Feature Archives

Organizers estimate a protest on Wall Street, including a march that went past the New York Stock Exchange and American International Group, drew 10,000 participants on April 4th. On April 11th, demonstrators in front of San Francisco's Federal Reserve Bank building called for major changes to the US banking system, as did protesters at more than 50 locations across the nation.

Kiilu Nyasha, former member of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, was recently interviewed on a wide variety of topics. Kiilu Nyasha quotes George Jackson from a passage in his book Blood In My Eye: “Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our situation, understand that fascism is already here, that people are dying who could be saved, that generations more will live poor butchered half-lives if you fail to act. Do what must be done, discover your humanity and your love in revolution.”

Hotel and other workers and students are rallying to the case of fired Grand Hyatt Houseskeeper Esther Dominguez. Esther was fired after working 33 years at the hotel. Labor organizers claim that hotels have been firing and harassing long time workers and union members in preparation for a possible strike when Unite-Here's 7,000 hotel workers contract expires on August 1st.

On March 30th, in response to President Obama's announcement of an escalation of the war in Afghanistan, an emergency action was held in front of the San Francisco Federal Reserve. Two dozen demonstrators protested the notion of Obama's "good war" and called for the complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Ten days after he was shot in the head by an Israeli Defense Force high-velocity tear gas canister, Tristan Anderson is still hospitalized, unconscious and on a respirator, following three surgeries in a hospital in Israel. His family's attorney has filed a formal complaint with the West Bank Israeli border police, demanding the immediate launch of a rigorous and independent investigation into the shooting. Friends of Tristan and Palestine held a rally and press conference on Thursday, March 26th at noon outside of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco, addressing the beatings and arrests that occurred after the March 16th Solidarity with Tristan and Palestine demonstration.

On Monday March 16th, hundreds demonstrated at of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to hear speakers in support of Tristan Anderson and the people of Palestine. About 5pm, demonstrators marched to the intersection of Market and 5th. After demonstrating there for about an hour, many in the crowd marched back to the consulate where police attacked protesters with clubs and as many as six people were arrested. Other solidarity events are being held all over the world.

On Saturday, March 21st, protest marches took place across the U.S. and around the world on the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. In the Bay Area, four days of demonstrations protesting the continuing war on Iraq officially commenced on Thursday, March 19th with leafleting at more than 20 BART stations and a march in Berkeley. On Wednesday, March 18th, a group of persons wearing masks smashed the windows and splattered red paint at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Center in Berkeley. On Saturday, March 21st, a demonstration sponsored by ANSWER began with a march from Justin Herman Plaza at 11am culminating in a rally at Civic Center Plaza. On Sunday, March 22nd, a Rally in the Valley for Peace and Justice was be held in downtown Fresno.