Feature Archives

Two intensely moving Bay Area demonstrations were held in the days following the death of Carlo Giuliani, the man martyred by police during the G8 demo. The first, was a spontaneous coming together of people in the streets of Berkeley on July 20. The second was a memorial for Carlo Giuliani at the Italian Consulate in SF. Worldwide protests have raged across the world since Genoa. A website has been set up to document these solidarity protests: G8Solidarity.Protest.net

Activists returned to the Italian Consulate on 8/23 for a protest and performance marathon. After weeks of stunning details describing illegal and brutal police repression in Genoa, dozens remain in prison and many more are facing charges, including one Bay Area resident. The protest, dubbed Art is Not a Crime, focused on the arrests of the PublixTheatre Caravan, a peaceful performance art group that was targeted by Italian authorities. Watch Video | Photos: 1 |2 | 3 | Read a recent interview with some members of the caravan.

Look at a powerful series of 15 photos showing the moments before and after Carlo Giuliani's murder by an Italian police officer, who is being charged with murder.

Compilation of media coverage of the brutal police raid on the Italia IMC and Genoa Social Forum: 1 | 2 | 3
After Genoa? by Starhawk. Read an account of the raid by a Genoa policeman. Italy IMC press conference on Sunday. Read coverage by the corporate media 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (audio). Report from Friday, July 20 black bloc actions, and a recent statement from a black bloc participant. Authoritarian Leftists: Kill the Cop in your Head, an essay by Lorenzo Komboa Ervin
Global IMC | Italy IMC

IMC Ecuador: More than 10,000 people demonstrated in the streets as the trade ministers of all the countries of the Americas (except Cuba) gather in Quito, Ecuador to further the negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). In their usual fashion, police lofted tear gas, beat protesters, and shot lead bullets in the air, even though the thrust of the protests was aimed at getting "a seat at the table" with the government and corporate crooks -- who at best would allow them in to humor them, not out of any genuine desire to comply with their demands. Solidarity actions took place in Sao Paulo, Montreal, Seattle, Washington DC, and other cities thoughout the hemisphere.

In the Bay Area, on 11/1 an emergency demonstration to protest repression in Quito was held at Chevron-Texaco, which has been responsible for decades of ecocide in Ecuador. The Bay Area Social Forum met on 10/27 to hold workshops on the FTAA, globalization and its impacts locally, as well as a mock trial of George W. Bush. On 10/28, a protest was held at the world headquarters of the Bechtel Corporation (near Beale and Market in SF). Report | Photos Bechtel is suing the government of Bolivia, after massive popular resistance in the city of Cochabamba forced the government to end its water privatization deal with Bechtel. stopftaa.org

On Tuesday 9/30 in SF, representatives from Food First, Via Campesina and UNORCA, the largest Mexican peasant federation, will answer questions on the collapse of the WTO ministerial in Cancún and the future of the global justice movement. Details
9/15: Talks have collapsed as developing countries walked out of negotiations in Cancún. Press conference

9/10: Militant activists at the forefront of a march of thousands of farmers, anarchists, environmentalists and others battled police in an attempt to breach the security barrier blocking the only route to the Cancun's Hotel Zone and the convention center hosting the 5th WTO Ministerial. Protesters tore down a 10 meter section of the security fence, set fire to another section and hurled stones at Mexican police who responded by throwing the stones back and firing water cannon and tear gas. Lee Kyung-Hae, a South Korean farmer and activist, stabbed himself to death to protest the WTO and its role in the exploitation of the world's poor by the rich. Reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Video: 1 | 2 Audio: 1

9/8: As a kick-off to this week's demonstration activities, approximately 40 activists in Cancún took to the beach, to expose both their bums and beliefs about the WTO. The WTO will be launching its annual ministerial meeting this Wednesday, and many activities, including a farmer's march, a women's forum and a sustainable trade synposium are planned for the week. The highlight of the week will be blockades up and down the one road leading in and out of Cancún on Thursday, while blockades are planned for Tuesday's final delegate arrivals at the airport. Comité de Bienvenida Cancún | Chiapas IMC Feature | Food First Emergency Plea | Cancún IMC

9/9: In solidarity with actions in Cancún, México, bay area anti-WTO and anti-war activists blockaded the toxic ChevronTexaco refinery in Richmond, which is receiving and processing Iraqi crude oil under the auspices of the American occupation. Despite a heavy police presence during the march and direct action, the mood was calm and joyful as 22 demonstrators linked arms and used lockboxes to blockade the truck entrance to the refinery. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 Reports: 1 | 2 One day earlier, in a keynote speech at an oil industry conference, the vice chairman of ChevronTexaco described recent developments in the Middle East as quite positive for the corporation, which has seen earnings quadruple and is expecting a formal invitation from Iraq's new oil ministry to help appropriate the country's oil and gas business.

RedRed, a latina womyn from Portland, is facing a felony and 5 years in prison on the false charge that she broke a window of the California state building during the WTO/USDA protests in Sacramento. Authorities claim that the window was broken on Sunday, when she was arrested; the problem with their story is that the window in question was not broken until 2 days after she was taken into custody for posession of a gas mask. RedRed has asked that supporters contact the Sacramento DA to demand that her charges be dropped. Read more: 1 | 2 | 3

From June 19-21, the self-declared bosses of Europe will gather on the Sithonia peninsula in Greece to confirm their pre-taken decisions regarding the expansion of Fortress Europe, the continuation of repression and the post 9/11 witch hunt. They will not do so without a fight! Protestors have gathered in the city of Thessaloniki (125 km from the summit site), which together with Chalkidiki will be the epicenter for the mobilizations. The city is already buzzing with thousands of people from across Greece and around the world. Read more on Global Indymedia.

Thessaloniki Indymedia | Athens Indymedia

Breaking news at Biotech IMC | Listen to Sacramento Live Web Radio
Ministers of Trade, Agriculture and Environment from 180 nations, including all member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO), are expected to participate on June 22-25 in Sacramento in a conference hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), USAID, and the US State Department. This meeting will be a stepping stone to the September WTO Ministerial in Cancun and the Summit of the Americas on FTAA scheduled for Miami in November. There is a call out for people to go to Sacramento for a five-day convergence of action and education. There is a schedule for Bay Area mobilization planning meetings for people planning to take action in Sacramento.

Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Archive: ECR Live from the Sacramento Mobilization
Biotech IMC - For Breaking News | Portland IMC | Biodev.org | Sacmobilization.org | Anti-capitalist/Anti-authoritarian Gathering | Audio Interview with Luke Anderson | Convergence Schedule