Feature Archives

The film "Legacy of Torture: The Ongoing War Against the Black Panthers" was screened at the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco on Sunday, January 28th. The screening was followed by a memorial tribute to John Bowman at the African American Cultural Center.

On January 23rd, New York Authorities in San Francisco announced the arrests and indictments of former Black Panthers in the 1971 killing of police officer Sgt. John V. Young-- despite the use of torture to obtain confessions. Constitutional Rights (CCR) Legal Director Bill Goodman said, "The case against these men was built on torture and serves to remind us that the U.S. government, which recently has engaged in such horrific forms of torture and abuse at places like Bagram, Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo, has a history of torture and abuse in this country as well, particularly against African Americans."

On Monday, January 29th, Pit River Indian Tribe members and Indigenous and environmental justice supporters delivered an eviction notice to Calpine Corporation in downtown San Jose, demanding they drop their decades-long attempt to build polluting power plants in the Medicine Lake Highlands near Mount Shasta. Tribal members and supporters vowed to nonviolently defend Medicine Lake from any attempts to build power plants at this area that is profoundly sacred to area Native peoples.
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Events were held throughout the Central Valley in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In Fresno a march and food drive to end childhood hunger in Fresno was held. An Indymedia reporter counted about 500 marchers at the top of the Tuolumne overpass. In Sacramento a large contingent of peace activists marched. In Davis there was a diverse program of songs, remarks, a video and a Freedom March supporting Dr. King’s dream of a nonviolent society of people living together in peace. Photos

James Brown, who was known as the Godfather of Soul, died early on Christmas morning. Brown, 73, had been admitted to Atlanta's Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday, suffering from pneumonia. A prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader and record producer, Brown influenced the evolution of gospel and rhythm and blues into soul and funk. His music has been widely sampled by hip hop artists.

Rev. Floyd D Harris Jr questions whether marching with Fresno area politicians is in the true spirit of the holiday:
"If Dr. King were alive today I know he would have been on the front lines with us in Fresno denouncing The Fresno Police Department, Mayor, City Manager, Sanitation Department and the representative from District #3 for violating the constitutional rights of poor people. You will see all of these people who say they believe in Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.'s life in the front of the march and the microphone every year speaking about how wonderful he was, while they act totally opposite of Dr. King's legacy. If we are going to march for the celebration of Dr. King, then let's march for something that will bring justice to the community. "

On Friday, November 24th, the 5th Annual Buy Nothing Day Action was held from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at the Emeryville Shellmound (Bay Street Mall). Some 100 people gathered at Shellmound Drive and Ohlone Way. They sang, spoke, handed out flyers, and marched through the mall. Report | Photos The mall was recently built atop the Emeryville Shellmound, despite protests and strong objections from Indian People Organizing for Change (IPOC) and supporters. The shell mound, which was older than the pyramids in Egypt, was once 60 feet high and up to 600+ feet in diameter, with at least four levels of burial sites.

On November 14th, a student at UCLA who objected to showing his ID was repeatedly given electrical shocks with a Taser and then dragged from the campus library. Video posted to LA Indymedia and YouTube confirm witnesses reports of police brutality so extreme that some are describing it as torture. Video On November 17th, 500 students took part in a rally and march to campus police station.