Feature Archives

On November 14th, a student at UCLA who objected to showing his ID was repeatedly given electrical shocks with a Taser and then dragged from the campus library. Video posted to LA Indymedia and YouTube confirm witnesses reports of police brutality so extreme that some are describing it as torture. Video On November 17th, 500 students took part in a rally and march to campus police station.

On Thursday, November 16, nine DeNuke activists were forcefully dragged from the UC Regents meeting at UCLA after they informed the Regents that they would not allow the board to convene its committee in charge of UC’s nuclear weapons research, design, and manufacturing labs in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Livermore, California. The protesters argue that the resumption of manufacturing of plutonium bomb pits at the Los Alamos Lab has created a crisis situation in which they feel it is their responsibility to do whatever they can to prevent the UC Regents from facilitating nuclear militarism. Read more on LA-IMC.

November 5th was the tenth anniversary of the passage of California's medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 215, which was approved by 56% of the voters in 1996. Since then, acceptance and use of cannabis as medicine have advanced in California and worldwide. The federal government continues to prosecute people for growing and distributing cannabis to patients, while it also blocks studies into the medicinal properties of the herb. Meanwhile, cities and counties that recognize the validity of cannabis dispensaries have profited from taxing and regulating dispensaries. Dale Gieringer of California NORML writes, "the shockwave of Prop. 215 is still spreading."

On November 7th, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 83, or "Jessica's Law." It adds extra punishments, retroactively, for Registered Sex Offenders (RSO's). One provision of the law says that RSO's cannot live within 2,000 feet of a park or school. This portion of Prop. 83 was blocked by a judge the day after the election, pending a November 27th hearing. Critics of the residency requirement point out that it would force RSO's to move to rural areas, where those at risk of offending again might not find the services they need or government monitoring that Prop. 83 requires. Although it was named after a little girl who was raped and killed, Jessica's law does not distinguish between violent sex offenders and those who were convicted of more minor offenses, such as indecent exposure or public urination.

Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor with 55.7% of the vote compared to Phil Angelides' 39.2%. Green Party candidate Peter Camejo got 2.3% of the vote. Republican Steve Poizner beat Cruz Bustamante 50.5% to 38.9% in the race for Insurance Commissioner. Other state races went to the Democrats with John Garamendi winning the race for Lieutenant Governor and Jerry Brown set to become the next Attorney General. In other California races, Democrat Jerry McNerney beat Richard Pombo in the race for the 11th District US House seat. Pombo was a notorious enemy of the environment and chairman of the House Resources Committee.

Proposition 83 passed 70.5% to 29.5%, widening the definition of sex offender and mandating life long monitoring for certain individuals.

Proposition 85 was defeated 52.1% to 47.9%. Prop 85 would have made it difficult for teenage girls to get abortions without the consent of a parent or guardian.

Proposition 86 was defeated 54.6% to 45.4% Prop 86 would have imposed an additional tax of $2.60 per cigarette pack to fund new and expanded health services, health insurance for children, and expand tobacco use prevention programs.

Proposition 87 was defeated 74.4.6% to 25.6%. Prop 87 would have established a Clean Alternative Energy Program to reduce California's oil and gasoline consumption through incentives for alternative energy, education, and training. More money was spent on both sides of the Prop 87 campaign than on any proposition in state history.

Proposition 90 was defeated 52.5% to 47.5%. Prop 90 would have made it more difficult for the government to confiscate property but also would have required compenstation for any legislation that could impact property values (such as laws to protect the environment and worker's rights).

California is Still a Blue State | Election Results & the 2 Peace Parties: P&F and Green | Prop 85 Defeated | greetings from Public Enemy #1

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has organized several GE-free education and dialogue events to be held around the state, with Percy Schmeiser speaking. Schmeiser is the Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with GE seed, and who in turn was sued in 1998 by Monsanto. Tour dates include Monday, Nov. 13th in Santa Cruz; Tuesday, Nov. 14th at UC Berkeley; Thursday, Nov. 16th in Sonoma; Friday, Nov. 17th in Ukiah; Saturday, Nov. 18th in Pt. Arena/Manchester. Flyer All programs begin at 7 p.m.; proceeds will go to the Schmeisers' efforts to fight Monsanto and GE contamination, as well as to efforts to educate about the risks associated with GE crops.

Audio: "They [Monsanto] tried to do everything to destroy us"

On November 7th, voters around the US will go to the polls. While most of the national focus is on the chance that Democrats will take at least one branch of Congress, Republicans, and conservative issues appear to be making some gains, especially in California.

It appears that some California Democratic Party leaders have been rallying support for Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Proposition 85, which would require parental notification before a teen can have an abortion, appears to be passing. In Bay Area races, the business community and major newspapers are working to get progressive supervisor Chris Daly out of office, and in Berkeley progressive City Council member Kriss Worthington is on the receiving end of the most expensive campaign in the city’s history.