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2010 February

Monthly Archives: February 2010

‘The Breach’

Rhodessa, dressed in an orange prison jumper from South Africa (orange the universal prison attire, like a brand), appears with a whip. All the sensations: cold, hard, eerie darkness, unfamiliar sounds, smells, give the audience plenty to contemplate, especially those in the first two rows where the whip spinning in Rhodessa’s hand over our heads, which she then flicks, we feel, too close to our faces as its breeze and the sting of its impact hits the ground again too close for comfort. But this theme – the Black holocaust – is it supposed to be an idea that brings ease?

Havana harvest: Organic agriculture in Cuba’s capital

On a recent visit we learned that Cuba has been raising its fruits and vegetables organically for more than 15 years, using worm and vegetable compost and integrated and natural pest management to raise crops for its people. In the process they have decentralized agricultural production, tripled farmers’ average income, built stronger communities and shown the way to living well after the end of cheap oil.

The Bay View’s First Amendment Campaign: an update

As reported in previous issues of the Bay View, the Bay View, its readers, the community and those of us behind enemy lines had been working with attorney Anthony D. Prince to develop a litigation strategy that would address the state’s suppression of legitimate historical and cultural expressions by relegating those expressions and beliefs to the realms of gang activity.

Leaking Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shutdown ordered as Obama pledges $50 billion for...

In the depths of a near-Depression, the Vermont Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly for health and safety over jobs and tax revenue when it chose not to renew Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant’s operating license when it expires in 2012.

Blacks working in Black communities: a revolutionary idea!

No notice has been paid to the root causes of violence in the Black community. On CBS5, I suggested unemployment in the Black community is directly related to Black people being locked out of the public works construction and that white people might be in danger working in a Black community without a diversified crew.

The earthquake takes Port au Prince back to the Stone Age

"Downtown Port au Prince, Haiti, looks like it was hit with an atomic bomb. People live in makeshift tents and damaged cave-like buildings. It was cold blooded to see how they are being done by the international community. Nobody cares whether they live or die," writes JR. He is looking for venues for Haiti report-backs. Call him right away if you can help: (510) 689-7964.

Belizeans feel Haiti’s pain

The People’s National Party of Belize organized a Kayak for Haiti Kayakathon to raise funds for the victims of the quake. Despite the inclement weather, Kayak for Haiti was a success because the target was met and surpassed. The total amount raised was $1,404. The money will go to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund.

Filmmaker Angela Carroll on her new film ‘Angela Y. Davis: Radical Pedagogy’

Who IS Angela Davis? Don't miss Angela Carroll's new film, “Angela Y. Davis: Radical Pedagogy,” screening Wednesday, March 10, 1-3 p.m. in the Richard Oakes Room, Cesar Chavez Student Union, SF State University, and 6-7 p.m. and 7-8 p.m., at the Jazz Heritage Center, 1330 Fillmore St., San Francisco; Friday, March 12, 8-9 p.m. and 9-10 p.m., also at the Jazz Heritage Center; and Thursday, April 1, 6:30 p.m., at Barrios Unidos, 1817 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

7,000 Oakland residents face starvation and homelessness – 67 percent are Black

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors proposes to cut General Assistance (GA) beginning April 1, 2010, to only three months of every year to thousands of unemployed workers living in poverty. Pack the press conference, rally and meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to protest these cuts on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m., 1221 Oak St., Oakland.

Minister of Information JR is FREE!

Today at the Alameda County Courthouse, made famous by the “Free Huey!” rallies held on the steps by the Black Panther Party, all charges were dismissed against POCC Minister of Information JR Valrey! Join POCC Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and Pam and Ramona Africa for a Power to the People Victory Celebration tonight, Monday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m., Black Dot Cafe, 1195 Pine St., West Oakland – YOU are invited!

Rwandan opposition parties condemn grenade attacks in Kigali

If Rwanda's three viable opposition parties are allowed to register and participate in free and fair elections, they have a good chance, in coalition, of defeating Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Party. Those three parties condemned the Feb. 19 deadly grenade attacks in Kigali, calling them “an attempt to instill fear in the population” prior to Rwanda’s August presidential election.

Solidarity with Oscar Grant’s family from the families of other police murder victims

These short but moving statements of solidarity with the family of Oscar Grant come from parents whose children were also murdered by police. Let's spread the word to every mayor, city council and police department in the country that the days when police could murder young Black men - or anyone - with impunity are over!

My thoughts on ‘Showdown in Desire: The Black Panthers take a stand in New...

Black History Month Special: "Big Man," a founder of the Black Panther Party and the first editor of the Black Panther newspaper, reviews an excellent new book telling the story of the shootout in September 1970 between the Panthers and the New Orleans PD in the Desire public housing development through the words of the people who lived it.

Three in a million: Voices from the Haitian camps

I think it is going to get worse for us in the camps. We need tents and food. We need water and school and jobs. We need help to find a place to stay. The rain is coming soon. Water is going to come and our babies will lose their lives.

Philadelphia raises goals for Blacks in construction

Taking a first step toward “creating an economy of inclusion,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has unveiled his administration’s long anticipated Economic Opportunity Strategic Plan. By July 2011, the mayor said, he would like to see 25 percent of the city’s spending on contracts going to disadvantaged businesses, including 14 percent for African-Americans.

SF 8: Paying the costs

Pack the courtroom Thursday, Feb. 18, 9 a.m., in Dept. 22, 850 Bryant St., San Francisco, to support the only remaining SF 8 defendant, Francisco Torres, who will be in the courtroom! Dismiss Cisco’s case, a 36-year-old case based on torture!

Sean Bell’s killer cops will not be charged by U.S. Justice Dept.

The U.S. Justice Dept. refuses to charge the NYPD officers who murdered Sean Bell on his wedding day in 2006. We can’t let this happen again; it’s ON US to get Oscar Grant’s killer cops convicted of murder! Minister of Information JR is hosting two events on two days, tonight in West Oakland and tomorrow in Los Angeles.

Jounen jèn, Days of Remembrance

Friday, Feb. 12, one month after the earthquake, the first day of Jounen jèn, the days of mourning and remembrance, and we walked through the twisted iron and dusty shards of glass of the shattered National Cathedral. It was as though the world had ended.

Minister JR from Haiti, Part 2: The feel of a plantation

An old school relentless plantation-style colonialism governs the country currently through mostly white non-governmental organizations just as well as through armies like those of the U.S. and U.N. that control the flow of resources. - MULTIMEDIA BONUS: Listen to Davey D's interview with Minister of Information JR immediately after his return from Haiti.

Army to discharge single mom rather than court-martial her

On Thursday, Feb. 11, Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson, a single mother of an infant son, was informed she would be granted an administrative discharge from the Army. “I don’t know why they didn’t give her an honorable discharge,” her mother said. “Other single parents they’ve discharged got one. … it’s going to be a hard situation for her.”