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Displaying 10 entries (4/15/2009 to 1/17/2009) out of 587
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APRIL 15, 2009
MASS PUBLIC MEETING TO STOP ALL SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 4:00pm
Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers, Detroit, MI 48235 Room TBA Parking on Site
The State of Michigan has proposed closing 23 Detroit public schools this summer. In 2007, 32 DPS schools were closed with disastrous results. BAMN’s walk-out and legal campaign stopped the planned closings of 2008. If we unite, we can stop this new assault on the education, safety and dignity of Detroit students.
- Stop the planned school closures - keep all DPS schools open! No teacher layoffs!
- Defend Public Education! No charterization or privatization of public schools!
- Use federal stimulus funds to rebuild, remodel and maintain Detroit Public Schools, lower class size, provide adequate quantities of up-to-date books, supplies and equipment.
- Stop suburban districts from exploiting the crisis of DPS by recruiting Detroit students to obtain their per-pupil allocation money while segregating them into separate and inferior facilities. Create an elected Metropolitan-Wide Educational Authority to give parents of Detroit children attending suburban and charter schools an equal voice in their children’s education.
- Full curriculum - art, music, foreign language, organized sports and AP courses at every school.
- Create safe school environments by providing quality education - Stop turning our schools into prisons!
- Equal, Quality, Integrated Education is a civil right! Build the New, Youth-Led Civil Rights Movement!
MARCH 27, 2009
LA Students Win César Chávez Holiday!
Big Step for getting holiday actually honored throughout California, and for winning national holiday
After 2 years of petitioning, walking out, and marching, LA students have won the César Chávez Holiday in LAUSD! This is a big step forward for getting California's Chávez Holiday—which is state law—actually honored throughout the state and for making Chávez's Birthday a national holiday!
See reports from past César Chávez days of action: http://www.bamn.com/chavezday/mar30-2007.asp
Read more below:
- L.A. BAMN PRESS RELEASE -
Students Declare Victory in the fight for Recognition of the Chavez Holiday
LAUSD Board Members pass Resolution making Chavez Holiday officially recognized District holiday
See news article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11992033
BAMN organizers announce Chavez Day assemblies in schools across LAUSD focusing on the Dream Act
Students at Wilson High School and organizers from BAMN (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) declare victory in the fight for the recognition of the Cesar Chavez Birthday Holiday, and announce assemblies and other activities being held at schools across LAUSD in honor of Chavez Day that will highlight the Dream Act and the struggles of the Latina/o and immigrant communities today.
The LAUSD Board of Education voted Tuesday to make the Cesar Chavez Holiday an official holiday in LAUSD. Hoku Jeffrey, BAMN Southern California Coordinator said, "This is a victory for the new civil rights movement. Celebrating and honoring California's Cesar Chavez Holiday is the best way for LAUSD to show Latina/o and immigrant students that they believe in their equality and right to be treated with dignity and respect. Two years of petitioning, walking-out and marching have taken the new civil rights movement an important step forward."
Assemblies for the holiday are being planned across the district, in some schools for the first time, for the Chavez Holiday. BAMN organizer and Bravo Medical Magnet High School graduate Magally Miranda said, "The youth of Los Angeles are raising the visibility of the Latina/o and immigrant communities. For too long, school districts across the state of California have ignored the Chavez Holiday and the demands for equal treatment and dignity of our communities. We will not accept racist second-class treatment any longer!"
"The families and communities of undocumented immigrant students contribute billions of dollars in poorly paid work and taxes. It is only fair and just that their children are able to receive financial aid and pursue their dreams like everyone else," said BAMN Organizer Otto Zamudio. "By fighting for the Dream Act on the Chavez Holiday we will be honoring the memory of Cesar Chavez in the best way possible.
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MARCH 7, 2009
WATCH THE VIDEO of the Independent Public Tribunal to Investigate Oscar Grant's Killing
The March 4, 2009 independent public tribunal to investigate the killing of Oscar Grant is essential viewing, and the VIDEO of it should be seen by the new civil rights movement far and wide.
The March 4th tribunal:
• Established that THIS WAS MURDER: Johannes Mehserle intended to use his gun, not his taser. It also established some of Mehserle's racist and violent history. Tony Pirone and the other BART police were accomplices to murder.
• Systematically exposed the cover-up by Alameda County prosecutor Tom Orloff, who intends to let ex-BART Officer Johannes Mehserle go free. The movement for justice for Oscar Grant must independently organize and act if we are to win justice.
• Laid out a political analysis, perspective, and plan that can win justice for Oscar Grant and for other victims of police brutality. (Make sure to watch BAMN National Chair Shanta Driver's introductory speech.)
• Family and friends of Oscar Grant shared with movement supporters who Oscar really was, countering the racist demagogy that Mehserle's attorney and police supporters have promoted and will promote before and during the trial.
CHAPTER LIST (time stamps):
0:31 - Introduction
4:35 - Opening Presentation by BAMN National Chair Shanta Driver
22:42 - Traci Cooper - Oscar Grant's aunt
32:38 - Slideshow of Oscar Grant
37:06 - Jack Bryson - Father of Oscar's friend Jackie who was on the BART platform
44:37 - Bobby Cephus Johnson - Oscar Grant's uncle
61:15 - Anatomy of a Coverup - The District Attorney's Brief
74:44 - Analysis of the Video
98:45 - 2nd Video: Mehserle reached for his gun, not his taser
102:37 - Kenneth Carrethers - Previous victim of Johannes Mehserle
108:32 - Stephanie Montoya - Sister of Jerry Amaro, murdered by Oakland Police's present head of internal affairs Edward Poulson
116:16 - Closing Remarks
Go to the VIDEO PAGE
MARCH 1, 2009
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL to Investigate Oscar Grant's Killing
THE NEXT STEP is this Wednesday's INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL to launch the community investigation into the killing of Oscar Grant. District Attorney Tom Orloff plans to hide the truth in the courtroom and let Johannes Mehserle go free. This is OUR chance to establish the truth.
AMONG THE WITNESSES will be Oscar Grant's friends and family, people who were at the BART platform on New Year's night, and Ken Carrethers, a black man who was severely beaten by Johannes Mehserle.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL
to investigate the killing of Oscar Grant
GIVE AND HEAR TESTIMONY
Among the witnesses will be Oscar Grant's friends and family, people who were at the BART platform on New Year's night, and Ken Carrethers, a black man who was severely beaten by Johannes Mehserle.
THIS WEDNESDAY, March 4th, 7:00PM
Allen Temple Baptist Church
Pastor J. Alfred Smith, Jr.
8501 International Blvd. (+ 85th Ave.), Oakland
(From Berkeley, take the 1 or 1R AC Transit bus)
DOWNLOAD THE FLYER
FEBRUARY 22, 2009
Oscar Grant Birthday March a Big Success!
The march for justice on Oscar Grant's birthday Friday, February 27 was a big success! Beginning with our determined march through downtown Hayward and ending with passionate speeches by activists and Oscar Grant's family in front of Hayward City Hall, we paid honor to Oscar and declared our resolve to fight for justice.
See the news coverage:
KTVU news story: http://www.bamn.com/video/16.asp
InsideBayArea.com article: http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_11804979
BAY AREA BAMN'S NEXT MEETING is this Monday, March 2, 7:00PM at UC-Berkeley's Wheeler Hall Room 200 (near Bancroft + Telegraph in Berkeley).
FEBRUARY 22, 2009
THIS FRIDAY, February 27, 2009:
MARCH FOR JUSTICE on Oscar Grant's Birthday
• Jail the murder Johannes Mehserle
• A badge is not a license to murder
• End the District Attorney's and BART's coverup—Open an independent public investigation of the murder
SOPHINA MESA, Oscar Grant's fiancée:
"My desire is to see true justice served for Oscar and our family. I don't want another person to go through what Oscar, his friends, his family, and many other people are enduring at this time. Please joine me, mine and Oscar's daughter Tatiana, and our family at the march on Friday."
Oscar Grant would have turned 23 years old on February 27 if he had not been murdered by BART Officers Johannes Mehserle and Tony Pirone. On Friday, February 27, we will rally and march shoulder to shoulder with his friends and family, to honor Oscar's life and to demand justice for his death.
Join and help the spread the word at the Feb. 27 March for Justice FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
More info at the JUSTICE FOR OSCAR GRANT ACTION PAGE
FEBRUARY 21, 2009
Honor California's César Chávez Holiday!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Boycott Schools—Rally and March!
Get your school to hold an assembly in recognition of the Chávez Holiday
• Win the Right of Undocumented Students to Receive Financial Aid to Attend College—Pass the Dream Act!
• Make the Chávez Holiday a National Holiday
• No Second-Class Treatment of immigrant, Latina/o, black, or other minority communities
Join the Facebook Event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=21893309981
Join the Myspace Chavez Day page:
http://www.myspace.com/chavezdayofaction
BAMN.COM Chavez Day Organizing Page:
http://www.bamn.com/chavezday/index.asp
Download the flyer:
http://www.bamn.com/doc/2009/090221-chavez-flyer.pdf
More info at the Chavez Day Organizing Page
FEBRUARY 10, 2009
VIDEO of "Winning Justice for Oscar Grant" Forum
Watch the VIDEO of the hugely successful February 9th forum, "Winning Justice for Oscar Grant" held at UC-Berkeley. Through the presentation and discussion, we developed a political analysis and method of action that can win justice for Oscar Grant in this campaign.
This forum has become the basis for the INDEPENDENT PUBLIC TRIBUNAL to Investigate the Killing of Oscar Grant, which will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 7:00PM at Oakland's Allen Temple Baptist Church (8501 International Blvd. + 85th Ave.). It will include testimony from friends and family of Oscar Grant. It is sponsored by BAMN, and we welcome the endorsement of all unions, churches, and community organizations.
English flyer: http://www.bamn.com/doc/2009/090214-tribunal-english.pdf
Spanish flyer: http://www.bamn.com/doc/2009/090214-tribunal-espanol.pdf
BAMN FORUM:
"Winning Justice for Oscar Grant"
Held at the University of California, Berkeley, February 9, 2009Chaired by Shanta Driver, national chair of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), attorney, and coordinator of the successful Justice for Malice Green Campaign in Detroit, Michigan.
1. Opening presentation part 1: the killing of oscar grant, the coverup
2. Opening presentation part 2: the coverup, what's at stake, what we must do
3. Opening presentation part 3: launching an independent public investigation and defending the truth, building a mass campaign, analysis of the prosecutor's DA's brief and his cover-up (Part 1)
4. More analysis of the prosecutor's brief - exposing the prosecutor's coverup (Part 2)
5. More analysis of the prosecutor's brief - exposing the prosecutor's coverup (Part 3)
6. Analyzing the cellphone videos - what actually happened
7. Who are Mehserle and Pirone? Next actions, discussion begins
8. Discussion: How we win justice, examples of winning justice, expanding the movement
9. More discussion: Building a movement that can stop all police brutality
10. More discussion: Where are the national figures? What we must do
11. More discussion: Building a sustained movement, concluding remarks
12. Concluding remarks
FEBRUARY 4, 2009
March 5th RALLY at the Supreme Court Oral Arguments to Overturn Prop 8!
The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Proposition 8 in San Francisco on Thursday, March 5, 2009, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Not only can we overturn Prop 8, reestablish the right to gay marriage for LGBT people in California, and open the way for winning gay marriage across the country—we must establish now, just as the civil rights movement established for racial minorities, that you cannot vote on legal discrimination against LGBT people. Rallying at the Court in large numbers will be key to winning justice.
JOIN the Facebook Event Page and invite everyone you know!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=60486456907
RALLY AT THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
TO UNDO PROP 8!
We Can Win: Mass Mobilizations Are Key To Victory—Rally at the Supreme Court!
LGBT, Young and Old, Latina/o, Black, Native American, Asian, Arab, and White, Immigrants With and Without Papers—WE ARE ALL CALIFORNIANS!
Mobilize Latina/o and Black Students and Youth to Join the Marches & Demonstrations!
Build the New Civil Rights Movement!
Thursday, March 5th, Gather at 8:00AM
California Supreme Court (Oral arguments are 9AM-12PM)
350 McAllister St. (2 blocks from Civic Center BART)
• Join the March 5th Supreme Court rally event page and invite your friends!
The LGBT community's marches and demonstrations since the passage of Proposition 8—now spreading across the nation—can overturn Prop 8 and clear the way for lesbian/gay marriage to be recognized in more states across the nation. The California Supreme Court upheld the legality of gay marriage in May 2008 and will do so again if we continue our mass mobilizations and increase the power of our actions by calling on young Latina/o, immigrant, and black youth to join us in building an integrated mass movement aimed at winning equality and dignity for all of California's oppressed minorities.
Full statement at the UNDO PROP 8 PAGE
JANUARY 17, 2009
Liberator #7 Published!
Special Inauguration Day Issue
To mark the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama, BAMN is mass distributing Liberator #7, which features BAMN's declaration to the Obama movement: "The Obama Era—Renewal of King's Dream or a New Jim Crow? BAMN's Call for Real Hope." This is ESSENTIAL reading for understanding the historical period we're living in and how to actually realize the new vision of hope that is sweeping the nation.
Contents include:
The Obama Era: Renewal of King's Dream or a New Jim Crow? BAMN's Call for Real Hope
Joining BAMN and Building a BAMN Chapter - the Principles of BAMN
BAMN's Address to the Obama Movement
National Call to Action: Win the Federal Dream Act!
Contact BAMN to obtain copies. You can also download the PDF file (5MB)
See past issues of Liberator
Read the full Obama statement. Below is the table of contents.
I. The Obama Era
1. The Obama Candidacy: On the Verge of an Historic Step Forward
2. The Key Question: the Growing Political and Moral Maturity of the American People
3. The Obama Movement and the Question of Leadership
4. The Other Side of American History: the Role of White Racism; the Shamefaced Racism of the New Jim Crow
5. How American History Has Really Changed for the Better
II. The New Jim Crow
6. A Balance Sheet: King's Dream vs. a New Jim Crow
7. "Racism without Racists"/"Racists without Racism"
8. The Emergence of the New Jim Crow
9. Racism Today
III. The Obama Paradox
10. The Real Significance of the Obama Campaign: Redefining What National Leadership Means
11. The Meaning of an Obama Victory: The Political Maturity of the American People
12. The Paradox of the Obama Candidacy
13. Barack Obama and the Historic Struggle within the Democratic Party
14. The Two Obamas
IV. Obama and the Struggle for the New Civil Rights Movement
15. The New Jim Crow Clinton-Style
16. The New Jim Crow McCain-Palin-Style
17. The Importance of Defending Obama against Racism; Fighting Racism in the Era of the New Jim Crow
18. Why BAMN Cannot Endorse Barack Obama
19. Obama's Philadelphia Speech: "A More Perfect Union"—The New Atlanta Compromise and the New Jim Crow
20. Renewing the Struggle for Equality in the Obama Era
Read the full Obama statement.
