2011-03-18 "3 charged in 'white power' attack in S.F." by Henry K. Lee from "San Francisco Chronicle" newspaper
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/17/BAKK1IE1LR.DTL]
Three men have been charged with assault and hate crimes for allegedly yelling "white power" while attacking two men from Mexico in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, authorities said Thursday.
Robert Allen, 38, Anthony Weston, 32, and Justin Meskan, 29, all of San Francisco, assaulted the two men outside a bar on O'Farrell Street on Nov. 10, prosecutors said. The defendants yelled "white power" during the attack, during which one victim was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked until he lost consciousness, authorities said.
The second victim was attacked when he tried to help the first one, who was hospitalized, investigators said.
Prosecutors said no words were exchanged between the two groups of men, and that the attack apparently was unprovoked.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty Thursday in Superior Court to charges of assault, battery and enhancements alleging that the attack was a hate crime and caused great bodily injury.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
2011-03-22 "FOUNDRY WORKERS STRIKE TO SAVE THEIR HEALTHCARE" by David Bacon
[http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/03/23/18675404.php]
BERKELEY, CA 3/22/10 -- A strike of over 450 workers in one of the largest foundries on the west coast brought production to a halt Sunday night, at Pacific Steel Castings. The work stoppage, which began at midnight, has continued with round the clock picketing at the factory gates in west Berkeley.
Local 164B of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union (GMP) has been negotiating a new labor agreement at Pacific Steel for several months. The old agreement expired on Sunday night.
The strike was caused by demands from the company's owners for concessions and takeaway proposals in contract negotiations. Those include:
- requiring workers to pay at least 20% of the cost of their medical insurance, amounting to about $300 per month per employee.
- a wage freeze for the first two years of the agreement, and tiny raises after that.
- eliminating the ability of workers to use their seniority to bid for overtime, allowing criteria including speedup, discrimination and favoritism.
"All eight other foundries in the Bay Area have agreed to a fair contract," said Ignacio De La Fuente, GMP international vice-president. "Workers at Pacific Steel haven't had a raise in the last two years, in order to help the company pay for increases in health plan costs. Pacific Steel is now alone among the rest in trying to make its workers give back $300 a month."
The $300/month would mean an approximately 10% cut in wages for most workers at the foundry.
Joel Soto, a member of the union's negotiating committee, has worked eight years at Pacific Steel, and has a wife, 2-year-old child and another on the way. Soto said, "We've been trying to save money for a house. If we have to give up $300 a month, we'll have to continue renting. My wife and I both support our parents, and that $300 cut is what we're able to give them now that they're old. And with my wife pregnant, we can't do without that medical care."
Benito Navarro has ten years at the foundry, and a wife and son. "That $300 is what I pay for my car to get to work. I'm the only one in my family working, so if we don't have that money, I'll have to give up the car. But I'd rather eat than drive."
On both Monday and Tuesday dozens of Berkeley police, with helmets and face shields, shoved and hit strikers as they attempted to help the company bring trucks full of castings out of its struck facility. On Tuesday, one striker, Norma Garcia, who is seven months pregnant, was struck in the abdomen and taken to a hospital.
"It is inexcusable that Berkeley is spending precious municipal resources on providing protection for this business, and opening the city to liability through these unprovoked actions by police against strikers," said De La Fuente.
"That violence isn't necessary," added Soto. "We're just struggling for our rights. I wouldn't be so surprised to see this in other cities, but Berkeley?" Another worker showed the swelling on his arm he said was caused by a blow from a police baton.
Workers feel additionally betrayed by the company because they and their union testified before the Berkeley City Council three years ago. They urged the city to draft environmental regulations that would allow the foundry to continue operating while installing needed pollution control equipment.
Pacific Steel Casting Co. is a privately held corporation, the third-largest steel foundry in the United States. Its large corporate customers include vehicle manufacturers, like Petebilt Corp., and big oil companies, including BARCO. The company has been very productive in recent years, despite the recession. It chose not to comment.
--
For more articles and images, see [http://dbacon.igc.org]
[http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/03/23/18675404.php]
BERKELEY, CA 3/22/10 -- A strike of over 450 workers in one of the largest foundries on the west coast brought production to a halt Sunday night, at Pacific Steel Castings. The work stoppage, which began at midnight, has continued with round the clock picketing at the factory gates in west Berkeley.
Local 164B of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union (GMP) has been negotiating a new labor agreement at Pacific Steel for several months. The old agreement expired on Sunday night.
The strike was caused by demands from the company's owners for concessions and takeaway proposals in contract negotiations. Those include:
- requiring workers to pay at least 20% of the cost of their medical insurance, amounting to about $300 per month per employee.
- a wage freeze for the first two years of the agreement, and tiny raises after that.
- eliminating the ability of workers to use their seniority to bid for overtime, allowing criteria including speedup, discrimination and favoritism.
"All eight other foundries in the Bay Area have agreed to a fair contract," said Ignacio De La Fuente, GMP international vice-president. "Workers at Pacific Steel haven't had a raise in the last two years, in order to help the company pay for increases in health plan costs. Pacific Steel is now alone among the rest in trying to make its workers give back $300 a month."
The $300/month would mean an approximately 10% cut in wages for most workers at the foundry.
Joel Soto, a member of the union's negotiating committee, has worked eight years at Pacific Steel, and has a wife, 2-year-old child and another on the way. Soto said, "We've been trying to save money for a house. If we have to give up $300 a month, we'll have to continue renting. My wife and I both support our parents, and that $300 cut is what we're able to give them now that they're old. And with my wife pregnant, we can't do without that medical care."
Benito Navarro has ten years at the foundry, and a wife and son. "That $300 is what I pay for my car to get to work. I'm the only one in my family working, so if we don't have that money, I'll have to give up the car. But I'd rather eat than drive."
On both Monday and Tuesday dozens of Berkeley police, with helmets and face shields, shoved and hit strikers as they attempted to help the company bring trucks full of castings out of its struck facility. On Tuesday, one striker, Norma Garcia, who is seven months pregnant, was struck in the abdomen and taken to a hospital.
"It is inexcusable that Berkeley is spending precious municipal resources on providing protection for this business, and opening the city to liability through these unprovoked actions by police against strikers," said De La Fuente.
"That violence isn't necessary," added Soto. "We're just struggling for our rights. I wouldn't be so surprised to see this in other cities, but Berkeley?" Another worker showed the swelling on his arm he said was caused by a blow from a police baton.
Workers feel additionally betrayed by the company because they and their union testified before the Berkeley City Council three years ago. They urged the city to draft environmental regulations that would allow the foundry to continue operating while installing needed pollution control equipment.
Pacific Steel Casting Co. is a privately held corporation, the third-largest steel foundry in the United States. Its large corporate customers include vehicle manufacturers, like Petebilt Corp., and big oil companies, including BARCO. The company has been very productive in recent years, despite the recession. It chose not to comment.
--
For more articles and images, see [http://dbacon.igc.org]
Sunday, March 20, 2011
2011-03-20 "Call for video doesn't float with Marina Coast Water" by LARRY PARSONS from "The Monterey County Herald" newspaper
Usually when offered the chance for face time on television, public officials jump toward the cameras.
Not so directors of the Marina Coast Water District, who have been under pressure for months to televise their meetings because of the district's key role in the proposed regional water desalination project.
Most local cities and some other local agencies contract with Access Monterey Peninsula, or AMP, to televise their meetings on the nonprofit's local government channels.
The Marina Coast District, which would own the proposed regional water desalination plant under a partnership with California American Water and the county Water Resource Agency, has shied away from spending its money to televise once-a-month board meetings. The proposed project, which would supplant the overdrafted Carmel River as the main water supply for the Peninsula, would cost an estimated $400million.
For months, videographers hired by the Green Party of Monterey County and, most recently, LandWatch Monterey County, have recorded the meetings and televised them during the party's three weekly one-hour slots on AMP's public-access channel.
"I have strong feelings about the public's right to know what's going on with a half-billion-dollar project," said Marina resident Richard Newhouse, who has shot the water board meetings for the past six months.
At their Feb. 8 meeting, Marina Coast board members failed to support a motion by director Jan Shriner, who had videotaped district board meetings before being elected to the board herself, to look into installing a videotaping system in their chambers.
A staff report put the cost of the five-camera system at $30,500 with an annual cost of $6,000 to broadcast the meetings. Board chairman Bill Lee said his conversations with district residents hasn't indicated support for spending that amount of money to televise the board meetings.
"We would like our people who pay the rates to say that's OK," Lee said last week.
He said it would be premature, with the regional desalination project still not certain, for the district to spend a lot of money to televise board meetings.
"When it gets down to Marina Coast Water actually making some decisions, then people might have a pretty good argument," he said.
As it stands, Lee said there is a handful of people pressing for televised board meetings. "I don't think they would be consistent viewers," he said.
Earlier this month, the Marina City Council got into the action.
The council approved an offer to broadcast videos of the Marina Coast board meetings on the city's AMP channel as long as the videos provided by community volunteers didn't conflict with city programming.
Marina Coast Water hasn't decided whether to take up the city's offer, Lee said.
He expressed displeasure at the city's move to inject itself into water district business. They are two different entities, and he questioned why one would "try to impose (its) will on the other guy."
Paul Congo, executive director of AMP, said he was aware of the city's offer through informal channels.
"We haven't been officially informed of any of this," he said. "We are just waiting for someone to bring us a copy."
Amy White, executive director of LandWatch, said the Marina Coast Water board doesn't appear ready to budge on the issue.
As the regional desalination project "inches closer to fruition, these guys are going to have so much power controlling almost a half-billion-dollar water project," she said.
She said Marina Coast Water directors "seem almost cavalier" about trying to make public business "more public."
"What is the value of transparency and public participation?" she said.
2011-03-22 "THE HERALD'S VIEW Editorial: Opaque Marina Coast Water District board wants to stay that way" from "The Monterey County Herald" newspaper
[http://www.montereyherald.com/editorials/ci_17670949]
It would be unrealistic to expect the Marina Coast Water District to pay to broadcast its meetings for public consumption. Unrealistic because the district isn't like most other public entities.
Its board of directors is the kind that likes to keep people guessing.
It's the kind of district where a longtime director like Ken Nishi can quit without explanation and then join again weeks later without explanation.
Though it doesn't always act like it, it is, in fact, a public entity.
That's how it came to be a front for Cal Am as a partner in the Regional Desalination Project. A county ordinance required participation by a public entity, and what better to step in than Marina Coast?
But if you want to know who is on the board or how to contact them, don't bother with the district's website. Names and faces are hard, if not impossible to find. These folks aren't politicians in the usual "how can I serve you?" sense.
When Bill Lee, the board chairman, was running for re-election last year, another candidate was his half brother, George Eads. When Lee introduced Eads to others in the district, then-director Tom Moore asked how they knew each other. Uh, er, we served in the military together, Lee offered, not very brotherly.
It's the kind of district where Nishi ally Howard Gustafson describes new board member Jan Shriner as "not worth discussing" and calls Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado "that little freak."
So no one should be shocked to learn that Marina
Coasters aren't eager to follow the lead of most other public agencies hereabouts and provide for their meetings to be televised.
For a time, their meetings were being aired courtesy of the Green Party and more recently by LandWatch Monterey County. But Shriner got nowhere with her recent request to have the district look into doing the work itself by installing a videotaping system.
It matters beyond Marina because the little district is a key component of the $400 million-plus desalination project, easily the largest, most controversial and most important area public works effort of the past several decades. While Marina-area district customers will receive the benefit of a new water supply at little cost, rates for water users on the Peninsula are expected to double, triple or quadruple. No one knows for sure.
Chairman Lee, though, told The Herald last week that it would be premature to spend money now on videotaping.
"When it gets down to Marina Coast Water actually making some decisions, then people might have a pretty good argument," said Lee, who seemed unaffected by the fact that the district reached that state many months ago.
The directors will attribute their bashfulness to frugality, but it is easy to suspect they're also afraid that if the larger community got a better look at how they conduct themselves, they'd be embarrassed.
The way we see if, if Nishi, Gustafson, Lee and the others are to receive the attention they genuinely deserve, someone else in the community is going to have to make it work.
Usually when offered the chance for face time on television, public officials jump toward the cameras.
Not so directors of the Marina Coast Water District, who have been under pressure for months to televise their meetings because of the district's key role in the proposed regional water desalination project.
Most local cities and some other local agencies contract with Access Monterey Peninsula, or AMP, to televise their meetings on the nonprofit's local government channels.
The Marina Coast District, which would own the proposed regional water desalination plant under a partnership with California American Water and the county Water Resource Agency, has shied away from spending its money to televise once-a-month board meetings. The proposed project, which would supplant the overdrafted Carmel River as the main water supply for the Peninsula, would cost an estimated $400million.
For months, videographers hired by the Green Party of Monterey County and, most recently, LandWatch Monterey County, have recorded the meetings and televised them during the party's three weekly one-hour slots on AMP's public-access channel.
"I have strong feelings about the public's right to know what's going on with a half-billion-dollar project," said Marina resident Richard Newhouse, who has shot the water board meetings for the past six months.
At their Feb. 8 meeting, Marina Coast board members failed to support a motion by director Jan Shriner, who had videotaped district board meetings before being elected to the board herself, to look into installing a videotaping system in their chambers.
A staff report put the cost of the five-camera system at $30,500 with an annual cost of $6,000 to broadcast the meetings. Board chairman Bill Lee said his conversations with district residents hasn't indicated support for spending that amount of money to televise the board meetings.
"We would like our people who pay the rates to say that's OK," Lee said last week.
He said it would be premature, with the regional desalination project still not certain, for the district to spend a lot of money to televise board meetings.
"When it gets down to Marina Coast Water actually making some decisions, then people might have a pretty good argument," he said.
As it stands, Lee said there is a handful of people pressing for televised board meetings. "I don't think they would be consistent viewers," he said.
Earlier this month, the Marina City Council got into the action.
The council approved an offer to broadcast videos of the Marina Coast board meetings on the city's AMP channel as long as the videos provided by community volunteers didn't conflict with city programming.
Marina Coast Water hasn't decided whether to take up the city's offer, Lee said.
He expressed displeasure at the city's move to inject itself into water district business. They are two different entities, and he questioned why one would "try to impose (its) will on the other guy."
Paul Congo, executive director of AMP, said he was aware of the city's offer through informal channels.
"We haven't been officially informed of any of this," he said. "We are just waiting for someone to bring us a copy."
Amy White, executive director of LandWatch, said the Marina Coast Water board doesn't appear ready to budge on the issue.
As the regional desalination project "inches closer to fruition, these guys are going to have so much power controlling almost a half-billion-dollar water project," she said.
She said Marina Coast Water directors "seem almost cavalier" about trying to make public business "more public."
"What is the value of transparency and public participation?" she said.
2011-03-22 "THE HERALD'S VIEW Editorial: Opaque Marina Coast Water District board wants to stay that way" from "The Monterey County Herald" newspaper
[http://www.montereyherald.com/editorials/ci_17670949]
It would be unrealistic to expect the Marina Coast Water District to pay to broadcast its meetings for public consumption. Unrealistic because the district isn't like most other public entities.
Its board of directors is the kind that likes to keep people guessing.
It's the kind of district where a longtime director like Ken Nishi can quit without explanation and then join again weeks later without explanation.
Though it doesn't always act like it, it is, in fact, a public entity.
That's how it came to be a front for Cal Am as a partner in the Regional Desalination Project. A county ordinance required participation by a public entity, and what better to step in than Marina Coast?
But if you want to know who is on the board or how to contact them, don't bother with the district's website. Names and faces are hard, if not impossible to find. These folks aren't politicians in the usual "how can I serve you?" sense.
When Bill Lee, the board chairman, was running for re-election last year, another candidate was his half brother, George Eads. When Lee introduced Eads to others in the district, then-director Tom Moore asked how they knew each other. Uh, er, we served in the military together, Lee offered, not very brotherly.
It's the kind of district where Nishi ally Howard Gustafson describes new board member Jan Shriner as "not worth discussing" and calls Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado "that little freak."
So no one should be shocked to learn that Marina
Coasters aren't eager to follow the lead of most other public agencies hereabouts and provide for their meetings to be televised.
For a time, their meetings were being aired courtesy of the Green Party and more recently by LandWatch Monterey County. But Shriner got nowhere with her recent request to have the district look into doing the work itself by installing a videotaping system.
It matters beyond Marina because the little district is a key component of the $400 million-plus desalination project, easily the largest, most controversial and most important area public works effort of the past several decades. While Marina-area district customers will receive the benefit of a new water supply at little cost, rates for water users on the Peninsula are expected to double, triple or quadruple. No one knows for sure.
Chairman Lee, though, told The Herald last week that it would be premature to spend money now on videotaping.
"When it gets down to Marina Coast Water actually making some decisions, then people might have a pretty good argument," said Lee, who seemed unaffected by the fact that the district reached that state many months ago.
The directors will attribute their bashfulness to frugality, but it is easy to suspect they're also afraid that if the larger community got a better look at how they conduct themselves, they'd be embarrassed.
The way we see if, if Nishi, Gustafson, Lee and the others are to receive the attention they genuinely deserve, someone else in the community is going to have to make it work.
Friday, March 18, 2011
2011-03-18 "Vacaville shooting is gang related" by Catherine Bowen from "The Vacaville Reporter" newspaper
Vacaville police are continuing to investigate the city's third gang shooting in less than two weeks after an area teen was shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex Wednesday night.
The victim, identified as Enrico Ochoa, 19, of Vacaville, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Willows apartment complex in the 500 block of Markham Avenue at about 9:06 p.m. Wednesday, said Vacaville police Sgt. Jeff King.
Ochoa is a known Norteño gang member, King said, before adding that police think that all three shootings are related. This most recent attack comes on the heels of the March 6 shooting that claimed the life of 18-year-old Gumercindo "Joel" Pena, who police said was a Norteño, and what police referred to as the "retaliation shooting" two days later of 20-year-old Jose Rosales, who police say is an associate of the rival Sureño street gang.
"All three are related and all have been retaliatory in nature," King said of the shootings. "In the last 11 days, two Norteños have been shot -- one killed -- and one Sureño was shot."
Officers had initially responded around 8 p.m. on Wednesday night to a report of shots being fired in the Trower Park area, which is located behind the Willows complex, but said they did not find anything suspicious, according to King.
An hour later, police once again received a report of shots being fired along Markham Avenue and officers arrived and found evidence that a shooting had taken place, but no victim was present, King said.
A short time later, medical staff at VacaValley Hospital notified authorities that they had a shooting victim, Ochoa, who had been dropped off and was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, King said.
Ochoa underwent surgery and is still being treated but is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said. As was the case in the previous shooting, police said that Ochoa has not been forthcoming about the events leading up to the shooting.
No arrests have been made at this point. According to police, the two suspects in the shooting are described as a Hispanic males, 17 to 25 years old, the first approximately 5-foot-11 with a thin build and the second approximately 5-foot-7 with a medium build. Both were wearing dark clothing.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Vacaville Police Department at 449-5200, or to call "Crime Stoppers" and leave an anonymous tip at 644-STOP. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Vacaville police are continuing to investigate the city's third gang shooting in less than two weeks after an area teen was shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex Wednesday night.
The victim, identified as Enrico Ochoa, 19, of Vacaville, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Willows apartment complex in the 500 block of Markham Avenue at about 9:06 p.m. Wednesday, said Vacaville police Sgt. Jeff King.
Ochoa is a known Norteño gang member, King said, before adding that police think that all three shootings are related. This most recent attack comes on the heels of the March 6 shooting that claimed the life of 18-year-old Gumercindo "Joel" Pena, who police said was a Norteño, and what police referred to as the "retaliation shooting" two days later of 20-year-old Jose Rosales, who police say is an associate of the rival Sureño street gang.
"All three are related and all have been retaliatory in nature," King said of the shootings. "In the last 11 days, two Norteños have been shot -- one killed -- and one Sureño was shot."
Officers had initially responded around 8 p.m. on Wednesday night to a report of shots being fired in the Trower Park area, which is located behind the Willows complex, but said they did not find anything suspicious, according to King.
An hour later, police once again received a report of shots being fired along Markham Avenue and officers arrived and found evidence that a shooting had taken place, but no victim was present, King said.
A short time later, medical staff at VacaValley Hospital notified authorities that they had a shooting victim, Ochoa, who had been dropped off and was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, King said.
Ochoa underwent surgery and is still being treated but is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said. As was the case in the previous shooting, police said that Ochoa has not been forthcoming about the events leading up to the shooting.
No arrests have been made at this point. According to police, the two suspects in the shooting are described as a Hispanic males, 17 to 25 years old, the first approximately 5-foot-11 with a thin build and the second approximately 5-foot-7 with a medium build. Both were wearing dark clothing.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Vacaville Police Department at 449-5200, or to call "Crime Stoppers" and leave an anonymous tip at 644-STOP. Crime Stoppers may pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"Two Panthers Die" [col. writ. 3/17/11] (c) '11 Mumia Abu-Jamal
In a matter of months, two former high-ranking and prominent members of the Black Panther Party returned to their ancestors, largely unknown and barely reported.
During the 1960's and '70's, they were well-known targets of government surveillance as well as efforts to imprison and destroy them.
In Oct. 2010, Michael "Ceteway" Tabor, once head of the New York Ministry of Information of the Party, and also one of the heralded N.Y. Panther 21, died in Luseka, Zambia (S.Africa) at the age of 64.
In February of this year, Don "D.C." Cox, former national Field Marshal and member of the Party Central Committee died in his home in the South of France. DC was 74.
"D.C.", as field marshal, headed military affairs and trained men and women in self-defense tactics.
"Cetewayo", as one of the N.Y. 21, faced imprisonment for a police frame-up designed to destroy the N.Y.Chapter. Rather than trust his freedom to the courts, he skipped bail and left the U.S. D.C. faced charges in Baltimore, MD in connection with military action there, and split the country for the International Sections of the BPP in Algiers. He stayed and worked there for several years before migrating to France.
Both men spent the balance of their lives in places far from the land of their birth. DC was born in Missouri in 1936. Cetewayo was born in New York in 1946.
Both men wrote articles in the national newspaper; DC on military matters; Cetewayo wrote an article that was so popular that it was later reproduced and distributed nationally, entitled "Capitalism & Dope = Genocide." It was made into a pamphlet and distributed internatonally.
Cetewayo had a deep, actor's voice, and was a powerful public speaker. Indeed, he introduced Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense, when he spoke at the Revolutionary Peoples Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA, in summer, 1970.
DC was a soft-spoken, and basically shy man, who rarely spoke to big groups. He was patient, down-to-earth and deeply cared about rank and file members. Both men wrote books about their lives in the Party, but neither of their works have yet been published.
They believed in Black Revolution, the right of armed self-defense, and the establishment of a Black Revolutionary political party to help usher in Black national independence and freedom.
They fought as warriors for those beliefs, and never stopped believing. They died on different continents, but their hearts remained in Black America.
===================
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: [http://www.prisonradio.org]
Mumia's got a podcast! [http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/]
Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at the website or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries online.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING
PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100448090]
In a matter of months, two former high-ranking and prominent members of the Black Panther Party returned to their ancestors, largely unknown and barely reported.
During the 1960's and '70's, they were well-known targets of government surveillance as well as efforts to imprison and destroy them.
In Oct. 2010, Michael "Ceteway" Tabor, once head of the New York Ministry of Information of the Party, and also one of the heralded N.Y. Panther 21, died in Luseka, Zambia (S.Africa) at the age of 64.
In February of this year, Don "D.C." Cox, former national Field Marshal and member of the Party Central Committee died in his home in the South of France. DC was 74.
"D.C.", as field marshal, headed military affairs and trained men and women in self-defense tactics.
"Cetewayo", as one of the N.Y. 21, faced imprisonment for a police frame-up designed to destroy the N.Y.Chapter. Rather than trust his freedom to the courts, he skipped bail and left the U.S. D.C. faced charges in Baltimore, MD in connection with military action there, and split the country for the International Sections of the BPP in Algiers. He stayed and worked there for several years before migrating to France.
Both men spent the balance of their lives in places far from the land of their birth. DC was born in Missouri in 1936. Cetewayo was born in New York in 1946.
Both men wrote articles in the national newspaper; DC on military matters; Cetewayo wrote an article that was so popular that it was later reproduced and distributed nationally, entitled "Capitalism & Dope = Genocide." It was made into a pamphlet and distributed internatonally.
Cetewayo had a deep, actor's voice, and was a powerful public speaker. Indeed, he introduced Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense, when he spoke at the Revolutionary Peoples Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA, in summer, 1970.
DC was a soft-spoken, and basically shy man, who rarely spoke to big groups. He was patient, down-to-earth and deeply cared about rank and file members. Both men wrote books about their lives in the Party, but neither of their works have yet been published.
They believed in Black Revolution, the right of armed self-defense, and the establishment of a Black Revolutionary political party to help usher in Black national independence and freedom.
They fought as warriors for those beliefs, and never stopped believing. They died on different continents, but their hearts remained in Black America.
===================
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: [http://www.prisonradio.org]
Mumia's got a podcast! [http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/]
Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at the website or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries online.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING
PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: [http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100448090]
2011-03-17 "Oakland police miss Riders reform deadline" by Angela Woodall from "Oakland Tribune" newspaper
The Oakland Police Department, battered by a series of setbacks and layoffs, will miss the deadline on reforms ordered by a federal court after the Riders scandal a decade ago.
The department has completed the majority of the reforms ordered in a 2003 settlement to a lawsuit stemming from the misconduct of four officers who were accused of planting evidence and beating suspects.
But independent monitors reported the department has complied with more than half of 22 outstanding tasks, was in partial compliance with eight others and not in compliance with one task.
The department still faces the risk of sanctions and the appointment of a receiver.
Outstanding tasks involve complaint procedures in the Internal Affairs Department; use of force reporting policies and vehicle stop policies.
"This agreement should have been done a long time ago," attorney John Burris said Thursday after a marathon meeting with police, the city attorney's office and the city administrator.
Burris and his fellow attorney, Jim Chanin, brought the lawsuit against the city.
Burris characterized the meeting as a positive work session but also expressed frustration that the reforms have taken so long.
"Our concern is that we've been here before.
"The question is whether it will be different this time," Burris said.
Chief of Police Anthony Batts and Mayor Jean Quan have pledged that they would speed up progress despite instability in the top department leadership that has impeded progress.
The city attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
The attorneys, police and city officials will meet again in June.
The Oakland Police Department, battered by a series of setbacks and layoffs, will miss the deadline on reforms ordered by a federal court after the Riders scandal a decade ago.
The department has completed the majority of the reforms ordered in a 2003 settlement to a lawsuit stemming from the misconduct of four officers who were accused of planting evidence and beating suspects.
But independent monitors reported the department has complied with more than half of 22 outstanding tasks, was in partial compliance with eight others and not in compliance with one task.
The department still faces the risk of sanctions and the appointment of a receiver.
Outstanding tasks involve complaint procedures in the Internal Affairs Department; use of force reporting policies and vehicle stop policies.
"This agreement should have been done a long time ago," attorney John Burris said Thursday after a marathon meeting with police, the city attorney's office and the city administrator.
Burris and his fellow attorney, Jim Chanin, brought the lawsuit against the city.
Burris characterized the meeting as a positive work session but also expressed frustration that the reforms have taken so long.
"Our concern is that we've been here before.
"The question is whether it will be different this time," Burris said.
Chief of Police Anthony Batts and Mayor Jean Quan have pledged that they would speed up progress despite instability in the top department leadership that has impeded progress.
The city attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
The attorneys, police and city officials will meet again in June.
2011-03-17 "Richmond pastor, family arrested after refusing to leave foreclosed church" by Karl Fischer from "Contra Costa Times" newspaper
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_17638989?nclick_check=1]
Sheriff's deputies led a pastor out of his Richmond church in handcuffs Thursday afternoon after he refused to obey a court-ordered eviction notice.
Pastor Sidney Keys, his wife Patrice and his elderly mother all went to jail from the Bible Way Apostolic Church at 201 Macdonald Ave., where they stayed continuously since receiving a formal eviction notice Tuesday.
Two protesters also went to jail after sitting down in front of a sheriff's car in the church parking lot, near the corner of Macdonald and Second Street.
"We just got our license for child care and a preschool," said parishioner Gracie Ivy, part of a crowd of about 40 at the church gate. "It's for the community. It's for a need."
Protesters shouted and chanted "Let them go!" as the deputies led off Keys and his family. His 11-year-old daughter watched from the sidewalk, tears in her eyes.
"We never wanted it to reach this point," Contra Costa sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. "But we have to enforce the court order."
The church's lender foreclosed on the property, effective Wednesday. But church supporters say it fell victim to a predatory loan, and that bank representatives did not meet in good faith to help them straighten out the matter.
An agent of the lender, Torrey Pines Bank, was on the premises during the protest, but declined to comment.
Activists said Mayor Gayle McLaughlin tried to intercede on behalf of the church, writing letters to the bank about its value in the Iron Triangle neighborhood. The church offers child care, cooked meals for children and families, and gives away groceries and clothing to the homeless.
McLaughlin aide Marilyn Langlois, along with an aide for Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, and several prominent members of Richmond's black business community, also joined the protest.
The five people arrested were taken to West County Jail in Richmond, Lee said. Authorities had not decided Thursday evening whether to book them.
Sheriff's deputies try to move Protestors, including Paul Larudee, right, as Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
Patrice Keys, wife of Pastor Sidney Keys, is taken to a squad car while Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
Protestor Paul Larudee is carried away from blocking a sheriff's vehicle containing Pastor Sidney Keys while Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
2011-03-25 "Contra Costa Times Readers' Forum: Unacceptable use of force by sheriff's deputies" by Paul Larudee from "Contra Costa Times" daily newspaper
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_17700514?nclick_check=1]
LET'S BE clear. Police often have to use force, and the law authorizes them to do so. However, it is unacceptable to use force when not necessary and greater force than necessary.
Part of my right hand is numb today, and I cannot fully extend my left arm. This is the result of police techniques that use pain. I was arrested on March 17 along with Pastor Sidney Keys and three members of his family as we nonviolently tried to prevent foreclosure of the Bibleway Apostolic Church in Richmond, which had unsuccessfully tried to renegotiate a predatory mortgage.
I am 65 years old, a practitioner of nonviolence, and have not struck anyone in self-defense since I was a teenager. The Contra Costa Sheriff's deputies used pain to try to make me walk. I refused to do that, but I was harming no one. Nevertheless, the officers insisted upon lifting me by my handcuffed arms while holding me upside down, thereby causing great pain to my shoulders and handcuffed wrists. Later, after placing me in a vehicle, they left the window open to use cold as coercion.
Police are apparently permitted to do that, and when it fails to achieve the intended result, they continue and possibly increase the torture to obtain compliance. The U.N. Convention Against Torture defines it as "... any act by which severe pain or suffering "... is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him "... information or a confession, ... or intimidating or coercing him ... ."
This is how the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department used torture in my case: to intimidate and coerce me into providing information and to assist in my own arrest. They could have simply carried me in a humane manner to wherever they had in mind, and they could have respected my right to remain silent. However, they refused to do so.
According to them, I could have ended the pain and suffering at any time by assisting the officers in my arrest procedure. Unfortunately, that is also part of the definition of torture, i.e. to apply pain and suffering until the victim provides what the torturer wants. They are also very good at their job. The twisting of limbs and application of cold temperature leaves no marks.
This is a sad commentary on our police culture and our society. Instead of a compassionate, professional force for good and reconciliation, risking their lives for the rest of us, we have a gang of hardened enforcers demanding unquestioning obedience through the threat and application of pain and arms. We deserve better from some of our highest paid public servants.
2011-03-25 "Readers' Forum: Deputies acted in legal, professional and fair manner" by David Livingston from "Contra Costa Times" daily newspaper
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_17700517]
Guest Commentary: David Livingston is sheriff of Contra Costa County.
IT IS important to clarify some of the events regarding the March 17 eviction carried out by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond.
The Sheriff's Office is not involved in the foreclosure of any property. The landlord and tenant have legal remedies and have had numerous opportunities to try resolving their issues. We are the last and final step in a long process.
When the case does reach the Sheriff's Office, it is in the form of a "notice to vacate" issued by the Contra Costa County Superior Court. This is a court order that we must carry out. The tenants are given ample warning and anyone remaining on the property is subject to removal and arrest. The eviction is no surprise to them, nor should it be.
In nearly all cases, by the time deputies arrive to carry out the eviction, the tenants are long gone; the few who remain are in the middle of removing their belongings. The property is then turned over to the landlord pursuant to the court order.
With respect to the Bible Way Apostolic Church, the notice to vacate was posted one week before the eviction. During the "protest" on March 17, it was apparent that there were individuals and "agitators" who were not affiliated with the church in any way.
While those with true ties to the church voluntarily complied with the deputies, others decided to practice disobedience by sitting on the roadway in front of a police vehicle thereby endangering themselves and others. This was not only dangerous to all involved, but illegal.
Deputies asked and then warned them to leave. When they did not, the deputies had no choice but to physically remove them. They were rightfully arrested for obstructing and delaying an officer. I have personally reviewed this incident and believe my staff acted appropriately, professionally and reasonably. In fact, they showed patience and restraint in face of the circumstances which confronted them.
Evictions are unpleasant experiences and an unfortunate reality. Each month, staff from the Sheriff's Office Civil Unit is called upon to enforce the court orders and handle evictions throughout the county. While there is nothing that my office can do to change that, I can assure you that the evictions are carried out in a legal, professional and fair manner.
If anyone believes that was not the case in their particular circumstance, they may call my office directly or the Professional Standards Unit at 925-335-1500.
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_17638989?nclick_check=1]
Sheriff's deputies led a pastor out of his Richmond church in handcuffs Thursday afternoon after he refused to obey a court-ordered eviction notice.
Pastor Sidney Keys, his wife Patrice and his elderly mother all went to jail from the Bible Way Apostolic Church at 201 Macdonald Ave., where they stayed continuously since receiving a formal eviction notice Tuesday.
Two protesters also went to jail after sitting down in front of a sheriff's car in the church parking lot, near the corner of Macdonald and Second Street.
"We just got our license for child care and a preschool," said parishioner Gracie Ivy, part of a crowd of about 40 at the church gate. "It's for the community. It's for a need."
Protesters shouted and chanted "Let them go!" as the deputies led off Keys and his family. His 11-year-old daughter watched from the sidewalk, tears in her eyes.
"We never wanted it to reach this point," Contra Costa sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. "But we have to enforce the court order."
The church's lender foreclosed on the property, effective Wednesday. But church supporters say it fell victim to a predatory loan, and that bank representatives did not meet in good faith to help them straighten out the matter.
An agent of the lender, Torrey Pines Bank, was on the premises during the protest, but declined to comment.
Activists said Mayor Gayle McLaughlin tried to intercede on behalf of the church, writing letters to the bank about its value in the Iron Triangle neighborhood. The church offers child care, cooked meals for children and families, and gives away groceries and clothing to the homeless.
McLaughlin aide Marilyn Langlois, along with an aide for Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, and several prominent members of Richmond's black business community, also joined the protest.
The five people arrested were taken to West County Jail in Richmond, Lee said. Authorities had not decided Thursday evening whether to book them.
Sheriff's deputies try to move Protestors, including Paul Larudee, right, as Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
Patrice Keys, wife of Pastor Sidney Keys, is taken to a squad car while Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
Protestor Paul Larudee is carried away from blocking a sheriff's vehicle containing Pastor Sidney Keys while Contra Costa County sheriffs execute an eviction at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (Dean Coppola/Staff)
2011-03-25 "Contra Costa Times Readers' Forum: Unacceptable use of force by sheriff's deputies" by Paul Larudee from "Contra Costa Times" daily newspaper
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_17700514?nclick_check=1]
LET'S BE clear. Police often have to use force, and the law authorizes them to do so. However, it is unacceptable to use force when not necessary and greater force than necessary.
Part of my right hand is numb today, and I cannot fully extend my left arm. This is the result of police techniques that use pain. I was arrested on March 17 along with Pastor Sidney Keys and three members of his family as we nonviolently tried to prevent foreclosure of the Bibleway Apostolic Church in Richmond, which had unsuccessfully tried to renegotiate a predatory mortgage.
I am 65 years old, a practitioner of nonviolence, and have not struck anyone in self-defense since I was a teenager. The Contra Costa Sheriff's deputies used pain to try to make me walk. I refused to do that, but I was harming no one. Nevertheless, the officers insisted upon lifting me by my handcuffed arms while holding me upside down, thereby causing great pain to my shoulders and handcuffed wrists. Later, after placing me in a vehicle, they left the window open to use cold as coercion.
Police are apparently permitted to do that, and when it fails to achieve the intended result, they continue and possibly increase the torture to obtain compliance. The U.N. Convention Against Torture defines it as "... any act by which severe pain or suffering "... is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him "... information or a confession, ... or intimidating or coercing him ... ."
This is how the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department used torture in my case: to intimidate and coerce me into providing information and to assist in my own arrest. They could have simply carried me in a humane manner to wherever they had in mind, and they could have respected my right to remain silent. However, they refused to do so.
According to them, I could have ended the pain and suffering at any time by assisting the officers in my arrest procedure. Unfortunately, that is also part of the definition of torture, i.e. to apply pain and suffering until the victim provides what the torturer wants. They are also very good at their job. The twisting of limbs and application of cold temperature leaves no marks.
This is a sad commentary on our police culture and our society. Instead of a compassionate, professional force for good and reconciliation, risking their lives for the rest of us, we have a gang of hardened enforcers demanding unquestioning obedience through the threat and application of pain and arms. We deserve better from some of our highest paid public servants.
2011-03-25 "Readers' Forum: Deputies acted in legal, professional and fair manner" by David Livingston from "Contra Costa Times" daily newspaper
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_17700517]
Guest Commentary: David Livingston is sheriff of Contra Costa County.
IT IS important to clarify some of the events regarding the March 17 eviction carried out by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office at the Bible Way Apostolic Church in Richmond.
The Sheriff's Office is not involved in the foreclosure of any property. The landlord and tenant have legal remedies and have had numerous opportunities to try resolving their issues. We are the last and final step in a long process.
When the case does reach the Sheriff's Office, it is in the form of a "notice to vacate" issued by the Contra Costa County Superior Court. This is a court order that we must carry out. The tenants are given ample warning and anyone remaining on the property is subject to removal and arrest. The eviction is no surprise to them, nor should it be.
In nearly all cases, by the time deputies arrive to carry out the eviction, the tenants are long gone; the few who remain are in the middle of removing their belongings. The property is then turned over to the landlord pursuant to the court order.
With respect to the Bible Way Apostolic Church, the notice to vacate was posted one week before the eviction. During the "protest" on March 17, it was apparent that there were individuals and "agitators" who were not affiliated with the church in any way.
While those with true ties to the church voluntarily complied with the deputies, others decided to practice disobedience by sitting on the roadway in front of a police vehicle thereby endangering themselves and others. This was not only dangerous to all involved, but illegal.
Deputies asked and then warned them to leave. When they did not, the deputies had no choice but to physically remove them. They were rightfully arrested for obstructing and delaying an officer. I have personally reviewed this incident and believe my staff acted appropriately, professionally and reasonably. In fact, they showed patience and restraint in face of the circumstances which confronted them.
Evictions are unpleasant experiences and an unfortunate reality. Each month, staff from the Sheriff's Office Civil Unit is called upon to enforce the court orders and handle evictions throughout the county. While there is nothing that my office can do to change that, I can assure you that the evictions are carried out in a legal, professional and fair manner.
If anyone believes that was not the case in their particular circumstance, they may call my office directly or the Professional Standards Unit at 925-335-1500.
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