From the open publishing newswire: [May 1, 2008] Minutes ago, I spoke with Clarence Thomas of the ILWU executive board. "The rank and file action against the war is indeed happening right now", he said. And today the workers will write history.

In an attempt to head this off last night the PMA went to court, "Employers, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), will not agree to it, and threatened union leaders with court action under Taft-Hartley if they don't call it all off."

but the judge refused to take any action, until there is concrete action by the union in violation of their contract. This is a rank and file action by union members who are united by their opposition to the war. They disagree with the decision of the arbitrator who has dis-allowed the choice of May Day, by the ILWU, as a "day for union business" for workers at all 29 ports on the west coast. A "day for union business" is allowed by their contract. Their original intent was to use this day for their official protest, but official or not, the protest is on. Protests in the Bay Area began early today, led by Direct Action to Stop the War. DASW organized the famous march on Washington that gathered 500,000 people from groups across the nation. Today, they will close down the war effort in San Fransisco. Their effort to shut down the Union Pacific Rail lines began at sunrise this morning. Indybay reported:

From the open publishing newswire: On May 1, all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast are to be shut down by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in protest against the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a historic event of international significance: labor action against imperialist war by a major American union. The strategically placed port workers in the ILWU can bring commerce with Asia to a grinding halt, and they're about to demonstrate it. The maritime employers are already screaming, and you can bet it's got the attention of the warmongers in Washington. All labor should take up the challenge this poses: For workers strikes against the war! M

eanwhile, immigrants' rights groups are once again mobilizing on May Day. And on April 30 and May 1, the independent truckers who move cargo to and from the docks may play an important role in a shutdown. The imperialist war on Afghanistan and Iraq is also a war on immigrants, minorities, working people and democratic rights "at home." We need to defeat this attack here and abroad, in opposition to both the capitalist war parties. The "antiwar movement," whose aim has always been to pressure the Democrats, is at a dead end. What's needed is working-class action independent of the bosses. What that takes is a fundamental break from the Democratic Party and the pro-capitalist politics that infuse the labor bureaucracy.

MayDay Picnic Noon-4pm | Mayday Immigrants Rights Demo 3 - 4 pm | Mayday GUELAGUETZA! 6-10pm | Red & Black mayday celebration starting at 7pm

From the open publishing newswire: The conspiracy to divide Bolivia must be denounced

The process of changes in favor of the Bolivian majority is at risk of being brutally restrained. The rise to power of an Indigenous president with unprecedented support in that country and his programs of popular benefits and recovery of the natural resources have had to face the conspiracies of the oligarchy and United States interference from the very beginning.

In recent days the increase in conspiracy has reached its climax. The subversive and unconstitutional actions of the oligarchic groups to try to divide the Bolivian nation reflect the racist and elitist minds of these sectors and constitute a very dangerous precedent not only for the country's integrity, but for other countries in our region.

History shows with ample eloquence, the terrible consequences that the divisionary and separatist processes supported and induced by foreign interests have had for humanity. Faced with this situation the signers below would like to express their support for the government of Evo Morales Ayma, for his policies for change and for the sovereign constituent process of the Bolivian people. At the same time we reject the so-called Santa Cruz Autonomy Statute due to its unconstitutionality and the attempt against the unity of a nation of our America.

Support Bolivia:  http://www.todosconbolivia.org/index.php?lang=2

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: Tuesday, Apr 22nd, :00 PM - 08:00 PM
Rm 296 Smith Student Union
The SPP: The North American Corporate Coup'de'tat
(organized by North American Solidarity, Students for Unity)

A teach-in followed by a strategy/organizing meeting in opposition to the anti-democratic and fascist North American Leaders Summit in New Orleans, which is the fourth meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Be there if you want to learn about this overwhelmingly quiet organization that is directing our future.

 http://rootfoce.org

From the open publishing newswire: The Executive Board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, representing thousands of workers in countless sectors across Vermont, have unanimously passed an historic resolution expressing their "unequivocal" support for the first US labor work stoppage against the war in Iraq. The work stoppage, [which was] being organized by the Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), will seek to shutdown all west coast ports during the day on May 1st 2008. The Vermont AFL-CIO is the first state labor federation to publicly back the Longshoremen; other state federations are expected to follow.

The resolution, among other things, calls the war in Iraq "immoral, unwanted, and unnecessary", states that the vast majority of working Vermonters oppose the war, and contends that the war will only be brought to an end by "the direct actions of working people." Many other Vermont labor unions and organizations, including the Vermont Workers' Center, have also made official statements condemning the war.

"Workers in Vermont and all across this nation are against this war. We have already demanded that the government end it, but they have consistently failed to heed our words. Therefore working people are beginning to take concrete steps to make our resistance known. If the war does not immediately end we, the unions and working people of Vermont, will also be compelled to take appropriate action," said David Van Deusen, District Vice President of the AFL-CIO.

Related: ILWU Antiwar Shutdown of West Coast Ports on May Day is Blocked
Airline Workers to lead General Strike?

From the open publishing newswire: As the global community awoke on February 19, 2008 to the news of Fidel Castro's resignation, U.S. politicians, along with Florida's Little Havana, were in celebration of the impending change.

Local author and activist, Craig Rosebraugh, was in Cuba during this historic changing of the guard. Come see his presentation and hear his reflections on the current state of life and politics in this unique Caribbean nation.

Thursday, April 17, 7:00pm
Flowform
5040 SE Milwaukie
(TriMet Bus #70 & 19)

This event is a benefit for Marie Mason.

 http://midwestgreenscare.org/
 http://www.craigrosebraugh.com

From the open publishing newswire: [Ruckus Press Release]: Right now three activists, including one of our beloved Ruckutistas, are climbing up the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge in an action to support Tibetan independence. San Francisco is the only city hosting the torch in the United States, and Students for a Free Tibet are responding. The message is clear and visionary: "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet"

Actions in Paris and London have already shown one of the ugly truths of standing up against injustuce - the bravery of nonviolence is met with the cowardice of violence. This is true in Tibet, where 180 people have been slaughtered since March in their attempts to send a message to the world through the layers of repression of Chinese rule.

The Tibetan dream of independence is our common dream, and we're asking you to do one thing if you are moved by the strength and perseverance of the Tibetan people and Tibetan-led Students for a Free Tibet: donate to support today's action and the actions to come.

Banner Hang photos: 1, 2

Statement from Students for a Free Tibet | more protests are planned Extinguish the Flames of Genocide in Darfur! | Guardian Commentary | Guardian Coverage of Paris Protests of Olympic Torch relay | UK Indymedia coverage of 4/4/08 protests | Free Tibet Prisoners - Callout for Independent Media in Tibet

www.ruckus.org

From the open publishing newswire: This multi-media workshop/presentation is intended to introduce the audience to neolibearlism through the eyes of a popular resistance in Oaxaca, Mexico. The workshop will include scene selections from three films: "El Enemigo Comun" (2005), "El Machete" (2007) and "Paz Sin Justicia" (2008) in order to illustrate neoliberal atrocities and community based resistance to them. The first film documents some paramilitary activity in Oaxaca from , leading up to the arrival of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Oaxaca's current governor. The second film has been filmed and edited by indigenous women and youth from communities in Oaxaca, during the winter of 2007, and documents a more profound look at the day to day struggles for land, water, transportation, culture, dignity, justice, liberty, and peace.

"Paz Sin Justicia," a 41 minute film by the Committee in Defense of the Rights of the People - CODEP, examines what Oaxaca looks like today, and what it really means for Oaxaca to return to normal after the 2006 uprising. Corruption, institutionalized repression, and economic slavery are the standard through which, a weak government attempts to hold itself together, and stay in power.

All the while the Oaxacan People's Popular Assembly APPO, along with Oaxacans in general, wait for the next moment to practice what they have already begun: self-determination, autonomy, popular power, and the dignity that comes with rising up from below.

Flowform
Thursday the 27th
7-9pm 5040 se Milwaukie
(corner of SE Mitchell & Milwaukie)

From the open publishing newswire: check out: "Beyond the Mirage: The Face of the Occupation"
Tuesday 3/25/2008, 7:00 PM, Channel 23
Thursday 3/27/2008, 6:00 PM, Channel 23

Stay tuned for more programs on Portland Community Media reframing the Israel-Palestine conflict

From the open publishing newswire: Portland's seriously pissed off grannies were back at the Broadway Military Recruiting Center today, after having taken several months off from their Friday protests. Portland police arrested four people for putting red handprints on the windows of the Recruiting Center.

The Grannies say the handprints symbolize the blood of those who have died in the war.

 http://www.kboo.fm

From the open publishing newswire: The student movement lives! Todays walkout/protest for students was the most high spirited and most energized protest I've ever been to. 1500/2000 students walked out of school today in Portland, to show Oregon and the world that the student movement does have a voice and a loud one as well.

As we arrived to the elephant at North Park Blocks, over a thousand high school students were already lining the sidewalks giving peace signs to cars passing by. As more and more students flooded in, we began doing speeches atop a trash can. Students talked about the costs of war, and I mentioned the corporate influence on the war as well as the growing student movement. We began the march shortly afterwards... Read More

Student Walkout- a brief report

By the time I made it downtown, the demonstration was already approaching City Hall. It was an impressive wave of (mostly) young people. The East side of City Hall was saturated with demonstrators, with several scaling the wall, up onto the balcony. The spirited crowd eventually moved on to the Wells Fargo Tower and beyond.

Police presence was heavy. I don't remember seeing any Robocops, but the bike, horse, motorcycle, squad-car, and foot officers were all there. There was even one Homeland Security vehicle that passed by a couple of times. Overall, they behaved even worse than they did yesterday, from what I saw. Read More

Video: 1

Related Articles: Walkout Update | | sergeant fender's badge number | Olympia SDSer Arrested!

Other Actions: All hopped up

From the open publishing newswire: Over 150 people attended the Washington County Peace Vigil last evening recognizing the 5 year mark of the most misguided foreign policy decision in my lifetime.New faces were everywhere as we gathered for an hour at 5th and Hall in Beaverton.This marks our 136th weekly vigil and I hope that we will not be here a year from now.It is time to leave Iraq and let the healing begin.