Feature Archives

March 9, 2007 — Negotiations mediated by a federal magistrate failed to yield a settlement.
February 14 , 2007 — In yet another strange twist in the case against San Francisco independent journalist, Josh Wolf, U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who has rejected several defense requests to free Wolf, one as recently as last month, issued a brief order Tuesday saying he was referring the case to U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero "in the interest of reaching a resolution satisfactory to both sides.''

Four of the San Francisco 8, the former Black Panthers who were recently arrested on charges related to the 1971 killing of an SFPD officer, appeared in court on Wednesday. The February 14th arraignment and bail reduction hearing took place at 850 Bryant Street in San Francisco. Report Actions and video screenings in support of the men have been taking place around the US.

Monster Cable, a wealthy Bay Area company producing high-end cables and accessories, laid off over 120 immigrant workers in Oct. 2006 and outsourced their jobs overseas. The workers have been demanding a fair severance and community fund, and on Feb. 5, 2007 they launched a boycott calling on consumers to stop buying Monster products until the company resolves their demands. While it would cost only $500,000 to pay fair severances to the workers, "Head Monster" Noel Lee spent $6 million to name "Monster Park" in San Francisco, and the company has annual sales of $1 billion.

The laid-off workers and supporters will hold a boycott action at noon on Wednesday Feb. 14th at Powell and Market Streets.

Three years after it was raided by armed federal marshals, SFPD and FCC agents, SF Liberation Radio will have its day in court on Wednesday, Feb. 14th, in a special federal court session convening on the UC Berkeley campus. SFLR, through counsel Mark Vermeulen and other pro bono attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild, will argue that the federal government violated the station’s first amendment rights when it obtained a warrant for the seizure of the equipment through a back-door, ex parte procedure. The US Government utilized a maritime law to conduct the raid without giving advance notice to the station, arguing that a radio station is literally like a ship that may sail away in the night.

Axis of Love San Francisco is calling for medical marijuana patients, disability activists, HIV/AIDS activists, and other allies to protest the huge increase in the fees for state medical marijuana cards. The protest took place at 12pm on Wednesday, February 14th at San Francisco General Hospital's "Love Statue." Photos and Report The state plans to increase the fees that it charges for the cards by 1000% on March 1st. Americans for Safe Access has called for people to tell Governor Schwarzenegger and CDHS Director Sandra Shewry how outraged they are about the proposed fee increase for Californians' access to their medicine.

On Tuesday, February 6th, there was a noontime press conference in support of Josh Wolf on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. A benefit for Josh's legal defense was held on Tuesday night at 8:00pm at House of Shields in SF. The Free Josh Coalition says that Josh has become the longest-imprisoned journalist who has ever been held on contempt charges in the United States. Audio | Photos and Words from Josh | Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

In reaction to PG&E's massive greenwashing campaign, a group of protesters crashed the PG&E press conference at the LGBT center on January 27th, where the company unveiled its newly installed solar panels. The protesters wanted to make it clear that installing solar panels on one building did not make this billion dollar corporation 'green'. The counter-action was called "Make Out for Environmental Justice." Two queer women on stilts leaned in for a smooch in front of the LGBT Center entrance, while holding a sign that read, "Love Solar. Love LGBT. Question PG&E," and a parasol reading ‘0% Solar’. Photos | Report