STATEMENT: http://tinyurl.com/m8jq3j5

There really are no words to describe the anger, frustration, and rage at the two grand jury decisions in Ferguson, MO and Staten Island, NY. Grand juries, which indict 99 out of 100 times and only need to establish probable cause, have failed to indict the cop who shot and killed unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown from 150 feet away with his hands in the air, or the cop who choked Eric Garner to death, a young father of four, also with his hands in the air, for selling loose cigarettes. The murder of Eric Garner, ruled a homicide by the coroner, was caught on camera!

The fact that one horror unfolded in suburban Ferguson, MO and the other in New York City reflects how racist police brutality has become the norm, that black lives are cheap, not just to the police, but to prosecutors and many who serve on the grand juries.

In 2013, there were 461 “justifiable homicides” by police, the highest number in more than two decades. Since Eric Garner was killed in July and Mike Brown in August, a partial list of those killed covers Brooklyn, LA, St. Louis, and 12-year old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, OH. In the past two years, the NYPD killed teenager Rahmarley Graham in the Bronx, and Shantel Davis, Kimani Williams, and Kyam Livingston in Brooklyn. Not a single cop has been charged with a crime. And of course, there was Trayvon Martin.

Recently, I attended the 2^nd World Human Rights Forum with the International Federation of Journalists. Our delegation held three panels on impunity against journalists. I talked about the brutal murders of freelancers Foley and Sotloff in Syria, the bugging of the AP Washington bureau phones and the case of NY Times reporter James Risen, facing jail in a federal leak investigation, even though he is not part of a criminal investigation.

I also said that I couldn’t talk about impunity and human rights without talking about the Michael Brown decision and the rebellion that erupted in its wake. When I said, “Our union stands with all the victims of racist police terror,” the room of international journalists burst into applause.

The struggle against racism, from the abolitionists to the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, has always brought out the best in us. And it has been a tide that raised all boats. While racism hits black people first and hardest, it is an attack on all of us, and must be ended by all of us, together. I urge every NWU member to engage your colleagues, friends and family on this vital issue. And I urge every Chapter to reach out and join rallies and marches going on across the country, especially the national march on Washington, DC called for Saturday, December 13. We will be a stronger union for it.

In Solidarity,

Larry Goldbetter

National Writers Union, President

Milwaukee, August 17, 2014

UPDATE, DECEMBER 8: All protesters are out and Ferguson residents are on their way home. Contributions for legal costs still needed. Click here to make a contribution: http://tinyurl.com/qdu2aab

Updates: http://tinyurl.com/os5hd2d

14 protesters demanding justice for Dontre Hamilton, Mike Brown, Eric Garner and all victims of police terror were arrested the evening of December 6 when they attempted to shut down I-794. One of those arrested and detained is Brother Khalil Coleman of Occupy The Hood & the Milwaukee Coalition For Justice.

Supporters can call the Milwaukee County Jail to check on the status of & to demand the release of those detained. 414-226-7000 (Press 2).

See the Milwaukee Coalition For Justice & Occupy The Hood Milwaukee on Facebook for more information.

Rally to demand release of all those arrested & detained: Sunday, December 7, 2 pm, Milwaukee County Jail, 949 N 9th Street, Milwaukee. Contribute to bail fund and legal costs: http://tinyurl.com/qdu2aab

EVENT: http://tinyurl.com/lnvm6t2

Dontre Hamilton was shot 14 times at Red Arrow Park on April 30, 2014. Its been 7 months since former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney viciously murdered him, however there has been no decision made on whether or not he operated outside of police protocol when he fired 14 bullets into an unarmed man, for sleeping in a public park.

We can not stand for this kind of negligence and reckcless disregard for human life any longer, especially from those individuals who take an oath to protect and serve us. We must stand up to this system that brutalizes us, because OUR LIVES MATTER.

Please join us at Red Arrow Park (our Ground Zero) Tuesday December 9th at 4pm as we rally and march to demand justice for Dontre and all of the men and women who have been victims of police brutality in our city and across this nation.

To stay connected to the Coalition for the latest updates and info please Follow us on Twitter @Justice4Dontre or give us a call at 414-375-9330.

NEWS RELEASE
December 5, 2015
From: Free Marissa Now; FreeMarissaNow@gmail.com

Contact: Pastor Annie Theresa Bryant Montgomery, abundantpeace88@yahoo.com, (904)514-3540

Faith Community Leaders Organize “Jericho Prayer March” in Support of Marissa Alexander

On Saturday, December 6th, 9am – 11am, faith communities from all denominations will participate in the “Jericho Prayer March” in support of Marissa Alexander, a black Jacksonville mother of three who was prosecuted for defending herself from her abusive husband.  Marchers will meet at the Duval County Courthouse to begin the march.

Nine days after prematurely giving birth, Alexander was forced to defend her life from a brutal life-threatening attack by her estranged husband.  Alexander fired a single warning shot that caused no injuries, but stopped the attack.  She was denied Stand Your Ground immunity from prosecution, prosecuted by the State of Florida, and sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.  Alexander successfully appealed the verdict, but prosecutors announced they would re-prosecute Alexander, this time pursuing a 60 year sentence.  On November 24, 2014, Alexander accepted a plea deal which includes nearly three years of time served in prison, an additional 65 days in Duval County Jail, and two years of probation while wearing a surveillance monitor. She is expected to be released on January 27, 2015.

“Marissa is a woman of strong faith, which has kept her grounded throughout this entire experience,” said march organizer, Pastor Annie Montgomery of Abundant Peace Ministries in Jacksonville, FL.  “Faith communities in Jacksonville and all over the world have sent heartfelt support to Marissa with their prayers, donations, letters, activism, and love.  We look to Jericho 33:3 as the scripture that guides us in this march to free Marissa Alexander and to support all survivors and victims of violence.”

Participants embrace the march as an awareness-building action during a time of important and active resistance to police and prison violence across the U.S.  “Our hearts are with the families of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, and all of the women, men, and children whose lives, from our perspective, have been taken or devastated by institutional racism within systems of policing, prosecution, and prisons,” said Sumayya Coleman, lead organizer at Free Marissa Now.  “We are in solidarity with the call to end police violence and mass incarceration, as well as the urgent need to end domestic violence.  At this march, we will express our solidarity through prayer, fellowship, and peace.”

People all over the world are invited to pray, march, walk, or meditate in solidarity on Saturday, December 6th.  Supporters can send prayers and notes of support on facebook and twitter using the hashtags, #FMNJericho, #JerichoPeace, and #TeamJericho.  Free Marissa Now is on facebook, twitter, and tumblr at: “freemarissanow” and @freemarissanow.

“We will not rest until Marissa is free and our communities find justice,” said Coleman.

The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign is an international grassroots campaign led by a core of organizers representing the African American/Black Women’s Cultural Alliance, New Jim Crow Movement – Jacksonville, and INCITE! Women of Color and Trans People of Color Against Violence. For more information, see www.FreeMarissaNow.org.

ALERT FROM THE COMMITTEE TO STOP FBI REPRESSION, http://www.stopfbi.net/:

We just learned that Rasmea Odeh has been in solitary confinement for the past 12 days, arbitrarily punished by her jailers at the St. Clair County Jail in Port Huron, Michigan. She is not allowed any contact with other prisoners. Confined to her cell all day, except at midnight for a few short minutes, Rasmea can’t make phone calls and can’t receive visitors. This isolation punishment was initially set for 6 days, but when she had expected to go back to general population, it has been extended two days at a time, without explanation. We have grave concerns about Rasmea’s well-being. She has not been eating well, due to ongoing dental pain as well as other health issues exacerbated by the conditions of solitary confinement.

1. Today, please Call the office of
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon
(810) 987-1700 [choose option 0],

Tell him you are calling about Rasmieh [sic] Odeh (inmate #144979), and ask that he release her from solitary confinement immediately.

 2. Send a message on the county’s webform

Go here and post the following webform message:
 “I am writing out of concern for the health and well-being of Rasmieh Odeh, inmate #144979. I urge you to take immediate action to end her solitary confinement.” 

In addition, we are still waiting for Judge Drain to rule on the motion to release Rasmea from jail. While she struggles in the horrible conditions described above, prosecutor Jonathan Tukel is maneuvering to delay the judge’s decision on her release. After the defense motion was filed, an amicus (or “friend-of-the-court”) brief was submitted by the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), supporting the defense and urging Rasmea’s release.

Typically, a judge would simply decide on their own whether or not to accept an amicus brief, but in this case, Judge Drain has agreed to a request by Tukel for time to submit his own motion to exclude NLG the brief. This government obstructionism is a callous and shameful tactic, and another example of Tukel and U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade’s disdain for fairness in Rasmea’s case.

#FreeRasmeaNow

Rasmea Yousef Odeh

#‎thisstopstoday‬

#ericgarner

#shutitdownnyc

http://fergusonresponse.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesPowerAssemblies

http://voiceandsong.empoweryouthnc.org/

The Youth Organizing Institute has released a new Zine,”Voice and Song//Voz y Canto,” a bilingual compilation of songs, chants, and icebreakers for youth liberation! Can you make a donation or share to support this amazing work of youth taking on the School-To-Prison-Pipeline?

AUDIO COMMENTARY: http://tinyurl.com/nd8sj47