Appalachians Against Pipelines
Defending Appalachia from the Mountain Valley Pipeline, Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and more. No new pipelines in Appalachia!
Appalachians Against Pipelines: No new pipelines in Appalachia!
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Join Voces de la Frontera Members at Tony Evers Inauguration January 7, 2019 to Demand Drivers Licenses For All!
Milwaukee, January 12, 2019: Dr. MLK Jr. Celebration at Laborer’s Union Hall
January 10 and 15, 2019: Support City Of Racine’s Drivers License Resolution!
UTLA rejects LAUSD’s so-called offer, calls for talks Monday, Strike Set for January 10 , 2019
UTLA
MEDIA NOTE: Tune in to KPCC’s ‘AirTalk‘ at 10 a.m. tomorrow for Kyle Stokes’ interview with UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl.
As you know, today Austin Beutner attempted another end-run around the formal bargaining process by talking to the media and sending a letter to our members. This is the behavior of a corporate down-sizer, breaking the rules to get his way. See our press statement on that here.
Later in the day, about 15 minutes after we released a media statement calling out Beutner’s latest tactics, Rob Samples from LAUSD Labor Relations sent a response to our email on Dec. 31, 2018, which had asked Samples to clarify a confusing and unorthodox chart that he had sent a couple of days earlier. Today, Samples refused to answer our questions and insisted that the chart is an offer, with no further clarification.
The chart is not a formal offer. But, inasmuch as we want to be responsive, we reached back out to Samples tonight and rejected LAUSD’s so-called offer. See the district’s chart, a chain of emails back and forth, and our response to Samples here.
The so-called offer is basically the same as LAUSD has been putting forward for months, just dressed up slightly differently.
We additionally stated in tonight’s email to Samples that our bargaining team is available to meet on Monday if the district has a legitimate and clear offer for us to consider. We hope they do, as we would like to make progress on bargaining if possible.
We rejected the district’s most recent “offer” for several reasons:
1. Pay raise still contingent on healthcare rollback: Though unclear, it appears to still make the 3% salary increase in 2017-2018 and 3% in 2018-2019 contingent on cutting future members’ healthcare.
2. Section 1.5 not eliminated: Though unclear, it appears to maintain Section 1.5 of the contract, which allows the district to unilaterally raise class sizes.
3. Anemic movement on class size and more nurses, counselors, and librarians: Though unclear, if we pieced it together with other recent district communications (not something we want to do, but had no choice given Samples’ lack of response), it appears to offer only $30 million for class-size reduction, and additional counselors, nurses, librarians, etc. This is less than 2% of the almost $2 billion reserve. This would provide only one additional staff person (supposedly filling a need for class-size reduction AND health and human services staffing) at only 30% of district schools. Because the “offer” is so poorly written, it is unclear as to whether the district is maintaining that they would like to have this $30 million applied only to 10% of the 900 schools, which they had proposed on October 30. It is also unclear as to whether the district is maintaining its October 30 proposal to raise class sizes across the board.
4. No progress on other critical proposals: It does not address the rest of our comprehensive package of proposals built to improve learning conditions for students, to improve working conditions for educators, and to ensure the long-term stability of LAUSD as a civic institution for the common good.
Interpreting the district’s chart was made more difficult by the fact that, just today, LAUSD sent a press statement, a letter to our members, a letter to parents, and made statements on KPCC, all of which were inconsistent with each other. This is an unprofessional and misleading set-up to prevent us from arriving at substantive agreements that help our students. We expect more from the superintendent of the second-largest school district in the country.
We will keep you informed, and hope that LAUSD agrees to meet on Monday, and has a clear and legitimate offer for us to consider at that time. Stay united, stay informed, and stay focused on our goal: a deep reinvestment in educators and students to sustain public education in LA.
HEAR MORE: Tune in to KPCC’s ‘AirTalk‘ at 10 a.m. tomorrow for Kyle Stokes’ interview with UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl.
UTLA
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UTLA leaders and thousands of members and supporters march for education in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.
Pompeo Tours Latin America with an Eye on Venezuela Regime Change
https://www.mintpressnews.com/
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with allies in a tour of Latin America this week, in which he talked about stepping up US-led efforts against Venezuela.
The Trump administration has been increasingly hostile towards the Caribbean nation, escalating sanctions and even threatening a military “option.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is due to start his second term on January 10, having won re-election on May 20, but Washington and several right-wing regional governments have refused to recognize the election and may look to further isolate Caracas in coming days. For its part, Venezuela has repeatedly denounced what it terms US-led destabilization efforts…
Madison January 12, 2019: United Against the Far Right Counter-Protest! We Need JOBS & PUBLIC EDUCATION Not Racist Hate!
Rally – Madison United Against the Far Right
2 E Main Street, Madison, WI State Capitol 11 A.M.
PDF Leaflet: stop hate rally madison 1 12 19 leaflet
PDF Half-Sheet Leaflet: madison 1 12 19 say no to racism half sheet flier
On January 12, far-right groups are planning a “We the People” rally to be held at the Wisconsin state capitol. The organizers of this rally include the 3% United Patriots and The Free Men Report.
The 3% United Patriots is a right-wing militia group that has been organizing armed vigilante squads at the US-Mexico border for years. They detain people crossing the border, handcuffing them and delivering them to US Border Patrol. They’ve since spread across the country.
The Free Men Report is a Madison-based far-right group. They organize against the rights of immigrants and against women. They harassed a group of UW students marching against the Kavanaugh appointment, screaming at people as they walked past.
The far right has been exploding in growth since the election of Donald Trump. The murder in Charlottesville at the “Unite the Right” rally and the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue are two of the most visible attacks, but they are not the only ones. Hate crimes have skyrocketed, pipe bombs were sent through the mail, and others were stabbed to death on a train in Portland and at a bus stop in Boston. Far right groups like Patriot Prayer, the Proud Boys, and the 3%ers have grown in membership and influence.
On Dec 29, dozens of us, from many different political organizations and backgrounds, met to discuss the rise of fascism across the world and in Wisconsin and to organize a response to it. At that meeting, we agreed to hold a counter-rally at the time and location of the far-right rally, where we will gather in large numbers to show that anti-immigrant, racist, and sexist groups have no place in Madison.
We will be rallying at the State Capitol on Jan 12 at 11:30am, on the State Street side, to counter this far-right rally.
We are also having a second organizing meeting on Saturday Jan 5 from 2pm-3:30pm. This meeting is open to the public, even if you can’t attend the rally. Find the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/398912914181868/.
If you are a part of an organization or group that would like to sponsor, endorse, or help organize, please reach out to the hosts to get in touch.
Milwaukee January 6, 2019: UBLAC All Members Community Potluck
4850 W Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, 5 – 7 P.M.
Hey Everyone! Thank you for being patient as we take a regrouping break.
Family, Friends & Allies!!!
We are so excited to have a seat and break bread with you.
We welcome you to attend, invite, and support our next Mass Meeting & Potluck. Our community potlucks serve as a time to connect with folks in our city, share love and healing, stories, space, and good food.
We are excited to share our work and provide a space for People of Color and white allies to engage and create action steps to equip, connect, engage and educate our communities.
Mission:
Uplifting Black Liberation and Black Community will equip, connect, and educate Black communities with resources and opportunities that will help provide a sustainable environment free from oppressive systems. This begins by using education about potential impact on the community, and how to heal from post-traumatic slave syndrome.
Vision:
Through outreach and collaboration, UBLAC will help individuals foster understanding about liberation through knowledge and application in order to generate independent living and thinking.
If anyone is interested in being a UBLAC Core team member, please contact Annia Leonard for more information.
We are looking to do some amazing things in 2019!
Madison, January 5, 2019: Organizing Against Far Right Hate – Meeting #2
Madison Organizing Against Far Right Hate – Meeting #2
PDF Leaflet: stop hate rally madison 1 12 19 leaflet
PDF Half-Sheet Leaflet: madison 1 12 19 say no to racism half sheet flier
201 W Mifflin Street, Madison, 2 – 3:30 P.M.
On January 12, far-right groups are planning a “We the People” rally to be held at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The organizers of this rally include the 3% United Patriots and The Free Men Report.
The 3% United Patriots is a right-wing militia group that has been organizing armed vigilante squads at the US-Mexico border for years. They detain people crossing the border, handcuffing them and delivering them to US Border Patrol. They’ve since spread across the country.
The Free Men Report is a Madison-based far-right group. They organize against the rights of immigrants and against women. They harassed a group of UW students marching against the Kavanaugh appointment, screaming at people as they walked past.
The far right has been exploding in growth since the election of Donald Trump. The murder in Charlottesville at the “Unite the Right” rally and the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue are two of the most visible attacks, but they are not the only ones. Hate crimes have skyrocketed, pipe bombs were sent through the mail, and others were stabbed to death on a train in Portland and at a bus stop in Boston. Far right groups like Patriot Prayer, the Proud Boys, and the 3%ers have grown in membership and influence.
On Dec 29, dozens of us, from many different political organizations and backgrounds, met to discuss the rise of fascism across the world and in Wisconsin and to organize a response to it. At that meeting, we agreed to hold a counter-rally at the time and location of the far-right rally, where we will gather in large numbers to show that anti-immigrant, racist, and sexist groups have no place in Madison. We will be meeting for this rally at the State Capitol on Jan 12 at 11:30am, on the State Street side, to counter this far-right rally.
On Jan 5, we are having another public organizing meeting to continue to discuss and organize. This organizing meeting is open to all who oppose far-right groups like the Proud Boys, the 3%ers, the Free Men Report, and others, whether you are a political activist or not.
Meeting at Madison Central Library, room TBD.
If you are a part of an organization or group that would like to sponsor, endorse, or help organize, please reach out to the hosts to get in touch.
Find the Facebook event for the rally here: https://www.facebook.com/events/488318554908626/.
Mumia Abu-Jamal must have justice! Twitter Storm January 4, 2019
Mobilization4Mumia
By Johnnie Stevens
Supporters of imprisoned freedom fighter Mumia Abu-Jamal demonstrated on December 28 at Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office. They demanded that Krasner not try to overturn Judge Tucker’s ruling that gives Mumia the right to appeal his 1981 frame-up conviction.
For years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court turned down appeals from Mumia. Among the judges on that court who did so was Ronald D. Castille, who had been Philadelphia District Attorney when Mumia Abu-Jamal had filed his appeals from death row. What sort of justice is that?
Pam Africa of International Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal declared that “the people’s movement is responsible for this victory.”
“A new appeal opens the door to Mumia’s freedom, after 37 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit,” she said. “The charges should be dismissed and he should be freed!”
Pam Africa raised a call to action for freeing Mumia on a national conference call for Mumia’s supporters December 27. National rallies will be held on January 5 and international rallies on April 20.
Supporters from Mobilization 4 Mumia, the Nation of Islam, Food Not Bombs, American Postal Workers Union, Project Solidarity, Communist Workers League, Uhuru, New York Mumia Coalition and Real Justice joined the International Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal in blocking traffic in front of the district attorney’s office during the evening rush hour on December 28. The chants of “No justice! No peace! Free Mumia!” were heard by thousands.
Broadcasting bias
On December 13, following Judge Tucker’s call to the lawyers in the case for addition information regarding Ron Castille, District Attorney Larry Krasner appeared on WHYY radio showing his own bias.
WHYY host Marty Moss Coane asked Krasner about Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case: “Is your office involved in the case?”
Krasner replied, “To date, we have reported to court multiple times on our searches to date. Our position has been and remains that we do not see evidence of significant involvement by then District Attorney Castille that would disqualify him.”
Mumia’s lawyer Judith Ritter observed that “there are lots of reasons to be concerned about Ronald Castille’s neutrality when he became a state Supreme Court justice.”
Krasner’s statement followed the December 3 hearing in Common Pleas Court before Judge Leon Tucker. Previously suppressed evidence of judicial misconduct by Judge Ronald Castille was supposed to be presented by the district attorney’s office.
On October 29, Tucker postponed his decision on whether Mumia would be granted another chance to appeal. Mumia’s attorneys had argued that his rights has been violated during previous appeals because Castille had refused to recuse himself.
Castille had fought Jamal’s appeals when he was district attorney yet insisted on hearing the Abu-Jamal’s appeals when Castille sat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
That’s a clear violation of the United States Supreme Court’s Williams v. Pennsylvania ruling, which gave a prisoner on death row the right to appeal when a judge in similar circumstances refused to recuse himself.
Pam Africa had this to say about Judge Tucker, a Black judge who is a Republican party member: “Judge Tucker isn’t doing us no favors. He’s doing his job to the letter. We demand the same of D.A. Krasner.”
Tucker’s ruling for Mumia was a split decision. While ruling that Castille should should have recused himself from Mumia’s case hearing, Tucker rejected arguments by Abu-Jamal’s attorneys based on the US Supreme Court decision on William v. Pennsylvania.
Following Judge Tucker’s ruling, the district attorney’s office has 30 days to file a notice of appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Intensify the struggle!
Judge Tucker’s ruling on Mumia follows many people’s victories for prisoners and other workers in 2018.
National prisoner strikes erupted and prisoners demanded to be paid. Voters in Florida restored voting rights for 1.4 million convicted people.
Debbie Africa and Michael Africa of the MOVE 9 were freed after 37 years of being jailed. The right to adequate treatment for Hep-C was won for all Pennsylvania inmates, including Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Even the capitalist U.S. Congress passed a limited criminal justice reform bill that may free a few thousand prisoners.
All these victories spring from a mass workers’ fight against the superstructure of police, prisons and capital that Judge Tucker represents to the letter.
The movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal participated in many of those struggles. The ruling class is now seeking to refortify their prison house of nations.
The International Family and Friends of Mumia Abu Jamal has called to intensify the campaign to free Mumia. Brick by brick, wall by wall, we will free Mumia Abu-Jamal!
Mobilization4Mumia
Twitter Storm for Mumia on Friday, January 4, 2019:
Click links below to Tweet
