Feature Archives

On Monday December 12th, federal agents raided thirteen medical cannabis dispensaries in San Diego with the help of the local police and sheriff. A rally in opposition to these raids will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 13th in front of the San Diego federal building, 880 Front Street, San Diego. Outside of the San Diego area, medical cannabis supporters will hold rallies at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 14th in front of local federal buildings. In Northern California, there will be rallies in San Francisco and Sacramento. More locations Americans for Safe Access is asking for people to email them if you plan to organize one of these rallies so the information can be publicized on Safeaccessnow.org. Read more

List of dispensaries in San Diego | More Drug War News

The execution of Stanley Tookie Williams is scheduled to take place at 12:01am on Tuesday, December 13th. Supporters of Williams are denouncing Governor Schwarzenegger's denial of clemency, which would have changed the death sentence in this case to a sentence of life in prison. (Statement from Death Penalty Focus | Statement from Campaign to End the Death Penalty Attorneys for Williams are trying several other options to win a stay of execution. Late Sunday night, the California Supreme Court rejected Tookie's attorneys' request that they grant a stay of execution to examine several issues in the case. A vigil at San Quentin began at 8:00pm on Monday and will last until Williams's execution has been carried out just after midnight. 12/11 update from Campaign to End the Death Penalty. Directions to San Quentin and list of vigils statewide

December 12th began with the Walk for Abolition of the Death Penalty, which left the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7:00am and ended at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6pm. Photos | Video Also on December 12th, a 4:00pm March for Tookie went from the Mission Church in Santa Clara University to the Cathedral on Market Street in San Jose. A vigil was held in Fresno on Monday. Photos Following an 8:30pm rally and vigil at San Francisco City Hall's Polk Street steps, people proceeded by bus and carpool to San Quentin. Vigils and events will also be held in Sacramento, Tiburon, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Southern California, and all over the US. Details can be found on Savetookie.org

In Los Angeles, there will be vigils outside of Schwarzenegger's house and at the Westwood federal building: Details. Vigils were been held outside of the Governor's estate and church this past weekend. LA Indymedia

On December 8th, Governor Schwarzenegger held a clemency hearing for Stanley "Tookie" Williams with defense lawyers, Los Angeles County prosecutors and other involved parties. The Governor set a 30-minute time limit for each side to argue its position on clemency. He did not hold this type of meeting for either of the clemency petitions that he has rejected (those of Kevin Cooper and Donald Beardslee). The importance of this hearing grew this past week when the California Supreme Court refused a request by lawyers for Williams to reopen the case. The People's Clemency Hearing for Stanley Tookie Williams took place on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 10:00am on December 8th.

Read more about Stanley Tookie Williams on Indybay's Police and Prisons News Page

Advocates for media democracy won a victory in Fresno on Tuesday, December 6th, 2005. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing to discuss the Fresno County Contract with Comcast cable. Photos and Report A broad coalition of activists, community groups and educational organizations attended and participated in the meeting. By the end of the meeting, the supervisors had agreed that the franchise agreement will include Public, Education, and Government (PEG) channels. The supervisors are also interested in including a Community Media Center (CMC) in the agreement.

At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed to extend the current contract for 90 days. Staff was directed to include a public access channel in the contract. This was exactly the outcome Fresno media democracy advocates wanted.

At times, board members did not seem clear about who would run a CMC or decide what programming would go on the PEG channels. Supervisor Bob Waterston repeatedly expressed concerns about the content on the public access channel. He said, “What if the board of supervisors voted against the use of medical marijuana or the needle exchange program and we had other groups out there that disagreed with us...does that mean they could go on one of these channels we gave them and talk about anything they want?” It was obvious that he was unclear on the concepts of free speech, the First Amendment, and the purpose of a public access channel.

The coalition of groups working on this issue will be meeting in the coming weeks to follow through on the Fresno County franchise agreement and to discuss the next steps in the cities of Fresno and Clovis agreements.

Fresno Alliance Website

Read more on Indybay's Indymedia News Page

On December 8th, Governor Schwarzenegger will hold a clemency hearing for Stanley "Tookie" Williams with defense lawyers, Los Angeles County prosecutors and other involved parties. The Governor has set a 30-minute time limit for each side to argue its position on clemency. He did not hold this type of meeting for either of the clemency petitions that he has rejected (those of Kevin Cooper and Donald Beardslee). The governor has the authority to commute a death sentence to life without parole. The importance of this hearing grew this past week when the California Supreme Court refused a request by lawyers for Williams to reopen the case. The People's Clemency Hearing for Stanley Tookie Williams will take place on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento at 10:00am on December 8th (note time change). Flyer

There will be rallies and screenings in cities all over the country this week and next. On December 11th, internationally-known anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean will speak at a 2:00pm ACLU event in San Francisco.
If clemency has not been granted on December 12th, there will be a 4:00pm March for Tookie from the Mission Church in Santa Clara University to the Cathedral on Market Street in San Jose. Also on December 12th, a Walk for Abolition begins at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco at 7:00am and ends at the gates of San Quentin Prison around 6:00pm. There will be a vigil at San Quentin until Williams's scheduled execution just after midnight.

Democracy Now's Interview with Stanley Tookie Williams | Sparing the Crips Founder: The Fight to Save Stanley "Tookie" Williams, by Matt Gonzalez | SaveTookie.org | NCADP's Petition

October 31st Update: One of three people arrested at Saturday's demonstration will be arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court on Tuesday, at 1:30 pm in Department 63. Supporters and attorneys will hold a press conference before the hearing. Read more

The Bay Area Coalition to Fight the Minutemen called for an action to oppose the Minutemen Project's rally to gather public support for their attempts to harass poor, undocumented border-crossers and to announce their support of a new initiative that would establish a state border police in addition to the existing federal border patrol.

There was a rally on the West Capitol steps in Sacramento on Saturday October 29th. It featured the founder of the Minutemen Project, Jim Gilchrist, and the legislative sponsors of the California Border Police Initiative, amongst others. About 600 people representing anti-racist groups throughout California arrived at the Capitol in busses and carpools from the Bay Area and the Central Valley to confront the Minutemen. Among those attending the protest against the vigilantes were Mexican American Political Association National President Nativo Lopez, former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo, and representatives from Bay Area Coalition to Fight the Minutemen, Deport the Migra Coalition, Zapatista Solidarity Coalition, Brown Syndicate and other statewide organizations. Three people were arrested Saturday at an anti Minuteman rally at the State Capitol, and two were treated for injuries. Photos: 1 | 2 | Press Release on Arrrests | San Diego Indymedia Coverage

The demonstration was sponsored by the Bay Area Coalition to Fight the Minutemen, the “Deport the Migra” Coalition, the Zapatista Solidarity Coalition, the Mexican American Political Association, the Brown Syndicate, and other groups statewide. Read more

Volante en Español | Flyer in English

The California special election of 2005 was held on November 8, 2005 after being called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on June 13, 2005. Californians voted on eight ballot initiatives. Propositions 73, 76, and 77 were initiative constitutional amendments, while the others were initiative statutes. The election was the most expensive in California history. Election Returns | 11/8 Labor Victory Statewide; SF's Mixed County Results | MTA Board of Supervisors will remain in the hands of the Mayor | Bay Guardian: Election 2005 | Nov 8: WE WON THE NOV 8 CALIFORNIA ELECTION! | Governator going down in flames; hand gun and military bans in SF | Schwarzenegger Is Shrimp Toast, Aloha!

Statewide Propositions:

Prop. 73 (Defeated) : Waiting period and parental notification before termination of a minor’s pregnancy. Read More | Reproductive Rights Rally and Take Back the Night March | Prop 73 would set up a "hit list" of California judges

Prop. 74 (Defeated): Would make new teachers wait five years before achieving permanent status, and would make firing permanent teachers easier. Read More

Prop. 75 (Defeated): Would require public workers unions to get written permission yearly from each member before their dues money could be used for political activities. Read More | Political Tasks Facing the Working Class

Prop. 76 (Defeated) : Gives the governor significant unilateral powers to cut the budget. Overturns voter-approved Prop. 98 to guarantee minimum funding for education. Would result in cuts to education, health, firefighters and police. Read More | Why Parents Should Give a Damn | Teleconference on October 11 for Reporters, Editors, and Columnists

Prop. 77 (Defeated) : Places responsibility for redistricting in the hands of a panel of retired judges, instead of the state Legislature. Read More

Prop. 78 (Defeated) : Prescription drug initiative written by big pharmaceutical companies. Drug companies could enter a voluntary prescription drug discount program. Fewer people would be served by Prop. 78 than by Prop. 79. Read More

Prop. 79 (Defeated) : Initiated by the broad Health Access coalition, it would create a drug discount program requiring participation by drug manufacturers if they wish to sell drugs through the state’s Medi-Cal program. Read More

Prop. 80 (Defeated) : Would reinstate a legal obligation for PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric – the three big private utilities in California – to operate in the public interest.

SF Propositions: Proposition H (Passed) bans firearms and Proposition I (Passed) attempts to ban military recruiters from public schools

Inside Arnold's Camp - Where are the people of color? | 10/29-11/8 Phone Banks & Precinct Walks to Defeat Arnold Props 73-78 | Photos: Protesting Arnold in Fresno | WSWS: Right-wing initiatives dominate California special election | Todd Chretien: Judgment Day for the Governator

Mark Hawthorne writes in the October issue of Satya magazine:
When the animal rights movement began widely focusing on farmed animals in the 1980s, it wisely chose the veal industry as a primary target. Images of baby cows locked in tiny crates spoke volumes, and most consumers were rightly appalled when they learned of the cruelties these male calves endured. As the public’s taste turned away from veal, countless restaurants dropped it from their menus, and, although the anti-veal campaign continues, their initial success buoyed animal protectionists to further action. It is not a stretch to say that the culinary extravagance known as foie gras, the “fatty liver” of male ducks and geese, is this decade’s veal. As with veal, foie gras is created by grossly manipulating an animal’s body—in this case the Moulard duck—to provide a fleeting gustatory pleasure to the palate. And like their bovine counterparts, the birds being exploited for their livers have activists around the globe championing their cause. More than a dozen countries have outlawed foie gras production, and last year, animal advocates sponsored a California bill that will ban the production and sale of the delicacy in that state in 2012. Similar legislation is pending in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oregon. Read Full Article