From the open publishing newswire: The PSU faculty (and students) held a rally for a better teacher contract during mid day on Thursday. Their rally with speeches was recorded on 2.27.14 in the park blocks by Portland State University. The reasonable demands are for a student-centered budget, educator-led higher education and a stable faculty for the benefit of everyone at PSU.

2 videos in full

[video 1]  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycfliui75-c "The Rally Before the Speeches" (26 min)

[video 2]  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8KpMgO4meU "The Speeches" (28 min)

From the open publishing newswire: Short video of protesters attempting to enter City Hall, and being met by security guards
Here's some brief footage of protesters marking Western Regional Advocacy Project's Day of Action, which saw events and marches organized by Sisters of the Road, Voz Day Laborer's Center, Right 2 Dream Too, and Right 2 Survive, among others. When they tried to move the rally at City Hall indoors, they were met by security guards.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ekvDtQdo0

Related Video Post: a full video of the march to city hall is here:  http://youtu.be/K88CwK9WOrw [video 1.hr 39.min]

((( i )))

No corporate media in sight anywhere

From the open publishing newswire: Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene.

Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene. Many motorists honked and waved in support of the students. For more photos, here's the link: Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene.

[Related Video Post]
Students demonstrate their passion for education and descry the lack of progress made during contract negotiations between the teachers union and Portland Public Schools. They walk out to support their teachers and demand access to the education all children deserve.

VIDEO: Jefferson High Student Walk Out

From the open publishing newswire: WEDNESDAY: December 11, 0930-CITY HALL

I thought the City Council meeting would be boring; wrong. I decided to pull two items off the Consent Agenda because they both were really hidden items that should be discussed but the 4+1 s---s wanted to move alone, nothing to see here. The first item was listed as 1167 and of course, "It was an emergency. " http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=50265&a=472882

Acting City Attorney was asking for ten thousand more to be given Black Helterline LLP for outside legal counsel. This caught my eye because we have about *30-35 lawyers in the City Attorney's office and I could not figure out why we are not using them in place of an outside contractor? So I asked. I was taken back when the Mayor told me that we have no attorneys who have experience in Immigration law and the reason was we have no immigration problems in the city of Portland. I laughed but don't think the mayor got it. Immigration is one of the biggest issues on the west coast and here in Portland we have people being picked up by ICE and the police department. There was just a protest about the Sheriff arresting people and turning them over to ICE for deportation.[...]

The rubber stamp council voted for this extra money, well hell not their money it is yours.
The second item was 1169, which create a new represented classification of information Security Architect and establish an interim compensation rate for this classification. "It was an Emergency."
I argued against this because we are laying-off **firefighters and creating new classification at the same time, seem psychotic to me. The fact that we have firefighters pissed because they are concerned that they can't do their job and answer calls with all due dispatch is freighting to this old veteran. Do one or the other, cut and try to save money or keep our firefighters and get rid of this nonsense of reclassifying position and paying people more. [...]

Thursday was a full day; it started out with meeting Lightning at the County Board Meeting and ended with a vigil for Fred Bryant and Keaton Otis. In the afternoon I spent some time with the people who were arrested over two years ago and have been battling for justice. [...]

Updated Report Backs from 12/21/13 | 12/30/13
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/12/426141.shtml
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/12/426184.shtml

From the open publishing newswire: Solidarity Protest at Portland Mexican Consulate for Nestora Salgado on 12 10 13
Nestora Salgado is being punished for being a strong female leader in her hometown, where the local authorities have become oppressors of her people and social justice fighters.
Salgado was arrested by federal police on August 21, 2013, on bogus kid- napping charges. Demonstration protests were held at numerous consulates

Video 34 min:  http://youtu.be/XVKrmvw_Wn8

From the open publishing newswire: On Black Friday in Portland Oregon, JwJ and UFCW555 are working with the "Making Change at Wal-Mart" national campaign to support wal-Mart workers in their dealings with Wal-Mart over labor rights and standards and their efforts to have Wal-Mart publicly commit to adhering to labor rights and standards. Meet at 11AM @ 4200 SE 82nd Ave., Portland, OR.

Meet in solidarity at 11AM @ 4200 SE 82nd Ave., Portland, OR.?


On Black Friday we will bring a strong message to WAL-MART "respect your workers, stop paying poverty wages!"


Portland Jobs with Justice is committed to supporting workers taking bold risks to demand better jobs and working conditions. That's why we bring together labor, community, faith, and student activists to support the courageous workers on strike at Wal-Mart

Walmart jobs don't allow workers to live better. Walmart pays its associates an average of just $8.81 an hour, so an employee who works Walmart's definition of full-time - 34 hours per week - makes just $15,500 per year, placing them squarely below the poverty line. And those full-time positions aren't the norm. To avoid having to pay employees benefits, the company increasingly hires part-time positions - subjecting associates to erratic schedules, limited job security, and even less opportunity to make ends meet. [...]

[Facebook] Event Link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/236112673214899/

Previous PIMC Post on recent Wal-Mart Protest for Fair Wages in June 2013:
 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/06/423810.shtml
[includes 33 minute video]

From the open publishing newswire: Fubonn has been accused of forcing workers to work off the clock, work under dangerous condition, and refused proper breast feeding breaks. Two workers at Fubonn are owed thousands of dollars, and we demand that they be paid what is owed and that they start complying with all labor and safety regulations. A call out to protest the managements treatment will be at 1:30 to 2:30 on 11.29.13

Continuing our wage theft campaign at Fubonn, we are re-initiating the campaign with a Black Friday picket in front of the grocery store! On Black Friday we are coming out to show them that we will not back down, and that the campaign is going forward despite their attempts to silence us. We will not stand by while workers are abused and not paid fair compensation. Join us in this community picket, and stay tuned as we move forward!

You can learn more about this particular campaign below: link to wagingnonviolence.org

Location: Fubonn Supermarket and Shopping Center 2850 SE 82nd Ave, Ste #1, Portland, Oregon

Previous PIMC post from protest on September 9th:
portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/09/425138 [video]

From the open publishing newswire: Is it possible to cry and laugh at the same time?

When I am speaking to the Portland City Council I am in crisis mode and as I smile at them tears are flooding my body. These local politicians are the worst of the worst; they operate in a parallel universe. [...] I sat down feeling good, happy and there was nothing on the agenda that perked much interest, it looked boring; I was very wrong. Commissioner Fish started the action after my passionate plea about how they were going to use money to help the homeless. After my 3 minutes he used my name and speaking in a very condescending voice about their intention of spending 1.7 million dollars and not one cent of that for the people who are on our streets. They are going to once again waste money by giving it to the same people who have failed us for so long. [...]

I like Thursdays because I go to the County Board and the people there may be problematic but I always have the feeling they care, all five of them. This visit was going to be hard for me because I was hurt during last Thursday's, (11/07/2013) meeting and I wanted to take them on but did not want to alienate them; it was hard but Patty said I did not come across hostile, just hurt. What happened was last Thursday the board wanted to celebrate Veterans Day and the way they decide to do it caused me a lot of pain and I needed to tell them why. They had ROTC from PSU march in with the American flag and the flag from Oregon in formation. They were in uniform and marched in military style, all stood and then proceeded to the front of the auditorium and did another military maneuver. They stood at attention while the national anthem was played. Everyone in the room stood and had their hand over their hearts except me. Since I was sitting alone it was very hard to not get up, but I was not going to celebrate Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, by an exercise in super patriotic nonsense [...]

homepage: www.IndividualsForJustice.com

Updates: Report Back: Nov 24 2013 Nov 24 2013 | Dec 1 2013

From the open publishing newswire: Here's the [video] link
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyjSmTPn4pM

Mercy for Animals brought it's traveling demonstration that asks the question: Why Eat One and Not the Other? to downtown Portland on Thursday, Ocotber 17. A giant blow up hot dog stuffed with a puppy drew the lunch crowd over to find out what it was all about and get some information on how/why to change their diet.

Mercy for Animals has done an enormous amount of undercover video to highlight the abuse that farm animals face every day in factory farms. These "farms" routinely mutilate pigs and chickens, without anestheaia. They are stuffed into tiny cages where they are forced to live their entire lives. Dairy cows are left broken and exhausted on the ground, to be slaughtered as "downer cows." In its effort to bring awareness about the animals' plight, Mercy for Animals staged a peaceful demonstration in downtown Portland, and handed out veg guides to help people make more compassionate choices.

homepage:  http://beyond-productions.com/

From the open publishing newswire: Video Report Back: October 5th National Day of Dignity & Respect for Immigrant Families in Portland
Over 300 hundred people attended the speeches, music and dancing at Directors Park on Oct 5th joining in solidarity with communities across the country. This action was to bring families into the streets to press for dignity and respect for immigrant families and to send a message to the House of Representatives to: "Get Immigration Reform Done; and Get it Done Now. For our families, for our communities, for our country!" Portlander's joined with 14 organizations at Director Park at 3pm for the National Day of Dignity & Respect for Immigrant Families. The complete event was documented by Portland Indymedia.

The Oct 5 Immigrant Rights Dignity Rally in Portland Oregon was attended by over 300 or more participants.
The event was held in the Directors Park in downtown Portland.
One cop and one security officer was observed at this permitted "National Rally for Citizenship and Family Respect"
The event consisted of music, dancing, information, speeches and singing

The complete full video is available on YouTube here:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYRKjNzdfU (2 hours and 19 minutes)

From the open publishing newswire: PORTLAND, Ore. Oct. 1, 2013 ?Holding dozens of banners and signs opposing clearcutting, more than 200 people gathered today outside the office of Sen. Ron Wyden at Portland's Holladay Park for an hour-long rally in support of policies that include responsible management of Oregon's publically owned forests.

Rally to Save Our Public Lands

"It is a false choice to suggest that clearcut logging is needed for the health of rural economies," said Randi Spivak with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the rally's organizers. "In fact, this approach will harm sustainable economies that depend on clean water, healthy fisheries and intact forests, The message sent to Senator Wyden today was clear: Don't clearcut our children's future."

Reps. Peter DeFazio (D.-Ore.), Kurt Schrader (D.-Ore.) and Greg Walden (R.-Ore.) have proposed to effectively privatize 1.5 million acres of public land in western Oregon known as the "O&C" lands, turning it over to a private logging "trust" to be managed under the Oregon Forest Practices Act, where clearcutting is rampant. Sen. Wyden is currently developing his own plan for expanded logging of public lands in the western part of the state. [...]

From the open publishing newswire: Portland Radio Project will launch an online station designed to reconnect radio with the community through a mainstream music mix, featuring local and emerging artists, combined with quality news and true public service.

Why the revolution? Because we believe commercial radio has gotten WAY off track, and it's time for change. It's time for a new model of radio - a model that reflects and serves the community through its music and public affairs programming. Connecting with the Portland community is our mission.

Portland Radio Project is a group of radio professionals who have witnessed significant and unfortunate changes to radio over the years. Through ownership consolidation, a handful of corporations have gained control over most of American radio. Their primary interest is money, not music, and certainly not community. They play only the songs that serve the bottom line, over and over and OVER again, ignoring incredible talent that deserves to be heard. They give air time only to those organizations that can pay for it, disregarding the great work done by so many Portland nonprofits and volunteers whose stories deserve to be told. homepage:  http://www.prp.fm

From the open publishing newswire: On 9/21 around 60 protesters gathered, organized, and marched to Fubonn Shopping Center in southeast Portland to picket against unfair treatment of two hispanic female ex-workers.

After a successful previous action in which dozens of members of Portland Solidarity Network marched into the Fubonn Shopping Center in solidarity with two mistreated workers and confronted the owners and management, another blow has been dealt to this establishment. On 9/21, around sixty protesters marched down 82nd avenue to the Fubonn Shopping Center (2850 SE 82nd Avenue) to picket in solidarity with two hispanic female workers who had been discriminated against and mistreated by management at this asian-owned mini mall.

Marisol and Norma, the complaintants, were ex-employees of the Fubonn Center. Marisol worked in the food court and Norma worked in the meat processing area of the establishment, where all other workers were male. Marisol explained that they were given few breaks or opportunities to use the restroom and were oftentimes yelled at by management to the point they were in tears. Norma, in our interview stated that she at one point was pregnant and was asked to lift boxes up to 40lbs. and also was not given opportunity to eat a lunch or use the restroom when needed as well. [...]

Video Link: Worker Protest Against Fubonn Shopping Center