Feature Archives

A rally and press conference for Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts were held on Wednesday, October 25th at 1pm outside of the SF Federal Building. Updates and reports Supporters are upset that Watts, who is ill, has been on pre-trial probation since 2002, contradictory to his right to a speedy trial. Rosenthal was sanctioned under city and state laws to grow cannabis and sell the plants to dispensaries. Report and Photos from Sept. 13th appearance. A grand jury hearing that had been scheduled for the next day was cancelled-- it could still reconvene to hear more evidence at a future date.

On Thursday, September 14th, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in a legal battle that, many believe, could decide the future of American Indian religious freedom and the ecological integrity of the San Francisco Peaks. The mountain in question is located in Northern Arizona, and is held sacred by some 13 Native American nations. Tribes and environmental groups have united to halt development plans to expand a Ski Resort and to use treated sewage effluent to make artificial snow on the sacred peaks. A caravan from Flagstaff, Arizona was welcomed to SF on Wednesday, September 13th, and several events were held that day and the next. Video and Audio

At a July 13th public hearing, San Francisco's Planning Department denied the Green Cross's application to operate a medical cannabis dispensary at 1701 Leavenworth Street in the Marina/North Beach/Fisherman's Wharf area. A public hearing before the Appeals Board is scheduled for November 1st at 5pm, at City Hall, Room 416. The Green Cross and medical marijuana backers are being asked to write letters of support in advance, and to attend and voice their support.

Although the conflict has raged much longer, September 7th marked the two-year anniversary of the declaration of genocide in Darfur by the U.S. Congress. That evening, Fault Lines and Indybay hosted an event dedicated to telling the story behind the headlines and spreading awareness of how Bay Area activists are fighting to end the devastation in Sudan. The night included speakers for a reportback, photo show, and action strategy discussion.

On September 1st, there was a press conference with Josh outside of the 9th Circuit Bldg. in SF. Audio | Photos
On August 31st, independent journalist Josh Wolf was ordered released by a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Wolf, 24, had been in federal prison since August 1 for refusing to provide raw video footage to a federal Grand Jury of a 2005 San Francisco protest against the G8 that resulted in an injured police officer.

A hip hop show was held on Saturday September 2nd at International Capoeira Angola Foundation in Oakland, to benefit the Doe Family. 150 people came together to raise consciousness and funds to combat police brutality through hip-hop, dance and spoken word. The Doe Family is a group of activists sueing the SF Sheriff's Dept. for using torture against non-violent protesters, which left several people with lasting injuries including broken bones, torn ligaments, nerve damage, and post traumatic stress disorder. Photos

Thousands of San Francisco hotel workers and their supporters gathered for a march on Thursday, August 31st, at 4:15pm, next to the Four Seasons on Market Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. At 5pm, a group of over 60 labor and community activists sat down in front of the main doors of the Palace Hotel, blocking the entrance in an act of civil disobedience. The police arrested those protesters, and quickly cited and released them. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 Last week, over 93% of Local 2 workers at 13 hotels in San Francisco voted to give union leadership the authority to call a strike, if necessary. These UNITE HERE! Local 2 workers have been working without a contract for two years, and have not received a raise in three years.