Category Archives: Adventures in Hacktivism

Video: The Fall Of Bushville

3 Replies

Here’s footage of the June 3rd eviction of “Bushville,” an encampment of 30 homeless families on the outskirts of Jersey City, NJ, who wished to make a statement about the Shrub’s policies and how they are slowly killing American families with the lack of affordable housing in this country. They feel that he is wasting billions of dollars on this senseless war in Iraq while millions of families across the country are wasting away.

The Fall Of Bushville (Quicktime – Small – 29 MB)

“The poor in this country are dying under the policies of George W. Bush, and frankly we can’t afford to be invisible. Our lives are at stake here as poor and homeless families across this country and George W. is responsible for that and we can’t allow it to continue because our very lives are at stake.”

Also mirrored here in my own archive. (For safekeeping)
(Note: this won’t be up for a few minutes)

The Fall Of Bushville (Newsbrief)

Let Congress Know You Don’t Oppose Gay Marriage

1 Reply

This just in from my pal Bobby Lilly.
Bobby’s trying to get the word out about the Million for Marriage.org website and petition in favor of same sex marriages.
It’s all from the Human Rights Campaign.
From Bobby: Got this request and am passing it on to friends I think might support the issue. So, if you haven’t signed the petition yet, please use the link they offer in the body of the message below and maybe pass it on to a friend.
Click the following link to sign a petition that will be delivered to Congress in favor of same sex marriage:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/3daiyNY1FBPx/

****************************
Human Rights Campaign/MillionForMarriage.org
Let’s get to a half-million by May 17

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/37aiyNY1FBP3/
****************************
Dear Bobby,
In just 10 days, same-sex couples will be issued marriage licenses for the first time in Massachusetts. As the newlyweds celebrate their marriages, we know that our ultra-conservative opponents will use this historic moment to viciously attack them and all GLBT families.
We – all of us who support marriage equality – must demonstrate our strength and unity at this critical time. Here’s one important way you can help: Right now, almost 450,000 people have signed the Million for Marriage petition. By May 17th, we’d like to get to 500,000 – a half-million people.
Please, take a minute to think of one more person that you could persuade to stand up for equality. Click here to send them a message right now:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/37aiyNY1FBP3/
Or forward this e-mail to your friends and ask them to click the following link to sign the petition:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/3daiyNY1FBPx/
Our voices – 500,000 loud and strong — will help counter the right-wing extremists’ wave of fear and lies, and will give hope and support to the couples about to marry in Massachusetts. Thank you, as always, for your actions today.
Many thanks,
Cheryl A. Jacques President
**************************** (c)2004, Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 Phone: 202/628-4160 TTY: 202/216-1572 Fax: 202/347-5323, membership@hrc.org

Enemy Combatant Protest In San Francisco On Tuesday

Leave a reply

Hope I can make it. I wanted to let you guys know about it.

CAN THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE SIMPLY DISAPPEAR BY PRESIDENTIAL ORDER?
NO TO THE “ENEMY COMBATANT” STATUS!
WHEN: TUESDAY, APRIL 20TH, 12 NOON
WHERE: FEDERAL BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO, GOLDEN GATE & POLK
WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE DEMONSTRATION AT THE SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON D.C., WHERE ORAL ARGUMENTS WILL BE HEARD ON BEHALF OF GUANTANAMO BAY PRISONERS BEING HELD AS “ENEMY COMBATANTS”
Press contacts: 510-610-7070 or 510-684-8270
General information: Larry, 510 684-8270
Bay Area participants and endorsers:
Bob Kearney of ACLU of No. California
American Muslim Voice
Blue Triangle Network
California Interfaith Alliance For Prison Reform
Cecilia Chang of Justice for New Americans*
Global Exchange
Grace Shimizu, Japanese American Community organizer
Gray Panthers
Stacy Tolchin, National Lawyers Guild, Immigration Committee
Not In Our Name
Riva Enteen, Chair KPFA Board*
Refuse and Resist
Reverend Michael Yoshi, Buena Vista Methodist Church*
Sara Olson, Indep. Radio Journalist, author of “Under Attack” 30 min. audio documentary
about attacks on the Muslim, Arab, S. Asian community
Shashi Dalal, Board of Trustees, *Fellowship Church
Rev. Dorsey O. Blake, Sr. Pastor
* Organizations mentioned for identification purposes.
Below is a national call and a list of national endorsers for actions
at the Supreme Court in opposition to the use of Guantanamo Bay as a torture center/prison camp and against the ability of the president to designate persons, including citizens, as in the cases of Yaser Hamdi and Jose Padilla, as ‘enemy combatants’ and then lock them away incommunicado indefinitely without charges or judicial review:
Can the Rights of People Simply Disappear by Presidential Order?
What does it mean when the President of the United States can on his own designate a citizen in the U.S. as an “enemy combatant” and order the military to hold that person incommunicado, indefinitely, and without charges? The U.S. Supreme Court is now deciding whether the courts even have the right to question the President’s action.
What does it mean when the U.S. military internationally can literally snatch people off the street, designate them as “enemy combatants,” and assert that they are beyond the reach of either U.S. or international law? Many are transported to a facility under total U.S. control and funded by Congressional appropriations, where they are held incommunicado, indefinitely, without charges, and some are threatened with trials before a military commission that falls short of basic standards of justice.
If the Supreme Court upholds these actions, it will condone the President’s claim of virtually unlimited “wartime powers” without a formal declaration of war by the Congress, and with no or extremely limited oversight by the courts or the Congress.
On April 20 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the President’s alleged right to create a “law free zone” at the Guant

Protest Against “Enemy Combatant” Designation In Front Of The Supreme Court On April 20

Leave a reply

This just in from:
Amnesty International USA
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Blue Triangle Network
First Amendment Foundation
Guantanamo Human Rights Commission
National Committee Against Repressive Legislation (NCARL)
National Lawyers Guild
Refuse & Resist!
Solidarity USA
Communities United Against Police Brutality (Minneapolis)
Greensboro Justice Fund
Elaine Cassel, Civil Liberties Watch
Stephen Rohde, Civil liberties lawyer
Website: http://www.nlg.org/eccases/

On April 20 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the President’??s alleged right to create a ‘??law free zone’?? at the Guantanamo detention center in Cuba. And on April 28, the Court will hear oral arguments on the President’??s asserted right to designate citizens as ‘??enemy combatants,’?? hold them at the U.S. Navy base in Charleston, SC, and deny them the ability to challenge the lawfulness of their detention.
We believe that the President cannot be allowed to create a ‘??legal Black Hole’?? into which people are dropped with no recourse to the courts or to international law. Among us we hold many varied views on how and why this situation has arisen and what is ultimately needed to ensure justice. But we all agree that this dangerous new presidentially-designated category of ‘??enemy combatants’?? who have no legal rights is unjust, illegal, and immoral, and cannot be allowed to stand.
The silence over this perilous issue must be broken, and public opposition must be manifested. Join us in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 20 and April 28 to declare a resounding NO! Legally permitted, non-violent demonstrations will occur on both days from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm with a program of speakers beginning at 11:am.
Our future and the future of hundreds of anonymous detainees now hang in the balance. This is a watershed event in history. What is at stake is just how much the President will be allowed to get away with. Your silence will be taken as assent.
To endorse this call, e-mail eccases@nlg.org.

Continue reading →

Bake Back The White House in 2004

1 Reply

Move On.org’s PAC is organizing bake sales all across the country to raise money for the Kerry campaign.
This announcement got me all teary eyed for some reason. Throwing bake sales for democracy in an attempt to at least do something. It’s beautiful.
You hear us Mr. Shrub sir?
We may be broke, but there are more of us than there are of you and your corporate fat cats.
We’re gonna bake sale your ass right out of the White House.

President Bush presents himself as a man of the people, but a look at his fundraising shows otherwise. Over $95 million of his money has come in the form of bundles of $2000 checks from high-rolling CEOs and lobbyists.
So this week, we’re holding a fundraiser that will highlight the contrast between Bush’s big-money supporters and the hundreds of thousands of small donors on our side. On Saturday, April 17, MoveOn PAC will hold the world’s largest bake sale — an event which will show the voters and the media that while Bush has the millionaire vote locked up, we’ve got the grassroots on our side.
MoveOn members around the country will hold Bake Sales for Democracy in their neighborhoods to raise some dough, have some fun, and support our campaign to take back the White House and Congress and elect John Kerry. Sign up here to find a bake sale near you:

http://action.moveonpac.org/bakesale/
Or, to hold your own bake sale, go to:

http://action.moveonpac.org/bakesale/new.html

Continue reading →

Tell Ralph Nader Not To Run In The Election

26 Replies

Update 8:33 am 2/22/04 – Damn. He’s gonna run as an Independent.
Oh well. Let’s hope nobody cares.
Update 4:50pm 2/21/04: Nader will be
announcing his plans tomorrow on Meet the Press (8 am CBS). (Yes, I’ll be recording it. I’ll try to get it up in the morning quick-like. Just play back any old tape of him from 2000. He’s saying the same thing. I’m not going to promote him any by re-running the footage.)
I just sent this letter to Ralph Nader’s exploratory committee.
The email is info@naderexplore04.org, in case you want to let them know what you think. Please do.

Dear Ralph (and his committee),
Please don’t do this guys.
I can’t believe you would all risk the safety of our country and the world, by doing anything that could jeopardize removing President Bush from power this year.
Even though I have mixed feelings about his not pulling out the day before the election in 2000, I’ve been defending Ralph over the last few months, and telling people that he eventually would come out on the side of the Democrats this year in order to help secure the election — because he realizes what’s at stake.
We simply can’t afford to fragment the votes against Bush this time.
If Ralph runs in this election this time, I will have to question his ulterior motives for doing so. No “greater good” can ever come from such a thing that can only do damage to the movement in the short term.
If Ralph runs in this election this time, to me, he will have let his country down. (Again.)
I hope you guys will do the right thing.
Thanks for listening.
Lisa Rein
http://onlisareinsradar.com

Continue reading →

Come To The Protest/Press Conference Wednesday At Noon In San Francisco

Leave a reply

The schmuks running this country are about to do it all over again. They are requiring a second round of immigrant special registrations.
Incredible.
Wish I had more time to elaborate. But I’ll just see you at noon on Wednesday.

Refuse & Resist has endorsed the opposition to the special INS registrations – has part of taking on the whole reactionary agenda! Please get your friends and co workers to come out on Wed Nov 19th – Support our Arab, Muslims and South Asian brothers and sisters!
Remember what happened in World War 2 to the Japanese Americans – what would you have done then, what will you do now?
TAKING A STAND AGAINST SPECIAL RE-REGISTRATION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003 BICE (INS) BUILDING, WASHINGTON AND SANSOME, San Francisco 11 AM TO 1 PM (Press conference at 12 noon).
The Dept. of “Homeland Security” Special Re-registrations of men and boys from 24 mainly Muslim countries has already begun again this month. Last year special registration meant humiliation, detentions and brutality for many of the nearly 90,000 who came in to register. This program has created fear, anxiety, frustration and despair in the Arab and Muslim communities, causing great distress to wives, children and relatives as reported by the American Muslim Voice nationwide hotline. Last year, registerees were fingerprinted, photographed, and had to turn over bankcards, social security cards, driver’s licenses, credit cards and other information. Every time they left the country they were required to get an exit stamp and re-register upon return. And in the end, about 13,000 men are facing deportation proceedings! The pettiest of visa violations, even those caused by INS incompetence are now tearing families apart.
Now the same people who registered last year are being registered again.
Last year the protest of Iranians in Los Angeles in December and opposition in the streets in January across the country, brought the reality of this ugly program to light. These actions drew attention to the fact that the 1940s Alien Registration Act foreshadowed the round up and detention of 120,000 Japanese Americans. Registration also preceded the round up of Jews in Europe. This year, as the ACLU has pointed out, the secrecy surrounding registration has all the markings of a TRAP, by which those who do not realize they have to register or miss a deadline will be subject to deportation. The Blue Triangle Network in close association with American Muslim Voice and many other organizations is calling for a rally and press conference Wednesday, Nov. 19 to denounce special re-registration, demand an end to it, and stand in solidarity with people subjected to it. Please join this effort and PASS THE WORD.