STOP CAT! The Continuing Human Rights Campaign Against Caterpillar
As Caterpillar completes its annual shareholders meeting several human right groups are raising consciousness about the human right abuses it supports.
At Issue are the bulldozers Caterpillar sells to the Israeli army. The D9 model, which is two stories high, comes with a blade that is 6 feet high and 15 feet wide as well as a “ripper†that is used to tear through Palestinian homes. The Israeli army takes it from there and adds armor plating, bullet-proof glass, machine gun mounts, and grenade launchers. These massive, armored bulldozers become weapons used by the Israeli army to destroy Palestinian lives and livelihoods. The D9 essentially becomes a 60-ton tank. In 2001, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that “The D9 is a strategic weapon here.â€
Video: Caterpillar Bulldozer - Israel/Palestine | Rare amateur footage of Cat bulldozers from the Gaza Strip
Additional Information: The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions | Stop CATerpillar | Corrie et al. v. Caterpillar | Demolition for Alleged Military Purposes | 4th Geneva Convention: Collective Punishments | Take Action to Hold Caterpillar Accountable | Take Action: Free Ezra Nawi | Bring your own voice to the 2009 CAT shareholder meeting! | Caterpillar under Fire for Human Rights Abuses for Sixth Year in a Row | Protesters boycott marketing of Caterpillar's D9 bulldozer | ICAHD-USA: build houses, build peace
Greece Tries to Do Away With the Public in Cable Access
This last week both the towns of Gates and Chili voted to turn control of public access over to Time Warner. Greece, although they do not post their agenda before the time of the town board meetings, is expected to follow suit this Tuesday, June 16th.
Here is what citizens will no longer get if Time Warner becomes the provider:
1) There will be no local facility for the creation of public and governmental access programs, no studio and no studio equipment. Residents will effectively be disenfranchised.
2) There is no equipment such as video cameras available for loan to residents to tape programs and no editing equipment for residents to produce their own programs and shows.
3) There will be no full time staff to assist and advise residents. No one to answer calls and questions and to help facilitate local public programming. The question of scheduling programs on the people's channel is unclear. There will also be no staff to provide community service and outreach or to do video recording of local community events.
On Tuesday June 16, 2009 at 6:00pm, come out to the Greece Town board meeting and defend the people’s station. If we do not speak up now, it might be your town or city next.
Additional Information: Time Warner to renew push for internet caps
Hickey-Freeman Will Not Be Liquidated! Schumer Gives Support to Local Workers
June 9, 2009—Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voiced his support for suit manufacturing workers at a labor rally organized by Workers United at Hickey-Freeman. Chicago-based Hartmarx, the parent company of Hickey-Freeman, is in bankruptcy after bailed-out bank Wells Fargo & Co.—Hartmarx's main creditor and recipient of a $25 billion taxpayer bailout—drastically cut the company's credit line. Wells Fargo has threatened to liquidate both companies' assets, which would cut some 5,000 jobs. In response, workers from both Hartmarx and Hickey-Freeman have voted to occupy their work places should Wells Fargo make good on its threat.
While Schumer and Workers United union members spoke on the inside, community members, union members of the Industrial Workers of the World, and Rochester Indymedia were offering support on the outside after being denied entrance to the plant.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Additional Information: Workers United | Hickey-Freeman Workers Vote to Stage Sit-In if Bailed-Out Bank Attempts to Close Company | Schumer at Hickey Freeman Mon at 11:30
Members of the so-called "Wolf Pack" Gang Proclaiming Innocence
June 5, 2009—On Monday, April 27, 2009 Rochester Police Department (RPD) arrested a group of residents of the Beechwood neighborhood on Rochester’s east side. According to local media accounts of the incident, 21 people were arrested but a total of 24 individuals are being charged with belonging to an organized crime group called the Chain Gang, also known as the Wolf Pack.
They are being prosecuted under the ‘Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act’, a federal statue also called the RICO act. RICO was intended to eradicate organized crime by attacking the sources of its revenue, such as syndicated gambling or bookmakers. The statute imposes both criminal imprisonment from 20 years to life, depending on the racketeering activity involved and civil liability including damages, costs and attorneys fees for persons who engage in certain prohibited acts. According to Jeffrey Rodefer, a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nevada, the statute provides “new weapons of unprecedented scope for an assault upon organized crime and its economic roots.â€
But individuals arrested and their supporters are saying there is no such organization called the Chain Gang or the Wolf Pack. In a community meeting Thursday at 345 Parsells Avenue members of Activists Against Racism Movement (AARM) insist that there was no basis or foundation to support racketeering charges filed against those arrested. “The use of the RICO statute in these arrests is absolutely unfounded and unconstitutional,†the group said in a statement. Read the full article on the MinorityReporter website by clicking here
Video: Parsells Community Church anti-RICO Rally
Audio: American Freedom: Human Rights v. USA PATRIOT Act: Stephen Bright | Natsu Saito (both discuss RICO in the context of US legal history)
Additional Information: The MinorityReporter at MinorityReporter.net | Activists Against Racism Movement (AARM) | RICO Act | Mafia Law Used Against Environmentalists for Tree Sits, Civil Disobedience | RICO LAWS? PROVE IT!!
Third Edition of Rochester IMC Newspaper: Help us Distribute!
The third edition of the Rochester Indy Newspaper will be available on June 4, 2009. We are looking for people to volunteer to distribute them. It is easy. Stop by the Anti War storefront, pick up some newspapers, and when you go to the public market, a music event, protest, or any other public gathering, share some with the people around you. I am sure they will appreciate it and you will be introducing other people to a wonderful alternative media source. This is an opportunity for you to become the media!!!!
RICO LAWS? PROVE IT!!
On April 27, 2009, a number of people were arrested in Rochester, New York and charged under the RICO statute for alleged crimes.
Those arrested are facing long prison sentences under the RICO law, including 10 - 20 years to LIFE.
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.
There is no such organization/enterprise as the ‘Chain Gang or ‘Wolf Pack’ gang, and no factual basis or foundation to support racketeering charges; as a result, the use of the RICO statute is unfounded and unconstitutional.
Let's come together to fight for a fair criminal justice system.
WHEN: 6 PM, Thursday June 4th
WHERE: Parsells Avenue Community Church —- 345 Parsells Avenue (corner of Parsells and Denver)
"Medicare for ALL!" Single Payer Health Care Speak-Out Reportback
On May 30, 2009, a group of 450 people gathered for a Speak Out hosted by Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley. It provided a platform for people to learn about single payer and to show support for HR 676, the Medicare for all House bill.
There was a panel consisting of Congressman Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary committee and author of HR 676, Congressman Eric Massa, representing NY 29th legislative district, Mimi Kennedy, actress and the National head of Progressive Democrats of America and Dr. Theodore Brown, Professor at University of Rochester in the Department of History, Community and Preventive Medicine and Medical Humanities and moderated by Jeff Cohen, Founder of FAIR and endowed chair and director of Park center for Independent Medical/Journalism Department in the School of Communications at Ithaca College. Each panel member spoke for a few minutes and then answered questions from the audience.
Video: Part 1: Town Hall Meeting on Single Payer Health Care | Part 2 | Part 3 Coming Soon
Photos (c/o Al Brundage): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Additional Information: Healthcare-NOW | Physicians for a National Health Program | Baucus to Meet with Single Payer Leaders | The Real News video "Canadians Talk to Americans About Health Care"
Silenced but not Silent! Leading advocates of single payer health care -- "Medicare for All" --blacked out by corporate media
Last evening's Town Hall Meeting on Single Payer Health Care — "Medicare for All" — sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley and numerous other progressive groups should have been the lead story in every media outlet last night and today. I'm a nurse, not a journalist, but I can think of many stories that reporters should have been eager to capture:
1. Health care is a leading concern, with public opinion polls saying that more than eighty percent of us believe there is a need for fundamental change in the U.S system.
2. John Conyers, Jr. visited Rochester. Did anyone try to get an interview with the venerable civil rights leader, member of the U.S. House of Representatives since the 1970’s?
3. The Democrat and Chronicle is read, and TV news viewed, in several Congressional districts. Eric Massa, one of the newest members of Congress, is a vocal proponent of HR 676. The Progressive Caucus endorses the legislation, yet our own Louise Slaughter has not signed on. Why? Could it have something to do with money from health insurers and HMO’s?
4. Most importantly, the town hall meeting offered a chance for journalists to provide substantive descriptions and comparisons of the various health care reform proposals being put forward.
Counter-Recruitment Activists Organize to Protect Student Privacy
For several months, the Rochester City School District has been considering changing it's policy to not send student information to military recruiters unless parents explicitly consent to it being sent out. The board has discussed the issue at several meetings, with no clear consensus - although virtually every speaker from the community has opposed changing the policy (reportback #1, reportback #2).
Activists have been heavily organizing to keep the current policy that protects students. On Wednesday, they organized a Teach-in build skills and hone strategies for protecting privacy. They followed that up by showing up in force at Thursday's school board meeting to oppose changes to the current policy, joining an even larger force of community opposition to teacher lay-offs. Mary Adams gives a reportback on the board's discussion of the policy change.
The Backbone Campaign Brings Rochester Creative Tactics
The Backbone Campaign came to Rochester in April as part of their 11,000+ mile, 16 city tour around the country. The three day event was a chance for local activists to learn skills, creative tactics and just have some fun.