Feature Archives

Xicana Moratorium Day was celebrated on Sunday, August 27th in San Francisco’s Dolores Park. The yearly event commemorates the original Chicano Moratorium Day in Los Angeles in 1970, when 30,000 marched and police rioted, killing three people. Youth in an organization called Huaxtec now organize the commemorative event. This year, around 1,500 people went to Dolores Park to enjoy hip-hop and roots Xicana music. The theme of the 2006 Xicana Moratorium was “Stop the Violence on the Borders and in the Streets.” Photos

A March for Immigrant, Worker and Community Justice will be held on Labor Day, Monday, September 4th in San Francisco. People will gather at 10am at Justin Herman Plaza at the Embarcadero, and at 11am they will march to Civic Center. The day of action will focus on local struggles of immigrants, hotel workers, and those fighting displacement in Bay View-Hunters Point.

In a narrow alley off 24th St, a cluster of Nepali peasants raise their fists in resistance as two women smash chains of imprisonment. A small child with AIDS cries at the tombstones of her dead parents. Nicaraguan campesinos celebrate their bountiful corn harvest with music and dancing. Welcome to Balmy Alley, a corridor of more than 70 murals in the heart of the Mission district.

On Saturday, September 9th, musician and filmmaker Michael Franti and his group Spearhead with Guerrilla Management presented the 8th Annual 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park. "Be Peace Now" was this year's theme. In addition to the main stage of live music, PTTP also featured a second stage, an open-air art gallery, a healing arts tent, a DJ tent, food booths, an eco village, kid's zone, valet bike parking, and tabling and forums by social, environmental and political organizations. The festival began at 9am with morning yoga, and lasted until 5pm. Audio of Blackalicious | Middle East Peace Solidarity Audio | Photos: 1 | 2 | Report An afterparty was scheduled for later in the evening, an on Sunday afternoon the "Be Peace Now Yoga Jam: A day of Yoga, Music and Activism" will be held in San Francisco.

Radical Women will host a celebration of Women’s Rights Day at 7:30 pm on Saturday, August 26th at Radical Women's office, New Valencia Hall, at 1908 Mission Street. The event will feature a multi-racial panel of female activists who have been organizing as part of a national movement to bring full rights to immigrants. They will be talking about the essential role of immigrant women in leading the fight for unconditional amnesty, open borders, and an end to criminalization and discrimination based on citizenhip status.

On August 17th, Nadia Winstead reported, "Today I appeared before the federal grand jury. Before going in the grand jury room I was granted immunity. I respectfully declined to answer all questions asked of me. After 30 minutes of questioning I was excused and able to go home. My lawyer and I aren't sure what will happen next, but I will send out updates as the situation unfolds. I thank you all for your continued support and dedication to resisting grand juries."

About two years ago, the City and County of San Francisco, and specifically Mayor Newsom, instructed the Department of Public Works (DPW) to establish a new category of laborers to clean city streets. DPW then fired dozens of San Francisco workers, and hired new workers at half the wage. Many of the workers were reinstated, but 11 of them still don't have their jobs back. The laid-off workers and their allies held a week-long hunger strike in front of SF City Hall. It began Monday and ended on Friday, August 25, at 5:00pm. Video & Photos