Colectivos de Apoyo, Solidaridad y Acción

Recent actions for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners

Diana — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:12:13 +0000

By:

Amig@s de Mumia, México

“We are not coming to the Department of Justice looking for justice. We are bringing justice to the Department of Justice!” said Pam Africa, head of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (ICFFMAJ), at the outset of the march in Washington D.C. to demand that the Attorney General appointed by Barack Obama, Eric Holder, open a civil rights investigation into the countless abuses in the trial and appeal process of the former Black Panther and revolutionary journalist. In the words of Dr. Suzanne Ross of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition of NYC, “...a civil rights investigation could mean the difference between life and death for Mumia. It could also open the door for his release.” Holder, however, was too busy to receive a delegation of human rights defenders to discuss the case of the respected author of six books who has been named an honorary citizen of around 25 cities in the world. In view of this insult, MOVE sympathizer Orie Ross, turned over several boxes filled with 25,000 petitions to a Justice Department functionary and detailed the history of abuses against Mumia Abu-Jamal during the 28 years that he's been imprisoned, falsely incriminated and condemned to death for the murder of a policeman in Philadelphia on December 9, 1981. The demand for a civil rights investigation is being raised in the wake of the federal Supreme Court's refusal last April 6 to hear the case, effectively denying Mumia his right to a new trial --a measure granted to many other prisoners condemned to death in similar process plagued with racism. The Supreme Court's delay in deciding whether or not to hear the Philadelphia District Attorney's appeal to reinstate the death penalty, revoked in 2001, is an ominous sign. It seems that the court is considering another case (Smith v. Spisak) that could result in the re-imposition of the death penalty for Mumia. The media campaign to execute him has always been strong in Philadelphia and is now more intense than ever at the national and international level in Fox News and the German weekly Der Spiegel, while corporate media like the Philadelphia Inquirer are promoting the upcoming premier of a new piece of anti-Mumia propaganda by the documentary filmmaker Tigre Hill of Philadelphia: The Barrel of a Gun. In addition to ICFFMAJ and the New York Coalition, march organizers included the National Jericho Movement, Nat Turner Rebellion, and the Black August Planning Committee, groups working for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners and prisoners of war. Participants included representatives of human rights and death penalty abolition groups as well as representatives of unions and religious groups, such as Laura Moye of Amnesty International; Steven Hawkins and Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, of the NAACP; Joseph “Jazz” Hayden of the Riverside Church Prison Ministry; Panama Alba, of the National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights; El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan of the Peace and Justice Foundation of Washington, DC y Fignolé Saint-Cyr, President of the Autonomous Unions of Haiti. There was a significant presence of Muslim human rights groups, and a notable testimony was given by young Lejla Duka, daughter of one of the prisoners known as “the Fort Dix 5.” Other participating organizations included ANSWER; the National Lawyers Guild, International Action Center and WESPAC. In view of Mumia's critical situation, several actions and events have been held in recent months. There was flyering at the National NAACP Convention in New York City on July 15 and 16 to pressure the organization to take a more active role in his case, and a rally at the same place when Obama addressed the Convention on the 16th. One focus of the activities in San Francisco and other places has been the racist application of the death penalty in Mumia's case and those of social prisoners such as Troy Davis and Kevin Cooper. In Philadelphia, the “100 Blacks in Black” march was held last August 29. With the aim of fostering recognition in the Black community of the cases of Mumia and other political prisoners and prisoners of war, and building social movements to win their freedom, demonstrators marched through the community starting out from Broad and Erie streets, and then held a rally and did flyering. Participants included recently released New Afrikan and anarchist political prisoner Ojore Lutalo, as well as members of the Poor Righteous Party of the Black Nation, New Afrikan Liberation Front, Anarchist People of Color, Philly Jericho, the Uhuru movement, ICFFMAJ, and Teresa Shoatz of the Human Rights Coalition and daughter of political prisoner Russell Maroon Shoatz.. Speakers demanded an end to the genocide carried out through the prison industrial complex and police brutality in their communities, and also demanded freedom for the MOVE 9, New Jersey 4, Leonard Peltier, Oso Blanco, Ramiro “Ramsey” Muñiz, among other, as well as amnesty for revolutionary ex Black Panther Assata Shakur, living in exile in Cuba. On October 26, ICFFMAJ called a press conference and rally at the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters to denounce the major role placed by this police organization in the incrimination of Mumia, as seen in their constant threats and attacks on the movement and their constant pressure for him to be executed or die in silence in prison. Demonstrators denounced the promises of former candidate and current District Attorney of Philadelphia (elected on November 3), to seek the death penalty, following in the footsteps of “the Queen of Death” Lynne Abraham and other racist ex District Attorneys like Governor Ed Rendell and Supreme Court judge Ron Castille, who have made their careers on the ongoing kidnapping, torture and attempts against the life of Mumia and their war crimes against the MOVE organization. Speakers included representatives of “other victims of Seth Williams” --Denis Calderón and Julio Maldonado--, two Peruvians unjustly prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney's office and condemned to prison after defending themselves from a gang of white racist youth in that city, only to be deported after serving their sentences. On November 7, the demand to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, Jamil Al-Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown) and all political prisoners, prisoners of war, and exiles was heard in the “Black is Back” in Washington D.C. organized by the Uhuru movement against the wars in Iraq y Afghanistan. Speakers also demanded reparations for slavery; the revocation of the Patriot Act; and an end to AFRICOM, gentrification, police violence, and the massive imprisonment of Black people in the United States. Obama was strongly denounced, as was the FBI murder of Imam Luqman Abdullah committed in Detroit last October 29. Messages were read from political prisoners Sundiata Acoli, Janine Africa, Phil Africa, Marshall Eddie Conway, Kojo Bumani, Tom Manning and Abdul Majid, among others. Sundiata Acoli said: “No revolutionary is surprised at the policies Obama has, or has not, put into effect. He's never said he was anything but a reform politician, and reform is not a solution for Black people's or people's of color or ANY oppressed people's problem”. After recalling Obama's betrayal of Reverend Jeremiah Wright and his silence in the face of Israel's jailing of former Representative Cynthia McKinney, Pam Africa spoke about Mumia's dangerous situation at this time and denounced, once again, Seth William's promise to execute him: “To hell with your negro you sent us. We're coming to you. We have to go wherever they are, in their communities to expose them for what they are... Let's pull together to take this motherfucker down.” As the forces of law and order in Pennsylvania get ready to celebrate their robbery of another year of Mumia's life, actions in his support are being stepped up to keep constant pressure on the authorities. One way to send a strong message of repudiation to the United States government would be to call for demonstrations outside embassies, consulates and other appropriate spots in all the cities throughout Latin America and the world to demand his freedom. December 9, the anniversary of his arrest and imprisonment, is a good day to act. Mumia Abu-Jamal keeps right on struggling from his cell on death row. Information compiled from the following sites: http://www.freemumia.com/civilrights.html http://www.phillyimc.org/en/petitions-delivered-justice-dept-mumia http://breakallchains.blogspot.com/2009/08/829-100-blacks-in-black-for-mumia-all.html http://peacecomrade.org/2009/09/25/report-back-from-a29-mobilization/ http://uhurunews.com/video/play?resource_name=black-is-back-coalition-promo http://uhurunews.com:83/radio/show?show_id=bi http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/148053/index.php http://www.phillyimc.org/en/monday-press-conference-mumia-fop-headquarters http://www.phillyimc.org/en/videos-rebecca-doran-speaks-about-kevin-cooper http://thejerichomovement.com/prisoners.html Contact: Amig@s de Mumia, México presoslibertad@riseup.net

Adios, Lou Dobbs

Diana — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:37:47 +0000

After Wednesday's abrupt on-air resignation of veteran CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, many Latino advocacy and immigrant rights groups felt vindicated. They had long criticized the anchor’s coverage of illegal immigration as obsessive, prejudiced, and sometimes wildly inaccurate.

By:

New America Media, Q&A with Roberto Lovato, Marcelo Ballvé,

Editor’s note: After Wednesday's abrupt on-air resignation of veteran CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, many Latino advocacy and immigrant rights groups felt vindicated. They had long criticized the anchor’s coverage of illegal immigration as obsessive, prejudiced, and sometimes wildly inaccurate. When CNN aired its “Latino in America” series last month, Dobbs’ critics said the network couldn’t have it both ways, offering nuanced portrayals of immigration while also offering Dobbs a platform to air his hardline views. Roberto Lovato, co-founder of Presente.org and former NAM contributor, recently emerged as the most visible figure in the anti-Dobbs groundswell. Lovato spoke with NAM contributing editor Marcelo Ballvé about Dobbs’ sudden resignation and what it means in the context of Latino and immigration politics.

Presente.org is a relatively new organization, yet it played a prominent role in the campaign against Lou Dobbs. What can you tells us about Presente's origins and purpose?

Presente.org is born of the need to help the Latino community use media and technology to advance its agenda, and to build its power. One of the key ways to do that is to amass a list of people, much like Moveon.org did previously. You build that list by organizing campaigns. Presente.org was born earlier this year, actually. Its first campaigns were around the hate killing of Luis Ramirez in Pennsylvania and the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Those were the dress rehearsals for our most ambitious campaign, which was the “Basta Dobbs” campaign [Basta means “enough” in Spanish].

As your campaign accumulated momentum, Lou Dobbs invoked the First Amendment and accused his enemies of trying to silence him merely because he opposed illegal immigration. Has a legitimate voice been muzzled?

No less a figure than Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, said he would fire Lou Dobbs at the drop of a hat for what he has done to hurt Latinos and immigrants. There are precedents for this -- people who have been taken off the local and national airwaves for what they said in just a brief moment of airtime. It happened to Don Imus, for example. But Lou Dobbs has had a free ride on the rollercoaster of hate at CNN for many years. This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. This is about hatred, and the business of profiting from hatred against Latinos and other immigrant groups versus profiting from legitimate journalism like “Latino in America.”

Lou Dobbs framed the resignation as his own decision, motivated by his desire to have a freer hand in engaging in political activity and advocacy around issues that matter to him, including illegal immigration.What do you think of that explanation?

It’s hard to know what lurks in the dark heart of Lou Dobbs. We need to look at his record of prevarication, myth-making, and outright lies. That may be his modus operandi until his last days. What’s certain is that his exit was abrupt. The great anchors of our time, like Walter Cronkite, don’t depart from one day to the next, unexpectedly. In any case, in the same way that it would not be entirely true for the “Basta Dobbs” campaign to claim total credit, nor would it make any sense to think that this is something that Dobbs only did of his own volition, or to think that CNN didn’t feel external pressure. They did.

The figure of Lou Dobbs and his exit from CNN raises the question of what the parameters should be for a legitimate stance against illegal immigration. What do you think they are?

To begin with, Lou Dobbs’ problem wasn’t just with undocumented immigrants. His vision took in legal immigrants as a whole and Latinos as a whole. Dobbs knows we don’t live in the Jim Crow era of naked racism. You don’t use tools like the “N” word anymore. Instead you use the “I” word. You call people “illegals” or “invaders” and variations of the “illegal” term. Lou Dobbs, in using these words, tarnished an entire community, and he did so for years. So in the end, he got what anyone’s going to get when they attack an entire community: people standing up and saying “basta ya” … enough. We need a more sane and rational debate around immigration. We don’t need name-calling, and nonsense, and lies that are a total bore, and a great concern to many of us.

How important a role did technology and online media play in gathering over 100,000 signatures for the “Basta Dobbs” campaign? Can the immigrant rights movement make better use of this organizing tool?

The deployment of technology and media is already a part of the immigrant rights movement. We focused the strategy a little bit more with Basta Dobbs. This is a case study for the possibilities of online and offline organizing for immigrant rights. Because we didn’t just stay online, we went offline as well. We went to the 25 top Latino markets in the United States to organize people and hold rallies, knowing CNN wanted to get into those cities, which represent 75 percent of the U.S. Latino market. And we weren’t building a list of 100,000 or 200,000 people for nothing. It’s a measure of the economic power of an organized Latino viewing audience, which has now taken on historic proportions in the United States. We are hopeful that the victory over Lou Dobbs and CNN represents a new day in U.S. media. It’s not going to be so easy to profit from hatred against Latinos and immigrants. Because we have an organized populace that is willing to defend itself when it has to, when it is under attack, we’re going to see lots of media companies thinking twice about what they say and how they report about Latinos in the U.S. Latinos are joining African Americans and Jews and other groups in the fight to change how they are portrayed in the media, and that’s a thrilling development.

How did you feel as you watched Lou Dobbs make his final broadcast last night?

I cried when I saw Lou Dobbs giving his actually fairly moving farewell speech. I cried in part because I saw an aging person and an aging media persona saying goodbye in an abrupt way. But the main reason I cried is that it was clear that his departure had a profound significance for so many of us who have fought against him since he first began broadcasting his message of hate against immigrants. It’s poetic justice that his beginnings and his rise had a lot to do with his attacks on immigrants and now his demise has a lot to do with immigrants. I’ve been on Spanish-language radio all this morning, immersed in the buzz, the excitement, the sense of accomplishment, and hearing people say “sí se pudo” (yes, we did it). Not yes we can, sí se puede, but yes we did it. That kind of phrase strikes a deep chord for all of us.

We were witnessing the end of an era for Lou Dobbs and the beginning of a new era for Latinos and immigrants in the United States. We were seeing the extension of the civil rights struggles to the media age. In a country where almost everyone has a cell phone and access to the Internet and where everyone’s wired, issues of social justice have everything to do with media. And Lou Dobbs has woken up Latinos to that fact. We marched with our feet as we did in 2006 for immigration reform, but we also marched with our fingers across keyboards and phone pads. I got to see the birth of the contemporary immigrant rights movement in Los Angeles when Latinos led the fight in the streets against Proposition 187 in California [in 1994]. I’ve been all over the streets of the electronic airwaves today, and I have the same feeling from all the people saying sí se pudo.

In what direction does presente.org plan to channel its energy next?

Like Lou Dobbs, Presente.org lives or dies depending on the energy of Latinos and immigrants. So the future is to be defined in consultation with members in 25 cities and groups like the National Association of Latino and Caribbean Communities. We have to consult with the over 100,000 people who gave us their signatures. We have started talking about issues like immigration reform. Some people have said: why don’t you take this energy and go after [notorious immigration hardliner in Arizona]Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Lou Dobbs’ good friend? Right now we’re just recovering from this stunning victory. Soon enough we will define a new course.

INVITACION A RITUALES DE SANACION, CONMEMORANDO EL 25 DE NOVIEMBRE EN OAXACA

Diana — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:25:18 +0000

EL 25 A LAS 12 DEL DIA EN LA EXPLANADA DE LA PLAZA DE LA DANZA, "ROMPEREMOS CON EL DEBER SER MUJER Y EL DEBER SER HOMBRE" REPRESENTADO POR PIÑATAS DE HOMBRE Y MUJER, PARA LO CUAL LES INVITO A ASISTIR Y ESCRIBIR TODOS AQUILLOS MANDATOS SOCIALES DEL DEBER SER EN LAS PIÑATAS QUE SE ROMPERAN, TRAIGAN TAMBIÈN POR ESCRITO "LO QUE SI QUEREMOS DEL SER MUJER Y DEL SER HOMBRE", LO CUAL LO INTRODUCIREMOS EN LAS PIÑATAS.

By:

todas

QUERIDAS Y QUERIDOS: LOS RITUALES DE SANACION MASIVA SIEMPRE SON PARTE FUNDAMENTAL DE LOS SIMBOLISMOS ANCESTRALES Y ESPIRITUALES QUE HAN FORMADO PARTE DEL MAS PURO FEMINISMO DE HACE SIGLOS, Y EN ESE SENTIDO, Y EN RECONOCIMIENTO DE NUESTRA QUERIDA SANADORA "DOÑA QUETA": ENRIQUETA CONTRERAS CONTRERAS, QUIEN ESTARÀ A CARGO DE LOS MISMOS, LES INVITO A LAS DIFERENTES ACTIVIDADES, NO DEJO DE SENTIR POR LO PASADO EN EL 2006 A HOMBRES, MUJERES, NIÑAS, NIÑOS, JOVENES, Y PERSONAS EN GENERAL, SIN EMBARGO CONSCIENTE DE QUE NO PODREMOS ASISTIR A TODAS LAS ACTIVIDADES, ES QUE LES PIDO DIFUNDAN SI ES QUE NO PUEDEN ASISTIR FÌSICAMENTE, SU PRESENCIA A DISTANCIA, SEGURA ESTOY QUE NOS ACOMPAÑARÀ. EL 25 A LAS 12 DEL DIA EN LA EXPLANADA DE LA PLAZA DE LA DANZA, "ROMPEREMOS CON EL DEBER SER MUJER Y EL DEBER SER HOMBRE" REPRESENTADO POR PIÑATAS DE HOMBRE Y MUJER, PARA LO CUAL LES INVITO A ASISTIR Y ESCRIBIR TODOS AQUILLOS MANDATOS SOCIALES DEL DEBER SER EN LAS PIÑATAS QUE SE ROMPERAN, TRAIGAN TAMBIÈN POR ESCRITO "LO QUE SI QUEREMOS DEL SER MUJER Y DEL SER HOMBRE", LO CUAL LO INTRODUCIREMOS EN LAS PIÑATAS. A LAS 7 PM INICIAREMOS CON EL RITUAL DE SANACIÒN PARA TODAS AQUELLAS QUE HEMOS VIVIDO VIOLENCIA, EN LA INVITACION YA SE EXPLICA LO QUE TENDREMOS QUE TRAER, INCLUIDA SU COOPERACION VOLUNTARIA PARA EL PAGO DE NUESTRA QUERIDA ENRIQUETA.TAMBIEN PUEDEN TRAER POR ESCRITO LO QUE "QUIERAN QUEMAR Y DEJAR", POSTERIOR AL RITUAL DE SANACION. CONTINUAREMOS CON EL "CIRCULO DE LA SORORIDAD ENTRE MUJERES", UNA COMPAÑERA NOS CANTARÀ 2 CANCIONES MIENTRAS HACEMOS EL CIRCULO. O SI ALGUNA QUIERE LLEVAR ALGUNA CANCION EN ESPECIAL PARA ESE DIA ES BIENVENIDA. HASTA AQUI TERMINAMOS UNA PARTE, INVITAMOS A QUE SE SUMEN AL ACTO "RECLAMEMOS LA NOCHE, RECLAMEMOS LA CALLE...", CON LA FINALIDAD DE SABER Y SENTIR QUE ESOS ESPACIOS TAMBIÈN SON DE LAS MUJERES Y NO TENEMOS POR QUE VIVIR VIOLENCIA, NI ESTAR EXPUESTAS AL TERRORISMO SEXUAL. FINALIZAREMOS CON UNA OFRENDA DE FLORES QUE DEJAREMOS EN CATEDRAL CON VELADORAS PARA TODAS LAS MUJERES MUERTAS ESTE AÑO POR EL FEMINICIDIO. DIFUNDAN LA ACTIVIDAD Y GRACIAS, SE QUE LO HARÀN, ESTOY A SUS ÒRDENES TAMBIÈN PARA SEGUIR ARTICULANDO UNA RED DE DIFUSION DE ACTIVIDADES Y TAMBIEN ORGANIZACION DE ACTIVIDADES....SOMOS MAS DE LA MITAD DE LA POBLACION!!!!! ¡¡¡¡ALTO A LA VIOLENCIA EN CONTRA DE LAS MUJERES!!!!

Why does Oaxaca support the struggle of the Mexican Union of Electrical Workers?

Diana — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:47:47 +0000

CASOTA and thousands of Oaxacans stand up in solidarity with the Mexican Union of Electrical Workers who are fighting privatization forces from transnational corporations and the Mexican Government

By:

CASOTA

Why do we support the struggle of the Mexican Union of Electrical Workers?

The electricians belonging to the Commission of Central Light & Power under the Mexican Union of Electricians are fighting to defend their labor rights and unions, to reclaim their jobs, and prevent the continuation of the privatization and exploitation from the bad government who only benefit from the interests of national and transnational private companies.

On October 10, 2009 at nearly midnight, the Preventative Federal Police (PFP acronym in Spanish) and the Mexican Army occupied the facilities of the Central Light & Power (CLyFC acronym in Spanish) facilities in Mexico City and other facilities in the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Morelos; stripping 44,000 workers of their jobs. One hour after, the government publicized in an extraordinary edition in the Official Newspaper of the Federation a decree affirmed by the assassin Felipe Calderon claiming the “extinction” of the CLyFC.

The electricians explain that this attack from the government is due to the CLyFC and their interests to provide other additional services that require electricity, such as internet and other fiber optic technologies. These services would be less expensive than what the companies currently sell for (TELMEX, TELEVISA). The interests of the powerful and private companies did not tolerate this lower cost.

The attack from the government carried out by the “ mass media of misinformation” (Televisa, TV Azteca, commercial radios, and media companies) intended to justify these actions with lies, misinformation, and exaggerating so-called “privileges” which in reality are workers’ rights and employment benefits won by the struggle of generations of workers. For example, the government accuses the CLyFC of being unproductive and inefficient, accusing the electricians that it cost el pueblo millions of pesos to maintain the electrical plant. But if we look closer, we realize that it is difficult for a company to effectively operate when it is the government that is in debt and owes many payments of electrical bills. The Presidency of the Republic owes $5,801, 045 Mexican pesos and the amount of debt of federal dependencies reaches more than $398 million Mexican pesos.

The dismantling of CLyFC is due to the interests of transnational corporations of which are tied to former officials from the government, including the ex-Secretaries of Energy-Fernando Canales Clariond and Ernesto Martens-who are partners in WL Communications (WL Comunicaciones), a private company from Spain, who anxiously await the privatization of electricity; a lucrative business with approximately $6 billion Mexican pesos of earnings a year.

Mass media outlets have tried to condone the Mexican Union of Electricians. It is for this reason that they have announced a call-out of support in their struggle. On November 11 2009, they have announced a National Strike demanding the withdrawal of PFP forces in CLyFC facilities, while at the same time continuing to push their demands within the legal system and through mass mobilizations in Mexico City and other Mexican states.

For this reason, Oaxaca is announcing a blockade on the streets of Crespo and Independencia in support of the dignified fight of the electrician workers in defense of their rights that pertain to all Mexicans. 4pm.

Recovery and respect to the rights taken away from the working-class.

Today and three years ago, PFP out of Oaxaca

Respect for life and natural resources

For more information: CASOTA www.casota.wordpress.com

Letter from Felipe Álvarez-Political Prisoner from Atenco

Diana — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:48:05 +0000

Felipe Alvarez, member of the Peoples’ Front in Defense of the Land shares with us words of resistance to keep fighting

By:

Felipe Álvarez to La Jornada

Atenco political prisoner in solidarity with the people’s struggles

Letter from Felipe Álvarez to La Jornada

Monday, November 9, 2009

Eight years after we began our resistance struggle against the invading, oppressive, killer system, I urge people to keep up the struggle. There’s no torture that can change the course of our ideals. They can chain my body but never my consciousness. And they can’t chain the dignity and spirit of our peoples who are struggling for what belongs to them either.

The government is still determined to dispossess us of what is ours and put all this at the service of empire, grabbing our lands, our water, oil, light and the little bit of wealth we have left.

On September 15, they hypocritically shout: “Long live Independence! Long live the heroes who gave us our homeland!” What independence are they, the very ones who’ve turned over the country to be looted and exploited, talking about? How dare they use the word “heroes” when it’s clear they’re offending their memory?

In the situation we’re now facing, we must have a higher level of consciousness and resistance. Forgetting what’s been won is like forgetting about Hidalgo, Morelos, the Magón brothers; it’s like turning our backs on Villa. Bowing down to repression or being afraid of captivity is like forgetting the great spirit of struggle left to us by Zapata.

Only those of us who struggle for land, natural resources, and freedom can win independence, sovereignty, and the homeland that the very people now looting the country talk so much about.

Brothers and sisters, you exist in my heart! Not one step backward! Zapata lives, the Front continues!

Felipe Álvarez Hernández, known as “Finini”, Atenco political prisoner sentenced to 67 ½ years in prison. Member of the Peoples’ Front in Defense of the Land.

http://atencofpdt.blogspot.com/

"[C.A.S.A.] November - Newsletter - Día de Muertos"

Diana — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:42:03 +0000

Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead is celebrated all throughout Mexico and some parts of Latin America on November 2nd. This celebration reminds us that death is a transition in life and not an end, thereby challenging Western dual concepts about life. Families prepare for the festivity by building alters (or ofrendas) in memory of their loved ones and visiting their graves. In Oaxaca, Dia de los Muertos is an important celebration where many family members remain hopeful and keep the spirits of their loved ones alive and close to them. Check out our newsletter to hear an interview on how the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes, one of 26 people that died during the 2006 movement, is celebrating Dia de los Muertos this year. Make sure to also read an article-ofrenda about the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and the family of Fong Lee -two families that lost loved ones in the face of paramilitary oppression in Oaxaca and police brutality in Minneapolis. Also, check out an independent media film festival in honor of Brad Will, and a Universal Call-out to protest the Acteal massacre of 1997 in Chiapas.

By:

CASA Chapulin

Happy dia de los muertos from CASA Chapulin!

In Oaxaca, Dia de los Muertos is an important celebration where many family members remain hopeful and keep the spirits of their loved ones alive and close to them. Check out our newsletter to hear an interview on how the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes, one of 26 people that died during the 2006 movement, is celebrating Dia de los Muertos this year. Make sure to also read an article-ofrenda about the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and the family of Fong Lee -two families that lost loved ones in the face of paramilitary oppression in Oaxaca and police brutality in Minneapolis. Also, check out an independent media film festival in honor of Brad Will, and a Universal Call-out to protest the Acteal massacre of 1997 in Chiapas.

Contents:

Listen to an interview of Trinidad Sampablo (sister) and Paul Perez Cervantes (nephew) as they tell us the story about Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes, his reason for giving his life to the 2006 APPO movement, and how the family is remaining hopeful during Dia de los Muertos and seeking justice in his name.

An article-ofrenda in honor of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and Fong Lee, two individuals whose fates crossed with paramilitary repression during the popular movement of 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico and police brutality and racism in the Hmong community in Minneapolis. While their lives ended tragically, their stories continue as their family and community members are fighting back, building unity, and defining "justice" and "dignity" on their own terms and based on their own experiences.

Between October 27th and November 30th CASA Chapulin and other organizations will be collaborating with the Independent Media Film Festival in memory of Brad Will, an Indymedia reporter that died while documenting the 2006 popular movement.

A Universal Protest on the Day of the Dead to urge for the reopening of the investigation of the Acteal Massacre in Chiapas in 1997, where members of "las abejas" were killed by paramilitary troops.

After an investigation that lasted a year and a half, the Supreme Court found Ulises Ruiz Otriz responsible for the violation of individual rights during the social movement in 2006. The Supreme Court Justice decided that URO did not fulfill his obligation to maintain public order and that his omission led to general disorder in the capital city and adjacent areas, essentially blaming Ruiz for not cracking down soon enough.

A statement from the October 2 prisoners in Oaxaca who were wrongfully detained by police officers for taking part of a march in commemoration of the Tlatelolco student movement in 1968.

On September 9, 2009 the State Congress of Oaxaca approved a reform in the State Constitution Article 12 to outlaw abortion, effectively violating the rights of women, their reproductive autonomy, and life in general. Click here to listen to interviews with various women and allies in Oaxaca about the anti pro-choice reform.

On Thursday the October 15th we began a series of workshops on urban agriculture in CASA Chapulín facilitated by a compañero from the Siembra, Lucha, and Cosecha Collective.

Call-out to donate $$$

As always, we encourage members and allies to support our transnational justice work by donating to CASA Chapulin We operate on a tight shoestring budget and depend on grassroots fundraising efforts made by you. Donations will go towards maintaining a collective space open and ensuring that 2 coordinators keep building a grassroots base in Oaxaca. Make a tax-deductible contribution by visiting our website: www.casacollective.org or, donate by check. Make checks out to 'The Faithful Fools' with 'CASA' in the memo line, and mail to: CASA c/o Faithful Fools 230/234 Hyde St. San Francisco, CA 94102

If you would also like to receive this newsletter in Spanish or if you are interested in applying for a volunteer position, please write to the same email address: colectivocasachapulin@gmail.com

Saludos de Solidaridad

Colectivos de Apoyo, Solidaridad y Accion

Oaxaca, Mexico

La lucha globaliza cada día: Justice and Dignity For Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and Fong Lee

Diana — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:05:33 +0000

Paramilitary repression and police brutality continue unabated on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border after three years of the assassinations of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes in Oaxaca, Mexico and Fong Lee in Minneapolis, MN

By:

Steven Renderos & Sylvia Gonzalez Castro

Two different people – different stories, different places, – separated by nearly 2,000 miles, were connected three years ago when their lives were cut short by gunfire. Fong Lee and Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes suffered a death inflicted by the gunshots of police and paramilitary officials. For Cervantes, it was one gunshot wound to the chest; for Lee, three gunshot wounds in his back, and five more to the front. Cervantes died seeking justice during the popular movement in 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico, while Fong Lee died as a result of deeply rooted racism and police brutality in communities of color across the United States.

The stories of Lorenzo and Fong tell the tales of paramilitary repression during the popular movement of 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico and police brutality and racism in the Hmong community in Minneapolis- and how they play out in different sociopolitical contexts. While their lives ended tragically, their stories continue as their family and community members are fighting back, building unity, and defining “justice” and “dignity” on their own terms and based on their own experiences.

Background on Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes

In the summer of 2006, a broad-based movement exploded in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. What first began as a teacher’s sit-in at the main plaza of Oaxaca by the Seccion 22 (teacher’s union) soon culminated into a popular movement where thousands of community members raised their voices against abuses from the state government, years of fraudulent elections, and more than 500 years of injustices. On June 14^th, 2006, bombs of tear gas were thrown from paramilitary helicopters to peacefully protesting teachers and community members under the orders of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. For more than five months, el pueblo reclaimed spaces in the city, built barricades at busy street intersections, and exercised self-determination by taking back over 12 radio stations and one television station.

On August 21^st, 2006, an announcement was made on the commercial radio station, “La Ley”, one of 12 radio stations that el pueblo Oaxaqueño took back during the 2006 popular movement. The announcement urged people to hit the streets and defend the radio station and antennas, an important apparatus that was used as an organizing tool to disseminate information and mobilize gente to action. Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes, husband and father of four, responded like thousands of other people did: they took to the streets to reclaim what transnational corporations had robbed from them-the media. The PRI political party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional or Institutional Revolutionary Party) and paramilitary troops driving in unidentified vehicles, better known as the “Convoy of Death”, were sent under the orders of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz with clear intentions to violently repress el pueblo from occupying the radio stations and antennas. In the early eve of August 22, 2006, paramilitary troops opened fire on el pueblo that selflessly stood up to defend the radio stations and antennas. Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes was shot and murdered under the orders of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz of Oaxaca that day.

Background on Fong Lee

On the evening of July 22, 2006 a group of young teenagers were cruising near a park on their bikes. One of the teenagers riding his bike was 19 yr old Fong Lee. Before I continue, that description, regardless of location is probably reminiscent of the harmless activity of a lot of teenagers across the world that evening. But this is North Minneapolis and the teenagers are Hmong and through the lens of the Minneapolis Police Department this scene is suspicious.

The police officers gave chase to the teenagers assuming that the youth might be dealing drugs therefore excessive force is justified. Fong Lee is chased down into a school yard, here is where the account of events diverge, the official police documented story is that Fong Lee was carrying a gun. One of the officers giving chase, Jason Anderson, “feeling” his life and the life of his partner was in danger because a young teenager running away from him was holding a gun, shot Fong Lee a total of eight times.

Video footage suggests Fong Lee was unarmed.

Here are the details of July 22^nd which still remain unclear. For starters, no drugs were ever found on Fong Lee. The gun which Fong Lee allegedly had, never turned up Lee's fingerprints and there's further speculation that the gun found at the scene was supposed to be in the custody of Minneapolis P.D.

Regardless of what story you choose to believe, the life of Fong Lee was lost that evening at the hands of a police officer with the Minneapolis P.D.

Seeking Justice for Lorenzo Sampablo

La lucha sigue three years after the assassination of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and 26 other people that gave their lives up during the 2006 movement in hopes for social transformation. Amidst money bribes from the PRI government to silence the death and memory of Lorenzo Sampablo, the family members openly rejected the money and have instead launched a campaign to seek justice for Lorenzo Sampablo and the 25 other peoples who died during the movement. Along with legally filing a lawsuit, the family is reaching out to other community members in resistance. The family has participated in numerous caravans within Oaxaca and across Mexico to thread together local resistances and collectively envision strategies and analyses across sociogeographic boundaries. As Trinidad Sampablo, sister of Lorenzo, reminds us, “We are not just fighting for Lorenzo. We are fighting for all who have fallen. I would like for us to be united to seek justice…that we not forget the names of our family members that gave their life to a noble cause, a better world”.

Seeking Justice for Fong Lee

In the aftermath of the slaying of Fong Lee, the Hmong community responded by hitting the streets and protesting this egregious act. They mobilized the Hmong community as well as other communities who are very familiar with abuses from the police department.

The Lee family responded by hitting the court system. The court case revealed how badly the police department handled and investigated the case as well as a certain bias as to what evidence was acceptable and what wasn't. While Lee's alleged history and participation in gangs was allowed in the court case, Lee's killer, Officer Anderson's history of police misconduct and discriminatory actions were not.

The jury in the case was made up of all white individuals. The mainstream media's coverage of the case didn't seek to answer some of the many questions and gaping holes swirling the case. Ultimately factors like discrimination, excessive force, police brutality were not considered legitimate points of prosecution. In a system supposedly set up to achieve justice, it seems more barriers were in place to avoid accountability.

Ultimately, Officer Anderson received a Medal of Valor for his brutal act and was acquitted of all charges. So what happened to the brave police officer? He was dismissed from the police department shortly after the case wrapped up for officer misconduct.

Looking back in order to move forward

As we consider the big, inter-connected picture between Lorenzo and Fong, we are reminded that repression is global in scope and rooted in local contexts, shaped by different histories of colonialism and white supremacy. And while there is repression, there is an overwhelming feeling of resistance and hope in Oaxaca, Minneapolis, and elsewhere, where people are putting an end to the impunity of paramilitary repression and police brutality. They are reclaiming their destiny, grassroots organizing for change, and building another more dignified world.

For this year’s el día de los muertos we write this article-ofrenda and honor the lives of all those who died at the hands of injustices, including Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and Fong Lee, two people whose spirits remain vibrantly alive in the struggle to seek justice.

Justice for Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes Campaign: http://lorenzosampablo.saltoscuanticos.org/

About the authors

Sylvia González is a xicana from Wisconsin and daughter of Mexican immigrants from Jalisco and Oaxaca. She is currently in Oaxaca reclaiming her indigenous roots/resistencia and collaborating with CASA Chapulin, a transnational solidarity organization committed to building un base desde abajo y sin fronteras.

Steven Renderos is from Los Angeles, California a son of Salvadoran immigrants. He is currently the Media Justice Organizer at Main Street Project, a grassroots cultural organizing, media justice and economic development initiative based in Minneapolis, MN.

Urban Agriculture Workshops at CASA Chapulin

Diana — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:30:44 +0000

On Thursday the October 15th we began a series of workshops on urban agriculture in CASA Chapulín facilitated by a compañero from the Siembra, Lucha, and Cosecha Collective.

By:

CASA Chapulin

On Thursday the October 15th we began a series of workshops on urban agriculture in CASA Chapulín facilitated by a compañero from the Siembra, Lucha, and Cosecha Collective. Below is a picture of participants testing the soil and compost to use for planting.

One objective of the workshops is to demonstrate in the CASA house some of the techniques to produce food in the city. The techniques can be created in small spaces, recycling our organic trash into compost and our non-organic trash into containers for plants. Another objective of the workshops is to meet and include more homes with similar ideas and invite neighbors in the city to join a network of food exchange, creating more food security and autonomy.

Summary of the first Workshops

“… in Latin America campesina agriculture has resisted the attacks from capital which for all the weapons and trade agreements it has imposed has not been able to defeat it. Many are developing proposals that seek food sovereignty as a part of a much broader struggle. Today social movements are focusing on agro-ecology which is not only a technical proposal. It is also a political one that can transcend and change. The MST (Landless Workers Movement) in Brazil has taught us that recovering land and using it to produce in a healthy way is a fundamental in improving the lives of families. In addition in the process important spaces for political participation can be created. The Zapatistas are also an example to follow. In each municipality there is a Agro-ecology commission that works to conserve native seeds, improve production for self-consumption, and to sell what they can into order to maintain the movement.

It is out of that context that urban agriculture proposals which focus on making the high percentage of the population which live in urban areas less dependent on production from agro-businesses. But focusing only urban agriculture is not sufficient. It needs to be thought of as part of a series of strategies for regional production in rural and urban areas and local trade which me must begin to organize and create…”

Objectives

The purpose of the workshop is the construction of an urban garden which can be a space for demonstration and in the process the newer participants can learn some of the basics as some of the participants with more experience share what they have learned.

To create a space in which we can reflect on the importance of producing our own food in the context of the economic crisis and social mobilization and join in the networks of production and interchange for food sovereignty and autonomy which already exist in Oaxaca.

Methodology

We propose five, two hour sessions. The first hour will be spent sharing practical techniques in the garden and the second hour will be for discussion and analysis springing from the practice and selected articles.

Program

Thursday October 15^th

Composting and Worm Composting

Thursday October 22^nd

Creating planting pots.

Seeds to plant directly into the soil.

Seeds to plant in pots.

Thursday October 29th

Creating a garden bed.

Planting directing and transplanting

Dates to plant:

Moon phases

Season and specific plants

Weather and Freezes

Distance to plant.

Thursday November 19th

Managing pests

Thursday November 26th

Diversity in the garden

The importance of diversity in the garden

The importance of flowers in the garden

General comments on plants:

Noting basic facts

Creating a planting calendar.

Discussion Topics:

Introduction: Importance of producing our own food.

Free trade agreements and Campesina agriculture

Genetically Modified Food

Pesticides: danger to the health of farmers and consumers Bio-fuels and green deserts

*Note: During the course we will define new topics for discussion according to the interests of the participants.

Honoring the life of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes during Day of the Dead

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:47:35 +0000

By:

Sylvia Gonzalez and Mano Vuelta Cooperative

La lucha sigue three years after the assassination of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes-husband and father of four-who was assassinated on August 22, 2006 by paramilitary troops under the orders of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. A total of 26 deaths were documented during the 2006 uprisingwhen thousands of Oaxacans came together to raise their voices against the abuses of the state government and more than 500 years of injustices.

In this interview, Trinidad Sampablo (sister) and Paul Sampablo (nephew) recollect Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and his decision to stand up for his values of justice and dignity when he, like thousands of others, took to the streets to reclaim the media and their destiny. They also share with us how they will celebrate el dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead) in an attempt to keep Lorenzo and the spirit of resistance alive in Oaxaca.

For more information: www.lorenzosampablo.saltoscuanticos.org

First Independent Media Film Festival in Memory of Brad Will

Diana — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:33:52 +0000

Beginning of the 27th of October and continuing through the month of November, CASA Chapulín will be participating in the First Independent Media Film Festival in honor of the life of Brad Will.

By:

libertasanticorp

It has been three years since the deaths of Pánfilo Hernández, Alejandro García Hernández, Brad Will, Esteban Zúrita, and Alfonso Fabián, all of whom were murdered in October of 2006 during the popular rebellion. Events marking the anniversary of their deaths and the continuation of popular struggle have taken place throughout the month. A march in memory of Alejandro García was held 14th of October. Then on the 18th of October, another march, this time in honor of the teacher Pánfilo Hernández, was held by Section 22 of the Teachers Union. Beginning of the 27th of October and continuing through the month of November, CASA Chapulín will be participating in the First Independent Media Film Festival in honor of the life of Brad Will. The festival is happening simultaneously in Oaxaca , Mexico City, New York , and other cities across the world. Here in Oaxaca , CASA Chapulín will be showing three films: La Ley de Semillas on the 5th of November, Cosecha Amarga on the 12th of November, and Las Mujeres Zapatistas on the 25th of November. Each film will begin at 6pm on the scheduled date. Here you can read more about the festival.

http://libertasanticorp.blogspot.com/