Join us for benefit for the Palestine Solidarity Project (PSP) with speaker Michael Galvin. Michael recently returned from working with PSP and other solidarity organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Come to learn about the current status of the occupation and solidarity activism in Palestine, and also to support the PSP – a Palestinian-led organization that uses nonviolent direct action to help Palestinian communities remain on their land in the face of intimidation, economic strangulation, and a history of forced displacement under the Israeli occupation.  Sponsored by Opposition to War & Occupation, Women Against Military Madness Mideast Committee, and the Twin Cities chapter of the Intenational Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.

Pittsburgh, PA – Since learning of White House plans to hold the next G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, scores of activists and organizations from multiple sectors of society have been quickly gearing up for a mobilization. They are simultaneously fighting to safeguard their right to free speech and assembly. The mobilization is expected to be the largest expression of political dissent in Pittsburgh in more than a generation.

“Anyone who has lost a job, a home, a loved one to war, or lived without adequate healthcare, water, or food has been directly affected by policies set by the G-20,” says Jessica Benner of the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee, which is organizing a “Peoples’ March to the G-20,” on Friday, Sept. 25.

An extraordinary array of groups from peace & justice, women’s, religious, environmental, Indigenous, African-American, anarchist and student movements – from Pittsburgh and around the globe – are planning marches, rallies, civil disobedience, direct action, educational forums and “tent cities.” (See attached summary of events.)

“Our week-long tent city will represent the millions of refugees who have been displaced by war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza, and for whom the G-20 turns a blind eye,” says Edith Bell, a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

As in recent summits and political conventions in the U.S., the Dept. of Homeland Security has claimed jurisdiction. The authorities are delaying or attempting to deny permits and proposing restrictions on free speech, while securing $18 million dollars for 4,000 police and weaponry as well as waging an information warfare campaign that equates protest with terrorism.

Organizers have launched a campaign to protect the public’s 1st amendment rights and have called on the Mayor and City Council to stand up to the Federal takeover of Pittsburgh. “We invite all those who believe in free speech and civil liberties to join us to fight for the right to demonstrate,” says Michelle Gaffey, a Duquesne University graduate student. “Free speech and dissent are the foundation of a democratic society.” Lawyers from the ACLU, Center for Constitutional Rights, and National Lawyers Guild are preparing lawsuits.

“The State’s attempt to suppress dissent calls to mind why we’re protesting in the first place,” says David Meieran of the 3 Rivers Climate Convergence, which is planning an environmental justice camp and protests focusing on the coal industry as the International Coal Conference directly precedes the G-20 Summit. “The closed-door G-20 Summits make policies that benefit corporations at the expense of people, democracy, and the planet.”

Future releases will contain updates around developing stories about the G-20 summit mobilization as keynote speakers are confirmed, organizations announce plans to mobilize, etc.

For more information visit www.g20media.org.

Thomas Merton Center G20 Media Support Team > Summary of G20 Actions

Peoples’ Summit, an alternative to the G20 summit, will discuss global problems and possible solutions, organized by a broad partnership of educators and social advocacy groups (Sept. 19, 21-22).

• Contact: Paul LeBlanc, 412-760-9716, pghpeoplessummit@gmail.com

• www.peoplessummit.com

Bail Out the People, caravans of unemployed workers will set up a tent city at the Monumental Baptist Church on Sept. 20-25 and march to the Convention Center on Sept. 20.

• Contact: Karen Black, 412-780-3813, march4jobs@gmail.com

• www.bailoutpeople.org

Women’s Tent City: Real People, Real Needs and feeder march, organized by Pittsburgh chapters of CodePink, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and other groups (Sept. 20-25)

• Contact: Francine Porter, 412-389-3216, codepinkpgh@aol.com

• codepinkalert.org/pittsburgh

Three Rivers Climate Convergence, a partnership of local, regional and national groups and individuals who are organizing a climate justice camp, coal/climate protests, a feeder marches, and educational events (Sept. 20-25).

• Contact: Kim Teplitzky, 267-307-4707, 3riversconvergence@gmail.com

• www.3riversconvergence.org

G6 Billion Project, organized by a collection of spiritual, religious, and other groups and individuals (Sept. 20-21)

• Contact: Wanda Guthrie, 412-596-0066, wanda.guthrie@gmail.com

• www.g6billion.org

International Peace, Justice, & Empowerment Summit, organized by the National Council For Urban Peace, Justice and Empowerment (Sept. 22-23)

• Contact: T Rashad Byrdsong, 412-371-3689 x14, TRByrdsong@ceapittsburgh.org

Peoples’ Voices, organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation Magazine, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Pittsburgh United, and other organizations. They are organizing a panel discussion (Sept. 23) and a “Peoples’ Tribunal” (Sept. 24), among other events.

• Contact: Robin Alexander, 412-471-8919, peoplesvoices.events@gmail.com

• www.pittsburghunited.org/g20

Pittsburgh G20 Resistance Project is setting up a convergence space and providing other mobilization infrastructure. They are calling for a march that starts in Lawrenceville on Sept. 24 as well as decentralized actions that end at 11:30am on Sept. 25.

• Contact: press@resistg20.org

• www.resistg20.org

SDS Concert, featuring Anti-Flag, State Radio, and Ryan Harvey, organized by Students for a Democratic Society (Sept. 24)

• studentpowerinthefaceofempire.wordpress.com

People’s March to the G20, mass march and rally organized by the Thomas Merton Center and its Antiwar Committee (Sept. 25), endorsed by over 55 groups.

• Contact: Pete Shell, 412-422-7435, info@pittsburghendthewar.org

• www.pittsburghendthewar.org

Walker’s squad car was equipped with a dashboard camera which captured the brutality and violence that followed.

As seen on the video, Jenkins and Walker become involved in a scuffle.

Going simply by what the raw video shows, Jenkins simply stepped out of his car and it was Walker that made the initial attack and was clearly the aggressor from the beginning of the incident.

Although Jenkins had plenty of opportunity to resist and fight back, he seems more interested in defending himself from the irrational attack by the pig oppressor.

Walker is seen calling for backup (2:30) before he effectively subdues Jenkins by bringing him to the ground and sitting atop him while awaiting the responding pigs.

While Walker might have been acting like a total asshole, he was mostly acting to restrain Jenkins, the half dozen pigs that responded to his distress call reacted with the violence that the oppressive institution known as the Minneapolis Police regularly dish out to our citizens.

Transcripts obtained by Jenkins lawyer, Paul Edlund, showed that one of the responding pigs called this “a good fight”  ….

North Star Republic will attempt to find names and photos of these officers so we can expose them as enforcers of class oppression and brutal enemies of the people.

If you have any information concerning this incident or similar stories of police brutality, coercion,  or wanton violence  we want to hear from you.

Money for Human Needs, Not for Wars and Occupations – Environmental Justice for the Earth and its Inhabitant – Jobs and Health Care for All

WHAT: Permitted rally and “Peoples’ March” to G20 Summit

WHO: Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee and 40+ endorsing groups

WHEN: Friday, September 25, 2009, 12:00pm - 5pm (opening rally starts at 12:00pm)

WHERE: The plans for Friday are:

· 12:00 pm – Opening Rally at the corner of Fifth and Craft Avenues in Oakland.

· 2:00pm – Protestors will march down Fifth Avenue to the City County Building Downtown for a speak-out.

· 3:00pm – They will march down Grant St. to the Federal Building for another speak-out.

· 3:30pm – They will march down 10th St. to a block from the G20 and then conclude the march.

At least three feeder marches are being organized to join the march along the route.

Angry at the lack of opportunity for public input at the upcoming G20 Summit and the escalating global economic and environmental crises, the Thomas Merton Center and its Antiwar Committee are organizing a permitted march to make sure the peoples’ demands are heard. “Anyone who has lost a job, a home, a loved one to war, lost value to a retirement plan, gotten sick from environmental pollution, or lived without adequate healthcare, water, or food has been directly affected by policies set by the G20 and should join us on Sept. 25th,” said Jessica Banner of the Antiwar Committee. Thousands of people from around the nation are expected to participate in the Peoples’ March.

“We have the right to be seen, heard, and considered,” said Pete Shell of the Antiwar Committee. Although the Merton Center applied for a permit, the City has responded by saying that they can’t guarantee the group’s right to march because the Secret Service will be taking over the event. “We call on the city to defend our right to march to a block from the convention center on Friday, and to use Point State Park for the week of the summit. We want the world to see that Pittsburgh is a place where democracy is practiced and the right to assemble and dissent is allowed.”

Dr. Regina Birchem, a resident of Irwin, PA and former President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), notes that, “Though the G20 documents from past meetings have acknowledged the inequalities and the many who suffer and die of starvation, the world leaders’ policies of exploitation and exclusion continue. The agenda of accumulation of resources and wealth is protected with enormous military expenditures and increasingly sophisticated surveillance technologies.” WILPF – U.S. Section is an endorser of the march.

Many march organizers are motivated by their opposition to the economic and military policies that continue to protect large profits instead of affording people their basic needs and rights. “The Democrats have sold us out, again. The only thing Obama’s kept his promise on is expanding the losing war in Afghanistan,” said Albert Petrarca of Pittsburgh. “We need to re-build the mass movements and it starts with the G20 in Pittsburgh,” he continued. The Antiwar Committee invites all people of Pittsburgh and beyond to nonviolently bring its demands to the summit by joining the Peoples’ March on September 25.

Endorsed by the North Star Republic.

Additional Info:

www.pittsburghendthewar.org – TMC Antiwar Committee web site

http://g20media.org – Merton Center G20 media web site

www.ThomasMertonCenter.org – Thomas Merton Center web site

US: A Working Class Program for the Economic Crisis

Written by Workers’ International League Thursday, 09 April 2009

The Workers’ International League’s working class program for the current economic crisis.

• No more bail outs for the rich. No reward for the fat cats! Nationalize the banks and insurance companies under democratic workers’ control and management. Banking decisions must be taken in the interests of the majority of society, not a minority of speculators. Compensation for nationalized banks and other companies must be paid only in cases of proven need to pension funds, 401k funds (and similar retirement funds), workers and retired workers. The nationalization of the banks is the only way to guarantee the deposits and savings of ordinary people.
• Democratic control of the banks. The boards of directors should be composed in the following way: one third to be elected by the bank workers, one third to be elected by the trade unions to represent the interests of the working class as a whole, and one third from the government.
• An immediate end to the exorbitant bonuses, all executive pay should be limited to the wages of a skilled worker. Unnecessary managers should be reassigned to actual productive tasks needed by the enterprise. If the bankers are not prepared to serve on reasonable terms, they must be shown the door and replaced by qualified graduates, thousands of whom are looking for work and are willing to serve society.
• An immediate reduction of interest rates, which should be limited to the necessary costs of banking operations. Cheap credit must be made available for those who need it: small businesses and workers buying homes, not the bankers and capitalists.
• Quality housing for all. Rent to be fixed at no more than 10 percent of wages. An immediate end to home foreclosures, utility disconnections and rent evictions. Open empty homes to those without shelter. For a massive program of public works to create jobs and quality, affordable public housing.
• Abolish unemployment. Work or Social Security for all. For the immediate introduction of a 30-hour week without loss of pay to provide work for all. A living wage and pension for all. A sliding scale of wages, linking all increases to the increases in the cost of living.
• Down with business secrets. Open the books! Let the workers have access to information about all the speculation, tax evasion, shady deals, exorbitant profits and bonuses. Let the people see how they have been swindled and who is really responsible for the present mess.
• No to factory closures. A factory closed is a factory occupied! Nationalization under democratic workers’ control and management of idle factories and those under threat of being closed!
• For a massive program of public works: an immediate construction program of affordable public housing, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, public transportation networks and other infrastructure to improve quality of life and create millions of jobs at union wages and benefits. Union-controlled hiring halls and apprentice programs to be immediately established in areas of highest unemployment. Against racism and discrimination: Workers’ unity is the way forward!
• The trade unions, co-operatives and consumer associations must work out the real index of the cost of living in place of the “official” COLA index, which does not reflect the real state of affairs. Set up committees of workers, homemakers, small businesses and the unemployed to control price increases.
• Abolish all indirect and regressive taxation and introduce a heavily progressive system of direct taxation on the rich. Abolish all taxation for the poor; make the rich pay for their crisis!
• For a drastic reduction of energy costs! This can only be achieved through nationalization of the energy companies, which will enable us to impose price controls on gas and electricity. No more profiteering at the public’s expense!
• The right of all workers to join a union, strike, picket and demonstrate.  The right to free speech and assembly. No to restrictions of democratic rights under the pretext of so-called anti-terrorist laws!
• Complete independence of the unions from the Big Business parties and the state. An end to compulsory arbitration, no-strike clauses, and other measures intended to restrict the scope of action of the unions. Repeal Taft-Hartley and all similar anti-union laws. Democratize the unions and place control firmly in the hands of the rank and file. Direct election of all union officials with right of recall. Against bureaucracy and careerism: No union official to receive a higher wage than a skilled worker. All expenses to be available for the inspection of the membership.
• For a militant, class struggle program to mobilize workers in defense of jobs and living standards. The workers’ organizations must reject the false idea of “national unity” with capitalist governments and parties under the pretext of the crisis. They are responsible for the crisis and want to present the bill to the working class. For trade union unity on the basis of the above demands.
• For rank and file control, including the creation of shop stewards committees and the creation of ad hoc strike committees during strikes and other conflicts as a means of ensuring the fullest participation of the widest number of workers.
• No to class collaboration! The unions must break with the Democrats. For a mass party of Labor, based on the unions, armed with a socialist program.
• Unite private and public schools into a single, fully funded public education system, to provide free, quality, lifelong education for all. The immediate abolition of tuition fees and the introduction of a living grant to all students who qualify for higher education. A guaranteed job for every graduate, at a living wage. End the domination and exploitation of education by big business. For fully equipped youth clubs, libraries, sports centers, movie theaters, swimming pools and other recreational centers for young people.
• For a socialized national health care system. Abolish private health insurance and HMOs. Massively fund research and treatment for AIDS, cancer and other curable and preventable diseases. Nationalize the pharmaceuticals giants that squeeze their profits out of the health of working people.
• Break with the anarchy of the capitalist free market. Nationalize the Fortune 500. Socialist planning would mean the end of unemployment and ensure democratic control of production, distribution and exchange, using all available information and technology. Environmental plans would be measured in generations, not fiscal quarters. The unions would play a key role in the administration and control of every workplace. Trade unionism is not an end in itself, but only a means to an end, which is the socialist transformation of society.
• For the immediate withdrawal of all the troops and military contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan. Slash the military budget and massively increase social spending. Full civil rights for soldiers, including the right to join unions and the right to strike. Hands Off Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Latin America, the Middle East and the world!
• Against racism and discrimination! Defend the rights of all oppressed and exploited people. For the unity of all workers, regardless of gender, color, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
• For working class internationalism. For a Socialist Federation of the Americas as part of a World Socialist Federation.

Workers of the world unite!

source:  Socialist Appeal

March on the Banks
Saturday, August 15th, details TBA
Organized by the MN People’s Bailout Coalition

Defend the RNC8
Wednesday, August 19th, details TBA
Come stand with the RNC 8 at their hearing.  Demand that the charges be dropped!  Rnc8.org

Recycle for Peace:  Anti-War Committee Yard Sale
Saturday, August 22nd 8am - 3pm @ Spirit of the Lakes Church, 2930 13th Ave S, Minneapolis
Come and buy items that have been donated from a lot of families in the movement and give them a new life!  Find your “new” furniture, kids toys, clothes, etc. at our yard sale.  Come shop and support peace.

Have stuff to donate?
Stop by Spirit of the Lake Church on Friday night between 6 and 8 pm to drop off your items.  Feel free to spread the word to your neighbors too.  All proceeds will benefit the AWC.  Questions?  612.379.3899

Eyewitness from Palestine:  Report from the 2009 Delegation
Wednesday, September 2nd @ 7pm, location TBA
Thursday, September 17th @ 7pm, location TBA
Hear what the Anti-War Committee and WAMM members learned on their recent trip to Palestine.  They met with activists on the ground who struggle against Israeli occupation daily.  Come hear what Palestinians told them about their conditions, their struggle, and their hopes for peace and land.

Out of Iraq & Afghanistan! National Day of Action
Saturday, October 17th @ 1pm @ Lagoon and Hennepin in front of the Walker Library, Minneapolis
Join with voices across the country to demand:  Foreclose the war, not people’s homes!  Funds for housing and human needs, not wars and occupation!
Organized by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition.

The U.S. war in Afghanistan is expanding into Pakistan. In an almost-colonial reference, the war is sometimes referred to as the Af-Pak war.

What is really happening today in Pakistan?
How does Pakistan relate to the growing U.S. military presence in Afghanistan?
What are the effects on the Pakistani people of the expanding war?

Come to the July 30 public meeting with Kathy Kelly, coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence to hear an eyewitness account of conditions in Pakistan today. Sponsored by: Twin Cities Peace Campaign-Focus on Iraq; St. Joan of Arc Peacemakers; Iraq Peace Action Coalition; Women Against Military Madness FFI: 612 522-1861 or 612 827-5364, Endorsed by the North Star Republic.