From the open publishing newswire: let's make it happen! the idea is pretty simple: a network of babysitters banding together to offer free childcare to the community.

my basic vision involves a website and/or hotline that families browse/call, submit a request, and get free childcare. families can view profiles for each of the many many sitters, with info on their experience, certification, childcare style/philosophy, and other info. they choose the sitter they want, and email them directly. probably 72 hours in advance is cool.

the hotline thing is trickier, but not impossible. i have a few ideas, but we can talk about logistics later.

if anyone is interested in maybe helping get this started, in whatever capacity, email me! i'd like to form a formal collective ASAP, get the program going by autumn, and maybe even turn it into a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit if we feel like that's important.

From the open publishing newswire: On Tuesday, March 18, local activist Forrest Student and member of SDS at The Evergreen State College in Olympia was targeted by Officer Perez of the Evergreen Police. Perez has a history of harassing and abusing students and other people on campus. When Perez approached him and started questioning him, the person said he had the right to have an attorney present and because of that, Perez arrested him for obstruction. Forrest continued in his refusal, demanding an attorney while in jail and at his arraignment. In response his charges were increased to misdemeanor criminal mischief. The judge refused to set bail and Forrest is still sitting in jail.

Forrest has been very involved in local politics of late, participating in the Port of Olympia protests in November and being very vocal in his criticism of the conduct by the Administration on campus in the wake of the events on Feb. 14th. In the current environment of political repression on campus and elsewhere, this development proves significantly troublesome. Forrest has been held in jail and is facing charges for exercising a right protected by the Fifth Amendment, the right not to speak to law enforcement without representation.

If you would like to lend assistance to Forrest for legal matters, send check or money to:

Forrest Student
910 4th Ave. E
Olympia, WA 98506

From the open publishing newswire: a film about murdered indymedia journalist brad will
Brazilian filmmaker and media activist Miguel will be on hand
to discuss his documentary tribute to a fallen friend.
(film in portuguese and spanish with english subtitles)

Monday March 24th 7 pm
Liberty Hall
311 N. Ivy St.

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: KOIN, KGW, and KPTV have announced that only 300 hundred protesters (while really it was more like 1,300 protesters) "boycotted school." They mentioned that there were accounts of people fighting the police. And that "juveniles" were arrested for being in the street when we were on the sidewalk.

Fuck the corporate media. You slimy bastards.

From the open publishing newswire: Over the past 5 years, the student movement has been growing in Portland. The youth of America are the ones who will feel the true scorns of the war, as we are the ones expected to pay off this debt, our education is being cut, and we are the ones fighting this war. On March 20th, at 11 AM hundreds of students city wide, and thousands nation wide will be walking out of school, directly resisting our planned day to day events. By walking out, students not only take a stand against the war, but also assert our own power as a community determined to enact change. Students are willing to disrupt our education for one day to take a stand against five years of mounting death tolls.

We as students also believe that anti-war efforts have been too moderate and passive to make a difference. This protest (starting at 1 PM by the elephant in the North Park Blocks) has not been registered by the city of Portland, as we do not wish to host a parade. We wish to start a movement that is no longer about feeling good about yourself, but making a change in the world. Patting yourselves on the back after marching in a permitted area is not likely to directly affect war profiteers or anything for that matter. This is why we feel it necessary to make this stride.

From the open publishing newswire: As part of a nationwide day of action to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, students in the Portland metropolitan area will walk out of class on March 20. Students will walk out at 11:00 to converge in the North Park Blocks for a rally and march beginning at 1:00.

The event will address student-specific aspects of the Iraq War, and emphasize the responsibility that each citizen has to respond to this illegal and immoral war. As a group, students are adversely affected by the war in that we lack legislative representation, are targeted for military recruitment, and experience the loss of resources that comes from an inflating war budget. By walking out, students not only take a stand against the war, but also assert our own power as a community determined to enact change. Acknowledging that silence gives consent, students are willing to disrupt our education for one day to take a stand against five years of mounting death tolls.

From the open publishing newswire: Community is gathering to share crafts, food, and fun while supporting a democratic school focused on self-directive learning.

The Village Free School is partway through its third year serving youth five to eighteen in the Portland area. The school has grown from 24 students to 47 in just over two years and continues to move towards becoming a stable and significant contributor to the independent, alternative, and democratic community minded spirit of Portland.

With a commitment to be financially accessible to families, the school relies on local donations to subsidize its costs. On Sunday, November 25th, local artisans, crafters, musicians, foodies, and families from around Portland will meet up for a first ever Craft Bazaar at Liberty Hall.

Admission will be free, but the event is hoping to generate community relationships and donations.

Local music showman Professor Banjo (aka Paul Silveria) will play for kids (and adults too) from 2 - 3pm.

This fun can be found at 311 N. Ivy - one block south of Fremont, one block west of Vancouver. Near the 4, 44 and 33 bus lines.

 http://www.villagefreeschool.org
503-545-6586

From the open publishing newswire: Today religious leaders from every corner of Oregon wrote to Governor Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Senator Gordon Smith asking that both the federal and state government do more to address the growing number of homeless students in Oregon seeking an education. A report issued this month by the state Department of Education documented that Oregon schools served over 15,000 homeless students at the same time that the federal government cut funding to support this population group by 10%.

"No child should be homeless in a nation as rich as ours." - Oregon Religious Leaders

From the open publishing newswire: A video is circulating the likes of MySpace and YouTube wherein several young boys- and one girl- in Hot Springs, Arkansas, decided to celebrate Go Skateboarding Day. While skateboarding downtown, one was arrested- and it appears to be because he was skateboarding.

One youth took a picture of the Officer Joey Williams on top of thirteen year old Jarad Graham, who was facing up, and Williams has his hand around the boy's throat. After handcuffing the child, he chased the person who took the photograph, leaving the child in handcuffs. Williams later comes back, takes the child to speak with him away from his friends, and tells the boy he was in violation of city ordinance and resisting arrest... resisting arrest for what? WHY was he arrested in the first place?

From the open publishing newswire: Gone to broken ankles every one. When will they ever learn?

Wilson High School students planted marigolds in the shape of a peace sign on school property. The only one to confess is facing severe consequences. School officials claim that they don't object to the message of peace (yeah, right), just the "damage" to the grounds.

One student, senior Maggie Collins, has admitted to taking part in the planting. She now faces consequences which could prevent her from gaining admission to college. She will be expected to pay for damages or repair the grounds before receiving her diploma or transcripts. "I think it's sad that we're living in a society right now where you're teaching us to silence our voices," she said.

Portland Citizen interviews school officials: "It's in a courtyard and now we have 6 inch trenches of dirt and the kids are going to break their ankles playing frisbee now." What?! "They're going to break their ankles... on marigolds?" I asked. "The marigolds are all going to die, and then we're just going to have trenches of dirt, and then they will break their ankles," she replied. Seemed a little hyperbolic to me. I asked to speak with the principal, but was told she was busy.

Collins is planning a work party this weekend to patch things up (so to speak) at Wilson H.S. this Saturday @11am - 1151 SW Vermont St.

From the open publishing newswire: The Surge Protection Brigade will close down the recruitment center at NE Broadway in Portland for the ninth time on Friday, March 30th at 11:00 a.m. The Brigade will be joined by Col. Ann Wright (ret.), a 29 year Army veteran and diplomat who resigned in opposition to the invasion of Iraq, and local members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. On Friday Col. Ann Wright (ret.) and local members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will be joining the Surge Protection Brigade in shutting down the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in NE Portland.

Col. Wright explains why she will be joining the action on Friday, "Portland's Surge Protection Brigade represents tens of thousands of critical grassroots organizations all over the country that want the war ended now! Members of Congress tell us everyday that they could not have gotten timetables for withdrawal into their bills without the people of America telling them what we want. But now we have to tell them that 18 more months of war is too much! 1800 Americans will die in the next 18 months and 54,000 Iraqis. We must keep the pressure on to stop the war now, not 18 months, not 12 months from now, but now!!!"

If you are finally ready to stand up against this war, and seeing our brothers and sisters snatched up by the insatiable war machine, come to the Recruiting Center on Friday at 11:00am!!

Related: 3/23 - Three Grannies and a Gramps Arrested at Recruiting Office

From the open publishing newswire: Paris, wednesday. Since 16 am heavy riots in one of the big stations, gar du nord. Young people attack police with everything possible. Smash windows of shops and banks.

Even soldiers seem to be involved.

The riot started after security personal and police had arrested a young immigrant in a train. Seems they had broken at least his arm. He had no ticket.

Soon about 300 people arrived at the station to free him. They were called by friends with mobile phones. They started a massive attack on about 50 riot cops.

The riots are still on. The number of rioters is still growing.