Thursday, March 18, 2010

HOORAY: CARRIE IS FREE

Carrie was released today! The US Attorney unexpectedly filed a motion stating that her testimony was no longer needed, and now she’s out of jail and on her way back home. She’s excited to finally be free, and wants to express her gratitude to everyone for their support throughout this process.

Thanks everyone for having shown so much solidarity over the past four months of Carrie’s incarceration. We’re relieved to finally have her back, and want to invite everyone to the SCSC dinner tomorrow to celebrate her return. Join us in welcoming Carrie home, and to discuss legal updates around Scott’s case.

When: 3/19, 6:30-8pm
Where: PPNA Building, 821 E 35th

Joyfully,
the SCSC

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

IT MAY NOT BE THE REVOLUTION, BUT IT MAY BE THE NEXT BEST THING

I plan to take it easy the next few days preparing for and watching the NCAA tournament. GO JAYHAWKS!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFMcKPWj4RAa6HvECS9qUc3iOTertUiVZlTLdCmtr5YvsuHQEvs1FQ5wN58xrpkrmQCxTSchEPDAKhEAnEXBfcz340HjFJkdrXs-QJAVFvP2EBMdI-phNuvkgcOICPZYlEah66w/s400/Fear+The+Hawk.png

A NEW INTIFADA?

A third intifada in the making?

 

Israel notorious decisions to just keep on building in East Jerusalem and the occupied territories returned Palestinians to the streets all across West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem in anger. There have been dozens of Palestinians arrested and/or injured.

In Gaza, leaders of Hamas suggested that all Palestinians should engage in a third Intifada. Palestinian Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Ahmad Bahar called on the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, to respond to Tuesday's clashes in East Jerusalem over access to holy sites.

"The policies of the Netanyahu government are nothing but ethnic cleansing and they constitute the strongest existing incitement for a third in intifadah" said the Israeli Arab MP in the Knesset, Hanin Zuabi, speaking to 'Haaretz' and confirming the fears expressed by Palestinians in the context of the inauguration of the synagogue of Hourva a few hundred meters from the Al-Aqsa mosque and by the Israeli settlement policies in East Jerusalem. "Anyone building settlements in Jerusalem is digging a grave for peace" echoed another Arab MP in the Knesset.

According to Haaretz nine Israeli security officers were hurt over the course of the day. Eight were wounded by stones thrown at them, and another was shot in his hand after a protester opened fire in his direction.

The following is from the Maan News Agency.

Violence continues across East Jerusalem, West Bank

Jerusalem - Ma'an - An Israeli police officer was shot in the hand north of Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, an official said.

The unidentified officer was taken to a hospital in the French Hill neighborhood, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

Rosenfeld told Ma'an that police cordoned off the area, in the Ras Al-Amoud district north of Jerusalem, while searching for the suspect.

Over 91 Palestinians were injured, with 60 detained, as discord continued throughout East Jerusalem and the Old City on Tuesday.

Ma'an's Jerusalem correspondent said 40 of the injured sustained rubber bullet wounds, fired by Israeli forces, with seven sustaining injuries to the eye. The reporter added that an international journalist was injured in Eisawiyyah, an East Jerusalem neighborhood.

The main entry to Eisawiyyah was closed off by Israeli border guards with cement blocs, preventing residents from entering or leaving, the reporter added.

Rosenfeld said 14 Israeli officers were injured during confrontations, with four being transferred to hospital for medical treatment. He said disturbances were largely concentrated in Wadi Al-Joz and Eisawwiyah with the Old City remaining "quiet due to a strong police presence" in the area. Extensive security measures have been implemented throughout the Old City for the fifth consecutive day, including an age restriction.

The spokesman confirmed the road block in place in Eisawwiyah, describing the measure as temporary to prevent disturbances from "masked Palestinians."

More than 100 Palestinians were reported injured across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, medics said.

In Abu Dis, an East Jerusalem town, 17 injuries were reported since confrontations and protests began early Tuesday morning. Students threw stones toward Israeli forces in the area, burning tires. Locals said forces responded with rubber-coated bullet fire and tear-gas canisters to disperse demonstrators.

Witnesses said a 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, and was allegedly beat before he was detained. Those injured were reportedly transferred to the Emergency Clinic in Abu Dis to undergo treatment for their injuries.

Clashes erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli paramilitary and police forces across the occupied Palestinian territories on Tuesday morning, following a day of tensions over access to religious sites.

Dozens of Palestinians were injured and many were detained in the ongoing confrontations. Two Israeli officers were also reported injured.

The violence was centered in occupied East Jerusalem and its environs, namely the Shufat refugee camp, Eisaweyah, Ras Al-Amoud, and Wadi Al-Jouz area of Silwan, as well as the Old City.

Hundreds of young Palestinians attacked a checkpoint at the entrance of the Shufat camp, north of Jerusalem, throwing stones at Israeli forces stationed nearby, Ma'an's Jerusalem correspondent reported. He said special police forces were called to the scene and fired tear-gas canisters, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets at the demonstrators. Two young Palestinians were detained, he added.

Israeli forces tightened a blockade on the Old City, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, continuing a week-long trend. Police were seen preventing women from entering the mosque.

Police were also seen chasing protesters in Wadi Al-Joz while a helicopter hovered above. Young Palestinians lit fireworks in the Old City as Israeli forces moved in. Three were detained there, among them Iyad At-Tawil, 12, as well as his mother and aunt.

In Qalandiya refugee camp, north of the city, hundreds of students clashed with Israeli forces who fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators. A 15-year-old student was detained there, onlookers said. Clashes also erupted at the Qalandiya checkpoint, an Israeli security official said.

Palestinian citizens of Israel were prevented from visiting Jerusalem. Israeli forces stopped a bus arriving from Majd Al-Kroom, alleging that the passengers were en route to the demonstrations. They detained a 39-year-old man accused of striking a police officer.

Israeli forces were filmed preventing journalists from covering the events in Eisaweyah, telling a live Al-Jazeera broadcast that the measures were for the reporters' own protection.

Meanwhile, rallies were held across the Gaza Strip in solidarity with Jerusalem, with clashes reported across the West Bank.

Nablus

An-Najah University in Nablus suspended classes for one hour at 12pm, ordered by the student senate.

Head of the senate, Makram Daraghma, said students marched throughout the halls of the university in support of Muslim and Christian sites throughout the occupied Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, in the village of Huwara, south of Nablus, locals told Ma'an a peaceful student march was dispersed by Israeli forces using riot dispersal means, including tear-gas canisters and sound grenades. No injuries were reported.

An Israeli military spokesman said the incident began when Palestinians began throwing rocks at three civilian cars near the illegal Yizthar settlement and described the incident as a riot involving 20 Palestinians. The spokesman confirmed the use of riot dispersal means by Israeli forces.

Hebron

A number of Hebronites suffered tear-gas inhalation and suffocation when Israeli forces deployed tear-gas canisters in the village of Beit Ummar, northern Hebron. Ma'an's Hebron correspondent said 15 military vehicles entered the village and one Israeli soldier sustained an injury to the ear when a rock was thrown at him, receiving treatment at the site.

The spokesman confirmed that a border guard was injured and said dozens of Palestinians began hurling rocks during a "violent and illegal riot" in the village, adding that riot dispersal means were used by Israel forces.

In Hebron's city center, a number of clashes between Palestinians throwing stones and Israeli forces, again responding with riot dispersal means. Locals said this included sound grenandes and the firing of rubber-coated bullets, reporting no injuries.

Four Palestinians were detained during one of the clashes, and were reportedly beat by Israeli forces, before being taken to an unknown location. The military spokesman said three Palestinians involved in the incident were detained and transferred to the custody of Israeli police, adding that "no unusual events" took place during the detention.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army spokesman confirmed that, over the past two hours, several incidents took place across Hebron's city center, describing them as riots, with Israeli forces responding with riot dispersal means.

ONE HUNDRED ARRESTED IN MONTREAL MARCH AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY

A hundred or so anti-police brutality demonstrators were arrested in Montreal yesterday during the 14th annual March Against Police Brutality. Hey, that's less than last year, but still means about 10% of those marching got themselves arrested for their efforts.

The cops had declared the gathering unlawful shortly after beginning yesterday evening.

The march coincided with the International Day Against Police Brutality as well as a coroner's inquest into the fatal shooting of an unarmed man, Fredy Villanueva, by a Montreal police officer in August 2008.

The following is from the corporate media's McGill Tribune.

Police arrest 100 during March Against Police Brutality

Protestors, journalists detained for hours on STM buses

Matt Chesser | Published: 3/16/10

Protestors clashed with Montreal Police at a demonstration on Monday evening. Some launched fireworks at officers on horseback.
Media Credit: Adam Scotii, Alice Walker, Evelyne Bedard
Protestors clashed with Montreal Police at a demonstration on Monday evening. Some launched fireworks at officers on horseback.

The 14th annual March Against Police Brutality was declared unlawful shortly after beginning yesterday evening, as police used mass arrests to quell the demonstration in Montreal's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood.

The Montreal Police Department (SPVM) arrested 100 protestors. Seventeen were charged with criminal offences, while 83 were apprehended for violating municipal bylaws, detained for three to four hours, given a ticket, and then released at random locations across the city. Police began making mass arrests of protestors and journalists - for participating in an unlawful protest - around an hour after the march began.

"We declared the protest illegal after some protestors started shooting fireworks at police," said Sergeant Ian Lafrenière, media relations supervisor for the SPVM. "Two times, before any arrests were made, we read a statement in English and in French saying that the protest was illegal and that people had to leave."

The Montreal police would not confirm the number of officers deployed to manage the march, but there appeared to be well over 100. The SPVM also used at least a dozen undercover police officers who posed as protestors, wearing black scarves, goggles, and large winter jackets to conceal body armour. These officers made a number of individual arrests and were involved in a brief fight about 15 minutes into the march, when they were identified as undercover police officers by a group of demonstrators.

Unlike last year's march, in which protestors caused over $200,000 in property damage, demonstrators did little harm to the mostly residential area. Aside from tipping over mailboxes, dragging garbage cans into the street, and throwing paint, the only major incident occurred when protestors set a dumpster on fire on St. Germain Street.

"The outcome was generally a positive one," Lafrenière said. "No one was injured on either side, and the total amount of damage was not nearly as bad as it was last year. I would have preferred a peaceful protest, but that might be dreaming."

Protest declared unlawful

Approximately 900 people attended the march, which began just after 5:30 p.m. near the Pie-IX metro station at Olympic Stadium. The crowd made their way southeast on Boulevard Pie-IX and into a residential area along Ontario Street, though the marchers changed direction repeatedly, presumably in order to disorient police.

The Collective Opposed to Police Brutality, the Montreal group who planned the event, refused to inform the police of the protest route before the demonstration began. According to the SPVM, there are approximately 1,500 protests in Montreal every year, and the March Against Police Brutality is the only one in which organizers refuse to inform the police of their demonstration route beforehand.

"[Most protest groups] want to make sure that we close streets, and they want to make sure that no one gets injured," Lafrenière said. "This is the same problem we have every year [with the Collective], though. They don't want to share the route - they say that legally they don't have any obligation to do so."

Police declared the protest an unlawful assembly at 6:05 p.m. after demonstrators clashed with riot police at the corner of Ontario Street and Valois Avenue. Protestors threw paint bombs and food at officers with riot shields and shot fireworks at those on horseback. Riot police responded by shooting offenders with a paintball gun in an attempt to mark them for future arrest.

Moments later a similar confrontation occurred at Raymond-Prefontaine Park as police executed a pincer manoeuvre that split the protest into two groups. Police charged demonstrators from both ends of Hochelaga Street, scattering demonstrators into separate groups and leading many involved to abandon the protest.

Police began making mass arrests moments later, as the larger protest group headed up Prefontaine Street and clashed with officers who had blocked off the road near the Prefontaine metro station. Riot police charged the crowd after protestors hurled objects at them. The police then detained dozens of people on city buses.

Demonstrators invoke Villanueva

The march coincided with the International Day Against Police Brutality as well as a coroner's inquest into the fatal shooting of Fredy Villanueva by a Montreal police officer in August 2008. Protestors could be heard chanting "Lapointe, murderer" early in the march, in reference to the police officer who killed Villanueva.

"We need to take back our streets," said Sara, a protestor who declined to provide her last name. "[The police] get away with too much … [we need to] show them that they can't get away with whatever they want."

Others had less principled reasons for attending the event.

"I just want to see things get fucked up," said Renaud, a protestor who also declined to provide his last name. "Fuck the police."

Protestors began gathering around 4:45 p.m. and were supervised by at least 50 riot police. Many demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as "60 dead since 1987. Disarm the Montreal police." and "Justice and truth for all the victims."

According to the Montreal Gazette, police stopped metro service to the Pie-IX station on the city's green line around 5 p.m. in an attempt to delay the arrival of more protesters. At least four protestors were arrested as the march began when they were discovered to have the ingredients for a Molotov cocktail.

THE LONG ARM OF STATE REPRESSION

Is Utah a part of Iowa?

Well, it is apparently within reach of the grand jury investigating animal rights actions in Davenport. What my generation would have called a commune has been raided by Feds in Salt Lake City, Utah. Yesterday's raid carried with it a warrant which was issued by the Southern District of Iowa....

Prosecutor "Crank" is starting to remind me of Vern Miller (whom probably almost none of you will remember).

Be safe out there today, folks.

The following is from Green is the New Red.

BREAKING: FBI Raids Activist House in Utah, Connected to Iowa ALF Investigation

Mar 15th, 2010 by Will Potter
FBI agents and law enforcement from multiple agencies have raided a well-known activist group house in Salt Lake City, Utah, today in connection with an investigation of Animal Liberation Front crimes in Iowa.

I just got off the phone with multiple housemates who were there witnessing the raid, and who were able to read the warrant. Details about all of this are still emerging, but at this point it is clear that the warrant was issued by the Southern District of Iowa, and authorizes the seizure of any books, pamphlets, computers and other materials tied to "animal enterprise terrorism." [UPDATE: Here is copy of the warrant.]

Some background: In Minnesota, a graduate student named Scott DeMuth has been indicted on conspiracy charges under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. The charges are related to a 2004 raid by the Animal Liberation Front at the University of Iowa.

Another Minnesota activist, Carrie Feldman, has been jailed for refusing to testify about her political beliefs and political associations before a grand jury. Feldman was a teenager at the time of the ALF crime, and says the grand jury is clearly an attempt to harass and intimidate the activist community.

So how did the FBI end up in Utah? One of the housemates, Peter Young, is repeatedly mentioned by name in the warrant. Young was one of the first people prosecuted for "animal enterprise terrorism" in connection to fur farm raids in the late 90s. (His co-defendant Justin Samuel is also mentioned in the warrant). He served two years in prison, and has been living in Salt Lake City, speaking at colleges, and writing on his website, Voice of the Voiceless. He is among the most vocal, public supporters of the ALF and direct action.

The only connection I can decipher between Young and the Iowa investigation is this: in an emergency motion filed against Scott DeMuth, to keep him in jail, the government calls DeMuth an "anarchist" and "domestic terrorist." As evidence of this, they say he is an "associate" of Peter Young. As DeMuth's faculty advisor has publicly explained, this is tied to his research as a graduate student.

There are about nine people living at the activist group house in Salt Lake. At least 15 computers were taken by the FBI, along with boxes of documents, notebooks, files, and address books. The house is well-known in the area as a gathering space for animal rights and other activists. No arrests have been made, and at this point it seems Iowa is being used as a pretext for a continued campaign of harassment and intimidation.

Among the items taken from the FBI's terrorism raid: a postcard for Iowa 80, "the world's largest truck stop."

I'll continue to update as this story develops. In the meantime, this is a good opportunity to plug the National Lawyers Guild hotline, 1-888-NLG-ECOL. Also, please write Carrie Feldman a letter as she continues to resist the grand jury witch hunt. Carolyn Feldman,
770 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

Monday, March 15, 2010

GIVE NAZIS A HEADACHE IN CHICAGO ON MARCH 21

All out to kick some nazi butt.

On March 21st, 2010 the Illinois National Socialist Front is planning to march in Chicago for what they call "White Pride World Wide". White supremacists have held "white-pride" demonstrations and rallies on that day since the year 2000, to spread a message of intolerance, hate, and violence against people of color, immigrants, and progressive social values.

South Side Anti-Racist Action is making plans to be there and they'd love it if you'd join them.

March 21st is recognized as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and commemorates the massacre of demonstrators demanding an end to apartheid in Sharpesville, South Africa in 1960. It's bad enough that nazi scum are even showing their faces, but to try and defile a day dedicated to the right against white supremacy and racism worldwide makes their audacity even more nauseating.


The following is from South Side Anti-Racist Action.


Callout to Confront INSF 'White Pride World Wide' March in Chicago

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: Download the flyer: (English JPG, Spanish JPG, or Quarter-page Printable PDF) and also call the hotline at 773-980-6013 for day-of updates about the action.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On March 21st, 2010 the Illinois National Socialist Front is planning to march in Chicago for what they call “White Pride World Wide”. South Side Anti-Racist Action is making plans to confront the march to let them know that they are not welcome in our city.

March 21st is recognized as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination because of the massacre of demonstrators demanding an end to apartheid in Sharpesville, South Africa in 1960. However in 2000, neo-nazi and white nationalist organizations came together to attempt to reclaim March 21st as “White Pride World Wide” day against “multi-racial supremacy”.

The Illinois National Socialist Front is a neo-nazi organization primarily based in Peoria and the suburbs of Chicago, some of which are former members of Bill White’s American National Socialist Workers Party. Over the past year they have organized a variety of events including nazi barbeque recruiting events, a speaking event celebrating Hitler’s birthday, a rally against the opening of Holocaust museum in Skokie, a Belleville protest of “black-on-white hate crimes”, and more. They have shown efforts in working with other hate groups such as the National Socialist Movement and are attempting to gather regional support for the White Pride march in Chicago by posting information to websites such as Stormfront and Vanguard News Network.

Besides the activity of neo-nazi hate groups, fascism is still alive in many forms across the US from attacks on immigrant communities to homophobic hate crimes. Even in Chicago, racist graffiti has been seen very recently – an indication that even in Obama’s America, racism is far from being over with. The INSF’s intention to march in Chicago shows that they are growing bolder and aren’t go away unless we take a stand.
South Side Chicago Anti-Racist Action is calling out for other groups inside and outside of Chicago to stand with us against fascism. Join us to confront the National Socialist Front’s march on March 21st!

Endorsers:
South Side Chicago Anti-Racist Action
Gay Liberation Network
Four Star Anarchist Organization
News & Letters
Bash Back
North Side Chicago Anti-Racist Action
Genderjust
Progressive Labor Party
sort sol collective

Get in contact if you are interesting in endorsing and/or helping organize this action:
southsidechicagoara@hushmail.com
http://southsideara.wordpress.com
http://www.twitter.com/chicagoara

The INSF has not announced the location of the march yet – but check back at the above websites for additional information as the date approaches. You could also call our update hotline at 773-980-6013

More information on the INSF:
http://www.illinoisnsf.com illinoisnsf@yahoo.com PO Box 9714 / Peoria, IL

The self-proclaimed Leader of the INSF is Philip Anderson former member of American National Socialist Workers Party and associate of Bill White. His phone 309-370-3766, his email is phildo88rancid@hotmail.com, and his address is 804 E Marietta Ave / Peoria Heights IL 61616-6316.



Este es un llamado para confrontar al INSF “frente nacional socialista de illinois” y su manifestación “orgullo blanco en todo el mundo” planeada para el 21 de marzo en chicago, el grupo de Acción-antiracista del sur de chicago esta planeando confrontar a esta marcha para dejarles saber que no son bienvenidos a nuestra ciudad.
El 21 de marzo es considerado como el día internacional de la Eliminacion de la Discriminación Racial debido a la massacre de manifestantes demandando el fin del apartheid en sharpesville, en sur Africa en 1960; sin embargo en el 2000,grupos blancos nacionalistas y neo-nazis se unieron en un intento de reclamar la marcha del 21 de marzo como el “día del orgullo blanco”.
El frente nacional socialista de Illinois es una organizacion neo-nazi primordialmente ubicada en Peoria y los suburbios de Chicago, algunos son ex-miembros del grupo Partido obrero socialista nacional americano de bill Whites, durante el ano pasado organizaron una variedad de eventos y comidas para reclutar nazis, celebraron con platicas el cumpleaños de Hitler, hicieron una protesta encontra de la apertrua del museo del holocausto en skokie, y también una en Belleville de crímenes de “odio de negros contra blancos” y muchas cosas mas, ellos han hecho esfuerzos por trabajar con otros grupos de odio como el movimiento nacional socialista y están intentando juntar apollo regional para la marcha orgullo blanco en chicago por medio de información puesta en paginas de internet, como stormfront y la red de noticias vanguardia.
Aparte de la actividad de grupos neo-nazis, el fascismo todavia esta vivo en muchas formas en todo estados unidos, desde ataques a comunidades inmigrantes, a crímenes de homofobia, de hecho recientemente en chicago se ha visto graffiti racista, una indicación de que ni en la america de obama, el fascismo esta muy lejos de que se acabe, la intención del INSF de marchar en chicago demuestra que están creciendo y no se iran alamenos que nos levantemos contra ellos.
El grupo Acción Anti-racista del sur de chicago esta haciendo un llamado a otros grupos dentro y fuera de Chicago para unirnos encontra del fascismo, unite a nosotros para confrontar al marcha del frente nacional socialista en marazo 21.
Si estas interesad@ en ayudar a organizar o promover esta acción ponte en contacto:
southsidechicagoara@hushmail.com
http://southsideara.wordpress.com
http://www.twitter.com/chicagoara
El grupo INSF no dicho la locación de la marcha todavía, pero
espera información adicional mientras se hacerca la fecha
Para mas información acerca del grupo INSF:
http://www.illinoisnsf.com illinoisnsf@yahoo.com PO Box 9714 / Peoria, IL
The self-proclaimed Leader of the INSF is Philip Anderson former
member of American National Socialist Workers Party and associate of
Bill White. His phone 309-370-3766, his email is
phildo88rancid@hotmail.com, and his address is 804 E Marietta Ave /
Peoria Heights IL 61616-6316.

One Response to “Callout to Confront INSF ‘White Pride World Wide’ March in Chicago”

[...] in Dresden. With this and more in mind, there is the need to tone our analysis as we gear up to confront the upcoming “White Pride” march. Here’s what’s been on our reading [...]

"WE WANT EQUAL RIGHTS...WE ARE BURMESE AMERICANS"

What century is this anyway? I ask after reading about a store in Indiana which essentially posted a sign that said, "no Burmese or dogs allowed." I'm not kidding.

Obviously the more than five thousand Burmese living in Fort Wayne were a bit ticked off about all this. They would like their city or county government... maybe to, you know, like react, maybe say something. A group protested on the Allen County courthouse lawn yesterday, calling on city leaders to protect their civil rights.

The following is from Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

Burmese demand action on prejudice

See official indifference to sign at laundry
Devon Haynie

Dozens of shivering Burmese gathered in front of the Courthouse on Sunday to urge government officials to publicly denounce discrimination against their community.

Organizers said the rally was a response to the government's lack of reaction to a controversial sign posted at Ricker's City Laundry on South Calhoun Street several weeks ago. The sign, which has since been removed, read, "For Sanitary Purposes, There Are No Burmese People Allowed." Jay Ricker, head of the company, has since apologized for the sign, but Burmese at the rally said it was not enough to ease their fears of continued discrimination.

"The government has been silent," said Maung Maung Soe, one of the event's organizers. "If the government does not take action, we will take legal action."

Details surrounding the sign remain unclear. But by all accounts, it seems that a lone employee posted it, perhaps in response to the Burmese tradition of chewing betel nuts and spitting out the juice. Ricker posted an apology on Facebook and read an apology in a video posted on YouTube.

At the rally, members of the Burmese community held signs reading "We Want Equal Rights" and "We Are Burmese Americans." Organizers said they planned to stage a larger rally in a few days, but had to keep the gathering small because they hadn't received a permit.

Fort Wayne is home to about 5,500 people from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Many are legal refugees who fled the country to escape the country's 60-year civil war.

"We aren't foreigners coming to visit; we are citizens," said Nyan Aung, an event organizer who has lived in the United States since 1993. "We need to be treated more like other people. (People) need to respect our human rights."

Thandar Thet, a 15-year-old sophomore at North Side High School, came to the rally with her father and 5-year-old brother. She said the sign posting made her feel uneasy about her future in Fort Wayne.

"I've never been discriminated against, but I don't believe this is right," Thet said. "My parents came to America for freedom. They talked about discrimination in Burma, but that is what we came here to escape."

Sunday, March 14, 2010

MONTREAL ANTI-BRUTALITY GROUP TO FACE PISSED OFF COPS

Collectif opposé à la brutalité policière is holding it's 14th international Day against the police brutality march and rally today (I think)in Montreal. They do this as complaints of police abuse in Quebec increase, while legal actions of any kind against the cops decrease. It also occurs as a coroner's inquest examines the fatal shooting by Montreal police of Fredy Villanueva, an unarmed 18-year-old.

Last years demonstration was met with police violence and tear gas. More than 200 were arrested. This year organizers are even more concerned what the cops will do. Seems some cop houses and cars were, shall we say, "vandalized" the other day and the cops are pissey.

The following is from the Montreal Gazette.

Police vehicles are reflected in the broken windows of the Montreal police traffic and road safety division’s building on Notre Dame St. W. and Dominion St, in what may have been a precursor to Monday’s planned march against police brutality, Saturday, March 13, 2010, in the Montreal suburb of St. Henri. Vandals struck the police station in St. Henri with rocks Saturday, damaging 11 patrol cars, computers in the vehicles and defacing the station itself.
Police vehicles are reflected in the broken windows of the Montreal police traffic and road safety division’s building on Notre Dame St. W. and Dominion St, in what may have been a precursor to Monday’s planned march against police brutality, Saturday, March 13, 2010, in the Montreal suburb of St. Henri. Vandals struck the police station in St. Henri with rocks Saturday, damaging 11 patrol cars, computers in the vehicles and defacing the station itself.

Montreal Protesters Fear Cops' Anger

MONTREAL – A group that organizes an annual and controversial anti-police brutality march that last year was the scene of more than 200 arrests says it had nothing do with an attack by vandals early Saturday that left 11 Montreal police squad cars smashed and a neighbourhood police station splashed with graffiti.

And Sophie Sénécal of the Collectif opposé à la brutalité policière said yesterday she hoped police won't use the incident as a pretext to adopt a "provocative" attitude during this year's march to protest against police brutality, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

"For sure, it's something we'd worry about," she said. "We just hope that the police ... don't make some cause-and-effect link between an isolated incident and the demonstration." Sénécal's comments follow an assault by vandals at a little after 12 a.m. yesterday on a Montreal police station used by the department's traffic division.

About 20 hooded individuals dressed in black and carrying rocks, baseball bats and, in at least one instance, a hammer, damaged 11 squad cars, slashing tires and smashing vehicle windows and the vehicles' computers.

The windows of the station house, at Dominion and Notre Dame Sts., were also broken and painted with grafitti slogans including FTP and ACAB. Early yesterday, a Montreal police spokesperson described the acronyms as echoing those seen at "certain demonstrations." "They're tags," Constable Yannick Ouimet told Radio-Canada. "In one case it means 'F--- the Police' and in other, 'All Cops Are Bastards.' We can believe that the group that was here ... is one we see at certain demonstrations in Montreal." Later yesterday, however, police had tempered their assessment of who might be responsible for the damages.

"We have no suspects, so it's difficult to make any link," Constable Daniel Lacoursière told The Gazette. "Every possibility is being looked at right now, and (the possibility anti-police groups are involved) is one of them." Yesterday's incident came as Montreal police today prepare to undertake their biggest crowd control operation of the year - the St. Patrick's Day parade along Ste. Catherine St. W., which is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators.

But it's tomorrow's duty roster that might seem more daunting to police planners, as this year's march against police brutality gets under way at 5 p.m. with demonstrators rallying outside the Pie IX métro station and moving through the streets of the borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

Sénécal said the march had been moved farther east this year to underline the "social cleansing" the police had conducted on the homeless, compelling them to move out of the downtown area.

She also said the march, taking place as a coroner's inquest examines the fatal shooting by Montreal police of Fredy Villanueva, an unarmed 18-year-old, is getting bigger. "In 1998, we had maybe 200 people, last year we had nearly 2,000. It's certain that more and more people are becoming aware of police mistakes, and we expect a big turnout (on Monday)." Last year's march, which began outside the Mount Royal métro, ended with tear gas grenades being fired at protesters and rocks and bottles thrown at police.

Sénécal said her group has filed a formal complaint with the Quebec's Police Ethics Commission against the police commander in charge of the officers assigned to patrol last year's march.

jmennie@ thegazette.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette