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Sat May 28 2005
San Francisco Gives Condoleeza Rice a Hearty Unwelcome
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in San Francisco on Friday, May 27th, 2005 to speak at a Commonwealth Club event at Davies Symphony Hall. A spirited crowd of hundreds was there to protest her visit with a loud demonstration to "SAY NO! to war and occupation in Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, Afghanistan and everywhere." International ANSWER demanded a stop to the U.S. threats and intervention against Cuba, Venezuela, Korea, Philippines, Syria, Iran and other countries. They also came out to protest the war at home and say, "Hands off Social Security!"
Speeches were given by ANSWER activists, Code Pink: Women for Peace, Global Exchange, and the Ronald Reagan Home for the Criminally Insane, as well as representatives of many communities including organized labor, Bayview-Hunters Point residents, and LGBTI/Queers. Several people from the ANSWER Coalition and from Code Pink went into Davies Hall to voice their opposition to Rice's appearance and were arrested by police.
Photos: 1 | 2 | Report
Speeches were given by ANSWER activists, Code Pink: Women for Peace, Global Exchange, and the Ronald Reagan Home for the Criminally Insane, as well as representatives of many communities including organized labor, Bayview-Hunters Point residents, and LGBTI/Queers. Several people from the ANSWER Coalition and from Code Pink went into Davies Hall to voice their opposition to Rice's appearance and were arrested by police.
Photos: 1 | 2 | Report
Fri May 20 2005
UC Regents Vote to Build Nukes in Bechtel Collaboration
5/25/2005 update: UC Regents ignore opposition, vote to build nukes. Full story: Part 1 | Part 2
On May 11th, the University of California (UC) announced an unprecedented partnership with Bechtel Corporation, BWXT Technlogies, and Washing International Inc. to jointly bid for the management of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. Not only does this arrangement poise the UC to continue to manage potential Armageddon during a dangerous new phase of US nuclear development, but it establishes an alarming new frontier in UC-corporate connections.
Students from across the UC system will converge at the UC Regents meeting at UC San Francisco Laurel Heights on Wednesday, May 25th to speak out in opposition of the bid. After a planned meeting at 9 a.m. outside of the Laurel Heights building, the students will command the floor during the Regents' public comment period at 10 a.m. At roughly 11:20, they will conduct a rally outside the conference building. They are inviting people to join them in opposing the nuclearization and corporatization of the UC, or if they are not able to attend, to make announcements explaining the UC-Bechtel proposed partnership and the UC bid for the labs in classes. Organizers say, "It’s time to get UC out of the nuclear weapons business."
The UC has managed LANL since its inception over 60 years ago. However, after repeated security and financial mismanagement scandals, the US Department of Energy opened the management contract of LANL for competitive bid in 2003. UC’s contract to manage LANL expires on September 30. The Department of Energy (DoE) is expected to select the winner of the bidding competition over the summer. Read more | More about Los Alamos
UC Nuclear Free | Waging Peace | TriValley Cares Website | Students Against UC Exploitation
On May 11th, the University of California (UC) announced an unprecedented partnership with Bechtel Corporation, BWXT Technlogies, and Washing International Inc. to jointly bid for the management of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. Not only does this arrangement poise the UC to continue to manage potential Armageddon during a dangerous new phase of US nuclear development, but it establishes an alarming new frontier in UC-corporate connections.
Students from across the UC system will converge at the UC Regents meeting at UC San Francisco Laurel Heights on Wednesday, May 25th to speak out in opposition of the bid. After a planned meeting at 9 a.m. outside of the Laurel Heights building, the students will command the floor during the Regents' public comment period at 10 a.m. At roughly 11:20, they will conduct a rally outside the conference building. They are inviting people to join them in opposing the nuclearization and corporatization of the UC, or if they are not able to attend, to make announcements explaining the UC-Bechtel proposed partnership and the UC bid for the labs in classes. Organizers say, "It’s time to get UC out of the nuclear weapons business."
The UC has managed LANL since its inception over 60 years ago. However, after repeated security and financial mismanagement scandals, the US Department of Energy opened the management contract of LANL for competitive bid in 2003. UC’s contract to manage LANL expires on September 30. The Department of Energy (DoE) is expected to select the winner of the bidding competition over the summer. Read more | More about Los Alamos
UC Nuclear Free | Waging Peace | TriValley Cares Website | Students Against UC Exploitation
Thu May 19 2005
Halliburton Shareholders Protest in Houston, 16 Arrested
Update: Both Martinez and Solnit have been released.
The Halliburton annual shareholders meeting in Houston, Texas was the scene of protests both outside and inside of the meetings. Activists who had been preparing for the event were met by a heavy and violent police presence who arrested 16 individuals and trampled over a dozen people with horses.
Amongst the arrested outside were Bay Area activist David Solnit and documentary filmmaker David Martinez. Watch video shot by Martinez as he gets arrested.
On the inside Andrea Buffa and Medea Benjamin from Global Exchange and Pratap Chatterjee from CorpWatch were able to intervene in the shareholders meeting. Martinez and Chatterjee traveled to Iraq last year to film a documentary about war profiteering.
From Houston Indymedia:
"At the Four Seasons this morning, before 8 am, barricades were erected, over 30 Houston horse police, undercover cops and heavy foot police presence (photos) was amassed. By 8:30, the march had reached the hotel, with about 140 - 300 protesters with lots of puppets, and signs such as "stop cronyism." Dick Cheney flashed people video, photo, activists held signs, played a samba and did a funky dance. A break-away march was met by Houston Police, who attempted to corral them, with one arrest occurring. By 9 am, there were 12 activists inside the hotel. Four were escorted out by hotel security and Houston police, while the rest were detained. Outside, things began heating up with pushing, cops on horses and arrests (photos: 1, 2, 3, 4). Some concerns have been raised about cruelty to the horses. The horses trampled several people (videos: 1, 2)."
Up to Date Coverage on Houston Indymedia
The Halliburton annual shareholders meeting in Houston, Texas was the scene of protests both outside and inside of the meetings. Activists who had been preparing for the event were met by a heavy and violent police presence who arrested 16 individuals and trampled over a dozen people with horses.
Amongst the arrested outside were Bay Area activist David Solnit and documentary filmmaker David Martinez. Watch video shot by Martinez as he gets arrested.
On the inside Andrea Buffa and Medea Benjamin from Global Exchange and Pratap Chatterjee from CorpWatch were able to intervene in the shareholders meeting. Martinez and Chatterjee traveled to Iraq last year to film a documentary about war profiteering.
From Houston Indymedia:
"At the Four Seasons this morning, before 8 am, barricades were erected, over 30 Houston horse police, undercover cops and heavy foot police presence (photos) was amassed. By 8:30, the march had reached the hotel, with about 140 - 300 protesters with lots of puppets, and signs such as "stop cronyism." Dick Cheney flashed people video, photo, activists held signs, played a samba and did a funky dance. A break-away march was met by Houston Police, who attempted to corral them, with one arrest occurring. By 9 am, there were 12 activists inside the hotel. Four were escorted out by hotel security and Houston police, while the rest were detained. Outside, things began heating up with pushing, cops on horses and arrests (photos: 1, 2, 3, 4). Some concerns have been raised about cruelty to the horses. The horses trampled several people (videos: 1, 2)."
Up to Date Coverage on Houston Indymedia
Mon May 16 2005
Protest Tells CACI "You're Not Welcome in San Francisco"
On Monday, May 16th, a protest was held to launch a campaign to get CACI International to leave San Francisco. Campaign organizers say that CACI employees were involved in the torture scandal, and that the company provided many interrogators who worked at the Abu-Ghraib prison. CACI's vice president and other top executives were in San Francisco to make a presentation at an investors'
conference at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square. Several people from the campaign to shut down CACI's San Francisco office attempted to meet with the CACI officials, but they were removed from the hotel.
Photos: 1 | 2 | Video | Background Info About CACI | Previous Protest At CACI
Photos: 1 | 2 | Video | Background Info About CACI | Previous Protest At CACI
Thu May 5 2005
May 10, 2005 National Day of Action for GI Resisters
The War on Trial, 5/12 update: For refusing to serve in a war zone, Navy Petty Officer Pablo Paredes was demoted and sentenced to three months of hard labor, two months of which he will be restricted to the naval base. His conscientious objector status is still pending.
The War on Trial, 5/11 update: Pablo Paredes was convicted of "missing movement" in his court martial at the San Diego Naval Base. During the pre-sentencing phase, however, the military judge declared that, in examing the defense's expert witness Marjorie Cohn (NLG; professor of law), the military prosecution had demonstrated that any servicemember had reasonable cause to believe that the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq were illegal. Paredes described the hearing as a small victory in a building movement to resist illegal invasion, occupation, and war crimes from Iraq to Guantanamo Bay.
After the hearing, war resisters Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia, Aidan Delgado, and parents of Gold Star Families for Peace, who have lost loved ones in the invasion and occupation of Iraq, spoke in San Diego (MP3 audio). San Diego activist Lynn Gonzalez spoke of the need for volunteers to support servicemembers and military families, including counciling. Paredes, still facing up to a year in prison, will be sentenced on 5/12. Coverage at San Diego Indymedia Sgt. Kevin Benderman's court-martial was postponed.
A new national coalition called Courage to Resist called for a May 10th, 2005 National Day of Action to Support Military Resisters. (Flyer ) Navy Refuser Pablo Paredes and Army Objector Kevin Benderman will both appear before court martial tribunals (in San Diego and Fort Stewart, Georgia, respectively, and people are invited to attend to show their support for the two resisters). on May 11th for their refusal to participate in the Iraq war and occupation. Both men face military jail and forfeiture of pay and benefits if they are found guilty in the courts martial. Protesters plan to tell the U.S. military on May 10th that they believe that it is not a crime to resist a war and occupation that are illegal, and to respect conscientious objection.
An event in San Diego on May 10th kicked off a 4-day series of events in solidarity with Pablo Paredes in that city. "Voices of Resistance" will feature Pablo Paredes, Aidan Delgado, and Camilo Mejia, who will speak at the Bayview Baptist Church at 6134 Benson Ave (at 61st St, between Imperial Ave and Skyline Dr), at 7pm. Detalles en español
In San Francisco, a Bay Area Support Rally was held Tuesday, May 10th at 12 Noon, at the War Memorial Veterans Building. Photos: 1 | 2 | Video
A caravan to San Diego for Pablo Paredes's court martial left San Francisco after the rally.
In Orlando, Florida, there will be a protest at the Military Recruiting Center at Colonial and Maguire Streets on Tuesday the 10th from 11am to 1pm. Events in other cities, including Baltimore, Maryland; Deerfield, Massachusetts; Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; and Ventura, California
Courage to Resist | Citizens for Pablo | Kevin Benderman Defense Committee | Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors | GI Rights Hotline | War Resisters from Within the US Military | Refusing to Kill | War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada) | Camilo Mejia speeches: March 11th in Miami and May 4th in Santa Cruz
The War on Trial, 5/11 update: Pablo Paredes was convicted of "missing movement" in his court martial at the San Diego Naval Base. During the pre-sentencing phase, however, the military judge declared that, in examing the defense's expert witness Marjorie Cohn (NLG; professor of law), the military prosecution had demonstrated that any servicemember had reasonable cause to believe that the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq were illegal. Paredes described the hearing as a small victory in a building movement to resist illegal invasion, occupation, and war crimes from Iraq to Guantanamo Bay.
After the hearing, war resisters Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia, Aidan Delgado, and parents of Gold Star Families for Peace, who have lost loved ones in the invasion and occupation of Iraq, spoke in San Diego (MP3 audio). San Diego activist Lynn Gonzalez spoke of the need for volunteers to support servicemembers and military families, including counciling. Paredes, still facing up to a year in prison, will be sentenced on 5/12. Coverage at San Diego Indymedia Sgt. Kevin Benderman's court-martial was postponed.
A new national coalition called Courage to Resist called for a May 10th, 2005 National Day of Action to Support Military Resisters. (Flyer ) Navy Refuser Pablo Paredes and Army Objector Kevin Benderman will both appear before court martial tribunals (in San Diego and Fort Stewart, Georgia, respectively, and people are invited to attend to show their support for the two resisters). on May 11th for their refusal to participate in the Iraq war and occupation. Both men face military jail and forfeiture of pay and benefits if they are found guilty in the courts martial. Protesters plan to tell the U.S. military on May 10th that they believe that it is not a crime to resist a war and occupation that are illegal, and to respect conscientious objection.
An event in San Diego on May 10th kicked off a 4-day series of events in solidarity with Pablo Paredes in that city. "Voices of Resistance" will feature Pablo Paredes, Aidan Delgado, and Camilo Mejia, who will speak at the Bayview Baptist Church at 6134 Benson Ave (at 61st St, between Imperial Ave and Skyline Dr), at 7pm. Detalles en español
In San Francisco, a Bay Area Support Rally was held Tuesday, May 10th at 12 Noon, at the War Memorial Veterans Building. Photos: 1 | 2 | Video
A caravan to San Diego for Pablo Paredes's court martial left San Francisco after the rally.
In Orlando, Florida, there will be a protest at the Military Recruiting Center at Colonial and Maguire Streets on Tuesday the 10th from 11am to 1pm. Events in other cities, including Baltimore, Maryland; Deerfield, Massachusetts; Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; and Ventura, California
Courage to Resist | Citizens for Pablo | Kevin Benderman Defense Committee | Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors | GI Rights Hotline | War Resisters from Within the US Military | Refusing to Kill | War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada) | Camilo Mejia speeches: March 11th in Miami and May 4th in Santa Cruz
Mon May 2 2005
Protesters Occupy University of Hawaii Admin Building
Since 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28th, a coalition of Native Hawaiian groups, students, faculty, anti-war activists, environmentalists, and religious organizations have joined forces to occupy the University of Hawaii administration building, to demand the University cease all work on a secret Navy research project, UARC. This research is for the development of space-based laser systems, surveillance technologies, and sea-based mines. Since September 11, 2001, the US military has embarked on its largest expansion onto Hawa'ian land, since World War II. The Army plans to take 28,000 acres of this precious land to station a Stryker Brigade. Live Webcam of the Protest | 5/1 report | 4/28 report
Past Coverage Of Counter Recruitment Protests: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Past Coverage Of Counter Recruitment Protests: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Wed Apr 27 2005
Month-Long Series of Events with Military Resisters
In the leadup to the San Francisco Bay Area Support Rally for military resisters on Tuesday, May 10th, at 12 noon, there will be several events in the Bay Area related to resistance to military service. Pablo Paredes will face a Special Courts Martial on May 11th on charges of absence without leave and "missing movement," since his application for conscientious objector status was rejected. Several events will be co-sponsored by Not in Our Name and Courage to Resist!
On Saturday, April 30th, Kevin and Monica Benderman will be in San Francisco to speak at 2pm. Army sergeant and Iraq War veteran- turned- conscientious objector Kevin Benderman will be facing a May 11th court martial at Fort Stewart, Georgia. That evening, there will be an Old-Time Anti-War Square Dance Benefit in San Francisco to benefit the defense of military resister Pablo Paredes, as well as Iraq Veterans Against the War. In protest against the Iraq War, Paredes publicly refused to deploy to the Middle East. IVAW is a newly formed organization of recent Iraq veterans opposed to the ongoing war and occupation.
On Sunday, May 1st, Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman will have two appearances- one in San Jose in the afternoon, and in Palo Alto in the evening. On Monday, May 2nd, Camilo Mejia will speak in Oakland, and then on Wednesday, May 4th, he will speak in Santa Cruz. On Sunday, May 29th, there will be a Military Voices Against Endless War Forum in Berkeley. The event is being hosted by Not in Our Name, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Gold Star Families for Peace, and will be co-sponsored by Middle East Children’s Alliance, Veterans for Peace, Vanguard Foundation, LA Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools. The event will include Aidan Delgado, Dr. Gene Bolles, Camilo Mejia, Cindy Sheehan, Tim Goodrich, Stephen Funk. A similar event will take place in LA the night before.
Read more about Courage to Resist, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia- recently released from prison, Kevin and Monica Benderman, Not in Our Name, and these events. There will be several events in solidarity with Pablo Paredes in San Diego from May 10th-13th.
On Saturday, April 30th, Kevin and Monica Benderman will be in San Francisco to speak at 2pm. Army sergeant and Iraq War veteran- turned- conscientious objector Kevin Benderman will be facing a May 11th court martial at Fort Stewart, Georgia. That evening, there will be an Old-Time Anti-War Square Dance Benefit in San Francisco to benefit the defense of military resister Pablo Paredes, as well as Iraq Veterans Against the War. In protest against the Iraq War, Paredes publicly refused to deploy to the Middle East. IVAW is a newly formed organization of recent Iraq veterans opposed to the ongoing war and occupation.
On Sunday, May 1st, Camilo Mejia and Kevin Benderman will have two appearances- one in San Jose in the afternoon, and in Palo Alto in the evening. On Monday, May 2nd, Camilo Mejia will speak in Oakland, and then on Wednesday, May 4th, he will speak in Santa Cruz. On Sunday, May 29th, there will be a Military Voices Against Endless War Forum in Berkeley. The event is being hosted by Not in Our Name, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Gold Star Families for Peace, and will be co-sponsored by Middle East Children’s Alliance, Veterans for Peace, Vanguard Foundation, LA Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools. The event will include Aidan Delgado, Dr. Gene Bolles, Camilo Mejia, Cindy Sheehan, Tim Goodrich, Stephen Funk. A similar event will take place in LA the night before.
Read more about Courage to Resist, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia- recently released from prison, Kevin and Monica Benderman, Not in Our Name, and these events. There will be several events in solidarity with Pablo Paredes in San Diego from May 10th-13th.
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