Feature Archives

Buenos Aires 10/26: Greenpeace Argentina demonstrated at the doors of the National Congress to repudiate a treaty that would allow the entrance of nuclear waste into the country. Shortly after the protest began, police began repressing the protests and arrested 30 activists. In a brutal attack, the police chased down, beat, and shot with rubber bullets protesters that had gathered outside the police station. 2 members of Indymedia Argentina and 1 member of Indymedia Italia were hurt in the attack. Full Story | Support Indymedia Argenina

A student fistfight escalated into a violent confrontation with police at Thurgood Marshall Academic High School in the Bayview district Friday, 10/11. Over 60 police officers came into the school wielding batons, and hitting students. Channing Hale said the police hit her with a baton as she was standing in the hallway, trying to get around the fight on her way to class. "I was told to move by an officer, and then I was hit in the face," said Hale. She said she fell to the ground after being struck. Full story | Eyewitness accounts | Mini riot | Bayview newspaper

11/1: If you're one of California's elected representatives, you gotta love prisons. They add "tough on crime" and "committed to the rule of law" to your political platform. The guards' unions donate millions to your political campaigns. And, generally speaking, they provide an adequate tool the in struggle to control those elements of society that you despise, namely the lower-class and people of color. From 11/1 to 11/5, a vigil is being held at Powell and Market Streets to call attention to one of the most abusive parts of the California state prison system, the Security Housing Units (SHU). Pictures | Details | Schedule

Based on recent deaths of prisoners with HIV/AIDS, California Prison Focus (CPF) demanded that Corcoran Warden A.K. Scribner and California Department of Corrections Director Edward Alameida launch an immediate investigation. CPF, along with other prisoners¹ rights and community organizations, will demonstrate in front of Corcoran prison’s front gate, 4001 King Avenue, on 10/19 at 2:30PM to expose continued human rights abuses at Corcoran prison. Details

Based on recent deaths of prisoners with HIV/AIDS, California Prison Focus (CPF) demanded that Corcoran Warden A.K. Scribner and California Department of Corrections Director Edward Alameida launch an immediate investigation. CPF, along with other prisoners¹ rights and community organizations, will demonstrate in front of Corcoran prison’s front gate, 4001 King Avenue, on 10/19 at 2:30PM to expose continued human rights abuses at Corcoran prison. Details

In a rare victory in the struggle against police brutality, 2 activists, arrested on 2/9/01 during an emergency action in solidarity with uprisings in Ecuador, were vindicated by the Berkeley Police Review Commission's upholding of almost all of the police violations cited in the plaintiffs' complaints. Read more | Full details: Bay Area RTS website | Past coverage

7/17: The trial of three of the Oakland Riders, the police gang accused of planting drug evidence, kidnapping, and severely beating innocent people in West Oakland, has been delayed until perhaps September, as jury selection is continuing. A rally was held on 7/15 on what would have been the trial's first day, and activists made a call for criminal prosecution of the Riders, reparations to all victims, a public apology from the Mayor and OPD, and justice for all victims of OPD brutality, including Jamil Wheatfall. Details

Turned in by a rookie cop, 3 Oakland cops are facing criminal charges on 44 felony and misdemeanor counts. A fourth cop who was to stand trial, Francisco Vazquez, is still a fugitive after fleeing the Bay Area. A report by A.C. Thompson suggests that the Oakland District Attorney is intentionally sabotaging the prosecution of these officers, while ignoring complaints that at least 25 other active Oakland officers are still involved in Riders-related activities. Racist police brutality was in the headlines again this week with cases -- which just happened to be videotaped -- in Oklahoma City and Inglewood, where a Massive Rally Against Police Brutality took place on 7/12.