http://sacredstonecamp.org/blog/2017/1/31/we-need-you-now-final-easement-for-dapl-appears-imminent

Two members of U.S. Congress from North Dakota have released statements saying that the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army directed the Army Corps to notify Congress that it is granting the final easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline. As of this moment, no easement has been granted — but we need you now. #NoDAPL

http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2017/01/mlks-legacy-and-developing-class.html

http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/

During 1967-8 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to articulate a deeper program for the movement against national oppression and economic injustice

By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire
January 30, 2017
African American History Month Series No. 1

“Just three weeks prior to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on March 14, 1968, the co-founder and President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) honored an invitation from the Grosse Pointe Human Relations Council to speak on the topic of “The Other America.” He was to examine the-then debate over “open housing” for African Americans amid an unprecedented wave of urban rebellions across the United States…

…However, unless the alliances that are forming are based upon principled political positions, these efforts will inevitably lead right back into the Democratic Party with its betrayal of the working class, poor and nationally oppressed. A revolutionary leadership must emerge to provide a programmatic thrust aimed at exposing and defeating the exploitative and dictatorial system of capitalism and imperialism.”

Note: The author covered the 49th anniversary commemoration of Dr. King’s speech at Grosse Pointe High School South (as it is now known) on January 14, 2017. An audio file of the actual address was played to the audience before a discussion on the historic event. This program was sponsored by the newly-formed Grosse Pointe Chapter of the NAACP. 

http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/

Detroit Martin Luther King Day demonstration through Downtown Detroit on January 15, 2007. The march draws upon the legacy of Dr. King’s peace and social justice work. (Photo: Robert Akrawi)., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

SIGN PETITION:  https://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/unions-refuse-to-build-trump-s-wall

To: Terry O’Sullivan, President, Laborers’ International; Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions; Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO

We, champions of working people, urge leaders and members of North America’s Building Trades Unions, Laborers’ International, and all labor organizations to refuse to build or design Trump’s 2,000-mile Wall of Hatred on the border between the United States and Mexico.

We ask that unions, which historically fought for the 8-hour day, a sustainable wage, health care and workplace protection, boycott these labor contracts because the wall — estimated to cost taxpayers 15-40 billion dollars — will result in pain and suffering for families separated through birth, marriage, and work; undermine diplomacy and trade between US and Mexico; engender ill will between nations and peoples.

Why is this important?

While we, petitioners, understand a desire to make a living, we also recognize that to use one’s skills to advance racism and xenophobia is to rob workers of their great potential to advance social justice and to continue their legacy of fighting for human rights. Rather than spending billions to construct an unnecessary wall when barriers already exist, we should be investing taxpayer dollars to hire union workers for much-needed infrastructure projects that strengthen our communities: water and sewer pipes; roads; bridges; transit systems.

We ask that all unions and their umbrella organizations instruct their members to boycott work on the wall and to, instead, embrace the racial and cultural diversity of America.

https://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/unions-refuse-to-build-trump-s-wall

Voces de la Frontera

On Thursday, February 2, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors will vote on Resolution 16-738, the Milwaukee County Anti-Hate, Pro-Immigrant, Pro-Refugee Resolution. Click here to read the Resolution.

Click here to find, call, and email your Milwaukee County Supervisor!

Urge them to vote YES on Resolution 16-738. You can say something like:

Hi, my name is (your name) and I live in your district at (your address). Please vote in favor of Substitute Resolution 16-738, which supports immigrants, refugees, African-Americans, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people and others targeted by the new President. The resolution opposes any attempt to create a religious registry or Muslim ban, and it will direct Sheriff Clarke to not collaborate in deportations and the separation of families. Thank you.

Also, please join us for the vote on the Resolution Thursday, February 2nd at 9:00am in Room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse (910 Wells Ave). Bring signs!  

Blacksburg, VA

Blacksburg, VA

http://www.stopfbi.net/

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Media Contact: Hatem Abudayyeh, Rasmea Defense Committee spokesperson, 773.301.4108, hatem85@yahoo.com

Rasmea Odeh Defense Team Files Motion to Dismiss Indictment

Prosecutors “Vindictive” After Losing on Appeal

Today, the lawyers defending Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh moved to dismiss the new indictment that was brought against her in December 2016.  The motion and supporting brief argue that the government’s “superseding indictment has substantially broadened the scope of the trial and the evidence that will be relevant and at issue.”

It also states that the new indictment, filed well beyond the statute of limitations in immigration law, is so different from the original 2013 indictment that it cannot be accepted by the court. The statute of limitations for the alleged 2004 offense is 10 years. This new indictment tries to bring fundamentally different charges against Rasmea.

Finally, Rasmea’s defense exposes the U.S. Attorney’s filing of the superseding indictment as a retaliatory and vindictive act. The conviction that the prosecutors won in court in 2014 was overturned in 2016 because the court violated Rasmea’s right to a full defense. She was not allowed to present expert testimony that she suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the torture she suffered at the hands of her Israeli captors in Palestine in 1969. Now the desperate prosecution is trying to bring terrorism charges against her.  This is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to prejudice the jury by using buzz words such as “terrorism” to paint an unfavorable view of Rasmea.

When she was first falsely charged with a crime by the Israelis in 1969, Rasmea had been arrested along with close to 500 others in Jerusalem. The occupation forces of the Israeli military singled out Rasmea to force her into a confession, through the use of physical, psychological, and sexual torture. It is well known that Israeli documents from that unlawful conviction were the ones used by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Detroit to bring charges against her in 2013.  Rasmea’s attorneys had previously challenged the judge’s allowance of these documents into evidence, since they were procured by documented torture in another country.

During her first trial, Judge Gershwin Drain repeatedly stated that he would not allow the retrying of Rasmea for the allegations against her from 45 years earlier. The motion filed today states, “Now that this Court has properly ruled that the PTSD testimony is admissible, the government wants to convert this trial into a political one about terrorism, and the defendant’s acts and affiliations almost fifty years after the fact.”

“We believe that we have a strong case,” said Bassem Kawar of the Rasmea Defense Committee. “It is clear that the prosecutors are desperately trying to levy ridiculous charges at Rasmea, in hopes that they can confuse the jury and distract them from the evidence of torture and PTSD that will be presented at the new trial.”

#NoMuslimBan #Not1More #RealSanctuary

WHAT: Press conference and protest in response to the Trump Administration’s executive orders signed last week.  Demands include calling on Trump to rescind his executive order, for the release of all detainees in Chicago and across the country, for the city to remove the deportation and other carve outs from its Welcoming City ordinance, for an end to the criminalization of Black and other people of color, and for an end to all detentions and deportations.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 1st, 2017, at 4:30 PM CST

PRESS STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, January 31, 2017

Milwaukee Coalition Against Trump

Today, Milwaukee let the world know that Trump is not welcome here.

The Milwaukee Coalition Against Trump is thrilled that Trump has been forced to cancel his visit to Milwaukee, one of his first press events outside of Washington D.C. Fearing a massive protest, Trump was forced to cancel his event after a massive backlash from the community over his scheduled appearance at Harley-Davidson. The location of Trump’s event, which was supposed to remain secret, was leaked by activists and a rally was planned outside the Harley-Davidson plant in Menominee Falls. Thousands of people from all walks of life were prepared to protest Trump’s visit and condemn his hateful speech and policies. The Milwaukee Coalition Against Trump organized a call-in protest to Harley-Davidson that resulted in a denial from Harley-Davidson, followed by an announcement from the White House that the trip was cancelled. Trump’s unpopular policies have ignited an unprecedented resistance movement that will block his every move. We hope our success in Milwaukee sets the tone for the rest of Trump’s Presidency, wherever he goes, there will be resistance!

Blacksburg, VA

http://www.afscme32.org/

Sign petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/say-no-to-hate

UW System President Ray Cross