Milwaukee IWW

Cesar De Leon’s family reports that he’s been badly beaten, can’t move his arm, and that guards are restricting his mail. Correctional officers have also reportedly said “Now you’ll really see what we can do to you.” He needs more people calling to show there’s awareness of his situation and support, that people are still watching. We’re asking for people to call Thursday and Friday if they are able. Please make a call today, and share this to update others.

Wisconsin Department of Corrections central office- 608-240-5000, docweb@wi.gov Ask to speak with the office of DOC Secretary Jon Litscher, sample script: “I am calling in support of Cesar DeLeon, an incarcerated worker at Waupun Correctional. I am hearing reports of physical torture and psychological abuse happening to Cesar at the hands of Waupun’s staff, this is intolerable and needs to stop.”

Wapun Correctional Institution Warden Brian Foster- (920) 324-5571 Ask to speak with the Warden’s office, sample script: “”I am calling in support of Cesar DeLeon, imprisoned in administrative confinement at your institution. I am hearing reports of physical torture and psychological abuse happening to Cesar at the hands of your guards, this is intolerable and needs to stop.”

If you wish to write to a letter of support the address is
Cesar Deleon #322800
P.O. Box 351
Waupon, WI 53963

People who wish to write can use the Milwaukee IWW PO Box as a return address, at PO Box 342294, Milwaukee, WI, 53234

More information on the incarcerated workers participating in this action and their writings can be found at: solitarytorture.blogspot.com and #DyingToLiveWI on twitter.

An injury to one is an injury to all.

trump-protest-proposal-chris-finn-atu-1555-final

http://www.alamedalabor.org/

WHEREAS, the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has sparked fear and anger in our community, especially among those most marginalized, including immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, the disabled, and LGBTQ populations.

WHEREAS, the President Elect has publicly supported and endorsed anti-union policies including federal Right to Work laws and is considering appointing to his cabinet people with a track record of promoting such policies

WHEREAS, newly appointed Supreme Court Justices will swing the court to be more consistently anti-union

WHEREAS, the privatization of Social Security and Medicare is likely to be pushed early in the Trump administration

WHEREAS, the diverse membership of the working class and of our unions includes populations that candidate Trump threatened with bigoted policies and hateful rhetoric

WHEREAS, that hateful rhetoric has already been seen in the form of an increase of hate crimes and violence against marginalized communities which overlap with our membership

WHEREAS, it is the obligation of organized labor to defend our members from attacks and promote an elevated and equal quality of life for all workers

Whereas, spontaneous demonstrations have erupted across the country immediately following the election of Donald Trump.  Many organizations of students, labor, women, and various communities are continuing to plan massive protests including on Martin Luther King, Jr Day and culminating in action on the day of the inauguration of Donald Trump, January 20, 2017

WHEREAS, the day on which we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr who fought against racism and bigotry and championed the issues of the working class is just four days before the inauguration of Donald Trump.

WHEREAS, the power of organized labor is not reliant upon the occupant of any government office up to and including the office of President of the United States

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alameda County Labor Council endorses and encourages all members to participate in the nationwide call for protest and actions beginning with those honoring and continuing the struggle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on his day, Monday, January 16 and culminating in a national day of action and protest and a reassertion of the power of organized labor on Friday January, 20, the day of the Inauguration of President Donald Trump

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Alameda County Labor Council encourages each of its affiliates to use the day of action on Friday, January 20 to display our power, unity and solidarity by planning an action around an existing labor dispute and inviting all of its members to participate as well as support their members who want to participate in inauguration protests.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we urge all affiliates to pass similar resolutions.

Submitted by Chris Finn ATU 1555 President; Adopted by the Alameda Labor Council Executive Committee 12/05/16 & Delegates 12/05/16

Respectfully, Josie Camacho, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

#SHROC20th is days away! Join us on Friday for the Human Rights Institute at 11am CDT. Co-hosted by Organization for Human Rights and Democracy and Cooperation Jackson.

20th Anniversary of the Southern Human Rights Organizers’ Conf.

EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM STANDING ROCK: Pipeline company defies Army Corps order to halt construction of pipeline. Email Obama to demand that he not back down—SIGN THE PETITION: WWW.LAKOTALAW.ORG. #NoDAPL #NoEasement

http://uspcn.org/2016/12/06/new-trial-for-rasmea-drop-the-charges-now/

Statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee

Media Contact: Hatem Abudayyeh, National Spokesperson, 773-301-4108, hatem85@yahoo.com

Rasmea Odeh Gets a New Trial; TOMORROW, Tell McQuade to Drop the Charges Now!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 7, 2016–from 9 AM to 5 PM EST–please call U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade at 313-226-9100, and demand that she stop wasting taxpayer money, that she stop persecuting a woman who has given so much to U.S. society, and that she Drop the Charges Against Rasmea Now!

December 6, 2016

After cancelling a November 29 Daubert hearing last week, Eastern District of Michigan Federal Judge Gershwin Drain reviewed written arguments, and ruled today that Palestinian American community organizer Rasmea Odeh will be granted a new trial.

“This is incredible news,” said Nesreen Hasan, a leader of the Rasmea Defense Committee and its lead organization, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). “The government has gone to great lengths to cover up the details of Israel’s torture and crimes against this mentor of mine and of so many others, this Palestinian icon. Now, the truth will finally be told, in open court.  Rasmea will be vindicated.”

Last year, Rasmea was sentenced to 18 months in prison and deportation after being convicted in 2014 of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization, a politically-motivated immigration charge, for failing to disclose on applications for U.S. citizenship that she had been arrested decades earlier in Palestine by Israeli authorities. In February 2016, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to Judge Drain, saying he had wrongfully barred the testimony of a torture expert that was critical to the defense. At the original trial, Rasmea was not allowed to tell the entire story of Israel forcing her to falsely confess to alleged bombings in 1969, when she endured over three weeks of vicious sexual, physical, and psychological torture at the hands of the Israeli military.

Rasmea suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of this torture, which, according to her clinical psychologist, Dr. Mary Fabri (who has worked with torture survivors for 25 years, and at the world-renowned Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture for 12), caused her to suppress the horrible recollection of the arrest when she answered questions on her immigration application. Judge Drain excluded Fabri’s testimony from the first trial, and disallowed any evidence about the rape and torture. Today’s decision clears the way for a new trial, where this testimony can finally be heard by a jury. The judge had previously mentioned January 10, 2017, as a new trial date, but today’s ruling does not include a specific start.

In filings before the ruling, the government argued that Judge Drain should again exclude Fabri’s testimony, asserting that Rasmea did not have PTSD, that she was feigning her symptoms, and therefore, that her memory could not have been impacted during the immigration process. Despite recently subjecting her to 17 hours of clinical mental examination to prove these theories, the government’s own expert affirmed the diagnosis of PTSD, and reported that Rasmea was not faking any symptoms.

At the new trial next year, defense attorneys are hopeful a jury that finally gets the opportunity to hear testimony about torture and PTSD, will find Rasmea not guilty.  In the meantime, the defense committee is calling on U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade to stop wasting taxpayer money and end this travesty of justice right now–by dropping the charges now and letting Rasmea go free!

“This has been a politically-motivated case from day one,” said Frank Chapman, Field Organizer for the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “The whole case against Rasmea is nothing but a pretext to intimidate those who organize and struggle to realize a liberated Palestine. She has remained determined in the face of this repression, and we will continue to stand beside her. Hundreds have come out from across the country to stand with Rasmea at every hearing, and every day of her trial and appeal. These same hundreds, and thousands more, are now demanding of McQuade, ‘#DropTheChargesNow!’”

Today, we celebrate another great victory in the campaign, but we won’t stop here.  

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 7, 2016–FOR A FULL DAY, from 9 AM to 5 PM EST–please call U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade at 313-226-9100, and demand that she stop wasting taxpayer money, that she stop persecuting a woman who has given so much to U.S. society, and that she Drop the Charges Against Rasmea Now!

In the meantime, the Rasmea Defense Committee, led by USPCN and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, urges supporters to continue to struggle for #Justice4Rasmea by donating to the defense and organizing educational events about Rasmea and the campaign in your communities. Visit www.justice4rasmea.org or email justice4rasmea@uspcn.org to get more involved.

http://phillyjwj.org/

At Philadelphia Jobs with Justice, we take the threats from the Donald Trump-Mike Pence administration extremely seriously. That’s why, in the coming year, we’ll be using a five-point plan to work on city, state, and federal levels, fighting back against pro-corporate and unjust legislation.

1. We will actively resist Donald Trump’s discriminatory and anti-worker agenda, at his inauguration on January 20th and beyond.

Philadelphia Jobs with Justice has already been a visible presence at many of the anti-Trump protests that followed the election, and we’re committed to continuing to stand loudly and publicly in opposition to the ways the Trump agenda will hurt working people. We’re already preparing to work with our members to get activists down to Washington, D.C. to take our message of social and economic justice to Trump’s inauguration on January 20th.

2. We will fight back against public acceptance or tolerance of the kind of sexual harassment and assault that Donald Trump has freely admitted to committing.

Over the course of his campaign, Donald Trump has time and time again proposed immoral and discriminatory policies concerning everyone from women to Muslims to immigrant communities. We will stand with and support our allies and neighbors as they resist these initiatives, not just with our words, but with our feet on the street.

4. We will hold our elected officials accountable for how they respond to and vote on anti-worker or discriminatory legislations.

Many of Trump’s proposed initiatives will seek take money away from those who need it most. Now more than ever, we’ll be fighting to make sure that major corporations and mega-nonprofits pay their fair share towards schools and public services in our communities.

As we face unprecedented threats against our communities and our values, Philadelphia Jobs with Justice is as committed as ever to fighting back and standing up for workers and working communities’ rights and dignity.

Philly JWJ, http://phillyjwj.org/

Digital Smoke Signals

VIDEO: #NoDapl Drone Operators: http://bit.ly/2gzerIv

Myron Dewey an Indigenous Social Media & Film Specialist and owner of
www.digitalsmokesignals.com an Indigenous Social Network and www.digitalsmokesignals.tv where all my media is hosted.

What We do: create, design and build social networking websites, film-making, documentaries, short film and online media.

We have a crowd funding campaign going if you can support we have stickers and buttons to show our appreciation. https://www.gofundme.com/waterissacred

https://www.nlg.org/convention/

Celebrate the NLG’s 80th Anniversary at the 2017 #Law4thePeople Convention in Washington, DC. from August 2-6.

Join hundreds of legal professionals, scholars and activists for five days of interactive CLEs, workshops, and panels by members of the oldest and most progressive public-interest bar association in the country!

Donald Trump hasn’t even taken office but Republicans already are talking about finally moving on their plans to cut Medicare benefits for millions of people.

This past week, House Speaker Paul Ryan—whose budget plan has included cuts to Medicare benefits for years now—made it clear that he is ready to pursue options to privatize Medicare.

Even more concerning is President-elect Trump’s nomination of Rep. Tom Price—who wants to destroy Medicare—for health and human services secretary. Trump’s decision to nominate Price is a major warning sign that he might be backing away from his promise during the election to protect Medicare.

Sign the petition immediately to tell your members of Congress to oppose any efforts by Paul Ryan and the forthcoming Trump administration to cut Medicare benefits.

The petition to your members of Congress says the following:

Oppose any efforts to privatize or undermine Medicare benefits for millions of people. We need to strengthen and expand Medicare, not cut it.

Speaker Ryan and other extreme Republicans in Congress have been dreaming about an opportunity to destroy Medicare benefits for years now. Now that they control the House, Senate and White House, they think they have a path to gut this important program.

They’re going to pursue this extreme agenda despite the fact that polls have shown most Americans oppose cutting Medicare. But there’s already mounting pressure against this plan—and it’s working.

Because of people like you taking a stand, in the past couple of weeks Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and other Republicans senators have expressed reluctance to going after Medicare.

Let’s keep the pressure on. Click here to sign the petition immediately to demand your members of Congress oppose any attacks on Medicare benefits.

In Solidarity,

Damon
—————-
Damon Silvers
Director of Policy, AFL-CIO