Via AntiwarCommittee.org - Please forward * Take action today - Facebook Group: Support Minnesota Peace Activists Jailed by Israel

We have just learned that Israeli security forces have refused entry to three U.S. activists attempting to visit the Palestinian Territories. One of them, Karen Sullivan, is being sent home on a flight tonight, and two others, Sarah Martin and Katrina Plotz have refused to leave, and are being taken into custody. They are being treated as criminals, while their only goal was to learn about the reality of life for the Palestinian people. All three should be allowed to enter the country, as millions of tourists do every year.

Given the special relationship that the U.S. has with Israel, it is no surprise that U.S. citizens would want to travel there, and see how our tax dollars are spent. In spite of its special relationship with the U.S., the Israeli government showed no regard for the rights of American visitors, whose only crime was to express solidarity with the people of occupied Palestine.

Palestinians experience repression every day. There is no way to travel to Palestinian cities, or from one Palestinian city to another, without passing through Israeli military checkpoints. Palestinian refugees who live outside the territories, have a legal right to return home, but face the same obstacles that stopped Karen, Katrina and Sarah at the Tel Aviv airport today.

Katrina and Sarah have refused to cooperate in the face of this injustice, and have been sent to an Israeli jail. They have been told they will not be allowed to enter the country, and instead will be handcuffed and forced onto a departing plane.

We urge everyone to call, write and fax the officials below to demand the immediate release for Katrina Plotz and Sarah Martin, and to urge Israeli authorities to allow both women into the country to witness the reality of life inside the Palestinian Territories, where they have been invited and are welcome. [Contact info below]

On July 25th, An estimated 4,000 people across Northern California joined thousands of demonstrators across the world to this past weekend to participate in the Day of Action, a globally coordinated event to express solidarity with the Iranian people challenging results of the country's controversial June 12th election. Bay Area residents poured into San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza on Saturday to participate in the demonstration, spearheaded by District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, the first Iranian-American to be elected to San Francisco public office.

On June 28, SOA-trained Honduran generals overthrew the democratically- elected government of President Manuel Zelaya in a military coup. The Honduran social movements are resisting the coup regime and engage in daily pro-democracy protests, strikes and civil disobedience. On Saturday, July 25, you can join human rights activists in Florida taking action in solidarity with the people of Honduras by converging on the headquarters of the US Southern Command (US SouthCom) in Miami.

Activists with United Students Against Sweatshops drop a banner across from Lanny Davis - Lobbyist for Orrick, friend of the Clintons - who is working on behalf of Coup supporters in Honduras. Rally and press conference, White House. South side of Lafayette Park (Pennsylvania Avenue NW) 11:00 AM, Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A group from New Orleans traveled to the Gaza Strip in June 2009 to document, witness and talk with people affected by Israel's massive attack in December 2008 and January 2009 on this 140 sq mile section of land bordering Egypt and Israel/Palestine. [Report] includes recordings of several speakers who went to Gaza, along with the delegation's answers to audience questions. Photo by Abdul Aziz. Read More & AUDIO

Related Stories from New Orleans Indymedia: Starting Over in Gaza - Report from a New Orleanian in Gaza | New Orleanians in a delegation during the siege | Local Protests Continue in January | Protesting the Attacks on Gaza via New Orleans | | | Past Coverage from Indymedia.US: Protests Converge on Anniversary of Gaza Occupation, Relief Caravans Push On

RELATED: http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/131852/index.php

Youngbloods, Elders and Friends: Cynthia McKinney, Charles Barron and 200 other Americans broke the Israeli blockade of Gaza today when the first American "'Viva Palestina" convoy entered Gaza with 50 trucks and cars filled with relief supplies for the 1.5 million Palestinians who have been blockaded and bombarded by Israel for over two years. Several weeks ago McKinney and 20 other activists were illegally seized in international waters and held in an Israeli prison when they tried to bring relief supplies to Gaza by boat. Upon her release from prison Cynthia joined Charles Barron and the other Viva Palestina activists who were being refused entry into Gaza by Egyptian authorities.

The family of Honduran public prosecutor Jari Dixon Herrera were attacked by police on Tuesday shortly after he made statements to CNN en Español and other international media in Washington denouncing the recent military coup in Honduras. Dixon's mother’s house, located in the town of Talanga, was first shot at repeatedly by police agents with automatic weapons. The agents then broke the door of the house down and entered the residence, beat Dixon’s mother and arrested and took away his brother.

Jari Dixon is currently in Washington, DC, as part of a delegation of Hondurans that has been meeting with members of Congress, representatives of the World Bank, the State Department and human rights organizations to discuss the rights abuses committed by the Honduran de facto authorities.

British attorney Clive Stafford Smith's organization Reprieve recently worked with legendary musician and human rights activist Peter Gabriel and other musicians to prepare a letter to President Obama asking him to ban the use of music by U.S. military interrogators. The letter, dated July 16, 2009, is co-signed by the Musicians' Union and UK Music, and supported by several prominent musical artists.

united for iran
global day of action
saturday, july 25
1pm at: pioneer square - downtown portland

with a human chain in support of the green movement for democracy in iran

No doubt, there will be photos of Clinton surrounded by little Haitian children. There’s Clinton with his hand on the shoulder of a poor Haitian woman. The photo will freeze a caring-looking Clinton. But he’ll have the interests of the ruling class and the U.S. corporations in his heart.

RELATED: Democracy Restored, by Noam Chomsky, analyzing Bill Clinton's anti-democratic policy towards Haiti in the early 1990s following the first coup against Aristide

A high level delegation of Honduran members of congress, politicians, and lawyers is arriving in D.C. tonight (Sunday). While in D.C., they will be meeting with the State Department, members of Congress, and others to discuss the coup d'etat in Honduras and their call for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of President Zelaya. During their stay, they will also connect with grassroots activists in DC and NGO's. Stay tuned for more information. Read Full Report by Lisa Sullivan, SOA Watch Latin America Coordinator

Last week, demonstrations were held on July 6 in solidarity of the 42nd anniversary of Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip. San Francisco, protesters gathered at the UN Plaza (pictured) and in Washington, DC, hundreds converged on the Israeli Embassy.

The following morning, former U.S. Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney arrived in New York's JFK airport after being jailed for a week in Israel for carrying relief supplies to Gaza. Audio from WBAI: Mckinney Lands in NYC, speaks to Wake-up Call | | | Reports from Free Gaza Movement: June30 | July7 | | | McKinney: Letter from an Israeli Jail

Meanwhile, another caravan, which organizers say is the largest ever US humanitarian aid convoy, has been delayed by the Egyptian government while en route to Gaza. Demonstrations have been called for Tuesday at the Egyptian Mission to the UN. Roundup from NYC-IMC

Roseburg, OR - Following its annual national gathering, the no-compromise group Cascadia Earth First!, along with Cascadia Rising Tide, dropped a huge "Dam Home Depot, Save Chile's Rivers" banner at the corporation's Roseburg, Oregon store. The store is at 3000 NW Aviation Drive.

The groups are protesting The Home Depot's buying of timber products from the Matte Group, which is involved in a proposal to build five big dams on two pristine rivers in Patagonia, southern Chile. The dams and their associated transmission lines would ruin the Baker and Pasqua river ecosystems, flood rare endangered forests and destroy livelihoods.

www.internationalrivers.org/patagonia

On June 28th, the Honduran military ousted the democratically elected government of Honduras, detaining and then exiling President Manuel Zelaya to Costa Rica. Indybay reported that the crisis began when the military, Congress, and the Honduran Supreme Court rejected an opinion poll that was to be conducted on a new Constitution. General Romeo Orlando Vasquez Velasquez, along with other military leaders, graduated from the infamous School of the Americas (SOA), now called WHINSEC.

The following week, rallies took place in many cities in the United States; on Monday June 29th an emergency rally and press conference took place in San Francisco, while in Los Angeles demonstrators gathered at the Honduran consulate to express their displeasure with the coup d'état against the democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya, and in New York city, an emergency rally was held on at the UN. On July 1st, people gathered in front of the State Department in Washington DC to demand the U.S. cuts off all US aid to Honduras until President Zelaya returns safely to office, and in Chicago a demonstration took place at the Honduran consulate. On July 3rd People from across Texas gathered in Houston to protest at the Honduran Consulate and in Boston, local leaders of the Honduran community paid a visit to Senator John Kerry's office to demand public statements against the coup.

Since the coup, the new Honduran government under Roberto Michelleti has been internationally isolated and so far unrecognized by any country. On July 5, thousands of protesters had gathered at the airport waiting the return of president elect Manuel Zelaya but his plane was prevented from landing in the Honduras capital. The military fired shots and tear gas at the protesters. Two deaths and at least 30 injured people were reported.

LISTEN: Live broadcast from Honduras

More coverage: Rochester IMC | Narco News | Americas Mexico Blog | Honduras Resists | TriniCenter Updates | Hands Off Venezuela | En español: aporrea.org | ALER | Escuche: Radio Progreso

Coverage From Latin American Indymedias: Honduras | Argentina | Colombia | Bolivia | Puerto Rico

More than 40 people braved the heat and many drove long distances to hold a demonstration in opposition to the military coup in Honduras, the subsequent violantions of human rights, repression of media outlets in Honduras and demanding a return of the democratically elected Manuel Zelaya to office as president of Honduras.

People held signs and banners condemning the coup, and speakers spoke their piece from the Centro de los Trabajadores Agrícolas Fronterizos of El Paso, The Southwest Workers Center of San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley, The Central American Resource Center of Houston, Students for a Democratic Society of Houston and many other groups and individuals. [read full report with photos] Read the call to protest

On June 28th, the Honduran military ousted the democratically elected government of Honduras, detaining and then exiling President Manuel Zelaya to Costa Rica. The crisis in Honduras began when the military refused to distribute ballot boxes for an opinion poll on a new Constitution. President Zelaya fired the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Romeo Orlando Vasquez Velasquez, who refused to step down. The heads of all branches of the Honduran armed forces quit in solidarity with Vasquez. Vasquez, however, refused to step down, bolstered by support in Congress and a Supreme Court ruling that reinstated him. Vasquez, along with other military leaders, graduated from the United States' infamous School of the Americas (SOA). According to a School of the Americas Watch database compiled from information obtained from the US government, Vasquez studied in the SOA at least twice: once in 1976 and again in 1984.

Coverage of the coup in Honduras: NarcoNews (en) | Honduras Indymedia (es) | Minga Informativa de Movimientos Sociales (es) | Americas Mexico Blog (en) | ResistenciaHonduras (es/video) | Honduras Resists (en/es)

Last weekend, a military coup in Honduras overthrew the democratically elected government of that Central American nation and sent President Manuel Zelaya into exile in Costa Rica. The coup was apparently led by Romeo Vasquez, a graduate of the notorious School of the Americas (SOA), a military/torture school located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Take Action: Military Coup Photos, Video: Fr. Roy Bourgeois on Democracy Now!

Residents, students and supporters of Democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya will gather at the Honduran Consulate, 6161 Savoy Lane, Friday, July 3rd at 1 PM to demand his reinstatement as President. [Read full release]

On June 28th, the Honduran military ousted the democratically elected government of Honduras, detaining and then exiling President Manuel Zelaya to Costa Rica. The crisis in Honduras began when the military refused to distribute ballot boxes for an opinion poll on a new Constitution. President Zelaya fired the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Romeo Orlando Vasquez Velasquez, who refused to step down. The heads of all branches of the Honduran armed forces quit in solidarity with Vasquez. Vasquez, however, refused to step down, bolstered by support in Congress and a Supreme Court ruling that reinstated him. Vasquez, along with other military leaders, graduated from the United States' infamous School of the Americas (SOA). According to a School of the Americas Watch database compiled from information obtained from the US government, Vasquez studied in the SOA at least twice: once in 1976 and again in 1984.

Coverage of the coup in Honduras: NarcoNews (en) | Honduras Indymedia (es) | Minga Informativa de Movimientos Sociales (es) | Americas Mexico Blog (en)

At Noon on July 1, protesters from a long list of groups showed up outside the US State Dept with three demands: Cut off all US aid to Honduras until President Zelaya returns safely to office, impose financial sanctions against the coup plotters, and investigate any role played in the coup by the US ambassador to Honduras.

Monday, June 29, 2009 LOS ANGELES - Small groups of demonstrators gathered at the Honduran consulate on Wilshire Avenue to express their displeasure with the coup d'état against the democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya.

Lunes, el 29 de junio, 2009 LOS ÁNGELES - Pequeños grupos de manifestantes llegaron al consulado hondureño en la Avenida Wilshire para denunciar el golpe de estado contra el presidente Manuel Zelaya, quien fue elegido a través de un proceso democrático. Mas con fotos by Rockero

The 20th Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan, taking US citizens and humanitarian aid on a journey of solidarity and goodwill, will arrive in the Rogue Valley on Thursday July 9. Join us in welcoming them at the Bellview Grange, 1050 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland. The schedule is:
6:00--greet the Caravan members
6:30--potluck dinner--share your favorite dish
7:30--program about the Caravan--what it does and why
9:00--close and clean-up

Naomi Klein advocates Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israeli products, in Bil’in

On, Friday, June 26, the Bil’in village held press conference and a the usual weekly demonstration against construction of the Apartheid Wall. Palestinian residents, alongside international and Israeli activists gathered today in Bil’in to demonstrate against the theft of their land.

Among those who attended the demonstration was Naomi Klein, who is visiting Palestine on the occasion of the publication of her latest book, “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism” in Arabic and Hebrew. Klein is an advocate for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and spoke about her choice to respect the 2005 call for BDS from Palestinian civil society. She explained that the international community can actively support the Palestinian people in their non-violent resistance to the Occupation through BDS. Explaining her role as a writer, Klein said, “We believe that art and culture are political... Bil’in has integrated art and culture into their resistance. ” Read more | Bil'in Weekley Demonstration-June 26

On Saturday, June 20, activists gathered at Trader Joe's in Oakland and San Francisco to demand that the company stop carrying Israeli goods. Protesters removed Israeli products from the shelves in order to show customers which products they should not buy. They also met with the store managers and asked them to notify their headquarters that they no longer wanted to carry Israeli herbs, couscous and cheese. Similar actions were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Washington, and Sacramento, California. The activists were inspired by campaigns to deshelve Israeli products in Wales and France.

New York City, NY: About 300 people gathered at the UN to show their solidarity for the anti-government protesters in Iran. [...] There were a lot of Mousavi photos with the word "Change", a lot of calls for the UN to speak more forcefully, and a lot of condemnations of the Iranian government. Photos

Boston, MA: More than one hundred declared supporters of democracy, free communication, and peace in Iran gathered at Copley Square in Boston on Saturday afternoon, as widespread protests against the present regime continued one week and one day after an illegitimate election. [...] Organized nationally by Where Is My Vote, which presents itself as a voice for the Iranian diaspora, and locally online with postings on Craigslist, Yelp, and especially a Facebook event page. Read More

Background: Iranians Take to the Streets to Contest Election Results; Protesters Shot by Police | | | Commentary: A Question Over Iran: Can the People Make History or Not? | "Is the Uprising in Tehran a CIA Backed Exercise? Tehran Protesters Address Progressives" | Wake Up Jim Cramer! In Iran It’s Much Ado About Something

Related: US Department of State asks Twitter to suspend its expected service shutdown

More than one hundred declared supporters of democracy, free communication, and peace in Iran gathered at Copley Square in Boston on Saturday afternoon, as widespread protests against the present regime continued one week and one day after an illegitimate election. Read More & Pics

Background: Iranians Take to the Streets to Contest Election Results; Protesters Shot by Police | | | Commentary: A Question Over Iran: Can the People Make History or Not? | "Is the Uprising in Tehran a CIA Backed Exercise? Tehran Protesters Address Progressives"

In April 2009 a youth group launched a boycott against Flor de Caña, the famous Nicaraguan rum. The boycott is in solidarity with former sugar cane workers who are members of the Nicaraguan Association of Those Affected by Chronic Renal Insufficiency (ANAIRC).

A band of eco-rebels is crossing the US Empire to renew a fighting movement that can stop this industrial nightmare from choking the life out of the earth: the Earth First Roadshow!

The need for resistance in solidarity with the wild has never been louder or clearer than it is today; the roadshow is a tool for growing that resistance. There are countless examples to draw from in the story of radical movements before us: militant labor organizing tours, anti-fascist resistance recruitment and international speaking tours to build cross-border solidarity. The origin of Earth First! itself is credited to a few roadshows that kicked it all off in the early 1980s. We are building on this tradition; akin to a fellowship crossing Middle Earth to amass insurgents to face Mordor head-on.

* Thursday, June 25th, 3p
Laurelhurst Park (west side of Park)
FREE
Learn all you want to know about Direct Action: Media, Lockdowns, Tri-pods & a DA role-play
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* Saturday, June 27th, 7p
Red & Black Cafe (12th & Oak)
$ 3-5

- Music:
The Rising Phoenix Society (Old Timey Party Down Crunk)
Slow Teeth (Harmonic Folk Punk)
Here Comes Trouble (Ukelele Country Funk)

- Presentation:
Learn about Direct Action, the Greenscare, Earth Forst! History & more through a puppetshow, a slideshow and skits!
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* Saturday, June 28th
Let Live Animal Rights Conference
 http://www.letlivefoundation.org/conference

homepage:  http://www.earthfirstroadshow.wordpress.com

Davey D, producer of KPFA's Hard Knock Radio , writes: "It's interesting to hear a number of progressives who immediately jumped out the box telling people that they were being duped by supporting the protests in Tehran. Many arrogantly pointed out that we were somehow carrying the mainstream party line and what we were seeing in the streets was a CIA backed operation. In fact one person hit me up and told me I should be ashamed of myself and that I was somehow pushing the mainstream party line.

March and Vigil at Hutto Immigrant Family Dentention Center for World Refugee Day