Conflicts Within the Ruling Circles Intensify: Pataki and Legislature Budget Battle
On April 1 the New York State Legislature passed a $116 billion state budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year. On April 12, Governor George E. Pataki vetoed 202 budget items totaling nearly $3 billion. He said that $2 billion of that amount was unconstitutional and that he would refuse to spend the money even if the legislature overrides the vetoes. Healthcare, TANF (welfare, now known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and other social programs bear the brunt of the anti-social attacks by state government.
Pataki has continually insisted that he has the authority to carry out his vetoes, that he is determined to make the vetoes stick, that the state legislature is out of line and must submit to his actions. He is threatening to go to court to oppose any veto overrides by the legislature. A new court case could easily drag on for a year or more.
Legislative leaders say they may sue if their overrides are ignored. Lawmakers can override the vetoes, with a two-thirds majority vote. They are currently in recess and will return April 24.
It is clear that a major battle is underway over which sections of the ruling circles will get the greatest share of the state treasury, with Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno generally representing contending factions. The trio is generally known as the “enforcers three” when it comes to New York State politics and enforcing the demands of the monopolies, as the anti-social budgets of both the legislature and governor show. The fighting over the budget indicates that the conflicts within and between the factions they represent are increasing. It is also the case that many legislators are up for election in 2006.
As well, a part of the current battle is the effort by Pataki to increase the power of the executive in budgetary matters, while also imposing the broad impunity now common in governance, from the federal government on down.
Pataki is utilizing a 2004 Court of Appeals decision in the case of [Assembly Speaker Sheldon] Silver v. Pataki to justify his actions. Pataki claims he, as the executive, can interpret the court ruling as he sees fit. This mirrors the stand by President George W. Bush that he can interpret laws concerning torture and spying in a manner that does not impede the executive from acting with impunity to take whatever action it pleases.
Pataki maintains that the executive has complete authority in budgetary matters, not the legislature. He also says the legislature, in drafting parts of the budget, did so in an unconstitutional manner, making their decisions unconstitutional. He does not make clear why the entire budget should not then be considered unconstitutional. He claims it is the legislature that is trying to usurp his power by rewriting parts of his original budget proposal. He adds that even if legislators override these vetoes, he has the right to ignore them.
The battle is heating up, with legislators and Pataki engaged in open disputes over executive authority. “Whether or not the legislature looks to override [my vetoes] ... it doesn’t have any legal impact,” Pataki said. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno compared the governor to a “monarch” and called his cuts “unconscionable.” Bruno added, “We’re not going to back off.”
State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said the state was headed into a constitutional crisis over separation of powers. “When the governor says to you this is America, but you can’t veto, it’s like the king talking to the parliament in 1640,” added Brodsky. The reference is to the battle in England, in the 1640’s between the King and Parliament. King Charles insisted on his divine right to rule as he saw fit and parliament opposed this and fought for its authority to rule. The struggle was part of the fight against feudalism and to establish rule by the rising bourgeoisie. In England, King Charles was beheaded and British parliamentary-style democracy established.
The significance of the current battle lies in the fact that the arrangements of state being put in place greatly increase the power of the executive and serve to eliminate blocks to tyranny, such as the budgeting and taxing authorities granted to legislative bodies like Congress. What is taking place now is not only an assault on this authority, but an effort to make executive impunity acceptable. As well, the battle is being used to hide the fact that the legislature is not rising to defend the interests of the people but to secure the public treasury for factions within the ruling circles.
At present, neither the Congress nor the New York State legislature are taking their stands, in deeds, to defend their authority against the executive. On the contrary, they are systematically capitulating to the tyranny and impunity of the executives. What the battle does make clear is that a budget that meets the needs of the people and a legislature that represents the people is what is now required, not more executive power and not more robbing of the public treasury by any of the monopolies.
Read the complete article
Pataki has continually insisted that he has the authority to carry out his vetoes, that he is determined to make the vetoes stick, that the state legislature is out of line and must submit to his actions. He is threatening to go to court to oppose any veto overrides by the legislature. A new court case could easily drag on for a year or more.
Legislative leaders say they may sue if their overrides are ignored. Lawmakers can override the vetoes, with a two-thirds majority vote. They are currently in recess and will return April 24.
It is clear that a major battle is underway over which sections of the ruling circles will get the greatest share of the state treasury, with Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno generally representing contending factions. The trio is generally known as the “enforcers three” when it comes to New York State politics and enforcing the demands of the monopolies, as the anti-social budgets of both the legislature and governor show. The fighting over the budget indicates that the conflicts within and between the factions they represent are increasing. It is also the case that many legislators are up for election in 2006.
As well, a part of the current battle is the effort by Pataki to increase the power of the executive in budgetary matters, while also imposing the broad impunity now common in governance, from the federal government on down.
Pataki is utilizing a 2004 Court of Appeals decision in the case of [Assembly Speaker Sheldon] Silver v. Pataki to justify his actions. Pataki claims he, as the executive, can interpret the court ruling as he sees fit. This mirrors the stand by President George W. Bush that he can interpret laws concerning torture and spying in a manner that does not impede the executive from acting with impunity to take whatever action it pleases.
Pataki maintains that the executive has complete authority in budgetary matters, not the legislature. He also says the legislature, in drafting parts of the budget, did so in an unconstitutional manner, making their decisions unconstitutional. He does not make clear why the entire budget should not then be considered unconstitutional. He claims it is the legislature that is trying to usurp his power by rewriting parts of his original budget proposal. He adds that even if legislators override these vetoes, he has the right to ignore them.
The battle is heating up, with legislators and Pataki engaged in open disputes over executive authority. “Whether or not the legislature looks to override [my vetoes] ... it doesn’t have any legal impact,” Pataki said. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno compared the governor to a “monarch” and called his cuts “unconscionable.” Bruno added, “We’re not going to back off.”
State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said the state was headed into a constitutional crisis over separation of powers. “When the governor says to you this is America, but you can’t veto, it’s like the king talking to the parliament in 1640,” added Brodsky. The reference is to the battle in England, in the 1640’s between the King and Parliament. King Charles insisted on his divine right to rule as he saw fit and parliament opposed this and fought for its authority to rule. The struggle was part of the fight against feudalism and to establish rule by the rising bourgeoisie. In England, King Charles was beheaded and British parliamentary-style democracy established.
The significance of the current battle lies in the fact that the arrangements of state being put in place greatly increase the power of the executive and serve to eliminate blocks to tyranny, such as the budgeting and taxing authorities granted to legislative bodies like Congress. What is taking place now is not only an assault on this authority, but an effort to make executive impunity acceptable. As well, the battle is being used to hide the fact that the legislature is not rising to defend the interests of the people but to secure the public treasury for factions within the ruling circles.
At present, neither the Congress nor the New York State legislature are taking their stands, in deeds, to defend their authority against the executive. On the contrary, they are systematically capitulating to the tyranny and impunity of the executives. What the battle does make clear is that a budget that meets the needs of the people and a legislature that represents the people is what is now required, not more executive power and not more robbing of the public treasury by any of the monopolies.
Read the complete article
Stop Paying the Rich: State Budget Shows Open Refusal of Government to Meet Social Responsibility to Society
The New York State budget passed by the legislature serves to intensify the anti-social offensive against the people and openly imposes government that refuses to take up its social responsibility to meet the needs of the people. Any public budget worthy of the name has as its main requirement meeting the basic needs of the people for education, healthcare, housing, a livelihood, safe water, culture and so forth. The New York “budget,” both the legislature’s and the governor’s, does not even begin to address the funding required to meet these needs.
The “budget” does serve to meet the demands of the monopolies for more and more of the public treasury, through yet more debt servicing, tax breaks, providing infrastructure, and so forth. It is also an instrument to further the arrangements being put in place whereby the people are forced to fend for themselves and government has no social responsibilities towards the members of society.
In addition to the legislature’s anti-social, anti-people budget, more than 200 “line-item” vetoes by Governor George E. Pataki serve to further attack healthcare, college students, not-for-profit groups, farmers, families, the elderly, housing agencies, and municipalities across the state. The vetoes, like the legislature’s budget, impact virtually every area of state funding and every region of the state. The governor is also using the vetoes to challenge the authority of the legislature to determine budget matters (see article p.1).
It remains to be seen what the final budget will be. The legislature will require a two-thirds majority to override the governor’s vetoes. However, Pataki is challenging their authority to do so. What is clear is that there is no budget at present, which means municipalities and school districts must scramble for funds that normally would be provided by the state. It is also clear that both the legislature and governor will ensure that the so-called budget does not address the rights of the people.
Healthcare
With the starting point of the legislature’s anti-social “budget,” Pataki’s vetoes mean an additional $1.3 billion in cuts to healthcare funding, with Medicaid suffering $650 million more in cuts. This includes nearly $100 million for emergency rooms, imperiling more hospitals and emergency rooms by forcing staff reductions. The Erie County Medical Center and the Erie County Home and Infirmary will see a combined $14 million in funding cuts. In the Albany region, the vetoes will cut more than $9 million from hospitals, including $2 million in emergency room funding.
Given repeated government attacks on healthcare, since 2003, 16 hospitals and 28 nursing homes have closed across the state, robbing many communities of access to health care, especially emergency room care. The state’s funding for emergency rooms has remained the same since 1991 — 15 years. According to a recent report by HealthGrades, a company that studies healthcare quality, hospitals in New York State ranked as the nation’s second worst for unsafe conditions for patients.
Pataki is also cutting $42.3 million from a drug assistance program for the elderly. Under the provisions of another budget veto, spouses of nursing home patients and of those receiving care at home will also be compelled to pay for the care of their loved ones. The move will force the poor and elderly to pay more than $30 million out of their own pockets this year and nearly $70 million the following year. There are about 110,000 people in nursing homes in the state. By 2030, one out of every four New Yorkers will be at least 60 years old, and one in 10 will be more than 75.
Education
School funding for the state budget includes a $634 million increase, bringing the total school funding to $17 billion statewide. This is a 1.6 percent increase on average, in the face of massive wrecking of the schools. This marginal increase also falls far short of funding needs and is specifically several billion dollars below funding ordered repeatedly by numerous court rulings. The state’s courts have time after time declared the state’s school funding system unconstitutional. They have ordered that New York City Schools alone receive an additional $2.8 billion in the coming year. The government refuses to provide even this limited increase.
The school funding in the state budget is not only billions less than court-ordered funding increases, for many districts it will mean funding cuts. The Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) points out that the 2006-2007 budget shows that many school districts would receive less in operating funds than they are getting this year.
On March 23, reaffirming earlier decisions, the intermediate appellate court gave the legislature until April 1, 2006 to provide New York City schools $4.7 billion to $5.63 billion annually in “operating aid” (funds for day-to-day operations) and $9.2 billion in “capital funding” (funds for construction). The court brushed aside the governor’s latest appeal, ruling that it is “undisputed” that the state has failed to appropriate the amount of funding needed to meet the state’s constitutional mandate and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) court ruling. CFE is the statewide group that has fought for increased funding for education for 13 years and won its case and repeated appeals by the government.
On March 28, the legislature called for only $400 million in “operating aid” for New York City schools — less than 10 percent of what the court required. In addition, lawmakers authorized $11.2 billion in borrowing — not funding — for New York City school construction projects. The borrowing will take place through the state’s notorious “back-door borrowing” that blocks the constitutional requirement for the public to approve all state debt.
On April 18, six days after the governor issued more than 200 budget vetoes, CFE asked the state’s highest court to force lawmakers to increase funding for education or face fines and jail time. The group has asked that oral arguments be held within 30 days and a ruling be handed down by June. A key area of contention is whether courts have the power to force lawmakers to fund the schools. The state has argued that the judiciary does not have the authority to force the state to comply with the Constitution.
In addition, Pataki’s college tuition assistance cuts will compel students to take 15 credits each semester, instead of the current 12 in order to qualify for full financial aid. This will force many youth out of college and many others deeper into debt. Altogether $119 million is being cut by the governor from tuition assistance programs. Other cuts include more than $500 million for city and state universities, mostly earmarked for new building projects.
The governor’s vetoes also included the Liberty Partnership Program, which offers services such as counseling and tutoring to New York State high school students to help keep dropout rates down. The governor vetoed the program’s proposed $1,092,500 funding down to $732,000.
Paying the Rich
The Citizen’s Budget Commission recently estimated that the state is $227 billion in debt. Of that, $45 billion is to be paid off directly by the state, $86 billion by local governments and the rest through state authorities. The authorities were formed as a main means to avoid the requirement for the public to approve all state debt incurred. These authorities are responsible for the large majority of current debt and new debt.
State debt has grown from $14.4 billion in 1990 to $48.2 billion in 2004 and an estimated $50 billion in 2006. Of the $48.2 billion for 2004, $44.6 billion was issued using the public authorities and without voter approval. In addition, public authorities have more than $75 billion of debt that is branded as “not state funded,” when in fact the public treasury, in various forms such as fees and tolls, is used to fund it.
This year’s budget adds billions more in debt. New York now ranks second highest in state and local debt per capita after Alaska.
More Handouts to the Monopolies
The Empire Zones program was established in 1986 to function as a mechanism to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds in the name of “job creation” and “economic growth.” Over the past 20 years, the Empire Zones program has grown significantly, with 72 active zones throughout the state and more recently authorized. The Empire Zones provide land and infrastructure, often tax-free or with substantial tax cuts, all serving to rob the public treasury of needed funds.
The handouts to the monopolies are done in the name of “securing jobs.” However, a recent audit of 11 Empire Zones located around the state, including three in New York City, found that the monopolies rob the public treasury while not providing the jobs promised. They face no consequences for this robbery.
The study found that 47 percent of firms in zones outside of New York City created fewer jobs than they promised and 23 percent actually lost jobs. In all three city zones, more than 40 percent of businesses added no jobs or lost jobs. An additional audit of the Empire Zones program by the State Department of Economic Development found that “weaknesses in reporting” made it difficult to assess the benefits and costs of the program to the state and participating localities. In other words, Enron accounting methods are used to hide the fact that the monopolies are making out like bandits with the public treasury and the state is helping them to do this.
Both unemployment and job insecurity remain high across the state. In 1995, more than 500,000 private sector jobs were lost. From 2001-2003 more jobs were lost each year. In 2004 and 2005 there was only about 1 percent average growth. Overall, from 1990 to 2004 the state lost about 35 percent of its manufacturing jobs.
The state government expects another 6,200 manufacturing jobs will be lost this year. In addition, over the last decade, twenty thousand state jobs were cut and one million people were thrown off welfare. New York continues to have the largest gap in the nation between the rich and poor, as well as the highest taxes in the country.
Read the complete article
The “budget” does serve to meet the demands of the monopolies for more and more of the public treasury, through yet more debt servicing, tax breaks, providing infrastructure, and so forth. It is also an instrument to further the arrangements being put in place whereby the people are forced to fend for themselves and government has no social responsibilities towards the members of society.
In addition to the legislature’s anti-social, anti-people budget, more than 200 “line-item” vetoes by Governor George E. Pataki serve to further attack healthcare, college students, not-for-profit groups, farmers, families, the elderly, housing agencies, and municipalities across the state. The vetoes, like the legislature’s budget, impact virtually every area of state funding and every region of the state. The governor is also using the vetoes to challenge the authority of the legislature to determine budget matters (see article p.1).
It remains to be seen what the final budget will be. The legislature will require a two-thirds majority to override the governor’s vetoes. However, Pataki is challenging their authority to do so. What is clear is that there is no budget at present, which means municipalities and school districts must scramble for funds that normally would be provided by the state. It is also clear that both the legislature and governor will ensure that the so-called budget does not address the rights of the people.
Healthcare
With the starting point of the legislature’s anti-social “budget,” Pataki’s vetoes mean an additional $1.3 billion in cuts to healthcare funding, with Medicaid suffering $650 million more in cuts. This includes nearly $100 million for emergency rooms, imperiling more hospitals and emergency rooms by forcing staff reductions. The Erie County Medical Center and the Erie County Home and Infirmary will see a combined $14 million in funding cuts. In the Albany region, the vetoes will cut more than $9 million from hospitals, including $2 million in emergency room funding.
Given repeated government attacks on healthcare, since 2003, 16 hospitals and 28 nursing homes have closed across the state, robbing many communities of access to health care, especially emergency room care. The state’s funding for emergency rooms has remained the same since 1991 — 15 years. According to a recent report by HealthGrades, a company that studies healthcare quality, hospitals in New York State ranked as the nation’s second worst for unsafe conditions for patients.
Pataki is also cutting $42.3 million from a drug assistance program for the elderly. Under the provisions of another budget veto, spouses of nursing home patients and of those receiving care at home will also be compelled to pay for the care of their loved ones. The move will force the poor and elderly to pay more than $30 million out of their own pockets this year and nearly $70 million the following year. There are about 110,000 people in nursing homes in the state. By 2030, one out of every four New Yorkers will be at least 60 years old, and one in 10 will be more than 75.
Education
School funding for the state budget includes a $634 million increase, bringing the total school funding to $17 billion statewide. This is a 1.6 percent increase on average, in the face of massive wrecking of the schools. This marginal increase also falls far short of funding needs and is specifically several billion dollars below funding ordered repeatedly by numerous court rulings. The state’s courts have time after time declared the state’s school funding system unconstitutional. They have ordered that New York City Schools alone receive an additional $2.8 billion in the coming year. The government refuses to provide even this limited increase.
The school funding in the state budget is not only billions less than court-ordered funding increases, for many districts it will mean funding cuts. The Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) points out that the 2006-2007 budget shows that many school districts would receive less in operating funds than they are getting this year.
On March 23, reaffirming earlier decisions, the intermediate appellate court gave the legislature until April 1, 2006 to provide New York City schools $4.7 billion to $5.63 billion annually in “operating aid” (funds for day-to-day operations) and $9.2 billion in “capital funding” (funds for construction). The court brushed aside the governor’s latest appeal, ruling that it is “undisputed” that the state has failed to appropriate the amount of funding needed to meet the state’s constitutional mandate and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) court ruling. CFE is the statewide group that has fought for increased funding for education for 13 years and won its case and repeated appeals by the government.
On March 28, the legislature called for only $400 million in “operating aid” for New York City schools — less than 10 percent of what the court required. In addition, lawmakers authorized $11.2 billion in borrowing — not funding — for New York City school construction projects. The borrowing will take place through the state’s notorious “back-door borrowing” that blocks the constitutional requirement for the public to approve all state debt.
On April 18, six days after the governor issued more than 200 budget vetoes, CFE asked the state’s highest court to force lawmakers to increase funding for education or face fines and jail time. The group has asked that oral arguments be held within 30 days and a ruling be handed down by June. A key area of contention is whether courts have the power to force lawmakers to fund the schools. The state has argued that the judiciary does not have the authority to force the state to comply with the Constitution.
In addition, Pataki’s college tuition assistance cuts will compel students to take 15 credits each semester, instead of the current 12 in order to qualify for full financial aid. This will force many youth out of college and many others deeper into debt. Altogether $119 million is being cut by the governor from tuition assistance programs. Other cuts include more than $500 million for city and state universities, mostly earmarked for new building projects.
The governor’s vetoes also included the Liberty Partnership Program, which offers services such as counseling and tutoring to New York State high school students to help keep dropout rates down. The governor vetoed the program’s proposed $1,092,500 funding down to $732,000.
Paying the Rich
The Citizen’s Budget Commission recently estimated that the state is $227 billion in debt. Of that, $45 billion is to be paid off directly by the state, $86 billion by local governments and the rest through state authorities. The authorities were formed as a main means to avoid the requirement for the public to approve all state debt incurred. These authorities are responsible for the large majority of current debt and new debt.
State debt has grown from $14.4 billion in 1990 to $48.2 billion in 2004 and an estimated $50 billion in 2006. Of the $48.2 billion for 2004, $44.6 billion was issued using the public authorities and without voter approval. In addition, public authorities have more than $75 billion of debt that is branded as “not state funded,” when in fact the public treasury, in various forms such as fees and tolls, is used to fund it.
This year’s budget adds billions more in debt. New York now ranks second highest in state and local debt per capita after Alaska.
More Handouts to the Monopolies
The Empire Zones program was established in 1986 to function as a mechanism to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds in the name of “job creation” and “economic growth.” Over the past 20 years, the Empire Zones program has grown significantly, with 72 active zones throughout the state and more recently authorized. The Empire Zones provide land and infrastructure, often tax-free or with substantial tax cuts, all serving to rob the public treasury of needed funds.
The handouts to the monopolies are done in the name of “securing jobs.” However, a recent audit of 11 Empire Zones located around the state, including three in New York City, found that the monopolies rob the public treasury while not providing the jobs promised. They face no consequences for this robbery.
The study found that 47 percent of firms in zones outside of New York City created fewer jobs than they promised and 23 percent actually lost jobs. In all three city zones, more than 40 percent of businesses added no jobs or lost jobs. An additional audit of the Empire Zones program by the State Department of Economic Development found that “weaknesses in reporting” made it difficult to assess the benefits and costs of the program to the state and participating localities. In other words, Enron accounting methods are used to hide the fact that the monopolies are making out like bandits with the public treasury and the state is helping them to do this.
Both unemployment and job insecurity remain high across the state. In 1995, more than 500,000 private sector jobs were lost. From 2001-2003 more jobs were lost each year. In 2004 and 2005 there was only about 1 percent average growth. Overall, from 1990 to 2004 the state lost about 35 percent of its manufacturing jobs.
The state government expects another 6,200 manufacturing jobs will be lost this year. In addition, over the last decade, twenty thousand state jobs were cut and one million people were thrown off welfare. New York continues to have the largest gap in the nation between the rich and poor, as well as the highest taxes in the country.
Read the complete article
FYI: New York Budget-Making Authority
In U.S.-style democracy, budgetary authority, like taxing authority, rests with the legislature, not the executive. In New York, the legislature must approve the budget and generally retains budget authority. However, constitutional changes from the 1920s did give more power to the executive. The governor has the job of proposing, or “constructing” the budget and submitting it, along with specific appropriations bills to the legislature. The legislature has the responsibility to approve it and can make changes, but they are limited to some degree.
In Silver v. Pataki, the court ruled that Pataki had not overstepped his authority:
“Article VII, §1-7 now govern the budget process. Several of these sections vest certain legislative powers in the Governor, creating a limited exception to the rule stated in article III, § 1 of the Constitution: “The legislative power of this State shall be vested in the senate and assembly.” Thus the classic “separation of powers” between the executive and legislative branches is modified to some degree by our Constitution.
“In the process prescribed by the Constitution, the Governor receives estimates from the heads of departments of their financial needs (NY Const, art VII § 1). By the second Tuesday in January (or February 1, in the year after a gubernatorial election), the Governor submits a budget to the Legislature accompanied by “a bill or bills containing all the proposed appropriations and re-appropriations included in the budget and the proposed legislation, if any, recommended therein” (NY Const, art VII, §§ 2-3). The manner in which the Legislature may act on these bills is governed by article VII, § 4, the provision that is central to these cases. That section provides, in relevant part:
“The legislature may not alter an appropriation bill submitted by the governor except to strike out or reduce items therein, but it may add thereto items of appropriation provided that such additions are stated separately and distinctly from the original items of the bill and refer each to a single object or purpose.
“Such an appropriation bill shall when passed by both houses be a law immediately without further action by the governor, except that separate items added to the governor’s bills by the legislature shall be subject to [the governor’s line-item veto].”
The content of how the legislature can alter the appropriations bills is in part what is again in dispute.
Read the complete article
In Silver v. Pataki, the court ruled that Pataki had not overstepped his authority:
“Article VII, §1-7 now govern the budget process. Several of these sections vest certain legislative powers in the Governor, creating a limited exception to the rule stated in article III, § 1 of the Constitution: “The legislative power of this State shall be vested in the senate and assembly.” Thus the classic “separation of powers” between the executive and legislative branches is modified to some degree by our Constitution.
“In the process prescribed by the Constitution, the Governor receives estimates from the heads of departments of their financial needs (NY Const, art VII § 1). By the second Tuesday in January (or February 1, in the year after a gubernatorial election), the Governor submits a budget to the Legislature accompanied by “a bill or bills containing all the proposed appropriations and re-appropriations included in the budget and the proposed legislation, if any, recommended therein” (NY Const, art VII, §§ 2-3). The manner in which the Legislature may act on these bills is governed by article VII, § 4, the provision that is central to these cases. That section provides, in relevant part:
“The legislature may not alter an appropriation bill submitted by the governor except to strike out or reduce items therein, but it may add thereto items of appropriation provided that such additions are stated separately and distinctly from the original items of the bill and refer each to a single object or purpose.
“Such an appropriation bill shall when passed by both houses be a law immediately without further action by the governor, except that separate items added to the governor’s bills by the legislature shall be subject to [the governor’s line-item veto].”
The content of how the legislature can alter the appropriations bills is in part what is again in dispute.
Read the complete article
Fundraiser for War Resisters in Canada: New York Vet Organizes Support for War Resisters
The work of veterans and military families has continued to strengthen the anti-war movement, particularly its internationalist spirit in support of the Iraqi resistance and right to decide their own affairs. Veterans from Iraq have taken their stand against the unjust war in a variety of ways, including organizing against military recruitment, informing youth about the military and the crimes being committed in Iraq, participating in the numerous anti-war actions, standing together with Katrina survivors to demand their rights, and much more.
Recently, New York Iraq war veteran Geoffrey E. Millard joined actions outside President George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford. Since last summer’s successful Camp Caseys, which brought activists from across the country to Crawford to demand Bush end the Iraq war, an ordinance was passed outlawing people camping by the side of the road. So this year when activists took their stand, about a dozen people were arrested, including Millard.
As part of organizing for Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace, Millard also participated in the “Walkin’ to New Orleans,” action. Participants, mostly vets and military families, marched alongside survivors from Mobile, Alabama, across Mississippi to New Orleans. Many of the vets remarked that the hurricane ravaged area, and the horrendous conditions still faced by the people as a result of the government-organized disaster after Katrina, reminded them of Iraq. They brought out that just as in Iraq, the area looked like a war zone and there was no rebuilding for the people, no necessities like electricity and so forth. Many of the vets on the march also participated in an interview on Al Jazeera, taking their stand in support of the Iraqi resistance and denouncing Bush for his war crimes.
Millard is now working on a fundraiser in Buffalo for the Iraq war resisters in Canada. Organized under the banner Peace Has No Borders, a fundraiser is planned for June 16 and 17 in Buffalo. Then a march across the Peace Bridge will be organized, so that the funds can be given to the Iraq war resisters who, as part of protesting the war and refusing to serve, went to Canada. Vietnam veterans on both sides of the border are also participating. The event promises to strengthen the joint actions by Canadians and Americans, such as those against the Iraq war, against the Bush visit to Buffalo, against the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and many more.
Read the complete article
April 29-May 1 Days of Action: Join in Actions Against War! Defend the Rights of Immigrants and All Workers
- Transit Workers Discussion Group -
From April 29 to May 1 actions will take place opposing U.S. war and occupation and defending the rights of immigrants and all workers. A national demonstration against the Iraq war and for justice in the U.S. and abroad will take place Saturday, April 29 in New York City. It is part of the growing movement to reject the backward and dangerous path of President George W. Bush and to demand a new direction for the country. The large majority of Americans, including the troops in Iraq are for withdrawal. The people are against plans for bombing Iran, including using nuclear weapons. It can be seen that this is a dangerous path that can easily lead to world war, something all the peoples firmly oppose. So let us again mobilize to be there and join in saying End the War Now! No U.S. Troops Abroad!
On May 1, International Day of the Working Class, many workers, unions, organizations and people from all walks of life are organizing far and wide to stand against the government attacks on immigrants. Using the weapon of who is and who isn’t “documented,” the legislation now being debated in Congress includes plans to criminalize immigrants and their supporters. A May Day rally and march will take place in Union Square, New York City on May 1. Similar actions are planned in cities nationwide, including Chicago and Los Angeles.
Under the banner An Injury to One is An Injury to All! workers are mobilizing to defend the rights of all workers and to oppose government efforts to isolate and attack different sections of workers, especially those most vulnerable like the immigrants without “documentation.” The actions stand against the notion, promoted by the government and their media, that immigrants are the source of problems like unemployment. As one transit worker put it, “The monopolies are the ones responsible for mass layoffs. They are the ones who impose poverty on Mexico and other countries. They are the ones who force immigrants to work under horrendous conditions for low wages, constantly threatened with being deported. We will not abandon our fellow workers. They have rights as human beings and we will defend their rights and those of all workers. We are all in this together, we are all against the impunity of the government and their efforts to split us. We will defend the rights and dignity of all.”
Taking their stand against efforts to divide the workers, immigrant from native born, those in the country a few years from those here longer, a May Day Coalition was formed in New York City with more then 50 representatives from 22 different immigrant, labor, community and progressive organizations. These include teamsters, transit, healthcare, farm and migrant workers and more. The coalition is a concrete force against efforts by the ruling circles to divide the workers. Healthcare workers brought out that it is a myth that immigrants get free healthcare. On the contrary, they are often denied health care, just as they are denied social security benefits even if they have worked decades in the U.S. Overall workers denied documents pay $7 billion into Social Security and get nothing in return. As well, new federal laws now require anyone applying for Medicaid to show proof of citizenship. This is an arbitrary action directed against those most in need of care and least likely to have such proof, even if they were born in the country.
The many forces coming together to defend rights are rejecting these efforts to blame the workers and taking the stand that the government has responsibility to provide for the rights of the workers and all immigrants. Everyone has rights by virtue of being human beings, not on the basis of whether the government says so or not, using documentation or other means to deny the human person the right to be.
TWDG urges all transit workers to discuss and participate in defending the rights of all workers. We are planning to go to the April 29 demonstration and participate in the May 1 Rally and March in New York City. Transit workers from NYC will be present at the actions and we will join with them. Let’s organize together to represent Buffalo transit workers!
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
Defend the Rights of All Workers!
No to War and Occupation!
Read the complete article
From April 29 to May 1 actions will take place opposing U.S. war and occupation and defending the rights of immigrants and all workers. A national demonstration against the Iraq war and for justice in the U.S. and abroad will take place Saturday, April 29 in New York City. It is part of the growing movement to reject the backward and dangerous path of President George W. Bush and to demand a new direction for the country. The large majority of Americans, including the troops in Iraq are for withdrawal. The people are against plans for bombing Iran, including using nuclear weapons. It can be seen that this is a dangerous path that can easily lead to world war, something all the peoples firmly oppose. So let us again mobilize to be there and join in saying End the War Now! No U.S. Troops Abroad!
On May 1, International Day of the Working Class, many workers, unions, organizations and people from all walks of life are organizing far and wide to stand against the government attacks on immigrants. Using the weapon of who is and who isn’t “documented,” the legislation now being debated in Congress includes plans to criminalize immigrants and their supporters. A May Day rally and march will take place in Union Square, New York City on May 1. Similar actions are planned in cities nationwide, including Chicago and Los Angeles.
Under the banner An Injury to One is An Injury to All! workers are mobilizing to defend the rights of all workers and to oppose government efforts to isolate and attack different sections of workers, especially those most vulnerable like the immigrants without “documentation.” The actions stand against the notion, promoted by the government and their media, that immigrants are the source of problems like unemployment. As one transit worker put it, “The monopolies are the ones responsible for mass layoffs. They are the ones who impose poverty on Mexico and other countries. They are the ones who force immigrants to work under horrendous conditions for low wages, constantly threatened with being deported. We will not abandon our fellow workers. They have rights as human beings and we will defend their rights and those of all workers. We are all in this together, we are all against the impunity of the government and their efforts to split us. We will defend the rights and dignity of all.”
Taking their stand against efforts to divide the workers, immigrant from native born, those in the country a few years from those here longer, a May Day Coalition was formed in New York City with more then 50 representatives from 22 different immigrant, labor, community and progressive organizations. These include teamsters, transit, healthcare, farm and migrant workers and more. The coalition is a concrete force against efforts by the ruling circles to divide the workers. Healthcare workers brought out that it is a myth that immigrants get free healthcare. On the contrary, they are often denied health care, just as they are denied social security benefits even if they have worked decades in the U.S. Overall workers denied documents pay $7 billion into Social Security and get nothing in return. As well, new federal laws now require anyone applying for Medicaid to show proof of citizenship. This is an arbitrary action directed against those most in need of care and least likely to have such proof, even if they were born in the country.
The many forces coming together to defend rights are rejecting these efforts to blame the workers and taking the stand that the government has responsibility to provide for the rights of the workers and all immigrants. Everyone has rights by virtue of being human beings, not on the basis of whether the government says so or not, using documentation or other means to deny the human person the right to be.
TWDG urges all transit workers to discuss and participate in defending the rights of all workers. We are planning to go to the April 29 demonstration and participate in the May 1 Rally and March in New York City. Transit workers from NYC will be present at the actions and we will join with them. Let’s organize together to represent Buffalo transit workers!
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
Defend the Rights of All Workers!
No to War and Occupation!
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
“IS IRAQ REALLY ANOTHER VIETNAM?”
War Resisters League Stop the Merchants of Death Campaign and Canisius College
Speaker: Professor Robert Buzzanco, author, historian and political analyst
Wednesday, April 26, 7PM
Regis Hall in the Richard E. Winter Student Center
Call Dianne: 883-2212
Canisius Campus Ministries: 888-2421
CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS FIRST MEETING
Thursday, April 27, 7-9PM
Lafayette Presbyterian Church
875 Elmwood Ave.
(Elmwood at Lafayette)
First meeting of a local group dedicated to taking action on global warming and climate change.
CELEBRATION OF MAY DAY INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS DAY
Friday, April 28
Cornell Industrial
Labor Relations School,
237 Main St., Suite 1200
Call for time: 852-4191
ROCHESTER
STAND AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR: ANTI-WAR VIGIL
Sunday, April 23, Noon
Twelve Corners in Brighton
After Three Years: Enough!
HAMILTON
SECOND ANNUAL FREE PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS TOUR
Tuesday, April 25, 6PM
McMaster University
Health Science Building
Room 1A4, Ewart Angus Center
Organized by Sumoud Political Prisoners Solidarity Group and Defense for Children International (Palestine Section)
Contact: sphr.mcmaster@gmail.com
Websites: sumoud.tao.ca
www.dci-pal.org/english/home.cfm
TORONTO
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAY OF PIGS INVASION THEY DID NOT PASS & THEY SHALL NOT PASS
Cultural Evening
Saturday, April 22, 7:30PM
University of Toronto, Trinity College
JCR Room 6, Hoskin Ave.
Organized by Women’s Coordinating
Committee Cuba ‘98
Email: wccc_98@hotmail.com
NEW YORK CITY
FREEDOM NOW! THE CASE OF THE PUERTO RICAN AND CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS
Tuesday, April 25, 5-7PM
NYU Kimmel Student Center
60 Washington Sq. South, Rm 805
(Between Laguardia Place and Thompson)
Come and learn how you can join the international movement to free these political prisoners.
Sponsored by The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, LUCHA, ProLibertad and the Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5.
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum: 602-8077
Peace Center: 894-2013 for bus info
May Day Actions
RALLY & MARCH FOR
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
No Work, No School, No Sales, No Buying
Monday, May 1, 4PM
Union Square, New York City
Demonstrations in Chicago and Los Angeles
Local demonstrations across the country
Contact Buffalo Forum: 602-8077
Read the complete article
“IS IRAQ REALLY ANOTHER VIETNAM?”
War Resisters League Stop the Merchants of Death Campaign and Canisius College
Speaker: Professor Robert Buzzanco, author, historian and political analyst
Wednesday, April 26, 7PM
Regis Hall in the Richard E. Winter Student Center
Call Dianne: 883-2212
Canisius Campus Ministries: 888-2421
CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS FIRST MEETING
Thursday, April 27, 7-9PM
Lafayette Presbyterian Church
875 Elmwood Ave.
(Elmwood at Lafayette)
First meeting of a local group dedicated to taking action on global warming and climate change.
CELEBRATION OF MAY DAY INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS DAY
Friday, April 28
Cornell Industrial
Labor Relations School,
237 Main St., Suite 1200
Call for time: 852-4191
ROCHESTER
STAND AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR: ANTI-WAR VIGIL
Sunday, April 23, Noon
Twelve Corners in Brighton
After Three Years: Enough!
HAMILTON
SECOND ANNUAL FREE PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS TOUR
Tuesday, April 25, 6PM
McMaster University
Health Science Building
Room 1A4, Ewart Angus Center
Organized by Sumoud Political Prisoners Solidarity Group and Defense for Children International (Palestine Section)
Contact: sphr.mcmaster@gmail.com
Websites: sumoud.tao.ca
www.dci-pal.org/english/home.cfm
TORONTO
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAY OF PIGS INVASION THEY DID NOT PASS & THEY SHALL NOT PASS
Cultural Evening
Saturday, April 22, 7:30PM
University of Toronto, Trinity College
JCR Room 6, Hoskin Ave.
Organized by Women’s Coordinating
Committee Cuba ‘98
Email: wccc_98@hotmail.com
NEW YORK CITY
FREEDOM NOW! THE CASE OF THE PUERTO RICAN AND CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS
Tuesday, April 25, 5-7PM
NYU Kimmel Student Center
60 Washington Sq. South, Rm 805
(Between Laguardia Place and Thompson)
Come and learn how you can join the international movement to free these political prisoners.
Sponsored by The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, LUCHA, ProLibertad and the Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5.
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum: 602-8077
Peace Center: 894-2013 for bus info
May Day Actions
RALLY & MARCH FOR
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
No Work, No School, No Sales, No Buying
Monday, May 1, 4PM
Union Square, New York City
Demonstrations in Chicago and Los Angeles
Local demonstrations across the country
Contact Buffalo Forum: 602-8077
Read the complete article
Blackmail of ''Front-End Sweeteners'': Reject Control Board Tyranny and Efforts to Divide Workers
The Buffalo Control Board, continuing its brutal attacks on workers, their unions and contracts, recently said it would begin lifting the wage-freeze imposed on city workers, teachers and firefighters — if the unions would make concessions. The Board is also openly trying to pit the workers against each other, saying it would consider lifting the freeze on a union-by-union basis. Using this blackmail and divisive stand, the Board hopes to force the unions into negotiations.
Alair Townsend, vice chairwoman of the Control Board, said she hopes that the proposal “Will be the start of a thought process that will lead to a negotiating process that can bear fruit.” Having no shame in using blackmail, she added that the Control Board will provide “front-end sweeteners” to unions that agree to concessions. Board spokesperson Dorothy A. Johnson chimed in that the unions better move fast as, according to her, there is a limited amount of funding for “employee incentives.”
The problem the Board is contending with is that the unions are not accepting the destruction of their contracts and are rightly refusing to negotiate so long as the wage freeze is in place. The freeze directly breaks the contracts. It was imposed right in the midst of negotiations and made clear that the Control Board refuses to be bound by the contracts. In addition, cuts to healthcare benefits were also unilaterally imposed, at the demand of the Board and outside of negotiations. Both actions have created a situation where the contracts have no meaning and the rights of the unions and the workers they represent can be violated at will. Now the Board thinks that blackmail and promises of “sweeteners” will seduce the unions into accepting yet more concessions and attacks on their rights and their very existence as defense organizations of the workers.
Buffalo Forum stands by the workers and their unions and their refusal to negotiate, with the Control Board or the City. It is the Board that is in violation of the Taylor Law and these proposals represent more actions that are contrary to existing labor law. The Control Board law itself allows the Board to accept or reject contracts and impose wage freezes — provisions many consider illegal. But even with these powers, the law does not permit the Control Board to sit at the negotiating table. It is the City that is supposed to do the negotiating and the contracts are between the City and the unions.
The Control Board, by putting the wage freeze on the negotiating table, and demanding concessions, is directly interfering with the negotiations themselves. They are reaffirming that contrary to existing labor law, including the Taylor Law, they will dictate the terms and conditions of the contracts. More than this, they continue to permit themselves to break the contract whenever and however they please — such as with another wage freeze even if contracts are negotiated. And now they are trying to impose the precedent that they can dictate when negotiations occur, when contracts are opened, when they are broken, and do so on a “union-by-union” basis, depending on the willingness of unions to accept concessions. This is not negotiating in good faith. It is not a binding contract. It is tyranny.
It is also significant that the Board is now going after work rules, in addition to long-standing demands for cuts to healthcare and pension benefits. Johnson suggested that the unions accept concessions on work-rules, work schedules, and paid time-off, like sick days, personal days and vacation days. Johnson also said even with the wage freeze in place, the unions should negotiate. Again, offering the blackmail of lifting the freeze, she said, “if a new contract is brought to us that would bring meaningful savings…that particular union could be released from the wage freeze.” In this manner, the Board is dictating that only contracts with concessions are acceptable.
The workers, whether city, teachers, firefighters, steel, auto, or airline workers all have the same experience: Concessions Are Not Solutions. They also know that the “thought process” the Board is demanding is not that of thinking workers who know they are the producers of the wealth and they are the ones who make Buffalo and any city run. The Control Board wants thought control so that everyone bows down to their tyranny. The workers of Buffalo say NO! We will defend our rights and our
unions.
Read the complete article
Alair Townsend, vice chairwoman of the Control Board, said she hopes that the proposal “Will be the start of a thought process that will lead to a negotiating process that can bear fruit.” Having no shame in using blackmail, she added that the Control Board will provide “front-end sweeteners” to unions that agree to concessions. Board spokesperson Dorothy A. Johnson chimed in that the unions better move fast as, according to her, there is a limited amount of funding for “employee incentives.”
The problem the Board is contending with is that the unions are not accepting the destruction of their contracts and are rightly refusing to negotiate so long as the wage freeze is in place. The freeze directly breaks the contracts. It was imposed right in the midst of negotiations and made clear that the Control Board refuses to be bound by the contracts. In addition, cuts to healthcare benefits were also unilaterally imposed, at the demand of the Board and outside of negotiations. Both actions have created a situation where the contracts have no meaning and the rights of the unions and the workers they represent can be violated at will. Now the Board thinks that blackmail and promises of “sweeteners” will seduce the unions into accepting yet more concessions and attacks on their rights and their very existence as defense organizations of the workers.
Buffalo Forum stands by the workers and their unions and their refusal to negotiate, with the Control Board or the City. It is the Board that is in violation of the Taylor Law and these proposals represent more actions that are contrary to existing labor law. The Control Board law itself allows the Board to accept or reject contracts and impose wage freezes — provisions many consider illegal. But even with these powers, the law does not permit the Control Board to sit at the negotiating table. It is the City that is supposed to do the negotiating and the contracts are between the City and the unions.
The Control Board, by putting the wage freeze on the negotiating table, and demanding concessions, is directly interfering with the negotiations themselves. They are reaffirming that contrary to existing labor law, including the Taylor Law, they will dictate the terms and conditions of the contracts. More than this, they continue to permit themselves to break the contract whenever and however they please — such as with another wage freeze even if contracts are negotiated. And now they are trying to impose the precedent that they can dictate when negotiations occur, when contracts are opened, when they are broken, and do so on a “union-by-union” basis, depending on the willingness of unions to accept concessions. This is not negotiating in good faith. It is not a binding contract. It is tyranny.
It is also significant that the Board is now going after work rules, in addition to long-standing demands for cuts to healthcare and pension benefits. Johnson suggested that the unions accept concessions on work-rules, work schedules, and paid time-off, like sick days, personal days and vacation days. Johnson also said even with the wage freeze in place, the unions should negotiate. Again, offering the blackmail of lifting the freeze, she said, “if a new contract is brought to us that would bring meaningful savings…that particular union could be released from the wage freeze.” In this manner, the Board is dictating that only contracts with concessions are acceptable.
The workers, whether city, teachers, firefighters, steel, auto, or airline workers all have the same experience: Concessions Are Not Solutions. They also know that the “thought process” the Board is demanding is not that of thinking workers who know they are the producers of the wealth and they are the ones who make Buffalo and any city run. The Control Board wants thought control so that everyone bows down to their tyranny. The workers of Buffalo say NO! We will defend our rights and our
unions.
Read the complete article
140 Actions Nationwide: More Than One Million Protest for Immigrant Rights
For the second time in less than a month, hundreds of thousands of workers, the large majority immigrants, took their stand against government attacks on immigrants and in defense of the rights of all. Across the country, west, south, north and east, undocumented and documented workers stood together alongside many high school youth, who again walked out of school to participate and inspire the actions. Participation was such that meatpacking companies lost production, and hotels and restaurants reported large numbers of workers absent.
Many nationalities, including Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, El Salvadorians, Nicaraguans, Haitians, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Senegalese all made their presence known with flags and signs written in their own languages and in English. In New York, marchers were greeted in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, French and English. As one, the workers and youth stood to reject government plans to criminalize and deport undocumented workers.
These actions follow similar demonstrations across the country at the end of March. For the March actions, Los Angeles saw the largest demonstrations. In April, Dallas had more than 500,000 and New York City and Washington, DC more than 100,000; while Phoenix, Arizona and Houston, Texas numbered more than 50,000. Salt Lake City, Utah brought 20,000 people into the streets. Thousands in Idaho, Kansas, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and elsewhere also had actions, commonly in more than one city in each state.
Signs and speakers opposed government efforts to divide the workers, including the Senate’s divisive plan to divide undocumented immigrants who have been in the country longer from those who have been here less than two years. Many unions participated and their representatives spoke, saying they were prepared to face being criminalized in order to stand side by side with their fellow undocumented workers.
African Americans, for example, spoke to the conditions of slavery they faced and the support for their resistance from people of all nationalities, as seen in the Underground Railway. They rejected current efforts to impose a new slavery on immigrants and pledged to continue opposing the crimes of the government. Repeatedly, the important contributions of all the many immigrants to the economy and to the political and cultural life of the country were affirmed.
Plans are now going forward for more actions nationwide on May 1. Representatives from more than 100 organizations, including unions and immigrant rights groups are traveling to Mexico to build unity of the workers in both countries. They plan to have common banners in DC and Mexico City for May 1. The many organizations, collectives and protesters young and old made clear that they will not accept the government attacks on their rights, as workers and as human beings. Together the workers and youth are fighting under the banners:
No One is Illegal! Amnesty Now!
No Deportations, No Criminalization!
Partial Listing of Weekend Protests, April 8-9
San Diego, California: 50,000
Boise, Idaho: 5,000
Salt Lake City, Utah: 20,000
St. Paul, Minnesota: 40,000
St. Louis, Missouri: 5,000
Dallas, Texas: 500,000
Partial Listing of Monday, April 10 Protests (geographically from the south)
Alabama: Albertville, 5,000; Birmingham, 3,000
Arkansas: Little Rock: 2,000 Springdale, 1000s
Florida: Fort Lauderdale, 150; Fort Meyers: 75,000; Fort Pierce, 2,500; Homestead, Fl.: 2500, Miami, 1000’s; Pensacola, 100’s;
Georgia: Atlanta: 50,000
Kentucky: Lexington, 3,000
Mississippi: Jackson, 500
South Carolina: Charleston, 400; Columbia, 3,000; Greenville, 2,500;
Tennessee: Knoxville, 100’s; Jonesborough, dozens; Memphis, 100’s
Texas: Austin, thousands, Brownsville, 350; Cameron County, 500; Corpus Christi, hundreds; Houston, 50,000; Lake Worth: 5,000; Port Arthur, 200
Kansas: Dodge City; Emporia, 1,500; Garden City, 3000; Kansas City, 1000s; Lawrence, 300; Topeka 100s, Wichita: 4,000
Colorado: Boulder, 150; Colorado Springs, 1,000; Denver, 100s; Grand Junction, 3,500
Nebraska: Omaha: 8,000
New Mexico: Albuquerque: 2,000, Las Cruces, 300;
Nevada: Las Vegas: 3,500, Reno, 5,000
California: Bakersfield, 7-10,000, Los Angeles, 5,000, Oakland: 2,000; Salinas, dozens; San Francisco, 5,000, San Jose, 10,000; Santa Ana, 100s
Oregon: Eugene: 500; Salem, 10,000
Iowa: Sioux City: 3,000
Wisconsin: Madison: 25,000
Illinois: Bloomington, hundreds; Carbondale, 100, Champaign, hundreds
Indiana: Indianapolis: 20,000, South Bend, 100s
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, 1000s; Pittsburgh, 100s
New York: New York City, 100,000; Rochester: 100s;
New Jersey: Jersey City: 3,000
Rhode Island: Providence: 5,000
Massachusetts: Boston, 7,000
Vermont: Burlington, 100
Washington, DC: 150,000
Read the complete article
Many nationalities, including Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, El Salvadorians, Nicaraguans, Haitians, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Senegalese all made their presence known with flags and signs written in their own languages and in English. In New York, marchers were greeted in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, French and English. As one, the workers and youth stood to reject government plans to criminalize and deport undocumented workers.
These actions follow similar demonstrations across the country at the end of March. For the March actions, Los Angeles saw the largest demonstrations. In April, Dallas had more than 500,000 and New York City and Washington, DC more than 100,000; while Phoenix, Arizona and Houston, Texas numbered more than 50,000. Salt Lake City, Utah brought 20,000 people into the streets. Thousands in Idaho, Kansas, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and elsewhere also had actions, commonly in more than one city in each state.
Signs and speakers opposed government efforts to divide the workers, including the Senate’s divisive plan to divide undocumented immigrants who have been in the country longer from those who have been here less than two years. Many unions participated and their representatives spoke, saying they were prepared to face being criminalized in order to stand side by side with their fellow undocumented workers.
African Americans, for example, spoke to the conditions of slavery they faced and the support for their resistance from people of all nationalities, as seen in the Underground Railway. They rejected current efforts to impose a new slavery on immigrants and pledged to continue opposing the crimes of the government. Repeatedly, the important contributions of all the many immigrants to the economy and to the political and cultural life of the country were affirmed.
Plans are now going forward for more actions nationwide on May 1. Representatives from more than 100 organizations, including unions and immigrant rights groups are traveling to Mexico to build unity of the workers in both countries. They plan to have common banners in DC and Mexico City for May 1. The many organizations, collectives and protesters young and old made clear that they will not accept the government attacks on their rights, as workers and as human beings. Together the workers and youth are fighting under the banners:
No One is Illegal! Amnesty Now!
No Deportations, No Criminalization!
Partial Listing of Weekend Protests, April 8-9
San Diego, California: 50,000
Boise, Idaho: 5,000
Salt Lake City, Utah: 20,000
St. Paul, Minnesota: 40,000
St. Louis, Missouri: 5,000
Dallas, Texas: 500,000
Partial Listing of Monday, April 10 Protests (geographically from the south)
Alabama: Albertville, 5,000; Birmingham, 3,000
Arkansas: Little Rock: 2,000 Springdale, 1000s
Florida: Fort Lauderdale, 150; Fort Meyers: 75,000; Fort Pierce, 2,500; Homestead, Fl.: 2500, Miami, 1000’s; Pensacola, 100’s;
Georgia: Atlanta: 50,000
Kentucky: Lexington, 3,000
Mississippi: Jackson, 500
South Carolina: Charleston, 400; Columbia, 3,000; Greenville, 2,500;
Tennessee: Knoxville, 100’s; Jonesborough, dozens; Memphis, 100’s
Texas: Austin, thousands, Brownsville, 350; Cameron County, 500; Corpus Christi, hundreds; Houston, 50,000; Lake Worth: 5,000; Port Arthur, 200
Kansas: Dodge City; Emporia, 1,500; Garden City, 3000; Kansas City, 1000s; Lawrence, 300; Topeka 100s, Wichita: 4,000
Colorado: Boulder, 150; Colorado Springs, 1,000; Denver, 100s; Grand Junction, 3,500
Nebraska: Omaha: 8,000
New Mexico: Albuquerque: 2,000, Las Cruces, 300;
Nevada: Las Vegas: 3,500, Reno, 5,000
California: Bakersfield, 7-10,000, Los Angeles, 5,000, Oakland: 2,000; Salinas, dozens; San Francisco, 5,000, San Jose, 10,000; Santa Ana, 100s
Oregon: Eugene: 500; Salem, 10,000
Iowa: Sioux City: 3,000
Wisconsin: Madison: 25,000
Illinois: Bloomington, hundreds; Carbondale, 100, Champaign, hundreds
Indiana: Indianapolis: 20,000, South Bend, 100s
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, 1000s; Pittsburgh, 100s
New York: New York City, 100,000; Rochester: 100s;
New Jersey: Jersey City: 3,000
Rhode Island: Providence: 5,000
Massachusetts: Boston, 7,000
Vermont: Burlington, 100
Washington, DC: 150,000
Read the complete article
April 10, NYC : We Produce, We Demand: Justice for All Workers
Today, Monday, April 10, join Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines, the Immigrant Communities in Action Coalition and many, many others as we say:
Legalization Not Criminalization or Deportation! No To U.S. War & Plunder of Our Home Countries!
In response to anti-immigrant legislation under consideration in the Senate, thousands of immigrants and allies, workers, and youth walking out of high schools will march together in the Immigrant Rights Mega Rally at City Hallon, April 10.
Walk Out, Take Off, Call In Sick!
We Are the Workers Who Run This City and This Country, and We Will Not Be Silenced!
As momentum builds across the country and mixed messages reach our communities, the Immigrant Communities in Action contingent will march with these messages:
• The fight is not over! We have not won in the Senate. The bill still has anti-immigrant provisions to expand detention, deportation and border militarization. We must stand firm against all anti-immigrant provisions!
• We will not divide our communities! We will not trade off more deportations and policing of our communities and sisters and brothers at the border for the legalization of some!
• No guest-worker programs of work and leave!
For info on the Filipino contingent, call 212-564-6057 or contact@damayanmigrants.org. For info on the Immigrant Communities in Action, call 718-205-3036 (English, Bangla, Urdu, Hindi) or 718-298-5083 [Español]; Email: ImmigrantCommunitiesinAction@gmail.com.
Read the complete article
Legalization Not Criminalization or Deportation! No To U.S. War & Plunder of Our Home Countries!
In response to anti-immigrant legislation under consideration in the Senate, thousands of immigrants and allies, workers, and youth walking out of high schools will march together in the Immigrant Rights Mega Rally at City Hallon, April 10.
Walk Out, Take Off, Call In Sick!
We Are the Workers Who Run This City and This Country, and We Will Not Be Silenced!
As momentum builds across the country and mixed messages reach our communities, the Immigrant Communities in Action contingent will march with these messages:
• The fight is not over! We have not won in the Senate. The bill still has anti-immigrant provisions to expand detention, deportation and border militarization. We must stand firm against all anti-immigrant provisions!
• We will not divide our communities! We will not trade off more deportations and policing of our communities and sisters and brothers at the border for the legalization of some!
• No guest-worker programs of work and leave!
For info on the Filipino contingent, call 212-564-6057 or contact@damayanmigrants.org. For info on the Immigrant Communities in Action, call 718-205-3036 (English, Bangla, Urdu, Hindi) or 718-298-5083 [Español]; Email: ImmigrantCommunitiesinAction@gmail.com.
Read the complete article
New York City May Day Coalition Formed: Call for Rally and March
No School - No Work - No Shopping - No Selling, Union Square, May 1, 4:00pm
More than 50 representatives of 22 different immigrant, labor, community and progressive organizations from the New York City area met in response to a national call issued by the March 25 Coalition against HR4437 in Los Angeles. The meeting, held in Teamster Local 808 in Long Island City, Queens, and hosted by Chris Silvera, President of Local 808 and President of the National Teamsters Black Caucus, began with a national teleconference with organizers in more than a dozen cities across the U.S.
The points of unity raised by the national organizers included:
1) Immediate and unconditional -legalization of all persons.
2) No border walls.
3) No criminalization of any process or individuals.
4) Protect workers’ rights, civil rights, and civil liberties.
The NYC May 1 Coalition, formed to respond to the national call, is organizing the May 1 action in New York City, which includes a rally in Union Square in Manhattan. Organizers are calling for students to walk out of class and for workers to take the day off to participate in the national boycott.
Members of the NYC May 1 Coalition are also mobilizing for the important immigrant rights rally at City Hall on Monday, April 10, where they will be handing out tens of thousands of leaflets for May 1. After April 10, let everyone work together to make May 1 an epic display of solidarity. There are already actions planned in dozens of cities across the U.S. and progressive organizations worldwide are planning to mobilize on May 1 in solidarity with immigrant workers.
Read the complete article
More than 50 representatives of 22 different immigrant, labor, community and progressive organizations from the New York City area met in response to a national call issued by the March 25 Coalition against HR4437 in Los Angeles. The meeting, held in Teamster Local 808 in Long Island City, Queens, and hosted by Chris Silvera, President of Local 808 and President of the National Teamsters Black Caucus, began with a national teleconference with organizers in more than a dozen cities across the U.S.
The points of unity raised by the national organizers included:
1) Immediate and unconditional -legalization of all persons.
2) No border walls.
3) No criminalization of any process or individuals.
4) Protect workers’ rights, civil rights, and civil liberties.
The NYC May 1 Coalition, formed to respond to the national call, is organizing the May 1 action in New York City, which includes a rally in Union Square in Manhattan. Organizers are calling for students to walk out of class and for workers to take the day off to participate in the national boycott.
Members of the NYC May 1 Coalition are also mobilizing for the important immigrant rights rally at City Hall on Monday, April 10, where they will be handing out tens of thousands of leaflets for May 1. After April 10, let everyone work together to make May 1 an epic display of solidarity. There are already actions planned in dozens of cities across the U.S. and progressive organizations worldwide are planning to mobilize on May 1 in solidarity with immigrant workers.
Read the complete article
Government Refuses Satellite Voting for New Orleans: Demonstrators Demand Voting Rights
Thousands of protestors marched in New Orleans April 1, demanding their voter rights and rejecting government efforts to keep Katrina survivors from voting. Primary elections for mayor, City Council and other local offices are scheduled for April 22. The large majority of New Orleans voters, an estimated 250,000, largely African Americans, still remain exiled in 44 states across the country. Many are in Houston, others in Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco and elsewhere.
A main demand of survivors is for the government to provide satellite voting in the areas where survivors are located. It is well known that the federal government has a nationwide system of satellite voting, as it has been used for various elections, such as those for Iraq and Afghanistan. They refuse to provide it for the people of New Orleans.
In a situation where mail going in or out of New Orleans still takes weeks, and where the government addresses of survivors is likely to be highly inaccurate, mail-in ballots are the main form of voting being imposed. As well, a two-step process was imposed where an application for the ballot first is sent and then only on receiving the application is the mail-in ballot itself sent. All ballots then have to be mailed and received by the time of the April 22 election. The entire set-up is guaranteed to disenfranchise the large majority of New Orleans voters.
The refusal by the government to ensure the right to vote has been evident from the beginning. Initially, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) refused to provide a list of addresses for people from New Orleans scattered nationwide. Louisiana was forced to file suit before FEMA handed the list over to state officials. The list itself is likely incomplete as it only includes those who have registered with FEMA, which was necessary to secure any assistance. While this is likely the majority of people, it is not everyone.
It should also be remembered that at the time of the government-organized disaster in the aftermath of Katrina, families were forcibly torn apart, children were separated from parents, husbands from wives, grandmothers from their children and grandchildren. Family members were not told where they were being sent and many were sent in opposite directions and then forced into concentration camps. It was not uncommon for survivors to say the action echoed the days of slavery, when families were separated, sold and sent in different directions.
Since that time, some people have been forced to move more than a dozen times, including evictions in March of thousands of people staying in hotels. More than one thousand people are still missing and unaccounted for. So the reliability and completeness of the addresses FEMA provided is in great doubt.
In addition, the Louisiana Secretary of State, the executive responsible for elections in the state, is refusing to make the voter roles public, which is the norm. So the 22 candidates running for mayor, for example, have no means to present themselves or their programs to the majority of voters. As with the satellite voting, there are mechanisms to overcome this problem, such as all-candidates video conferencing meetings. It is also the case that absent the voter roles, including the number of registered voters, the only one in a position to decide the accuracy, or fraud of the elections, will be the secretary of state. Given the wholesale disenfranchisement conducted by secretaries of state in the elections in 2000 and 2004, including excluding legitimate voters from the roles, many expect even those who try to vote will be disenfranchised as well.
The one measure the state and federal government did take was allowing for early voting at several sites in the state. Many survivors are driving the seven or more hours in from Houston and Atlanta, to vote. Activists are also organizing bus caravans from about 300 cities across Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas, so that more people can vote.
As speakers at the march brought out, significant precedents are being set with the New Orleans election that could impact elections nationwide. Keeping the voter roles private and exclusively in the hands of federal policing agencies like Homeland Security and the state secretary of state, excluding voters or limiting them to mail-in ballots in the name of an emergency, restricting voter locations, are all mechanisms that could be imposed elsewhere. All serve to further disenfranchise people and make voting even more subject to the arbitrary actions and impunity of government executives.
Read the complete article
A main demand of survivors is for the government to provide satellite voting in the areas where survivors are located. It is well known that the federal government has a nationwide system of satellite voting, as it has been used for various elections, such as those for Iraq and Afghanistan. They refuse to provide it for the people of New Orleans.
In a situation where mail going in or out of New Orleans still takes weeks, and where the government addresses of survivors is likely to be highly inaccurate, mail-in ballots are the main form of voting being imposed. As well, a two-step process was imposed where an application for the ballot first is sent and then only on receiving the application is the mail-in ballot itself sent. All ballots then have to be mailed and received by the time of the April 22 election. The entire set-up is guaranteed to disenfranchise the large majority of New Orleans voters.
The refusal by the government to ensure the right to vote has been evident from the beginning. Initially, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) refused to provide a list of addresses for people from New Orleans scattered nationwide. Louisiana was forced to file suit before FEMA handed the list over to state officials. The list itself is likely incomplete as it only includes those who have registered with FEMA, which was necessary to secure any assistance. While this is likely the majority of people, it is not everyone.
It should also be remembered that at the time of the government-organized disaster in the aftermath of Katrina, families were forcibly torn apart, children were separated from parents, husbands from wives, grandmothers from their children and grandchildren. Family members were not told where they were being sent and many were sent in opposite directions and then forced into concentration camps. It was not uncommon for survivors to say the action echoed the days of slavery, when families were separated, sold and sent in different directions.
Since that time, some people have been forced to move more than a dozen times, including evictions in March of thousands of people staying in hotels. More than one thousand people are still missing and unaccounted for. So the reliability and completeness of the addresses FEMA provided is in great doubt.
In addition, the Louisiana Secretary of State, the executive responsible for elections in the state, is refusing to make the voter roles public, which is the norm. So the 22 candidates running for mayor, for example, have no means to present themselves or their programs to the majority of voters. As with the satellite voting, there are mechanisms to overcome this problem, such as all-candidates video conferencing meetings. It is also the case that absent the voter roles, including the number of registered voters, the only one in a position to decide the accuracy, or fraud of the elections, will be the secretary of state. Given the wholesale disenfranchisement conducted by secretaries of state in the elections in 2000 and 2004, including excluding legitimate voters from the roles, many expect even those who try to vote will be disenfranchised as well.
The one measure the state and federal government did take was allowing for early voting at several sites in the state. Many survivors are driving the seven or more hours in from Houston and Atlanta, to vote. Activists are also organizing bus caravans from about 300 cities across Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas, so that more people can vote.
As speakers at the march brought out, significant precedents are being set with the New Orleans election that could impact elections nationwide. Keeping the voter roles private and exclusively in the hands of federal policing agencies like Homeland Security and the state secretary of state, excluding voters or limiting them to mail-in ballots in the name of an emergency, restricting voter locations, are all mechanisms that could be imposed elsewhere. All serve to further disenfranchise people and make voting even more subject to the arbitrary actions and impunity of government executives.
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST RENDITION
Friday, April 14, 11AM to noon
4500 Genesee St.
in front of the Buffalo International Airport sign
Bring signs and wear orange prison jumpsuits to raise awareness on a busy travel day and support Amnesty International’s report on renditions: “Below the radar: Secret flights to torture and ‘disappearance’.” Extraordinary rendition is the illegal U.S. practice of abducting people (U.S. citizens and others) and, without charging them with any crime, flying them to countries where they are interrogated and tortured
Contact Amnesty International: Lisa Walter 716-692-5696
COUNTER-RECRUITMENT COALITION PROJECT MEETING
Thursday, April 20, 6PM
NYCLU Office
712 Main Street (lower level)
WNY American Civil Liberties Union: 852-4033
NJOZI PROMOTIONS
“A Sister’s Perspective”
Saturday, April 22, 8PM
The Buffalo Science Museum Theater
Poets Staci Alexis Turner, Sharon Jordan Holley, Celeste Lawson, and Toronto’s Karen Richardson. Also appearing will be the Njozi Poets and twelve-year-old Rain Bethel Cooper. We will have special performances by The Daughters of Creative Sound and The Emma J. Horner Chorale.
Tickets $15 available at: Doris Records, 286 East Ferry St.; Gallery 51, 569 Elmwood Ave.; New Style Records & Videos, 2995 Bailey Ave.; Allen St. Connection, 81 Allen St.; and Compro-Tax, 3385 Bailey Ave.
NATIONAL
NATIONAL PEACE DEMONSTRATION
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
GREAT AMERICAN BOYCOTT FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
RALLY & MARCH
Monday, May 1, 4PM
Union Square, New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum: (602-8077)
Read the complete article
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST RENDITION
Friday, April 14, 11AM to noon
4500 Genesee St.
in front of the Buffalo International Airport sign
Bring signs and wear orange prison jumpsuits to raise awareness on a busy travel day and support Amnesty International’s report on renditions: “Below the radar: Secret flights to torture and ‘disappearance’.” Extraordinary rendition is the illegal U.S. practice of abducting people (U.S. citizens and others) and, without charging them with any crime, flying them to countries where they are interrogated and tortured
Contact Amnesty International: Lisa Walter 716-692-5696
COUNTER-RECRUITMENT COALITION PROJECT MEETING
Thursday, April 20, 6PM
NYCLU Office
712 Main Street (lower level)
WNY American Civil Liberties Union: 852-4033
NJOZI PROMOTIONS
“A Sister’s Perspective”
Saturday, April 22, 8PM
The Buffalo Science Museum Theater
Poets Staci Alexis Turner, Sharon Jordan Holley, Celeste Lawson, and Toronto’s Karen Richardson. Also appearing will be the Njozi Poets and twelve-year-old Rain Bethel Cooper. We will have special performances by The Daughters of Creative Sound and The Emma J. Horner Chorale.
Tickets $15 available at: Doris Records, 286 East Ferry St.; Gallery 51, 569 Elmwood Ave.; New Style Records & Videos, 2995 Bailey Ave.; Allen St. Connection, 81 Allen St.; and Compro-Tax, 3385 Bailey Ave.
NATIONAL
NATIONAL PEACE DEMONSTRATION
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
GREAT AMERICAN BOYCOTT FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
RALLY & MARCH
Monday, May 1, 4PM
Union Square, New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum: (602-8077)
Read the complete article
National Call to Action May 1: The Great American Boycott 2006
- National Immigrant Solidarity Network -
“Un dia sin immigrante” “A day without an immigrant”
“We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty for all undocumented workers.”
Nationwide Immigrant General Strike
Immigrants contribute $7 billion in social security per year. They earn $240 billion, report $90 billion, and only are reimbursed $5 billion, so where is the $85 billion? They also contribute to the U.S. economy $25 billion more than they receive in healthcare, etc. According to the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers, “Immigrants are a drain on society.” If this is true, then during the day on May 1st the stock market will surge, and the economy will boom. If not, we prove them wrong once and for all. We know what will happen!
Therefore, the “March 25th Coalition against HR4437 in Los Angeles,” the organizers of the mega march of almost 2 million on March 25, has called for an emergency videoconference meeting on April 8 between Los Angeles and any city that wishes to join the efforts toward “El Gran Paro Americano 2006.” The same meeting will take place in Chicago on April 22. We ask that all who wish to participate and be a part of a national effort on May 1st and beyond, to attend by finding facilities in your areas that can hold the meeting technologically.
The points of unity are: No Work, No School, No Sales, and No Buying, and also to have rallies around symbols of economic trade in your areas (stock exchanges, anti-immigrant corporations, etc.).
Cities across the United States have marched during the week, therefore, in essence observing a regional boycott, which is only felt regionally. The March 25th Coalition against HR4437 calls for these regions to develop a national network that will “connect the dots.” We believe with numbers we have power, the power currently necessary to keep the pressure on the White House to propose provisions that are just and fair for all immigrants.
We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty and dignity for the millions of undocumented workers presently in the U.S. We believe that increased enforcement is a step in the wrong direction and will only serve to facilitate more tragedies along the Mexican-U.S. border in terms of deaths and family separation.
Please organize in your area and join this monumental event that will put our mark on U.S. history.
More details to come. Keep your eye on www.nohr4437.org or write to granmarcha2006@hotmail.com. Donations (tax deductible) should be made to: La Hermandand Mexicana, 7915 Van Nuys Blvd. Panorama City, CA 91402.
Read the complete article
“Un dia sin immigrante” “A day without an immigrant”
“We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty for all undocumented workers.”
Nationwide Immigrant General Strike
Immigrants contribute $7 billion in social security per year. They earn $240 billion, report $90 billion, and only are reimbursed $5 billion, so where is the $85 billion? They also contribute to the U.S. economy $25 billion more than they receive in healthcare, etc. According to the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers, “Immigrants are a drain on society.” If this is true, then during the day on May 1st the stock market will surge, and the economy will boom. If not, we prove them wrong once and for all. We know what will happen!
Therefore, the “March 25th Coalition against HR4437 in Los Angeles,” the organizers of the mega march of almost 2 million on March 25, has called for an emergency videoconference meeting on April 8 between Los Angeles and any city that wishes to join the efforts toward “El Gran Paro Americano 2006.” The same meeting will take place in Chicago on April 22. We ask that all who wish to participate and be a part of a national effort on May 1st and beyond, to attend by finding facilities in your areas that can hold the meeting technologically.
The points of unity are: No Work, No School, No Sales, and No Buying, and also to have rallies around symbols of economic trade in your areas (stock exchanges, anti-immigrant corporations, etc.).
Cities across the United States have marched during the week, therefore, in essence observing a regional boycott, which is only felt regionally. The March 25th Coalition against HR4437 calls for these regions to develop a national network that will “connect the dots.” We believe with numbers we have power, the power currently necessary to keep the pressure on the White House to propose provisions that are just and fair for all immigrants.
We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty and dignity for the millions of undocumented workers presently in the U.S. We believe that increased enforcement is a step in the wrong direction and will only serve to facilitate more tragedies along the Mexican-U.S. border in terms of deaths and family separation.
Please organize in your area and join this monumental event that will put our mark on U.S. history.
More details to come. Keep your eye on www.nohr4437.org or write to granmarcha2006@hotmail.com. Donations (tax deductible) should be made to: La Hermandand Mexicana, 7915 Van Nuys Blvd. Panorama City, CA 91402.
Read the complete article
Defending Immigrant Rights: High School Youth Stand with Workers
Across the country, during the month of March, high school youth walked out of class, defied police, school lockdowns, and threats of suspension to join -demonstrations defending immigrant rights. The youth organized to bring thousands of students and young workers to the massive marches, and inspired many others, including parents and many undocumented workers to join in. The youth took their stand with the workers, documented and undocumented, newly arrived immigrants and those who have worked and lived in the U.S. for years. The large majority of workers marching were Mexican but many other nationalities were represented. Guatemalan, Ecuadorian, Colombian, Haitian, Chinese, Korean, Irish, and more united as one to defend the rights of immigrant workers. More actions occurred April 1 and more are planned for April 10 and May 1.
In southern California, an estimated 40,000 youth walked out and joined demonstrations, usually for several days running. Teachers also joined with the youth in organizing lunchtime discussions of the problems facing immigrants and the repressive and divisive laws currently being considered in Congress.
In Fort Worth, Texas and other schools across northern Texas, thousands of students also walked out of class. One school of about 2,000 had only 130 students left in the building.
The same picture was painted in high schools in many other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Georgia.
Read the complete article
In southern California, an estimated 40,000 youth walked out and joined demonstrations, usually for several days running. Teachers also joined with the youth in organizing lunchtime discussions of the problems facing immigrants and the repressive and divisive laws currently being considered in Congress.
In Fort Worth, Texas and other schools across northern Texas, thousands of students also walked out of class. One school of about 2,000 had only 130 students left in the building.
The same picture was painted in high schools in many other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Georgia.
Read the complete article
Reject Single I.D. for North America: New York Border and “North American Traveler Program”
New York Senator Charles E. Shumer is cosponsoring legislation calling on the government to issue a 24-hour day pass for Americans to enter and leave Canada. It would also allow people under 18 to travel to Canada without a passport if accompanied by a parent.
The Shumer proposal comes in the face of implementation of the “Border Security Act” of 2002, requiring all Americans, including infants and children, to have a passport to enter and leave Canada. Currently, while passports can be requested, other proof of citizenship, such as birth certificates and military cards, are accepted, as are drivers’ licenses. About 70 percent of Americans do not have passports and about 60 percent of Canadians do not.
The government’s new ID requirements will go into effect on January 1, 2008. The requirements are already expected to have a negative impact on the many friendly exchanges by the peoples of the two countries, as well as the students and workers who commute regularly, tourists at Niagara Falls and so forth.
The government also has plans to issue new PASS cards, utilizing biometric identifiers, like eye scans, and including more information about each individual than current passports. It is also demanding that Canada and Mexico meet the same requirements to travel into the United States. Indeed, in recent comments by U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins on the new system, he said Canada could devise a card, acceptable to the U.S. that “could be identical,” to the U.S. cards.
The efforts by the U.S. to impose a single system of identification that it controls for all of North America is part of its plans to annex Canada and Mexico and create a single North American perimeter and what is called a “Security and Prosperity Partnership.” Plans for a “single integrated North American trusted traveler program,” were part of recent discussions by the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico in Cancun (see p. 9-13).
These measures are being taken in the name of securing borders from “criminals and terrorists” and to speed up the flow of people and goods through the borders. Currently border traffic flow is not a major problem at land border crossings like Buffalo and Windsor. Programs such as NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) have been established, creating a category of “secure” travelers and commercial transporters.
With the NEXUS program, travelers who commonly cross the border by land, sea or air are able to get a simplified entry process. For example, special NEXUS lanes have been set up at some major land border points to avoid backups. To obtain a NEXUS pass, a person must submit a passport, fingerprints, undergo a background check and pay the necessary fees.
The FAST program was designed for the trucking transport industry. It is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative involving the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The program expedites border clearance for pre-approved, “low-risk” truck drivers, carriers and importers. FAST is available to those participants who have demonstrated a history of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations, and have acceptable books, records and audit trails.
Establishing a North American “trusted traveler identification program” would not speed up border traffic. The slowdown at border crossings such as Buffalo and Windsor are a result mainly of U.S. Customs decisions to spend more time on checking trucks, as well as the policy of racial and other forms of profiling which target people of Arab origin and Muslim faith as well as political activists.
A new form of identification involving background checks, fingerprinting, iris scanning or other biometrics would serve to hand over information to the U.S. military and policing agencies. It would not change the requirement of U.S. Customs to check cars, boats or transports if they suspect illegal or dangerous substances being smuggled across the border. It would, however, give U.S. Customs the ability to strengthen their system of racial profiling and the targeting of travelers based on their national origin and ideological or religious beliefs as it would provide more information for them to use in targeting specific sections of people. It would completely close the door for travel to or through the U.S. for targeted sections of the Canadian and Mexican people without any recourse.
Having a common North American form of identification means the people of all three countries must have a form of identification acceptable to the United States, beyond the internationally recognized use of the passport. These new forms of identification provide more information to Homeland Security and the military to do as they please. They could also include electronic tracking mechanisms which are quite common today and would permit U.S. authorities to monitor the whereabouts of both citizens and foreigners. When coupled with plans for all workers to have special ID, also with biometric identifiers and possibly tracking mechanisms, it positions the government to keep track of and spy on virtually everyone.
These measures are not for security. They are for profiling, harassment and broad suppression of the peoples.
Read the complete article
The Shumer proposal comes in the face of implementation of the “Border Security Act” of 2002, requiring all Americans, including infants and children, to have a passport to enter and leave Canada. Currently, while passports can be requested, other proof of citizenship, such as birth certificates and military cards, are accepted, as are drivers’ licenses. About 70 percent of Americans do not have passports and about 60 percent of Canadians do not.
The government’s new ID requirements will go into effect on January 1, 2008. The requirements are already expected to have a negative impact on the many friendly exchanges by the peoples of the two countries, as well as the students and workers who commute regularly, tourists at Niagara Falls and so forth.
The government also has plans to issue new PASS cards, utilizing biometric identifiers, like eye scans, and including more information about each individual than current passports. It is also demanding that Canada and Mexico meet the same requirements to travel into the United States. Indeed, in recent comments by U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins on the new system, he said Canada could devise a card, acceptable to the U.S. that “could be identical,” to the U.S. cards.
The efforts by the U.S. to impose a single system of identification that it controls for all of North America is part of its plans to annex Canada and Mexico and create a single North American perimeter and what is called a “Security and Prosperity Partnership.” Plans for a “single integrated North American trusted traveler program,” were part of recent discussions by the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico in Cancun (see p. 9-13).
These measures are being taken in the name of securing borders from “criminals and terrorists” and to speed up the flow of people and goods through the borders. Currently border traffic flow is not a major problem at land border crossings like Buffalo and Windsor. Programs such as NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) have been established, creating a category of “secure” travelers and commercial transporters.
With the NEXUS program, travelers who commonly cross the border by land, sea or air are able to get a simplified entry process. For example, special NEXUS lanes have been set up at some major land border points to avoid backups. To obtain a NEXUS pass, a person must submit a passport, fingerprints, undergo a background check and pay the necessary fees.
The FAST program was designed for the trucking transport industry. It is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative involving the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The program expedites border clearance for pre-approved, “low-risk” truck drivers, carriers and importers. FAST is available to those participants who have demonstrated a history of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations, and have acceptable books, records and audit trails.
Establishing a North American “trusted traveler identification program” would not speed up border traffic. The slowdown at border crossings such as Buffalo and Windsor are a result mainly of U.S. Customs decisions to spend more time on checking trucks, as well as the policy of racial and other forms of profiling which target people of Arab origin and Muslim faith as well as political activists.
A new form of identification involving background checks, fingerprinting, iris scanning or other biometrics would serve to hand over information to the U.S. military and policing agencies. It would not change the requirement of U.S. Customs to check cars, boats or transports if they suspect illegal or dangerous substances being smuggled across the border. It would, however, give U.S. Customs the ability to strengthen their system of racial profiling and the targeting of travelers based on their national origin and ideological or religious beliefs as it would provide more information for them to use in targeting specific sections of people. It would completely close the door for travel to or through the U.S. for targeted sections of the Canadian and Mexican people without any recourse.
Having a common North American form of identification means the people of all three countries must have a form of identification acceptable to the United States, beyond the internationally recognized use of the passport. These new forms of identification provide more information to Homeland Security and the military to do as they please. They could also include electronic tracking mechanisms which are quite common today and would permit U.S. authorities to monitor the whereabouts of both citizens and foreigners. When coupled with plans for all workers to have special ID, also with biometric identifiers and possibly tracking mechanisms, it positions the government to keep track of and spy on virtually everyone.
These measures are not for security. They are for profiling, harassment and broad suppression of the peoples.
Read the complete article
WNY Farmworkers Demand Rights
Farmworkers in Western New York, many of them undocumented immigrants are demanding their rights as workers. They are organizing to have New York State labor law changed. Currently, state law excludes farmworkers from protections concerning overtime pay, health benefits, disability insurance, a day of rest and the right to unionize. The exemption gives a free hand to farm owners, especially the large orchards, to impose horrendous conditions and wages on the workers.
These workers are standing up for their rights despite government threats of deportation. The brutal bills now in Congress would impact many of these workers, including deportation of thousands.
Rochester farmworkers, undocumented workers and many others are joining to protest April 10, demanding their rights as immigrants and workers. The protest is part of nationwide actions. Many churches, anti-war and community activists are joining to stand with the farmworkers. The struggle of these workers plays a significant role in Western New York, where agriculture is a main industries. About 40,000 immigrant workers, mostly from Mexico and El Salvador, come to the area to work in agriculture.
In addition to this struggle by farmworkers, in New York City, immigrants who are permanent residents are organizing to demand their right to vote in local elections. Currently, despite having permanent residency status, paying taxes, and serving in the military, they are not allowed to vote.
Read the complete article
These workers are standing up for their rights despite government threats of deportation. The brutal bills now in Congress would impact many of these workers, including deportation of thousands.
Rochester farmworkers, undocumented workers and many others are joining to protest April 10, demanding their rights as immigrants and workers. The protest is part of nationwide actions. Many churches, anti-war and community activists are joining to stand with the farmworkers. The struggle of these workers plays a significant role in Western New York, where agriculture is a main industries. About 40,000 immigrant workers, mostly from Mexico and El Salvador, come to the area to work in agriculture.
In addition to this struggle by farmworkers, in New York City, immigrants who are permanent residents are organizing to demand their right to vote in local elections. Currently, despite having permanent residency status, paying taxes, and serving in the military, they are not allowed to vote.
Read the complete article
Contract Negotiations: Getting Prepared for “Whatever It Takes” to Defend Our Rights
- Transit Workers Discussion Group -
Workers are welcoming the opportunity to begin discussing contract negotiations together. Last week’s discussion showed that a lot of people have the contract on their minds, but were keeping things to themselves or waiting to see what the company and union would say. By opening up the discussion now, everyone realized that it is a concern we all share. More importantly, people realized that it is up to us together to discuss and decide these matters. We can not leave it in someone else’s hands. Our experience shows we must keep matters in our own hands.
Initial views expressed by people brought out that most feel strongly about defending what we now have, especially our medical benefits. The stand that Concessions Are Not Solutions was widely supported and defended. People generally want to be organized to improve working conditions and maintain pensions and medical benefits. Workers brought out that there are funds available for NFTA to offer better pay and benefits.
A number of drivers vowed to vote No on any contract that included concessions. Others expressed the importance of being ready to do whatever it takes to defend our rights and secure a contract that favors us. It is important to argue out what this means concretely. Most see the possibility of striking only as a last resort, but still something to be considered. What other actions should we prepare for and when should we consider doing them? Actions in the period leading up to the contract, say in May and June for example, could give NFTA an indication of how ready we are to refuse concessions. Things like the Lav-Route Day, organized where we all make stops en route to use the bathroom, or other work to rule actions, may be useful.
In addition, we at Frontier have been discussing and organizing on a daily basis so our thinking and readiness to act are solid. We need to take our experience and spirit of resistance to the Cold Springs and Babcock garages as well. The company will go after the drivers there, while trying to isolate us.
We need to begin now to strengthen links and organize discussion and arm everyone for the upcoming struggles. Taking our video project on bathrooms to other garages is one way to do this. Having drivers from Frontier who have worked at the other garages go there in teams to discuss with workers is another. Working out a potential slate for the union elections and having those workers go as a team to take a stand on the contract is another possibility. There are no doubt many more. Let’s discuss these matters. Preparation is key to the success of any battle so let’s get prepared.
Read the complete article
Workers are welcoming the opportunity to begin discussing contract negotiations together. Last week’s discussion showed that a lot of people have the contract on their minds, but were keeping things to themselves or waiting to see what the company and union would say. By opening up the discussion now, everyone realized that it is a concern we all share. More importantly, people realized that it is up to us together to discuss and decide these matters. We can not leave it in someone else’s hands. Our experience shows we must keep matters in our own hands.
Initial views expressed by people brought out that most feel strongly about defending what we now have, especially our medical benefits. The stand that Concessions Are Not Solutions was widely supported and defended. People generally want to be organized to improve working conditions and maintain pensions and medical benefits. Workers brought out that there are funds available for NFTA to offer better pay and benefits.
A number of drivers vowed to vote No on any contract that included concessions. Others expressed the importance of being ready to do whatever it takes to defend our rights and secure a contract that favors us. It is important to argue out what this means concretely. Most see the possibility of striking only as a last resort, but still something to be considered. What other actions should we prepare for and when should we consider doing them? Actions in the period leading up to the contract, say in May and June for example, could give NFTA an indication of how ready we are to refuse concessions. Things like the Lav-Route Day, organized where we all make stops en route to use the bathroom, or other work to rule actions, may be useful.
In addition, we at Frontier have been discussing and organizing on a daily basis so our thinking and readiness to act are solid. We need to take our experience and spirit of resistance to the Cold Springs and Babcock garages as well. The company will go after the drivers there, while trying to isolate us.
We need to begin now to strengthen links and organize discussion and arm everyone for the upcoming struggles. Taking our video project on bathrooms to other garages is one way to do this. Having drivers from Frontier who have worked at the other garages go there in teams to discuss with workers is another. Working out a potential slate for the union elections and having those workers go as a team to take a stand on the contract is another possibility. There are no doubt many more. Let’s discuss these matters. Preparation is key to the success of any battle so let’s get prepared.
Read the complete article
Control Board Wage Freeze Upheld: Police Demand That Contract Be Respected
The New York State Court of Appeals recently refused to hear an appeal by the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association demanding that their contract be respected and the wages agreed on, paid. The case is one of several, involving teachers and firefighters as well as police, opposing the Control Board wage freeze. The Control Board unilaterally took the action to freeze wages, openly violating the contracts in place. Their actions go directly against the New York State Taylor Law, the main law for governing labor relations. The law upholds contracts as binding on both parties and outlaws the breaking of the contracts by workers and employers alike.
In the police case, the initial ruling by State Supreme Court Judge Nelson H. Cosgrove went against the Control Board. The judge ruled the Board could not prevent police from getting 3.4 percent raises, scheduled for July 2004. Cosgrove had already issued a judgment in the case a year earlier, saying police were entitled to the raise. The decision was overturned on appeal by the Control Board, and the higher Court of Appeals refused to hear the appeal by the police.
The response of the Control Board was to again insult the workers, blaming them for the lack of contract negotiations. The Board’s Executive Director Dorothy A. Johnson was quoted as saying “We sincerely hope this will open the door for constructive discussions among the city’s stakeholders to come up with structural solutions that benefit everyone.” No doubt Johnson has in mind the concessions demanded in health care benefits, pensions and working conditions for all city workers, firefighters, police and teachers.
The police, like the firefighters and teachers, are justified in demanding that a contract is a contract and binding on the city. The Control Board, as part of its reign of tyranny, is dictating that it can make cuts and break contracts as it pleases. The fact that the courts refuse to uphold state law and instead participate in the wrecking of the law, makes clear that the Control Board is a mechanism for wrecking rule of law, just as it is a mechanism for eliminating elected governance.
What is needed is the elimination of the Control Board.
Read the complete article
In the police case, the initial ruling by State Supreme Court Judge Nelson H. Cosgrove went against the Control Board. The judge ruled the Board could not prevent police from getting 3.4 percent raises, scheduled for July 2004. Cosgrove had already issued a judgment in the case a year earlier, saying police were entitled to the raise. The decision was overturned on appeal by the Control Board, and the higher Court of Appeals refused to hear the appeal by the police.
The response of the Control Board was to again insult the workers, blaming them for the lack of contract negotiations. The Board’s Executive Director Dorothy A. Johnson was quoted as saying “We sincerely hope this will open the door for constructive discussions among the city’s stakeholders to come up with structural solutions that benefit everyone.” No doubt Johnson has in mind the concessions demanded in health care benefits, pensions and working conditions for all city workers, firefighters, police and teachers.
The police, like the firefighters and teachers, are justified in demanding that a contract is a contract and binding on the city. The Control Board, as part of its reign of tyranny, is dictating that it can make cuts and break contracts as it pleases. The fact that the courts refuse to uphold state law and instead participate in the wrecking of the law, makes clear that the Control Board is a mechanism for wrecking rule of law, just as it is a mechanism for eliminating elected governance.
What is needed is the elimination of the Control Board.
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
PEACE CENTER
Planning Meeting
Tuesday, April 11, 6:30PM
2123 Bailey near Genesee
Help plan the Peace Center’s coming events
April 29: national demonstration in NYC
May 22: national lobbying day for peace in Washington
May 30-31: NYS Democratic Party convention in Buffalo
June 16-17: “Peace Has No Borders” weekend in Buffalo/Fort Erie
Call: 894-2013.
“WE WERE THERE TOO”
VOICES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS
April 12, 7PM
True Bethel Baptist Church
907 E. Ferry St.
Panel discussion and screening of “Another Brother,” the story of Clarence Fitch, an African-American veteran whose post-Vietnam struggles with racism, drug abuse and AIDS inspired his wife to make a film about his life.
Sponsored by WNY Veterans for Peace and the Peace Center
NJOZI PROMOTIONS
“A Sister’s Perspective”
Saturday, April 22, 8PM
Buffalo Science Museum Theater
Poets Staci Alexis Turner, Sharon Jordan Holley, Celeste Lawson, and Toronto’s Karen Richardson. Also appearing will be the Njozi Poets and twelve year old Rain Bethel Cooper. We will have special performances by The Daughters of Creative Sound and The Emma J. Horner Chorale.
Tickets $15 available at: Doris Records, 286 East Ferry St.; Gallery 51, 569 Elmwood Ave.; New Style Records & Videos, 2995 Bailey Ave.; Allen St. Connection, 81 Allen St.; and Compro-Tax, 3385 Bailey Ave.
TORONTO
STOP THE DEPORTATIONS! NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!
Action against Detention and Deportation of Immigrants
Saturday, April 8, 12noon
Dufferin Grove Park
Dufferin St., south of Bloor
(meet at southwest end of park)
FILMS OF THE PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE
Thursday, April 13, 7PM
Medical Sciences Building Auditorium
Room 2158
1 King’s College Circle
University of Toronto
Souha Surviving Hell (2001) and Women in Struggle (2004) followed by discussion and update on the recent raid of the Jericho prison and kidnapping of the Jericho 6.
Sponsored by Sumoud, The Palestinian Political Prisoner Solidarity Group and Al-Awda (Toronto)
Tickets: $5 in advance, $10 at the door.
Contact: Sumoud at: sumoud@tao.ca
Proceeds will go to the upcoming “Palestinian Child Prisoners Speaking Tour”
NATIONAL
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
Read the complete article
PEACE CENTER
Planning Meeting
Tuesday, April 11, 6:30PM
2123 Bailey near Genesee
Help plan the Peace Center’s coming events
April 29: national demonstration in NYC
May 22: national lobbying day for peace in Washington
May 30-31: NYS Democratic Party convention in Buffalo
June 16-17: “Peace Has No Borders” weekend in Buffalo/Fort Erie
Call: 894-2013.
“WE WERE THERE TOO”
VOICES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS
April 12, 7PM
True Bethel Baptist Church
907 E. Ferry St.
Panel discussion and screening of “Another Brother,” the story of Clarence Fitch, an African-American veteran whose post-Vietnam struggles with racism, drug abuse and AIDS inspired his wife to make a film about his life.
Sponsored by WNY Veterans for Peace and the Peace Center
NJOZI PROMOTIONS
“A Sister’s Perspective”
Saturday, April 22, 8PM
Buffalo Science Museum Theater
Poets Staci Alexis Turner, Sharon Jordan Holley, Celeste Lawson, and Toronto’s Karen Richardson. Also appearing will be the Njozi Poets and twelve year old Rain Bethel Cooper. We will have special performances by The Daughters of Creative Sound and The Emma J. Horner Chorale.
Tickets $15 available at: Doris Records, 286 East Ferry St.; Gallery 51, 569 Elmwood Ave.; New Style Records & Videos, 2995 Bailey Ave.; Allen St. Connection, 81 Allen St.; and Compro-Tax, 3385 Bailey Ave.
TORONTO
STOP THE DEPORTATIONS! NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!
Action against Detention and Deportation of Immigrants
Saturday, April 8, 12noon
Dufferin Grove Park
Dufferin St., south of Bloor
(meet at southwest end of park)
FILMS OF THE PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE
Thursday, April 13, 7PM
Medical Sciences Building Auditorium
Room 2158
1 King’s College Circle
University of Toronto
Souha Surviving Hell (2001) and Women in Struggle (2004) followed by discussion and update on the recent raid of the Jericho prison and kidnapping of the Jericho 6.
Sponsored by Sumoud, The Palestinian Political Prisoner Solidarity Group and Al-Awda (Toronto)
Tickets: $5 in advance, $10 at the door.
Contact: Sumoud at: sumoud@tao.ca
Proceeds will go to the upcoming “Palestinian Child Prisoners Speaking Tour”
NATIONAL
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
Read the complete article
Demonstrations Nationwide: Immigrants Say: No Second Class Status!
Top: March 27, 2006 - Students in Dallas, Texas join youth in several states in a walkout to oppose attacks on immigrants and demand rights. Bottom: March 27, 2006 - Nimitz Middle School and Bell High School students demand students be let out of Huntington Park High School to join in the march for immigrant rights, Los Angeles, California.
Massive demonstrations opposing the anti-immigrant and anti-worker bills now being debated in Congress have taken place across the country in the past several weeks. The actions have been characterized by large numbers of Latino high school youth walking out in protest, and construction and hotel workers leaving work. All are filling the streets and demanding respect, as human beings and as workers.
See usmlo.org for the full report!
Read the complete article
Mohamed Albanna Case: Government Refuses to Provide Information on Spying
The U.S. Justice Department has continued to pursue its case against Mohomed
Albanna. While he and two others have only been charged with a technical violation — failure to have a license to transfer money abroad — criminal charges have been leveled and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) has been the main agency in the case. Commonly, technical violations are handled with letters, with no trial or criminal charges.
In the most recent development, Albanna demanded to know whether spying had been conducted against him without a warrant. Normally, no such spying would be done in a case of this kind, where even the government admits the only issue is lack of a license. Even so, it is well-known that the JTTF has used numerous court-approved wiretaps, not only against Albanna, but against the Lackawanna community.
Albanna demanded to know if illegal spying was used as more and more evidence has come forward that the government, using the FBI, National Security Agency (NSA) and Joint Terrorism Task Forces has done widespread spying without warrants. President George W. Bush used executive power to authorize the -warrantless searches, denounced by many as unconstitutional. In addition, classified documents were recently filed with the judge in Albanna’s case, District Judge William M. Skretny. Given that the JTTF is the agency that continues to -investigate Albanna, and now secret “evidence” is being used, Albanna’s concerns about unjust and illegal spying are warranted.
Despite the evidence that the illegal spying was done, Judge Skretny ruled that the prosecution does not have to inform Albanna about the matter. The ruling indicates that the judge no longer considers it his responsibility to ensure that Albanna has the opportunity to confront his accusers, which he cannot do if the illegal spying is not made public. As well, Skretny does not seem to think rule of law requires that he object to illegal government spying.
Many people think the government has repeatedly delayed the case precisely in order to justify more spying and harassment of Albanna and Buffalo’s Arab businessmen in general. As occurred with the Lackawanna Six case, they are trying to create “evidence” of support for terrorism where none exists. Using secret spying and secret evidence, they will not have to prove their case, only assert it.
Albanna is not the only Arab businessman targeted in the area. Others have also faced harassment and charges of various kinds. Well-known community activist and businessman Mohammed Abuhamra, for example, was branded as a “threat to national security,” and denied bail, based on “secret evidence.” The government proclaimed him a “terrorist” using the evidence. Yet when the government was finally forced to reveal their “evidence,” it was clear they had none and instead withdrew their objections to bail.
The government’s racial profiling and effort to brand Albanna and Abuhamra as supporters of terrorism has continued without let-up, with the monopoly media regularly echoing the government’s claims, with no evidence and no charges. None have taken a stand to denounce the judge’s ruling as going against the rule of law and contributing to the broad government impunity against the Lackawanna community and Arabs and Muslims in general.
Read the complete article
Albanna. While he and two others have only been charged with a technical violation — failure to have a license to transfer money abroad — criminal charges have been leveled and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) has been the main agency in the case. Commonly, technical violations are handled with letters, with no trial or criminal charges.
In the most recent development, Albanna demanded to know whether spying had been conducted against him without a warrant. Normally, no such spying would be done in a case of this kind, where even the government admits the only issue is lack of a license. Even so, it is well-known that the JTTF has used numerous court-approved wiretaps, not only against Albanna, but against the Lackawanna community.
Albanna demanded to know if illegal spying was used as more and more evidence has come forward that the government, using the FBI, National Security Agency (NSA) and Joint Terrorism Task Forces has done widespread spying without warrants. President George W. Bush used executive power to authorize the -warrantless searches, denounced by many as unconstitutional. In addition, classified documents were recently filed with the judge in Albanna’s case, District Judge William M. Skretny. Given that the JTTF is the agency that continues to -investigate Albanna, and now secret “evidence” is being used, Albanna’s concerns about unjust and illegal spying are warranted.
Despite the evidence that the illegal spying was done, Judge Skretny ruled that the prosecution does not have to inform Albanna about the matter. The ruling indicates that the judge no longer considers it his responsibility to ensure that Albanna has the opportunity to confront his accusers, which he cannot do if the illegal spying is not made public. As well, Skretny does not seem to think rule of law requires that he object to illegal government spying.
Many people think the government has repeatedly delayed the case precisely in order to justify more spying and harassment of Albanna and Buffalo’s Arab businessmen in general. As occurred with the Lackawanna Six case, they are trying to create “evidence” of support for terrorism where none exists. Using secret spying and secret evidence, they will not have to prove their case, only assert it.
Albanna is not the only Arab businessman targeted in the area. Others have also faced harassment and charges of various kinds. Well-known community activist and businessman Mohammed Abuhamra, for example, was branded as a “threat to national security,” and denied bail, based on “secret evidence.” The government proclaimed him a “terrorist” using the evidence. Yet when the government was finally forced to reveal their “evidence,” it was clear they had none and instead withdrew their objections to bail.
The government’s racial profiling and effort to brand Albanna and Abuhamra as supporters of terrorism has continued without let-up, with the monopoly media regularly echoing the government’s claims, with no evidence and no charges. None have taken a stand to denounce the judge’s ruling as going against the rule of law and contributing to the broad government impunity against the Lackawanna community and Arabs and Muslims in general.
Read the complete article
Salute the Goodwin Family’s Stand for Justice
Buffalo Forum salutes the courageous and just stand of -Dianna Goodwin and her family against police brutality. Goodwin’s son was brutalized by the police when he was 11, the family was harassed and threatened at that time and repeatedly since. Despite the trauma, the family stood up to police efforts to intimidate them into dropping their civil suit against the City of Buffalo and its police department. The family demanded reparations for the brutality and accountability from the police (see BF 10.9).
After eight long years, the case -finally went to trial in March. At the trial, -Goodwin, her son and his doctor spoke to the brutality and the trauma to the son, in great detail. They spoke to the various threats by police and efforts to convince them to drop the case. People with experience with police brutality could readily see the crimes committed by police.
Far from apologizing and recognizing the crime of police brutality, the city justified it by saying the police were “just doing their job.” This is an open admission that it is the job of the police to raid communities with guns drawn, to intimidate, harass and brutalize the youth, including children, especially African Americans.
As one activist said, “If the police can act with such impunity, and the city encourages this impunity by saying police are just doing their jobs, all of our children are in danger. We cannot and will not -accept such brutality against our youth.” The city also tried to discredit Goodwin in an attempt to hide the facts of the case and confuse the reality of police crimes. Why discredit Goodwin and subject her family to yet more trauma, if the police were not guilty of brutality? The city’s efforts are those of a guilty party, trying to divert attention and blame the victim.
In the legal case, the jury, most of the people not from Buffalo, found the city not guilty. Evidently, the atmosphere in support of police impunity has become so great that these jurors could not see reality as it is. But in the jury of public opinion, the police are guilty of the crime of brutality and the Goodwin family is being saluted for taking their stand for justice. Buffalo Forum applauds their determination and calls on all its readers and supporters to defend the Goodwins and further assist the family as they appeal the case.
Read the complete article
After eight long years, the case -finally went to trial in March. At the trial, -Goodwin, her son and his doctor spoke to the brutality and the trauma to the son, in great detail. They spoke to the various threats by police and efforts to convince them to drop the case. People with experience with police brutality could readily see the crimes committed by police.
Far from apologizing and recognizing the crime of police brutality, the city justified it by saying the police were “just doing their job.” This is an open admission that it is the job of the police to raid communities with guns drawn, to intimidate, harass and brutalize the youth, including children, especially African Americans.
As one activist said, “If the police can act with such impunity, and the city encourages this impunity by saying police are just doing their jobs, all of our children are in danger. We cannot and will not -accept such brutality against our youth.” The city also tried to discredit Goodwin in an attempt to hide the facts of the case and confuse the reality of police crimes. Why discredit Goodwin and subject her family to yet more trauma, if the police were not guilty of brutality? The city’s efforts are those of a guilty party, trying to divert attention and blame the victim.
In the legal case, the jury, most of the people not from Buffalo, found the city not guilty. Evidently, the atmosphere in support of police impunity has become so great that these jurors could not see reality as it is. But in the jury of public opinion, the police are guilty of the crime of brutality and the Goodwin family is being saluted for taking their stand for justice. Buffalo Forum applauds their determination and calls on all its readers and supporters to defend the Goodwins and further assist the family as they appeal the case.
Read the complete article
Concessions are Not Solutions! Contract Negotiations: Join in Working Out Our Fighting Program
- Transit Workers Discussion Group -
On July 31, 2006 the contract between NFTA-Metro and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1342 will expire. Contract negotiations have not yet begun. We can predict that the Buffalo and County Control Boards will use the contract negotiations to make more demands for concessions. No doubt the lies that workers are to blame for the current crisis will again be repeated, this time targeting transit workers. We are already witness to the wage freeze, layoffs and attacks on healthcare for firefighters, teachers and city workers. We also see the rich and their media going after the GM and Delphi workers, just as they brutally attacked steelworkers before that, robbing them of their pensions and benefits.
Experience here in Buffalo and every industry repeatedly shows that concessions are not solutions. Pensions and health care belong to the workers by right. They are the ones who produced the wealth and have first claim on it!
TWDG proposes that we step up our discussion on working out our own fighting program for both the immediate contract negotiations this year and the union elections in 2007. We think these discussions should be guided by the stand that Concessions Are Not Solutions, the Workers Are Not to Blame, and All for One and One for All. Let’s discuss and work out our own fighting program.
TWDG thinks if NFTA claims there is no money, let them, as a state authority, begin by canceling or freezing their huge debt payments. We demand wages and working conditions on a par with the society we live in and the work we do.
We also think that bathrooms and time to use them and working conditions in general should be given a high priority. Our video project is a good opportunity to engage drivers at all the garages in the struggle on bathrooms and in deciding our fighting program. Spying and arbitrary suspensions and other harassment are also key problems.
We think building the discussion that Concessions Are Not Solutions and Workers Are Not to Blame, along with our specific demands, will strengthen our unity and arm us to defend our interests. Such discussion prepares everyone together to fight back and do so on the basis of our own thinking. For example, NFTA may try to get us to sell out newly hired workers, or to accept cuts in healthcare and pensions. Our stand is to reject such attacks, advancing our call of All for One and One for All!
We need to discuss and decide how best to fight, including organizing to involve everyone in the discussion and decision-making. Let’s get started now!
Read the complete article
On July 31, 2006 the contract between NFTA-Metro and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1342 will expire. Contract negotiations have not yet begun. We can predict that the Buffalo and County Control Boards will use the contract negotiations to make more demands for concessions. No doubt the lies that workers are to blame for the current crisis will again be repeated, this time targeting transit workers. We are already witness to the wage freeze, layoffs and attacks on healthcare for firefighters, teachers and city workers. We also see the rich and their media going after the GM and Delphi workers, just as they brutally attacked steelworkers before that, robbing them of their pensions and benefits.
Experience here in Buffalo and every industry repeatedly shows that concessions are not solutions. Pensions and health care belong to the workers by right. They are the ones who produced the wealth and have first claim on it!
TWDG proposes that we step up our discussion on working out our own fighting program for both the immediate contract negotiations this year and the union elections in 2007. We think these discussions should be guided by the stand that Concessions Are Not Solutions, the Workers Are Not to Blame, and All for One and One for All. Let’s discuss and work out our own fighting program.
TWDG thinks if NFTA claims there is no money, let them, as a state authority, begin by canceling or freezing their huge debt payments. We demand wages and working conditions on a par with the society we live in and the work we do.
We also think that bathrooms and time to use them and working conditions in general should be given a high priority. Our video project is a good opportunity to engage drivers at all the garages in the struggle on bathrooms and in deciding our fighting program. Spying and arbitrary suspensions and other harassment are also key problems.
We think building the discussion that Concessions Are Not Solutions and Workers Are Not to Blame, along with our specific demands, will strengthen our unity and arm us to defend our interests. Such discussion prepares everyone together to fight back and do so on the basis of our own thinking. For example, NFTA may try to get us to sell out newly hired workers, or to accept cuts in healthcare and pensions. Our stand is to reject such attacks, advancing our call of All for One and One for All!
We need to discuss and decide how best to fight, including organizing to involve everyone in the discussion and decision-making. Let’s get started now!
Read the complete article
Upcoming Events
BUFFALO
GRAND OPENING EVENTS
FRANK E. MERRIWEATHER, JR. LIBRARY
April 1 - April 8
E. Utica and Jefferson Ave.
Join in community celebration of historic new branch library with parade, music and reception beginning at 11AM on April 1, and other events every day next week.
STUDENT LABOR WEEK OF ACTION
JUSTICE FOR JANITORS at UB!
Rally at Student Union
UB North Campus
Tuesday, April 4, 12:30PM
Come out and show UB that workers, students, and the community stand for the rights of the workers!
MIGRANT FARMWORKER PANEL PRESENTATION
HUMAN RIGHTS STUDENT CONFERENCE
Thursday, April 6, 7PM
Richard E. Winter Student Center, Canisius College, Hughes Ave.
A panel presentation on solidarity with farmworkers will conclude the conference. Other events during the conference include April 3rd: dinner to benefit the Adopt-a-Minefield with student presentations
April 4 at 4:30 , April 5 at 4:30PM: roundtable; April 5 at 6:30 PM with refugees.
Contact Amie Vuong, 716.860.5604 or vuonga@canisius.edu
NIAGARA MOVEMENT CENTENNIAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Thursday, April 6, 6PM
Bulger Communication Center
Buffalo State College
Presenter is Dr. David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize winning biographer of
WEB Dubois
FREE FILM SCREENING OF “LOOSE CHANGE”
Friday, April 7, 3-6PM
Knox 104, UB North Campus
What did the Bush Administration know about 9/11, and when did it know it?
Discussion on development of a national security state with the director and producer to follow documentary
Video info: www.loosechange911.com
Contact UB Progressive Alliance at jamesholstun@hotmail.com
25TH ANNUAL LATIN AMERICA DINNER
Friday, April 7, 6PM
Canisius High School
1180 Delaware Ave.
Latin American Solidarity Committee
Proceeds support LASC’s humanitarian efforts in Latin America. Regular tickets $12, or $20 for two. Patron tickets $17, or $30 for two. Call 894-2013 to reserve your seat
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE & EQUITY STANDING AGAINST EMPIRE
Saturday, April 8, 9AM - 7PM
UB North Campus, 120 Clemens
All Day conference
$5 for students and $10 for faculty & community. Purchase at the UB Ticket office.
Contact Khalil at lnieves@buffalo.edu
ROCHESTER
THE RIGHT TO A DAY OF REST FARMWORKER SOLIDARITY
Wednesday, April 5, 7PM
121 N. Fitzhugh St.
Discussion on future solidarity efforts with farmworkers in the greater Rochester area.
Contact Rochester Metro Justice
NATIONAL
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
Read the complete article
GRAND OPENING EVENTS
FRANK E. MERRIWEATHER, JR. LIBRARY
April 1 - April 8
E. Utica and Jefferson Ave.
Join in community celebration of historic new branch library with parade, music and reception beginning at 11AM on April 1, and other events every day next week.
STUDENT LABOR WEEK OF ACTION
JUSTICE FOR JANITORS at UB!
Rally at Student Union
UB North Campus
Tuesday, April 4, 12:30PM
Come out and show UB that workers, students, and the community stand for the rights of the workers!
MIGRANT FARMWORKER PANEL PRESENTATION
HUMAN RIGHTS STUDENT CONFERENCE
Thursday, April 6, 7PM
Richard E. Winter Student Center, Canisius College, Hughes Ave.
A panel presentation on solidarity with farmworkers will conclude the conference. Other events during the conference include April 3rd: dinner to benefit the Adopt-a-Minefield with student presentations
April 4 at 4:30 , April 5 at 4:30PM: roundtable; April 5 at 6:30 PM with refugees.
Contact Amie Vuong, 716.860.5604 or vuonga@canisius.edu
NIAGARA MOVEMENT CENTENNIAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Thursday, April 6, 6PM
Bulger Communication Center
Buffalo State College
Presenter is Dr. David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize winning biographer of
WEB Dubois
FREE FILM SCREENING OF “LOOSE CHANGE”
Friday, April 7, 3-6PM
Knox 104, UB North Campus
What did the Bush Administration know about 9/11, and when did it know it?
Discussion on development of a national security state with the director and producer to follow documentary
Video info: www.loosechange911.com
Contact UB Progressive Alliance at jamesholstun@hotmail.com
25TH ANNUAL LATIN AMERICA DINNER
Friday, April 7, 6PM
Canisius High School
1180 Delaware Ave.
Latin American Solidarity Committee
Proceeds support LASC’s humanitarian efforts in Latin America. Regular tickets $12, or $20 for two. Patron tickets $17, or $30 for two. Call 894-2013 to reserve your seat
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE & EQUITY STANDING AGAINST EMPIRE
Saturday, April 8, 9AM - 7PM
UB North Campus, 120 Clemens
All Day conference
$5 for students and $10 for faculty & community. Purchase at the UB Ticket office.
Contact Khalil at lnieves@buffalo.edu
ROCHESTER
THE RIGHT TO A DAY OF REST FARMWORKER SOLIDARITY
Wednesday, April 5, 7PM
121 N. Fitzhugh St.
Discussion on future solidarity efforts with farmworkers in the greater Rochester area.
Contact Rochester Metro Justice
NATIONAL
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR AND FOR JUSTICE
Saturday, April 29
New York City
Contact Buffalo Forum (602-8077) or the Peace Center (894-2013) for bus info
Read the complete article
