February 7th marks the anniversary of Hampshire College's "divestment" from the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, the first institution of higher education to wash its hands of the systematic exploitation of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state. Following a two-year campaign by Students for Justice in Palestine, the Board of Trustees agreed in 2009 to withdraw its investments from six companies targeted by SJP because they profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Officials at Hampshire college maintain that the withdrawal of investments from the companies was not a divestment from Israeli companies in general.

Traditionally, Hampshire College has advocated for the oppressed, taking unpopular stands when others have preferred to turn away. In 1977 Hampshire College was the first college in the US to divest from Apartheid South Africa. In 2001 Hampshire was the first college to object to the war in Afghanistan.

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Students For Justice In Palestine, Hampshire | Hampshire College first in US to divest from Israel

In January 2005, the Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI) presented a call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel to the 5th World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The launch of the campaign coincided with the first anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling on the Israeli West Bank barrier. On July 9th, 2005, 171 Palestinian non-governmental organizations called "... for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel Until it Complies with International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights." The three stated goals of the campaign are: An end to Israel's "occupation and colonization of all Arab lands", as well as "dismantling of the Wall;" Israeli recognition of the "fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality;" and, Israeli respect, protection, and promotion of "the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194."

In 2009, Hampshire College held a national Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions conference from November 20th through the 22nd.

BDSMovement.net | Ali Abunimah: Campus BDS Conference keynote speaker | Wikipedia Entry On BDS

2009 Hampshire Divestment Coverage: Hampshire College Students Win Divestment of Companies Profiting From the Israeli Occupation | The Lessons of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

BDS Coverage: Israeli Supportive Occupation Companies to Boycott | TIAA-CREF Has Divested from Africa-Israel | World Social Forum has called for March 30 as Global Boycott Divestment Day from Israel | Pro-Israel Lobby Alarmed by Growth of Boycott, Divestment Movement | Targeting Israel with Boycotts, Divestment, Sanctions and Prosecutions | Palestinian BDS Leader Omar Barghouti Speaks In SF | Queers Respond to Tel-Aviv Homophobic Violence, Call for BDS against Israel | Letter To AFL-CIO Leader To Boycott Apartheid Israel | Yes to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Against Israel: An Answer to Uri Avnery

On January 27th, Howard Zinn died at the age of 87. Zinn was a historian, and professor in the Political Science Department at Boston University. He was the author of more than 20 books, including A People's History of the United States which he published in 1980.

Howard Zinn Dead: Video, Interviews with Late Author, Historian | Howard Zinn.org | Boston Globe Obituary | Howard Zinn Wikipedia Page

Articles By Zinn: War And Peace Prizes | Rebels Against Tyranny: An Interview with Howard Zinn on Anarchism | Election Madness | Anarchism Shouldn't Be a Dirty Word | More Zinn Articles, Audio & Video On Z Space

Previous Coverage of Howard Zinn On Indybay: Dialogues Against Militarism: A Letter From Howard Zinn | Voices of a People's History of the United States | Howard Zinn on Iraq

From the Olympic Resistance Network: "The 2010 Winter Olympics will take place in Vancouver and Whistler, on unceded Indigenous land, February 12–28. We call on all anti-capitalist, Indigenous, housing rights, labour, migrant justice, environmental, anti-war, community-loving, anti-poverty, civil libertarian, and anti-colonial activists to come together to confront this two-week circus and the oppression it represents. We are organizing towards a global anti-capitalist and anti-colonial convergence against the 2010 Olympic Games." Read more

Police State Canada 2010 and the Olympic Crackdown | Resist 2010: Eight Reasons to Oppose the 2010 Winter Olympics | McDonald's Attacked by Hooligans

On the first anniversary of the Israeli military assault on Gaza, the Gaza Freedom March, trapped in Cairo, marched not only against the Israeli siege on Gaza, but also against an Egyptian blockade. On New Year’s Day 2010, Gaza Freedom March delegates ratified the historic Cairo Declaration, launching a global boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against Israeli apartheid.

The international delegation of the Gaza Freedom March had originally planned to arrive in Gaza on December 29, 2009, to join a march against the Israeli blockade together with residents of Gaza on December 31. Instead, most of its delegates remained in Cairo, having been blocked from going to the Rafah border by the Egyptian government, and found itself marching against the Egyptian blockade on Gaza instead.

The Gaza Freedom March sought to highlight the plight of the 1.5 million residents of Gaza on the first anniversary of the Israeli invasion of the densely-populated Palestinian territory by entering Gaza with humanitarian aid for water purification, school materials, medicines, and other much needed supplies. After Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza after the election of a Hamas majority in the elections of January 2006, Egypt has refused to give open permission for foreign citizens to enter Gaza through Rafah until the last minute.
Jan. 4 report by Sharat G. Lin, who traveled to Cairo from San Jose

On January 9th, Egypt announced it will ban all aid convoys travelling to Gaza, tightening its blockade against the people of Gaza. On January 8th, Egypt deported British MP George Galloway, who had been participating in the Gaza Freedom March. Galloway has now been banned from ever returning to Egypt.

Egyptian Riot Cops Attack Humanitarian Workers in Viva Palestina Aid Convoy to Gaza | Video of the attack on Viva Palestina‏ | Blocking Freedom Marcher/Viva Palestina Aid to Gaza | Viva Palestina Convoy Enters Gaza

Gaza Freedom March: detained at the US embassy | Will Egypt's underground wall end the Gaza tunnel trade? | Galloway Deported, Banned From Egypt | Egypt bans Gaza aid convoys

Global UN Climate negotiations are proceeding in Copenhagen with over one hundred heads of state expected to attend in the next week. 2009 was the fifth hottest year on record, and scientists are saying a Climate Treaty is more urgent with global carbon emissions still increasing and acidification threatening marine biodiversity.

On December 12th, 100,000 people took to the streets of Copenhagen, but around 3pm police charged into the march and made arbitrary arrests of an estimated 1,000 people. Further protests are occurring over the next week inside the conference center and on the streets.

Read More | Indymedia.org Coverage | 350.org | Denmark Indymedia | Live Video Coverage

Copenhagen Protests: Danish police arrest nearly 1,000 protesters at climate conference | Supporting Poor, Vulnerable Nations | Glimpse at Activist Preparations in Copenhagen | Naomi Klein: Fate of Planet Rests on Mass Movement for Climate Justice | Climate Justice Activists Enter Day 34 of Hunger Strike

UN Climate Negotiations: G77 Chief Condemns Secret US-Danish Climate Deal | Walden Bello: Climate and Capitalism in Copenhagen | Bolivia responds to US on Climate Debt: "If you break it, you buy it."

Impacts Of Climate Change: Climate Change is a Feminist Issue | Scientist: Extinction threatens Coral Reefs unless CO2 limited to 350ppm | Indigenous Leaders at the Front Line of Climate Change | Angelique Kidjo Speaks Out on Climate Change

Recent Local Indybay Climate Change Coverage: Protest at Chevron Headquarters in San Ramon | N30 - International Day of Action for Climate Justice | Climate Activists Rally by the Ocean, the Redwoods, in Cities and Suburbs

On November 30th, the 10th anniversary of the global justice movement’s successful non-violent shut-down of the WTO in Seattle, activists exposed some of San Francisco’s worst climate criminals, demanding that they stop financing climate change and standing in the way of climate solutions. They also demanded that these corporations stop lobbying against climate policy and blocking a strong international agreement at Copenhagen.

Protesters met at Justin Herman Plaza marched to a non-violent civil disobedience at the Bank of America where about two dozen people were arrested. Activists elsewhere set out for other targets.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Video: 1 | 2 | 3
Realtime Video and Photo Updates
Actions from Around North America

See Also: Announcement | Earth First Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training for Int'l Day of Action for Climate | Mobilization for Climate Justice, West

Previous Related Indybay Features: U.S. Climate Policy Slammed by Climate Justice Protest in San Francisco | August 15 Mobilization for Climate Justice at Chevron’s Polluting Oil Refinery in Richmond

On Friday, November 27th at 11am, a protest at Emeryville's Bay Street Mall will call on people to boycott the mall and to respect the sacred Ohlone site. The Bay Street Mall was built on top of an ancient Ohlone burial site after years of protest actions by the local Native American community. The construction of the mall unearthed thousands of human remains, many of which were taken away to a landfill in the name of consumerism, and others are kept in a library at UC Berkeley.

While the construction of the mall couldn't be stopped, the Bay Area Native American community ask the non-Native community to join in protesting this obscene structure. On "Black Friday" every year they remind the public that this is sacred Indian land and that the Bay Street Mall should be boycotted.

The shell mound was once 60 feet high and up to 600+ feet in diameter. It is older than the pyramids in Egypt and held at least four historical levels of burial sites.

Read more | Emeryville Shellmound Protest 2006 - Police Harassment of Native Americans | Peace Vigil, Fasting and Prayer for Return of Native American Remains for Reburial | Native Blood: The Myth of Thanksgiving

Previous Coverage: Buy Nothing Day on Friday, November 24th, 2006 | Shell Mound Peace Walk to kick off today at Intertribal Friendship House, 2008

Danny Blackgoat, a longtime Dine' (Navajo) resister of forced relocation, will be traveling from his home at Big Mountain (AZ) this weekend to speak in Santa Cruz on Friday, Nov. 13th and San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 14th. He will be screening a new 24 minute film featuring Pauline Whitesinger, and giving an hour long presentation about relocation, coal mining, and recent happenings at Black Mesa.

Since 1974, federal relocation policy has forced 14,000 Dine' people from their ancestral homeland in Arizona. This genocidal policy was crafted by government agents and energy company representatives in order to gain access to the mineral resources of Black Mesa - billions of tons of coal, uranium and natural gas. For over 30 years, traditional Dine' at Black Mesa have lived in resistance, steadfastly refusing to relocate as strip-mines rip apart their sacred lands and generating plants poison the desert air.

Both events are benefits for the 2009 Fall Caravan to Black Mesa.

On Thursday, October 29th, Israelis and internationals joined Palestinians for a quiet protest against the destruction of olive trees near the village of Susya, South Mountain Hebron. The Hoshia family who own the land in this area, had more then twenty olive trees cut down by settlers in October. During the recent months, settlers destroyed hundreds of olive trees own by Palestinians in the West Bank.

Read More

125 Grapevines and Fruit Trees Destroyed by Israeli Settlers in Saffa, West Bank | B'Tselem video, Oct 09: Settlers harass Palestinians and steal crops during olive harvest in the West Bank

September 28th was called as an international day of protest against the coup d'etat in Honduras. In San Francisco, demonstrators gathered at the Honduras Consulate at Powell and Market streets to demand the immediate suspension of all U.S. financial aid to the coup government; stop endorsing the Arias Plan; and immediately recall the U.S.Ambassador until the reinstatement of President Zelaya.

San Francisco, California se hizo eco de la convocatoria mundial para solidarizarse con el pueblo de Honduras este Lunes 28 de Septiembre. La coalicion BALASC (Bay Area Latin American Solidarity Coalition), de la que el FMLN-Norte de California es miembro fundador, convoco a una manifestacion frente al consulado de Honduras en el centro de San Francisco. Cerca de un centenar de personas se hicieron presentes en una de las manifestaciones mas grandes en defensa del pueblo Hondureño que se han realizado durante los ultimos 90 dias.

Video | Photos: 1 | 2 | Announcement

Previous Related Indybay Feature: Ousted President Zelaya Returns to Honduras

Ryan Harvey has published an analysis of militant-street protest, movement strategy, and the state of anarchism. The analysis is based around the G20 Pittsburgh demonstrations.

"War is A Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges talks about the strange attraction that people have to war, even those highly opposed to it. Even those scarred by it, terrified by it, and deeply affected by it. Some go into war and get real messed up, vowing to never return, only to soon find themselves desiring that adrenaline, the fear, the intensity. Hedges was a journalist in Bosnia, El Salvador, Lebanon, and Iraq. He realized after many years that he was experiencing a type of addiction, seeking a high that can only be attained in a combat situation.

"I fear that we too, anarchists and street militants, have similar symptoms. We intentionally go into situations that we know are dangerous, that we often know don't really have any solid plan. Maybe it's part machismo, maybe it's part desperation, maybe it's part legit too, but I think it's a lot of high-seeking. We desire the intensity, the rush. We get to enact roles that we don't get to enact in our everyday lives, heroism, bravery, sacrifice, quick thinking, fear-testing, and some forms of solidarity. We also get to experience prison, pain, and life-changing trauma.

"All of this is well worth it if we have our eyes on the prize and are fully aware of the risks, reasons, and responsibilities of these types of actions. The risks are obvious, the reasons usually are few and far between (meaning we usually don't have a very sound strategic approach to protest that results in the real changes we desire). The responsibilities are usually totally missing, aside from street medics and basic legal support. But larger ones, like trauma support for years afterwards, support for those abused in prison, networks of real care and compassion like those veterans have created with groups like Vets 4 Vets and Homefront Battle Buddies to heal from the painful experiences of violence, don't exist yet." Read more

UPDATE via G20 radio, 12:30p EST, 9/24/09: 1100 protesters march despite dispersal orders. Police use tear gas and LRAD accoustic weapon on demonstrators.

Post-G20 update: Video Appears to Show Pittsburgh Police Using Arrested Student as Prop for Group Photo

The second G-20 summit of 2009 is due to take place at Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Center on September 24–25. Held annually since the 1999 Berlin G-20 summit, the G-20 has been meeting twice a year in 2008 and 2009 in response to the global economic crisis. The G-20, consisting of the leaders of 20 wealthy nations, meets behind closed doors to make unaccountable economic decisions affecting billions of people.

Among other issues on the table this year, the heads of state will evaluate measures taken so far to stimulate the global economy and discuss a proposal to reform the International Monetary Fund. Pittsburgh will also be host to a major coal industry conference just before the G-20 summit.

Throughout the week, economic justice and climate activists from across the country will seek to upstage the official story through marches, educational forums, tent cities, a climate camp and other tactics. Pittsburgh Indymedia will be covering the September 21–22 People's Summit and protests throughout the week at indypgh.org/g20. Tune in to live coverage by G-Infinity Radio all week long (local mirrors): MP3 | Ogg | lo-fi MP3 | lo-fi Ogg

G-20 protest links | Why and how I oppose the G-20 | Bay Area G-20 resistance consulta | Restrictions anger G-20 protest planners

Indybay coverage of the April 2009 G-20 summit in London

On September 18th, Ralph Schoenman spoke with Louis LaFortune on Free Radio Santa Cruz about the origins of the crisis in Iran. Mr. Schoenman lived in Iran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and was involved in that struggle. He spoke about the involvement of the Iranian workers in the overthrow of the government of Shah Reza Pahlavi, and the state of Iranian society following the disputed presidential election in which President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad retained his office, in spite of widespread charges of fraud and massive protests.

Ralph Schoenman and Mya Shone will outline the suppressed story of the resistance in Iran at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Cruz on Thursday, September 24th at 7pm.

Ralph Schoenman Interview | Taking Aim with Ralph Schoenman and Mya Shone

On Friday, September 11th, at 8pm in the Beach Flats Community Garden, the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive In presents A Little Bit of So Much Truth, the story of Oaxacan people taking control of the local media in the summer of 2006, in order to tell their own stories of struggle and action in the face of repression. After the annual teachers' strike was attacked in June, civil society took over Oaxaca City, expelling politicians and police from their desks, stations, offices, and palaces. But to defend their city, to defend their lives, the people of Oaxaca also took over radio stations to broadcast their message, and at one point a Womens' march took over the state television station to broadcast the voices of women who could no longer be slandered by the television of the rich. Read more

Indybay coverage from Oaxaca 2006: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

The Shock Doctrine is the latest documentary from acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom, co-directed by Mat Whitecross. Based on Naomi Klein's bestselling book, The Shock Doctrine argues that America's 'free market' policies have come to dominate the world through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries.

Both the film and the book argue that governments all over the world exploit natural disasters, economic crises and wars to push through radical free market policies. Klein calls this 'disaster capitalism' and in her view, disaster capitalism is as effective as psychiatric shock therapy at wiping our collective memory.

Read more

On August 18th, the Israeli Ministry of Defense informed American activist Tristan Anderson’s family and legal counsel that it considers his shooting during a nonviolent protest in the West Bank village of Nil’in, which left him critically injured, an “act of war,” absolving the soldiers responsible from any liability under Israeli law. Anderson was shot directly in the forehead with a high-velocity tear gas canister by Israeli forces on March 13th, 2009, suffering several condensed fractures and necessitating several life-saving surgeries. To date, he remains unconscious at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv; his prospects for recovery are as of now unclear.

According to Michael Sfard, "If a process by which unarmed civilian demonstration is classified by Israel as an ‘act of war,’ then clearly Israel admits that it is at war with civilians. International law identifies the incident as a clear case of human rights abuse. As such, Tristan and his family are undoubtedly entitled to justice and compensation. We will pursue this matter and take the government of Israel to court. In addition to filing a criminal complaint against the State of Israel for the shooting of their son, the Andersons have submitted a notice of intent to file a civil suit."

Leah Tsemel, the civil suit attorney, stated, "This is another occasion where the Israeli government is alluding responsibility. The demonstrations that take place in Ni’lin and Bil’in are not acts of war. We will pursue, in Israeli courts and international courts if necessary, justice for the Anderson family." Several eyewitnesses have given testimony that Tristan was shot when he could not have been perceived as any threat to the forces in the area. He was shot from around 60 meters while standing with a few internationals and Palestinians, hours after the demonstration had dispersed from the construction site of the Wall. Read more

Israeli Authorities Declare Shooting of Tristan Anderson an “Act of War” | Smearing Tristan Anderson | Shooting Tristan Anderson

Solidarity with Tristan Anderson

As Tristan Anderson Fights for His Life, Protests in Ni'ilin Continue | Solidarity with Tristan and Palestine Events Around the World | Tristan Anderson Critically Injured After Demonstration Against Israeli Wall

On August 15th, hundreds rallied at the Richmond BART and then marched to the Chevron oil refinery. The protesters called attention to Chevron’s polluting oil refinery in Richmond, to oil industry expansions - killing people and the planet for profit, and to Chevron and Big Oil standing in the way of solutions to climate change. At the end of the march there was a non-violent civil disobedience action against the refinery. A critical mass, "bike for climate justice" also meet at the Richmond BART and followed the main march to the Chevron refinery.
Read More | Photos: 1 | 2 | Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

On August 13th, in solidarity with the Mobilization for Climate Justice, Earth First!ers took to the waters of the Bay reclaimed the Red Rock Island by dropping a 50' banner, just SW of the Richmond Bridge, reading "HEY CHEVRON: NO JOBS ON A DEAD PLANET."
Photos | Report

This action marks the launch of the Mobilization for Climate Justice whose goal is to empower community-based activists and networks to lead a global movement in confronting the root causes of climate change at home, while defining self-determination pathways for a new energy economy. Read more

Why we protest Chevron

True Cost of Chevron: Shareholders Protest | October 27 Rally Against Chevron Actions In Nigera | Theater Action and Demonstration at Chevron World Headquarters in San Ramon | Nonviolent Direct Action At Chevron Headquarters

Jen Marlowe writes: "I heard the jangle of ankle and wrist cuffs before I saw them. The detainees (five Israeli, four Palestinian and four international) were being led into a small court room. One woman had a black eye. They had been arrested the night before at a demonstration against the eviction of the Hannoun and al-Ghawe families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of east Jerusalem. At 5:00 Sunday morning, the families were removed from their homes by Israeli police, leaving 53 people homeless — 20 of them children."

"I walked to Sheikh Jarrah. It was easy to locate the houses. They were blocked off and guarded by police forces. I found the father of the Hannoun family, Maher, sitting on the pavement across from his home with his family, friends and supporters. A pile of thin foam mats were stacked up behind them."

"I asked Maher the details of what had taken place the previous morning. 'A lot of policemen came with weapons,' Maher told me. 'My son was standing guard outside. When he saw them, he came inside and locked the door. The soldiers broke the door to the gate, the main door and the windows. They got in by force and they kicked all the family out of the house. Seventeen people.' Read more

Also see: Evicted Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah Remain Dispossessed but Determined | Another Day Sleeping Under the Sky: The Situation in Sheikh Jarrah and the Uncertain Destiny of The Gawi and Hannoun Families | UN concerned over potential further evictions in East Jerusalem

Other articles by Jen Marlowe: The Ordeal of Suleiman Jamous Trapped in Darfur | Gaza Struggling under Siege | Death in Darfur | In Gaza, Circles of Hell

Raj Jayadev writes: "What would have happened to Dr. Gates if he were not an acclaimed scholar and author, friend to the President, and someone whose stardom could greatly embarrass a city and county justice system?

"First things first, charges for his disorderly conduct would not be dropped shortly after his arrest, and Dr. Gates, a few weeks after the incident, would just be starting his journey in the criminal justice system, rather than reflecting on it in hindsight, while throwing back a beer with the leader of the free world. Let’s start from there.

"Let me roll out what would have happened if Dr. Gates, were he not a noted scholar, was arrested in my city, San Jose, California with the same fact pattern, even as described by the police report. Starting from arrest, Dr. Gates would have been charged with more than disturbing the peace (penal code 415 in California). From the narrative of what happened at his home, Mr. Gates would have also picked up a 148 resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.

"As for the comment, 'You don’t know who you are messing with,' Dr. Gates would have also likely picked up a penal code 69 (felony in this case), for making a criminal threat to a police officer. Dr. Gates would not know of all these charges until he was arraigned at court." Read more

Why Should Demanding Respect Get You Busted? Beer Will Not Solve This | Gates in Cambridge: First the Outrage of Arrest, Then The Outrage of Denial | Arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: What do they call a Black man with a PhD? | The Gates arrest and the “national conversation on race” | Cambridge Stands Against Racial Profiling-Protest In Support of Prof. Gates