Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Riverside Womyn of Color for Decolonization Spearhead Oakland Solidarity Rally

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/249237.php

by Rockero Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Friday, October 28, 2011
RIVERSIDE (California) - In response to the vicious police raid on Occupy Oakland, Occupy Riverside, lead by Womyn of Color for Decolonization, who had just returned from Oakland, marched and rallied in solidarity.

At about 2:30 in the afternoon Friday, occupiers of Downtown Riverside's liberated territory joined with the Womyn of Color for Decolonization to express solidarity with Scott Olsen and all the other victims and survivors of the police state's violent eviction of our comrades in Oakland.

Having just returned from Oakland themselves, the WOC4D began by reading a statement of solidarity with Occupy Riverside.

From there, we marched down University to Market, chanting "What are they protecting? Not you, not me! End police brutality!" and "Shame on OPD!"

At Twelfth we hung a left and approached the Riverside police station. Upon arriving, we locked arms in a circle of solidarity and had a moment of silence for the victims in Oakland.

Afterwards, many people shared personal experiences of police brutality, violence, and harassment. One woman read off a list of names of people who had been shot (or shot at) by local law enforcement agencies in the past two months.

A courthouse worker came out and applauded us not just for occupying, but also for taking a stance against the carnage of the police state.

Another passerby, an activist attorney, also stopped to address us. She offered legal support and other avenues to participate in local movements for change.

All of this occurred under the watchful eyes of a lieutenant and several other officers, but they did not interfere with our peaceful protest.

Occupy Riverside continues to hold our position, and continues taking action targetting the 1% and, in this case, their protectors.

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Womyn of Color read opening statement

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Sign

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Civil Rights are Won Through Free Speech

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March

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Chants

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Occupy Riverside link arms

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Police watch

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Courthouse worker speaks out

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Reading names of local victims of police violence

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Testimonies of survival

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Introducing a chant/song about Scott Olsen

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"It's not a few bad apples, it's the whole tree that's rotten"

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Update from Occupy Riverside Day 12

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/249134.php

by Rockero Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 at 12:45 PM

rockero420@yahoo.com

October 25, 2011 RIVERSIDE (California) - Much has happened in the week since the last report filed on Occupy Riverside, including several actions and an incident of police brutality.

Occupy Riverside continues in its vigorous defense of the territory liberated since October 15. Attendance at the daily general assemblies has averaged about 50 to 60, while the number of campers has remained steadily at about 30.

Daily marches have been pretty spontaneous, but the ten p.m. bar march has been particularly popular. Slogans to encourage inebriated bar patrons to simply stay at the occupation rather than risk driving home have included, "Don't drink and drive, occupy!"

Other actions have included a standing protest outside of the local Wal-Mart, targetting the criminal enterprise's CEO and the members of the oligarchic Walton family. We were very clear that we opposed the exploitation of the Wal-1% of their workers and consumers, and that we were not protesting these members of the 99%.

One speaker intoned, "Wal-Mart says they like to 'roll back' prices. But we know that what they're really rolling back is workers' rights, they roll back health care, they roll back product safety, they roll back local small business. So when they say 'roll back,' what do we say?" To which the crowd responded, "Fight back!"

The next day about 50 of us marched on the Bank of America, which had been mysteriously chalked with slogans of resistance during the night. The crowd again engaged in chants, testimonies of banking injustice, and one singer sang his interpretation of Les Rice's "Banks of Marble."

On the way back to our liberated space, we stopped by the courthouse where weekly, homes are auctioned off to scavenger capitalists, and denounced the injustice of the judicial system there.

City Hall drew further wrath, but we also paused to read quotes from Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Upcoming actions include targetting the corrupt and immigrant-bashing congressional representative Ken Calvert, and Occupy Riverside also intends to participate in the November 5 national day of divestment from the banks. Also planned is a large-scale "tent-in" in order to secure the right of the occupiers to shelter.

Education activities have included two facilitation workshops, a discussion group on solidarity and privilege, another lead by the Womin of Color for Decolonization, a Thoreau reading group, and another yoga workshop.

Arts activities have included sign-painting, including large signs depicting tents, and stencilled shirt-making.

Minor setbacks have also occurred, including getting our power shut off. It now only works at night, which has caused us to be unable to offer computers for public internet access, as well as a constant livestream.

Saturday night reminded us of the cruel reality of life in Riverside. As revellers began emptying out of the bars, one of them, who had struck a woman for denying him a cigarette, was chased down and subjected to the rough justice of angry bargoers across the street from our encampment. Some of our peacekeepers intervened to prevent the situation from escalating. That fight spawned something of a chain reaction, resulting in a fight between two drunk women on our grounds. It took about twenty people to separate the combatants, and police also arrived. In the worst incident of the evening, rumored to have been a stabbing, someone was cut on the back of the neck. None of the violence originated with any of the occupants, and indeed, our teams were instrumental in keeping peace and putting out fires.

The worst incident of police brutality occurred Monday morning. A member of the education committee lay dormant on the ground when an agent of state repression approached and kicked him. The occupier was awoken and disturbed, and explained that his occupation of the space was an act of political protest and that he was willing to be cited or even arrested, and that if he were to be arrested, he would comply with all orders. He emphatically rejected, however, the police violence being imposed upon him. He reports that the police officer replied, "We will continue about our business as normal," implying that they would exercise brutality when and where they chose to.

Rains came this morning but occupiers are undeterred. Our resolve is too strong and the need for victory far too important to be discouraged by the weather. Our hearts are enraged with a passion for justice that can no longer be quieted.

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Last Friday night

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Last Friday night

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Last Saturday - some of the controversial chalkings

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Last Saturday - some of the controversial chalkings

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Last Saturday - some of the controversial chalkings

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Last Saturday - some of the controversial chalkings

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Tuesday night general assembly

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Tuesday night general assembly

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Friday Wal-Mart action

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Friday Wal-Mart action

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Friday Wal-Mart action

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Friday night general assembly

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Saturday Bank of America action

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Saturday Bank of America action

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Saturday Bank of America action - homeowner testimony

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Saturday Bank of America action - listening to testimonies

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Sunday kids

Police Harass Peaceful Occupiers in Downtown Riverside

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/248838.php

by Rockero Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 at 3:47 PM

rockero420@yahoo.com

October 16, 2011

RIVERSIDE, California - We are currently in day four of the peaceful occupation of the pedestrian mall of Downtown Riverside. Despite our best efforts at constructive dialogue with all parties, including agents of the police state, cops this morning demonstrated that their negotiations have been in bad faith when they roused us two hours prior to the agreed-upon time. At some point today, we learned that the resistance had taken the bold move of expropriating public space invaded by the financiers to spread a message of truth.

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Approximately 100 people attended yesterday's General Assembly and dinner.

There was a lively debate about the use of chalk to mark the public walkways with our revolutionary slogans. Cops don't want us to do it, some people are willing to comply with them, and others feel that their right to self expression is sacred.

The essence of the debate, however, was the degree to which we are allowing the oppressor to limit our action and cage our minds.

While not discussed as a proposal or counterproposal, the ultimate sense was that while we honor the tradition of reclaiming the walls for revolutionary art and we value the right to self-expression, we need to be selective about our battles, safeguard our presence and the future of the movement. One suggestion that seemed relatively well-received involved "allowing" the use of chalk during our large actions, particularly on the weekends, thereby limiting the number of times the city enters to clean it off.

Some concerns arose in other areas as well, including issues of security, logistics, sustainability, facilitation,and of course, the cops.

A female police officer arrived late at night to "warn" us about the hate crimes that continue to plague Riverside's gay and lesbian community, and that the higher traffic that results from Thursday night's bar scene would create a stronger police presence. Nonetheless, she assured us that she and her partners, who she claimed would be on shift until 8:AM, had no problem with us being here and even sleeping.

Nonetheless, 5:30 AM brought a rude awakening--thankfully by our own peacekeepers and not law enforcement--but they were followed shortly after by the cops, who forced us to get up and remove our bedding.

We reluctantly awoke and made plans to discuss the issue during tonight's general assembly. We are also making plans for a much larger general assembly this Thursday, complete with bold new action proposals, and we invite all those interested in furthering the resistance to corporate domination to join us.

Update from Occupy Riverside Day 12

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/248731.php

by Rockero Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 at 8:34 AM

rockero420@yahoo.com

October 16, 2011

RIVERSIDE (California) - After an event-filled launch of the occupation of Riverside timed to coincide with Saturday's international day of action, just under 100 people of conscience successfully held the pedestrian walkway of the downtown mall, despite police threats of arrest for those determined to sleep in the public thoroughfare.

Preparatory committees began arriving and setting up infrastructure at about 11 Saturday, and crowds began arriving at noon. By 12:PM, approximately 400 occupiers had gathered and began announcing the occupation to passersby with signs and chants. Soon, the inevitable spontaneous marches began, but they had returned in time for a 1:PM orientation. Homeland Security sent two trucks labeled "Federal Preventive Services," whose heavily-equipped members photographed and otherwise attempted to intimidate the nonviolent crowd.

At two, Hannah led a politically-conscious yoga workshop that drew about 15 participants, followed by the legal team's know your rights workshop with Q&A at 2:30. Spontaneous marches continued, and the final teach-in centered around "Economics & Power." Facilitator Kevin emphasized the fundamental economic problem of the appropriation of the surplus value of toilers by their exploiters in the 1%.

At 6:PM the facilitation committee met to finalize the agenda for the general assembly and choose roles for the evening, and at 7, all present convened to make collective decisions as a body. There were between 400-500 present!

During the GA, Food Not Bombs served salad, pasta, rice, yams, beans, potato salad, and other side dishes to grateful participants.

Shortly after the GA, local band Inner Prisms entertained and many political discussions took place.

The tensest moment of the night came at about 11:30, when police came in to "negotiate" with occupiers. They had demanded that nobody set up tents, use sleeping bags, or sleep in the plaza. Nonetheless, defiant revolters had done precisely that, prompting the police incursion. Cops soon realized that creating problem would not behoove them, and retreated for the night.

Sunshine roused us at about 8, and volunteers dropped off coffee and donuts. A schedule for Sunday was posted, listing workshops, committee meetings, outreach opportunities, actions and the general assembly.

The revolution continues.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Occupy Riverside October 3, 2011

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/248421.php

by Rockero Tuesday, Oct. 04, 2011 at 4:03 AM rockero420@yahoo.com

RIVERSIDE (California) - The revolution, having recently broken out in New York, has now begun to spread to other cities. Inspired by our newly-free sisters and brothers in nearby Los Angeles, who recently liberated areas surrounding corruption-filled City Hall, citizens of Riverside met tonight for a general assembly to plan to emancipate areas of their city through occupation and take further action against the 1% of humanity that perpetrates inequality and disgrace.

Occupy Riverside Oct...
occupy_riverside_ga_3oct2011_007.jpg, image/jpeg, 4000x3000

Just after 7:PM, no fewer than 50 concerned citizens, eager to do their part to oppose tyranny, gathered in the shadow of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to discuss the terms of their liberation. According to a show of hands, about 5-10 of us had been at the Los Angeles occupation.

After reading the principles of solidarity and composing an agenda, the people reviewed meeting procedures, including the use of the people's mic and hand gestures.

Then suggestions for committees were taken. The people deliberated these suggestions, folding some groups into others and eventually settling on committees for action, logistics, outreach, security, finance, media, legal, arts, education, and facilitation.

We then began introducing proposals for areas to liberate.

One man suggested the steps of the courthouse, where, every friday, banks auction off homes stolen from families to the highest bidder. The significance of the location was acknowledged by the crowd.

By this time, numbers had grown to about 75. A counterproposal took into consideration the potential consequences of occupying space appropriated by the judicial branch of the illegitimate government, and pointed out that the objective of an occupation was to liberate and hold a space, not to simply visit weely. He pointed out the legal advantages of occupying a space that is already recognized as public property, and suggested we occupy the walkway of the mall in which we were currently standing. (talkenbluez's Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlABdhGidm8)

A friendly amendment was offered: we occupy the plaza not at the Gandhi statue, but a block down, where the presence of a Wells Fargo would serve as the symbol of the economic injustice at the heart of the protest.

A concern was expressed that accusations of identity theft could arise if we were too close to the bank, while another compañera reminded us that all we have to do is point our backs to the bank cameras to let them know that we're not there for that purpose.

It was noted that choosing an encampment site was little more than establishing a base of operations, and did not preclude the possibility of action at the courthouse, or any other future target. The proposal was reformulated to include both the possibility of action at the courthouse as well as a campout on the mall, but nearer to the bank than the symbol of nonviolence.

Prior to making a decision, a questioner asked how many people were actually willing to camp out. Approximately half of the now hundred-or-so raised their hopeful hands. With that encouragement, the crowd continued, ultimately reaching consensus on the proposal.

The meeting continued, but shortly, a woman pointed out that while we had chosen a location, we had not chosen a time to begin the occupation. A discussion ensued as to whether we should refer that decision to committee or decide it together then. The conciliatory proposal, citing the advice of our New York comrades to take our time, was to wait until the logistics committee had met to provide everything necessary for the occupation, and to choose the right time at a subsequent general assembly. The proposal was resoundingly approved.

After some discussion and announcements, including that the Blood Orange Infoshop was also available for the needs of the movement, the meeting adjourned so committees could group up and formulate plans. I was unable to visit all the committees but the ones I did see in action seemed to be doing their best to use a consensus format, even if not all of them had prior experience in doing so.

The Riverside movement has a website, www.occupyriverside.org, a facebook page, a twitter (not sure what it is, sorry), and upcoming meetings. Minutes are up on google docs.

The next general assembly will be held on Thursday (timed to coincide with the artwalk) at 7:PM in the aisle down the middle of the mall in Downtown Riverside, just in front of the outlet of the finance cartel Wells Fargo. Please check the indicated websites for pre-GA committee meetings and other related activities.

Despite some issues with facilitation and accessibility to all communities, setbacks which are to be expected any time a new era dawns, the people were able to discuss and agree collectively during the general assembly, and then, during the committee meetings, find ways to contribute individually.

Like the Los Angeles occupation, the attendees constituted both seasoned activists both young and old, as well as a outburst of individuals heretofore unaffiliated with political action.

The general spirit of the Occupy Wall Street movement, the spirit of love, hope, inspiration, solidarity, patience and redemption, was felt at this gathering, but was not as clearly articulated in words spoken or written as it had been in Los Angeles and seems to have been in New York.

But that, like much else, is changing as we learn, and we have all exhibitied commitment to that learning.

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23 de septiembre--Día de acción

by Rockero Friday, Sep. 23, 2011 at 1:17 PM

rockero420@yahoo.com

Se nos acerca una fecha bastante importante para la historia del radicalismo mexicano. En esta temporada siempre se conmemoran momentos históricos revolucionarios como el Grito de Dolores y el 2 de octubre. El primero se ha vuelto una fecha de borrachería y fanfarría nacionalista, mientras la segunda se conmemora solemnemente entre sectores de la izquierda.

En cambio, el 23 de octubre es una d?a no de ceremonia, sino de acción.

24 septiembre 1906 - fecha escogida para el inicio de la revolución por líderes del Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM) en exilio en St. Louis, Missouri. No obstante, los comunicados del PLM son interceptados por los gobiernos de México y de los EEUU y la revolución se atasca.

24 septiembre 1907 - Ricardo Flores Magón, Librado Rivera, y Antonio Villareal salen de la cárcel de Los Ángeles, California, donde estaban encerrado por supuestamente haber "resistido arresto." En verdad, fueron detenidos por el sicario Thomas Furlong, agente de Porfirio Díaz, por sus actividades revolucionarias. Ese mismo día los vuelven a arrestar bajo cargos federales por supuestamente haber violado la Ley de Neutralidad. De nuevo, el arresto es otro caso descarado de represión política.

23 septiembre 1911 - publicación del Manifiesto del Partido Liberal Mexicano, que declara la primacía de los derechos humanos, incluso los de la mujer y respeto al pueblo indígena, y exige un final al capitalismo y autogestión en los campos y las fábricas.(http://espora.org/biblioweb/manifiesto23sep.html) 23 septiembre 1941 - primera manifestación laboral en pro de la autogestión en las industrias nacionalizadas. "Más de 200 obreros de la Cooperativa de Vestuario y Equipo (ubicada en Tacubaya y que era en realidad la fábrica estatal que elaboraba los uniformes del ejército y la policía) se habían puesto en huelga en demanda de mejores salarios y condiciones laborales. Pasaron las semanas y no se resolvían sus peticiones por lo que, el 21 de septiembre de 1941, decidieron dirigirse a la casa del presidente Ávila Camacho para solicitarle que interviniera para resolver el conflicto. La respuesta presidencial fue contundente: ordenó que la tropa abriera fuego contra quienes se habían atrevido a paralizar la confección de los uniformes verdes y azules y, más aún, a molestarlo en su domicilio en la colonia Del Valle (aún no se instalaba en Los Pinos porque estaba "modernizando" la casa). Nueve obreros murieron, entre ellos el secretario general del sindicato (que era comunista), y 20 más quedaron heridos." (http://www.lafogata.org/003latino/latino2/mex_represion.htm)

23 septiembre 1965 - asalto al cuartel del ejército porfirista del municipio de Madera, Chihuahua. El maestro Arturo Gámiz mobiliza la Unión General de Obreros y Campesinos de México para una serie de atentados contra la familia Ibarra, familia rica acusada de asesinar a dos campesinos en un conflicto sobre 18 mil hectáreas de tierra. Pablo Gómez Ramírez, médico y maestro en la primaria Flores Magón de la comunidad rural de Saucillo, Chihuahua, era otro dirigente del grupo guerrillero que atacó el cuartel.

Los sobrevivientes del atentado fallido, el "Movimiento 23 de Septiembre," continúan su lucha en la sierra entre Sonora y Chihuahua bajo el mando de Oscar González hasta 1968. (En 1966, algunos de ellos se trasladan a Guerrero para incorporarse al Partido de los Pobres con Lucio Cabañas.)

15 marzo 1973 - organización que aglutina las vanguardias político-militares restantes después de la matanza de Tlatelolco adopta el nombre "Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre." Se esfuerza por organizar la clase obrera en una liga independiente del Partido Comunista Mexicano (PCM) y cuenta con "cantidades de adherentes a lo largo de la república, principalmente en áreas urbanas." En las universidades, la liga se organiza en autodefensa armada en contra de los "porros" pagados por los funcionarios del PRI.

23 septiembre 1993 - estallido de la huelga de la minera Sosa Texcoco en Ecatepec, Estado de México. Después de varios años del paro, los obreros regocijan la victoria.

¿Viven aún los rasgos de este patrimonio? ¿Exisitirá aún la memoria histórica de la comunidad luchadora, que recuerda a sus propixs héroes y conmemora las fechas de su propia gloria? ¿Resurgirá algún día el espíritu de autonomía acompañada por la voluntad de defenderla?

Downtown March for Workers' Rights

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/03/245248.php

Saturday, March 26, 2011

LOS ANGELES - Approximately 20,000 marchers demonstrated their support for unions and the right to collectively bargain.

LOS ANGELES - Approximately 20,000 marchers demonstrated their support for unions and the right to collectively bargain.

If it has seemed like labor is weak lately, taking one on the chin in Wisconsin in particular, the tone of the downtown march was defiant, focused, and morally outraged.

The Teamsters, SEIU, UFCW, LiUNA, steelworkers, education workers, farmworkers, hotel workers, immigrants, wobblies, workers from many other sectors, organized and unorganized, all took the streets of Los Angeles for the day.

Their solid-colored union t-shirts created a visual rainbow of worker power as they proceeded from the convention center to Pershing Square.

Their enormous banners, mass-produced signs, trucks and buses, water bottles were proof that despite only representing only 11.9 percent of the workforce¹, they are still able to organize money when necessary.

Several unions crossed paths with their exploiters along the march route, including the food and commercial workers (UFCW), who faced down one of the Ralph's that is refusing to negotiate a contract, and hotel workers from Luxe. Workers took advantage of the opportunity to decry their bosses' abuses and lack of cooperation. Workers under the thumb of both corporations are currently working without contracts.^2, ³

The march brought out the normal activist crowd, but the unions brought out many faces that don't generally take to the streets in political action. I ran into people I know I'd never see at a peace march or immigrant rights rally.

But imagine if their unions turned them out for those causes as well!

School marching bands played, many chants frilled the air, and some youngsters brought back some of the old union hymns.

The recent swearing in of Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, coupled with California's being the home to more of the nation's union workers than any other state, virtually guarantee that no anti-union action as overt as Scott Walker's in Wisconsin will take place here.

But unions are right to be worried. Declining membership, being squeezed out of the private sector, and anti-union attitudes have all contributed to the labor movement's deterioration since the McCarthyist 50s, but particularly since the Reagan era. A blow like Wisconsin could never have been struck without the last 40 years of the slow debilitation of the unions after the incredible build-up of the workers' movement in the first half of the 20th century.

The corporations have been fighting a century long war of attrition, while we organizers have been either too-focused on the day-to-day, too-focused on the distant Revolution, or too willing to believe the myth of our own weakness.

The economy is but one indication that the current system hangs by but a thread. The environment is another. It's time we realized our own potential, our own power, and took advantage of the perpetual crisis to make a lasting change through overcoming--or at least balancing out--the overconcentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few and redistributing them among the many.

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1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Union Members Summary." January 21, 2011. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

2. Hotel Workers Rising. "Luxe Hotel Workers Strike in Downtown Los Angeles." January 13, 2011. http://www.hotelworkersrising.org/update.php?city_id=257

3. Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. "March and Rally for Our Communites, Our Jobs." http://launionaflcio.org/pdf/110211-March-26-Flyer_Fed.pdf