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Link:  http://theusasanon-superpower.blogspot.com/

I am not suggesting that the United States should walk on eggshells or otherwise cater to our enemies or adversaries, nor am I embracing the idea that the United States is the villain in global affairs.

Rather, I am suggesting that members of the US general public not believe in absurdities regarding US foreign policy or otherwise embrace cartoonish or simplistic ideas about US foreign policy.

Maybe coming to terms with the likelihood that the United States will sooner or later lose its super-power status is a good idea, in terms of preserving quality of life in our society. No empire in history has lasted forever.

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A recent Durango Herald article reported that a military recruiter was overheard by students using a homophobic slur during the adminstration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test in Durango High School.

We would like to say we are shocked by the language of the officer described in the article, but we are not. No one familiar with the history of homophobia, transphobia, and hetero-normativity in the military would be. The armed forces of nation-states are instruments of patriarchy and a hetero-normative world view. Our lack of surprise, however, does not detract from our anger and rage against the larger social dynamics present in our increasingly precarious lives, which this incident is merely a microcosm of. We find ourselves more than anything surprised that parents and students are not more resistant to military-supervised testing in the first place, let alone the presence of military recruiters in our schools, and the overwhelmingly conservative backlash in local discourse surrounding the incident. Kudos though to DHS for at least making a bit of a ruckus about it, and not taking it sitting down.

Though by law schools receiving tax dollars must allow military recruiters to stalk their hallways for fresh cannon fodder, there are easy steps that can be taken to protect your children from these predators (at least to a certain, albeit minimal extent). Just google "military opt out form" or go to leavemychildalone.org

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By Ricky Baldwin & Barbara Bailey

From The Colorado Palestine Community Network & The Gaza Action Coalition:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ga...

Please distribute widely.

Dear all,

Governor Ritter, Mayor Hickenlooper, the University of Denver, and the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies are hosting the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem in Denver on Tuesday, 11/3/2009. Nir Barkat is leading a campaign to ethnically cleanse Jerusalem of its Palestinian residents by declining building permits for Palestinians and launching a campaign of house demolitions that has displaced more than 150 people this year alone. The latest demolitions of five houses took place on Tuesday, 10/27/2009, just on the eve of his trip to the US and displaced 26 people, including 10 children. Hosting Barkat in Denver means that we endorse Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem in violation of international law and makes us party to the injustice being committed against the Palestinian people.

The Colorado Palestine Community Network is urging you to take the following actions:

1- Sign the online petition . This will be submitted to the Governor's office, the mayor's office, and the University of Denver on Monday. The petition is to urge them to rescind the invitation of Nir Barkat. The petition can be found by clicking here: http://www.petitiononline.com/Je...

2- Join us for a rally on Tuesday, 11/3/2009 at 6:00 PM in front of University of Denver Newman Center for Performing Arts located at 2344 E Iliff, Denver, CO 80208. The forecast is calling for good weather.

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The U.S. economy has been brought to the brink of collapse thanks to the failure of shoddy and dubious financial instruments, and kept afloat only thanks to major infusions of taxpayer cash. The major banking institutions, who have been raked over the coals of public opinion, saw their main public lobby, the American Bankers Association, assemble in Chicago, only to face the wrath of organized public outrage.

Thousands of activists and citizens also converged to take the ABA to task, thanks to the organizing efforts of National People's Action in an effort called Showdown in Chicago. Protesters entered the lobby of the Sheraton Chicago to face the ABA directly. This was followed by marches through downtown Chicago where thousands voiced their concern and called for accountability and positive change.

Additional Coverage: Labor Beat — Video 1 | Labor Beat — Video 1 | Photo gallery | 5000 March Against Bankers in Chicago | Democracy Now! coverage of Showdown in Chicago

Start: Nov 11 2009 8:00 pm Start: Nov 11 2009 8:00 pm

Help defend and support social justice movements in Denver and beyond!
A benefit event for the Denver ABCF Mutual Aid Fund

"Martyr's Ball: Remember the dead and dance like hell for the living"
Wednesday November 11 (Haymarket Day) 8pm
Mercury Cafe 2199 California Street (22nd St and California), Denver

Enjoy a night of music and food to commemorate Haymarket Day, the anniversary of the execution of the Haymarket Martyrs, four anarchists executed during the height of the struggle for the 8 hour day in 1887. We will remember fallen comrades while also helping to raise funds for
contemporary social justice movements active in Denver and across the globe.

In the spirit of remembrance, we are encouraging attendees to come dressed as a martyr or fallen comrade from a social justice struggle. We are also encouraging participants to contact us in advance to let us know who they will come as, so we can compile educational materials about many of the martyrs represented at the event.

All funds generated by the event will go to benefit with Denver ABCF Mutual Aid Fund, a project that aims to provide financial support to members of social justice movements in need of economic relief and assistance.

For more information about the event you can contact the Denver ABCF at denverabc@rocketmail.com or contact Whitney at 303-995-3899

For more information about Denver ABCF you can visit our blog at
denverabc.wordpress.com
 

Link:  PCRM

Are Senior Meal Providers Linked to Pork Producers In their Unhealthy Offerings

The privately owned Area Office on Aging, based in Unionstown Ohio,
seems to be aligned with Pork Producers in the senility engendering
meals it is approving for seniors.
In 4 days of 1 week, ham, bacon, pork and pork were featured,
with their high cholesterol, amyloid plaque (cause of Alzheimers's), ecoli,
uric acid, bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, food dyes etc. In aeddition these foods cause global heating, animal agony, energy waste, deforestation, pollution of our water system.

Mature Services is another group promoting food guaranteed to send
seniors out of their bodies earlier than God's design.

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 EDITOR’S NOTE—This document recently fell in our laps. It’s the Spanish-English phrase book for Grand Junction’s finest. Notice there is nothing about rights translated. Its also insightful on how the police view their interactions with the community both hispanic and otherwise.

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Former Israeli Minister of Internal Security and Zionist hard-line supporter of genocide of the Palestinian people, Uzi Landau, will be speaking about the supposed threat of Iranian Nuclear Weapons on his first trip to the United States. The speech will be taking place at the University of Colorado at Denver on the Auraria Campus on Wednesday Oct. 28 from 1:30pm - 3:30pm at Saint Cajetan's Church across from the King Building (please come early around 1pm)

For those of you unfamiliar with this war criminal and human rights violator, he was opposed to the 2004 disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip. He encouraged armed resistance by settlers to the plan and was actually banned from traveling abroad by Ariel Sharon due to his extreme views (hard to believe he was too extreme for Sharon). He was also Minister of Internal Security at the time of Rachael Cory's murder by Israeli forces. He was previously sponsored by the Zionist of America in a failed speaking tour and continues to support human rights violations of the Palestinian people.

Please come with signs and a spirit of "vigorous" protest. This should not go un-resisted!!!

 Hey Everybody:

Big shout out from the Federal Supermax.

First, I hope you'll all keep an eye on my new website in progress jordanlitigation.com, 

Second, a cry for help, my attorney Paula Ray, will be arguing on my behalf before 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on November 17th, 2009, to reverse the district court's denial of my motion for post-conviction DNA testing under the Innocence Protection Act. As I'm from Philly, I am pleading with all Colorado-area friends to attend in a show of support. Need ID to get into the courthouse. It's Bryon White Courthouse 1823 Stout Street, Courtroom IV. United States v. Mark Jordan, No. 081431. Its a huge case dealing with ability to access DNA when it will prove innocence. I really hope some folks can show. Some other neat cases are being argued also. Please show, (I'm looking for #'s).

Third, my sis could use some web building tech support. Anyone? 

My best to all

In Struggle & Solidarity,

Mark Jordan

note---We got this call to support, and wish we could make it. Mark has won a case about the right of prisoners to publish, and fought another on censorship of reading materials that he lost. He was originally sent to prison for bank robbery, and while serving his time he was convicted of a jail-house stabbing homicide. This hearing is about his right to have DNA evidence examined that may prove that he is innocent. I hope some of our comrades in Denver can attend in our stead.

Solidarity form Junktown

The independent media movement started ten years ago to expose the mainstream media’s thin veil of objectivity. Recent editorials about the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington in the local News-Gazette reveal the newspaper’s role in protecting the police and other powerful interests in Champaign.

On Thursday, October 22, two days after a heavily attended city council meeting and the day of a planned march, the News-Gazette ran an editorial titled, “An Angry Night at City Hall.” The editors assured readers that the police were in the right the day Kiwane, an unarmed 15 year-old African American youth, was shot and killed. “Circumstances point to an accidental shooting,” the editorial confidently states. Officer Daniel Norbits, it continues, “did not intentionally discharge his service weapon during his struggle with Carrington.”

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

 

 

Over forty-five members of CMAGE/CWA Local 4502 flooded the Columbus City Council Session last Monday night, October 19th 2009. The Union represents workers from all departments of the City of Columbus, including the Columbus Police and Fire Departments and Parks and Recreation, and includes professional and technical staff and supervisors.

 

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 Steven Kilcrease a local activist was arrested during critical mass and his board was confiscated for over 3 months.

On october 13th 2009 he was sentenced to 10 days in work release (road crew) and over 1,100 dollars in fines. This is what petty skating where prohibited and petty disregarding police charges get you in Backwards Grand Junction Colorado? No! Others with the same charges walked away with fines, and nothing else. Steven kilcrease has been targeted by the GJPD because if his affiliation with and participation in local grass roots organizing activities. The Grand Junction Police department needs to LAYOFF of grand junction activists. WE (A)RE TIRED OF YOUR BULLSHIT GJPD!

Tonight, Champaign Council chambers were so packed to capacity, with overflow in the lobby, numbering over 300 attendees.  CU Citizens for Peace and Justice called for the resignation of Chief RT Finney.  Below is their prepared statement. 

Here is the link to the Champaign Police new Use of Force Policy referenced in this talk that allows for the police to shoot to kill someone resisting or fleeing arrest. 

Here is the list of grievances against Finney justifying his resignation or removal.

Council member LaDue said last night that this policy, which went into effect October 1, 2009, was never passed by council.  LaDue said tasers, which are also discussed in the policy, had been rejected by the council and that this discussion was "not pending" despite Finney's statements to the contrary.  Council called for a study session on police Use of Force policies.

 

AttachmentSize CPDUseOfForce1009.pdf3.26 MB Why Finney Must Go.doc47 KB

From the newswire: "[On Thursday, October 15, a]pproximately 30 activists — mainly students from area universities — disrupted a lecture given in Chicago by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday which was hosted by the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. While Olmert's speech was disrupted inside the lecture hall, approximately 150 activists protested outside the hall in the freezing rain.

"Protesters inside the hall read off the names of Palestinian children killed during Israel's assault on Gaza last winter. They shouted that it was unacceptable that the war crimes suspect be invited to speak at a Chicago university when his army destroyed a university in Gaza in January. They reminded the audience of the more than 1,400 Palestinians killed during the Gaza attacks and the more than 1,200 killed during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006. Both invasions happened during Olmert's premiership. With interventions coming every few minutes throughout his appearance, Olmert had difficulty giving his speech and often appeared frustrated. At one point he appealed for 'just five minutes' to speak without being interrupted." Read more

Additional Coverage: Watch Video | Chicago Maroon coverage: Jeers Stifle Olmert's Speech

After failing to prevent fascist neo-Nazi David Irving from holding a public speaking engagement at a restaurant in Arvada as well as allowing “performance artist” Buju Banton to spew homophobic hatred with impunity at a recent show in Denver, Colorado activists and radicals have some explaining to do. Unity is short between fragmented, sparsely attended groups and actions are few and far in between. In times like these, those that espouse theories of direct action and organizing for a better world should be taking advantage of the political climate and mobilizing. As the post-DNC activist vaccum continues to delay serious change, many groups are starting to find a good routine with steady participation, but there are still holes to fill.

Hard economic times breed violent xenophobia and nationalist sentiments. Fascist elements can and will take advantage of this climate, and providing a militant counter in the street to that threat is the only answer. Racists, white supremacists, homophobes, sexists, and fascists should never be given the opportunity to organize publicly. That makes communities unsafe for anyone marginalized by the views of irrational, hateful individuals and groups, and fighting for the physical safety of the marginalized in the face of violent bigots should be a priority for anyone looking to destroy oppression.

By allowing this hate to propagate in the region, anyone in Colorado looking to make positive change has failed. This was because of lack of organization, not willpower. Plenty were interested in countering these events, many of which in a militant fashion, for Colorado has no shortage of determined individuals ready to defend their communities; however because of a complete lack of framework, infrastructure, or even basic social network, much needed mobilizations never occurred.

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 The Police here in Grand Junction have for a long time been able to do whatever they want with little or no oversight by the community. Skateboarders, Latinos, poor people, and political activists have long known that the police have grudges they settle with force or through the justice system.

Recent arrests and firings of two GJPD officers for beating a woman and raping a woman, Coutrney Crooks and Glenn Coyne, respectively, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Former Police Chief Bill Gardner resigned this fall, because of another case that was successfully kept off the pages of the newspapers. It involved nine GJPD officers beating a woman in her own house, and then charging her with felony assault on an officer, she threatened to sue the PD and an agreement was reached which dropped the lawsuit and the chargers. The victim is still too traumatized by the incident, she just wants to put it behind her, but we as citizens need to know what happened in that incident.

The GJPD is notoriously secretive and non-transparent. Multiple open records request have been denied, or simply ignored. The process for people to make complaints about the department is not open or accessible. No hotline, No form, No advocate outside of the Police Department. To make a complaint you have to go to the station and into a locked corridor and into a locked room and make a complaint to an uniformed officer.

The Police also have a long history of selectively enforcing petty laws against the poor and homeless of this town. Smoking in the Park Tickets are only issued to homeless people. Forty-nine percent of ‘walking-violations’ are issued to homeless people. While houseless people represent maybe two percent of the city’s population.

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On Wednesday night, October 14, a large vigil was held at the house where the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington occurred. Several hundred youth, neighborhood residents, and community members came to pay their respects to Kiwane. After the vigil, the crowd marched up Prospect Ave., many of the youth spilling into the street. Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies were there to direct traffic (Champaign police were nowhere to be seen). The crowd was managed by several members of the Nation of Islam who had come from Chicago and throughout the region to serve as security for the event.