Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day

If you remain neutral during times of injustice and oppression, then you too have chosen the side of injustice and the oppressor. Today is not a holiday to celebrate genocide, imperialism, and colonization. It is a day to celebrate Indigenous people across the world.

Transform Columbus Day!

CHALLENGE THE ROOTS OF RACISM IN AMERICA

• Columbus is responsible for the murder of millions of indigenous people.
• Columbus was a slavetrader in Africa before invading America. He began the slave trade in the Americas. He deserves no holiday, no parades, no statues.
• Columbus Day celebrates the doctrine of discovery – the legal process that stole Indian people's territories, and that continues today.
• Columbus brought a philosophy of domination to the Americas that persists today – domination of other peoples, domination of the environment, domination of other belief systems, domination of women by men (http://www.transformcolumbusday.org/).

A timeless piece to be shared and shared again by the Zinn Education Project:

Time to Abolish Columbus Day

Do what you can to decolonize, promote justice, and act in solidarity each and every day!! 

An Intersectional Strike for Women's Rights!

All across the US and world, today is a day to stand in solidarity against patriarchy, and for the rights of all women. I hope you can send love and support to your mother, partner, or any other women today to support this step in the well being for all. Many events are ongoing, much has been written. Here's a solid take on a more radicalized International Women's Day.

From the Guardian:

Mainstream feminism has failed. Perhaps the most shocking example is the life expectancy of black trans women: 35 years. The brutality of that statistic was on display again when two black trans women in New Orleans were killed within a matter of days last February. Since the new year, there are reports that seven transgender women across the US have been killed. The reality of poverty, violence, and discrimination in the lives of trans women of colour is just one reason why organisers of today’s Women’s Strike have mobilised to revert the innocuous “women’s month” back to its radical predecessor known as International Women’s Day.

The massive outpouring of women and men on to the streets on 21 January was a powerful rejoinder to the violent sexism and bigotry of Donald Trump. More importantly, it demonstrated that millions were moving on from the shock and despair of Trump’s ascendance. It was a critical moment in the opening hours of the Trump presidency, but there was also much to build on.

The organisers had been reluctant to declare the women’s marches as “protests” against an authoritarian regime, thereby lowering the bar in ways that would guarantee the participation of the maximum number of people. It was a wildly successful strategy, but if we are to build an opposition or resistance movement that is not just large but can also fight for the kind of world we want to live in then we have to clearly fight for what it is we want. The organisers of the women’s march have called for a Day Without a Woman, and we have called for a women’s strike. These actions are different in their origination and platform, but we are united in the need for ongoing struggle and political action.

The call for the US to join the international women’s strike is an articulation for the kind of feminist politics that can provide a way to fight for a political agenda that represents the interests of the vast majority of working-class and poor women, in this country and abroad. We have termed it “feminism for the 99 %”.

There have been some who have suggested that in calling for women to “strike” we are jeopardising those who do not have the “luxury” to call off work. Indeed, organisers of the women’s strike have even been described as privileged. This is as ridiculous as it condescending to both the organisers and working-class women, who apparently are not viewed as capable of making decisions about their own activity on 8 March. Aside from ensuring there are multiple ways for women and their supporters to participate in the strike – including taking part in actions at work such as wearing red, as a gesture of solidarity – we have been inspired by the genuine grassroots nature that is animating cities, colleges, and communities across the country.

The call for a strike and, more generally, a more radical International Women’s Day has resonated with thousands across the US. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Alexandria, Virginia, the school districts have decided to close schools today because of the number of requests for the day off. The “bodega strike” that brought out thousands of Yemeni shop owners and their supporters to oppose Trump’s Muslim travel ban has also endorsed the action. Teachers in Chicago have joined with community members and organisers for a rally “to fight for the global economic justice we’ve always needed”. In Seattle, the focus is on reproductive justice, and in New York City there will be a rally in Washington Square Park and then a march to Zuccotti Park, where the Occupy Wall Streetmovement erupted in 2011.

In total, there are more than 60 events planned as part of today’s strike. We have no idea how many people will participate. I don’t expect the same millions who came out on 21 January to take part. But I do suspect thousands will be involved, and that is significant. The point was never to just hold a successful event, but to begin to knit together a network of ordinary people who can revive the struggles for racial and economic justice, sexual liberation and reproductive freedom that have always been at the nexus of the struggle for women’s liberation. We have a world to win, and the women’s strike is an important step in that process.

In the age of neofascism...do whatever you can to RESIST!

Please go to this link and do whatever you can! In Solidarity!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Blair Fitzgibbon, 202-503-6141, blair@soundspeedpr.com

Hundreds Surround SF Federal Building to Protest Dakota Access Pipeline Approval

‘Water protectors’ around the world respond to emergency request for solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux

(San Francisco)--Hundreds of people are surrounding the federal building on 7th street in San Francisco today in direct response to the approval of the final permit for the highly controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. Following a Presidential Order on Jan 24, the Army Corp of Engineers fast tracked the permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The permit approval does not have consent from the Standing Rock Sioux and tossed out the environmental review ordered by President Obama, allowing pipeline owner Energy Transfer Partners to resume drilling at Lake Oahe and under the Missouri River.

The Standing Rock Sioux, will be challenging the permit in court. Thousands of people from around the country and the world were inspired by the actions of the Standing Rock Sioux, traveling to North Dakota and camping near the pipeline construction. To date, 700 people have been arrested in North Dakota, causing delays in construction and many peaceful demonstrators have been attacked by dogs, rubber bullets, water cannons and sound grenades.

“The Army Corps of Engineers’ notice that it will grant the easement to allow Energy Transfer Partners to drill under Lake Oahe is in violation of their agreement to conduct the EIS. The Army Corp’s permitting process for this oil pipeline was not correct from the beginning”, says Pennie Opal Plant from Idle No More SF Bay, “Allowing this to happen now without conducting the agreed upon EIS and not considering the hundreds of thousands of comments on the EIS, in spite of the submission process not working on their website, is a miscarriage of justice for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of the living beings downstream of this pipeline.  Pipelines leak, they break, they spill toxins into fresh water.  When will people realize that water is more important than oil?”

“Donald Trump will not build his Dakota Access Pipeline without a fight. The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight — it is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far,” says Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, “The granting of this easement goes against protocol, it goes against legal process, it disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review process — all for the sake of Donald Trump’s billionaire big oil cronies. And, it goes against the treaty rights of the entire Seven Councils Fires of the Sioux Nations.  Donald Trump has not met with a single Native Nation since taking office. Our tribal nations and Indigenous grassroots peoples on the frontlines have had no input on this process. We support the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and stand with them at this troubling time.”

The San Francisco protest joins a national day of action around the country, including a protest in front of the White House.

Never Loose Hope

So many folks are scared. And for good reason. But there are mass mobilizations going on around the world in spite of the current president elect of the US. While reformist, this site is doing their part to organize, mobilize, and foster action. Perhaps the revolutionaries must join with the reformists, somehow, someway on this one...

Do not be afraid.  You are re not alone. Stay safe, self care, community love. RISE UP!