As Occupy Wall Street demonstrations enter their second week, over 80 people have been arrested, and police brutality has escalated. Many protesters say the mainstream media is in a blackout, since many corporate networks sleep in the same bed with Wall Street.
Category Archives: Activism
More dramatic photos from Occupy Wall Street NY | Occupy Wall Streets spreads to San Francisco 3
As the Occupy Wall Street demonstration enters its 12thday in New York City – and as progressive activists protest in cities across the country – Bay Area residents are preparing for a mass mobilization on the streets of San Francisco tomorrow afternoon (Thurs/29), targeting financial institutions and other entities that they blame for the economic plight of the average American.
Occupy Wall Street organizing all over the US… and WORLD! 22
UPDATE: Friday, October 7th, 2011
Many of the links on the OccupyTogether.org are bad – plus they keep changing the site around so it is becoming rather difficult to maneuver. Therefore, I have gone through each state on Facebook and located some of the key Facebook pages. I am sure there are more, but these are good starting places. See list below. If you would like your community added, please leave a comment with link.
More…
Sept 25, 2011 | Occupy Wall Street still going strong. Dramatic photos and videos Reply
About 80 people were arrested Saturday as demonstrators who were camped out near the New York Stock Exchange marched through lower Manhattan, police said.
The “Occupy Wall Street” protest is entering its second week. Demonstrators said Saturday they were protesting against bank bailouts and the mortgage crisis; some also held signs decrying Georgia’s execution of Troy Davis, who was put to death Wednesday for the 1989 slaying of an off-duty Savannah police officer.
Infographic: The “risk” of “terrorism” Reply
Rather puts a better perspective on the real risk of terrorism.
Looks like we have more to fear from our own law than “terrorists.” More…
Troy Davis. Executed. News coverage. Reply
JACKSON, Ga. — Georgia executed Troy Davis on Wednesday night for the murder of an off-duty police officer, a crime he denied committing right to the end as supporters around the world mourned and declared that an innocent man was put to death.
Defiant to the end, he told relatives of Mark MacPhail that his 1989 slaying was not his fault. “I did not have a gun,” he insisted.
“For those about to take my life,” he told prison officials, “may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.”
With Repeal Of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ An Era Ends Reply
Photo, left, courtesy of fernexpress.
The law that for almost 18 years has banned openly gay Americans from serving in the armed forces will be officially repealed Tuesday, nine months after Congress voted to end the Clinton-era edict.
President Obama signed the repeal into law last December, but its provisions required time for the Pentagon to prepare for the policy change, and for top military officials to “certify” the law’s end.
Occupy Wall Street – 5 Minutes of Slow Motion Video – September 17 Reply
Incredibly well-made and edited video of various clips shot throughout the day. Here is verbatim from the youtube site:
I was curious to see how this event would play out, so I shot from 8pm to 10pm on September 17 at the General Assembly in Zuccotti Park. I was touched by the sense of community, and impressed by the level of cooperation and discipline among the occupiers.
The Tea Party Defends Wall St. As US Day Of Rage Protests Corruption Reply
Mad Tea Party Tweeters are taking over the #USDOR twitter stream in yet another demonstration in their belief that might makes right. Yes, it’s September 17, the Day of Rage where average citizens are protesting the government’s enabling of the corruption of Wall Street.
Ironically, certain angry patriots who just months ago were claiming that it was American to bring a weapon to their representative’s office in order to send the message “Don’t tread on me!” to the government are now are clogging up the Twitter #USDOR Twitter stream mocking the “liberal hipsters” occupying Wall Street. Here’s a glimpse of comments from one page of the stream (names have been taken out to protect the ignorant, but suffice it to say the world Patriot is featured heavily):
Occupy Wall Street going on despite denial from major news media. Photos. Video. Updates. 5
Update: Sunday, September 18, 2011:
Below is a video of news coverage out of Egypt on the protests on Wall Street. The coverage is in Arabic, but I am posting because at 5:44 minutes into it, there is footage of the police on a bullhorn ordering the protesters to leave otherwise they will be arrested. Does it not say in our First Amendment:
“Amendment I: Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Actress Daryl Hannah arrested during Keystone XL protest Reply
Actress Daryl Hannah has joined the over 500 people who have been arrested since August 20 for a sit-in protest outside the White House.
London Riots. (The BBC will never replay this. Send it out) Reply
Perfect example of how the media attempts to control the news….
Description provided in video:
“Darcus Howe, a West Indian Writer and Broadcaster with a voice about the riots. Speaking about the mistreatment of youths by police leading to an up-roar and the ignorance of both police and the governement. Intelligent black male. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE! “
The London Riots. Is America on its way to a riot like this? Reply
Over the past several days, people have been rioting in the streets of London, looting, injuring others, and creating complete mayhem. Why? Apparently this was incited by the shooting and death of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old resident of Tottenham. Who is Mark Duggan? In searching various news stories, blog postings, and the like on the internet, who he is depends upon which site you read. Those in defense of his shooting portray him as a thug. Those defending Mark describe him as “a good man. He was a family man.” His fiancee has, according to Guardian.co.uk website, admitted he is “known to the police and said he had spent some time on remand, but denied he was ever imprisoned.” What actually occurred to bring on this shooting? I doubt we will ever know the true, actual facts. The police will tell one story, and the witnesses will state another. Or possibly somewhere in between. This may have been a justifiable shooting, or it may not have been… I do not know. I was not there.
Many articles are portraying him as a “gangsta.” But then, I honestly do not trust a lot of the media. The images of him online do show a gangster persona, but where are other pictures of him? Surely he has not had just three or four pictures taken of him in his life. When possible I prefer to read facts from various viewpoints and usually determine that the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. A significant percentage of mainstream news sites and channels only tell you what they want you to know, not what is actual. Or tell you what they think will bring the views, the hits, the attention, and the money. More…
New Exposé Tracks ALEC-Private Prison Industry Effort to Replace Unionized Workers with Prison Labor 4
Many of the toughest sentencing laws responsible for the explosion of the U.S. prison population were drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, which helps corporations write model legislation. Now a new exposé reveals ALEC has paved the way for states and corporations to replace unionized workers with prison labor. We speak with Mike Elk, contributing labor reporter at The Nation magazine. He says ALEC and private prison companies “put a mass amount of people in jail, and then they created a situation where they could exploit that.” Elk notes that in 2005 more than 14 million pounds of beef infected with rat feces processed by inmates were not recalled, in order to avoid drawing attention to how many products are made by prison labor. More…
New York passes same-sex marriage bill Reply
Striking what advocates believe is a historic victory for gay rights, the New York state senate Friday approved same-sex marriage, bringing New York a promised governor’s signature away from being the sixth and largest state to allow gays and lesbians to marry.
The 33-29 vote is an enormous victory for first-year Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who pledged during last fall’s campaign to push for gay marriage. It comes after an intense public and private lobbying campaign from a wide cast of politicians, celebrities and athletes, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Bill Clinton.
Cuomo, whose two daughters attended the vote in the senate gallery, is expected to sign the bill. The bill will become law 30 days after Cuomo signs it, and when it does, it will double the population of Americans to whom same-sex marriage is legal.
After weeks of suspense, Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican announced himself on the senate floor as the 32nd senator to back the legislation, tipping the balance in favor of it passing. Saland defined his vote as a matter of conscience during a stirring legal defense of an amendment exempting religious organizations from the law.
“I have defined doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality,” Saland said. “And that equality includes the definition of marriage. I fear that to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing.”
Saland, who voted against gay marriage in 2009, was joined in announcing his newfound support for gay marriage on the senate floor by Mark Grisanti, a first-term Buffalo Republican who did not declare how he would vote until his floor speech Friday night. Grisanti, who said he struggled with the vote because he is Catholic, had been against same-sex marriage when he was elected last year, but changed his mind after an intense lobbying campaign, which included a call from Lady Gaga to her fans to contact him.
“I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage,” Grisanti said.
Of the 33 senators to vote for the bill, 29 are Democrats and four are Republicans. Of the 29 who voted against it, all but one are Republicans.
Source: Politico
Photo above from AP
Dog Bless You – Facebook “LIKE” Dog Bless You and Support Our Vets! 2
DOG BLESS USA
From Memorial Day through July 4th, Explore.org will pair up to 100 companion and service dogs, valued at $500,000, with veterans who live with PTSD. For every 5,000 “Likes” on their Facebook page, a vet will receive a service dog.
Currently, the “Like” count is at 206,908.
The Facebook page: Dog Bless You – Join Dog Bless You and Support Our Vets!
Joining is simply clicking on the “Like” button. Nothing more. No forms, no emails, no verifications, etc. Just click “Like”… cannot be any more simple that that.
“The mission of explore.org is to champion the selfless acts of others, to create a portal into the soul of humanity and to inspire life long learning. The most important thing for me is to create a portal into the soul. What is the easiest way to do this? Through dogs – they see our soul like no other. That is why as we build dog bless you, I believe that it’s mission should be to “champion the selfless acts of animals.”
The initiative aims to spread awareness about the healing role dogs can play in the lives of those suffering from PTSD.
Dog Bless You was founded by filmmaker Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a trustee of the Annenberg Foundation and also the founder of Explore.org. Partners in this effort include the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America)and other veteran and service dog organizations.
Adam Kokesh (TV/Radio host) body slammed & arrested at Jefferson Memorial in DC because dancing is illegal Reply
On May 28, 2011 Television host Adam Kokesh and several other activists participating in a flash-mob were arrested at the publicly-funded Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Their crime? Silently dancing, in celebration of the first amendment’s champion; a clear violation of their right to free-expression. In an excessive use of force, video was captured of Adam being body slammed and placed in a choke for his non-crime. Watch the arrest in the following video taken by Adam…
Source from Adam Vs The Man website
Adam Kokesh
Adam Charles Kokesh (born February 1, 1982) is an American activist and talk radio host. Kokesh was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and is a veteran of the Iraq War. He is an outspoken opponent of the U.S. military intervention in Iraq and has received media attention related to anti-war protest activities.
Adam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1999. In 2004, he served in Fallujah. Working a checkpoint was a responsibility while in Iraq. He brought home a pistol from Iraq in 2004, violating military rules, and preventing him from returning on a second Iraq tour. Kokesh “had risen to the rank of sergeant after three-and-a-half years in the Reserves” and “was demoted to corporal and soon thereafter discharged honorably with a re-enlistment code that basically said, ‘you can’t re-enlist.’” Having experienced combat in Fallujah, Kokesh received the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Commendation Medal after his honorable discharge from active duty.
After his discharge, and during a March 19, 2007, protest he attended, Kokesh was in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR); a superior officer identified him in a photo caption in the Washington Post. On “March 29, a Marine major sent him an e-mail to tell him he was being investigated for misconduct by appearing at a political event in uniform. Kokesh responded, telling the major what he thought” and used an expletive in his reply, resulting in an additional misconduct charge. The charges were “brought under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which applies only to service members”, confusing some veterans and lawyers.
In May 2007, a hearing was convened to consider changing Kokesh’s military discharge from “honorable” to “other than honorable” on two points: “Disrespect toward a Superior Commissioned Officer”, and violating “Wearing of the uniform” regulation. The panel recommended Kokesh be given a “general discharge under honorable conditions”,a discharge status below “honorable”, and above “other than honorable.” Kokesh appealed the decision, and was denied.
Protest Activities
After returning from Iraq, Kokesh resumed his studies and completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Claremont McKenna College. In February 2007, Kokesh became an active participant in the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). On March 19, 2007, to mark the 4th anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Kokesh and 12 other Iraq Veterans Against the War members participated in an occupation-like mock patrol of Washington D.C. Kokesh first came to national attention after he was interviewed on CNN and his photograph appeared in newspapers throughout the country, including the front page of the Los Angeles Times at a protest during Alberto Gonzales‘s testimony to Congress regarding the dismissal of U.S. attorneys. Kokesh, wearing his Marine Corps Boonie hat, held up a large sign counting the number of times Gonzalez said “I don’t remember” or “I don’t recall” (Kokesh claimed Gonzalez used such phrases 74 times).
In April 2007 Kokesh and a number of other activists were arrested for protesting the Iraq war in the Senate Hart Office Building. Kokesh had performed a ceremony for lost service members using an American flag.
Kokesh enrolled in graduate studies in political management at George Washington University. In October 2007, Kokesh, along with six other students, created controversy by putting up satirical political posters across the university campus. The posters featured a picture of a stereotypical Arab man and the headline “Hate Muslims? So do we!!!”, with illustrative captions explaining that the typical Muslim is equipped with a venom-spouting mouth, laser-shooting eyes, and hidden AK-47:s, among other parodical features. The poster was signed “Students for Conservativo-Fascism Awareness”, and encouraged students to visit the right-wing website terrorismawareness.org. Kokesh and the six other students publicly admitted to responsibility amidst accusations that the poster was Islamophobic, maintaining that their intent was to spread awareness of what they considered to be the overtly racist intentions of the above-mentioned website’s “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week” organized by a conservative student organization and featuring David Horowitz.
On September 2, 2008, Kokesh spoke at Representative Ron Paul‘s Rally for the Republic in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he stated, “While it is our responsibility now to resist tyranny civily, while we still can, there may come a time when we will say to the powers that be, be it with your blood or ours we have come to water the tree of liberty … who will stand with me?”
On September 4, 2008, Kokesh interrupted Senator John McCain‘s acceptance speech of the GOP nomination for President at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Holding a sign reading “McCain Votes Against Vets” on one side and “You can’t win an occupation” on the other, Kokesh yelled, “Ask him why he votes against vets!” A member of the audience grabbed the sign and tore it in two. Kokesh was released shortly after being detained by local police.
Adam vs The Man
Since July 2010 Kokesh has hosted a talk radio called “Adam vs. The Man.” The program airs weekdays from the studios of 1550 KIVA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In April 2011 his show was picked up by Russia Today television network (“RT”). Accuracy in Media criticized Kokesh’s appearing on RT, which is funded by the Russian government, saying RT uses Americans like Kokesh to make propaganda points.
Information on Adam Kokesh provided via Wikipedia
Gil Scott-Heron “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, died Friday, May 27th, 2011 Reply
About Gil
Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and 80s, and for his collaborative soul works with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron’s recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. His poetic style has been influential upon every generation of hip hop since his popularity began. In addition to being widely considered an influence in today’s music, Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I’m New Here.
Gil Scott-Heron was born in Chicago, IL His mother, Bobbie Scott-Heron, sang with the New York Oratorio Society. Scott-Heron’s Jamaican father, Gil Heron, nicknamed “The Black Arrow”, was a soccer player who, in the 1950s, became the first black athlete to play for Glasgow Celtic Football Club in Scotland.
The music of Scott-Heron’s work during the 1970s influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. He has been described by music writers as “the godfather of rap” and “the black Bob Dylan”.
Influence
Scott-Heron’s influence over hip-hop is primarily exemplified by his definitive single “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” sentiments from which have been explored by various rappers, including Aesop Rock, Talib Kweli and Common. In addition to his vocal style, Scott-Heron’s indirect contributions to rap music extend to his and co-producer Brian Jackson’s compositions, which have been sampled by various hip-hop artists; among the most notable is rapper/producer Kanye West, who has sampled Scott-Heron and Jackson’s “Home is Where the Hatred Is” and “We Almost Lost Detroit” for his song “My Way Home” and the single “The People,” respectively, both of which are collaborative efforts between West and Common. Scott-Heron, in turn, has acknowledged West’s contributions, sampling the latter’s 2007 single “Flashing Lights” on his latest album, 2010′s I’m New Here. Scott-Heron admitted ambivalence about his association with rap, remarking in 2010 in an interview for the Daily Swarm, “I don’t know if I can take the blame for it”, referring to rap music. He preferred the moniker of “bluesologist”. Referring to reviews of his last album and references to him as the “godfather of rap”, he said, “It’s something that’s aimed at the kids.” He added, “I have kids, so I listen to it. But I would not say it’s aimed at me. I listen to the jazz station.”
West named Scott-Heron, among others, as a major influence on his own latest offering, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, where portions of his work “Comment #1″ appear on the album. “We Almost Lost Detroit” has also been sampled by Brand Nubian member Grand Puba (“Keep On”), Native Tongues duo Black Star (“Brown Skin Lady”), and underground notable MF DOOM (“Camphor”). Furthermore, Black Star MC Mos Def has sampled Scott-Heron’s “A Legend in His Own Mind” on the Q-Tip-featuring song “Mr. Nigga,” and producer Dr. Dre (some of whose early G-Funk compositions mirror Scott-Heron’s musical style in both texture and sentiment, specifically “Lil’ Ghetto Boy,” which in fact samples Scott-Heron contemporary Donny Hathaway) recorded the song “Blunt Time,” on which former Death Row Records rapper RBX interpolates the opening lyrics from Scott-Heron’s recording “Angel Dust.” In 2000, CeCe Peniston as well used a sample of a Heron’s song (“The Bottle”) while recording her single “My Boo”.
His Death
Scott-Heron died on the afternoon of May 27, 2011, at St. Luke’s Hospital, New York City, after becoming ill upon returning from a European trip. He is survived by daughter, Gia from his marriage to Brenda Sykes. Scott-Heron had confirmed previous press speculation about his health, when he disclosed in a 2008 New York Magazine interview, that he had been HIV-positive for several years, and that he had been previously hospitalized for pneumonia. The cause of Scott-Heron’s death has yet to be announced.
In response, Public Enemy’s Chuck D stated “RIP GSH…and we do what we do and how we do because of you.” on his Twitter account. His UK publisher, Jamie Byng, called him “one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met”.
On hearing of the death, R&B singer Usher stated “I just learned of the loss of a very important poet…R.I.P., Gil Scott-Heron. The revolution will be live!!”. Richard Russel, who produced Scott-Heron’s final studio album, called him a “father figure of sorts to me”.
Eminem stated that “He influenced all of hip-hop”.
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Information provided by Wikipedia
Heeling Hearts of NM – a dog rescue program combined with the Women’s Prison of NM 4
PB & J Family Services, a 501c3 non-profit entity, has also provided a program, Heeling Hearts, at the New Mexico women’s prison in Grants NM where dogs are rescued from the Cibola County shelter and placed into the loving care of participating women in the prison. Here the dogs receive the love and attention they have lacked, as well as helping the women, many of which have lived a life of abuse and addiction, how to love once again – and sometimes for the first time in their life.
Heeling Hearts participated in the annual NM Humane Society’s Doggie Dash & Dawdle 2010 whose goal is to gain support for the dogs at the shelters within the state.
I volunteer with this program. If you would like more information or are interested in adopting a dog, please contact me directly. My contact is in the upper right corner of this site.
Here is a slideshow showing the booth provided by Heeling Hearts.
Pick Up America – 7 young volunteers picking up trash as they walk 3600 miles across America Reply
Pick Up America is a local, regional, and nationwide initiative committed to reducing plastic waste in our communities and waterways. The Pick Up Artists will coordinate community trash clean-ups while walking across the country to encourage alternatives to our nation’s throwaway mentality. The two year trek began on March 20, 2010 from Assateague Island, MD., and will span 13 states to the San Francisco Bay, Calif., sometime in November 2011.
There are 7 volunteers who are doing the entire cross country walk. Along the way, many local volunteers walk along, help pick up and bag the trash. The bags are left alongside there road where the following day, the state’s highway DOT will come by and pick up the bags.
The volunteers seperate the garbage as they go into recycling items which are taken to the local recycling areas. Each bag is weighed so they will have a total amount of trash picked up by the end of their journey.
Most common item is platic bottles, followed by cans, plastic bags and beer bottles. Also common are tires… everywhere.
Mission: Walk across the country, pick up trash, and inspire a transition to zero waste.
One of the goals is to help connect the churches with businesses with students and with environmental organizations. The biggest item is to help build coalitions pushing towards zero waste. To help transition where we are at a place where we’re not taking resources straight from the earth, using them once, then landfilling them.
Most importantly, Pick Up America is trying to get people to understand why we are producing so much trash in the first place.
Let’s all work together in transitioning to a country of zero waste.
Thank you, Pick Up America, for helping build awareness towards our environment and waste problems.
To read more about them, please click here to go to their site/blog, pickupamerica.wordpress.com
