Getting the word out: Event this Wednesday

Cities in America are on edge following the bombings in London a couple weeks ago where 55 people were killed. This was terrible. But so is the daily bloodshed in Iraq. Last night and today I posted some notices around town about a seminar hosted by the D.C. Anti-War Network entitled "From London to Baghdad: Why we must end the "War on Terror." It will be held in D.C. this coming Wednesday at 7 p.m. at The Flemming Center, 1426 9th Street, N.W. There will be a three person panel, including a representative from the National Coalition of Arab Americans. This is a needed event, as people both need to discuss this terrible tragedy and begin to learn more about the root causes.

Unfortunately, Blair and Bush are using the bombings to increase police power to invade individuals' property and privacy rights. People of Arab descent are being targetted; the stench of racism is spreading. In New York (and supposedly soon in D.C.) random searches of people's personal property is underway in the subway system. Authorities admit this is done without any probable cause present. This is terrible! We often like to hear our elected officials brag about how we are so "free" here. Our national anthem's lyrics: Land of The Free, and The Home of The Brave...

Here is the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

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Sheehan to challenge Pelosi

I was there the day about three weeks ago when Cindy announced she was running against Pelosi. It was outside of Rep. John Conyers'office. I think change is in the air, and all politics is local. The San Fran area is perhaps the most staunchly progressive in the whole country. Tomorrow morning I will be dropping a check for Cindy's campaign in the mail. Peace activist seeks SF-area House seat Associated Press report Citing her son as inspiration, a tearful Cindy Sheehan announced her candidacy Thursday for the U.S. House of Representatives. The anti-war activist, a former resident of Vacaville, said she will run as an independent against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987. "The country is ripe for a change," said Sheehan, who spoke at a news conference in San Francisco, with her slain son's photograph attached to the podium. "It's going to start right here and right now." Sheehan's 24-year-old son...

Guantanamo put on trial -- May 27th

In eight days, Eve Tetaz, a 76-year old retired D.C. public schoolteacher, will enter a courthouse in Washington, D.C. and engage in the legal debate over the fate of America's detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The name of Noor Muhammad has never appeared in an American criminal court. On May 27th, Tetaz will change that. On that day, she will appear at the Washington, D.C. Superior Court as Noor Muhammad. Tetaz was arrested, along with 78 others, at the U.S. Supreme Court on January 11, 2008, protesting the denial of habeas rights to and the torture of inmates at Guantanamo. Like her fellow protestors, Tetaz took the name of an inmate during her arrest. ( See the January 13 Washington Post article "Activists Pose as Guantanamo Prisoners" ) Tetaz says she felt compelled to participate in the protest at the Supreme Court because detainees are being tortured at Guantanamo. "Torture is a terrible crime and sin against humanity," she said. Thirty-four ...

Organizers' Meeting for GLBT Anti-Violence Working Group

There has recently been an upswing in anti-gay hate crimes in the Adams Morgan and 14th Street areas of DC. A small group of us have decided to start organizing a Working Group... We will meet 7:30 PM Monday, at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. Here is a tentative agenda, but I would like to have additions by Sunday night. 1. Introductions (5 mins) -- assign roles 2. Review of recent hate crimes -- Is there truly a sharp increase this year? (10 mins) -- do we have hard numbers? 3. How do we record and monitor MPD's response? (15 mins) -- should we invite GLUU to the community meeting, or C. Dyer from Fenty's administration? -- what do we know about the previous group that used to do this? 4. Organizing a community meeting -- where? when? (15 mins) -- establish a list of tasks and assign them in prep for this meeting 5. Community education -- where do these hate crimes come from? (10 mins) -- bullying, violence, starting with children -- Pete will have a mo...

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