion and vote as to whether the Human Rights Commission supported the Portland Police joining the JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force) with the FBI
(2) The discussion with City Councilwoman Amanda Fritz regarding the new announcement of having a department in the city called the Equity Department.

Meeting 4pm on 2.23.11

1. Human Right Commission discuss police joining the FBI JTTF
 http://www.archive.org/details/HumanRightsCommissionAndTheJttfFbiVote2.23.11

2. Human Right Commission discuss the Equity Department
with City Councilwoman Amanda Fritz
 link to www.archive.org

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Filmed at the monthly open to the public meeting
Held on the first Monday of the month
At the Portland Building on the 2nd floor
The time of the meeting is 3:30 PM

 http://www.archive.org/details/PortlandSidewalkSharingAdvisoryCommittiee2.7.11

(81 minute video from 2.7.11 meeting)

This meeting discusses the sidewalk laws and the results from the laws.
The meeting is attended by citizens and city officials, as well as advocates and civil rights observers.
There is public input. The police and the PBA have a Representative at these meeting, which are hosted by City Council Amanda Fritz office.

I have been documenting these videos since the first meeting and all of them are archived on my website and on Portland Indymedia

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