Solidarity 69

Add a Comment

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 25, 2012 at 16:55

Picket and leaflet against threats of war: Tuesday, June 26 4:30 to 6:00 pm 130 E. Randolph, National Headquarters of Obama Re-election Campaign Hands Off Syria and Iran! End the Drone Wars! We need jobs, education and healthcare, not endless war!
The growing threats of war against Syria are alarming. Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Russia not to get in the way of US backed efforts at "regime change" in Syria. The corporate media is making every effort to overwhelm us with calls for another "humanitarian intervention" in Syria while the US continues to arm dictators in Bahrain and dozens of other countries around the world. The drum beat of aggression against Iran grows daily as well. Last week's coup by the U.S. funded and trained Egyptian military, overturning the first popularly elected government in Egypt's recent history, is another ominous warning. The threat of new war is real and has nothing to do with saving lives, as evidenced as well by expanding US drone attacks, a form of anonymous war with untold numbers of civilian casualties.

This event is supported by 8th Day Center for Justice, US Palestinian Community Network, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, and many individuals.

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 25, 2012 at 16:54

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 26, is the
International Day of Support for Survivors of Torture, which will be marked in
20 cities in this country. Here in Chicago, we will honor the strength of
survivors by demanding an end to torture by closing Tamms prison and justice for
victims of Chicago police torture.

The highlight will be
a noon press conference at the State of Illinois Building (Randolph & Clark,
Chicago) to demand that funding for the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief
Commission be restored. This commission is the last hope for many prisoners
who are victims of Jon Burge and his Chicago Police torture team. Speakers will
include Rob Warden, Executive Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at
Northwestern Law, and Neil Toppel, members of the Torture Commission. We also
demand the closure of Tamms prison, where hundreds of men continue to suffer the
torture of solitary confinement. A gathering in support of survivors will follow
the press conference.

The day will start at 8 am with banners at
Hollywood & Sheridan and 57th & Lakeshore Drive, and a vigil at Occupy
headquarters (LaSalle & Jackson, Loop). And it will culminate with a dinner
and program hosted by the Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center at 6 pm at
Coffey Hall, Loyola University, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago. The keynote
address will be given by Jobi Petersen Cates, Director of the Midwest Region,
Human Rights Watch.

Please join us tomorrow, join our Facebook event and invite friends!

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 25, 2012 at 16:53

Stop the Vindictive Political Prosecution of Gregory Koger!

We Say: · Stop the Vindictive Political Prosecution of Gregory Koger! · Videotaping is not a crime! · Former prisoners who stand up against injustice and oppression should be supported, not repressed!

Agree? Then sign this statement here!

At an historical moment when people are stepping forward in dissent and protest around the world from Tunisia to Wall Street, political attacks on those who document these courageous acts are escalating. For nearly 3 years, Gregory Koger has been fighting a completely outrageous political prosecution and 300 day jail sentence for attempting to videotape a statement by Sunsara Taylor opposing the censorship of her talk prior to a public event at the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago.
This prosecution is premised on a dangerous reinterpretation of the trespass law, and the near-maximum sentence Gregory was given is an attack on all former prisoners who turn their lives around, as he has, and their right to challenge the injustices of this society. Read on...

Please sign the above statement here and donate to publish it here - thank you!

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 24, 2012 at 14:13

Dear Supporter, Unfortunately, recent months in Colombia have shown a sharp rise in death threats and attacks on trade unionists and other activists. March saw the largest mobilisation in Bogotá for several years, with around 100,000 people marching for peace and social justice under the banner of a new political and social movement – the Patriotic March. Senior figures in the Colombian authorities have already attempted to smear the movement accusing it of links to the guerrillas. As a result, several leading activists have been murdered, threatened or disappeared. Henry Diaz, a FENSUAGRO trade unionist was forcibly disappearedin a region controlled by the military just days before he was due to lead a delegation to the march. Henry met with members of the recent JFC delegation to Colombia when he helped organise a human rights hearing they attended earlier this year. Several other trade unionists have been victims of killings in recent weeks. Daniel Aguirre Piedrahita, the General Secretary of the sugar cane ... in late April, leaving a wife and three children.

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 24, 2012 at 14:13

JFC has produced several new materials, including a new Human Rights Briefing with up-to-date statistics on several issues and a new leaflet with a list of all trade unionists assassinated between January 2007 and December 2011. On a more positive note, JFC’s peace campaign continues to grow in support and influence following a hugely successful visit of a Colombians for Peace delegation to Belfast, Dublin and London, where cross-party support was secured for Colombian civil society efforts for a peace process. The group met with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness who expressed their support as well as representatives from all major parties in Belfast. Meetings with government representatives and politicians were also had in Dublin through JFC Ireland and in Westminster. Worryingly, upon his return to Colombia, Dr Carlos Lozano, who took part in the visit has uncovered an assassination plot ordered by a paramilitary group. Click here to take urgent action to protect his life. Lastly, this week sees the visit to the UK of former political prisoner and academic trade unionist Miguel Angel Beltran, who spent over 2 years imprisoned unjustly. He will be speaking at a meeting hosted by the UCU, JFC and the TUC at 15.00 on Thursday 14th June, in Syndicate Room 3 at Congress House, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3LS.Please come along to hear his story first hand. Thanks for your solidarity – it is only with your help that we can continue to support our colleagues in Colombia. Below are some articles with recent news on Colombia

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 23, 2012 at 23:58

CTU Solidarity Committee Organizing Meeting Tuesday, June 26 6:30 p.m. Grace Place, 637 South Dearborn
The Labor Working Group, which brought together the Chicago Occupy movement and unions throughout city, would like to invite you and representatives from your union, school, or community group to a city-wide organizing meeting.  The goal of this meeting is to develop a solidarity committee in support of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) in their ongoing struggle for good schools and a decent contract. The proposed committee will enable union and community groups to coordinate solidarity activities throughout the summer and fall in order to maximize our impact.

Since he came into office, Rahm Emanuel and his appointee, CPS CEO Jean Claude Brizard, have conducted a non-stop attack on CTU in an attempt to break the union and destroy public education.
It's now equally clear that the teachers are fed up and ready to fight back! The massive rally of teachers and union allies on May 23 through downtown Chicago, as well as the recent nearly unanimous strike authorization vote taken throughout the over 600 public schools, raises our hopes that if we fight, we can win, both in Chicago and around this country.

The outcome of the CTU struggle will have local and national ramifications for the fight against austerity, the defense of public education, and the future of the labor movement. Now is the time for us to stand together!
Please join us on Tuesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn. Contact union.taskforce.occupychi@gmail.com to RSVP to this invitation and if you need more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

In solidarity,

Occupy Chicago Labor Working Group

union.taskforce.occupychi@gmail.com

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 23, 2012 at 23:57

Joe --
Congress is playing games with student loan rates again, and we need your help.
If Congress doesn't act by July 1, interest rates will explode -- doubling from 3.4% to 6.8%. That's simply unacceptable. Millions of college students across the country rely on student loans to pay for their education, and that's why we need to act today.
The deadline is looming and I'm asking everyone to urge Congress to act now before time runs out. Add your name to our petition and I'll personally make sure leaders in Washington get your message.
Over 100 Iowa student leaders have joined me in calling on Congress to act immediately to prevent student loan rates from skyrocketing. Will you?
Join me and over 100 student leaders now -- Tell Congress: Don't Raise Our Rates!
Student loan debt is spiraling out of control. In fact, student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion nationally, significantly outpacing credit card debt -- and it's tripled in just the past 10 years. In Iowa, the problem is especially bad -- Iowa ranks 3rd nationally in average student loan debt load at graduation.
The last thing students like Sophia Brown at Luther College and Kyle Basom at Iowa State should have to worry about at graduation is even more debt.
Luckily, there's a simple solution: Congress must act immediately to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1.
Will you join us? Tell Congress to act now: Don't Double Student Loan Interest Rates!
Together, we'll make sure Congress hears us loud and clear.
Thanks for all you do.
Bruce

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 23, 2012 at 23:10

Emergency anti-war protests set for June 23 – July 1 By United National Antiwar Coalition Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the United National Antiwar Coalition Emergency Protests Against the Growing Threat of War Hands Off Syria and Iran! End the Drone Wars! We Need Jobs, Education and Healthcare, Not Endless War! The growing threats of war against Syria are alarming. Recently, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Russia not to get in the way of US backed efforts to force out the government of President Assad. The corporate media is making every effort to overwhelm us with calls for another "Humanitarian War". The drum beat of aggression against Iran grows daily as well. The coup by the U.S. funded and trained Egyptian military, overturning the first popularly elected government in recent history is another ominous warning. The threat of new war is real while US drone attacks are an expanding form of anonymous war. During the period from June 23 through July 1, there will be demonstrations, vigils and forum around the country to protest the growing threats of war. Please join the protests in your city or organize one in your city. Send information about your action to UNACpeace@gmail.com

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at info@fightbacknews.org

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 15, 2012 at 17:08

EGYPT: Emergency Solidarity Rally

Today, Friday, June 15 @ 4:30 PM

Egyptian Consulate, 500 N Michigan Ave

Egypt's military rulers and the remnants of the old regime of toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak have made a brazen move against the revolution. The assault took the form of a ruling by Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court that is simultaneously intended to dissolve the country's parliament and allow the military's favored candidate to stay in a presidential runoff election scheduled for this weekend--two steps in the direction of the counter-revolution.
We in Chicago who have been inspired by the struggle of ordinary Egyptians to draw a more just, democratic society into being through protest, strike action, and over a year of ongoing organizing must take a stand to show our solidarity! Their struggle has been helped us find our own courage to fight, from the Wisconsin labor rebellion to the Occupy Movement. And the US government continues to provide crucial financial and military support to Egypt's rulers as they have used US tanks and tear gas to repress protests.
That's why all over the United States, we must take action today to show our brothers and sisters in Tahrir Square we stand with them!

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!

ChicagoSocialists.org

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 11, 2012 at 2:57

Gloria Pinex, mother of Darius Pinex

Aparecio, Uncle of Flint Farmer

and Freddy "Godfather" McGee, father of Freddy Latice Wilson for...

A Special Evening at Mr. G’s Supper Club

1547 W. 87^th Street

To Benefit the

BAsics Bus Tour

part of the campaign to raise Big Bucks to get BA Everywhere

Benefit Hosted by Godfather, Grandmaster &

the Latest Choice Band

JUNE 18 -- 7 pm to Midnight

$5.00 at the door

In loving memory of: Freddie Latice Wilson, Darius Pinex and

Flint Farmer, killed by Chicago Police

follow the BAsics Bus Tour at http://basicsbustour.tumblr.com

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31
• …
• 78
• Next ›
• Page