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Friday, May 20, 2005
BAUAW NEWSLETTER UPDATE: SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2005
1) Guantánamo Comes to Define U.S. to Muslims
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: May 21, 2005
"NEW DELHI, May 20 - In one of Pakistan's most exclusive
private schools for boys, the annual play this year was
"Guantánamo," a docudrama based on testimonies of prisoners
in Guantánamo Bay, the United States naval base in Cuba."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/international/asia/
21gitmo.html?hp&ex=1116734400&en=a7ee3f336b4069f3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
2) For Army Recruiters, a Day of Rules, and Little Else
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: May 21, 2005
The one-day suspension, he said, was an effort to emphasize
that "taking shortcuts" to reach the Army's goal of 101,200
active-duty and Reserve recruits this year is unacceptable.
...Recruiters, however, said they doubted much would change.
As of April 25, the Army had recruited 35,926 active-duty
soldiers, far short of its goal of 80,000 for the fiscal
year that began in October."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/national/21recruit.html?
3) The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee to boost
enlistment and Re-enlistment bonuses.
4) STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
AND OUR ALLIES
From: Mecca44@aol.com
badlands picket Saturday May 21, 2005
with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
5) "You're a Drink-soaked Former Trotskyist Popinjay!"
Thusly, I Humiliated Norm Coleman (and Christopher Hitchens)
May 18, 2005
By GEORGE GALLOWAY
http://www.counterpunch.org/galloway05182005.html
6) Memorial for Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who
was murdered in a hate crime two years ago in a Newark, New
Jersey train station.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Guantánamo Comes to Define U.S. to Muslims
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: May 21, 2005
"NEW DELHI, May 20 - In one of Pakistan's most exclusive
private schools for boys, the annual play this year was
"Guantánamo," a docudrama based on testimonies of prisoners
in Guantánamo Bay, the United States naval base in Cuba."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/international/asia/
21gitmo.html?hp&ex=1116734400&en=a7ee3f336b4069f3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
2) For Army Recruiters, a Day of Rules, and Little Else
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: May 21, 2005
The one-day suspension, he said, was an effort to emphasize
that "taking shortcuts" to reach the Army's goal of 101,200
active-duty and Reserve recruits this year is unacceptable.
...Recruiters, however, said they doubted much would change.
As of April 25, the Army had recruited 35,926 active-duty
soldiers, far short of its goal of 80,000 for the fiscal
year that began in October."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/national/21recruit.html?
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee to boost
enlistment and Re-enlistment bonuses.
Hi,
Hot off the press - Marine Times, May 23, p. 21: The House Armed
Services personnel subcommittee endorsed a proposal by its chairman,
Rep. John McHugh, R-NY, to boost enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses
to encourage people to join and stay in the military.
The maximum re-enlistment bonus, under the plan, currently $60k, would
increase to $90k, while the maximum enlistment bonus would increase to
$30k for active forces -- a $10k increase over current rates -- and
$15k for reserve forces, a $5k increase.
But note this:
"The $1000 finder's fee for new recruits included in the bill is an
idea taken from the private sector, where companies often pay bonuses
to employees who bring new workers into the fold.
The bill would provide $1million for a test program limited to the Army
under which soldiers would get $1000 for encouraging anyone - other
than a relative - to talk with a recruiter. Payment would be made if a
prospect visits a recruiting station and tells a recruiter that a
specific service member referred him, congressional aides said.
There wold be no limit on how many finder's fees could be paid to a
single person, burt he pilot program would end when the $1million is
exhausted, committee aids said."
Marti
National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force
Marguerite Hiken, co-chair
318 Ortega Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-566-3732
mlhiken@pacbell.net
www.nlg.org/mltf
Kathleen Gilberd, co-chair
1168 Union Street, Ste. 302
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-1701
KathleenGilberd@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
AND OUR ALLIES
From: Mecca44@aol.com
badlands picket Saturday May 21, 2005
with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE AND OUR ALLIES
PHONE: 415-401-8094
FAX: 415-401- 8088
Media Advisory
Contact: Zwazzi Sow ¶ 415.401-8094
Community Groups Unite to Reject Discriminatory
Bar Owner's Fundraising Offer,
Announce Joint Action on Saturday, May 21, with
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
May 16, 2005 -- In a strong demonstration of solidarity with
discrimination victims, and with San Francisco‚s African
American community, all seven San Francisco-based community
organizations solicited by discriminatory bar owner Les Natali
to host fund raisers at Badlands (the offer per a paid
advertisement in last week's Bay Area Reporter and subject
to several conditions) have summarily rejected the offer.
Moreover, the organizations have joined together to co-sponsor
a short program with guest speaker Supervisor Sophie Maxwell,
followed by a protest at Badlands, this Saturday, May 21, 2005,
from 9pm to midnight (another, Oakland-based organization
named in the advert, BGLT People in Pride, could not be reached
for comment).
These seven organizations are joining the fast-growing
coalition of organizations expressing outrage in the
aftermath of the City's finding that Badlands owner Les Natali
has been engaged in discrimination against African Americans
for the past several years. These organizations include: the
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, ANSWER, Black Rap, the
Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, LYRIC, Mission Agenda, NIA,
Pride at Work, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, SEIU Local 790,
the San Francisco Labor Council, the San Francisco People's
Organization, and the San Francisco Young Democrats
Who: And Castro For All, LGBT Black Rap, CUAV (Community United
Against Violence), LGADDA (Lesbians and Gays of African Descent
for Democratic Action), Men of All Colors Together, The SF LGBT
Pride Celebration Committee, and the Stop AIDS Project. Also,
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to speak.
What: Organizations join together to reject fundraising offer
from discriminatory bar owner Les Natali, co-sponsor discussion
and protest
When and where: Saturday, May 21, 2005
9PM: Program at LYRIC (127 Collingwood Street) with guest
speaker SF Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
10PM: Protest at Badlands bar (4121 18th Street)
And Castro for All: John Newsome HYPERLINK
"mailto:jonnynunu@aol.com" jonnynunu@aol.com (646) 729-5449
LGBT Black Rap: Zwazzi Sowo (415) 401-8096
CUAV: Terry Person Harris: HYPERLINK
"mailto:terry@cuav.org" t HYPERLINK "mailto:terry@cuav.org"
erry@cuav.org; Jennifer Rakowski: HYPERLINK "mailto:
jennifer@cuav.org"
jennifer@cuav.org (415) 777-5500
LGADDA: Lisa Williams (415) 424-9660
Men of All Colors Together: Gavin Moral-Hall (National Board
of Directors, National Association of Black and White
Men Together)
The SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee: Joey Cain, Board
President (415) 336-4070
The Stop AIDS Project: Bob McMullin, Executive Director
(415) 575-0150
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) "You're a Drink-soaked Former Trotskyist Popinjay!"
Thusly, I Humiliated Norm Coleman (and Christopher Hitchens)
May 18, 2005
By GEORGE GALLOWAY
http://www.counterpunch.org/galloway05182005.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
6) Memorial for Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who
was murdered in a hate crime two years ago in a Newark, New
Jersey train station.
Local queer activists are holding a memorial for Sakia
Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who was murdered in a hate
crime two years ago in a Newark, New Jersey train station. At
the time she was killed, she was returning home with a friend
from a trip to the West Village in New York City.
The remembrance will be held on Sunday May 22, 2pm,
Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market. Speakers will include
community activists Calvin Gipson, Zwazzi Sowo, Cecelia Chung,
Peter Wong, Fresh White and others.
Said Wong, an organizer of the event, "This remembrance
pays respect to a young lesbian whose life was unfairly
abbreviated by homophobic violence. It's also an opportunity
to recognize that both the black and LGBT communities are
diminished when a hate crime against black LGBT people is
downplayed or ignored."
For more info, contact Peter Wong at
glorycompy@yahoo.com or Tommi Avicolli Mecca at
mecca44@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Phil Ochs "I Ain't Marching Anymore"
Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore
(chorus)
It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all
For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brothers
And so many others But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore
(chorus)
For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore
Now the labor leader's screamin'
when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more,
No I ain't marchin' any more
Of course, this has to be the best Soldier's songs
(at leats my dad sez so):
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son"
Some folks are born, made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,
Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.
Yeah!
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Support SFSU Military Recruitment Protest
SFSU students staged a peaceful and
effective protest against military
recruitment on campus in March. Now
students who planned the protest are
facing possible disciplinary action.
Show your support for student
anti-war activists! Go to Local
Impact and send a free fax telling SFSU
President Robert Corrigan not to
punish students who engage in peaceful
protests.
www.local-impact.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) COLLEGE NOT COMBAT
Petition Drive Launch Rally & Signature Gathering Blitz
Saturday, May 28, 10:30 am
16th & Mission Street, San Francisco
(at 16th Street BART stop)
2) National Day of Action Against Military Recruitment
FRIDAY, MAY 20th
Army "Stands Down", Peace Activists Stand Up!
-Make a call to congress
-Organize an event at a local recruiting station
Busted!
3) Subject: Recruitment "Stand-Down"
From: Institute for Public Accuracy
Date: May 20, 2005 6:57:32 AM PDT
To: public@lists.accuracy.org
4) You Helped Protect the Election, Now Help Protect Children
From Military Recruiters Host a June 1 Opt Out Event
5) The Deserters: Awol Crisis Hits the US Forces
As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an
all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now
refusing to serve their country. Andrew Buncombe reports
16 May 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=638635
6) Real Wages Fall as
Attack on US Workers Intensifies
By Joseph Kay
16 May 2005
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
WSWS :News & Analysis :North America
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/may2005/wage-m16.shtml
7) Please support Mike Honda's legislation to limit military
access to school children.
peace,
vicki
http://www.leavemychildalone.org/index.cfm?event=signPetition&pid=1
8) For Female GIs, Combat Is a Fact
By Ann Scott Tyson
The Washington Post
Friday 13 May 2005
Many duties in Iraq put women at risk despite restrictive policy.
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/051605WA.shtml
9) PhotoID: 200541992714
Submitted by: 9th Marine Corps District
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Wal-Mart Award
Col. John M. Dunn, 9th Marine Corps District commanding officer,
presents Troy Steiner, marketing director for Wal-Mart, and Keely
Beene, manager Wal-Mart Television Network, with a Certificate
of Commendation at the Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville,
Ark., April 7. After being contacted by Capt. Tyler T. Vance,
the 9th District, recruiting advertising officer, Steiner and
Beene organized $1,120,000 worth of free airplay of USMC
commercials at 2,600 locations on Wal-Mart's in-store television
network. In addition to the 16 weeks of free broadcasting, the
well-known retailer will also run free Toys-for-Tots public
service announcements leading up to the holiday season.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/
200541992714?opendocument
10)U.S. Charges Cuban Militant With Illegally Entering Country
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 19, 2005
Filed at 1:20 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Cuban-
Militant.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=13d1a473764617d7&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
11) When Richer Weds Poorer, Money Isn't the Only Difference
By TAMAR LEWIN
NORTHFIELD, Mass.
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/national/class/MARRIAGE-FINAL.html?hp
12) Generals Offer a Sober Outlook on Iraqi War
By JOHN F. BURNS and ERIC SCHMITT
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/international/middleeast/19cnd-iraq.html
13) Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs
By TIM WEINER
May 18, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/18/business/18space.html
14) The Personal Evolution of a Civil Rights Giant
Museum Review | 'Malcolm X: A Search for Truth'
By EDWARD ROTHSTEIN
Published: May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/design/19malccut.html
15) Garfield volunteers for military recruiting battle
By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Thursday, May 19, 2005
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224957_recruit19.html
16) Our entire way of life is at stake
May 17, 2005
BY JESSE JACKSON
And now the ''nuclear option.'' Republican Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist vows to blow up the Senate by getting the Republican
majority to outlaw any filibuster against President Bush's judicial
nominees. Democrats have approved 208 of Bush's 218 nominees,
but are blocking 10 as too extreme. That is unacceptable to Frist.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse17.html
17) U.S. Claims Over Siege Challenged
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
18) La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
19) East Bay School Bans Military Recruiters On Campus
(ABC7)May 16 (ABC7) - Military recruiters on colleges campuses
have always been controversial, especially among students and
faculty who claim anti-war status. Harvard Law School has banned
the recruiters and one Bay Area college is trying to do the same.
ABC7's Lyanne Melendez reports.
20) "Democracy" in Iraq
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 18, 2005
21) Stealth Recruiting Ad Sparks Criticism
By Nathaniel R. Helms
http://www.sftt.org/
main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpDefense&htmlCategoryI
D=30&htmlId=2695
22) Rift over recruiting at public high schools
A Seattle high school bars military solicitation, touching off
debate over Iraq war and free speech.
By Dean Paton | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0518/p02s01-ussc.htm
23) Protesters Subjected To 'Pretext Interviews'
FBI Memo Shows No Specific Threats
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 18, 2005; Page A04
"These documents confirm that the FBI's anti-terrorism force
has been collecting information about peaceful protesters and
dissenters and targeting people for attention on the basis of
constitutionally protected association and advocacy," said Mark
Silverstein, legal director of the ACLU's Colorado chapter.
"It lends credence to what a lot of critics have said: that
the FBI is starting to regard some forms of dissent as
potential terrorism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/
AR2005051701240.html
24) Get ready to produce your ID
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/05/18/ed.letters.0518.html
25) British Memo on U.S. Plans for Iraq War Fuels Critics
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: May 20, 2005
WASHINGTON, May 19 - More than two weeks after its publication
in London, a previously secret British government memorandum
that reported in July 2002 that President Bush had decided to
"remove Saddam, through military action" is still creating
a stir among administration critics. They are portraying it
as evidence that Mr. Bush was intent on war with Iraq earlier
than the White House has acknowledged.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20weapons.html?
26) In U.S. Report, Brutal Details of 2 Afghan Inmates' Deaths
By TIM GOLDEN
Published: May 20, 2005
"Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his
American jailers continued to torment him.
The prisoner, a slight, 22-year-old taxi driver known only
as Dilawar, was hauled from his cell at the detention center
in Bagram, Afghanistan, at around 2 a.m. to answer questions
about a rocket attack on an American base. When he arrived in
the interrogation room, an interpreter who was present said,
his legs were bouncing uncontrollably in the plastic chair and
his hands were numb. He had been chained by the wrists to the
top of his cell for much of the previous four days.
Mr. Dilawar asked for a drink of water, and one of the two
interrogators, Specialist Joshua R. Claus, 21, picked up
a large plastic bottle. But first he punched a hole in the
bottom, the interpreter said, so as the prisoner fumbled weakly
with the cap, the water poured out over his orange prison
scrubs. The soldier then grabbed the bottle back and began
squirting the water forcefully into Mr. Dilawar's face.
"Come on, drink!" the interpreter said Specialist Claus had
shouted, as the prisoner gagged on the spray. "Drink!"
At the interrogators' behest, a guard tried to force the young
man to his knees. But his legs, which had been pummeled by
guards for several days, could no longer bend. An interrogator
told Mr. Dilawar that he could see a doctor after they finished
with him. When he was finally sent back to his cell, though,
the guards were instructed only to chain the prisoner back to
the ceiling.
"Leave him up," one of the guards quoted Specialist Claus as
saying.
Several hours passed before an emergency room doctor finally
saw Mr. Dilawar. By then he was dead, his body beginning to
stiffen. It would be many months before Army investigators
learned a final horrific detail: Most of the interrogators
had believed Mr. Dilawar was an innocent man who simply drove
his taxi past the American base at the wrong time."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/
20abuse.html?hp&ex=1116648000&en=6cca0512a38427c3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
27) Dear Friends and Colleagues;
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Sandra Schwartz
(415) 565-0201 x 24
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Website:
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm
28) Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition!
Monday, May 23rd (that‚s THIS Monday)
6:30 8:30pm
The Women‚s Building
3543 18th Street, San Francisco
(between Valencia and Guerrero)
Room A
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) COLLEGE NOT COMBAT
Petition Drive Launch Rally & Signature Gathering Blitz
Saturday, May 28, 10:30 am
16th & Mission Street, San Francisco
(at 16th Street BART stop)
Get the military recruiters out of our schools!
Our goal is to have 100 people collect 4,000 signatures on
this kick-off day. Let us know how much time you can commit
or how many volunteers your organization can commit. We need
to turn in 15,000 signatures by July 11 to get on the November
ballot.
See text of College Not Combat at the end of this announcement.
College Not Combat is endorsed by: Al-Awda SF;
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee-SF Chapter (ADC-SF);
Bay Area United Against War; Campus Anti-war Network, SF;
CCCO's Military Out of the Schools Program; CCSF Revolution Youth;
Free Palestine Alliance; Global Citizen Center; Global Exchange;
Susan Green, Breaking the Silence Mural Project;
International Socialist Organization;
Justice in Palestine Coalition;
National Lawyers Guild SF/Bay Area;
The San Francisco Regional Conference of SEIU Local 790;
San Mateo County Greens; Cindy Sheehan,
Gold Star Families for Peace;
Peter Camejo, Green Party.
(all individual endorsers affiliations are for
ID purposes only)...
more to come!
Organizing meeting this Saturday, May 21, at 3:00 PM at
Haymarket Books, at 110 Capp Street (buzz #202).
All welcome.
For more information or to endorse the campaign, contact:
Jeremy Tully at jeremy_tully2@yahoo.com.
College Not Combat Declaration of Policy
Whereas, over 1500 American soldiers have died and tens
of thousands have been injured physically and psychologically
in Iraq; and,
Whereas, a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, Columbia University School of Nursing and
Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad estimates that
100,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the U.S. invasion
and occupation; and,
Whereas, the U.S. government is forcing soldiers to serve
in Iraq for longer than their contracts require with such
devices as "stop-loss" orders; and,
Whereas, the "No Child Left Behind Act" forces all high
schools that receive federal money to give personal
records of all children to the military for the purposes
of recruiting; and,
Whereas, the federal Solomon Amendment specifically
orders colleges and universities that receive federal
money to violate their own legal policies of non-
discrimination against gays and lesbians by allowing
recruiters for the military, which bars gays and
lesbians from serving openly, on campus; and,
Whereas, a de facto "economic draft" forces tens of
thousands of low and middle-income students to join
the military in order to get money to go to college
or get job or technical training; and,
Whereas, the Pentagon budget, over $400 billion per
year, plus $300 billion more over the last three years
for the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, is draining
desperately needed resources for schools, health care
and jobs; and,
Whereas, the people of San Francisco voted by 63% to
pass Proposition N in November of 2004 calling on the
Federal government to "bring the troops safely home now;"
and,
Whereas, the Federal government shows no sign of ending
the occupation of Iraq or bringing the troops safely
home and, in fact, is threatening military action against
other nations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the people of San Francisco oppose U.S.
military recruiters using public school, college and
university facilities to recruit young people into the
armed forces. Furthermore, San Francisco should oppose
the military's "economic draft" by investigating means
by which to fund and grant scholarships for college and
job training to low-income students so they are not
economically compelled to join the military.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY/
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2) National Day of Action Against Military Recruitment
FRIDAY, MAY 20th
Army "Stands Down", Peace Activists Stand Up!
-Make a call to congress
-Organize an event at a local recruiting station
Busted!
This Friday, May 20, every military recruiting center across
the country will be closed for what the U.S. Army Recruiting
Command calls an "Army Values Stand Down Day." The so-called
"stand down" will be a retraining in ethics for the military's
7,500 recruiters, following a rash of complaints that recruiters
are resorting to unscrupulous tactics to enlist new soldiers.
Highlights of recruiter's lies include:
A Houston Army recruiter threatened to arrest a local young man
if he didn't report that day to the army recruiting station.
case was exposed by Houston's 11 News Defenders.
A CodePink activist met with an Army recruiter in Oakland to
find out what the military could provide her if she was
interested in getting a college education and traveling
the world.
The recruiter squelched her fears of getting sent to Iraq by
assuring her that if she liked, she could serve in Europe.
He added that women are not engaged in combat, and that if
they return home wounded, it is probably because they were
out for a "joyride in a Hummer."
The Army has investigated 480 allegations of impropriety by
recruiters since October 1, 2004. Some of these cases are
still open while 91 of the 480 allegations have thus far
been considered founded. To date, eight recruiters have
been relieved of duty and another 98 have been reprimanded
by their commands. According to the US Army, "a Stand Down
is a time when Recruiting Command takes a pause from the
important task of recruiting." We say to the Army,
"Don't pause, stop!"
This Friday, the Army stands down, but we stand up!
On May 20th, UFPJ, CODEPINK, AFSC and US Campus Anti-War
Network are calling on you to stand up for the demilitarization
of youth. Stand up for student's rights to privacy from the
military.
1) Call your representatives, urge them to support Mike
Honda's "Student Privacy Protection Act," H.R. 551.
This bill would allow students and parents to choose to
provide the military with their contact information, an
"Opt-in" policy, rather than the current "Opt-out" version
which automatically gives recruiters access to students'
information, unless parents specifically file paperwork
to "Opt-out."
-to identify your local reps
(http://www.house.gov
-to find their phone numbers
(http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.html)
2) Organize a demonstration at a local recruiting
station. Invite the press.
Stand UP against predatory recruiters! Stand UP
against the poverty draft! Stand UP for money for
college, not combat! Stand UP for our troops in
Iraq-Bring them home! Stand UP against war profiteers!
Stop this war (and the next one!) now, by stopping
the next generation from becoming cannon fodder!
3) Find an action near you. American Friends Service
Committee has compiled a calendar of counter-recruitment
events on May 20th.
(http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm)
Resources
1) UFPJ's list of counter-military recruitment campaign
resources
(http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2332)
2) American Friends Service Committee: Campaign on
Youth and Militarism (http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/)
3) "Army Recruiters Play Hardball", CBS News. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/
2005/05/10/eveningnews/main694345_page2.shtml)
4) "11 News Defenders Report Leads to Nationwide
Army Stand-Down" (http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/
khou050510_mh_militaryrecruits.2602b7752.html)
5) H.R. 551: "Student Privacy Protection Act"
(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00551:/)
Post: UFPJ@lists.mayfirst.org
List info: https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/ufpj
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) Subject: Recruitment "Stand-Down"
From: Institute for Public Accuracy
Date: May 20, 2005 6:57:32 AM PDT
To: public@lists.accuracy.org
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
Friday, May 20, 2005
Recruitment "Stand-Down"
OSCAR CASTRO, ocastro@afsc.org,
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/default.htm
Castro is coordinator of the National Youth and Militarism
Program for the American Friends Service Committee, which is
organizing teach-ins and demonstrations around the country about
recruitment today. He said: "The Army plans to suspend all
recruiting on May 20. This follows reports of serious recruiter
improprieties -- including fraud and coercion -- having surfaced,
prompting the need, recruiters say, for retraining. We know from
our work that there are systematic unethical and illegal tactics
used by recruiters, particularly in poor communities and
communities of color. And we know [the problem] is growing.
There's a lack of parent and student awareness about the No
Child Left Behind Act (Military Recruiter Provision - Sec. 9528)
that gives recruiters unfettered access to private, confidential
information. Many people join the military without ever really
understanding the fundamentals of what they are doing -- that
they are giving up constitutional rights; that it's a one-way
contract."
NANCY LESSIN, mfso@mfso.org,
http://www.mfso.org, http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
Currently in the Washington, D.C., area, Lessin is co-founder
of Military Families Speak Out. She said today: "This recruitment
'stand-down' will not focus on the real problem, which is
a military that is recruiting men and women to serve in a war
based on lies. Instead, Friday's activity will bring attention
to a 'few bad apple' recruiters and a need for 'more training.
' When given a job to sell a bad product, and placed under
enormous pressure to make more and more sales, bad recruiting
practices are inevitable. Instead of playing PR games, what
the military needs to do is call a stand-down on the war itself."
CINDY SHEEHAN, http://www.gsfp.org, http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/
040805C.shtml
Sheehan is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace,
which is affiliated with MFSO. Her son, Casey, born on Memorial
Day, 1979, was killed in Iraq on Palm Sunday, April 4, 2004.
She said today: "Recruiters lie to our young people -- they
lied to my son. They said -- in writing -- that he could be
a chaplain's assistant, but once he joined they said he had
to choose between being a Humvee mechanic or a cook. They
promised he would get a $20,000 bonus, but he only got $4,000;
they told him the rest would go towards his future education
but he isn't going to have any future education. They said
he would be able to take classes, but after he joined they
always came up with excuses why he couldn't. They told him
he would get a laptop computer and he never did. And, most
insidiously, they told my son that he would never see combat
since he scored so high on the ASVAB (military competency test).
He was in Iraq for only two weeks before he was killed
in combat."
For more information, contact at the Institute for
Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan,
(541) 484-9167
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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public-unsubscribe@lists.accuracy.org
For all list information and functions, including changing
your subscription mode and options, visit the Web page:
http://lists.accuracy.org/lists/info/public
National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force
Marguerite Hiken, co-chair
318 Ortega Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-566-3732
mlhiken@pacbell.net
www.nlg.org/mltf
Kathleen Gilberd, co-chair
1168 Union Street, Ste. 302
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-1701
KathleenGilberd@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) You Helped Protect the Election, Now Help Protect Children
From Military Recruiters Host a June 1 Opt Out Event
Help friends and neighbors Opt Out their kids from No Child
Left Behind's creepy military recruiting clause.
Buried deep within the No Child Left Behind Act is a
provision that requires public high schools to hand over
the private contact information of students in public high
schools to military recruiters. If a school does not comply,
it risks losing vital federal education funds. The good news
is, there's a way for parents to Opt Out their children from
this list.
In 2004 you responded to the call to help protect the election
by volunteering as a pollwatcher on Election Day. Now we need
you to help parents exercise their rights and Opt Out their
children from No Child Left Behind-mandated military
recruiting lists.
Here's how you can make a difference.
Plan an Opt Out event in your community on June 1
On June 1, concerned parents and citizens across the nation
will gather together to fight the military recruiting loophole
in No Child Left Behind. Working Assets, The MMOB (Mainstreet
Moms) and ACORN have joined forces to create the Web site
LeaveMyChildAlone.org and organize Opt Out events in all
50 states as well as the 10 largest school districts in
the country.
By planning an Opt Out gathering or putting the Leave My
Child Alone campaign on the agenda of your progressive
Meetup, you will help get individual kids in your community
off the military recruitment list while working to change
the federal law and improve your local school's
implementation policies. And, you will meet neighbors
who share your own concerns.
It's easy to be an event host -- whether you do it in
your home, a cafe or your local library. We provide all
the materials you need and your friends and neighbors
can sign up to attend at our special event organizing
Web site.
To learn more about hosting, click here now.
Can't host an Opt Out event on June 1? Tell a friend
who can.
If you can't host an Opt Out event on June 1, you can
help the campaign by contacting your friends and family
and finding someone who can.
Who makes a good Opt Out event host? Parents are not
the only ones who care about protecting our children
from military recruiters. Many people who care deeply
about this issue include people concerned about the
occupation of Iraq, people who care about privacy
issues, teachers, clergy, and others.
Take action by forwarding this email to friends and
family you think would be concerned about this issue
and consider joining our nationwide organizing efforts.
Tell your friends about LeaveMyChildAlone.org
You can also help by simply telling your friends about
the Opt Out resources at LeaveMyChildAlone.org, a joint
project of Working Assets, The MMOB and ACORN.
At LeaveMyChildAlone.org you can:
1) Sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of U.S.
Representative Mike Honda's Student Privacy
Protection Act.
2) Opt Out your own child, or learn how the process
works so you can tell your friends.
3) Adopt-a-School-Board by downloading the Working
Assets AASB toolkit: everything you need to know to
help your local schools do it right.
4) Host an event to help others Opt Out on
Wednesday, June 1st.
5) Tell your friends how to become a part of our
campaign.Click here to tell your friends now.
Sincerely,
Michael Kieschnick
President, Working Assets
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and
help spread the word about this important campaign!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) The Deserters: Awol Crisis Hits the US Forces
As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an
all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now
refusing to serve their country. Andrew Buncombe reports
16 May 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=638635
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
6) Real Wages Fall as
Attack on US Workers Intensifies
By Joseph Kay
16 May 2005
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
WSWS :News & Analysis :North America
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/may2005/wage-m16.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
7) Please support Mike Honda's legislation to limit military
access to school children.
peace,
vicki
http://www.leavemychildalone.org/index.cfm?event=signPetition&pid=1
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
8) For Female GIs, Combat Is a Fact
By Ann Scott Tyson
The Washington Post
Friday 13 May 2005
Many duties in Iraq put women at risk despite restrictive policy.
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/051605WA.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
9) PhotoID: 200541992714
Submitted by: 9th Marine Corps District
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Wal-Mart Award
Col. John M. Dunn, 9th Marine Corps District commanding officer,
presents Troy Steiner, marketing director for Wal-Mart, and Keely
Beene, manager Wal-Mart Television Network, with a Certificate
of Commendation at the Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville,
Ark., April 7. After being contacted by Capt. Tyler T. Vance,
the 9th District, recruiting advertising officer, Steiner and
Beene organized $1,120,000 worth of free airplay of USMC
commercials at 2,600 locations on Wal-Mart's in-store television
network. In addition to the 16 weeks of free broadcasting, the
well-known retailer will also run free Toys-for-Tots public
service announcements leading up to the holiday season.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/
200541992714?opendocument
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
10)U.S. Charges Cuban Militant With Illegally Entering Country
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 19, 2005
Filed at 1:20 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Cuban-
Militant.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=13d1a473764617d7&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
11) When Richer Weds Poorer, Money Isn't the Only Difference
By TAMAR LEWIN
NORTHFIELD, Mass.
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/national/class/MARRIAGE-FINAL.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
12) Generals Offer a Sober Outlook on Iraqi War
By JOHN F. BURNS and ERIC SCHMITT
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/international/middleeast/19cnd-iraq.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
13) Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs
By TIM WEINER
May 18, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/18/business/18space.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
14) The Personal Evolution of a Civil Rights Giant
Museum Review | 'Malcolm X: A Search for Truth'
By EDWARD ROTHSTEIN
Published: May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/design/19malccut.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
15) Garfield volunteers for military recruiting battle
By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Thursday, May 19, 2005
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224957_recruit19.html
Sgt. Melisa Porter had just spread out the freebies yesterday
on her Army of One table -- give-away pens, pencils, computer
games, slick brochures -- when the anti-recruiting leader
arrived ready to do battle.
"Do you understand that we don't want you here?" said PTSA
co-Chairwoman Amy Hagopian, who came to the Garfield High
School lunchroom carrying pictures of Iraq vets maimed in war.
"Do you see these pictures of people who come home with
prosthetics? Do you see them?" challenged Hagopian, a University
of Washington assistant professor in health administration and
the mother of a senior at Garfield.
"My uncle was injured in Iraq in March," responded the young
new recruiter. "And you know what? He feels it was worth it!"
Yesterday was the first day military recruiters have been on
campus since the Garfield High School PTSA passed a resolution
seeking to oust them from public-school campuses. The resolution,
first of its kind in the state, passed May 9.
"Given the seriousness of what they are requesting people to
participate in, we'd just prefer they not be on school grounds,
which are supposed to be protected space for students," said
Hagopian.
Seattle School District officials responded to the resolution
with a statement that it is illegal to ban only military
recruiters. Under the Bush administration's No Child Left
Behind Act, military recruiters must be granted the same
access to students as college recruiters or job recruiters
at schools that get federal money.
The face-off in the lunchroom comes on the eve of tomorrow's
national "stand-down" day for Army recruiters. Military
commanders described the one-day halt as an effort to
re-educate an estimated 7,500 recruiters on proper conduct.
With recruitment falling far short of quotas -- overall
enlistment in the all-volunteer forces is down about 12 percent
since 2001 -- the pumped-up ranks of recruiters are desperate to
"make mission." Some are abusing rules to do it.
Since October last year, the Army has investigated about 480
allegations of impropriety. So far 91 have been confirmed, eight
recruiters have been relieved of duty, and 98 have been
admonished.
Cases with disciplinary action pending include a Houston
recruiter who threatened a wavering student with arrest if
he backed out. Another recruiter in Colorado faces punishment
for helping a student who claimed to be a dropout fake
a high-school diploma and buy products to clean traces of
drugs from his system.
Earlier this month, a New York Times investigation cited
cases of recruiters hiding police records and mental histories
of enlistees and providing cheat sheets for tests.
"Having the stand-down is basically to reaffirm the integrity
of recruiting, to talk about what's right, what's honest,"
said Sgt. Darrell McAllister, a recruiter who showed up at
Garfield to help Porter pack up and leave after reporters
descended on her.
McAllister said they had suddenly been called by commanders
for an inspection of recruiting tools.
Students watching yesterday's confrontation had a mix of
opinions. Sophomore Ismail Hamza, sipping water from Marine
recruiters' give-away bottle, said it was OK by him if they
were there. But he had no intention of signing up. "You're
just going to Iraq. That's all you're going to do."
Local career counselors have received numerous complaints that
recruiters are soft-pedaling combat in Iraq in their pitches.
"They're trying to assure students they won't be sent overseas,"
Garfield career counselor Karin Engstrom said.
"You can't do that."
Yesterday recruiter Porter told two students that, while
there's always a chance of going to Iraq, a lot of Army
Reserve jobs are "less risky ... like truck drivers."
U.S. military transportation units have suffered significant
casualties in Iraq in random roadside bombings.
Engstrom has told Porter and other recruiters that they can
be on campus only one day a month, and all must come on the
same day -- the better to monitor them. She makes sure to
pass out sheets describing "Ten Points to Consider Before
You Sign a Military Enlistment Agreement" when they are there.
Garfield, whose highly diverse student body of 1,600 is 56.9
percent non-white, has taken controversial stands before.
In 2002, it came up with a resolution opposing an invasion
of Iraq.
The new PTSA anti-recruiting resolution states that joining
the military can be a "life and death" decision.
Opinions on it have been strong from all quarters. Navy Chief
Petty Officer Robert Born wrote in to the school's newspaper:
"I find this to be quite bothersome, as it is the military
that provides your school and our country the freedom to speak
without fear of censorship."
Other anti-recruiting movements are also picking up steam.
In recent months, college students in California and New York
have forced recruiters off campus, and in Boston, activists
dumped 5 gallons of fake blood on the doorstep of a recruiting
center.
In the Puget Sound area, a group of students and parents stopped
a Blackhawk helicopter from landing on fields at Bainbridge
Island High School in April. The students said the helicopter,
used for Army National Guard recruiting tours, was war propaganda.
Earlier this month, a student at Foss High School in Tacoma
sent e-mails to thousands of activists across the country,
urging them to call school officials after plans for an
anti-recruitment "teach-in" hit administrative roadblocks.
Some students at Garfield are planning a walkout Monday and
a march on Army recruiting headquarters down the street.
But not everyone is on board.
Yesterday senior Timmel Bowens, who has signed up with the
Army but is still trying to pass the aptitude tests, said
having recruiters on campus is "cool" and that the PTSA
resolution is "not right."
"Why would you prohibit recruiters from coming to high schools
if there are students trying to join up?" he asked, after
picking up a giveaway computer game called "Special Forces"
from recruiter Porter's freebie table.
He has seen the game before. "It's like you go 'round and
just kill people basically," said Bowens.
That works for him, onscreen or in real life, Iraq -
or whatever.
"To me, going overseas and killing people, I would feel
happy about myself for that," he said.
This report includes information from The Associated
Press. P-I reporter M.L. Lyke can be reached at 206-448-8344 or
m.l.lyke@seattlepi.com
(c) 1998-2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
16) Our entire way of life is at stake
May 17, 2005
BY JESSE JACKSON
And now the ''nuclear option.'' Republican Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist vows to blow up the Senate by getting the Republican
majority to outlaw any filibuster against President Bush's judicial
nominees. Democrats have approved 208 of Bush's 218 nominees,
but are blocking 10 as too extreme. That is unacceptable to Frist.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse17.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
17) U.S. Claims Over Siege Challenged
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail
*As with the siege of Fallujah six months back, U.S. claims over the
siege of the Iraqi town Al Qa'im are being challenged now by independent
sources.*
AMMAN, May 19 (IPS) - As with the siege of Fallujah six months back,
U.S. claims over the siege of the Iraqi town Al Qa'im are being
challenged now by independent sources.
The U.S. military claims a "successful" end to the weeklong operation
earlier this month around Al-Qa'im, a town about 320km west of Baghdad
close to the Syrian border. The operation was launched against what the
U.S. military saw as the presence of Al-Qaeda fighters in the town.
Iraqi civilians and doctors in the area say no foreign fighters were
present in the town. Al Qa'im and surrounding areas have suffered great
destruction, and many in the town population of 110,000 were killed,
they say.
Abu Ahmed, a resident of Al-Qa'im, told IPS on telephone that "all the
fighters here are Iraqis from this area."
He said continuing violations by U.S. soldiers had provoked people into
confronting the occupying forces. He said troops had been raiding homes,
sending women into the streets without their hijabs and entering areas
where women sleep.
"The fighters are just local people who refuse to be treated like dogs,"
he said. "Nobody wants the Americans here."
Abd al-Khaliq al-Rawi, head of communications for the local government
in Al-Qa'im said on Al-Jazeera television that the fighters were all
local Iraqis. "We have not seen any outsiders. The fighters are from the
area. They are resisting the occupation."
Al Qa'im and surrounding areas were besieged by U.S. forces for a week
by about 1,000 troops backed by warplanes, tanks and helicopters as a
part of 'Operation Matador'. The U.S. military claims the operation was
a success in that 125 "militants" were killed in an effort to search for
followers of the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
But accounts of the operation from non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), Iraqi doctors and civilians differ greatly from those put
forward by the military.
"Qa'im is still surrounded by the MNF (Multinational Forces), and we've
yet to get any humanitarian workers into the city," Daunia Pavone,
programme manager for the Italian NGO consortium Solidarity told IPS in
Amman, Jordan. The bombing had stopped, she said, but they did not know
when it might resume and were unable therefore to send aid workers into
the area.
"The Americans said they could not get inside the city," Pavone said.
"Once the Americans surrounded the city nobody was able to get out. So
we are very concerned that there are a large number of civilian
casualties inside the city."
Pavone said that about 12,000 Iraqis had left Al-Qaim, and that the rest
had remained trapped inside. "I think there will be lots of civilian
casualties," she said.
At least nine soldiers were killed and more than 40 wounded during the
siege, according to the U.S. military.
The U.S. military has made no statement on civilian casualties, but
witnesses say scores of innocent Iraqis were killed.
The city centre "has been almost completely destroyed," the director of
Al-Qa'im hospital Dr. Hamdi Al-Alusi told Al-Jazeera television. He said
the casualties included many women, children and elderly people, and
appealed to humanitarian organisations to intervene quickly.
"Ambulances were prevented from moving and the medical teams have left
the city centre because it has been destroyed," Al-Alusi said during the
siege. Water and electricity networks have been destroyed and "there are
scores of wounded people and scores of victims who cannot reach the
hospital or anywhere else. We pray to god and implore the whole world to
look into what happened to Al-Qa'im and adjacent cities."
Rafa Asahab, a Syrian who lives in Abu Kemal village on the Syrian
border told IPS he saw some of the effects of the siege. "At least 100
civilians in Al-Qa'im have been killed," he said. U.S. warplanes also
entered Syrian airspace many times, he said.
Eyewitnesses said U.S. jets and helicopters also attacked surrounding
Al-Karabilah, Al-Jazirah and Al-Quaydat towns. "Medical staff confirmed
the killing of civilians by helicopter gunfire," Dr. Muhammad Abud
reported on Al-Sharqiyah television. He said ambulance crews had
difficulty retrieving some bodies that had been ripped apart.
Adil al-Rawi, an eyewitness in Al-Qa'im said on Al-Arabiya television
during the siege that U.S. forces had shelled the hospital. "They are
using warplanes, mortar shells and tanks to shell the city
indiscriminately, hurt citizens and bomb the houses with warplanes."
Many people in the towns need medical aid, and the thousands of
residents who fled need water, food, tents and blankets, Pavone said.
The siege came as violence and bloodshed continue to escalate in Iraq
amidst rising opposition to U.S. forces. Tensions rose further when
anti-occupation Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr made another demand Monday
that the United States withdraw from Iraq. Al-Sadr had launched a bloody
Intifadah (militant uprising) against occupation forces last summer in
Najaf, Hilla and the Sadr City area of Baghdad.
Last week the new Iraqi government announced a continuation of the state
of emergency (excepting in the Kurdish region in the north). Emergency
was declared on Nov. 7, 2004. Most of the country has remained under
martial law ever since, despite elections in January this year.
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
You are subscribed to the Dahr Jamail's email Iraq Dispatches because you requested
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---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
18) La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
At 5 PM, the crowd starts addressing passing drivers, merchants and
neighbors through chanting: "No Justice, No Peace!" "Justicia Para
Julio Ayala!", while drivers blow their horn back , some even joining
our contingent. Among speakers: Tania Ortega, Julio's sister, his
parents Julio Sr. and Mirna Ayala, Renee Saucedo (SF La Raza Centro
Legal),Marylon Boyd (mother of Cammerin Boyd, 28 yr. disabled Black
Brother killed by SFPD on 5-5-04),Brother Lucas from the Campaign to
End the Death Penalty, Rita Akayama from October 22 Against Police
Brutality Coalition, Jose Luis Pavon from SF Coleman Advocates,
Brother Antonio from SF Carecen. The event is M.C'ed by Sister Kissi,
fierce young activist and Member of the SF Bayview Campain to End the
Death Penalty Chapter, who leads us into prayer after our 2-hour rally
and protest.
We soon start wondering: "where is the police?"... Mr. Ayala steps up
and looks through City Hall's front door peep hole, and lets us know:
" they are 7 or 8 inside" (likely ready for us, just in case...)
"Look! they are videotaping us from 2 cameras by the 2nd floor
windows" (no stop for the next 2 hours). Love and unity is strong,
surrounded as we are by community activists, many young Latino homies
dressed in black and proudling wearing their Justice4JulioAyala
T-shirts, Julio's huge extended family. Mr. Frank Rosenberg, whose son
was killed by Hayward PD 5 years ago while experiencing a mental
health crisis, holds high his October 22 Against Police Brutality
sign, telling it like it is: "We''ll NEVER give up!", while younsters
and seniors alike are chanting: "1, We are the People! 2. A little bit
LOUDER! 3, Justice4JulioAyala !".At first watching timidly at a safe
distance, bystanders, mostly Latinos, start to join the protest and
pick up signs, chanting: "Justice4 Julio Ayala!"
The harassment of Julio's family and buddies has already been set in
motion, in an attempt to demonize them and weaken Justice4JulioAyala's
Campaign: phone interrogations of Tony, his childhood friend and his
sister Tanya, who simply state that they have nothing to divulge...
Yet, at our very protest, a way more despictable violation of our
right to protest occurs, in total disrespect of the safety of our
participants, including parents with young children.... A late model
black Mitsubishi with tainted windows slowly drives by, and a bottle
flies at our crowd, as the car suddlenly speeds away... Young Brother
Paulo, forehead and left brow spurting blood, is badly cut, and rushed
to the Ivy Clinic by his homies. I carefully pick up the broken bottle
from the ground covered with blood, for police investigation &
fingerprinting (yeah, right...will call Sam Mateo PD and make a report
anyhow).We do NOT call 911, as we figure Holice serves and protects
the ruling class, and keep assaulting Po' People of Color !
This cowardly attempt to silence the Ayalas and the community is not
working! Silence is killing La Raza as surely as evil doers. Mrs.
Marylon Boyd, greeted with warm applaud tells the crowd: "This must
end! You are fighting for Julio's memory but also for all other
families and for your own lives ! None of our children should die this
way ! No more, in California, in the US!"
A homie is quietly burning sage in the background, and a donation can,
decorated with October 22 logo: "Danger ! Police in Area" is passed
around, as we notice even humble poor folks fumbling through their
pockets and adding their few cents to the Justice4Julio Campaign.
Except for La Radio Grande 10/10 and San Mateo Daily Journal, the
media did not respond to Justice4Julio press release about our
protest... Are we surprised? The bigger the scandal, the longer the
cover up through the corporate media! Hate mongers injuring a teen of
Color at the rally, watch out: To the perpetrators of Genocide &War
against Black and Brown, YOU KNOW that We, DA People are a force to be
reckoned with ! The bull horns are now switching hands, as we shout
toward Police video cameras upon leaving SSF City Hall : "We'll be
back ! Every month, we'll be back, assassins !"
Today Idriss Stelley Foundation E-mailed San Mateo Board of
Supervisors requesting their June calendar for the community to
schedule a special hearing, demanding answers about the PD killing of
Julio Ayala, at their earliest (if not zealous) convenience.
Tentatively June 6th, later to be confirmed. Unlike SF, San Mateo does
not have a police Commission (which comprises 3 community elected
commissioners, while 4 are nominated by Mayor Newsome), but a City
Council, exclusivity appointed by their Mayor, with only 1 non-white
appointee.
The Ayala Family demands immediate release of:
* San Mateo Police and DA reports
* Coroner's report
* List of witnesses to Julio's execution
* Name of all 13 "Peace Officers" involved in Julio's wrongful death
* Launching of a federal investigation
* Justicia para Julio Ayala, NOW !
For further background on the PD killing of Julio Ayala,
you can log onto
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio/
Mail to Julio's family can be sent at
Justice4Julio@yahoogroups.com
8Y9fGsj5ee9WxKDopmxY5srLx1Ovuu22YCvfscGSn>
or iolmisha@cs.com
xLXDO8HEl7EH>
If you have any information on the killing of Julio Ayala, or want to
sent messages of support to his family, call (415) 595-8251 Idriss
Stelley Foundation (ISF) 24HR Bilingual crisis line.
La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
At 5 PM, the crowd starts addressing passing drivers, merchants and
neighbors through chanting: "No Justice, No Peace!" "Justicia Para
Julio Ayala!", while drivers blow their horn back , some even joining
our contingent. Among speakers: Tania Ortega, Julio's sister, his
parents Julio Sr. and Mirna Ayala, Renee Saucedo (SF La Raza Centro
Legal),Marylon Boyd (mother of Cammerin Boyd, 28 yr. disabled Black
Brother killed by SFPD on 5-5-04),Brother Lucas from the Campaign to
End the Death Penalty, Rita Akayama from October 22 Against Police
Brutality Coalition, Jose Luis Pavon from SF Coleman Advocates,
Brother Antonio from SF Carecen. The event is M.C'ed by Sister Kissi,
fierce young activist and Member of the SF Bayview Campain to End the
Death Penalty Chapter, who leads us into prayer after our 2-hour rally
and protest.
We soon start wondering: "where is the police?"... Mr. Ayala steps up
and looks through City Hall's front door peep hole, and lets us know:
" they are 7 or 8 inside" (likely ready for us, just in case...)
"Look! they are videotaping us from 2 cameras by the 2nd floor
windows" (no stop for the next 2 hours). Love and unity is strong,
surrounded as we are by community activists, many young Latino homies
dressed in black and proudling wearing their Justice4JulioAyala
T-shirts, Julio's huge extended family. Mr. Frank Rosenberg, whose son
was killed by Hayward PD 5 years ago while experiencing a mental
health crisis, holds high his October 22 Against Police Brutality
sign, telling it like it is: "We''ll NEVER give up!", while younsters
and seniors alike are chanting: "1, We are the People! 2. A little bit
LOUDER! 3, Justice4JulioAyala !".At first watching timidly at a safe
distance, bystanders, mostly Latinos, start to join the protest and
pick up signs, chanting: "Justice4 Julio Ayala!"
The harassment of Julio's family and buddies has already been set in
motion, in an attempt to demonize them and weaken Justice4JulioAyala's
Campaign: phone interrogations of Tony, his childhood friend and his
sister Tanya, who simply state that they have nothing to divulge...
Yet, at our very protest, a way more despictable violation of our
right to protest occurs, in total disrespect of the safety of our
participants, including parents with young children.... A late model
black Mitsubishi with tainted windows slowly drives by, and a bottle
flies at our crowd, as the car suddlenly speeds away... Young Brother
Paulo, forehead and left brow spurting blood, is badly cut, and rushed
to the Ivy Clinic by his homies. I carefully pick up the broken bottle
from the ground covered with blood, for police investigation &
fingerprinting (yeah, right...will call Sam Mateo PD and make a report
anyhow).We do NOT call 911, as we figure Holice serves and protects
the ruling class, and keep assaulting Po' People of Color !
This cowardly attempt to silence the Ayalas and the community is not
working! Silence is killing La Raza as surely as evil doers. Mrs.
Marylon Boyd, greeted with warm applaud tells the crowd: "This must
end! You are fighting for Julio's memory but also for all other
families and for your own lives ! None of our children should die this
way ! No more, in California, in the US!"
A homie is quietly burning sage in the background, and a donation can,
decorated with October 22 logo: "Danger ! Police in Area" is passed
around, as we notice even humble poor folks fumbling through their
pockets and adding their few cents to the Justice4Julio Campaign.
Except for La Radio Grande 10/10 and San Mateo Daily Journal, the
media did not respond to Justice4Julio press release about our
protest... Are we surprised? The bigger the scandal, the longer the
cover up through the corporate media! Hate mongers injuring a teen of
Color at the rally, watch out: To the perpetrators of Genocide &War
against Black and Brown, YOU KNOW that We, DA People are a force to be
reckoned with ! The bull horns are now switching hands, as we shout
toward Police video cameras upon leaving SSF City Hall : "We'll be
back ! Every month, we'll be back, assassins !"
Today Idriss Stelley Foundation E-mailed San Mateo Board of
Supervisors requesting their June calendar for the community to
schedule a special hearing, demanding answers about the PD killing of
Julio Ayala, at their earliest (if not zealous) convenience.
Tentatively June 6th, later to be confirmed. Unlike SF, San Mateo does
not have a police Commission (which comprises 3 community elected
commissioners, while 4 are nominated by Mayor Newsome), but a City
Council, exclusivity appointed by their Mayor, with only 1 non-white
appointee.
The Ayala Family demands immediate release of:
* San Mateo Police and DA reports
* Coroner's report
* List of witnesses to Julio's execution
* Name of all 13 "Peace Officers" involved in Julio's wrongful death
* Launching of a federal investigation
* Justicia para Julio Ayala, NOW !
For further background on the PD killing of Julio Ayala, you can log onto
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio/
Mail to Julio's family can be sent at
Justice4Julio@yahoogroups.com
8Y9fGsj5ee9WxKDopmxY5srLx1Ovuu22YCvfscGSn>
or iolmisha@cs.com
xLXDO8HEl7EH>
If you have any information on the killing of Julio Ayala, or want to
sent messages of support to his family, call (415) 595-8251 Idriss
Stelley Foundation (ISF) 24HR Bilingual crisis line.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
19) East Bay School Bans Military Recruiters On Campus
(ABC7)May 16 (ABC7) - Military recruiters on colleges campuses
have always been controversial, especially among students and
faculty who claim anti-war status. Harvard Law School has banned
the recruiters and one Bay Area college is trying to do the same.
ABC7's Lyanne Melendez reports.
More local news... College campuses are fertile ground for
military recruiters.
Sgt. George Moore, U.S. Army: "Everybody knows that our average
market is between 18 and 25. It's the market that we look for."
The student government of Chabot College recently voted to ban
recruiters. Students say the military's "don't ask, don't tell"
policy discriminates against gays.
Christina Jupp, student government member: "We're not out to get
the military, we're out to defend our non-discrimination policy."
Anti-discrimination signs are everywhere on campus. The student
government now says it wants to make a larger statement by asking
the military to leave.
Joseph Trujillo, student government member: "From what I know,
we are going to be the first college taking on military recruiters
using our non-discrimination policy."
The first perhaps in California. Harvard Law School and a few
other universities have already won the right to ban military
recruiters after suing the government.
It was the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said Harvard
could ban military recruiters on campus without fear of losing
federal funding. But the decision has no influence over Chabot
College or any other university in California.
So, Chabot could potentially lose its funding.
Melinda Matsuda, Chabot College vice president: "Our students
receive financial aid all of our low-income students and if that
were jeopardized, that would be a big issue."
Sgt. George Moore: "The president and congress passed that law
"don't ask, don't tell." All we do is operate within the
framework of what the president and congress laid out for us,
we have no choice."
Chabot's college council will discuss the proposed ban on
Friday. From there it would go before the college's board
of trustees.
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY/
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
20) "Democracy" in Iraq
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 18, 2005
I neither read nor listen to corporate
media drivel concerning Iraq...but today
I wonder what they could possibly be
saying to justify the failed occupation of
Iraq on this horrible day. I also wonder
how people in America have yet to take
the appropriate action necessary in
order to force their government to impeach
Bush and bring him and his regime to
justice for the countless war crimes they
have committed in Iraq.
Yesterday Hassan Nuaimi, high ranking
member of the Association of Muslim
Scholars (AMS) was found dead in Baghdad.
One of his arms was broken and a hole
was drilled into the side of his head.
This coming the day after the AMS had
accused the Shia led governmnet of state
sponsored terrorism by using the Badr
Brigades to murder Sunnis.
In response to the murdering of Nuaimi,
two Shia clerics were gunned down in
Baghdad yesterday.
Harith al-Dhari, head of the AMS, blamed
the Shia Badr Brigades for the recent
spate of killings of Sunni clerics in the country.
Dhari, making a statement that could
be interpreted as an announcement of civil
war, said Sunnis would not keep silent
over the killings.
"We are heading towards a catastrophe,
only God knows when it will end, this is
a warning from us," he said angrily.
The Badr Brigades were in exile in
Iran during much of Saddam's rule, and
returned to Iraq after the invasion
and have been a fully operational militia
in Iraq ever since. I have seen their
members in full uniform and with heavy
weapons in Baghdad during a Shia
demonstration last summer. The Badr Brigades
was headed for years by Abdul Aziz
al-Hakim, the head of the Shiite United
Iraqi Alliance who won the largest
percentage of votes in the January 30
"election."
There has been a low-grade civil war
going on for quite some time-but now the
veil has been ripped off by the statements
made by Dhari.
All Sunni mosques in Iraq will be closed
for three days...an ominous symbol of
things to come.
Thus, any argument that the US military
should remain in Iraq to prevent a civil
war can be flushed. Besides, anyone
arguing that the US military was there to
protect the Iraqi people is either blind,
in denial, or knows absolutely
nothing about the reality on the ground
in occupied Iraq. The US military in
Iraq are unable even to protect
themselves, let alone civilians.
I conducted an informal interview
two days ago with a UN official here in
Amman...thus I'll leave his name
out of this...for now. He told me that 95% of
the reconstruction funds for rebuilding
Iraq have been spent outside of Iraq.
So the argument of staying in Iraq to
help rebuild the country-that too could
have been flushed long ago. Want to
find someone accountable-look to some of
the larger contributors to the Bush
Administration. We all know their names by
now. Check their profit margins as
of late while you're at it.
I watched the news about the aforementioned
statements by al-Dahri on Al-Jazeera
with one of my close Iraqi friends here.
As we watched the large funeral
procession with the body of the
murdered cleric while al-Dahri made his
ferocious statements, I watched her
head drop into her hands as she said
softly, "This is so horrible what
has happened to my country since the
Americans came."
And she couldn't be more correct.
For the Bush Administration is guilty under
international law for the catastrophe
Iraq has become. Under international law
it is the primary responsibility of
the occupier to safeguard the citizens of
the country they occupy.
For the Bush Administration, that means
over 100,000 dead Iraqis and counting.
Other news most likely ommitted by most
corporate television outlets in the US
today?
In Baquba a car bomb detonated near
a police convoy which injured 18 people,
most of them policemen.
In Kirkuk 7 bodies of Iraqis who
worked for a security company were found.
In Baghdad a roadside bomb aimed
at a US convoy injured 7 Iraqis.
A Transport Ministry driver was
shot dead in Sadr City.
In Beji 2 Iraqi police were killed
by a car bomb.
In Mosul mortar attacks killed
2 Iraqis and injured 7 school kids.
So that's nearly 500 dead Iraqis
in a little over two weeks to add to the list
of crimes for the Bush Administration,
which grows longer with each passing
day.
More writing, photos and commentary at
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
Iraq_Dispatches mailing list
http://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
21) Stealth Recruiting Ad Sparks Criticism
By Nathaniel R. Helms
http://www.sftt.org/
main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpDefense&htmlCategoryI
D=30&htmlId=2695
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
22) Rift over recruiting at public high schools
A Seattle high school bars military solicitation, touching off
debate over Iraq war and free speech.
By Dean Paton | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0518/p02s01-ussc.htm
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
23) Protesters Subjected To 'Pretext Interviews'
FBI Memo Shows No Specific Threats
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 18, 2005; Page A04
"These documents confirm that the FBI's anti-terrorism force
has been collecting information about peaceful protesters and
dissenters and targeting people for attention on the basis of
constitutionally protected association and advocacy," said Mark
Silverstein, legal director of the ACLU's Colorado chapter.
"It lends credence to what a lot of critics have said: that
the FBI is starting to regard some forms of dissent as
potential terrorism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/
AR2005051701240.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
24) Get ready to produce your ID
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/05/18/ed.letters.0518.html
The latest sign of the times will now fit in your pocket.
Congress passed the Real ID Act and President Bush will sign it.
Beginning in May 2008, in order to travel by air or rail, or
to work for, contract with or deal with any federal agency -
including the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security
Administration - you will be required to have an electronically
readable and traceable national identification card.
The ubiquitous public surveillance cameras that invade our lives
24/7 were obviously not sufficient to remind us that we are no
longer citizens, but subjects. Now, we must bear the technological,
social and financial equivalent of livestock ear tags. Our
freedom is being lost under the guise of national security.
When will we learn that those who trade their freedom for security
ultimately lose both? When did we forget that the government is
ours to control, and not vice versa?
Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas once said: "As nightfall
does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances,
there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged.
And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of
change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting
victims of the darkness."
This present twilight now barely conceals the sinister political
darkness that would already be upon us. Repeal the Patriot Act!
Repeal the Real ID Act! Tear down the cameras, get angry, speak
out and be free.
GEORGE L. DERR
Eugene
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
25) British Memo on U.S. Plans for Iraq War Fuels Critics
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: May 20, 2005
WASHINGTON, May 19 - More than two weeks after its publication
in London, a previously secret British government memorandum
that reported in July 2002 that President Bush had decided to
"remove Saddam, through military action" is still creating
a stir among administration critics. They are portraying it
as evidence that Mr. Bush was intent on war with Iraq earlier
than the White House has acknowledged.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20weapons.html?
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
26) In U.S. Report, Brutal Details of 2 Afghan Inmates' Deaths
By TIM GOLDEN
Published: May 20, 2005
"Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his
American jailers continued to torment him.
The prisoner, a slight, 22-year-old taxi driver known only
as Dilawar, was hauled from his cell at the detention center
in Bagram, Afghanistan, at around 2 a.m. to answer questions
about a rocket attack on an American base. When he arrived in
the interrogation room, an interpreter who was present said,
his legs were bouncing uncontrollably in the plastic chair and
his hands were numb. He had been chained by the wrists to the
top of his cell for much of the previous four days.
Mr. Dilawar asked for a drink of water, and one of the two
interrogators, Specialist Joshua R. Claus, 21, picked up
a large plastic bottle. But first he punched a hole in the
bottom, the interpreter said, so as the prisoner fumbled weakly
with the cap, the water poured out over his orange prison
scrubs. The soldier then grabbed the bottle back and began
squirting the water forcefully into Mr. Dilawar's face.
"Come on, drink!" the interpreter said Specialist Claus had
shouted, as the prisoner gagged on the spray. "Drink!"
At the interrogators' behest, a guard tried to force the young
man to his knees. But his legs, which had been pummeled by
guards for several days, could no longer bend. An interrogator
told Mr. Dilawar that he could see a doctor after they finished
with him. When he was finally sent back to his cell, though,
the guards were instructed only to chain the prisoner back to
the ceiling.
"Leave him up," one of the guards quoted Specialist Claus as
saying.
Several hours passed before an emergency room doctor finally
saw Mr. Dilawar. By then he was dead, his body beginning to
stiffen. It would be many months before Army investigators
learned a final horrific detail: Most of the interrogators
had believed Mr. Dilawar was an innocent man who simply drove
his taxi past the American base at the wrong time."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/
20abuse.html?hp&ex=1116648000&en=6cca0512a38427c3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
27) Dear Friends and Colleagues;
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Sandra Schwartz
(415) 565-0201 x 24
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Website:
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm
STAND UP for Truth in Recruiting: ONE DAY IS NOT ENOUGH!!
Spokespeople Available for On-Site Interviews
Press conference:
3:00 pm, Friday, May 20, 2005
Davis Street Army Recruiting Station, San Francisco, CA
What:
* Exposure of the unethical and illegal tactics used by
recruiters to "sign-up" young people into the military
* Lack of parent & student awareness about the No Child
Left Behind Act (Military Recruiter Provision - Sec. 9528)
that gives recruiters access to private, confidential student
information.
* Stop-loss orders that effectively nullify military
service agreements.
Why: The Army plans to suspend all recruiting tomorrow,
May 20, because of reports of widespread abuses in enlistment
tactics. Reports of serious recruiter improprieties - including
fraud and coercion - have surfaced, prompting the need,
recruiters say, for retraining. Recruiters give the impression
that a few "bad apples" are violating standards, due to the
increased difficulty of meeting recruitment quotas during
the extended war and occupation of Iraq. We know that one
day is not enough to change a culture that demands aggressive
recruitment tactics that minimize the reality of a soldier's
life, overstate military benefits, and mythologize war.
Where: Army Recruiting Station, 670 Davis, San Francisco, CA
Interviews available from the following:
STEVE MORSE, is the GI Rights Program Coordinator for the
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors in Oakland,
doing coordination work for the GI Rights Hotline Network
which answered 32,000 calls in 2004. In the US Army from
1969 through 1971, he saw combat in Vietnam and was active
in the GI Resistance movement. He is an active member of
Veterans for Peace Chapter 69 in San Francisco.
JOSH SONDHEIMER attorney working on the stop loss legal
case, Doe vrs. Rumsfeld.
Members from the SF School Board
SANDRA SCHWARTZ coordinator of the AFSC Peace Education program.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
28) Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition!
Monday, May 23rd (that‚s THIS Monday)
6:30 8:30pm
The Women‚s Building
3543 18th Street, San Francisco
(between Valencia and Guerrero)
Room A
Continue the work to restore full reproductive rights
to women nationwide! Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition! Help continue the work
that was started in January 2005.
Join Bay Area activists as we envision next year‚s Roe
v. Wade day. Last January, more than 4,000 anti choice
groups marched in our streets, telling us that women
are better off with less choice! Just last week,
Operation Rescue came to town to harass doctors and
medical personnel from the College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists for continuing to offer training to
abortion providers. Operation Rescue has also targeted
an abortion provider in North Oakland, and says that
the Bay Area will be targeted for protests.
Finally, Americans United for Life have successfully
gathered together enough signatures to place the
California Parental Notification Act on the ballot in
November, which puts young women‚s right to abortion
and privacy in grave danger. And to top it off, the
„Walk for LifeˆWest Coast‰ will be back next January
22nd.
Where will you be?
Join us Monday night.
Keep Abortion Legal. Defend and Extend Full
Reproductive Rights for ALL!
Call 415-252-3206 or 415-864-1278, or email
rwbayarea@yahoo.com for more information or to be
contacted for future organizing.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: May 21, 2005
"NEW DELHI, May 20 - In one of Pakistan's most exclusive
private schools for boys, the annual play this year was
"Guantánamo," a docudrama based on testimonies of prisoners
in Guantánamo Bay, the United States naval base in Cuba."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/international/asia/
21gitmo.html?hp&ex=1116734400&en=a7ee3f336b4069f3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
2) For Army Recruiters, a Day of Rules, and Little Else
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: May 21, 2005
The one-day suspension, he said, was an effort to emphasize
that "taking shortcuts" to reach the Army's goal of 101,200
active-duty and Reserve recruits this year is unacceptable.
...Recruiters, however, said they doubted much would change.
As of April 25, the Army had recruited 35,926 active-duty
soldiers, far short of its goal of 80,000 for the fiscal
year that began in October."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/national/21recruit.html?
3) The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee to boost
enlistment and Re-enlistment bonuses.
4) STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
AND OUR ALLIES
From: Mecca44@aol.com
badlands picket Saturday May 21, 2005
with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
5) "You're a Drink-soaked Former Trotskyist Popinjay!"
Thusly, I Humiliated Norm Coleman (and Christopher Hitchens)
May 18, 2005
By GEORGE GALLOWAY
http://www.counterpunch.org/galloway05182005.html
6) Memorial for Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who
was murdered in a hate crime two years ago in a Newark, New
Jersey train station.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) Guantánamo Comes to Define U.S. to Muslims
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: May 21, 2005
"NEW DELHI, May 20 - In one of Pakistan's most exclusive
private schools for boys, the annual play this year was
"Guantánamo," a docudrama based on testimonies of prisoners
in Guantánamo Bay, the United States naval base in Cuba."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/international/asia/
21gitmo.html?hp&ex=1116734400&en=a7ee3f336b4069f3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
2) For Army Recruiters, a Day of Rules, and Little Else
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: May 21, 2005
The one-day suspension, he said, was an effort to emphasize
that "taking shortcuts" to reach the Army's goal of 101,200
active-duty and Reserve recruits this year is unacceptable.
...Recruiters, however, said they doubted much would change.
As of April 25, the Army had recruited 35,926 active-duty
soldiers, far short of its goal of 80,000 for the fiscal
year that began in October."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/national/21recruit.html?
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee to boost
enlistment and Re-enlistment bonuses.
Hi,
Hot off the press - Marine Times, May 23, p. 21: The House Armed
Services personnel subcommittee endorsed a proposal by its chairman,
Rep. John McHugh, R-NY, to boost enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses
to encourage people to join and stay in the military.
The maximum re-enlistment bonus, under the plan, currently $60k, would
increase to $90k, while the maximum enlistment bonus would increase to
$30k for active forces -- a $10k increase over current rates -- and
$15k for reserve forces, a $5k increase.
But note this:
"The $1000 finder's fee for new recruits included in the bill is an
idea taken from the private sector, where companies often pay bonuses
to employees who bring new workers into the fold.
The bill would provide $1million for a test program limited to the Army
under which soldiers would get $1000 for encouraging anyone - other
than a relative - to talk with a recruiter. Payment would be made if a
prospect visits a recruiting station and tells a recruiter that a
specific service member referred him, congressional aides said.
There wold be no limit on how many finder's fees could be paid to a
single person, burt he pilot program would end when the $1million is
exhausted, committee aids said."
Marti
National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force
Marguerite Hiken, co-chair
318 Ortega Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-566-3732
mlhiken@pacbell.net
www.nlg.org/mltf
Kathleen Gilberd, co-chair
1168 Union Street, Ste. 302
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-1701
KathleenGilberd@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
AND OUR ALLIES
From: Mecca44@aol.com
badlands picket Saturday May 21, 2005
with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
STANDING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR
BLACK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE AND OUR ALLIES
PHONE: 415-401-8094
FAX: 415-401- 8088
Media Advisory
Contact: Zwazzi Sow ¶ 415.401-8094
Community Groups Unite to Reject Discriminatory
Bar Owner's Fundraising Offer,
Announce Joint Action on Saturday, May 21, with
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
May 16, 2005 -- In a strong demonstration of solidarity with
discrimination victims, and with San Francisco‚s African
American community, all seven San Francisco-based community
organizations solicited by discriminatory bar owner Les Natali
to host fund raisers at Badlands (the offer per a paid
advertisement in last week's Bay Area Reporter and subject
to several conditions) have summarily rejected the offer.
Moreover, the organizations have joined together to co-sponsor
a short program with guest speaker Supervisor Sophie Maxwell,
followed by a protest at Badlands, this Saturday, May 21, 2005,
from 9pm to midnight (another, Oakland-based organization
named in the advert, BGLT People in Pride, could not be reached
for comment).
These seven organizations are joining the fast-growing
coalition of organizations expressing outrage in the
aftermath of the City's finding that Badlands owner Les Natali
has been engaged in discrimination against African Americans
for the past several years. These organizations include: the
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, ANSWER, Black Rap, the
Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, LYRIC, Mission Agenda, NIA,
Pride at Work, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, SEIU Local 790,
the San Francisco Labor Council, the San Francisco People's
Organization, and the San Francisco Young Democrats
Who: And Castro For All, LGBT Black Rap, CUAV (Community United
Against Violence), LGADDA (Lesbians and Gays of African Descent
for Democratic Action), Men of All Colors Together, The SF LGBT
Pride Celebration Committee, and the Stop AIDS Project. Also,
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to speak.
What: Organizations join together to reject fundraising offer
from discriminatory bar owner Les Natali, co-sponsor discussion
and protest
When and where: Saturday, May 21, 2005
9PM: Program at LYRIC (127 Collingwood Street) with guest
speaker SF Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
10PM: Protest at Badlands bar (4121 18th Street)
And Castro for All: John Newsome HYPERLINK
"mailto:jonnynunu@aol.com" jonnynunu@aol.com (646) 729-5449
LGBT Black Rap: Zwazzi Sowo (415) 401-8096
CUAV: Terry Person Harris: HYPERLINK
"mailto:terry@cuav.org" t HYPERLINK "mailto:terry@cuav.org"
erry@cuav.org; Jennifer Rakowski: HYPERLINK "mailto:
jennifer@cuav.org"
jennifer@cuav.org (415) 777-5500
LGADDA: Lisa Williams (415) 424-9660
Men of All Colors Together: Gavin Moral-Hall (National Board
of Directors, National Association of Black and White
Men Together)
The SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee: Joey Cain, Board
President (415) 336-4070
The Stop AIDS Project: Bob McMullin, Executive Director
(415) 575-0150
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) "You're a Drink-soaked Former Trotskyist Popinjay!"
Thusly, I Humiliated Norm Coleman (and Christopher Hitchens)
May 18, 2005
By GEORGE GALLOWAY
http://www.counterpunch.org/galloway05182005.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
6) Memorial for Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who
was murdered in a hate crime two years ago in a Newark, New
Jersey train station.
Local queer activists are holding a memorial for Sakia
Gunn, a 15-year-old black lesbian who was murdered in a hate
crime two years ago in a Newark, New Jersey train station. At
the time she was killed, she was returning home with a friend
from a trip to the West Village in New York City.
The remembrance will be held on Sunday May 22, 2pm,
Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market. Speakers will include
community activists Calvin Gipson, Zwazzi Sowo, Cecelia Chung,
Peter Wong, Fresh White and others.
Said Wong, an organizer of the event, "This remembrance
pays respect to a young lesbian whose life was unfairly
abbreviated by homophobic violence. It's also an opportunity
to recognize that both the black and LGBT communities are
diminished when a hate crime against black LGBT people is
downplayed or ignored."
For more info, contact Peter Wong at
glorycompy@yahoo.com or Tommi Avicolli Mecca at
mecca44@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Phil Ochs "I Ain't Marching Anymore"
Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore
(chorus)
It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all
For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brothers
And so many others But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore
(chorus)
For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore
Now the labor leader's screamin'
when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more,
No I ain't marchin' any more
Of course, this has to be the best Soldier's songs
(at leats my dad sez so):
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son"
Some folks are born, made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,
Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.
Yeah!
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Support SFSU Military Recruitment Protest
SFSU students staged a peaceful and
effective protest against military
recruitment on campus in March. Now
students who planned the protest are
facing possible disciplinary action.
Show your support for student
anti-war activists! Go to Local
Impact and send a free fax telling SFSU
President Robert Corrigan not to
punish students who engage in peaceful
protests.
www.local-impact.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) COLLEGE NOT COMBAT
Petition Drive Launch Rally & Signature Gathering Blitz
Saturday, May 28, 10:30 am
16th & Mission Street, San Francisco
(at 16th Street BART stop)
2) National Day of Action Against Military Recruitment
FRIDAY, MAY 20th
Army "Stands Down", Peace Activists Stand Up!
-Make a call to congress
-Organize an event at a local recruiting station
Busted!
3) Subject: Recruitment "Stand-Down"
From: Institute for Public Accuracy
Date: May 20, 2005 6:57:32 AM PDT
To: public@lists.accuracy.org
4) You Helped Protect the Election, Now Help Protect Children
From Military Recruiters Host a June 1 Opt Out Event
5) The Deserters: Awol Crisis Hits the US Forces
As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an
all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now
refusing to serve their country. Andrew Buncombe reports
16 May 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=638635
6) Real Wages Fall as
Attack on US Workers Intensifies
By Joseph Kay
16 May 2005
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
WSWS :News & Analysis :North America
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/may2005/wage-m16.shtml
7) Please support Mike Honda's legislation to limit military
access to school children.
peace,
vicki
http://www.leavemychildalone.org/index.cfm?event=signPetition&pid=1
8) For Female GIs, Combat Is a Fact
By Ann Scott Tyson
The Washington Post
Friday 13 May 2005
Many duties in Iraq put women at risk despite restrictive policy.
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/051605WA.shtml
9) PhotoID: 200541992714
Submitted by: 9th Marine Corps District
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Wal-Mart Award
Col. John M. Dunn, 9th Marine Corps District commanding officer,
presents Troy Steiner, marketing director for Wal-Mart, and Keely
Beene, manager Wal-Mart Television Network, with a Certificate
of Commendation at the Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville,
Ark., April 7. After being contacted by Capt. Tyler T. Vance,
the 9th District, recruiting advertising officer, Steiner and
Beene organized $1,120,000 worth of free airplay of USMC
commercials at 2,600 locations on Wal-Mart's in-store television
network. In addition to the 16 weeks of free broadcasting, the
well-known retailer will also run free Toys-for-Tots public
service announcements leading up to the holiday season.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/
200541992714?opendocument
10)U.S. Charges Cuban Militant With Illegally Entering Country
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 19, 2005
Filed at 1:20 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Cuban-
Militant.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=13d1a473764617d7&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
11) When Richer Weds Poorer, Money Isn't the Only Difference
By TAMAR LEWIN
NORTHFIELD, Mass.
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/national/class/MARRIAGE-FINAL.html?hp
12) Generals Offer a Sober Outlook on Iraqi War
By JOHN F. BURNS and ERIC SCHMITT
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/international/middleeast/19cnd-iraq.html
13) Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs
By TIM WEINER
May 18, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/18/business/18space.html
14) The Personal Evolution of a Civil Rights Giant
Museum Review | 'Malcolm X: A Search for Truth'
By EDWARD ROTHSTEIN
Published: May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/design/19malccut.html
15) Garfield volunteers for military recruiting battle
By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Thursday, May 19, 2005
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224957_recruit19.html
16) Our entire way of life is at stake
May 17, 2005
BY JESSE JACKSON
And now the ''nuclear option.'' Republican Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist vows to blow up the Senate by getting the Republican
majority to outlaw any filibuster against President Bush's judicial
nominees. Democrats have approved 208 of Bush's 218 nominees,
but are blocking 10 as too extreme. That is unacceptable to Frist.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse17.html
17) U.S. Claims Over Siege Challenged
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
18) La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
19) East Bay School Bans Military Recruiters On Campus
(ABC7)May 16 (ABC7) - Military recruiters on colleges campuses
have always been controversial, especially among students and
faculty who claim anti-war status. Harvard Law School has banned
the recruiters and one Bay Area college is trying to do the same.
ABC7's Lyanne Melendez reports.
20) "Democracy" in Iraq
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 18, 2005
21) Stealth Recruiting Ad Sparks Criticism
By Nathaniel R. Helms
http://www.sftt.org/
main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpDefense&htmlCategoryI
D=30&htmlId=2695
22) Rift over recruiting at public high schools
A Seattle high school bars military solicitation, touching off
debate over Iraq war and free speech.
By Dean Paton | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0518/p02s01-ussc.htm
23) Protesters Subjected To 'Pretext Interviews'
FBI Memo Shows No Specific Threats
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 18, 2005; Page A04
"These documents confirm that the FBI's anti-terrorism force
has been collecting information about peaceful protesters and
dissenters and targeting people for attention on the basis of
constitutionally protected association and advocacy," said Mark
Silverstein, legal director of the ACLU's Colorado chapter.
"It lends credence to what a lot of critics have said: that
the FBI is starting to regard some forms of dissent as
potential terrorism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/
AR2005051701240.html
24) Get ready to produce your ID
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/05/18/ed.letters.0518.html
25) British Memo on U.S. Plans for Iraq War Fuels Critics
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: May 20, 2005
WASHINGTON, May 19 - More than two weeks after its publication
in London, a previously secret British government memorandum
that reported in July 2002 that President Bush had decided to
"remove Saddam, through military action" is still creating
a stir among administration critics. They are portraying it
as evidence that Mr. Bush was intent on war with Iraq earlier
than the White House has acknowledged.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20weapons.html?
26) In U.S. Report, Brutal Details of 2 Afghan Inmates' Deaths
By TIM GOLDEN
Published: May 20, 2005
"Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his
American jailers continued to torment him.
The prisoner, a slight, 22-year-old taxi driver known only
as Dilawar, was hauled from his cell at the detention center
in Bagram, Afghanistan, at around 2 a.m. to answer questions
about a rocket attack on an American base. When he arrived in
the interrogation room, an interpreter who was present said,
his legs were bouncing uncontrollably in the plastic chair and
his hands were numb. He had been chained by the wrists to the
top of his cell for much of the previous four days.
Mr. Dilawar asked for a drink of water, and one of the two
interrogators, Specialist Joshua R. Claus, 21, picked up
a large plastic bottle. But first he punched a hole in the
bottom, the interpreter said, so as the prisoner fumbled weakly
with the cap, the water poured out over his orange prison
scrubs. The soldier then grabbed the bottle back and began
squirting the water forcefully into Mr. Dilawar's face.
"Come on, drink!" the interpreter said Specialist Claus had
shouted, as the prisoner gagged on the spray. "Drink!"
At the interrogators' behest, a guard tried to force the young
man to his knees. But his legs, which had been pummeled by
guards for several days, could no longer bend. An interrogator
told Mr. Dilawar that he could see a doctor after they finished
with him. When he was finally sent back to his cell, though,
the guards were instructed only to chain the prisoner back to
the ceiling.
"Leave him up," one of the guards quoted Specialist Claus as
saying.
Several hours passed before an emergency room doctor finally
saw Mr. Dilawar. By then he was dead, his body beginning to
stiffen. It would be many months before Army investigators
learned a final horrific detail: Most of the interrogators
had believed Mr. Dilawar was an innocent man who simply drove
his taxi past the American base at the wrong time."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/
20abuse.html?hp&ex=1116648000&en=6cca0512a38427c3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
27) Dear Friends and Colleagues;
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Sandra Schwartz
(415) 565-0201 x 24
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Website:
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm
28) Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition!
Monday, May 23rd (that‚s THIS Monday)
6:30 8:30pm
The Women‚s Building
3543 18th Street, San Francisco
(between Valencia and Guerrero)
Room A
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
1) COLLEGE NOT COMBAT
Petition Drive Launch Rally & Signature Gathering Blitz
Saturday, May 28, 10:30 am
16th & Mission Street, San Francisco
(at 16th Street BART stop)
Get the military recruiters out of our schools!
Our goal is to have 100 people collect 4,000 signatures on
this kick-off day. Let us know how much time you can commit
or how many volunteers your organization can commit. We need
to turn in 15,000 signatures by July 11 to get on the November
ballot.
See text of College Not Combat at the end of this announcement.
College Not Combat is endorsed by: Al-Awda SF;
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee-SF Chapter (ADC-SF);
Bay Area United Against War; Campus Anti-war Network, SF;
CCCO's Military Out of the Schools Program; CCSF Revolution Youth;
Free Palestine Alliance; Global Citizen Center; Global Exchange;
Susan Green, Breaking the Silence Mural Project;
International Socialist Organization;
Justice in Palestine Coalition;
National Lawyers Guild SF/Bay Area;
The San Francisco Regional Conference of SEIU Local 790;
San Mateo County Greens; Cindy Sheehan,
Gold Star Families for Peace;
Peter Camejo, Green Party.
(all individual endorsers affiliations are for
ID purposes only)...
more to come!
Organizing meeting this Saturday, May 21, at 3:00 PM at
Haymarket Books, at 110 Capp Street (buzz #202).
All welcome.
For more information or to endorse the campaign, contact:
Jeremy Tully at jeremy_tully2@yahoo.com.
College Not Combat Declaration of Policy
Whereas, over 1500 American soldiers have died and tens
of thousands have been injured physically and psychologically
in Iraq; and,
Whereas, a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, Columbia University School of Nursing and
Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad estimates that
100,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the U.S. invasion
and occupation; and,
Whereas, the U.S. government is forcing soldiers to serve
in Iraq for longer than their contracts require with such
devices as "stop-loss" orders; and,
Whereas, the "No Child Left Behind Act" forces all high
schools that receive federal money to give personal
records of all children to the military for the purposes
of recruiting; and,
Whereas, the federal Solomon Amendment specifically
orders colleges and universities that receive federal
money to violate their own legal policies of non-
discrimination against gays and lesbians by allowing
recruiters for the military, which bars gays and
lesbians from serving openly, on campus; and,
Whereas, a de facto "economic draft" forces tens of
thousands of low and middle-income students to join
the military in order to get money to go to college
or get job or technical training; and,
Whereas, the Pentagon budget, over $400 billion per
year, plus $300 billion more over the last three years
for the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, is draining
desperately needed resources for schools, health care
and jobs; and,
Whereas, the people of San Francisco voted by 63% to
pass Proposition N in November of 2004 calling on the
Federal government to "bring the troops safely home now;"
and,
Whereas, the Federal government shows no sign of ending
the occupation of Iraq or bringing the troops safely
home and, in fact, is threatening military action against
other nations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the people of San Francisco oppose U.S.
military recruiters using public school, college and
university facilities to recruit young people into the
armed forces. Furthermore, San Francisco should oppose
the military's "economic draft" by investigating means
by which to fund and grant scholarships for college and
job training to low-income students so they are not
economically compelled to join the military.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY/
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
2) National Day of Action Against Military Recruitment
FRIDAY, MAY 20th
Army "Stands Down", Peace Activists Stand Up!
-Make a call to congress
-Organize an event at a local recruiting station
Busted!
This Friday, May 20, every military recruiting center across
the country will be closed for what the U.S. Army Recruiting
Command calls an "Army Values Stand Down Day." The so-called
"stand down" will be a retraining in ethics for the military's
7,500 recruiters, following a rash of complaints that recruiters
are resorting to unscrupulous tactics to enlist new soldiers.
Highlights of recruiter's lies include:
A Houston Army recruiter threatened to arrest a local young man
if he didn't report that day to the army recruiting station.
case was exposed by Houston's 11 News Defenders.
A CodePink activist met with an Army recruiter in Oakland to
find out what the military could provide her if she was
interested in getting a college education and traveling
the world.
The recruiter squelched her fears of getting sent to Iraq by
assuring her that if she liked, she could serve in Europe.
He added that women are not engaged in combat, and that if
they return home wounded, it is probably because they were
out for a "joyride in a Hummer."
The Army has investigated 480 allegations of impropriety by
recruiters since October 1, 2004. Some of these cases are
still open while 91 of the 480 allegations have thus far
been considered founded. To date, eight recruiters have
been relieved of duty and another 98 have been reprimanded
by their commands. According to the US Army, "a Stand Down
is a time when Recruiting Command takes a pause from the
important task of recruiting." We say to the Army,
"Don't pause, stop!"
This Friday, the Army stands down, but we stand up!
On May 20th, UFPJ, CODEPINK, AFSC and US Campus Anti-War
Network are calling on you to stand up for the demilitarization
of youth. Stand up for student's rights to privacy from the
military.
1) Call your representatives, urge them to support Mike
Honda's "Student Privacy Protection Act," H.R. 551.
This bill would allow students and parents to choose to
provide the military with their contact information, an
"Opt-in" policy, rather than the current "Opt-out" version
which automatically gives recruiters access to students'
information, unless parents specifically file paperwork
to "Opt-out."
-to identify your local reps
(http://www.house.gov
-to find their phone numbers
(http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.html)
2) Organize a demonstration at a local recruiting
station. Invite the press.
Stand UP against predatory recruiters! Stand UP
against the poverty draft! Stand UP for money for
college, not combat! Stand UP for our troops in
Iraq-Bring them home! Stand UP against war profiteers!
Stop this war (and the next one!) now, by stopping
the next generation from becoming cannon fodder!
3) Find an action near you. American Friends Service
Committee has compiled a calendar of counter-recruitment
events on May 20th.
(http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm)
Resources
1) UFPJ's list of counter-military recruitment campaign
resources
(http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2332)
2) American Friends Service Committee: Campaign on
Youth and Militarism (http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/)
3) "Army Recruiters Play Hardball", CBS News. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/
2005/05/10/eveningnews/main694345_page2.shtml)
4) "11 News Defenders Report Leads to Nationwide
Army Stand-Down" (http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/
khou050510_mh_militaryrecruits.2602b7752.html)
5) H.R. 551: "Student Privacy Protection Act"
(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00551:/)
Post: UFPJ@lists.mayfirst.org
List info: https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/ufpj
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
3) Subject: Recruitment "Stand-Down"
From: Institute for Public Accuracy
Date: May 20, 2005 6:57:32 AM PDT
To: public@lists.accuracy.org
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
Friday, May 20, 2005
Recruitment "Stand-Down"
OSCAR CASTRO, ocastro@afsc.org,
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/default.htm
Castro is coordinator of the National Youth and Militarism
Program for the American Friends Service Committee, which is
organizing teach-ins and demonstrations around the country about
recruitment today. He said: "The Army plans to suspend all
recruiting on May 20. This follows reports of serious recruiter
improprieties -- including fraud and coercion -- having surfaced,
prompting the need, recruiters say, for retraining. We know from
our work that there are systematic unethical and illegal tactics
used by recruiters, particularly in poor communities and
communities of color. And we know [the problem] is growing.
There's a lack of parent and student awareness about the No
Child Left Behind Act (Military Recruiter Provision - Sec. 9528)
that gives recruiters unfettered access to private, confidential
information. Many people join the military without ever really
understanding the fundamentals of what they are doing -- that
they are giving up constitutional rights; that it's a one-way
contract."
NANCY LESSIN, mfso@mfso.org,
http://www.mfso.org, http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
Currently in the Washington, D.C., area, Lessin is co-founder
of Military Families Speak Out. She said today: "This recruitment
'stand-down' will not focus on the real problem, which is
a military that is recruiting men and women to serve in a war
based on lies. Instead, Friday's activity will bring attention
to a 'few bad apple' recruiters and a need for 'more training.
' When given a job to sell a bad product, and placed under
enormous pressure to make more and more sales, bad recruiting
practices are inevitable. Instead of playing PR games, what
the military needs to do is call a stand-down on the war itself."
CINDY SHEEHAN, http://www.gsfp.org, http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/
040805C.shtml
Sheehan is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace,
which is affiliated with MFSO. Her son, Casey, born on Memorial
Day, 1979, was killed in Iraq on Palm Sunday, April 4, 2004.
She said today: "Recruiters lie to our young people -- they
lied to my son. They said -- in writing -- that he could be
a chaplain's assistant, but once he joined they said he had
to choose between being a Humvee mechanic or a cook. They
promised he would get a $20,000 bonus, but he only got $4,000;
they told him the rest would go towards his future education
but he isn't going to have any future education. They said
he would be able to take classes, but after he joined they
always came up with excuses why he couldn't. They told him
he would get a laptop computer and he never did. And, most
insidiously, they told my son that he would never see combat
since he scored so high on the ASVAB (military competency test).
He was in Iraq for only two weeks before he was killed
in combat."
For more information, contact at the Institute for
Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan,
(541) 484-9167
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force
Marguerite Hiken, co-chair
318 Ortega Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-566-3732
mlhiken@pacbell.net
www.nlg.org/mltf
Kathleen Gilberd, co-chair
1168 Union Street, Ste. 302
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-1701
KathleenGilberd@aol.com
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
4) You Helped Protect the Election, Now Help Protect Children
From Military Recruiters Host a June 1 Opt Out Event
Help friends and neighbors Opt Out their kids from No Child
Left Behind's creepy military recruiting clause.
Buried deep within the No Child Left Behind Act is a
provision that requires public high schools to hand over
the private contact information of students in public high
schools to military recruiters. If a school does not comply,
it risks losing vital federal education funds. The good news
is, there's a way for parents to Opt Out their children from
this list.
In 2004 you responded to the call to help protect the election
by volunteering as a pollwatcher on Election Day. Now we need
you to help parents exercise their rights and Opt Out their
children from No Child Left Behind-mandated military
recruiting lists.
Here's how you can make a difference.
Plan an Opt Out event in your community on June 1
On June 1, concerned parents and citizens across the nation
will gather together to fight the military recruiting loophole
in No Child Left Behind. Working Assets, The MMOB (Mainstreet
Moms) and ACORN have joined forces to create the Web site
LeaveMyChildAlone.org and organize Opt Out events in all
50 states as well as the 10 largest school districts in
the country.
By planning an Opt Out gathering or putting the Leave My
Child Alone campaign on the agenda of your progressive
Meetup, you will help get individual kids in your community
off the military recruitment list while working to change
the federal law and improve your local school's
implementation policies. And, you will meet neighbors
who share your own concerns.
It's easy to be an event host -- whether you do it in
your home, a cafe or your local library. We provide all
the materials you need and your friends and neighbors
can sign up to attend at our special event organizing
Web site.
To learn more about hosting, click here now.
Can't host an Opt Out event on June 1? Tell a friend
who can.
If you can't host an Opt Out event on June 1, you can
help the campaign by contacting your friends and family
and finding someone who can.
Who makes a good Opt Out event host? Parents are not
the only ones who care about protecting our children
from military recruiters. Many people who care deeply
about this issue include people concerned about the
occupation of Iraq, people who care about privacy
issues, teachers, clergy, and others.
Take action by forwarding this email to friends and
family you think would be concerned about this issue
and consider joining our nationwide organizing efforts.
Tell your friends about LeaveMyChildAlone.org
You can also help by simply telling your friends about
the Opt Out resources at LeaveMyChildAlone.org, a joint
project of Working Assets, The MMOB and ACORN.
At LeaveMyChildAlone.org you can:
1) Sign on as a citizen co-sponsor of U.S.
Representative Mike Honda's Student Privacy
Protection Act.
2) Opt Out your own child, or learn how the process
works so you can tell your friends.
3) Adopt-a-School-Board by downloading the Working
Assets AASB toolkit: everything you need to know to
help your local schools do it right.
4) Host an event to help others Opt Out on
Wednesday, June 1st.
5) Tell your friends how to become a part of our
campaign.Click here to tell your friends now.
Sincerely,
Michael Kieschnick
President, Working Assets
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and
help spread the word about this important campaign!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
5) The Deserters: Awol Crisis Hits the US Forces
As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an
all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now
refusing to serve their country. Andrew Buncombe reports
16 May 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=638635
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
6) Real Wages Fall as
Attack on US Workers Intensifies
By Joseph Kay
16 May 2005
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
WSWS :News & Analysis :North America
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/may2005/wage-m16.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
7) Please support Mike Honda's legislation to limit military
access to school children.
peace,
vicki
http://www.leavemychildalone.org/index.cfm?event=signPetition&pid=1
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
8) For Female GIs, Combat Is a Fact
By Ann Scott Tyson
The Washington Post
Friday 13 May 2005
Many duties in Iraq put women at risk despite restrictive policy.
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/051605WA.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
9) PhotoID: 200541992714
Submitted by: 9th Marine Corps District
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Wal-Mart Award
Col. John M. Dunn, 9th Marine Corps District commanding officer,
presents Troy Steiner, marketing director for Wal-Mart, and Keely
Beene, manager Wal-Mart Television Network, with a Certificate
of Commendation at the Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville,
Ark., April 7. After being contacted by Capt. Tyler T. Vance,
the 9th District, recruiting advertising officer, Steiner and
Beene organized $1,120,000 worth of free airplay of USMC
commercials at 2,600 locations on Wal-Mart's in-store television
network. In addition to the 16 weeks of free broadcasting, the
well-known retailer will also run free Toys-for-Tots public
service announcements leading up to the holiday season.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/
200541992714?opendocument
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
10)U.S. Charges Cuban Militant With Illegally Entering Country
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 19, 2005
Filed at 1:20 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Cuban-
Militant.html?hp&ex=1116561600&en=13d1a473764617d7&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
11) When Richer Weds Poorer, Money Isn't the Only Difference
By TAMAR LEWIN
NORTHFIELD, Mass.
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/national/class/MARRIAGE-FINAL.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
12) Generals Offer a Sober Outlook on Iraqi War
By JOHN F. BURNS and ERIC SCHMITT
May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/international/middleeast/19cnd-iraq.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
13) Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs
By TIM WEINER
May 18, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/18/business/18space.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
14) The Personal Evolution of a Civil Rights Giant
Museum Review | 'Malcolm X: A Search for Truth'
By EDWARD ROTHSTEIN
Published: May 19, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/arts/design/19malccut.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
15) Garfield volunteers for military recruiting battle
By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Thursday, May 19, 2005
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224957_recruit19.html
Sgt. Melisa Porter had just spread out the freebies yesterday
on her Army of One table -- give-away pens, pencils, computer
games, slick brochures -- when the anti-recruiting leader
arrived ready to do battle.
"Do you understand that we don't want you here?" said PTSA
co-Chairwoman Amy Hagopian, who came to the Garfield High
School lunchroom carrying pictures of Iraq vets maimed in war.
"Do you see these pictures of people who come home with
prosthetics? Do you see them?" challenged Hagopian, a University
of Washington assistant professor in health administration and
the mother of a senior at Garfield.
"My uncle was injured in Iraq in March," responded the young
new recruiter. "And you know what? He feels it was worth it!"
Yesterday was the first day military recruiters have been on
campus since the Garfield High School PTSA passed a resolution
seeking to oust them from public-school campuses. The resolution,
first of its kind in the state, passed May 9.
"Given the seriousness of what they are requesting people to
participate in, we'd just prefer they not be on school grounds,
which are supposed to be protected space for students," said
Hagopian.
Seattle School District officials responded to the resolution
with a statement that it is illegal to ban only military
recruiters. Under the Bush administration's No Child Left
Behind Act, military recruiters must be granted the same
access to students as college recruiters or job recruiters
at schools that get federal money.
The face-off in the lunchroom comes on the eve of tomorrow's
national "stand-down" day for Army recruiters. Military
commanders described the one-day halt as an effort to
re-educate an estimated 7,500 recruiters on proper conduct.
With recruitment falling far short of quotas -- overall
enlistment in the all-volunteer forces is down about 12 percent
since 2001 -- the pumped-up ranks of recruiters are desperate to
"make mission." Some are abusing rules to do it.
Since October last year, the Army has investigated about 480
allegations of impropriety. So far 91 have been confirmed, eight
recruiters have been relieved of duty, and 98 have been
admonished.
Cases with disciplinary action pending include a Houston
recruiter who threatened a wavering student with arrest if
he backed out. Another recruiter in Colorado faces punishment
for helping a student who claimed to be a dropout fake
a high-school diploma and buy products to clean traces of
drugs from his system.
Earlier this month, a New York Times investigation cited
cases of recruiters hiding police records and mental histories
of enlistees and providing cheat sheets for tests.
"Having the stand-down is basically to reaffirm the integrity
of recruiting, to talk about what's right, what's honest,"
said Sgt. Darrell McAllister, a recruiter who showed up at
Garfield to help Porter pack up and leave after reporters
descended on her.
McAllister said they had suddenly been called by commanders
for an inspection of recruiting tools.
Students watching yesterday's confrontation had a mix of
opinions. Sophomore Ismail Hamza, sipping water from Marine
recruiters' give-away bottle, said it was OK by him if they
were there. But he had no intention of signing up. "You're
just going to Iraq. That's all you're going to do."
Local career counselors have received numerous complaints that
recruiters are soft-pedaling combat in Iraq in their pitches.
"They're trying to assure students they won't be sent overseas,"
Garfield career counselor Karin Engstrom said.
"You can't do that."
Yesterday recruiter Porter told two students that, while
there's always a chance of going to Iraq, a lot of Army
Reserve jobs are "less risky ... like truck drivers."
U.S. military transportation units have suffered significant
casualties in Iraq in random roadside bombings.
Engstrom has told Porter and other recruiters that they can
be on campus only one day a month, and all must come on the
same day -- the better to monitor them. She makes sure to
pass out sheets describing "Ten Points to Consider Before
You Sign a Military Enlistment Agreement" when they are there.
Garfield, whose highly diverse student body of 1,600 is 56.9
percent non-white, has taken controversial stands before.
In 2002, it came up with a resolution opposing an invasion
of Iraq.
The new PTSA anti-recruiting resolution states that joining
the military can be a "life and death" decision.
Opinions on it have been strong from all quarters. Navy Chief
Petty Officer Robert Born wrote in to the school's newspaper:
"I find this to be quite bothersome, as it is the military
that provides your school and our country the freedom to speak
without fear of censorship."
Other anti-recruiting movements are also picking up steam.
In recent months, college students in California and New York
have forced recruiters off campus, and in Boston, activists
dumped 5 gallons of fake blood on the doorstep of a recruiting
center.
In the Puget Sound area, a group of students and parents stopped
a Blackhawk helicopter from landing on fields at Bainbridge
Island High School in April. The students said the helicopter,
used for Army National Guard recruiting tours, was war propaganda.
Earlier this month, a student at Foss High School in Tacoma
sent e-mails to thousands of activists across the country,
urging them to call school officials after plans for an
anti-recruitment "teach-in" hit administrative roadblocks.
Some students at Garfield are planning a walkout Monday and
a march on Army recruiting headquarters down the street.
But not everyone is on board.
Yesterday senior Timmel Bowens, who has signed up with the
Army but is still trying to pass the aptitude tests, said
having recruiters on campus is "cool" and that the PTSA
resolution is "not right."
"Why would you prohibit recruiters from coming to high schools
if there are students trying to join up?" he asked, after
picking up a giveaway computer game called "Special Forces"
from recruiter Porter's freebie table.
He has seen the game before. "It's like you go 'round and
just kill people basically," said Bowens.
That works for him, onscreen or in real life, Iraq -
or whatever.
"To me, going overseas and killing people, I would feel
happy about myself for that," he said.
This report includes information from The Associated
Press. P-I reporter M.L. Lyke can be reached at 206-448-8344 or
m.l.lyke@seattlepi.com
(c) 1998-2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
16) Our entire way of life is at stake
May 17, 2005
BY JESSE JACKSON
And now the ''nuclear option.'' Republican Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist vows to blow up the Senate by getting the Republican
majority to outlaw any filibuster against President Bush's judicial
nominees. Democrats have approved 208 of Bush's 218 nominees,
but are blocking 10 as too extreme. That is unacceptable to Frist.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse17.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
17) U.S. Claims Over Siege Challenged
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail
*As with the siege of Fallujah six months back, U.S. claims over the
siege of the Iraqi town Al Qa'im are being challenged now by independent
sources.*
AMMAN, May 19 (IPS) - As with the siege of Fallujah six months back,
U.S. claims over the siege of the Iraqi town Al Qa'im are being
challenged now by independent sources.
The U.S. military claims a "successful" end to the weeklong operation
earlier this month around Al-Qa'im, a town about 320km west of Baghdad
close to the Syrian border. The operation was launched against what the
U.S. military saw as the presence of Al-Qaeda fighters in the town.
Iraqi civilians and doctors in the area say no foreign fighters were
present in the town. Al Qa'im and surrounding areas have suffered great
destruction, and many in the town population of 110,000 were killed,
they say.
Abu Ahmed, a resident of Al-Qa'im, told IPS on telephone that "all the
fighters here are Iraqis from this area."
He said continuing violations by U.S. soldiers had provoked people into
confronting the occupying forces. He said troops had been raiding homes,
sending women into the streets without their hijabs and entering areas
where women sleep.
"The fighters are just local people who refuse to be treated like dogs,"
he said. "Nobody wants the Americans here."
Abd al-Khaliq al-Rawi, head of communications for the local government
in Al-Qa'im said on Al-Jazeera television that the fighters were all
local Iraqis. "We have not seen any outsiders. The fighters are from the
area. They are resisting the occupation."
Al Qa'im and surrounding areas were besieged by U.S. forces for a week
by about 1,000 troops backed by warplanes, tanks and helicopters as a
part of 'Operation Matador'. The U.S. military claims the operation was
a success in that 125 "militants" were killed in an effort to search for
followers of the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
But accounts of the operation from non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), Iraqi doctors and civilians differ greatly from those put
forward by the military.
"Qa'im is still surrounded by the MNF (Multinational Forces), and we've
yet to get any humanitarian workers into the city," Daunia Pavone,
programme manager for the Italian NGO consortium Solidarity told IPS in
Amman, Jordan. The bombing had stopped, she said, but they did not know
when it might resume and were unable therefore to send aid workers into
the area.
"The Americans said they could not get inside the city," Pavone said.
"Once the Americans surrounded the city nobody was able to get out. So
we are very concerned that there are a large number of civilian
casualties inside the city."
Pavone said that about 12,000 Iraqis had left Al-Qaim, and that the rest
had remained trapped inside. "I think there will be lots of civilian
casualties," she said.
At least nine soldiers were killed and more than 40 wounded during the
siege, according to the U.S. military.
The U.S. military has made no statement on civilian casualties, but
witnesses say scores of innocent Iraqis were killed.
The city centre "has been almost completely destroyed," the director of
Al-Qa'im hospital Dr. Hamdi Al-Alusi told Al-Jazeera television. He said
the casualties included many women, children and elderly people, and
appealed to humanitarian organisations to intervene quickly.
"Ambulances were prevented from moving and the medical teams have left
the city centre because it has been destroyed," Al-Alusi said during the
siege. Water and electricity networks have been destroyed and "there are
scores of wounded people and scores of victims who cannot reach the
hospital or anywhere else. We pray to god and implore the whole world to
look into what happened to Al-Qa'im and adjacent cities."
Rafa Asahab, a Syrian who lives in Abu Kemal village on the Syrian
border told IPS he saw some of the effects of the siege. "At least 100
civilians in Al-Qa'im have been killed," he said. U.S. warplanes also
entered Syrian airspace many times, he said.
Eyewitnesses said U.S. jets and helicopters also attacked surrounding
Al-Karabilah, Al-Jazirah and Al-Quaydat towns. "Medical staff confirmed
the killing of civilians by helicopter gunfire," Dr. Muhammad Abud
reported on Al-Sharqiyah television. He said ambulance crews had
difficulty retrieving some bodies that had been ripped apart.
Adil al-Rawi, an eyewitness in Al-Qa'im said on Al-Arabiya television
during the siege that U.S. forces had shelled the hospital. "They are
using warplanes, mortar shells and tanks to shell the city
indiscriminately, hurt citizens and bomb the houses with warplanes."
Many people in the towns need medical aid, and the thousands of
residents who fled need water, food, tents and blankets, Pavone said.
The siege came as violence and bloodshed continue to escalate in Iraq
amidst rising opposition to U.S. forces. Tensions rose further when
anti-occupation Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr made another demand Monday
that the United States withdraw from Iraq. Al-Sadr had launched a bloody
Intifadah (militant uprising) against occupation forces last summer in
Najaf, Hilla and the Sadr City area of Baghdad.
Last week the new Iraqi government announced a continuation of the state
of emergency (excepting in the Kurdish region in the north). Emergency
was declared on Nov. 7, 2004. Most of the country has remained under
martial law ever since, despite elections in January this year.
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
You are subscribed to the Dahr Jamail's email Iraq Dispatches because you requested
a subscription at some point.
You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/ to subscribe or unsubscribe to the
email list.
Iraq_Dispatches mailing list
http://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
18) La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
At 5 PM, the crowd starts addressing passing drivers, merchants and
neighbors through chanting: "No Justice, No Peace!" "Justicia Para
Julio Ayala!", while drivers blow their horn back , some even joining
our contingent. Among speakers: Tania Ortega, Julio's sister, his
parents Julio Sr. and Mirna Ayala, Renee Saucedo (SF La Raza Centro
Legal),Marylon Boyd (mother of Cammerin Boyd, 28 yr. disabled Black
Brother killed by SFPD on 5-5-04),Brother Lucas from the Campaign to
End the Death Penalty, Rita Akayama from October 22 Against Police
Brutality Coalition, Jose Luis Pavon from SF Coleman Advocates,
Brother Antonio from SF Carecen. The event is M.C'ed by Sister Kissi,
fierce young activist and Member of the SF Bayview Campain to End the
Death Penalty Chapter, who leads us into prayer after our 2-hour rally
and protest.
We soon start wondering: "where is the police?"... Mr. Ayala steps up
and looks through City Hall's front door peep hole, and lets us know:
" they are 7 or 8 inside" (likely ready for us, just in case...)
"Look! they are videotaping us from 2 cameras by the 2nd floor
windows" (no stop for the next 2 hours). Love and unity is strong,
surrounded as we are by community activists, many young Latino homies
dressed in black and proudling wearing their Justice4JulioAyala
T-shirts, Julio's huge extended family. Mr. Frank Rosenberg, whose son
was killed by Hayward PD 5 years ago while experiencing a mental
health crisis, holds high his October 22 Against Police Brutality
sign, telling it like it is: "We''ll NEVER give up!", while younsters
and seniors alike are chanting: "1, We are the People! 2. A little bit
LOUDER! 3, Justice4JulioAyala !".At first watching timidly at a safe
distance, bystanders, mostly Latinos, start to join the protest and
pick up signs, chanting: "Justice4 Julio Ayala!"
The harassment of Julio's family and buddies has already been set in
motion, in an attempt to demonize them and weaken Justice4JulioAyala's
Campaign: phone interrogations of Tony, his childhood friend and his
sister Tanya, who simply state that they have nothing to divulge...
Yet, at our very protest, a way more despictable violation of our
right to protest occurs, in total disrespect of the safety of our
participants, including parents with young children.... A late model
black Mitsubishi with tainted windows slowly drives by, and a bottle
flies at our crowd, as the car suddlenly speeds away... Young Brother
Paulo, forehead and left brow spurting blood, is badly cut, and rushed
to the Ivy Clinic by his homies. I carefully pick up the broken bottle
from the ground covered with blood, for police investigation &
fingerprinting (yeah, right...will call Sam Mateo PD and make a report
anyhow).We do NOT call 911, as we figure Holice serves and protects
the ruling class, and keep assaulting Po' People of Color !
This cowardly attempt to silence the Ayalas and the community is not
working! Silence is killing La Raza as surely as evil doers. Mrs.
Marylon Boyd, greeted with warm applaud tells the crowd: "This must
end! You are fighting for Julio's memory but also for all other
families and for your own lives ! None of our children should die this
way ! No more, in California, in the US!"
A homie is quietly burning sage in the background, and a donation can,
decorated with October 22 logo: "Danger ! Police in Area" is passed
around, as we notice even humble poor folks fumbling through their
pockets and adding their few cents to the Justice4Julio Campaign.
Except for La Radio Grande 10/10 and San Mateo Daily Journal, the
media did not respond to Justice4Julio press release about our
protest... Are we surprised? The bigger the scandal, the longer the
cover up through the corporate media! Hate mongers injuring a teen of
Color at the rally, watch out: To the perpetrators of Genocide &War
against Black and Brown, YOU KNOW that We, DA People are a force to be
reckoned with ! The bull horns are now switching hands, as we shout
toward Police video cameras upon leaving SSF City Hall : "We'll be
back ! Every month, we'll be back, assassins !"
Today Idriss Stelley Foundation E-mailed San Mateo Board of
Supervisors requesting their June calendar for the community to
schedule a special hearing, demanding answers about the PD killing of
Julio Ayala, at their earliest (if not zealous) convenience.
Tentatively June 6th, later to be confirmed. Unlike SF, San Mateo does
not have a police Commission (which comprises 3 community elected
commissioners, while 4 are nominated by Mayor Newsome), but a City
Council, exclusivity appointed by their Mayor, with only 1 non-white
appointee.
The Ayala Family demands immediate release of:
* San Mateo Police and DA reports
* Coroner's report
* List of witnesses to Julio's execution
* Name of all 13 "Peace Officers" involved in Julio's wrongful death
* Launching of a federal investigation
* Justicia para Julio Ayala, NOW !
For further background on the PD killing of Julio Ayala,
you can log onto
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio/
Mail to Julio's family can be sent at
Justice4Julio@yahoogroups.com
8Y9fGsj5ee9WxKDopmxY5srLx1Ovuu22YCvfscGSn>
or iolmisha@cs.com
xLXDO8HEl7EH>
If you have any information on the killing of Julio Ayala, or want to
sent messages of support to his family, call (415) 595-8251 Idriss
Stelley Foundation (ISF) 24HR Bilingual crisis line.
La Raza ! Unida ! Will never be defeated !
On 5-18-05, braving the wind and nasty drizzle, in front of SSF City
Hall on Grand Avenue about 70 protesters rallied demanding Justice 4
Julio Ayala, 26 yr Salvadoran US legal resident, killed by 13 SSF PD
officers on 4-3-05 inside SF Airport Inn.
At 5 PM, the crowd starts addressing passing drivers, merchants and
neighbors through chanting: "No Justice, No Peace!" "Justicia Para
Julio Ayala!", while drivers blow their horn back , some even joining
our contingent. Among speakers: Tania Ortega, Julio's sister, his
parents Julio Sr. and Mirna Ayala, Renee Saucedo (SF La Raza Centro
Legal),Marylon Boyd (mother of Cammerin Boyd, 28 yr. disabled Black
Brother killed by SFPD on 5-5-04),Brother Lucas from the Campaign to
End the Death Penalty, Rita Akayama from October 22 Against Police
Brutality Coalition, Jose Luis Pavon from SF Coleman Advocates,
Brother Antonio from SF Carecen. The event is M.C'ed by Sister Kissi,
fierce young activist and Member of the SF Bayview Campain to End the
Death Penalty Chapter, who leads us into prayer after our 2-hour rally
and protest.
We soon start wondering: "where is the police?"... Mr. Ayala steps up
and looks through City Hall's front door peep hole, and lets us know:
" they are 7 or 8 inside" (likely ready for us, just in case...)
"Look! they are videotaping us from 2 cameras by the 2nd floor
windows" (no stop for the next 2 hours). Love and unity is strong,
surrounded as we are by community activists, many young Latino homies
dressed in black and proudling wearing their Justice4JulioAyala
T-shirts, Julio's huge extended family. Mr. Frank Rosenberg, whose son
was killed by Hayward PD 5 years ago while experiencing a mental
health crisis, holds high his October 22 Against Police Brutality
sign, telling it like it is: "We''ll NEVER give up!", while younsters
and seniors alike are chanting: "1, We are the People! 2. A little bit
LOUDER! 3, Justice4JulioAyala !".At first watching timidly at a safe
distance, bystanders, mostly Latinos, start to join the protest and
pick up signs, chanting: "Justice4 Julio Ayala!"
The harassment of Julio's family and buddies has already been set in
motion, in an attempt to demonize them and weaken Justice4JulioAyala's
Campaign: phone interrogations of Tony, his childhood friend and his
sister Tanya, who simply state that they have nothing to divulge...
Yet, at our very protest, a way more despictable violation of our
right to protest occurs, in total disrespect of the safety of our
participants, including parents with young children.... A late model
black Mitsubishi with tainted windows slowly drives by, and a bottle
flies at our crowd, as the car suddlenly speeds away... Young Brother
Paulo, forehead and left brow spurting blood, is badly cut, and rushed
to the Ivy Clinic by his homies. I carefully pick up the broken bottle
from the ground covered with blood, for police investigation &
fingerprinting (yeah, right...will call Sam Mateo PD and make a report
anyhow).We do NOT call 911, as we figure Holice serves and protects
the ruling class, and keep assaulting Po' People of Color !
This cowardly attempt to silence the Ayalas and the community is not
working! Silence is killing La Raza as surely as evil doers. Mrs.
Marylon Boyd, greeted with warm applaud tells the crowd: "This must
end! You are fighting for Julio's memory but also for all other
families and for your own lives ! None of our children should die this
way ! No more, in California, in the US!"
A homie is quietly burning sage in the background, and a donation can,
decorated with October 22 logo: "Danger ! Police in Area" is passed
around, as we notice even humble poor folks fumbling through their
pockets and adding their few cents to the Justice4Julio Campaign.
Except for La Radio Grande 10/10 and San Mateo Daily Journal, the
media did not respond to Justice4Julio press release about our
protest... Are we surprised? The bigger the scandal, the longer the
cover up through the corporate media! Hate mongers injuring a teen of
Color at the rally, watch out: To the perpetrators of Genocide &War
against Black and Brown, YOU KNOW that We, DA People are a force to be
reckoned with ! The bull horns are now switching hands, as we shout
toward Police video cameras upon leaving SSF City Hall : "We'll be
back ! Every month, we'll be back, assassins !"
Today Idriss Stelley Foundation E-mailed San Mateo Board of
Supervisors requesting their June calendar for the community to
schedule a special hearing, demanding answers about the PD killing of
Julio Ayala, at their earliest (if not zealous) convenience.
Tentatively June 6th, later to be confirmed. Unlike SF, San Mateo does
not have a police Commission (which comprises 3 community elected
commissioners, while 4 are nominated by Mayor Newsome), but a City
Council, exclusivity appointed by their Mayor, with only 1 non-white
appointee.
The Ayala Family demands immediate release of:
* San Mateo Police and DA reports
* Coroner's report
* List of witnesses to Julio's execution
* Name of all 13 "Peace Officers" involved in Julio's wrongful death
* Launching of a federal investigation
* Justicia para Julio Ayala, NOW !
For further background on the PD killing of Julio Ayala, you can log onto
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio/
Mail to Julio's family can be sent at
Justice4Julio@yahoogroups.com
8Y9fGsj5ee9WxKDopmxY5srLx1Ovuu22YCvfscGSn>
or iolmisha@cs.com
xLXDO8HEl7EH>
If you have any information on the killing of Julio Ayala, or want to
sent messages of support to his family, call (415) 595-8251 Idriss
Stelley Foundation (ISF) 24HR Bilingual crisis line.
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19) East Bay School Bans Military Recruiters On Campus
(ABC7)May 16 (ABC7) - Military recruiters on colleges campuses
have always been controversial, especially among students and
faculty who claim anti-war status. Harvard Law School has banned
the recruiters and one Bay Area college is trying to do the same.
ABC7's Lyanne Melendez reports.
More local news... College campuses are fertile ground for
military recruiters.
Sgt. George Moore, U.S. Army: "Everybody knows that our average
market is between 18 and 25. It's the market that we look for."
The student government of Chabot College recently voted to ban
recruiters. Students say the military's "don't ask, don't tell"
policy discriminates against gays.
Christina Jupp, student government member: "We're not out to get
the military, we're out to defend our non-discrimination policy."
Anti-discrimination signs are everywhere on campus. The student
government now says it wants to make a larger statement by asking
the military to leave.
Joseph Trujillo, student government member: "From what I know,
we are going to be the first college taking on military recruiters
using our non-discrimination policy."
The first perhaps in California. Harvard Law School and a few
other universities have already won the right to ban military
recruiters after suing the government.
It was the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said Harvard
could ban military recruiters on campus without fear of losing
federal funding. But the decision has no influence over Chabot
College or any other university in California.
So, Chabot could potentially lose its funding.
Melinda Matsuda, Chabot College vice president: "Our students
receive financial aid all of our low-income students and if that
were jeopardized, that would be a big issue."
Sgt. George Moore: "The president and congress passed that law
"don't ask, don't tell." All we do is operate within the
framework of what the president and congress laid out for us,
we have no choice."
Chabot's college council will discuss the proposed ban on
Friday. From there it would go before the college's board
of trustees.
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOOS-BAY/
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20) "Democracy" in Iraq
** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **
May 18, 2005
I neither read nor listen to corporate
media drivel concerning Iraq...but today
I wonder what they could possibly be
saying to justify the failed occupation of
Iraq on this horrible day. I also wonder
how people in America have yet to take
the appropriate action necessary in
order to force their government to impeach
Bush and bring him and his regime to
justice for the countless war crimes they
have committed in Iraq.
Yesterday Hassan Nuaimi, high ranking
member of the Association of Muslim
Scholars (AMS) was found dead in Baghdad.
One of his arms was broken and a hole
was drilled into the side of his head.
This coming the day after the AMS had
accused the Shia led governmnet of state
sponsored terrorism by using the Badr
Brigades to murder Sunnis.
In response to the murdering of Nuaimi,
two Shia clerics were gunned down in
Baghdad yesterday.
Harith al-Dhari, head of the AMS, blamed
the Shia Badr Brigades for the recent
spate of killings of Sunni clerics in the country.
Dhari, making a statement that could
be interpreted as an announcement of civil
war, said Sunnis would not keep silent
over the killings.
"We are heading towards a catastrophe,
only God knows when it will end, this is
a warning from us," he said angrily.
The Badr Brigades were in exile in
Iran during much of Saddam's rule, and
returned to Iraq after the invasion
and have been a fully operational militia
in Iraq ever since. I have seen their
members in full uniform and with heavy
weapons in Baghdad during a Shia
demonstration last summer. The Badr Brigades
was headed for years by Abdul Aziz
al-Hakim, the head of the Shiite United
Iraqi Alliance who won the largest
percentage of votes in the January 30
"election."
There has been a low-grade civil war
going on for quite some time-but now the
veil has been ripped off by the statements
made by Dhari.
All Sunni mosques in Iraq will be closed
for three days...an ominous symbol of
things to come.
Thus, any argument that the US military
should remain in Iraq to prevent a civil
war can be flushed. Besides, anyone
arguing that the US military was there to
protect the Iraqi people is either blind,
in denial, or knows absolutely
nothing about the reality on the ground
in occupied Iraq. The US military in
Iraq are unable even to protect
themselves, let alone civilians.
I conducted an informal interview
two days ago with a UN official here in
Amman...thus I'll leave his name
out of this...for now. He told me that 95% of
the reconstruction funds for rebuilding
Iraq have been spent outside of Iraq.
So the argument of staying in Iraq to
help rebuild the country-that too could
have been flushed long ago. Want to
find someone accountable-look to some of
the larger contributors to the Bush
Administration. We all know their names by
now. Check their profit margins as
of late while you're at it.
I watched the news about the aforementioned
statements by al-Dahri on Al-Jazeera
with one of my close Iraqi friends here.
As we watched the large funeral
procession with the body of the
murdered cleric while al-Dahri made his
ferocious statements, I watched her
head drop into her hands as she said
softly, "This is so horrible what
has happened to my country since the
Americans came."
And she couldn't be more correct.
For the Bush Administration is guilty under
international law for the catastrophe
Iraq has become. Under international law
it is the primary responsibility of
the occupier to safeguard the citizens of
the country they occupy.
For the Bush Administration, that means
over 100,000 dead Iraqis and counting.
Other news most likely ommitted by most
corporate television outlets in the US
today?
In Baquba a car bomb detonated near
a police convoy which injured 18 people,
most of them policemen.
In Kirkuk 7 bodies of Iraqis who
worked for a security company were found.
In Baghdad a roadside bomb aimed
at a US convoy injured 7 Iraqis.
A Transport Ministry driver was
shot dead in Sadr City.
In Beji 2 Iraqi police were killed
by a car bomb.
In Mosul mortar attacks killed
2 Iraqis and injured 7 school kids.
So that's nearly 500 dead Iraqis
in a little over two weeks to add to the list
of crimes for the Bush Administration,
which grows longer with each passing
day.
More writing, photos and commentary at
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
Iraq_Dispatches mailing list
http://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
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21) Stealth Recruiting Ad Sparks Criticism
By Nathaniel R. Helms
http://www.sftt.org/
main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpDefense&htmlCategoryI
D=30&htmlId=2695
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22) Rift over recruiting at public high schools
A Seattle high school bars military solicitation, touching off
debate over Iraq war and free speech.
By Dean Paton | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0518/p02s01-ussc.htm
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23) Protesters Subjected To 'Pretext Interviews'
FBI Memo Shows No Specific Threats
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 18, 2005; Page A04
"These documents confirm that the FBI's anti-terrorism force
has been collecting information about peaceful protesters and
dissenters and targeting people for attention on the basis of
constitutionally protected association and advocacy," said Mark
Silverstein, legal director of the ACLU's Colorado chapter.
"It lends credence to what a lot of critics have said: that
the FBI is starting to regard some forms of dissent as
potential terrorism."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/17/
AR2005051701240.html
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24) Get ready to produce your ID
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/05/18/ed.letters.0518.html
The latest sign of the times will now fit in your pocket.
Congress passed the Real ID Act and President Bush will sign it.
Beginning in May 2008, in order to travel by air or rail, or
to work for, contract with or deal with any federal agency -
including the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security
Administration - you will be required to have an electronically
readable and traceable national identification card.
The ubiquitous public surveillance cameras that invade our lives
24/7 were obviously not sufficient to remind us that we are no
longer citizens, but subjects. Now, we must bear the technological,
social and financial equivalent of livestock ear tags. Our
freedom is being lost under the guise of national security.
When will we learn that those who trade their freedom for security
ultimately lose both? When did we forget that the government is
ours to control, and not vice versa?
Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas once said: "As nightfall
does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances,
there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged.
And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of
change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting
victims of the darkness."
This present twilight now barely conceals the sinister political
darkness that would already be upon us. Repeal the Patriot Act!
Repeal the Real ID Act! Tear down the cameras, get angry, speak
out and be free.
GEORGE L. DERR
Eugene
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25) British Memo on U.S. Plans for Iraq War Fuels Critics
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: May 20, 2005
WASHINGTON, May 19 - More than two weeks after its publication
in London, a previously secret British government memorandum
that reported in July 2002 that President Bush had decided to
"remove Saddam, through military action" is still creating
a stir among administration critics. They are portraying it
as evidence that Mr. Bush was intent on war with Iraq earlier
than the White House has acknowledged.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20weapons.html?
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26) In U.S. Report, Brutal Details of 2 Afghan Inmates' Deaths
By TIM GOLDEN
Published: May 20, 2005
"Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his
American jailers continued to torment him.
The prisoner, a slight, 22-year-old taxi driver known only
as Dilawar, was hauled from his cell at the detention center
in Bagram, Afghanistan, at around 2 a.m. to answer questions
about a rocket attack on an American base. When he arrived in
the interrogation room, an interpreter who was present said,
his legs were bouncing uncontrollably in the plastic chair and
his hands were numb. He had been chained by the wrists to the
top of his cell for much of the previous four days.
Mr. Dilawar asked for a drink of water, and one of the two
interrogators, Specialist Joshua R. Claus, 21, picked up
a large plastic bottle. But first he punched a hole in the
bottom, the interpreter said, so as the prisoner fumbled weakly
with the cap, the water poured out over his orange prison
scrubs. The soldier then grabbed the bottle back and began
squirting the water forcefully into Mr. Dilawar's face.
"Come on, drink!" the interpreter said Specialist Claus had
shouted, as the prisoner gagged on the spray. "Drink!"
At the interrogators' behest, a guard tried to force the young
man to his knees. But his legs, which had been pummeled by
guards for several days, could no longer bend. An interrogator
told Mr. Dilawar that he could see a doctor after they finished
with him. When he was finally sent back to his cell, though,
the guards were instructed only to chain the prisoner back to
the ceiling.
"Leave him up," one of the guards quoted Specialist Claus as
saying.
Several hours passed before an emergency room doctor finally
saw Mr. Dilawar. By then he was dead, his body beginning to
stiffen. It would be many months before Army investigators
learned a final horrific detail: Most of the interrogators
had believed Mr. Dilawar was an innocent man who simply drove
his taxi past the American base at the wrong time."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/
20abuse.html?hp&ex=1116648000&en=6cca0512a38427c3&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
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27) Dear Friends and Colleagues;
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Sandra Schwartz
(415) 565-0201 x 24
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Website:
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/actions.htm
STAND UP for Truth in Recruiting: ONE DAY IS NOT ENOUGH!!
Spokespeople Available for On-Site Interviews
Press conference:
3:00 pm, Friday, May 20, 2005
Davis Street Army Recruiting Station, San Francisco, CA
What:
* Exposure of the unethical and illegal tactics used by
recruiters to "sign-up" young people into the military
* Lack of parent & student awareness about the No Child
Left Behind Act (Military Recruiter Provision - Sec. 9528)
that gives recruiters access to private, confidential student
information.
* Stop-loss orders that effectively nullify military
service agreements.
Why: The Army plans to suspend all recruiting tomorrow,
May 20, because of reports of widespread abuses in enlistment
tactics. Reports of serious recruiter improprieties - including
fraud and coercion - have surfaced, prompting the need,
recruiters say, for retraining. Recruiters give the impression
that a few "bad apples" are violating standards, due to the
increased difficulty of meeting recruitment quotas during
the extended war and occupation of Iraq. We know that one
day is not enough to change a culture that demands aggressive
recruitment tactics that minimize the reality of a soldier's
life, overstate military benefits, and mythologize war.
Where: Army Recruiting Station, 670 Davis, San Francisco, CA
Interviews available from the following:
STEVE MORSE, is the GI Rights Program Coordinator for the
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors in Oakland,
doing coordination work for the GI Rights Hotline Network
which answered 32,000 calls in 2004. In the US Army from
1969 through 1971, he saw combat in Vietnam and was active
in the GI Resistance movement. He is an active member of
Veterans for Peace Chapter 69 in San Francisco.
JOSH SONDHEIMER attorney working on the stop loss legal
case, Doe vrs. Rumsfeld.
Members from the SF School Board
SANDRA SCHWARTZ coordinator of the AFSC Peace Education program.
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28) Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition!
Monday, May 23rd (that‚s THIS Monday)
6:30 8:30pm
The Women‚s Building
3543 18th Street, San Francisco
(between Valencia and Guerrero)
Room A
Continue the work to restore full reproductive rights
to women nationwide! Join with the San Francisco
Reproductive Rights Coalition! Help continue the work
that was started in January 2005.
Join Bay Area activists as we envision next year‚s Roe
v. Wade day. Last January, more than 4,000 anti choice
groups marched in our streets, telling us that women
are better off with less choice! Just last week,
Operation Rescue came to town to harass doctors and
medical personnel from the College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists for continuing to offer training to
abortion providers. Operation Rescue has also targeted
an abortion provider in North Oakland, and says that
the Bay Area will be targeted for protests.
Finally, Americans United for Life have successfully
gathered together enough signatures to place the
California Parental Notification Act on the ballot in
November, which puts young women‚s right to abortion
and privacy in grave danger. And to top it off, the
„Walk for LifeˆWest Coast‰ will be back next January
22nd.
Where will you be?
Join us Monday night.
Keep Abortion Legal. Defend and Extend Full
Reproductive Rights for ALL!
Call 415-252-3206 or 415-864-1278, or email
rwbayarea@yahoo.com for more information or to be
contacted for future organizing.
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