Showing posts with label Day Labor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Day Labor. Show all posts

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Napolitano en/in Claremont

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2010/05/239116.php

Napolitano en Claremont
by Rockero Tuesday, May. 18, 2010 at 6:07 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Domingo, 16 de mayo 2010
CLAREMONT, California - La llegada de la Secretaria de Seguridad Interna y ex-gobernadora de Arizona, Janet Napolitano, a esta comunidad del extremo oriente del condado de Los Ángeles provocó una marcha y manifestación de alrededor de 300 personas en denuncia a las políticas de las agencias migratorias, las cuales conforman departamentos del ministerio que encabeza.
Read this article in English: Napolitano in Claremont

La encargada de la migra asistió a la ceremonia de graduación de Pomona College con el fin de recibir un diploma honoris causa en derecho al igual que para pronunciar durante la solemnidad. Pero a pesar de su invitación de parte de la instutición, los estudiantes, profesores, y miembros de la comunidad no se quedaron conformes con su presencia.

A las ocho de la mañana ya había empezado a llegar la gente, entre ellos, trabajadores de Pomona College, grupo cuya lucha actual es para sindicalizarse, trabajadores de bodega, trabajadores de supermercados, jornaleros, estudiantes, maestros, miembros de la comunidad, defensores de derechos humanos, y varios anarquistas, a la estación Greyhound, sitio de varias redadas de la Patrulla Fronteriza. Se alega que los agentes han detenido a pasajeros de la línea de transporte sin causa ninguna.

A la convergencia inicial llegó un provocador del grupo anti-inmigrante Minutemen, pero el pueblo no se dejó provocar. La marcha, emprendida sin ningún otro inconveniente, subió todo el búlevar Indian Hill, así llamado por un poblado de los indígenas que se encontraba en esa localidad de la estribación de la sierra San Gabriel, hasta llegar a las residencias vecinas del colegio.

Una vez delante de la plaza donde se llevaba a cabo la graduación, el pueblo tomó el patio y los escalones de un edificio de fachada griega para montar sus mantas y corear sus cantos.

"Hey hey! What do we say? Immigrants are here to stay!" ¡"Sí se puede!" "¡Legalización!"

En la banqueta que linda el campus de Pomona College, un contingente de la lacra de la socieded, los cazamigrantes, había armado una protesta, también en contra de Napolitano. "Por una vez, coincidimos en algo," bromeó un compañero. Aunque ambos grupos estuvieran para denunciar a la secretaria, el acuerdo no pasaba de allí. "Estamos aquí para protestarle a Janet Napolitano por su complicidad en permitir que pase sobre suelo americano lo que está ocurriendo al otro lado de la calle," comentó uno de ellos. "Estamos aquí para mandar un mensaje a Janet Napolitano que el pueblo americano no le tolererá ni a ella, ni a Barack Obama, ni su forma de gobierno. Una cosa que veo intolerable de ellos está en frente, es como pueden permitir que los criminales extranjeros en el suelo americano para desplazar a los obreros americanos y el sueño americano del pueblo americano," balbuceó.

Su declaración pone en evidencia el hipernacionalismo, progenitor del fascismo, que la resistencia ha estado sacando a la luz desde hace rato, que es atributo de grupos anti-inmigrantes y que ha dado pauta a manifestaciones de fascistas abiertos como los de estos últimos meses.

En cambio, los del otro lado mandaron un mensaje fuerte de solidaridad interétnico e internacional. Según una trabajadora del sindicato de trabajadores de supermercados, UFCW, "Lo veo injusto, no creo que sea la respuesta--no es la resolución a lo que pasa en Arizona. Sólo va a dar lugar a que más personas sean hostigadas y maltratadas. Somos seres humanos, no somos diferentes. Todos somos iguales. Tenemos en común nuestra humanidad, y hay que reconocerlo."

Mientras que la muchedumbre se manifestaba afuera, adentro la resistencia también mostró su fortaleza. La mayoría de los profesores de Pomona College usaron estolas blancas para simbolizar su solidaridad con la comunidad inmigrante, así como lo hicieron muchos de los estudiantes en proceso de graduación. En esos momentos, un grupo pequeño de estudiantes infiltraron la ceremonia y, en pleno silencio, desenrollaron una manta grande con la letra "Alto AZ." Reportaron que desde adentro se escuchaba el tamboreo de la manifestación.

De los escalones la procesión procedió al Parque Shelton, donde tocaron los Jornaleros del Norte y hablaron varios oradores. Emilio dijo unas palabras de bienvenida, y fue seguido por Loyda, quien leyó un comunicado del director de la Red Nacional de Jornaleros que decía:

"El oficio de Napolitano en el gobierno de Obama está desmantelando familias. Está interrumpiendo y victimizando comunidades enteras a través del país. Mas no importa lo que nos hagan, no pueden romper nuestros espíritus. Sí, existen miedo y coraje. Pero más importantemente, hay el valor para resistir. Personas de todo el país y de diversas condiciones sociales están en solidaridad con Arizona. Sabemos que para implementar el proyecto SB 1070, Arizona necesitará la cooperación de la administración Obama. Éste es el momento para que el presidente desarraigue los mecanismos y programas que otorgan autoridad migratoria a la policía local."

La facultad intercolegial de estudios latinos y chicanos de los Claremont Colleges también hicieron comunicar su declaración a favor de los derechos humanos y en apoyo a una reforma migratoria humana.

Después contó Connie de la UFCW la historia de una planta de 1 200 empleados de Texas en la que entró ICE. "Una planta en Texas, 1 200 empleados en esa planta. Agentes de ICE entraron. Tuvieron órdenes de arresto para 133 personas. Ciento treinta y tres que ellos sospechaban estar en el país ilegalmente. En lugar de acudir e la oficina de personal para pedir entrevistarse con estos individuos, arrestaron a todos que estaban trabajando allí ese día. Mil doscientos cuarenta y siete personas. Ésto quiere decir que más de mil residentes legales o ciudadanos estadounidenses fueron arrestados. ¡Ésto es incorrecto! ¡Está mal por completo!"

Siguió Angélica Salas, directora de CHIRLA: "Aquí en California ya tenemos una tradición que, básicamente, empezó en la Universidad de Santa Clara, cuando Jante Napolitano fue allí. Y fue recibida por mil personas, diciéndole que no estaba bienvenida a California si iba a seguir separando nuestras familias. Si iba a seguir deportando a la gente trabajadora. Y si iba a violar las ideas de justicia e igualdad que debería de relevar."

Próximamente discursó Dilma, una representante de los trabajadores de bodega Warehouse Workers United. "Yo soy una trabajadora de bodegas, y estoy aquí en representación de todos los que no pudieron venir este día. Y la verdad, yo he sido trabajadora, no soy como dicen que nosotros, los latinos, venimos a pedir que nos mantenga el gobierno pero no es cierto. Yo siempre he luchado, he estado aquí por 20 años y siempre he salido adelante. Por eso yo les digo a todos aquellos trabajadores que luchemos juntos porque sí se puede, compañeros, sí se puede luchar."

El próximo en hablar fue Cristián, trabajador de Pomona College. "Vengo en representación de miembros del grupo Workers for Justice en Pomona College, que igual que muchos organizaciones hemos luchado para que nuestros derechos sean respetados. Ya llevamos dos años en nuestra lucha, y vamos a seguir luchando hasta que nuestros derechos sean respetados y nos tratan como nos merecemos.

A continuación habló José, un delegado del Congreso Jornalero del Inland Empire. "Hoy es un día de resistencia, de lucha de todas mujeres que tienen conciencia, de todos los hombres también que hoy en este buen día venimos a decirle a Jante Napolitano, nuestra voz bien fuerte de protesta, que no estamos de acuerdo en que se siga robando el futuro de nuestros niños. Todos en nuestras familias hemos sido testigos que se han llevado a nuestros primos, se han llevado a nuestras primas, se han quedado los sobrinos prácticamente y técnicamente huérfanos, sin recibir ningún apoyo. Y por eso hoy estamos aquí, para denuinciar esta política criminal, que incluso, va más allá de que el Río Bravo on sus aguas bravas, ni el calcinante desierto, ni la inmensidad del oceano, han sido capaces de separa ese amor del compañero inmigrante que trae a su esposa y aquí traen una familia bonita, unida, y llegan estos criminales del servicio de inmigración y los separan. ¿Con qué derecho? Acaso estos señores no tienen también familia? ¿Acaso no tienen una señora que los espera? ¿Qué le dirán cuando le pregunta '¿Qué hiciste hoy?'?" ¿Qué cara pondrá ese policía o ese agente de inmigración cuando le ha de decir, 'No he de guardar lo del fondo del corazón, pues hoy separé a unas familias'? ¡Que bonito trabajo está haciendo el Presidente Obama después de que utilizó a nuestra comunidad para llegarlo al poder, y ahora está siendo manipulado por grupos nazis como en Arizona. Lo que está pasando en Arizona es un verdadero peligro, no sólamente para nuestra comunidad que reside en el Estado de Arizona, sino para la humanidad entera. Así hay que entenderlo. Porque los senadores que han impulsado estas leyes son nazis. Arpaio es un nazi. Los Minutemen son nazis, disfrazadas con otras caretas. Disfrazados de los Ku Klux Klan que han vuelto a resurgir. Y por eso todas la mujeres, jóvenes, y hombres que estamos aquí estamos repudiendo esta política criminal que nada garantiza la seguridad de este país. Ellos supuestamente están defendiendo la seguridad, pero ¡que bonita seguridad es esa cuando están destruyendo el futuro de los más pequeños de estas tierras! Como trabajador jornalero, nosotros hemos sido víctimas también de redadas. Se han llevado a nuestros compañeros. La policía constantemente hostiga las esquinas. Si a veces nos piden IDs, se las damos, a veces la policía se queda con ellas. Entonces, creo que es inaceptable este tipo de políticas porque vulneran los derechos humanos que todos tenemos. Y mi invitación como trabajador jornalero es a que sigamos unidos, sigamos resistiendo, y también desde esta esquina de resistencia mandamos un fuerte y caluroso saludo para la resistencia en Arizona, porque Arizona somos todos, y todos unidos vamos, hasta la victoria siempre, y por el derecho de vivir en paz, he dicho."

Antes de terminar con más música, habló el Profesor Calderón del nuevo programa "Comunidades Seguras" y se hizo una invitación al día nacional de acción para Arizona el 29 de Mayo. Ese día se anticipa que lleguen miles de personas para luchar contra este asalto a nuestra comunidad.


http://la.indymedia.org/news/2010/05/239132.php

Napolitano in Claremont
by Rockero Tuesday, May. 18, 2010 at 12:47 PM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Sunday, May 16, 2010
CLAREMONT, California - The arrival of Homeland Security Secretary (and former Governor of Arizona) Janet Napolitano to this community at the far east end of Los Angeles county propelled a march and rally of about 300 people in denunciation of the policies of immigration agencies, which fall under her purview.
Leer este artículo en español: Napolitano en Claremont
The head of the migra attended the Pomona College graduation to receive an honorary law degree, as well as to orate during the ceremony. But despite her having been invited by the institution, students, professors, and members of the community did not comply.

At eight o'clock, people, among them, Pomona College workers, whose current struggle is to unionize, warehouse workers, supermarket workers, day laborers, students, teachers, community members, human rights defenders, and numerous anarchists arrived at the Greyhound station, which has been the site of several Border Patrol raids. There agents have detained passengers from the bus line without any probable cause.

At the initial convergence, a provocateur from the anti-immigrant Minutemen arrived, but the people refused to be provoked. The march, which was undertaken without any other issues, went up Indian Hill, so called for an indigenous community that once resided in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, until arriving in the neighborhood that borders the college.

Once before the plaza where the graduation was taking place, the crowd took the steps and entryway of a building with a Greek façade to display their banners and lift their chants.

"Hey hey! What do we say? Immigrants are here to stay!" ¡"Sí se puede!" "¡Legalización!"

On the sidewalk in front of the Pomona College campus, a contingent of the most disreputable sector of society, the migrant hunters, had set up a protest, also against Napolitano. "For once we agree on something!" a comrade joked. But the agreement ended there. "We're here to protest Janet Napolitano for her complicity in allowing what's happening across the street to occur on America's soil. We're here to send a message to Janet Napolitano that the American people won't tolerate her, Barack Obama, and their form of government. One thing I find intolering [sic] about them is right across the street, how they can allow criminal illegal aliens onto American soil to displace American workers and the American dream from the American people," he gibbered.

His statement lays bare the hypernationalism, which is a progenitor of fascism, that the resistance has been exposing for some time, and which is an attribute of anti-immigrant groups that has given rise to openly-fascist demonstrations such as those we have seen in recent months.

On the other hand, those on the other side of the street sent a strong message of interethnic and international solidarity. A UFCW worker explained, "I think that it's unfair, I think it's not the answer, it's not the solution to what's going on in Arizona. I think it's only gonna lead to more people getting harassed and mistreated. We're human beings, and we're not different. We're all alike. We've got a common humanity, we gotta acknowledge that."

While the crowd demonstrated outside, the resistance also showed its strength inside the ceremony. Most of the Pomona professors wore white stoles to symbolize their solidarity with the immigrant community, as did many of the graduating students. About then, a small group of students infiltrated the ceremony, and in dead silence, unfurled a large banner reading "Alto AZ." They reported that inside, the drums and tumult of the protest were audible.

The procession left the steps and proceeded to Shelton Park, where the Jornaleros del Norte played and various speakers lectured. Emilio shared some words of welcome, and was followed by Loyda, who read a communiqué from the director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network that said:

"Napolitano's part of the Obama government is tearing families apart. She is disrupting and victimizing entire communities across the country. But no matter what they do, they cannot break our spirits. Yes, there is fear and anger. But most importantly, there is courage to resist. People across the country from all walks of life are in solidarity with Arizona. We know that in order to implement the SB 1070 bill, Arizona will need the cooperation of the Obama administration. This is the moment for President Obama to eradicate the mechanisms and programs that give the authority for police to enforce immigration law."

The intercollegial department of Latino and Chicano studies also sent a communiqué in favor of human rights and in support of humane immigration reform.

Afterwards, Connie from the UFCW told the story of a 1200-worker plant in Texas that was raided by ICE. "A plant in Texas, 1200 employees at that plant. ICE agents came in. They had warrants for 133 people. A hundred and thirty-three people that they thought might be in the country illegally. Instead of going to the human resources department and asking to pull these people aside so they could talk to them, they arrested every single person working that day. Twelve-hundred and forty-seven people. That means over a thousand legal residents or United States citizens were arrested. This is wrong! It's all wrong!"

Angélica Salas, director of CHIRLA, was next: "So, we now have a tradition here in California, that basically started in Santa Clara University, when Janet Napolitano went there. And she was received there with a thousand people, telling her that she was not welcome in California if she was gonna keep ripping apart our families. If she was going to keep deporting hard workers. And if she was going to violate the ideals of justice and equality that she's supposed to stand for."

Dilma, a representative of Warehouse Workers United, spoke next. "I'm a warehouse worker, and I'm here to represent everyone who could not come today. The truth is that I've been a worker. I'm not what they say about us Latinos, that we come to ask the government to take care of us. It's not true. I have always struggled, I've been here for 20 years and I've always gotten by. That's why I tell you all, fellow workers, that we must fight together because it can be done, yes comrades, we can fight!"



The next speaker was Cristián, a Pomona College worker. "I come to represent the members of the group Workers for Justice, which like many organizations, has fought to have our rights respected. We've been in this struggle for two years, and we're going to keep it up until our rights are respected and we're treated properly."

José, a delegate of the Inland Empire Day Laborer Congress, followed. "Today is a day of resistance, of struggle for all the women of conscience, for all the men, too, who on this fine day have come to tell Janet Napolitano, in a loud voice of protest, that we do not agree with the continual theft of the future of our children. Every member of our families have witnessed the kidnapping of our cousins. Our nephews and nieces have practically--and technically--been left orphans without receiving any assistance. For this reason we are here today, to denounce this criminal policy which actually goes beyond the Río Grande, with its grand waters, nor the scorching desert, nor the immensity of the ocean, has been able to separate that love the immigrant comrade has for his wife and who has his family here, beautiful and unified. And these criminals from immigration services come and separate them. What right do they have? Don't these gentlemen also have families? Don't they have a wife waiting for them? What will they tell her when she asks, 'What did you do today?' How can that police officer or that immigration agent show his face when he has to answer, 'How can I hide what's in the depths of my heart? Today, I separated some families'? What a nice job President Obama is doing after he used our community to take power, and now he's being manipulated by Nazi groups, like those in Arizona. What's happening in Arizona is a true danger, not just for our community residing in the State of Arizona, but for all of humanity. It must be understood thus. Because the senators who pushed these laws are Nazis. Arpaio is a Nazi. The Minutemen are Nazis in another mask, disguised Klan that has resurfaced. That's why all the women, children, and men who are here are repudiating this criminal policy that does nothing to ensure the safety of this country. Supposedly they are defending security, but what great security when they are destroying the future of the smallest of these lands! As a day worker, we've fallen victim to raids. They've taken our comrades away. The police constantly harass the corners. Sometimes they ask for our IDs, and when we give them to them, they often keep them. So I believe that these types of policies are unacceptable because they violate the human rights we all share. And my invitation to you as a day laborer is that we remain united, that we continue resisting, and also that from this site of resistance we send a loud and warm greeting to the resistance in Arizona, because we are all Arizona, and together we continue until the final victory, and for the right to live in peace. I have spoken."

Before ending with more music, Professor Calderón spoke about the new "Secure Communities" program and an invitation was made to the national day of action for Arizona on May 29th. Thousands are expected to arrive to combat this assault on our community.

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La oposición

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Oposición

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Llegaron de esta agencia otra vez

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El pueblo unido

Tercera anual conmemoración de la vida y lucha de Fernando Pedraza

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2010/05/238812.php

Tercera anual conmemoración de la vida y lucha de Fernando Pedraza
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Miércoles, 5 de Mayo 2010

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, California - Por el tercer año consecutivo, la comunidad de jornaleros de esta ciudad suburbana conmemoró a su dirigente caído, don José Fernando Pedraza con oradores, música, reconocimientos, y comida.

Tercera anual conmem...

Hace cuatro años, el Señor Pedraza, líder respetado de la esquina acudida por numerosos obreros en busca de trabajo, murió en un accidente auotomovilísto ocurrido durante una protesta del grupo anti-inmigrante los Minutemen.


Últimamente, una señora de Upland quien admite ser integrante de los Minutemen, grupo paramilitar que pretende expulsar a todo mexicano indocumentado, rechaza que estuviera presente aquel cinco de mayo, 2007.1 No obstante, muchos de los testigos de la tragedia desmienten la declaración. Y si de verdad ella y el otro Minuteman estaban de luto para don Fernando, ¿por qué, entonces, llegaron a protestar su conmemoración el año pasado?

Como el año pasado, un altar fue armado, y discursaron sacerdotes, familiares de don Fernando, jornaleros, maestros, estudiantes, activistas, y miembros de la comunidad.

Primero se presentó Eddie, organizador de la esquina. "Mi nombre es Eddie, y soy organizador del Centro de Oportunidad Económica de Pomona y también soy miembro de la Coalición Fernando Pedraza. Y hoy en este día estamos celebrando el aniversario del Señor Fernando Pedraza en su tercer año." Siguió la bendición del Padre Guillén.

"Estamos aquí presentes para denunciar que el inmigrante es un criminal. Al contrario, es un trabajador. Produce. Quiere también participar en recibir los bienes de la vida. En este momento conmemoramos a Fernando Pedraza, que aquí en un accidente; él, luchando a que se organizaran los trabajadores jornaleros, fue atropellado. Quizá la providencia de Dios este acontecimiento a que no fue una cosa trágica. También fomentó roconocer a una persona que luchaba para que hubiera esa justicia para los jornaleros. Ayúdanos en este momento a estar aquí presentes en una manera especial: apoyar y ser solidarios a la lucha de los jornaleros para que ellos tengan como seres humanos la oportunidad a tener libertad, tener también en una manera especial respetarse, su dignidad y defender sus derechos y también conseguir la felicidad en este mundo. Danos pues la gracia para seguir luchando y manifestando y diciendoles a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que acaso no comprendan la importancia de defender a todos los seres humanos."

La próxima bendición, de la tradición indígena, vino de parte de Alfonso. "Mi nombre es Alfonso y mis antepasados son del estado de Michoacán y Guanajuato. Soy Purépecha, de la Nación Purépecha. Hoy he sido autorizado para hablar por los habitantes originales de esta tierra. Me han pedido que hablara de parte de Anthony Morales, el encargado y cacique tribal de la Nación Tongva. Nos unimos en el espíritu de paz, unidad, y justicia. El sol tiene forma circular. La tierra tiene forma circular. Nuestros huesos están hechos en la imagen de un círculo. Las células de nuestros cuerpos son círculos. El círculo representa la unidad. No se desata. El espíritu humano no está separado. No existe ningún ser ilegal. Todos estamos relacionados los unos con los otros. Somos parientes de los árboles. Respiramos el mismo aire. Tomamos la misma agua. Y caminamos la misma madre tierra. Todos somos relacionados. Hoy queremos honrar el espíritu y la vida de Fernando Pedraza. La comunidad indígena quiere honrar a Fernando Pedraza con la Canción del Águila. En el antaño, se ganaba una pluma de águila a consecuencia de asesinar a un enemigo. Hoy en día, se trata de la paz. Honramos a los que realizan hazañas de justicia y de paz. Y aquí tenemos a los que siguen el legado de Fernando Pedraza."

Después de la canción, oró Norma Pedraza. "Les quiero dar gracias que sigan recordando a mi padre. Hoy es el tercer año, pero él está aquí con nosotros. Gracias por ser parte de su familia, porque son ahora parte de la nuestra. De verdad que, cada año es algo diferente y es algo tan bonito para nosotros y para ustedes que son su familia. Aunque no los conocemos todos, de verdad les agradecemos toda mi familia. Que sigan recordando a mi padre porque él no se fue. Él está con nosotros y él sigue luchando con nosotros.¡Sigan adelante! Y que Dios les bendiga."

Próximamente, José, un compañero jornalero se acercó al micrófono. "Buenos días a todos los que están aquí, y a los que no pudieron venir y están apoyando en alguna forma. Hoy estamos aquí para recordar nuestras raíces, nuestra cultura, nuestro pasado, nuestros pueblos indígenas. Y en esta lucha recordamos también a nuestro camarada José Fernando Pedraza, que un día como hoy a consecuencia de grupos racistas como los Minutemen, él fue uno de los que pensaron a organizar ya para contrarrestar estos ataques de odio, no sólamente en contra de los jornaleros, sino de toda nuestra comunidad y nuestro pueblo y clase trabajadora. Y hoy en estos tiempos duros de dolor y de lágrimas, nos da fortaleza para seguir adelante ya que una vez más amenazan las fuerzas del odio y del exterminio con tomar posesión de un estado y convertirlo en un estado fallido, como es el caso de Arizona como todos sabemos, no sólo ha pasado una ley que vulnera descaradamente los derechos fundamentales de todos seres humanos, porque no sólamente discrimina lo morena ternura de nuestras mujeres, de nuestros niños y de nosotros mismos, por ejemplo, esta mañana en el diario La Opinión, aparece que el alcalde de la ciudad de Phoenix está haciendo denuncias y el cabildo, es decir, sus concejeros, lo han abandonado. Pero éste hombre hasta el día de hoy se ha mantenido firme en defender la libertad. Como también el congresista que se ha convertido en un fuerte crítico de esta ley fascista y nazi como es Raúl Grijalva, también ya cerró sus oficinas en algunas ciudades de Arizona porque lo han amenazado de muerte. Entonces vemos que esta ley es una ley intimidatoria, que tenemos que luchar como Fernando luchó para que la ciudad respetara nuestro legítimo derecho que tenemos todo ser humano a ganarnos una vida con dignidad y justicia a través de nuestro trabajo. Así tenemos que derribar esta ley, con ese ejemplo y ese espíritu de tantos que han caído a lo largo de la historia por defender la condición humana. Yo los invito como trabajador jornalero a que sigamos unidos y a que sigamos organizados, porque sólamente la unión hace la fuerza, como dijo Alí Primera una ocasión, 'Los que mueren por la vida no pueden llamarse muertos,' y ésto es una vida de lucha y una vida de resistencia por la revindicación de la especie humana."

Luego Bernardino, otro compañero jornalero, relató los sucesos de aquella tarde trágica desde el punto de vista de un testigo.

Junko, una estudiante universitaria que había trabajado de voluntariada impartiendo clases de inglés en la esquina, fue la próxima en hablar. Dio testimonio de los cambio que había visto en los años que ha estado colaborando en la esquina, denominándola "un santuario." Hizo el vínculo temático con el Movimiento Santuario de los años 80 y el Nuevo Movimiento Santuario, encabezado por Elvira Arellano, de la época actual. También mencionó algunas de las actividades en las que había participado con los jornaleros, tales como los juegos de aprendizaje de inglés como Pictionary y los torneos de fútbol en los que ganó el equipo de Rancho Cucamonga.

Con la mención del torneo jornalero, un profesor que estuvo presente entregó un balón proveniente de la Copa Mundial a algunos de los miembros del equipo de fútbol.

Siguió un organizador de la comunidad. "A pesar de que yo personalmente nunca tuve el gusto de conocer al señor José Fernando Pedraza, yo he tenido la dicha de participar en esta comunidad como maestro, he sido maestro aquí en Rancho Cucamonga y mis alumnos han querido participar en este evento. El año pasado donaron una cantidad de doscientos tamales de parte de MECha, ¡que viva MEChA! Y también he participado como residente, ahora soy residente de este pueblo de Rancho Cucamonga, y también como miembro de la Coalición Comunitaria Fernando Pedraza, y juntos hemos, como lo ha descrito Junko, hemos ido a participar en torneos de fútbol, hemos ido a North Hollywood para participar en lo que es el Thanksgiving Jornalero, el Día de Acción de Gracias, y claro que en nuestro eventos comunitarios aquí en la esquina. Y como dije, a pesar de que nunca lo conocí, él sigue siendo una inspiración para mí y para todos y todas que están presentes aquí, y por lo pronto no más falta que me agradezca de todos ustedes por venir aquí y me lleno de emoción. Es un ejemplo de lucha y lo que me inspira es vera todos ustedes y sus caras y me llena de inspiración. Compañeros, aquí falleció el compa por un acto de racismo, y queremos decir, ¡abajo el racismo! ¡Abajo el odio! ¡Abajo la ley SB 1070! ¡Y que viva el pueblo! ¡Que vivan los estudiantes! ¡Que vivan los jornaleros! ¡Que viva la familia Pedraza, de la cual todos somos ya una parte! ¡Y que viva don José Fernando Pedraza!"

Loyda, organizadora con la Red Nacional de Jornaleros, habló de parte de la red y su continua dedicación a la causa del pueblo obrero. También invitó a todxs a que participaramos en una protesta en contra de la Secretaria de Seguridad Interna Janet Napolitano, cuyo puesto abarca dirección de las agencias represoras de contrainmigración el día 16 de Mayo. El motivo de la visita de la Secretaria es para recibir un diploma honorario y para discursar en la ceremonia de graduación de lxs estudiantes de Pomona College, una institución privada de educación superior en la ciudad de Claremont, al extremo oriente del condado de Los Ángeles.

José Calderón Zapata, profesor de estudios chicanos y sociología en Pitzer College, testificó de su amistad personal con el líder caído, y de su lucha legal en contra de la ciudad. Destacó la importancia de la educación y la preservación de la memoria histórica de héroes populares, comparando a don Fernando con la figura de San Martín de Porres, cuyo imagen estaba estampada en una veladora del altar armado en su honor. También hizo referencia a la desgracia del alcalde de Rancho Cucamonga, ahora precandidato para la asamblea estatal para el distrito 63, quien se declaró a favor de una propuesta de ley que eliminaría el derecho a la ciudadanía a personas nacidas en los Estados Unidos, en violación de la catorceava enmienda a la Constitución. El alcalde, Don Kurth, tenía rótulos de campaña al otro lado de la calle de la cachadera.

En seguida habló Suzanne, la directora ejecutiva del Centro de Oportunidad Económica de Pomona. "Estoy aquí para felicitar a los compañeros de Rancho por el trabajo que han hecho por los últimos tres años. Este es un memorial para Fernando Pedraza pero también una celebración del liderazgo que él mostró en esta esquina y el liderazgo que ustedes están continuando ahora." Con eso, invitó a tres de las estudiantes que se han entregado a la lucha por la dignidad y superación de los jornaleros al escenario, y les otorgó placas de reconocimiento para honrar su labor en la esquina en virtud de que ya que se están graduando, tendrán que dejar a su comunidad tan querida.

El maestro de ceremonies, Eddie, entonces compartió un comunicado de un compañero de lucha ahora radicado en la costa oriente del país: "Saludos a los hermanos jornaleros. Nada es en vano. Donde ponemos el corazón y el esfuerzo en hacer la justicia una realidad. Sigamos adelante haciendo camino sin borrar las huellas de los que nos han entregado todo. ¡Viva Fernando Pedraza! ¡Vivan los jornaleros! ¡Viva la paz de los justos!"

Juntos y agarrados de la mano, cantamos el clásico himno de unidad "De Colores." Los Jornaleros del Norte y Son Real cantaron mientras que comimos tortas proporcionada por una iglesia local y aguas fresca de fabricación de las hermanas Pedraza.

Aunque extrañaremos a Stephanie, Junko, y Maya, y seguimos extrañando a nuestro ejemplo de lucha, continuaremos esta lucha hasta que haya justicia, dignidad, y respeto a los derechos de todos.

_____________________________
1. Hvidston, Robin. "Minutemen mourn Mr. Pedraza." Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 20-04-2010.

2. Rockero. "Memorial en honor a don Fernando Pedraza, jornalero y líder." Los Angeles Independent Media Center, 06-05-2009. http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/05/226865.php. En la foto http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/2009/05/100_1426.jpg, se puede ver a la señora Hvidston al lado derecho tomando una fotografía.

Armando el altar
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Armando el altar...


Maestro de ceremonias
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Maestro de ceremonia...


Padre Guillén
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Padre Guillén...


Bendición indígena
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Bendición indígena...


Norma Pedraza
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Norma Pedraza...


Maestra de inglés
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Maestra de inglés...


Entrega del balón
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Entrega del balón...


Loyda de la Red Nacional de Jornaleros
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Loyda de la Red Naci...


Reconocimiento de las estudiantes
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Reconocimiento de la...


De Colores
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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De Colores...


Grupo entero
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Grupo entero...


Sirviendo las aguas
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Sirviendo las aguas...


Son real
by Rockero Sunday, May. 09, 2010 at 3:11 PM
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Son real...

Saturday, June 19, 2010

¡Reforma Sí! ¡Migra No! Inland Empire stands with Arizona

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2010/05/237979.php

¡Reforma Sí! ¡Migra No! Inland Empire stands with Arizona
by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Saturday, May 1, 2010

SAN BERNARDINO - Large crowds of people from throughout the Inland Empire gathered in San Bernardino to march for the human rights of immigrants and to denounce the racist Arizona law SB 1070. La Plaza Park on San Bernardino's east side was the point of convergence, and music and announcements welcomed the arrivees until about 11, when the ranks began making their way down the sidewalk and across the 215 bridge toward city hall, where a rally was held with music and speeches. Peaceful resistance was the spirit of the day, and careful attention to hydration and mutual respect among attendees was the hallmark of the day's beauty.

My morning carpool received an unexpected phone call from Dolores Huerta, then en route to Tucson, who wished us a good march. An activist riding alongside her explained that he wouldn't be in San Bernardino due to his participation in Arizona mobilizations. He urged the Inland Empire to keep Arizona in mind and to intensify the struggle through civil disobedience and strategic fasting, if possible. Even though I don't agree with all of her politics, it was an inspiring way to start what a comrade and I later joked is the "high holy day" for activists.

Arizona was close to everyone's heart throughout the day, and although not really reflected in the chants, the concern was expressed in many of the signs and speeches. As the carpools arrived, they were welcomed by the people from the neighborhood, some of whom, upon learning of the cause, expressed outrage and compassion for the people of Arizona. A large contingent from SEIU made itself visible by wearing purple shirts, and the Warehouse Workers did the same with their blue, and LiUNA with orange. The day laborers and their organizations had a strong presence, as did the faith communities and the students. I think I saw students from every local university and community college. But there were are also a lot of young families with children. There were also numerous candidates.

The program began with a ceremonia by Danza Azteca de Aztlán, which was followed by prayers from different denominations. Then the security guidelines were set and we were energized by jumping to the chant "Él que no brinca es migra."

Then we unrolled our banners and started down the sidewalk. Trained, orange-vested volunteers walked beside us at intervals of about 25 feet. The chants were the normal "Sí se puede," "El pueblo unido," and "¿Qué queremos?" As we ascended the bridge over the 215 freeway, the mountains came into view, providing a majestic backdrop. About then someone pointed out that the police were photographing us from within their cars. Someone asked if they were taking pictures, and rather than answering, the officer just waved, even after the question was repeated--a gesture amounting to little more than a taunt.

As we passed St. Bernardine's, the elderly people came out onto their balconies to watch us pass by. When we turned on D, I finally saw some opposition. (There had been rumors about some Minutemen hanging in the area but I had not actually seen any). An angry man drove by making a rude gesture at all of us, even though there were children present. But the Minutemen have shown repeatedly with their behavior and their ignorant and vicious letters to the editor, that they and other haters have nothing to offer society. In the end, it will be us, the workers, the people of conscience, students, and families that take responsibility for creating the word we want and need, and we won't have to depend on the upper class who exploit us for our own survival. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

As marchers filed into the Civic Center, Son Real delighted us with their renditions of classics such as "The Picket Sign." The danzantes performed again, preceded by an opening prayer, and then speakers from immigrant rights, labor, and student organizations gave their talks. Next the politicians were allowed to talk, Joe Baca in particular seizing the moment for political purposes. Baca has cultivated the image of a defender of the migrant, but his recent pro-immigrant projects, including the PROUD Act to grant citizenship to high school graduates and his co-sponsorship of the Gutierrez bill, have gone nowhere.

At it's largest point, the rally probably attracted more than a thousand people, all very concerned about Arizona and moved to act by the need for an just immigration reform. As we left, we heard reports of Luis Gutierrez getting arrested in an act of civil disobedience at the White House. If a member of the US congress, a club that tends to attract the most politically tepid, risk-fearing, power-hungry, type of egomaniac, can get arrested for civil disobedience over this fascist law, then what can you or I do?

Just before publishing this article I got word that Arizona is planning big activities for May 29, so we may just get our chance to find out. Until then, we should keep up the boycott and most importantly, the resistance in our own communities.

002

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

002...

Faith communities


003

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

003...

Danza Azteca de Aztlán


004

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

004...

Ceremonia


005

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

005...

006

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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006...

Departing


007

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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007...

This is one unit that was photographing us.


008

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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008...

St. Bernardine's


009

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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009...

Civic center


010

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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010...

Danzantes

011

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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011...

Boycott AZ!


012

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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012...

Speeches. There were two anti-choice people there with big signs, one of which you can see in the background.


013

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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013...

Families


014

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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014...

015

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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015...

USA fights all right...


016
by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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016...altoarizona.com


017

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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017...

Jornalero de Pomona


018

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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018...Councilmember Virginia Márquez


019

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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019...

The resistance is everywhere!!!


020

by Rockero Sunday, May. 02, 2010 at 3:22 AM
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020...

Monday, June 14, 2010

Queremos justicia: Pueblo rechazó presencia del alguacil Arpaio en Condado de Orange

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/11/232123.php

Queremos justicia: Pueblo rechazó presencia del alguacil Arpaio en Condado de Orange
by Rockero Friday, Nov. 06, 2009 at 9:13 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Jueves, el 6 de noviembre, 2009

ANAHEIM--La llegada del alguacil anti-inmigrante Joe Arpaio a un evento de campaña del candidato Bill Hunt, quien se está postulando para el puesto de alguacil del Condado de Orange, fue el motor por la llegada de alrededor de cien personas que lo recibieron con una protesta musical.
La protesta fue convocada por los miembros del Colectivo Tonantzín, el cual que tiene sede en el condado de Orange, y recibió el apoyo del Mexica Movement, miembros del cual trajeron sus pancartotas con imágenes de Arpaio vestido de Ku Klux Klan. Pero el contingente principal fue el de la Red Nacional de Jornaleros, cuyo grupo musical Los Jornaleros del Norte sirvió de maestro de ceremonias a la vez que proporcionó entretenimiento.

También presente estuvieron activistas que llegaron desde Arizona, incluyendo a Puente, un grupo de derechos humanos, al igual que soneros del Centro Cultural de México, jornaleros de Costa Mesa, Pomona, Lake Forest, e IDEPSCA, integrantes de la campaña de los "carwasheros," miembros de CHIRLA, y estudiantes del OC DREAM Team, UCLA y su centro laboral, y los colegios de Claremont.

Los manifestantes cantaron, bailaron, y gritaron consignas de "¡Sí se puede! " "¡Sacaremos ese buey de California!" y "¡Lucha, lucha, lucha, no dejes de luchar! Por un trabajo digno, justicia y dignidad!" entre otras.

Recalcó Pablo Alvarado de la Red Nacional de Jornaleros, "Ahorita por todo el país hay un clima de tensión y de hostilidad hacia las familias inmigrantes. Por todo el país, no nada más en Arizona: en Georgia, en Missouri, ahorita nos dimos cuenta de un caso en la mañana en Nebraska, por todo el país hay un ambiente muy, pero muy hostil. Entonces todos hemos de saber que esta lucha va ser un poco más larga. Las personas de Washington, D.C. nos están diciendo que posiblemente vaya a haber un espacio de tiempo entre enero y abril para empujar por una reforma migratoria. Eso ellos nos están diciendo. Nosotros debemos de prepararnos. Esperar lo mejor pero prepararnos para lo peor. Y prepararnos para lo peor significa estar listos para enfrentar una política como la que Arpaio está implementando en Arizona. Enfrentarla aquí en Orange County, en Riverside, y en San Bernardino. Y yo creo que estamos listos, ¿verdad?"

Después de unos agradecimientos, continuó: "La lucha que sigue va estar un poco dura, pero la lucha no es nada más pelear--muchas veces ganar batallas y otras veces perder batallas. La lucha es también celebración. Por eso, nuestro evento acá ha estado lleno de alegría. Porque es algo que nuestro pueblo trae al país, es alegría. Y los músicos ocupan un lugar especial en el moviemiento, entonces quiero darles gracias a los compañeros de Son del Centro y a los Jornaleros del Norte. Cuando los artistas dedican su talento para la lucha, la cultura se convierte en resistencia, de lucha, y en una herramienta de liberación. Y eso es lo que los compañeros y compañeras están haciendo con la música hoy."

Arpaio acudió el evento para endorsar el candidato Bill Hunt y ayudarle a recaudar fondos para su campaña. Hunt está prometiendo implentar las mismas políticas de perfil racial y violación de derechos humanos que Arpaio, quien ahora se encuentra bajo la investigación del FBI. Hunt también es miembro del grupo Oathkeepers, una organización de la extrema derecha de agentes de departamentos de policía y otras agencias de orden público, que ha recibido la atención de monitores de terrorismo interno. Hunt también contó con el apoyo de tales infames como Jim Gilchrist, fundador del Proyecto Minuteman y la racista Barbara Coe, autora de la vil Proposición 187.

Dice Pablo Alvarado, "Arpaio adentro promueve odio, racismo, explotación, terrorismo. Y aquí, ¿qué promovemos acá? La paz, el amor, la justicia, la libertad, la familia."

Immigrants Are Welcome Here. Nazis Are Not.

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/10/231675.php

Immigrants Are Welcome Here. Nazis Are Not.
by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

October 24, 2009

RIVERSIDE, California - In Southern California's largest antifascist action in recent memory, a diverse group of between 400 and 500 protesters held a demonstration against a group of 16 neo-Nazis from the National Socialist Movement in the Casa Blanca barrio of Riverside. The NSM sought to target the day laborers who congregate outside the Home Depot at the corner of Indiana and Madison to exercise their right to free speech and look for work, but the community denied them any opportunity to put their genocidal ideology into practice. Despite efforts to contain the throng to sidewalks behind metal barriers, thrice the activists pushed forth their demands by taking over the street--in outright defiance not only of the police, who numbered well over 50, but also of protest organizers' pre-established rules of conduct. The day saw two arrests of anti-Nazi demonstrators criminalized for defending their community, and several activists reported being pushed and struck by police batons.

Immigrants Are Welco...

It all started a month ago, when eight NSM members from the organization's California chapter, which has its headquarters in Riverside, gathered for a protest of the same day labor corner. There they had their flags confiscated and set ablaze, and after a failed attempt to snatch an Israeli flag, were quickly chased off.


Across town at City Hall, a broad-based coalition of political parties, religious groups, student organizations, labor unions, and other community groups, held an anti-hate, pro-diversity rally that saw the participation of between 150 and 200 people. The Peace and Freedom Party played a major role in spearheading the coalition. In the aftermath of the resounding victory for anti-racists, the NSM declared that they would rally again on October 24, and the coalition acted quickly to expand its numbers and plan a strategic response. They planned a meeting at Riverside's Unitarian Universalist Church for that Saturday, inviting all concerned community members to join in. The day prior to said meeting, three neo-Nazis brandished their swastika flags outside Riverside's Temple Beth El's shabbat service, accusing the Jewish congregating of "promoting violence," apparently in reference to the non-welcome they received from the antifascists.1

That same night, the Congregational Church across the street from the Unitarian Church where the coalition was to meet was vandalized with satanic and anti-semitic grafitti, including "666" and "Eat Jews." While California NSM "commander" and Riverside resident Jeff Hall denied that there was any connection between NSM and the vandalism, it is exactly the type of juvenile tactic that Nazis are known for--right down to getting the wrong church.2

The most intense moment of the buildup to the 24th was on Wednesday, October 7, when 23-year-old resident of Riverside County's Lake Elsinore Benjamin Kuzelka blew off his own hand in attempt to manufacture explosives. His mother ran a childcare facility out of the residence. A police search of the residence turned up white supremacist paraphernalia.3

At the next meeting of the anti-hate coalition, held again at the Unitarian Church on October 21, Unitarians reported that racist skinheads had attended their Sunday service and attempted to provoke congregation members, as well as recruit some of the children of the congregation to their creed.

The stakes were undoubtedly very high for all parties involved.

The Riverside anti-Nazi coalition was keen on preventing any type of violence, and went to great lengths to avoid any situation similar to the confrontation that had occurred on September 26, establishing a large "Harmony" committee, complete with a command hierarchy, and composing a set of fifteen "Rally Rules." The list was sent out via e-mail and printed on a bilingual (English and Spanish) leaflet with Pastor Martin Niemöller's poem First they came... on the back to be distributed to all participants. They also raised money to pay for the printing of some 400 signs with slogans such as "Inland Area Rejects Nazi Hate," "No Human Being Is Illegal," "Tolerance Yes, Hatred No!" and the George Washington quote "To Bigotry, No Sanction," as well as for port-a-potties and food for a community victory celebration at nearby Villegas Park following the departure of the racists.

The contingent that took direct action during the first rally, which was made up of many students heeding the call to make use of their educations to lead the way toward a hate-free future, also made preparations, including strategy sessions, outreach, and the creation of large, bamboo-supported banners reading "Students Support Day Laborers," "Estudiantes Apoyan a los Jornaleros," "End Hate Now!" "Somos Un Pueblo Sin Fronteras," and the crowd-pleasing "Intolerance? That Was Sooooo 1942."

The Nazis, seeking to recover from a humiliating defeat, had everything to lose. Recognizing their organizational weakness, they set the bar for themselves very low, stating that their objective was simply to "begin again at 10am and will not leave until 1pm."4

The sun was out and already hot at 8:00 the day of the big event. School board member Victoria Baca donated coffee and donuts for those committed enough to show up early (some as early as before five and six in the morning) and lay claim to the Home Depot side of the street. The police had already begun setting up metal barriers on both sides of the street and establishing their staging area on a vacant lot across from the Home Depot and adjacent to the railroad tracks.

Two young white supremacists, one with a pink mohawk and the other wearing ill-fitting Doc Martens, walked through the area claimed for tolerance looking for their ignorant brethren. They were quickly advised to look elsewhere.

Just up Madison at the Mobil Station and Denny's parking lot, where the NSM had advised supporters to park via e-mail, small groups of antiracist activists stood watch just in case the leadership actually told the truth. But apparently, they were content to leave their potential supporters to march the two blocks to the rally site alone. The police, probably with the awareness that racists had just attempted to build bombs, patrolled the area with bomb-sniffing dogs. One veteran anti-racist recognized a couple who entered the parking lot on a motorcycle from previous engagements. "Fuck you," the fifty-something woman on the back of the bike said to him as the vehicle stopped at the driveway to exit the lot. "Fuck you," she repeated to him just before the bike sped off and got on the 91 freeway.

Instead of fulfilling their promise to their correspondents, the racists parked behind the police blockade on Railroad Avenue. Some of them, presumably the "stormtroopers" they had promised to bring, were dressed in black paramilitary costumes, complete with helmets. Others wore NSM t-shirts. Among their number were members of as far away as Arizona.5 Another that had come from afar was Mike O'Dell, whose blog postings on the no-longer popular social networking site MySpace.com include everything from lamentations of loneliness and lack of attention from women, to admissions of alcoholism and thoughts of suicide, to dirt on other Nazis from his own organization.6 Bay Area antifa take note: O'Dell lives on Hyde Street in the Lower Nob Hill area of San Francisco, and likes to drink at the Hyde Out. His neighbors and others in the community should probably be made aware of the type of danger to which his presence exposes them.

Almost immediately after they arrived, the most determined activists, many of whom were Brown Berets, crossed the street and knocked down the metal barrier, attempting to physically remove the offending parties.7 Police in riot gear jumped in to protect the Nazis, brutalizing several of the anti-fascists. One Brown Beret, an elder in the community, was placed under arrest and was not accorded the respect due to an elder.

Despite the markedly brief nature of the conflict, the mainstream media has predictably sensationalized the day's events in their accounts. The Republican-owned Press-Enterprise, in point of fact, dedicated nearly half of the photos of its on-line slide show to those few moments of the over-three-hour rally.

Once order was restored, the Nazis sought to claim it as a victory. Perhaps ignorant of the idiocy of their claim, the chanted, "Whose streets? Our streets!" while standing on the sidewalk.

The initial scuffle marked the first rupture of the barricade. The next came about an hour into the protest, when the youth-oriented anti-fascist contingent marched directly down Madison with their banners, drums, and bullhorns, intent on disrupting the Nazi manifestation. Again, the police swooped in, this time on motorcycles. They turned on their sirens, but the students and their allies were undeterred. As antifa took the street to the cheers of the crowd, one group of Nazis withdrew, retiring for the day. A minor victory was celebrated. Eventually, in the face of massive violent repression on the part of the police state, they decided to change tactics, and withdrew to the intersection with Madison to regroup.

Loyda Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network lead a group of day laborers, supporters, and percussionists in a series of creative and original chants, including "Who's got the power? We've got the power! What kind of power? People power!" and "¡El pueblo callado jamás será escuchado!"

Several organizations present distributed literature. The Los Angeles chapter of the Socialist Worker's Party set up a table with copies of The Militant and books, highlighting Trotsky's Fascism: what it is and how to fight it. The Party for Socialism and Liberation, too, under the banner of the ANSWER coalition, collected e-mail addresses and handed out flyers. The Los Angeles chapter of Anti-Racist Action, in a solid gesture of solidarity with their inland comrades, distributed the latest issue of Turning the Tide and agitated for radical change from the racist system.

But most importantly, the Inland Empire Rapid Response Network, the first line of defense for the immigrant community that is constantly under siege, passed out flyers that educated their recipients of the fact that the "neo-Nazi action is part of a wider pattern of injustice and racism against immigrants" and provided ways for concerned citizens to get involved, offering hope that "united, we can stop it!" The Network operates a hotline that immigrants can call for information about their rights, to seek aid in case of detention or deportation, and to report immigration raids or racist attacks.

Time passed and it seemed that there would be no way of eliminating the Nazi threat. After discussing various tactics, SoCal Antifa decided that, with thirty minutes until the scheduled end of the Nazi harassment, they would make a final charge. They threw open the barricade on the anti-racist side and again took the street, this time coming the closest since the beginning of the protest. Again, the police, this time with reinforcement from the Corona Police Department, blocked us with motorcycles and agents in riot gear. This time, much of the anger was directed at the police themselves as they struck and pushed us.

One of the brave students could not contain his disdain and approached the bullhorn. "Thank you, America's finest, for making the streets safe for fascism! Thank you, America's finest, for supporting a platform for hatred! Thank you, America's finest, for supporting a war on immigrants!"

At this point, another arrest was made. At the moment, the word running through the crowd was that a member of Casa Blanca's armed resistance had launched a rock at the Nazis. Later it was discovered that the object was a harmless lemon.

Finally, the remaining Nazis (several more had left during the heat of the action) sieg heiled one more time before slinking away to their cars. Some of them boarded a pickup truck with the business name "Proscape" on the side. Proscape is a Redlands-based pool company owned by one Bill Paugh. His phone number is (909) 335-0997 and his address is 344 Poppy Rd, Redlands, CA 92373. His current customers are recommended to cancel their accounts in order to avoid supporting efforts such as those of his associates to disrupt the peace with racial terror. Community members are also encouraged to call (taking precautions to make sure the number being called from is private) in order to register their complaints.

The departure of the Nazis brought many of those who were previously too timid to break the barricade into the street. The spokespeople for the ANSWER coalition, in particular, while raising loud opposition through chants throughout the rally, always did so from behind the metal bars. Once the threat was gone, however, they were glad to enter the street, and without having done any of the work to claim the streets, attempted to lead a chant of "Whose streets? Our streets!" Their hypocrisy was sickening.

The anti-racists then marched down the block to Ygnacio Villegas Park for the pre-planned celebration. As they did, a suspicious character, a white man in a car without license plates, drove down the street filming the marchers on his camera phone, but he did not impede the festivities or even dampen any spirits. A large quantity of non-perishable food items were collected to be distributed to the area's needy families, who are ever-growing in number.

The rally can be evaluated on different criteria.

As far as the Nazis are concerned, their rally must be considered an utter failure. They were outnumbered by a measure greater than 30-1. They were forced to stand in the sun in a dusty, vacant lot dressed entirely in black. And while they did muster greater numbers than on the previous occasion, they were unable to do so without calling on allies from far-off locales, and most of their participants did not have the wherewithal to remain even the short three hours. The NSM was also unable to appeal to the anti-immigrant sentiment that sometimes seems so strong in the inland area, and are likely to have succeeded in winning otherwise unlikely allies to the cause of immigrant rights. Worst of all, they had to endure the company of one another.

As far as the Riverside-based anti-hate coalition goes, they were successful in organizing and mounting a well-attended protest and spreading a message of peace and tolerance. They were unsuccessful, however, in their attempts to rein in the anti-fascist zeal of the youth in particular, and the community in general. But they should be applauded for doing their utmost to be true to their ideals and doing their best to minimize the harm done by agents of the police state.

The day laborers, who, because of the rally, may have missed out on some work, nonetheless were able to have a day free from police and border patrol persecution due to the massive presence of allies. They enjoyed the solidarity of many who might not otherwise be aware of their issues. And they were able to successfully defend their right to reclaim some public space, stand up against ignorance, and hold their heads high as full members of society--even if just for one day.

The student-centered antifascists also faced a mixed bag of results. They were unable to successfully end the Nazi rally due to police collaboration with the fascists. However, this circumstance gave rise to a unique opportunity to demonstrate which side the police, and the state in general, fall on in this struggle against racial hatred. Anti-fascist elements were also able to do a great deal of intelligence work, both on the day of the action and in the days leading up thereto. Names, license plate numbers, addresses, places of work and business, associations, and other crucial data pertaining to the neo-Nazis have been verified. Some of it will be used to make it very difficult for the individuals in question to do business and continue life as normal, while some of it will simply be passed on to interested parties. These antifascist actions may occur in the following weeks, or may not happen for years down the line. Until they do, the Nazis are going to have to sit and worry. And we're fine with that.

It must also be considered a victory that, while anti-racists were able to direct their message to all motorists passing by on Indiana street, Madison was shut down and the Nazis, being restricted to Madison Ave, were unable to directly spread their message of hate to the general public.

It must also be noted that in the face of increasing attacks on the community by outright racists, the vast majority of the crowd demonstrated remarkable restraint and used the most non-violent means available to forestall the onslaught. Those few who did dare deviate from "legality" deserve the full support of everyone dedicated to peace, tolerance, justice, and a hate-free world, whether it be in the material form of bail, legal defense, or simple moral support.

The struggle against hate is one that the dedicated members of the Inland Empire community will continue until racism is eradicated from our midst or until we perish in the pursuit of that noble goal. As José, a day laborer says, "If we allow hate to keep growing, first they will come for me, and then they will come for you, and you, and each one of us. We must continue to be organized and continue to generate consciousness in this constant struggle."



________________________________

1. CaliforniaNSM. "10-2-09 Protest." October 3, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYJgHJN72EI. Accessed October 26, 2009.

2. "Hate graffiti, protests cited by Riverside religious leaders," Valley News. October 9, 2009. http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/41291/. Accessed October 26, 2009.

3. "Search of Lake Elsinore home where man lost fingers in explosion yields Anarchist Cookbook, swastika," Valley News. Thursday, October 8, 2009. http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/41266/. Accessed October 256, 2009.

4. National Socialist Movement. "October 24th Protest in Riverside." http://www.nsm88.org/events/oct24thprotestinriverside.htm. Accessed October 26, 2009

5. Lemons, Stephen. "Arizona neo-Nazi J.T. Ready Leads NSM Rally in Riverside, California." Phoenix News Times News Blog, October 25, 2009. http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2009/10/jt_ready_leads_neo-nazi_rally.php. Accessed October 26, 2009.

6. O'Dell, Mike. Mickthemick blog. http://blogs.myspace.com/449462624. Accessed October 26, 2009.

7. CBS2 News. "Nazis, Counter-Demonstrators Clash In Riverside," October 25, 2009. http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=117649@kcbs.dayport.com. Accessed October 26, 2009. See http://cbs2.com/local/Riverside.Neo.Nazis.2.1268903.html for article with embedded video. Also visible at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh4tKS6aicU.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

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Rally monitors get pink tape, and captains get orange caps.


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

002.jpg, image/jpeg, 594x792

Free donuts and coffee for early birds

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Jornalero


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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A las barricadas


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Awesome shirt


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

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These kids were in the wrong place. (They were looking for the white supremacists rally.) They are so young, I like to think there's still hope for them. Let's hope they can stay out of prison.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

Anti-Racist Action-LA and Puerto Rican Alliance, presente

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Forbidden shirt


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Stop harassing day laborers!


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Bomb unit


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Casa Blanca Families and Friends Against Violence


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Street sign


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Just after first skirmish


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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014...Neighborhood people


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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Rally monitors hard at work


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/10/231695.php

021.jpg, image/jpeg, 594x792

Photo set 2

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Brown Beret


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Big crowd

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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More crowd

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Riverpride


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Jóvenes


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Beret with flag


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Jedi knight vs. Nazi stormtroopers. The force is with him!


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

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Proudly waving the flag of the SS? How low can you get?


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Never Again


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Students Support Day Laborers!


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Antifa retakes the street


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Gadsden flag and black flag

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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One Love


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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This is why we had trouble...


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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Border Patrol does what Nazis don't dare do!

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/10/231715.php

Immigrants Are Welco...

Photo set 3


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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Extending down the train tracks

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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This is what a police state looks like.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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CLUE presente


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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Atheists against hate. The atheists were there strong.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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Nazis came in the night for the Jews. ICE comes in the night for immigrants.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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Somos un Pueblo Sin Fronteras


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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ICE Acts Like the Nazis


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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com


Brian Levin squares off with members of CAIR. In a continuation of their on-air debate on KPFK's Uprising Radio, Levin accuses members of CAIR of not standing up strongly against hate coming from members of the Islamic community. CAIR members accuse him of being a Zionist. The Berets get involved and Levin spends the rest of the day on the other side of the street, interviewing Nazis.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com

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View from atop an electrical box, looking northward up Madison.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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View from atop an electrical box, looking southward down Madison.

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by Rockero Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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