tagged w/ Civil Disobedience
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As one of his very first acts as president, Barack Obama signed an executive order to close the military prison for terror suspects within a year. The one-year mark came and went last week, but the prison remains open. Obama has not offered a new deadline. In Washington, DC, 42 activists with Witness Against Torture were arrested while protesting the missed deadline.As one of his very first acts as president, Barack Obama signed an executive order to... more
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Sam Pullen arrested for at a healthcare sit-in, was released Monday after being jailed for 5 days. He tells Amy Goodman his story on Democracy Now. He was released against his will. He was released unconditionally without bail, charges dropped, signifying a victory for his organization Mobilize for Healthcare at http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org.
Sam, as many of us including most doctors and healthcare professionals, continues to fight for universal healthcare for all. The public option which some see as an insurance industry bailout, is not good enough.Sam Pullen arrested for at a healthcare sit-in, was released Monday after being jailed... more
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Drs. Flowers and Paris refused to be marginalized in getting their message to the President at the recent Republican Issues Conference in Baltimore. Watch an official of the conference tell police that 'he doesn't want anyone arrested but they have to get off the property,' which in effect means they must be arrested if they don't move, and so they were.
They remained steadfast in repeatedly stating to the police and the conference and hotel officials that to move away from where they were would be to be marginalized. They insisted that they should be in position to be seen by the President when he arrives, or at least to speak directly with a White House representative to take their letter of concern to the President in person. Their emails and snail mail attempts had gone ignored by the President and so they resorted to this exposure.
They said the President had asked for all people to let him know if there was a better way to take care of healthcare reform. Drs. Flowers and Paris, representing over 100,000 doctors and 65% of the American people (as they cited) agreed that a single payer system (Medicare for all) is the one best solution.
Congress and the President have refused to even consider single payer. They have refuse to send it out for budget scoring. Amendments were written by Congressmen Conyers, Kucinich, and Weiner which were not voted on by the House. Senator Bernie Sanders was pressured with republican threats of filibuster to stop his reading of a single payer amendment in the Senate bill. Pelosi has stated that single payer is "not on the table."
The corporate healthcare insurance industry and Republicans continue their tooth and nail fight against even the slightest consideration (and apparently even Presidential or Congressional acknowledgment) that single payer (or Medicare for all) is even viable. Yet the majority of Americans and especially of healthcare professionals want it.
http://outinthestreetfilms.comDrs. Flowers and Paris refused to be marginalized in getting their message to the... more
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Protesters keep Obama aware of their presence even on his Christmas vacation.
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Protesters read a statement about a woman who's life saving treatment was denied by Anthem Blue Cross. Police arrested them on orders from Anthem Blue Cross who released a statement that insurance rates are high due to medical costs. Meanwhile insurance companies rake in a 30% profit margin on insurance, reaping record profits in the past year despite the downturn in the economy for everyone else, while other countries and other plans like Medicare have overhead rates of 3% to 4%.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=188760&catid=3&GID=LqwA%20ve%20%20cBRF%20dhug8r8u77qP1m06S/jvls50agN3A=Protesters read a statement about a woman who's life saving treatment was denied... more
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Workers laid off from their jobs at a Chicago factory have occupied the building and are demanding assurances they'll get severance and vacation pay that they say they are owed.
About 200 employees of Republic Windows and Doors began staging the sit-in in shifts Friday, the last scheduled day of the plant's operation.
Leah Fried, an organizer with the United Electrical Workers, said the Chicago-based vinyl window manufacturer failed to give 60 days' notice required by law before shutting down. Workers were angered when company officials didn't show up for a meeting Friday that had been arranged by Chicago Democrat U.S. Rep Luis Gutierrez, she said.
During the peaceful takeover, workers have been shoveling snow and cleaning the building, Fried said.
"It's a rarely used tactic," Fried said. "But we're in very drastic time and the workers have taken measures necessary to win what they're owed."Workers laid off from their jobs at a Chicago factory have occupied the building and... more
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Several people were killed and more than 300 were arrested in anti-government protests in Tehran Sunday, Iran's Deputy Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan said on state television station IRINN.
The toll was the result of clashes that broke out between demonstrators and security forces as large crowds gathered for Ashura, a major religious observance.
Five people were reported killed in the fighting, Iranian state-run Press TV said late Sunday. A French government statement put the number of fatalities at eight. With tight restrictions on international media, CNN could not independently verify the casualties.Several people were killed and more than 300 were arrested in anti-government protests... more
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“Regardless of what one thinks about the events of last night, the minor vandalism that occurred cannot be viewed outside the context of the physical violence inflicted by police on student activists and the broader assault on public education,” said Callie Maidhof, a student organizer with Live Week.
“When everyone is running, you don’t think that clearly. My friends and I were trying to leave because things were getting out of hand,” said Jobert Poblete, a Cal alumni who participated in the march.
“They were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said a student who observed the chaos when police arrived at the chancellor’s house and declined to give their name. “Not all of the protesters were students at Cal – but the issue here is larger than tuition hikes anyway. It’s about the state of public education and neoliberalism in the US and abroad.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/13/BASN1B3D59.DTL
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger condemned the attack Saturday as a form of terrorism.
"California will not tolerate any type of terrorism against any leaders, including educators," Schwarzenegger said. "The attack on Chancellor Birgeneau's home is a criminal act and those who participated will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law."
http://liveweek.net/?p=69“Regardless of what one thinks about the events of last night, the minor... more
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The conviction of the SHAC 7–animal rights activists hit with “terrorism” charges for publishing a website and vocally, unapologetically supporting direct action–has been upheld by a U.S. appellate court. It is a landmark free speech ruling that lowers the threshold of what types of conduct are protected by the First Amendment, and upholds a law that is so broad that it targets civil disobedience as “terrorism.”
As a brief introduction: The “SHAC 7” of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty ran an effective campaign that had the sole purpose of putting Huntingdon Life Sciences, a notorious animal testing company, out of business. The campaign pressured corporations to sever ties with the lab. The SHAC 7 were never accused of breaking windows or releasing animals from labs, but they supported those who did. They published a website which posted news of both legal and illegal tactics, and supported all of it. The website had also posted names and addresses of individuals connected to the corporations targeted.
The ruling was issued today and, although there are many aspects that deserve attention, I want to walk through what I think are by far the most dangerous and troubling implications of this ruling–those related to the First Amendment:
[PDF of the SHAC appeal ruling]
Supporting and facilitating non-violent civil disobedience is not protected speech.
As part of their campaign, SHAC supporters were emailed about “electronic civil disobedience.” The email and message board posts included instructions on how electronically “sit in” on corporate web sites through emails, faxes and phone calls.
Now, one of the benchmarks in First Amendment law is what is called the Brandenburg standard. It holds that even the most controversial and inflammatory speech is protected as long as it not likely to incite “imminent and lawless action.” That is a very high threshold. In this court ruling—which, to the best of my knowledge and the attorneys I have spoken with is the first of its kind—the written word can be construed as promoting, or resulting in, imminent and lawless action.
To put it more plainly: Vocally supporting civil disobedience, explaining what it involves, and encouraging/facilitating people to take part is not protected speech.
This is so important let me say it again, another way: People who write about civil disobedience and encourage people to take part can be found convicted of a crime even if they do not take part in the civil disobedience.
This has dangerous implications far beyond this case. For instance, I wrote about the recent call by mainstream environmental groups for massive non-violent civil disobedience in defense of the environment. Under this reasoning, organizers of that event who published a website aren’t protected by the First Amendment.
[UPDATE: One person had this question, so others might as well: I am not at all saying that simply endorsing civil disobedience is now not protected speech. However, doing so and also facilitating civil disobedience is what the court ruled is not protected. So in the example above, the organizers promoted civil disobedience, encouraged it, set up a website telling people where to go and when, and there were people involved to specifically support those arrested. I think there is a very real danger of that type of conduct being affected by the reasoning presented in this ruling. That is what I had meant by the headline and preceding points.]
Fiery rhetoric is a “true threat” when illegal conduct has taken place in the same campaign.
Another measurement of whether speech is protected by the First Amendment is whether it is a true threat. Throughout the appellate court ruling, the court argued that SHAC’s speech did, in fact, constitute a true threat.... full article at link........The conviction of the SHAC 7–animal rights activists hit with... more
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Students gone wild.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl8XYMoD5tk&feature=sub
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Nine were arrested at a sit-in at Sen. Schumer’s office in mid-town Manhattan Thursday morning.
“We need to spread out the risk pool and take out the profit motive of private health insurance. That’s the only way to cover everyone and control costs,” says Laurie Wen, an organizer at Healthcare-NOW!, which organized the action.
Those arrested include patients who have experienced abuse from private health insurance companies as well as a doctor, a nurse, and a medical student.
Bev Rice, a retired nurse who was arrested, says “Throughout my career I’ve seen so many people suffer and die prematurely because insurance companies denied the care they needed. I have Medicare and it works. Making Medicare available to people from age 55 on is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. It should be open to everyone.”
“I want a publicly funded healthcare system because my life should not be in the hands of insurance CEOs who profit from denying me care,” says Kate Barnhart, whose doctor ordered a brain scan for a tumor in early September, but the procedure’s approval has been repeatedly delayed by her insurance company. Barnhart was one of 17 people arrested at a September sit-in protesting against an insurance company’s frequent and sometimes deadly practice of denying care. “I had been paying $900 a month for my premium,” she says. “Last week, my insurance company terminated my policy. Does my senator think this is OK?”
Congress seems to lead us down the garden path, pull the rug out, and then give us crumbs of reform as a consolation. It doesn't wash.
http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/2009/12/10/nine-arrested-at-sit-in-targeting-sen-schumer-demanding-medicare-for-all/Nine were arrested at a sit-in at Sen. Schumer’s office in mid-town Manhattan... more
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try and get some...then smoke the weed in public...Civil disobedience @ its finest
http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?A=1510&Q=266796
The weed is easier to get than the stamp...
They hands already in the cookie jar.
Over 20 states have marijuana tax stamp laws..try to get one in your state...
video tape it... i want to see it... mine is coming sometry and get some...then smoke the weed in public...Civil disobedience @ its finest... more
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Civil rights attorney Percy Sutton, who represented Malcolm X and became an influential New York politician and broadcaster, has died at age 89, associates said Sunday.
As a businessman, Sutton was credited with leading the revitalization of Harlem, including the restoration of the famous Apollo Theater. In a statement issued after Sutton's death Saturday night, New York Gov. David Paterson called the former Manhattan borough president "a friend and mentor."
"Percy was fiercely loyal, compassionate and a truly kind soul," Paterson said. "He will be missed, but his legacy lives on through the next generations of African-Americans he inspired to pursue and fulfill their own dreams and ambitions."
And in a statement issued by the White House, President Obama called Sutton a "true hero to African-Americans in New York City and around the country."
"His life-long dedication to the fight for civil rights and his career as an entrepreneur and public servant made the rise of countless young African-Americans possible," Obama said.
A native of Texas, Sutton served as an intelligence officer for the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II before becoming an attorney.Civil rights attorney Percy Sutton, who represented Malcolm X and became an... more
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Can't be too surprised about this.
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Will they be seen as 'terrorists' too? I stand with them and their message 100%. Especially since they did not hurt the mountain and stated they took proper precautions. Their message is true. True Leaders Lead. It's time we saw that on climate change.
Satyagraha.
Excerpt:
Greenpeace activists were arrested Wednesday for scaling Mount Rushmore and hanging a banner next to the carved face of Abraham Lincoln urging President Barack Obama to get tough on climate change.
A video posted on the environmental group's website showed the massive banner hanging on the South Dakota mountain face.
Its message -- "America honors leaders not politicians: Stop Global Warming" and an unfinished portrait of Obama -- was barely visible as it was whipped by wind.
"Doing what it takes to solve global warming demands real political courage," Greenpeace USA deputy campaigns director Carroll Muffett said in a statement.
"If President Obama intends to earn a place among this country's true leaders, he needs to show that courage, and base his actions on the scientific reality rather than political convenience."
The protest comes as Obama meets with other G8 leaders in Italy.
G8 leaders agreed to bear the brunt of steep global cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, saying developed countries should reduce their pollution by 80 percent by 2050, a summit declaration said.
Greenpeace said the 11 climbers "took special care not to damage the monument, using existing anchors placed by the National Park Service for periodic cleaning."Will they be seen as 'terrorists' too? I stand with them and their message... more
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Marshall Ganz, a long time organizer and lecturer at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, on why progressives are losing the healthcare battle.Marshall Ganz, a long time organizer and lecturer at Harvard University’s... more
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GRITtv
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added this
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5 months ago
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Author and activist Kathy Kelly on her work as a pacifist and her experience in Gaza and Iraq. You can see the full interview at www.GRITtv.org.Author and activist Kathy Kelly on her work as a pacifist and her experience in Gaza... more
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GRITtv
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added this
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1 year ago
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Students barricaded themselves inside the English Department at Wheeler Hall. The UC regents, on Thursday in Los Angeles, voted 20-1 to raise undergraduate tuition from $7,788 to $10,302 next fall, a 32% tuition hike with a midyear increase of 15 percent starting in January.
Raw Video: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/BA611ANSAB.DTL&o=11
Story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/BA611ANSAB.DTL&tsp=1Students barricaded themselves inside the English Department at Wheeler Hall. The UC... more
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“If we are to meet growing energy demand and slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power must be a larger part of our energy mix; it is a mature technology with significant potential to supply large amounts of safe, reliable, emissions-free base load power. In order to ensure that such an expansion can occur, the United States must have a permanent repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman.
U.S. Department of Energy Announces the Availability of Disposal Contracts for New Nuclear Reactors:
http://www.energy.gov/news/6704.htm
URS’ Washington Division Opens Nuclear Energy Headquarters in South Carolina:
http://www.urscorp.com/Press_Releases/pressRelsTradeDet.php?recordID=459&listYear=2008
URS is organized into three divisions: the URS Division, the EG&G Division, which includes the operations of Lear Siegler Services*, and the Washington Division.
*Among LSI's assets are its well regarded and wide-ranging Department of Defense Contract Field Team (CFT) programs as well as other major domestic and international contracts.
EG&G Technical Services, Inc. and Lear Siegler Services, Inc. consolidated to become one of the nation's leading U.S. federal government contractors providing operations and maintenance, systems engineering and technical assistance, and program management, primarily to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
URS Awarded Department of Defense Contract to Support Contract Field Team Program:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_n27986597
More on URS:
http://www.urscorp.com/index.php
“If we are to meet growing energy demand and slow the growth of greenhouse gas... more
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The third installment of (recently retitled) ACTING UP, a mini series of the last 11 days of organizing the largest protest to solve the climate crisis in history.
www.capitolclimateaction.org
We start at the Capitol building and check out the dirty coal-fired power plant that fuels it, skip a day full of meetings, conference calls, and outreach, and move on to a quick chat before delivering a sermon at a Shabbat Service, and end up at a late night hip hop show to unwind.
check out www.myspace.com/pos to hear the artist's musicThe third installment of (recently retitled) ACTING UP, a mini series of the last 11... more
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