On February 20, 2010 – The Israel Ballet’s recent performance of Don Quixote was protested by a coalition of activists who sought to highlight the troupe’s role in the Israeli government’s attempt to whitewash its record of war crimes, violations of international law, and other atrocities through promotion of its country’s artistic and cultural workers.

Approximately 34 students, workers, activists, and people of faith gathered in front of the Hanover Theater, holding signs ranging from the playful to the direct. Representatives from the Worcester area Catholic Workers displayed an image of Don Quixote with the slogan, “Dream A Possible Dream.” Students from Clark University asked “Where Are the Arabs in Your Arabesques?” And Boston area activists held a banner proclaiming “Tutus Can’t Cover Israel’s War Crimes.”

Only two days prior, activists in Burlington, VT succeeded in disrupting the Israel Ballet’s actual performance with a banner.

Read more | BDS Movement Official Site | Palestinian campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel | Who Profits From the Occupation?

The Diversity Center at 1117 Soquel Avenue in Old Branciforte is proud to host the Art of Julia Elizabeth Lonergan, a local artist-activist-writer, called "Mexico-California in Pictures". The show has 12 Sufi, Saints, Native American Indians, and a Welch princess all protecting Capitola's Magnolia Rose Hotel. The show runs through March, and features Lonergan & A. Guerioli's new book on "The Haunting of Mission Santa Cruz, Mexico, 1708 to 1876", which deals with the California "land grabs" by a group of Radical Puritans and the real history of Santa Cruz and Branciforte when it was Mexico.

Mission Santa Cruz was a Spanish-Moorish Mission, Villa de Branciforte was a port on the Monterey Bay and Capitola was the Capitola of Alta California Mexico and the Spanish-mexican navy was under Governor J. Joe Castro since 1787, and his then son-in-law by 1840. Gov. Joe Castro governed from the so-called haunted “Rispin Mansion” on Soquel and Wharf. This solid stone, 4 story, 22 bedroom mansion was the North Mexican White House used for international diplomacy by the Governor Joe Castro I (1797-1800), the famous Luis Maria Valenzia (1800-1831) and Governor Joe Castro II, from 1837 to 1867. Read more

The Resource Center for Nonviolence, la Liga de la Comunidad, the ACLU of Santa Cruz, and other local organizations will host a special screening of the new documentary film, "The 800 Mile Wall," on Friday, February 26, at 7pm at the First Congregational Church in Santa Cruz; at 7pm on Saturday at the Lutheran Community Church in Watsonville; and, at 2pm on Sunday at the Peace Resource Center in Seaside. The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s director, John Carlos Frey and the film’s producer, Jack Lorenz.

"The 800 Mile Wall" highlights the construction of the new border walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and the lethal effects on migrants trying to cross into the United States. Migrant deaths have soared since enforcement and security measures were implemented by the U.S. beginning with Operation Gatekeeper in 1994. Read more

The Raging Grannies joined with grassroots coalition A New Way Forward this month to spread the word to American consumers: "It's time to move your money to a local credit union or bank." At 400 events in cities and towns across the nation, activists are passing out flyers, telling people how to move their money and demand financial reform. Their message: What's good for MegaBanks is not what's best for the rest of us. The demonstrators insist that the Big Banks be held accountable for bringing down the American economy.

Members of the Raging Grannies distributed flyers in San Francisco Bay Area cities early last week, then took the action up a notch with culture jamming cutouts to help get their message across. The Grannies stood by and recorded reaction as bank customers watched animal teeth swallow up bank cards at Bank of America and Wells Fargo ATM's. Said Granny Gail Sredanovic, "It's just one more way we are demonstrating the greedy reckless behavior of the big banks."

Photos: 1 | 2 | A New Way Forward

On January 12, 2010, two banners were strategically placed on the UC Davis main library, reclaiming public space as well as "announcing Happy New Year to the administrators who hoped we would disappear," according to an article posted to Indybay. The banners read “We are the crisis” and “Our education, our workplace, our university.”

The banners highlighted the connections between the struggles of UC’s students, faculty, and staff members. An article posted to Indybay states that the message of the banner hang is that, at the beginning of the new quarter in which students are being required to pay 15% more in fees for their education (with an additional 17% fee increase set to occur in Fall 2010), "resistance to the UC administration’s decision-making is alive and mounting."

Shields Library was reportedly chosen as a target for these banners because of the chronic underfunding of UCD library collections, staff, and resources. The action is a precursor to mobilize protesters for a statewide day of action against the privatization of public education on March 4th. Read more

New Posters from Students in the Valley | Napa Valley College shows solidarity with statewide protests and rallies. | Update on the protests at UC Berkeley | Students protest fee hikes: an interview wit’ journalist Dave Id of Indy Bay Media | Communiqués from the Valley: New pamphlet on Student Strugggle in the Central Valley | The Enemy Within | What We Lack is Life. | Reflections on Kerr Hall (by student participants)

Older Coverage: Eight Arrested at UC Berkeley After Concert & March | Students Occupy Business Building at SFSU | On the Occupation of Kerr Hall; Demystifying the University's Erroneous Claims | California Students Protest and Occupy as UC Regents Approve 32% Fee Hike

As another January 11 rolls around, giant posters appeared in advertising kiosks in San Francisco over the weekend. On January 11, 2002, the first groups of hooded and jumpsuited detainees were brought to Guantanamo. On January 21, 2009, President Obama pledged to shut down the camp, only one of many U.S. prisons where people are being held indefinitely without charge and in inhuman conditions, violating international and domestic laws. Read more

Study In Israel Billboards Modified by Guerrilla Advertisers | "Israel Truth Campaign" Commemorates Land Day with New Billboard

Despite growing up on heavy doses of MTV, comedian Jamie Kilstein emerged from years as an apathetic teenager to become a full-time activist. Raging Granny Ruth had a chance to chat with him recently as he was about to board a plane in New York to bring his comic performance to the west coast.

On January 14, 15 and 16, Jamie will appear at San Francisco's oldest comedy club, Punchline. Californians who despair that nationally known comics can only get laughs if they are racist, sexist, and homophobic are in for a treat.

Jamie's been on the BBC, and writes for The Onion, but his comedy bites way too hard for most American TV stations. He delves into the dens of the religious right and blasts corrupt US politicians. Left-leaners who just can't get it together to march in the streets come under attack with Jamie's ferocious brand of humor as well. He appears as part of Sketchfest San Francisco this week.

Read the Interview | Punchline Comedy Club | Sketchfest

Five years after police were exposed infiltrating the organizing group, the Last Night DIY celebration still refuses permission to bring a homespun tradition to Santa Cruz streets. In it's fifth year, the do-it-yourself, grassroots celebration with a family-friendly parade, street party and performers is set for a evening of adventure and entertainment.

Organizers say that it's, "More than an evening's entertainment, this is a parade with a purpose. The message is simple: We can do it ourselves. From its beginnings in 2004, the parade is not about merely celebrating, but celebrating what we as a community can do outside of governments, corporations, and institutions. It is a celebration of both our autonomy and the support we bring to each other."

This year on New Year's Eve, the celebration will meet at 5pm near the Saturn Cafe parking lot on Pacific Ave and Spruce Street.

Read more | Last Night Santa Cruz | Previous SC-IMC Coverage

Demonstrators staged a die-in at the feet of busy shoppers in front of one of San Francisco's busiest markets on December 5th. Posed by their side, members of satirist group "Billionaires for Wealthcare" dramatized the disparate treatment of rich and poor in America's healthcare system.

Activists for a single payer healthcare system that would provide medical care to people at all income levels said that the Stupak amendment to the US Congress' health care reform plan is an attack on women's rights, but especially on poor women's access to reproductive care. Their protest started when they fell as if dying in front of San Francisco's Ferry Building, then continued as demonstrators rose to solemnly march through the crowded farmer's market. They carried the mock coffin of a victim of poor healthcare.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Audio: 1 | 2

G. Melesaine writes: "When I saw the trailer for the new film 'Precious' I cried. This film made me think a lot about an old life I was too familiar with. It made me think about a lot of women that I am close to. It made me think about my sister in her Tenderloin days, about that loud funny girl in class that smacked her gum too loud, about that girl in West Point who had AIDS and everyone stayed away from her, about that girl walking up and down Folsom pretending she has somewhere to go, about that teacher I use to have a crush on in middle school, about women. 'Precious' women. This was their story.

"I couldn't be objective watching this film, it gave me a sort of PTSD watching it and I even cried on my BART ride home. There has been quite the controversy of the film because some believe it perpetuates the stigma of life for African-American women. But to me it brings light and advocates a new hero to the Hollywood industry.

"The film is based off of Sapphire's novel, "Push.” The film to me has arrived at a pivotal moment. It comes at a time where a 15-year-old girl in Richmond is gang raped, at a time where a lot of people call a famous pop star beating a woman a "small mishap" to his career, at a time where young women, especially of color or queer in the inner-city, are barely visible in the conversation of anything and ignored."

Read More | Armond White: Precious is the Most damaging Film to the Black Image Since ‘Birth of a Nation’

On November 14th, students in the EA Hall Middle School MEChA Club held a free community arts event at the Brown Berets Bike Shack warehouse in Watsonville. The event was initially supposed to be held at the city owned Youth Center, however City Staff were opposed to a fee waiver for this event due to the "political nature" of the bands lined up to perform. This has created a stir with some conservative people in the community who are afraid of anything that promotes Mexican or Xicana/o identity.

Boca Floja, Para La Gente, Poetic Stimulator, Shannon Michelle, the Guerrilla Queenz and the young MC's from EA Hall brought together folks of all ages from the community. Parents, students, teachers, and others came out to do graffiti art, listen to music, eat and build solidarity with the MEChistas from EA Hall. It was a positive, powerful and peaceful event.

Read more and listen to audio