Albuquerque Anti-War March Pictures, March 17, 2007

marjorie says...

Here are some of my favorite signs from today’s anti-war march and rally. There were about 1000 people there. For a more comprehensive look at the day, see Jo Ann's pictures on SWOPblogger--they're great.

Reminder: TONIGHT! Women in Action @ the NHCC

Mikaela reminds:
TODAY,March 6 at 6 pm, the NHCC is hosting Women in Action, a panel discussion of local women activists, artists, and entrepreneurs, also as part of Women & Creativity. This one's near and dear to my little political heart. The panel includes:

• Dory Wegryzn, who was instrumental in forming the Sawmill Community Land Trust,
• Sandra Montes, who's fought tirelessly for the rights of Pajarito Mesa residents in Albuquerque's South Valley,
  
• Joann Bejar, who's done everything from being a filmaker, labor organizer, to mom,
  
• Naomi Natale, who created the Cradle Project -- an art project that calls attention to and raises funds for children orphaned by disease and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa,
• Myra Murphy-Jacob of Sustainable Global Leadership Alliance, which trains and sends leaders to other countries, where they help train others as leaders in sustainable, eco- and community-friendly business practices, and
  
• Margo Ganster of Green It!, a local company that helps other companies to incorporate ways to be "green," adding to the sustainability of our economy & our environment

Civility is Over Rated

Marjorie says…

I enjoyed our classic approach to the State of the Union tonight…Mikaela gave her angry shout-outs, Lisa shook her head in appalled disbelief, and I just rolled my eyes and snickered. Leading off with an acknowledgement of the first female speaker of the house, Bush appealed to a thing that strikes most of us deeply…our desire for equality regardless of our gender, race, or class. It would be remiss to not point out that the real path to power in terms of political office in this country, as limited as it continues to be, clearly lies with the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat, and the 2008 Democratic contenders include an African American, a Latino, a Woman, and a liberal Anglo man. I like this evolvement of the Democrats, even though I find them hopeless much of the time, and even though their path to power continues to be an entrenched individual one rather than an attack on the seemingly unsolvable problem of poverty and its profound intersection with race and gender. If it were solvable, wouldn’t we have done it already? Yes, sometimes even I have these resigned, fatalistic attitudes. Tonight I am particularly feeling that way for some reason. Perhaps I should just call it the Bush effect. Please…DEMOCRATS! I want to shout…stand up and give this guy the boot! Boo him! But I know that isn’t going to happen...our parties simply aren’t that far apart. What is required in this country lies outside of the party system. As ever, let me remind my dear m-pyre readers of one of my favorite maxims: electoral politics are only one aspect of our political lives. On that note, if you’re in Albuquerque I encourage you all to join the anti-war march this Saturday. George W. doesn’t think public opinion matters, but it’s important to show the world that there are many American people who disagree with his policies.

Anti-War March Saturday, January 27th in Albuquerque

NO MORE WAR!

Albuquerque March and Rally
Saturday, January 27th 2007

11:00: Meet at 2nd and Copper (Galleria) for a march to three congressional offices
12:30: Rally at Robinson Park with the Raging Grannies (8th and Central)

Southern Methodist University to Bush: Not so fast!

Mikaela says:
Two theology professors at SMU have caused a groundswell of discontent among faculty and students at the idea of offering the university as home to Bush's Library.

Here's what Bill McElvaney and Susanne Johnson said in their editorial for the University newspaper:

"Do we want SMU to benefit financially from a legacy of massive violence, destruction, and death brought about by the Bush presidency in dismissal of broad international opinion?

"What moral justification supports SMU's providing a haven for a legacy of environmental predation and denial of global warming, shameful exploitation of gay rights, and the most critical erosion of habeas corpus in memory?

"Given the secrecy of the Bush administration and its virtual refusal to engage with those holding contrary opinions, what confidence could be had in the selection of presidential papers made available to the library? Unless the Bush library philosophy is radically different from the already proven track record of insulation, the library will be little more than a center for the preservation and protection of privileged presidential papers. What would that mean for academic integrity based on open inquiry?"

---

NY Times :

"Many professors, including some who want the library on campus, are concerned about the relationship between a proposed Bush policy institute and the library and the effects the institute might have on the university's academic independence."

Ralph Blumenthal wrote in the New York Times last week:

"Intimates of President Bush have singled out Southern Methodist University as the likely site of his presidential library, but faculty members, complaining of being bypassed, are raising sharp questions about the school's identification with his presidency."

The legacy of MLK

marjorie says...

I'm fortunate to be able to spend this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Memphis. Tomás and I are here as representatives of SWOP at the National Conference on Media Reform--you can see our critique of the conference itself, and a good definition of what we think an effective grassroots approach to social change is, here.

Memphis is where MLK was murdered while supporting striking sanitation workers, seen in this famous photo. That particular struggle symbolizes MLK's little celebrated linking of racial justice with worker's rights. It also symbolizes why MLK was emerging as a greater threat to the American status quo leading up to his death. He was a dynamic civil rights leader who was increasingly speaking out against the Vietnam war and for the rights of workers. In this way, he was becoming an incredibly powerful voice that connected the dots between the most profound and problematic social issues we've struggled with throughout the years, decades, and centuries. I think this is one of his greatest legacies. Real social change will not happen if we don't connect these dots, moving beyond single issue advocacy and reformist agendas that trap us in narrow disparate boxes. On that note, I hope you all pause for a moment this weekend and reflect on the Civil Rights Movement, which we commemorate with this holiday. Its a movement that benefited each and every one of us, and continues to inform our lives today.

Connect the Dots

[I just had to post this in response to Marjorie’s excellent post about MLK, Jr.]

Mikaela says in 2003:

Connect the dots

Injustice

to

Injustice

Cultivate the will

the fortitude

the stomach

to call shit as you see it

name it

change it

arrange it

Complicit in the world-as-it-is

is our silence

We trade “solace” for “privacy”

“community” for “solitude”

hide our gifts

not to feel powerless

close our eyes

not to feel blind

believe stories

not to feel lied to

Our ears wither

with disuse

Our fears grow

with exercise

Our hands

severed with knives of our own creation

search by themselves

for the necks of our oppressors

And we

all of us children

learn what it is

we don’t want to know.

Save Indie Community Radio in NM!

Mikaela summarizes:
First ClearChannel bought KBAC, then they watered down its programming.

Now they're selling it to a company that will change it to a Christian broadcasting station.

Below is a letter urging you to action to protest the sale and save this long-loved local community station. Time is of the essence.

Mikaela edits & re-posts courtesy Friends of KBAC, Radio Free Santa Fe:

KBAC
has been making a difference in the LIVES of the community
11 years now.

It is time we as a community gave KBAC the same support.

RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE BEING BOUGHT UP BUY BIG RADIO COMPANIES, REGARDLESS OF HOW COMMUNITIES FEEL.
THIS NEEDS TO STOP!
COMMUNITIES NEED TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED
AND GET BACK OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
STARTING WITH KBAC!

Who is buying this station?

Clear Channel is in process of selling KBAC to a Christian Broadcasting Company, EMF Broadcasting out of Rocklin, California.

Who to write?

I encourage you to write letters and/or fax and EMAIL to the following addresses to air your opinions and get others in the community to do the same. Your letters will make a difference AND please make sure that a copy of your letter gets sent to Friends of KBAC, 223 North Guadalupe #533, Santa Fe, NM, 87501 so that we have a copy on file to send out as well when I write the FCC to protest this sale.

WRITE, EMAIL, FAX ALL NAMES BELOW

(especially Mr. DICK JENKINS, CEO, EMF Broadcasting).
FLOOD THEM WITH YOUR LETTERS.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MOMENTS TO WRITE A LETTER.

and

IF YOU COULD PASS INFORMATION ALONG to others,

THAT WOULD HELP TOO

EMF Broadcasting,
Attention: Mr. Joe Miller, VP
email : jmiller@emfbroadcasting.com
Attention: Mr. Dick Jenkins, CEO
email : djenkins@emfbroadcasting.com
5700 West Oaks Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: 916.251.1600; Fax: 916.251.1650

and, go right to the source...

Clear Channel Communications
John Hogan, President & CEO
email : johnhogan@clearchannel.com
Clear Channel Radio, Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
200 East Basse, San Antonio, TX, 78209
email : johnhogan@clearchannel.com
Jerry Kersting, Acquisitions
email : jkersting@clearchannel.com
Phone : 210.822.2828 / fax : 210.822.2299
and closer to home
Mr. Chuck Hammond, VP Sales, NM Market
email : ChuckHammond@clearchannel.com (Albuquerque Office)
Phone: 505.830.6400 / fax : 505.830.6599
5411 Jefferson NE, #100, Albuquerque, NM, 87109

but WHY stop there?

Governor Bill Richardson / MAIL: Office of the Governor,
Attention : Annette Sedillo, State Capital #400, SFE, NM, 87501
EMAIL : annettet.sedillo@state.nm.us / FAX: 505.476.2226
Mayor David Coss / MAIL : Mayor David Coss,
Attention : Marge Sandoval, 200 Lincoln Ave, SFE, NM, 87501
EMAIL : mdsandoval@santafenm.gov / FAX : 505.955.6683
Senator Bingaman / MAIL : 119 East Marcy Street, SFE, NM, 87501, Attention : Landri Rush / EMAIL : landri_rush@bingaman.senate.gov / FAX : 505.992.8435
FCC Commissioner Tate / MAIL : Commissioner Tate,
Attention : Susan Fifenne, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 / EMAIL : susan.fifenne@fcc.gov / FAX 866.418.0232
Attention : Chris Robbins, Media Advisor to Commissioner Tate /
EMAIL : Chris.robbins@fcc.gov

What is going to happen?

Friends of KBAC plans on protesting this sale, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED YOU, THE COMMUNITY. When this sale becomes official on the FCC docket, we plan on fighting this sale to preserve the "REAL LOCAL" community radio station and its unique format with your help. If this sale does not go through, there will be an opportunity for the local management of KBAC to purchase the station. This would "FREE" KBAC once and for all from Clear Channel. The raised voices of the Santa Fe community are needed to prevent this sale as we as a community will have only 30 days to voice our opinions once this sale hits the FCC.

NOW
IS THE TIME TO WRITE, FAX, EMAIL AND VOICE YOUR OPINIONS.


How can YOU show your IMMEDIATE support?

Friends of KBAC will be needing volunteers, as we are going to need as many signatures and letters as we can get, so if you feel moved to become more involved and can spare a block of time, please contact Friends of KBAC at the email address below.

Thank you,

Skye Rivers, FRIENDS OF KBAC @ friendsofkbac.com

Mayor Marty on Democracy Now -- Really!

Mikaela says:
Listening now... More to come, but here's the link if you want to listen yourself:

Click here for the article.

Click here for the audio file.

I'm just at the beginning, but so far he sounds really reasonable, and Albuquerque comes off as this haven for Green Building and sustainability vision. Ahem.

And then there's this little gem about the March 17, 2003 war protest:

AMY GOODMAN: Let me ask you, on the issue of dissent in this time of war, I know mayors around the country are dealing with protests, since the invasion, around that time. In Albuquerque, there was a protest right at the time of the invasion.

MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ: Absolutely.

AMY GOODMAN: And the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Albuquerque Police Department for treatment of the Albuquerque protesters. Among the issues they were concerned about were protesters being beaten, protesters been arrested. And in the lawsuit, the ACLU deposed a detective, a detective named Gregory Gene Cunningham, and they asked him about the APD, the Albuquerque Police Department's surveillance of antiwar groups. And he went on to talk about being undercover, going to a restaurant where an antiwar protest preparation meeting was taking place, identifying himself, I think it was, as Gilbert Martinez, and sitting in among the group, saying he was an antiwar protester, as well, or interested in the protest. What kind of activity is the police department involved in in surveillance of protesters?

MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ: Well, understand, Amy, I come from the Vietnam generation, and I participated in antiwar protests on the exact same streets that were involved with these demonstrations. And we had a handful, a very small handful, unfortunately, of folks come in from out of state that were bent on mischief, pure and simple. And so, I think our police acted entirely appropriately, particularly the first night, and then I got -- because we had these folks in wearing masks, and we had incendiary devices thrown at the police lines, which was entirely inconsistent with what 99% of the folks out there were there for, and that was simply to express their opinions on the war.

And so, what we’ve done -- and I’ve had the ACLU into the office -- we totally revamped all of our ordinances and established a new protocol when there is a planned demonstration. Obviously, sometimes you have demonstrations that are not planned, and these issues can be so emotional and the passions can rise so high. So I think we're doing very well in that regard, respecting the tradition -- and it’s a great American tradition -- of civil disobedience, but also ensuring public safety.

AMY GOODMAN: Are police going undercover and infiltrating peace groups?

MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ: If -- no peace groups, but if we have people coming to Albuquerque from elsewhere that are bent on violence, our police will be there, absolutely.

AMY GOODMAN: And is the Joint Terrorism Task Force also involved with this at the federal level?

MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ: You know, I have very little interaction with those folks. I was one of the first mayors in the country, when Homeland Security wanted us to do random stops at our airport without reasonable grounds, probable cause, to say “No, we’re not going to do that.” And as a result, they revamped that policy. And so, it’s unfortunate, Amy, you have a real dichotomy between federal policy and what most mayors and governors know is the right thing to do. And so, we walk a very -- it’s a very delicate balance we have to strike daily.

AMY GOODMAN: And so, are federal authorities working with the APD, the Albuquerque Police Department, in monitoring and surveiling peace activists?

MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ: Oh, I wouldn’t be aware of anything like that, but I am sure and I would hope that there’s good communication between the federal authorities, local public safety authorities. That’s important for keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Right, Marty. Keep it positive! Revisionist history and unbelievable claims of ignorance from our lovable Mayor.

Here was my memory of the March 17, 2003 protest when peaceful protestors were arrested and tear-gassed, including a woman doing nothing wrong, featured here:

Albuquerque, March 17, 2003

By midnight
the streets were clear and quiet
rain softly drumming on tear-gas canisters
tapping on placards now wilting in the bushes
dissolving horseshit piled up in the streets.

The echo of flashing lights
remained glowing in the puddles
but the sirens now warn of the coming new order
in other corners of the city
to other crooks for other crimes.

One barrette lay open and glistening
in the intersection
between opposite lanes of traffic
at the base of a light
now free to turn green.

She will ask for it at police custody
her release the only thing they can hand her
in the absence of peace
apologies not yet forced from the mayor
by the headlines

her arrest still signaling
just their job
just another protest
just one more voice
shoved face-down to asphalt and rain.

Science is in the word -- and the water

Mikaela writes:

Science is beginning to confirm the power of the word. Mystics have known for as long as man has been speaking that words have the power to literally change the air we breathe, the water we drink, the experiences we can have. Now, a scientist in Japan has shown that words – written or spoken – shape water molecules. Words with good connotations create symmetrical patterns in the water molecules. Words like hate spawn asymmetry. This only works with unpolluted water.

I.
What cannot be purified
cannot be transformed

what can be transformed
is pure

thus is born a morality
of molecules

holy water
of a weighted hand

our words
at the center

or maybe the crystalline edge
of the great unknown

where what we can control
and what we cannot fathom

dance together to the beat
of vibrating cosmic strings

Moses parting the water
not with holy staff

but with a plea
a command?

human voice
urging rearrangement

water obeys
responds?

interprets the energy of his voice
into action

miracle
made science

law
suggestion

II.
One Jewish sect asserts the Torah itself is just the name of God. One word that calls forth – embodies – inhabits creation.

Defaming that book
means calling forth darkness

chaos
nothingness

known only to so-called
producers of terror

who now sit praying
in American-run jails

we torture terror
and believe in freedom

we protect our interests
without blaming our banks

we call in darkness
create terror

our words forming asymmetrical structures
in pools of pure blood

what will tranform this evil?
what purification is possible for twisting lies?

most cleanliness
is removal of debris:

first
we jail the jailors

sop up the blood
tend to the wounds

speak kindly to the hurt
free the innocent

burn the prison
and pray

that our words will fall silent
that our prayers for peace will rise

part the waters
connect what has been too-long divided

let fall what may
the heavy fruit of justice

hanging
in the tree of knowledge

we must all bite
and swallow.