Grassroots Newswire

For the first time in Indianapolis’s recent history, 43 participants staged a mass civil disobedience in front of the Hyatt Regency downtown.  Hospitality workers and community supporters of the hotel workers were there to stand up for the Hyatt workers who have been asking management to stay neutral since November of 2008.  Among the 43 were two JwJ staff members, seven steering committee members and many other JwJ pledge signers.

On June 16, reports surfaced that the Hyatt had plans to sell the Hyatt  Regency in Indianapolis, adding to the uncertainty that Hyatt workers in Indianapolis already face.  Over the past decade, taxpayers in Indianapolis have invested $1 billion into the development of the local hospitality industry.  The hotel and convention industry in Indianapolis is booming yet at the Hyatt Indianapolis, a non-union hotel, subcontracting of jobs is rampant, hours have been reduced in recent months, and workers earn some of the lowest wages of any

Continue reading Central Indiana JwJ supports Hyatt workers in civil disobedience action as part of nationwide protests

Members of Jobs with Justice San Francisco turned out in force to support UNITE HERE Local 2 hotel and restaurant workers as they took to the streets to demand a fair contract on July 22.  Prior to the rally at Local 2 Plaza in downtown San Francisco, community activists, clergy, and union members packed a civil disobedience training session at Local 2 headquarters.  There they reviewed plans to close the street in front of the Grand Hyatt in Union Square.

An hour later, as tourists stared in amazement and snapped photos, fifteen hundred people marched through the streets and converged on the Grand Hyatt, cheering and chanting in several languages in support of the hotel and restaurant workers.  The boisterous crowd reflected the diversity of San Francisco as youth from POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights), PODER (People Organizing to demand Environmental and Economic Rights), Chinese Progressive Association and Young Workers United joined teachers, nurses, clergy, teamsters, longshoremen, many other union members and elected city officials to condemn

Continue reading JwJ San Francisco Sits Down to Support Hotel Workers Rising

The entire 4-part video series documenting the People's Freedom Caravan is now available for viewing. The video project was a collaboration between SWOP and KUNM Youth Radio to document the experience of the young people on the Caravan bound for the 2010 U.S. Social Forum in Detroit, MI. The caravan stopped to learn about different communities and their struggles along the way. The videos outline some of their experiences in those different cities.





To see more videos from this project click here or here, or visit KUNM Youth Radio's Youtube page.

About 20 members of the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign marched in the "We're all in the same boat" float through the streets of Barre in the Heritage Parade. Next up for the campaign is a series of events with Bernie Sanders in Southern VT and the Bennington Battle Day Parade. See more info on our calendar.

In response to the recent shooting that severely injured a young college intern at the SWU Solidarity House, we are asking our friends, allies, and community members to help us establish our space as a pillar of peace and hope in our community. As an organization committed to working with low-income, people of color, and disenfranchised communities, we must contest this physically and spiritually violent act with healing, hope, and empowerment. We want to restore what has been torn apart within the Solidarity House and our neighborhood, and show that out of this dark act of violence will come regeneration and light that reaffirms the strength of our community. More than ever, we want to reach out and welcome people to unite in an inviting and peaceful shared space on the Eastside of San Antonio.

Please join us in support and action on July 31st from 9am onward at 1416 E. Commerce (SWU office/garden) for our Summer Graduation and Harvest Festival for Peace and Hope, to celebrate the hard work of our interns on the Roots of Change community garden (including that of injured intern James Domingue) and to participate in the rebirth of the Solidarity House. We hope to transform the SWU complex on the Eastside of San Antonio with community-wide input through many forms of art and expression (including but of course not limited to, murals, house painting, public art, stenciling, altars, and a healing garden). Come be a part of this rebuilding of our community and help us reaffirm that: “Hatred paralyzes life; Love releases it. Hatred confuses life; Love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; Love illuminates it.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

Summer Graduation and Harvest Festival for Peace and Hope

Roots of Change Jardin

July 31, 2010 9am-all day

1416 E. Commerce

President Obama's "America's Great Outdoors Initiative" came through Albuquerque this weekend as part of the effort to get public input on a conservation agenda for the country, largely focused on "reconnecting Americans with the outdoors." Federal officials including U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and under secretary for the Natural Resources and the Environment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Harris Sherman spoke with community members, including SWOP's own community garden coordinator, Travis McKenzie. Travis' comments were highlighted in an Albuquerque Journal article:
"Really, I think it's education," said Travis McKenzie, 23, whose community involvement includes being gardening coordinator for the SouthWest Organizing Project. "We need more service-learning-based curriculum, where people can learn about nature."

Earlier in the session, McKenzie mentioned that some urban residents have challenges "even getting into nature."

In the end, McKenzie talked about shoring up funding for programs, organizations and school efforts that already exist and allow young people to learn about nature.
Community members like Travis have already taken up the effort to get people involved in nature, agriculture and how it can connect them with where they live. Hopefully the government will take lessons from people like Travis and create a conservation agenda that benefits people and communities.

The 1st Annual Pink Run will be held this Saturday, July 24th. The run is in memory of John Anczarski, a student from Colorado who was killed while cycling through the Laguna Pueblo on a trek to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Proceeds from the 5k run/walk and 10k run event will go to the Susan G. Komen fund and help 9 Laguna students travel to Pennsylvania to perform community service in honor of John. One of the students, Latishia, is a COIN intern here at SWOP. She is hopeful that proceeds from the event will help further the work of her Laguna youth group.

WHAT: 1st Annual Pink Run
WHERE: Mesita Recreation Hall, Exit 117 West from Albuquerque, East from Grants
WHEN: Saturday, July 24th Registration 7 AM- 8 AM, Walk/run will begin at 8:05 AM

The entry fee will be a donation of your choosing. One dollar will get you a bandana while twenty-five dollars gets you a t-shirt, waterbottle and key chain.

For more info. contact: POL Sports & Wellness - Mandy Begay @ (505) 552-7243
POL Fitness Center - Jennifer Weeker @ (505) 552-6889
Geoff Kie @ (505) 934-2933

Join the Youth Health Ambassadors of the Albuquerque YBHC program in their research.

This Thursday we need adults to participate in a focus group to help answer our research question:
How can we build a healthier sense of community in
low-income communities of color, while educating
youth on important health issues, such as limited sex
education and high drop-out rates?

The Youth Health Ambassadors have already held a focus group for young people, now it's time to get input from adults. If you're interested in helping the Ambassadors develop solutions and messages around issues of community health, please come by the SWOP offices for a little while and participate in this focus group.

Adult (ages 24+) focus group:
July, 22 @ 5pm

SWOP Youth Office
211 10th St.
Albuquerque, NM 87102

For more info. Contact:
Tracy: Tracy@youthnoise.org, 505-315-7900
Or
Aurea: chipinajinx@yahoo.com 505-301-5832

Youth Building Healthy Communities is a project of Youth Noise that develops youth to use media as a tool to create healthy communities. Youth bloggers in Oakland, Detroit and Albuquerque are participating in the project.

Hola SWOPistas and Happy Summer!!

You’re Invited…SWOP’s $5 Friday Tardeada!

When: This Friday, July 23rd; 5pm-7pm
Where: SWOP’s Main Office, 211 10th St SW (1.5 blocks south of 10th and Central)
What: Frito Pies, and meet our friends and allies from San Antonio and Mississippi (South by Southwest in the house!)

Join us as we celebrate come together with our friends from Southwest Workers Union and Southern Echo and enjoy good food on a summer evening. It will be potluck style and you’re welcome to bring a dessert or appetizer. SWOP will be providing the main course of frito pies. If you’re interested in bringing a side dish, please contact Marisol at (505) 247-8832 or by email at marisol@swop.net. We look forward to seeing you there!

Unemployment benefits expired for 2.5 million long-term jobless back in May.  Since then, the Senate has almost restored unemployment benefits three times, but each time Republicans have blocked the votes with procedural delays.

Tomorrow, the unemployment benefits extension is expected to come to a vote.  Tell your Senators not to fall for GOP scare-tactics about the budget deficit — or their offensive assertions that the unemployed are “spoiled” brats who are just “sitting there” collecting unemployment benefits.

One job for every five people looking for work is a jobless emergency, and we need emergency action now!

TAKE ACTION

Check out this narrative from The Story of Stuff Project. The recent US Social Forum in Detroit banned bottled water on site for good reasons, some of which are outlined in this video.



One thing that this video does not state explicitly is that bottled water represents just one more attempt to privatize public resources and their delivery. This is done in the name of greater efficiency and savings, but the effect is to remove such resources from our ownership and such services from our control - and also to increase the price and turn water into a highly profitable commodity. So think of the privatization of water the way you would the privatization of trash collection and waste management, or police and fire protection and ask the question: who pays and who benefits? Directly related to this, while public drinking water is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency and thousands of EPA inspectors, commercial bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which has little capacity to monitor quality. So, as the video does point out, you never really know about the quality of the bottled water that you drink.

They said we couldn’t do it, but they were wrong.  JwJ and our partners out-organized the big banks!

On Thursday, two years after the financial meltdown that has spiraled into the worst economic crisis in a generation, the Senate finally voted to approve the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act.  This financial reform bill takes some key steps towards breaking the control that Wall Street has over our country.

This important victory is just the beginning.  We will continue organizing to hold the big banks accountable and work to ensure that the banks who profit from our money benefit our communities.

Earlier today, members of the Chicago Jobs with Justice Unemployed Workers’ Council and allies paid a visit to Representative (and Illinois Senate candidate) Mark Kirk’s office in Northbrook, Illinois to protest his opposition to extending unemployment benefits.

Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor, spoke to Rep. Kirk’s staff, “that’s the primary reason why a lot of these folks are here.  They’re unemployed, their unemployment benefits are getting cut off… he needs to know that the votes he makes in Washington are directly accountable to the people you see in this room.”

The House has already voted to extend unemployment benefits (without Rep. Kirk’s support), but it has yet to pass the Senate.  A Senate vote is expected Tuesday.

Les hacemos llegar nuestra carta de denuncia y de demanda dirigida al Alcalde y Jefe de Policía de San Antonio para asegurar de que se haga justicia en este ataque violento y posiblemente racista contra la Casa de Solidaridad de La Unión donde se hospedaban l@s internados de verano y que esta localizada atrás de las oficinas.
Formato suguerido:

Alcalde Julián Castro,
Jefe de Policía McManus,
Consejera del Municipio Ivy Taylor and
Comisionado de Condado Tommy Adkisson;

Yo / Nosotr@s, ________________________________________ (tu nombre individual o como organización) estamos en apoyo de Southwest Workers Union y su reclamo por una investigación profunda y objetiva que resulte en que encuentren los culpables y que se les enjuicie. Demandamos un compromiso por parte de las autoridades para la reducción y eliminación de la violencia en nuestra comunidades y calles.
Southwest Workers Unión demanda que el Departamento de Policía de la CD de San Antonio lleve acabo una investigación profunda del ataque con balas de la Casa de Solidaridad el 11 de Julio. No podemos ni vamos aceptar declaraciones especulativas por parte la Policía que esta investigando y queremos evidencia concreta de quien es responsable por este crimen. No vamos a dejarlos que se olviden de este caso. Hacemos un llamado a desarrollar iniciativas que lleven a la reducción de la violencia y que sean dirigidas por las comunidades mismas.
En las horas de madrugada el Domingo del 11 de Julio, miembros de Southwest Workers Unión (SWU) fueron en el blanco de una balacera en la casa que dejo a un joven Universitario James Domingues un voluntario de verano herido de bala y en condición critica.
La balacera fue dirigida a la Casa de Solidaridad que se encuentra en el 311 Idaho y es parte del Complexo de SWU en la parte Este de la ciudad y allí se hospedaban 3 internos de verano mientras trabajaban en los huertos de la Unión. La casa fue objeto de ráfagas de AK 47 contando con cerca de 25-30 balazos que impactaron la casa. Las balas con poder para penetrar metales, penetrando de un lado de la casa al otro, aterrorizando las ocho personas que se encontraban dentro.
James Domingue, 23, de la CD de New Orleans, Louisiana que fue herido, es internado de verano trabajando voluntariamente en la expansión de los huertos de la Unión llamado ‘Raíces del Cambio’, que esta en el este de la CD de San Antonio y es parte de un proyecto de Justicia alimentaria y comida orgánica y además es parte de una cooperativa de jardines urbanos de la Unión. El proyecto promueve huertos urbanos en residencias de comunidades en el área y por eso viven allí cerca del jardín donde fue victima de la violencia sin sentido, que daña la comunidad entera como nos hizo daño a nuestra organización y compañero.
Le hacemos llegar nuestra petición al Alcalde de San Antonio, que apoye la victima y victimas y sus familiares en un esfuerzo unido en la investigación y para eliminar las causas de raíz de esta violencia que acompaña la pobreza en nuestras comunidades.
Demandamos áreas y calles seguras para la comunidad y las organizaciones que trabajamos para la justicia social y no vamos a permitir que este crimen tan horroroso pase desapercibido. Continuaremos alzando nuestra voces desde nuestras comunidades y organizaciones contra cualquier manifestación de odio y racismo.
Reclamamos por la Justicia, y transparencia en la investigación para que sea exhaustiva la investigación de este crimen tan violento y posiblemente mortal hasta encontrar el o los responsables. Hacemos un llamado a las autoridades de San Antonio que apoyen proyectos dirigidos por las comunidades y sus residentes para hacer posible la eliminación de esta violencia y sus raíces y NO la criminalización de nuestra juventud.
Atentamente,

Tu Firma

Contact Emails:
(Alcalde) Mayor Julian Castro: mayorjuliancastro@sanantonio.gov
(Jefe de Policía) Chief McManus: brian.bielefeld@sanantonio.gov
(Concilio de SA) Council Woman Ivy Taylor: district2@sanantonio.gov
(Comisionado de Condado)County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson: tadkisson@bexar.org

Por favor CC: Genaro L. Rendon genaro@swunion.org

July 14, 2010

Mayor Julian Castro, Police Chief McManus, Councilwoman Ivy Taylor and County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson;

I / we, ________________________________________________ (individual name or organization) are in support of Southwest Workers Union’s call for a thorough investigation of the July 11th shooting at the SWU Solidarity House and a commitment from city officials to reduce violence and promote safe streets.
Southwest Workers Union calls on the City and the Police Department for a full and complete investigation of the July 11th shooting at the SWU Solidarity House. We will not accept speculative answers without concrete evidence, nor allow the case to simply be written off. We further call for a commitment to safe communities and neighborhood-led initiatives to eliminate violence and promote peaceful streets.
During the early hours of Sunday, July 11th members of Southwest Workers Union (SWU) became the targets of a shooting that left a young college intern, James Domingue, in critical condition. The shooting took place at the Solidarity House on the 300 block of Idaho Street, which is part of the SWU complex on the Eastside of San Antonio, and is home to several college students interning at SWU for the summer. The house was sprayed with at least 25 metal-piercing bullets from an AK-47, some of which went completely through the house’s front and back walls, terrorizing the 8 people that were inside at the time.
James Domingue, 23, of New Orleans, Louisiana was interning this summer with Southwest Workers Union, working on expanding the Roots of Change Eastside Community Garden into a food justice urban farm co-op. The project brings healthy, organic food to local residence and promotes household gardening initiatives. Living near the site, he fell victim to senseless violence that harms the community well being.
We ask the Mayor and the City for support for the victims and their families and movement towards a unified effort to eliminate the root causes that breed violence and poverty in our neighborhoods. We need safe streets and safe peaceful spaces for people and organizations working towards social justice, and we cannot allow such ruthless acts to go unnoticed. We will continue to raise our voices for real justice in our communities and against all manifestations of hatred. And while we call for justice, accountability and a full investigation of the ruthless and horrible attack, we simultaneously emphasize the need for city support of community based efforts aimed at root causes and reconciliation rather than further criminalization of youth and people of color.
Earnestly,



Contact Emails:
Mayor Julian Castro: mayorjuliancastro@sanantonio.gov
Chief McManus: brian.bielefeld@sanantonio.gov
Councilwoman Ivy Taylor: district2@sanantonio.gov
County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson: tadkisson@bexar.org
Please CC: genaro@swunion.org
We appreciate your support

They said we couldn’t do it.  But they were wrong.  JwJ and our partners overcame $1.5 Million PER DAY of banker lobbying!

On Thursday, the Senate plans to vote on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act.  This financial reform bill that takes some key steps towards breaking the control that Wall Street has over our country — and we need everyone to ACT NOW to pass it!

Last summer, insiders pronounced banking reform “dead.” They said ‘everyone’ had forgotten about the Wall Street bailout and the obscene bonuses — and that Congress was too dependent on bank money as it approached election season to do anything that would actually make a difference.  But a series of mobilizations across the country kept the heat on Congress and an important step towards breaking the power of the banks is within our grasp.

Let’s be real:  The Dodd-Frank bill, already passed by the US House, is not the end of the struggle.  The big banks are still too big.  They still need to be broken up and reined

Continue reading ACT NOW to Hold Banks Accountable

Governor Bill Ritter is considering implementation of a program by July 19th called Secure Communities. This program will send the fingerprints of anyone arrested and booked for anything to immmigration. How can we stop Secure Communities from hurting our communities and families? Come to the forum to learn more.

Date:  Tue, 07/13/2010 - 6:00pm Event Location: 

Padres & Jovenes Unidos
3025 W. 37th Ave. Basement
Denver, CO 80211
(corner of 37th & Federal Blvd.)

More Info: 

Julieta Quinonez at (303) 458-6545 or julieta@padresunidos.org.

Members of the People's Freedom Caravan to the U.S. Social Forum were part of a roundtable discussion for KUNM Youth Radio last night. Head over to the KUNM archives and search for programming on Sunday, July 11 from 7 PM to 8 PM. The audio will be available for two weeks.

The youth delegates' reflections on the Caravan are quite moving- do yourself a favor and check it out.

This year, the Vermont Worker’s Center marched in the acclaimed Warren’s 4th of July parade. The parade, whose theme this year was “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Healthiness”, was a great time to continue to show solidarity and support for the “Healthcare is a Human Right” campaign. The float, a twenty foot long boat crafted entirely by our member volunteers out of nothing but old sheets and paint, was a huge hit and helped to send out the message that we really are all in the same boat when it comes to changing our healthcare system. We all had a lot of fun marching and chanting with our fellow Vermonters and the float was a huge success. We also collected hundreds of petition signatures on our new petition, which you can sign below. Be sure to look out for us and it at the Barre Homecoming parade on July 24th and at the Bernie Sanders rallies on July 31st-August 1st!

http://www.workerscenter.org/petition2010

Drive-by shooters target SWU intern house, injuring one

James Domingue playing the part of the oilfield worker in a recent SWU clean-energy demonstration in front of San Antonio City Hall.


Greg Harman
gharman@sacurrent.com

A college intern is in stable condition after being shot in a drive-by shooting at the Southwest Workers’ Union intern house in East San Antonio early Sunday morning. Several interns and staff, eight in all, were gathered at the Solidarity House on Idaho Street when a spray of bullets hit the front of the building at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

At least 25 bullets hit the front of the house, several of which passed through both the front and back walls, said SWU Director Genardo Rendon. Intern James Domingue, 23, of Southern Louisiana, was hit in the hip and suffered shattered pelvic bones, Rendon said. “It’s incredible, when you look at all the holes in the house” that more people weren’t injured, he said.

Police are blaming the incident on a gang-related drive-by, suggesting the assailants hit the wrong Idaho Street house. According to a preliminary SAPD incident report, the assailants called out “gi gi” while they fired on the house.

Domingue came to San Antonio to work in the Roots of Change Community Garden behind the SWU office on East Commerce Street. A fund has been established to help offset medical and travel expenses.

Donations or cards can be sent to: 

Peace & Solidarity Fund

Southwest Workers Union

PO Box 830706 

San Antonio, TX 78283

Donations also can be made online.


Rendon said the union is calling on the community to support the Domingue family, press for a full investigation of the shooting, and recommit itself to working for peace and justice across the city.

A vigil for peace will be held at 4 p.m. today at 1416 East Commerce.

From the SWU press release:

We call on the Eastside, the City and local and national organizations to join together to condemn this act and work towards the creation of safe, healthy communities. We ask for support for the victims and their families and movement towards a unified effort to eliminate the root causes that breed violence and poverty in our neighborhoods.

We need safe streets and safe peaceful spaces for people and organizations working towards social justice and cannot allow such ruthless acts to go unnoticed. We will continue to raise our voices against all manifestations of hatred and for real justice in our communities.

Join us in solidarity and prayers for the shooting victims and to demonstration support for peaceful communities across San Antonio and the world.


Over the past year, the 22-year-old SWU has fought against the citing of a diesel-fuel storage facility on the East Side, organized against SB1070 and for immigration reform, and worked to stop San Antonio from participating in the construction of new nuclear power plants outside Bay City. Other campaigns have included closing the family-detention ICE facility in Hutto and for better educational opportunities for low-income students in San Antonio.