On Wednesday, February 20th, students at D-Q University which is California's only tribal college, reported that Yolo County deputies had begun arresting them for allegedly "trespassing" on campus. As many as four students were taken to the Yolo County Jail, and it is believed that more arrests may follow. Students are calling for support from the community, and are asking for people to come out and witness the deputies' actions. D-Q University is located at 33250 Road 31 in Davis.
In 1970, groups of Native Americans and Chicana/o students from several universities and colleges organized themselves to lay claim to a decommissioned military installation. Their goal was to create a learning environment through the unified cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Since students and members of the community started a revitalization process in 2005, dozens of students have remained on campus and have been able to organize workshops and classes based in Native Philosophy and Cultural Revitalization. They are committed to the pursuit of an indigenous education while working towards the future as they honor the past.
more info and news at http://www.indybay.org/
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Benefit for the New Jersey 4 Tonight!
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/02/01/18476283.php
New Jersey 4: young black lesbians convicted for defending themselves against a sexist and homophobic attack.
New Jersey 4: young black lesbians convicted for defending themselves against a sexist and homophobic attack.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Support Local Tree Sit
With the fall of the Bear Mountain tree-sit in Victoria, BC, it seems like this is a very crucial time for activists in the trees up and down the west coast. There are two campus trees-sits, one under attack right now at UC Berkeley and one at UC Santa Cruz. These actions are opposing the unnecessary development of greenspace.
The Berkeley Action is opposed to the destruction of a large grove of Coast Live Oaks in order for the campus to place an athletic training center adjacent to the campus stadium. As if the "atheletes" need a training center so close to the stadium. Maybe they are afraid of a little walk for some exercise? To make things even more contraversial, the grove is memorial dedicated to fallen Californian World War I soldiers. To top that off, 18 Native Americans were discovered buried under the stadium in 1923. This area is sacred and needs protection from furthur development. The city of Berkeley opposes the development. However, the UC only has to abide by state laws, concerns and constraints. In other words, the UC campus is comparable to a Federal agency, which answers to pretty much no one, especially local concerns of the city's residents. I suggest that if you are reading this and you are in the Bay area, that you head up to the stadium to help them. They need your help now more than ever!
The Berkeley Action is opposed to the destruction of a large grove of Coast Live Oaks in order for the campus to place an athletic training center adjacent to the campus stadium. As if the "atheletes" need a training center so close to the stadium. Maybe they are afraid of a little walk for some exercise? To make things even more contraversial, the grove is memorial dedicated to fallen Californian World War I soldiers. To top that off, 18 Native Americans were discovered buried under the stadium in 1923. This area is sacred and needs protection from furthur development. The city of Berkeley opposes the development. However, the UC only has to abide by state laws, concerns and constraints. In other words, the UC campus is comparable to a Federal agency, which answers to pretty much no one, especially local concerns of the city's residents. I suggest that if you are reading this and you are in the Bay area, that you head up to the stadium to help them. They need your help now more than ever!
Over 130 Wild Buffalo Slaughtered with 145 More Facing Imminent Death
Advocates Hold Week of Action as Yellowstone Bison Slaughter Continues
GARDINER & WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT: Over 130 wild buffalo have been slaughtered by the National Park Service in Yellowstone since February 8th. They have captured a total of 275 and plan to slaughter all of them. According to Yellowstone officials, 17 calves that were originally going to be sent to the Corwin Springs research facility are now instead being sent to slaughter.
"Originally the U.S. Calvary was sent here to protect the last remaining bison found in Yellowstone," said Mike Mease, co-founder of Buffalo Field Campaign. "How sadly ironic that millions of U.S. tax dollars are now being spent to kill them."
George Cadman of Free Radio Santa Cruz 101.1 FM spoke with Stephany Seay of the Buffalo Field Campaign about the real reasons behind the slaughter, what they are doing to fight this and how people can get involved. Read More and Listen to the Interview
GARDINER & WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT: Over 130 wild buffalo have been slaughtered by the National Park Service in Yellowstone since February 8th. They have captured a total of 275 and plan to slaughter all of them. According to Yellowstone officials, 17 calves that were originally going to be sent to the Corwin Springs research facility are now instead being sent to slaughter.
"Originally the U.S. Calvary was sent here to protect the last remaining bison found in Yellowstone," said Mike Mease, co-founder of Buffalo Field Campaign. "How sadly ironic that millions of U.S. tax dollars are now being spent to kill them."
George Cadman of Free Radio Santa Cruz 101.1 FM spoke with Stephany Seay of the Buffalo Field Campaign about the real reasons behind the slaughter, what they are doing to fight this and how people can get involved. Read More and Listen to the Interview
Largest Beef Recall Ever After Video Exposes Downed Cow Abuse
Tue Feb 19 2008
Downed Cow Beef Had Been Supplied to Needy, Elderly, and Children Nationwide
The Humane Society of United States (HSUS) conducted a video-taped undercover investigation of Hallmark Meat Packing Company slaughterhouse in Chino, California. The six-week investigation was conducted in secret by an investigator who posed as an employee. The investigator documented cows unable to walk, known as "downed" cows, being rammed with the blades of a forklift, jabbed in the eyes, stabbed with electric prods and sprayed in the nose with high-pressure water hoses. Under federal regulations, only animals able to walk on their own can be used for meat. Downed cattle, which have higher occurrences of mad cow disease and other health issues, are supposed to be euthanized and removed immediately.
The video was released to the public by HSUS on January 30th. The video led to San Bernardino County district attorney filing criminal charges against two workers on February 15th, and then on February 17th, the USDA announced the recall of 143 million pounds of beef that came from the Chino plant, making it by far the largest beef recall in U.S. history. The plant has since been closed. USDA officials have noted, though, that most of the beef intended for the recall has already been consumed. The Chino slaughter plant had supplied the Westland Meat Company, which processes the carcasses. The facility is the second-largest supplier of beef to USDA's Commodity Procurement Branch, which distributes the beef to needy families, the elderly and also to schools in 36 states through the National School Lunch Program.
Downed Cow Beef Had Been Supplied to Needy, Elderly, and Children Nationwide
The Humane Society of United States (HSUS) conducted a video-taped undercover investigation of Hallmark Meat Packing Company slaughterhouse in Chino, California. The six-week investigation was conducted in secret by an investigator who posed as an employee. The investigator documented cows unable to walk, known as "downed" cows, being rammed with the blades of a forklift, jabbed in the eyes, stabbed with electric prods and sprayed in the nose with high-pressure water hoses. Under federal regulations, only animals able to walk on their own can be used for meat. Downed cattle, which have higher occurrences of mad cow disease and other health issues, are supposed to be euthanized and removed immediately.
The video was released to the public by HSUS on January 30th. The video led to San Bernardino County district attorney filing criminal charges against two workers on February 15th, and then on February 17th, the USDA announced the recall of 143 million pounds of beef that came from the Chino plant, making it by far the largest beef recall in U.S. history. The plant has since been closed. USDA officials have noted, though, that most of the beef intended for the recall has already been consumed. The Chino slaughter plant had supplied the Westland Meat Company, which processes the carcasses. The facility is the second-largest supplier of beef to USDA's Commodity Procurement Branch, which distributes the beef to needy families, the elderly and also to schools in 36 states through the National School Lunch Program.
Monday, February 18, 2008
SF8 Court Update
February 13: Missing evidence questioned
The hearing on Wednesday, February 13 focused on questions by the defense of a San Francisco City Prosecutor and a retired District Attorney investigator about evidence missing from the investigator's files on the 1975 police killing. The only files turned over to the defense from the original investigation contain no police reports, no ballistics evidence, no witness interviews, and no lab files. The DA’s file did contain some notes – particularly important since the notes and correspondence referenced other materials in the possession of the prosecution. Most notably missing were reports of the fingerprint comparisons – with negative results, no matches to any of the defendants. Also absent is the memorandum prepared by then prosecutor Thomas Norman stating the reasons for not going forward with the prosecution in 1975.
The hearing on Wednesday, February 13 focused on questions by the defense of a San Francisco City Prosecutor and a retired District Attorney investigator about evidence missing from the investigator's files on the 1975 police killing. The only files turned over to the defense from the original investigation contain no police reports, no ballistics evidence, no witness interviews, and no lab files. The DA’s file did contain some notes – particularly important since the notes and correspondence referenced other materials in the possession of the prosecution. Most notably missing were reports of the fingerprint comparisons – with negative results, no matches to any of the defendants. Also absent is the memorandum prepared by then prosecutor Thomas Norman stating the reasons for not going forward with the prosecution in 1975.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Support the SF8
Come to court:
Thurs, Feb. 7
9:30 a.m. hearing
850 Bryant St, SF
Department 23, 3rd floor
On Thursday, February 7th arguments will be made to drop the remaining conspiracy charges against Herman Bell, Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom) and Francisco Torres. The prosecution claims that because the three men were not in California the statute of limitations does not apply. This “ridiculous technicality” will be vigorously challenged by defense attorneys as Herman and Jalil have been political prisoners for 34 and 36 years and Francisco was residing in New York. All three have been consistently available to California state prosecutors.
Thurs, Feb. 7
9:30 a.m. hearing
850 Bryant St, SF
Department 23, 3rd floor
On Thursday, February 7th arguments will be made to drop the remaining conspiracy charges against Herman Bell, Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom) and Francisco Torres. The prosecution claims that because the three men were not in California the statute of limitations does not apply. This “ridiculous technicality” will be vigorously challenged by defense attorneys as Herman and Jalil have been political prisoners for 34 and 36 years and Francisco was residing in New York. All three have been consistently available to California state prosecutors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
