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

From the open publishing newswire: Come join Marisol, Norma and Portland Solidarity Network this Saturday 9/21/13 from 12:30-3 for our first picket against Fubonn. We will be meeting in the parking lot of USA Pawn and Jewelry, 8001 SE Powell BLVD

(please make an effort to meet here so we can march in mass) and marching to Fubonn, 2850 SE 82nd Ave shortly after. This is a kid friendly event and we encourage you to bring as many people as possible. Refreshments will be available.

Rain or Shine.

From the open publishing newswire: Occupy Portland's bike swarm joined "postal protectors" to block a private mail truck leaving the Mt. Hood Distribution Center (US Postal Service) September 7th, demanding that postal management stop subcontracting the trucking of "the people's mail." Claiming concerns about safety, cost and corruption, the blockaders left after police ordered them to disperse. No arrests were made.

Occupy Portland's bike swarm joined "postal protectors" to block a private mail truck leaving the Mt. Hood Distribution Center (US Postal Service) September 7th, demanding that postal management stop subcontracting the trucking of "the people's mail." Claiming concerns about safety, cost and corruption, the blockaders left after police ordered them to disperse. No arrests were made.

"Postal truckers are losing work to a bankrupt, fly-by-night outfit, Dill Star Route Inc, in a corrupt, no-bid deal with local USPS management," declared Jamie Partridge, a blockader and retired postal worker. "We intend to stop this attack on family wage, union jobs."

Calling themselves "postal protectors for the 99%," the protesters included retired postal workers, a small business person, seniors, a teacher, an immigrant worker and a teamster, all of whom declared themselves impacted by postal privatization.

Chanting "We'll be back!" the "protectors" vowed to further interfere with private mail transport, if postal management did not reverse the subcontracting. The group has blocked or interrupted Dill Star mail trucks four times this summer - with people, with a car and today with bikes. [...]
Postal workers have seen their wages cut by 25% for new hires. Bottom-tier Postal Support Employees (truckers and clerks) and Mail Handler Assistants now make less in wages and benefits than the non-postal, non-union sub-contract workers.

The postal service is not broke. Subcontracting work is unnecessary and costly. However, the agenda of corporate America, their friends in Congress and in postal management, according to the CPWU, is to cripple the USPS, to soften it up for union busting and privatization. The USPS is a $65 billion annual business with over $100 billion surplus in its pension and retiree health benefit funds, over 30,000 post offices and 200,000 vehicles. Postal activists claim that America is being confronted with a huge transfer of public wealth to for-profit, private corporations.

homepage: homepage:  http://cpwunited.com

From the open publishing newswire: Interviews with several Portlanders protesting animal cruelty for profit and entertainment. This protest was on Thursday evening, the first of four days that the circus was in town.

Informative interviews with people of conscience who protest the treatment of animals for profit and entertainment. These animals lead a miserable life. Some of the most cruel treatment are abusive training practices, long confinement in rail cars and separation from family life.

In attendance were members from Portland Animal Liberation (PAL) and In Defense of Animals, as well as several who attended as individuals.

Protest Event Facebook Page




Portland Protests Circus

From the open publishing newswire: There are a number of anti-war and social justice events taking place in Portland on Wednesday, September 11.

Wednesday, September 11

MARCH AGAINST DRONES PDX
Part of an international day of action against drones
Rally and "die-in" "At noon, we will rally at City Hall. We will make as much noise as possible. Then at 3:00 p.m., we will die in a silent and powerful form of protest where we lie in a pile of bodies to symbolize the many innocent lives lost to murderous drone strikes.

CLOSE GUANTANAMO VIGIL
Pioneer Courthouse Square
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 72

and/or

NO WAR ON SYRIA!
Candlelight vigil
Hawthorne Bridge
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

From the open publishing newswire: Audrey Terrell & Tony Funchess are both from the NAACP.
They spoke for 14 minutes at the "March on Washington DC 50 Year Anniversary" in Portland on 8.24.13

This march in Portland was a march and rally to celebrate the Historic 1963 March on Washington DC

http://youtu.be/zxNDMGn5vz4 [14 minutes video on YT]

Audrey mentions to the crowd that you would think these same issue 50 years later after that march on Washington, would not still be a problem. (yet) We still need today to demand civil rights accountability, a stop to racial profiling, and to duplicate that enthusiasm from the civil rights movement.

Tony brings the conversation around to the nightmare on hand now. He brings up the challenge of today, 50 years later the same issues are still prevalent and require our attention. In a riveting sincere call out... he asks us all:

How long ...

Related PIMC post: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/08/424680.shtml