Freedom of Speech and Assembly

The Legacy And Promise Of The Free Speech Movement

October 4, 2014 Educate! Berkeley, Freedom of Speech and Assembly

At the beginning of the fall term of 1964, the university administration imposed a series of strict regulations limiting the right of students to engage in political soliciting on campus. Berkeley students had for several years been active in opposing the House Un-American Activities Committee, pro-labor, and anti-racism protests and demonstrations throughout the Bay area. This picture of the university as a hotbed of political activism was undermining the carefully honed image being disseminated by the state of California as the leader in public higher education: in the conservative post-war period, Berkeley was being touted as not only a world class research university but at the forefront of preparing a modern elite meritocratic student body primed for corporate and governmental leadership. What the university administration failed to consider was the fact that many activist Berkeley students had embraced new levels of commitment to political organizing by participating in Freedom Summer, an initiative by radical civil rights organizations in the South to mobilize black Americans to challenge segregation and demand voting rights.

Project Censored Exposes Top 25 Most Censored News Stories

October 4, 2014 Stephen Hui, www.straight.com Educate! Censorship, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Media

Every year, Project Censored performs a valuable public service by researching and compiling a list of the most censored and under-reported news stories in the United States. Started at Sonoma State University in 1976 and carried on by the Media Freedom Foundation since 2000, the project involves professors and students and journalists. "During this year’s cycle, Project Censored reviewed 237 Validated Independent News stories (VINs) representing the collective efforts of 260 college students and 49 professors from 18 college and university campuses that participate in our affiliate program," the project website states. 25. “Chaptered Out”: US Military Seeks to Balance Budget on Backs of Disabled Veterans. 24. Restorative Justice Turns Violent Schools Around...

Activists Demand WGBH Dump David Koch

October 3, 2014 Chris Cassidy and Robert Greim , www.bostonherald.com Resist! Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Human Rights, Koch, Media, PBS

Nearly 100 environmental activists protested outside WGBH’s Brighton studios yesterday calling for conservative billionaire David Koch’s ouster from the public broadcaster’s board of trustees. “I am here today because David Koch is a climate denier and ’GBH has scientific programs and he should have absolutely no influence on PBS and public broadcasting,” said Nate Goldshlag of Arlington. Some protesters dressed as Sesame Street characters Elmo, Big Bird and the Count joined the crowd. Dozens then packed the board of trustees meeting. A Herald videographer was not allowed to record the meeting, but Emily Southard of Forecast the Facts said that though they weren’t allowed to address the board, some protesters interrupted the meeting to complain about Koch’s involvement.

Corporations Causing Climate Change Should Be Taken Over

September 30, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Climate Change, Democracy, Energy, Environment, Finance and the Economy, Food and Agriculture, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, Green party

The richest 1% own the two major parties. It's time working people had one of our own. That's why I'm running for Governor. My name is Howie Hawkins. I'm a working Teamster and my running mate, Brian Jones, is a teacher and union member. New York has the greatest income inequality in the country -- and it has gotten worse under Governor Cuomo's tax breaks for the rich and spending cuts for the rest of us. Our schools are the most segregated in the nation. Poverty is on the rise in cities across the state. It doesn't have to be this way. We can create an economy that meets human needs and protects our planet. (read more: http://www.howiehawkins.org/)

Instagram Blocked In Mainland China Amid Hong Kong Protests

September 30, 2014 Lucy Wang, www.shanghaiist.com Resist! China, Democracy, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Hong Kong, Protests

Instagram has been blocked in mainland China since Sunday, in what is believed to be an attempt to stop pro-democracy protest images in Hong Kong from spreading to the mainland. News of the student-led pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong have gripped headlines since its start last week, with the massive Occupy Central demonstration taking a particularly dark turn yesterday when Hong Kong riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the thousands of unarmed protestors. As photos and videos of the attacks flooded social media websites, China has seemingly cracked down on the dissemination of information.

The U.N.: Apologist For False Climate Solutions

September 29, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Finance and the Economy, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, People's Climate March, Wars and Militarism

A day before the People’s Climate March drove 400,000 people into the streets of New York City, Jill Stein sat down with Dennis Trainor, Jr of Acronym TV and outlined what she sees as the coming green revolution. “The U.N. has sold us out,” says Stein “The UN has become the apologists for false solutions (like) nuclear power, fracking, and so-called clean coal,” says Stein. “The U.N. has sold us out, and it is really important that we take a new direction, with a very clear goal (…) one which puts people, planet and peace over profit.”

Holder Prosecuted Whistleblowers & Journalists, Not Bankers & Torturers

September 25, 2014 Kevin Zeese, greenshadowcabinet.us Educate! Bankers, Campaign Finance, Chelsea Manning, Corporate crime, Edward Snowden, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Freedom of the Press, Julian Assange, Marijuana, Media, Medical Marijuana, Militarized police, NSA, Occupy, Occupy Movement, Police abuse, police brutality, police murder, spying, Torture, War On Drugs, Wars and Militarism, Whistleblowers, Wikileaks

We urge President Obama to replace Holder with a public interest not a corporate lawyer; that will put the rule of law before corporate power. This appointment is an opportunity to shut the revolving door between big business and government. We also hope the next attorney general will put rule of law ahead of the security state, prosecute torture and other war crimes, protect privacy from US intelligence agencies and protect Freedom of Speech, Assembly and Press. Finally, we hope to see an attorney general that will confront the war culture that has allowed the president to ignore the constitutional requirement that Congress is responsible for deciding when the US goes to war, not the president; and one who respects international law and requires UN approval before the US attacks another nation.

Pipeline Meeting Moved Due To Protest Plans

September 14, 2014 Calvin Trice, www.newsleader.com Resist! Energy, Environment, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Gas, Pipelines

Dominion changed the venue for its information meeting on its natural gas pipeline next week after protest plans were announced at its previously arranged location. Company representatives scheduled it as the first of many open houses to answer questions from landowners and the public on an informal, one-on-one basis. They will have more details about information and maps for the proposed 550-mile utility line Dominion wants to build from West Virginia to North Carolina. The Augusta County Alliance, which formed in opposition to the energy company's proposal, alerted supporters Thursday about protests being organized in Verona. On Friday, County Administrator Pat Coffield notified Dominion that the wording of the alert from the Alliance raised safety concerns about government employees and open house visitors. The open house would have overlapped with Government Center hours. Because of that and the safety concerns, "I do not feel that the Government Center is the appropriate location for the Open House along with the planned activities of the Augusta County Alliance," Coffield wrote in a letter to Dominion. In an interview, Coffield noted phrases in the Alliance email newsletter about not letting, "the landowners go in there alone." "Let's pack the parking lot and pack the room," the notice said.

Victory: First Amendment Triumph Over Fort Benning

September 5, 2014 Staff, www.SOAwatch.org Resist! Freedom of Speech and Assembly, SOA Watch, Torture, Wars and Militarism

Thanks to a letter signed by our friends and human rights defenders throughout Latin America, including Nobel Peace Prize recipient Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, as well as 75 organizational letters of support, a Congressional letter of support signed by 12 Representatives and a petition with 7,000 signatures, we have collectively secured not only our historical and sacred space of convergence to remember the martyrs, but have successfully defended and protected our First Amendment rights!

Ferguson: ‘Pilot Program’ For Community Response

August 31, 2014 Kevin Gosztola, www.dissenter.firedoglake.com Educate! Ferguson, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Militarized police, Police abuse

The National Lawyers Guild had legal observers on the ground in Ferguson to monitor protests against the killing of unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, by a Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. They were also present to help with jail support for community residents. But, while working, four of the NLG’s observers fell victim to the police occupation they were trying to help Ferguson fight and were arrested. As Dennis Black, one of the legal observers arrested, commented, “Ferguson is a pilot program of what’s to come when communities respond to police brutality.” He and others had traveled from Detroit to see a preview of what police might do to squelch uprisings there. Black and two other volunteers were arrested on August 21 about 10:30 pm.

Israel’s Operation Protective Edge Spurs Growth in BDS Movement

August 11, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, Human Rights, Media, Palestine, Poverty, Wars and Militarism

That was before Operation Protective Edges. On August 2, The National reported: “Soros Fund Management, the family office of the billionaire investor George Soros, has sold its stake in SodaStream, the soda making appliance producer that profits from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and was made popular by actress Scarlett Johansson’s endorsement. The decision comes as a number of big international investors, including the fund linked to the Microsoft founder Bill Gates, join in a burgeoning financial boycott of Israel amid a push by the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and other groups seeking more rights for Palestinians. SodaStream, headquartered in the Israeli city of Lod, has its main factory in the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim.

We Are Gaza. Look Into Our Eyes.

August 8, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Criminal Justice and Prisons, Democracy, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, Human Rights, Palestine

Take a long look in our eyes, we are the insect in your ears, the rust upon your gears, the resistance you fear, the faith you smear, the justice you want to disappear We are the Palestinian mothers who continue to send their children to school amidst gunfire, children they gave birth to behind a checkpoint, take a long look We are the shame on the face of a Zionist at the point of realization, the crux of courage to refute the support of a gangster nation, take a long look We are the tears of a father holding his mangled child in a hospital about to be set to the fire, take a long look We are the soldier turning against his battalion, the drone operator turned freedom fighter, take a long look

Has Pro-Choice strategy Of Last 40 Years Failed Women?

August 8, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Criminal Justice and Prisons, Democracy, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, Health Care, Human Rights

“What once was maybe a Christian-Fascist movement against women’s right to abortion really got elevated and brought into the halls of power,” says Sunsara Taylor of Stop Patriarchy. “Starting with Ronald Reagan, continuing under Bush, escalating Bill Clinton (quiet as it is kept: Bill Clinton who signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which became the foundation for the recent Hobby Lobby decision).”

Gaza Solidarity Grows as Israel Continues Massacre

July 29, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Criminal Justice and Prisons, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Government, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Palestine, Racism, Solidarity, Wars and Militarism

“We are a diverse group of people who have come together against the Israeli occupation and against the massacre. However,” says Kash Nikazmrad, an organizer with Students for Justice in Palestine, “every massacre, every occupation, every act of colonialism always has a mechanism and a supporter. The supporter in this situation has been America.” Nikazmrad is one of the organizers behind the Los Angeles “Stop The Massacre in Gaza” events. Judging by the (in)action of Congress, it is hard to dispute Nikazmrad’s claims. When it comes to Israel and Gaza, there is unanimous agreement. As Philip Weiss of Mondoweiss sums up:

Syracuse Drone Activist Released On Appeal

July 21, 2014 Staff, www.upstatedroneaction.org/ Resist! Drones, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Wars and Militarism

Last night Mary Anne Grady Flores was released on $5,000 bail from the Syracuse Justice Center after appearing before County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller who granted a stay of execution of her one year sentence, pending appeal of the Order of Protection granted to Col. Earl A. Evans by the DeWitt Town Court judges requiring drone protesters to stay away from the Hancock Airbase. Grady Flores, grandmother of three, was the first alleged violator of the 50 drone activists who have been given the Order of Protection in 2012. She was tried and sentenced for a year in jail. Despite being out on bail, she still faces returning to jail. Her appeals process will take months. “There are 30 upcoming trials over the next year. DeWitt Town judges threaten to sentence activists to a year in jail, many of them in their 60’s and 70’s,” said Judy Bello of Rochester.

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