By now, I am sure you’ve heard the new country-pop record that’s just been released by country heavyweight Brad Paisley, featuring one of hip-hop’s most venerable dookie-chain rocking, Kangol-cap wearing hip-hop icons who not only listens to his mama but can’t live without his radio, gets headsprung in the club, remains current with chart topping hits, and still has time to pursue romance. LL Cool J’s success and appeal stem from a rather lengthy career and diverse catalog, but let us not forget his most salient contribution - audibly defining mutually beneficial heteronormative safe sex across the boroughs for at least two (if not more) generations of hormonal youths, awkwardly grinding in high-school gymnasiums across the nation. LL Cool J probably does a number of things well, but politicking about race simply isn’t one of them.
Elliott Adams is a very reasonable and easy person to talk with. A Vietnam War Veteran and past-president of Veterans For Peace, Adams put his body on the line to defend this country against communists only to realize that communists and the Vietnamese were not his enemies, but rather that his own governement was the enemy. To that end, Adams has put his body on the line in the way of the military industrial complex being arrested numerous times for civil disobedience against the unconscionable and immoral actions of the United States government. And now they have drones.
It is important to understand that drones are being used to commit war crimes... It will not be stopped unless we the people make it stop.
On April 10, 2013, Rochester Indymedia had the chance to interview veteran and peace activist Elliott Adams who will be going to Syracuse, NY on April 26-28th for the “Resisting Drones, Global War and Empire" convergence. Check it out!
For more about the upcoming, anti-drone "Resisting Drones, Global War and Empire" convergence in Syracuse, NY, please go to Upstate Drone Action dot org.
Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the defier of all laws, of all conventions; love, the freest, the most powerful molder of human destiny; how can such an all-compelling force be synonymous with that poor little State- and Church-begotten weed, marriage?
On March 22, 2013, faith, labor, and community groups gathered downtown in front of the Federal Building demanding real immigration reform now. This is the full press conference in video form.
On April 4th, Rochester Indymedia had the chance to speak with Nick Mottern--a Vietnam War veteran turned anti-war activist. He runs the website KnowDrones.com and he has traveled nation-wide showcasing his model drone exhibit in order to raise consciousness about the negative moral implications of drones. In addition to his current antiwar activities, he teaches workshops on how to build model drones and will be giving a workshop at the convergence being held in Syracuse, NY—Resisting Drones, Global War, and Empire—from April 26th to 28th.
Submitted by Jack Ossont, Coalition to Protect New York on Wed, 2013-04-03 22:35
MEDIA RELEASE
April 2, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens’ Challenge to Painted Post Municipal Water Sale Upheld
NYS Supreme Court Judge rules that Village skipped necessary reviews.
Citizens across New York cheered last week when a New York State Supreme Court judge annulled the bulk water sale agreement between the Village of Painted Post in Steuben County and a Shell Oil affiliate, SWEPI, LP.
On March 25, Monroe County Justice Kenneth R. Fisher issued his decision voiding the agreement and enjoining any further shipments because the Village had not done the required environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
On February 7, 2013, at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, faith, labor and community members heard from garment workers who sew apparel in Honduran and Haitian factories owned and contracted by Gildan Activewear, a Montreal-based apparel company that supplies government entities in addition to companies like Adidas and Walmart.
My name is K, nice to meet you. Welcome to some of my darker experiences as a trans woman. After a few foiled attempts at trying to “better” the trans community and graduating from undergrad I decided it was time to move back to Rochester where I grew up and started my transition. To be honest, I felt entirely defeated as a person and sat on my increasingly fat ass for a year before I decided to start doing something about it. So here it is, I’m going to tell bits and pieces of a particular story that involves rape, the trans community, the gay community, racism, sex
Submitted by SusanGalloway on Sat, 2013-03-23 01:20
10 years ago the U.S. attacked the country of Iraq over lies that were repeatedly told to the people of the U.S. and the world. The mainstreet/corporate media played a large part of selling the Bush Administartions need for the invasion of Iraq. Rochester Indymedia and other independent media outlets in the U.S.
As has been well documented in the media, the nation of Greece is in the throes of an economic meltdown. Austerity measures aimed at paying off an astronomical debt load have plunged the economy into a death spiral, and sparked nationwide protests and strikes. Unemployment is at 27 percent and climbing.
Submitted by cnycitizenaction on Wed, 2013-03-20 19:41
Utica, NY: Today about 40 local citizens and representatives of community, labor, and human service organizations held a vigil in Downtown Utica to ask that Congress repeal Sequestration, immediately adopt a fair budget, and protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare from benefit cuts.
On February 18, 2013, Pete Eyre, a co-founder of Copblock.org, was in town on a Copblock tour. Independent journalist Davy V. gave Rochester Indymedia the heads-up and we had a chance to sit down with Pete and talk about Copblock.org and the tour.
THATCampFeminisms West (Scripps College): We will be working in person (at Honnold-Mudd Library in Claremont) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. We are encouraging all THATCamp attendees to join us and we welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us virtually.
Duke University: We will be working in person at the FHI Conference Room, Bay 4, C-107, Smith Warehouse from 1pm-3pm. Anyone is welcome to join in, or if you cannot come physically, do think about joining us virtually!
THATCampFeminisms South: Join us in person at Emory University Library – Jones Room, 3rd Floor, 11am -3pm EST
JustPublics@365 at the Graduate Center of CUNY. 11am-3pm EST. 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 6304.01. Anyone welcome - just need a photo ID for entrance to the building.
Event: An edit-a-thon! Learn how to contribute to Wikipedia and collaborate with others to write about topics related to women and feminism!
On February 14, 2013, the Green Party of Monroe County held a special meeting where Emily Good presented the topic of "Love as a Revolutionary Force." The meeting took place at the Flying Squirrel Community Space.
Rochester IMC has never had a lot of entertainment/lifestyle articles. That's why I was very happy to see folks from TheRochesterInsomniac.com come to the media collaboration meetings that have been happening Thursdays before the IMC meetings. We hope this is the first in of many syndicated articles that look at the local entertainment scene in Rochester. Enjoy!
On the first Monday of every month the Flying Squirrel Community Space in Corn Hill hosts a discussion series called "Monday Mayhem." Topics have ranged from the housing crisis to the threats caused by fracking. For March, the discussion was of worker justice. The United States Constitution guarantees us certain inalienable rights like freedom of speech, association, innocence until proven guilty and freedom from unwarranted searches and seizures. But these basic principles don't apply at most workplaces. And that's only the beginning. Many workers also face unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, discrimination, sub minimum pay and denial of overtime. Often the employer finds it's cheaper to pay the fine than fix the problem. Workers who speak out face retaliation. What can we do about it?
On March 2, 2012, the Rochester Committee on Latin America held its annual Rice and Beans and White Dove Award dinner at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY.
The International White Dove Award went to the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) and its Haitian affiliate, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI). Brian Concannon, Jr., Esq., Director of IJDH, gave the keynote address and accepted the award on behalf of IJDH and BAI.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Rochester on February 21 2013. Despite a stiff wind and temperatures in the teens he was greeted by 40-50 demonstrators calling for a ban on the drilling process known as "fracking" for natural gas. Another group of 10 or so were demonstrating against the State's new gun law, one of the most restrictive in the nation. While the issues may seem unrelated, members of both groups were critical of the lack of access ordinary citizens have to elected officials. One said "it's like he's a Duke or something...he doesn't care about us."
Rochester Indymedia is now requiring editor approval for account creation.
We came to this decision after we had repeated spam posted to our website that caused difficulty with the website's functioning. We will still have open publishing and keep our site as nonrestrictive and accessible as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. As before, we will continue to be Rochester's grassroots news and education site. Thank you for your continued support and remember, "Don't hate the media, be the media!"
Editorial Meeting Times / Locations
The Rochester Independent Media Center (R-IMC) is no longer meeting regularly. We will set up meetings by necessity and appointment. Please contact us at rochesterindymedia@rocus.org. Our home is still the Flying Squirrel Community Space at 285 Clarissa St. Occasionally, we hold meetings at RCTV located at 21 Gorham Street.
