Speak Up!

Urgent Help Needed to Support Palestinians Arriving in the US from Iraq

nosnowhere — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:19:15 +0000

i got this from zahi damuni on facebook:

ACTION ALERT
September 10, 2009

Urgent Help Needed to Support Palestinians Arriving in the US from Iraq

TO ALL AL-AWDA MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS

The US government has approved most of the population of Al-Waleed Palestinian refugee camp for resettlement as refugees in the US in the coming year. For more information see http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0708/p02s04-usgn.html and http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009618161946158577.html The first Palestinian family of the year will be arriving in San Diego on Wednesday September 16, 2009. This family, as with all the refugees who will be relocated to the US from Al-Waleed, will arrive with essentially nothing. Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is therefore conducting an urgent fund raising campaign to help all the Palestinian refugees arriving in the US soon with their transition to a new life in this country.

BACKGROUND

An estimated 19,000 Palestinians, out of an initial population of 34,000, fled Iraq since the American invasion in 2003. Of these refugees, approximately 2500 have been stranded, under very harsh conditions, some for more than five years, in three camps, Al-Tanaf, Al-Waleed and Al-Hol. These camps are located in the middle of the desert far from any population centers. Al-Tanaf camp is located in no-man’s land on the borders between Iraq and Syria. Al-Waleed is located on the Iraqi side of the border with Syria and Al-Hol is located in Syria in the Hasaka region. The camp residents had fled largely from Baghdad due to harassment, threats of deportation, abuse by the media, arbitrary detention, torture and murder by organized death squads. They thus became refugees again, originally as a result of the Zionist theft and colonial occupation of Palestine beginning in 1948. Some became refugees also when they were expelled from Kuwait in 1991 by the US-backed Kuwaiti government. Now, after years of waiting, many of the refugees stranded in the camps on the borders of Iraq are being relocated largely to Europe and the US, which continues to occupy Iraq to this day.

The first Palestinian family from Al-Waleed this year will be arriving in San Diego on September 16, 2009, a few days before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with 1350 more Palestinians to follow in the months ahead. According to the Christian Science Monitor most of these will be resettled in Southern California and possibly Pennsylvania and Omaha.

ACTION

Al-Awda is asking all its activists, members and supporters to contribute to help our sisters and brothers in their move to the US.

Please donate today!

Address your tax-deductible donation via check or money order to: Al-Awda, PRRC, PO Box 131352, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA – Please note on the memo line of the check “Palestinians from Iraq”

Alternatively, please donate online using your credit card. Go to http://www.al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the simple instructions. Please indicate that your donation is for “Palestinians from Iraq” with your submission.

Drop off locations:

We will also need furniture, cars, clothes, toys for the kids etc. The following are the current drop off locations:

General:
8531 Wellsford pl # f, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Te: 562-693-1600 Tel: 323-350-0000

For Clothes:
1773 West Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801

For Southern California residents, an emergency meeting is being called for this Sunday starting at 2 PM at the Al-Awda Center, 2734 Loker Avenue West Suite K, in Carlsbad CA 92010.

Our sisters and brothers need all the help they can get after having suffered from the death squads in Baghdad, and more than five years stranded in the camps. We need our people to feel at home as much as possible. We can not disappoint them.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-918-9441
Fax: 760-918-9442
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible.

On 9/11 Challenge the Culture of Fear especially if you live in Atlanta

alexis — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:36:05 +0000

Challenge the Culture of Fear: Letters for Shifa
Friday, September 11, 8:00-9:30pm at Charis

Since 9/11 there has been an increase of Islamophobia and the targeting of Muslim communities globally and here in our own local community. Almost a decade later, Shifa Sadequee, a US citizen and resident of Atlanta, was convicted and faces over 60 years in federal prison for a crime he did not commit.

Join activists and Shifa supporters to write letters & get updates about Shifa’s case. Help reach the goal of sending 1,000 personal letters to Judge Duffy, urging him to reduce the sentencing! Letter writing supplies will be provided. Please contact freeshifa@gmail.com for more info.

This event will take place at:
Charis Books & More
1189 Euclid Ave NE
Atlanta GA 30307
404-524-0304
www.charisbooksandmore.com

Contact: freeshifa@gmail.com

** For more information about the Free Shifa Campaign, visit: WWW.FREESHIFA.COM or join the “JUSTICE FOR SHIFA” Facebook Group.

DC TRANS COALITION responds to violence

alexis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:41:35 +0000

http://dctranscoalition.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/dctc-responds-to-recent-violence-in-our-community/

For Immediate Release
August 28, 2009
Contact: Sadie Ryanne Baker
(202) 557-1951

DC Trans Coalition Mourns Loss After Brutal Stabbing of Two Transgender Women
Group Demands Respect and Dignity from Police and Media Correspondents

Washington, DC – The DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) joins with our friends, family and community to mourn the loss of a 21-year-old transgender woman, Tyli’a “NaNa Boo” Mack, who was horrifically stabbed on the afternoon of August 26th, 2009. She died in the 200 block of Q Street in northwest Washington, DC, while a second transgender woman was rushed to Washington Hospital Center, where she remains in critical condition.

The incident took place close to the offices of Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc (THE) and reminds us that the lives, health and safety of transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming people are under siege by hate and ignorance. Attacks such as this one threaten our entire community.

DCTC also calls on the media and the Metropolitan Police Department to be more respectful of the lives and identities of these women and the broader trans community. Too many times, police and media correspondents have failed to accurately identify and respect the gender identities of trans people, in spite of the commonly accepted Associated Press guidelines that clearly state that reporters should use pronouns and names in accordance with the individual’s identity. This disrespect only perpetuates the ignorance that so often fuels verbal harassment and physical violence. Here in DC, we remind the MPD to adhere to its own regulations found in General Order 501:02 “Handling Interactions With Transgender Individuals”, signed by Chief Cathy Lanier in 2007.

As we continue the difficult work of improving the lives of trans people here in the District, we stand in somber solidarity with our community at this time of tragedy. Moments such as these, when we are reminded of the poverty, violence and degradation faced by so many, reinforce the desperate urgency of confronting anti-trans discrimination in all forms.

It also reminds us of the need to stand as a united community against violence. The DCTC will continue working to change policies that affect our community and ensure that organizations, like THE, can provide their vital programs and services in the hopes that one day, none of us will be forced to fear for our lives.

Community members are invited to attend a vigil for the victims, hosted by THE, at the site of the attack – 209 Q Street, NW – at 6:30pm on Friday, August 28.
###

The DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) is a grassroots community-based organization dedicated to fighting for the human rights, dignity and equal access for transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming people in the District of Columbia.

Stabbing of Trans Women in DC: VIGIL Details

alexis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:35:20 +0000

Yesterday, there was a double stabbing that happened on here in NW DC
near the offices of T.H.E. Two women were stabbed. One woman only 21
years old, a client of T.H.E’s and HIPS known as “Na Na Boo” was
killed. In response to this attack T.H.E. is in the process of
organizing a candlelight vigil to be held tomorrow night at 6:30pm at
the site of the incident 209 Q ST NW. We are asking that all community
members come out to show their support and condemn this recent
violence and urge the community to come forward with any leads. The
police are offering a $25,000 reward in this case (*This email is
excerpted from one I received so language about a police reward is
retained but not supported).

If you are not in the area, please spread the word. This has to stop
happening. http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=26915

Chicago-Support Young Women of Color Speaking UP!!!!

alexis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:09:46 +0000

Please come out this Tuesday to support FUFA and our partners in the LIFE campaign! And please spread the word to your friends!

Youth-led rally to protest budget cuts and demand more youth investment!
Date: Tuesday, September 1st
Time: 10:00 – 11:30
Place: James R. Thompson Center (100 W Randolph St)
Who: Youth from Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Enlace Chicago, Females United for Action, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, MAGIC, Organization of the Northeast & Southwest Organizing Project – YOU!

There will be a live DJ, spoken word & dancing!
Come for the cause, stay for the fun!

Did you know…
The youth unemployment rate is 9 times higher than the national average!?
People under the age of 18 make up 26% of the population and spend over 170 billion dollars per year!?
The llinois 2010 budget cut scholarship funds by 48.77%, cut mentoring funds by 83.9%, cut delinquency prevention/intervention services by 43.8% & cut homeless youth services by 22.2%!?

Confirmed to attend are State Senators Mattie Hunter, Kwame Raoul & Iris Martinez and State Representatives Esther Golar, Connie Howard & Marlow Colvin and many more city, state & federal representatives.

If you’re coming, please RSVP to Manju at femalesunited@gmail.com or 919-618-0442, so we know what kind of numbers to expect! You can also RSVP on the rally’s event page on Facebook. And if you can’t make it to the rally, please do listen in at 10am sharp 9/1/09 on Vocalo.org (89.5 FM WBEW)- they’ll be doing a live interview with Allie Pates from FUFA and Ira Hatcher from Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization!

And please contact Elianne at Albany Park Neighborhood Council if you’ve got questions at elianne@apncorganizing.org or 773-583-1387.

Peace,
your friends at FUFA

Speak Out Against Sexual Violence in Raleigh

alexis — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:00:11 +0000

Greetings all,
The message below comes from a sista that I cyber-mentor She is involved in an action responding to a film screening that promotes sexual violence.
Join if you can make it!
love,
lex

- Hide quoted text -

—

The NCSU UAB Films Committee is bringing a horribly offensive film and
individual to the Campus Cinema this Wednesday, August 26 – we are
outraged and NEED YOUR HELP!

This sneak preview of his new film, “I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell,” is
based on the real-life experiences of Tucker Max. He writes misogynistic
material where coercing intoxicated women to have sex is bragged about,
but the acts he describes meet the legal definition of rape. The film
trailer includes sexist and racist lines such as “kill the fat girl,”
“fat girls aren’t real people,” and “you’re saying that Magic Johnson is
black and has AIDS, and has it better than me??!!” And it’s not just the
film – Tucker Max will be on campus after the film for “Q&A and to sign
autographs,” as if he were a role model. Touted as student
“entertainment” and disguised as humor, the stories Tucker Max tells
promotes a rape culture that goes against the values espoused by our
university, and he and his film are being brought to campus during a
time when the Women’s Center struggles to get even five minutes at
orientation to talk about issues of sexual and relationship violence.

The UAB Films Committee consists of students who have been charged with
using their allotted student fees to make film selections for campus
(although this film apparently did not cost anything to bring it to
campus since it’s on a Premiere Tour). Administrators are hesitant to
step in and cancel the event, however, they are working with the Women’s
Center and others to inform students and support them. Students made the
decision to bring Tucker Max and his film to campus, and they need
to be the ones who cancel it. Should it not be canceled, however, a
silent protest is being planned.

****HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1 – Email the Chair of the UAB Films Committee, Will Lamb, at
uab_films@ncsu.edu to express your concerns about this event, explain
why you find it offensive, and ask that it NOT be allowed to take place.
Encourage others to do the same. If you are outraged, have your voice
heard now!
2 – Should the event not be canceled, please attend the SILENT protest
being organized before the film (starting at 6pm outside of Witherspoon)
and a SILENT candle light vigil after it (starting at 8:30pm at the same
location) to honor all survivors of
rape, including the ones Tucker Max has abused.
3 – We will be making signs and posters in the Women’s Center (3120
Talley) all day Wednesday to represent the words we wish to express –
all are welcome to help.******

This event is intended to be silent. Tucker Max’s protestors are often
loud and aggressive – he seems to feed off of this. We are calling for a
SILENT protest as we believe this will be more powerful and effective,
especially with lots of people participating. Our university rallied
against racially-offensive hate speech in the Free Expression Tunnel.
Similarly, I would hope that we would use this event to raise awareness
about sexual assault against women.

Here are the links if you would like to check out the stories on his
blog and the movie trailer, but be aware that they contain offensively
graphic content.

Movie website, including trailer: ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com
Blog entries can be found here: http://www.tuckermax.com/

Thank you for your support!

Hate Crime Victim Julio Maldonado Wrongfully Convicted, Now Being Deported

alexis — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:03:04 +0000

reposted from: http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/hate_crime_victim_julio_maldonado_wrongfully_convicted_now_being_deported

by Dave Bennion

categories: Immigration Detention, Immigration Law

Published August 12, 2009 @ 11:46PM PT

I was recently contacted by several family members of two men who came to the U.S. from Peru many years ago. The men are Julio Maldonado and his cousin Denis Calderon. Once I heard their story and checked it out, I knew I had to blog about it.

I will explain the facts and case history as the family explained them to me and based on my review of court transcripts, legal briefs, and Julio’s written statements. Some of these documents are available along with a timeline on the website that the family (in particular, Julio’s cousin Maria Rolon) has created.

Julio and Denis were both long-time lawful permanent residents. Julio has lived in the U.S. since the age of three and has a longtime U.S. citizen fiancée. Denis has a U.S. citizen wife and U.S. citizen children. The men are now in their early forties. In 1996, Julio was visiting Denis at his home in Philadelphia when the two were victims of a racially-motivated attack by a group of white youths who insulted them with a racial slur. When the cousins responded to the slur, the youths began throwing beer bottles at them. The two cousins tried to escape, and then attempted to defend themselves.

Julio ran to his car and pulled out a “Club” anti-theft device and wielded it against the person he saw stabbing Denis with a knife, 18-year-old Christian Saladino. Part of the Club detached and flew off, striking a nearby car. Unbalanced, Julio brought the remaining portion down and struck Christian’s shoulder. Christian got up, took a few steps back, and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital and revived but fell into a coma.

Denis had run to his house where his wife called the police. He grabbed a baseball bat and ran outside looking for Julio, who he believed was being attacked. Denis did not see Julio, but swung the bat around his head to fend off his attackers, hitting no one. The police soon arrived.

When the police arrived, they arrested Denis and Julio. They recovered two knives at the scene but did not test them for blood or fingerprints since no witness testified that Denis or Julio had used a knife. Denis and Julio were charged with aggravated assault. None of the white youths were ever charged with any crime.

Seth Williams, the current Democratic nominee for District Attorney of Philadelphia, was then the young prosecutor on the case. He fought hard on the case and Denis and Julio’s attorneys made some crucial errors, including failing to insist on a jury trial. Judge Gregory Smith found the two cousins guilty of aggravated assault and other ancillary charges in a bench trial. Each defendant served 2-3 years in prison for that conviction.

The cousins appealed the case on the basis that counsel had been ineffective in failing to submit key expert medical testimony. The appeals court at some point remanded the case back down for an evidentiary hearing on these issues.

Tragically, Christian Saladino died in 1998. Williams brought murder charges against Denis and Julio. The case went before a jury and the defendants hired a forensic pathologist who testified that the victim had a pre-existing blood condition and had not died from injuries sustained in an attack. Inconsistencies arose in the accounts of the witnesses and the jury acquitted both defendants (pdf).

Judge Smith, the original convicting judge, in his remanded evidentiary hearing decided the new evidence was material and ruled in favor of the defendants, vacating the guilty verdicts and calling for a new trial on the aggravated assault charges (pdf). In a reasonable system, that would have been the end of the story and you would not be reading about it today. But Seth Williams appealed the decision and the appellate court reversed Judge Smith because the cousins had failed to present the exculpatory evidence within the time prescribed by the statute of limitations. The cousins’ criminal attorneys appealed the criminal case up to the U.S. Supreme Court and lost on technical grounds.

Several years ago, DHS got involved and put the cousins into removal proceedings on the basis of the conviction which was then being appealed. Julio and Denis appealed their immigration case up to the Third Circuit and lost.

In 2005, Julio and Denis were charged and convicted with failing to cooperate in their own removal because they would not sign the papers necessary to request travel documents from Peru so they could be deported. They have been in federal prison on those charges since 2005. Julio’s release date was moved up a year due to good behavior. DHS has expressed its intent to deport him once he is released on September 12, 2009.

Julio recently filed for a pardon from Pennsylvania Governor Rendell. His immigration attorney is exploring the possibility of a stay of removal based on the pending pardon.

Maria believes her cousins were the victims of a hate crime and that they are innocent of the convictions which the convicting judge himself later vacated. Based on my review of the court documents, I agree. They have lived here almost their entire lives and their families live here in the U.S. They have nothing to return to in Peru, and no reason to return to the country they left so many years ago. But falling as they do at the conjunction of the unforgiving and error-prone criminal justice and immigration legal systems, the government has reached the perverse conclusion that these two men must be exiled from their home.

I believe this is wrong. I believe we should do something about it. This is why I am sharing their story here. Please go to the family’s website and review the documents for yourself. In the coming days, I will be exploring opportunities to take action in this case, both on this site and elsewhere. If you feel compelled, please join me in seeking justice for Julio and Denis.

Update: See new photos on the family’s site here.

[Top image above: Julio and his mother pre-1996; bottom image: Denis and his mother pre-1996]

Transphobic Ridiculousness

alexis — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:53:05 +0000

Dear Friend,

Have you heard the news about Caster Semenya, the champion South African runner?

She’s got the world’s attention, but it’s not about her athletic ability – it’s about who she is, and who gets to decide her gender.

Her family and her community support her, but Caster has been shamed as an athlete because she doesn’t look the way a woman is “supposed to” look. And now the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is making her undergo invasive tests to tell her whether she deserves her gold medal.

XX – why?! Why does Caster have to endure this violation of her personal privacy just because she looks different? Why does the IAAF get to decide who she is? I’m outraged. Are you? Then tell the IAAF to stay out of Caster Semenya’s pants.

Gender is not a science, and biology does not make – or unmake – a woman. Oppression based on looks, however, is real, and forces women athletes to adhere to a sexist standard that does not foster true competition or personal excellence. We applaud Caster Semenya’s skill as an athlete, and the way she creates more space for women – of all shapes, sizes and looks – to succeed. No one should be victimized for not fitting some arbitrary definitions of what is male and female.

Speak up for Caster, and for anyone who’s borne the brunt of fear and discrimination because of how they look or who they are.

Sincerely,

Ann Whidden

CALL TO ACTION: LETTERS NEEDED & COMMUNITY MEETING (PLEASE PASS ON!)

alexis — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:20:49 +0000

Share
Today at 2:45pm
Please forward widely! Pass on to your networks!

CALL TO ACTION
Free Shifa! Free Haris!
Challenge the violent tactics of the War on Terror!

BRIEF UPDATE:
As you all know Shifa Sadequee was convicted on August 12 of all four counts of conspiracy and attempt to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations. The evidence is flimsy and the laws are all based on “pre-emptive prosecution” to convict people before a crime has been committed. The defense team will submit a motion for re-trial. He and his co-defendant will be sentenced by the same judge who presided over the trial on October 15. The appeal process begins after the sentencing.

IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS TO TAKE:

1) 1000 Letters to Judge Duffey to reduce the sentencing
2) September 11th – Challenge the Culture of Fear: Join us at Charis Bookstore to write letters & learn more about the case
3) September 21st – Community Meeting to launch long-term strategies

1) 1000 Letters to the Judge by October 1!
URGE JUDGE DUFFEY to SENTENCE SHIFA & HARIS FAIRLY

Shifa faces up to 60 years in prison and Haris faces 15 years. Shifa will be 83 years old before he gets out, if the judge throws the book at him which is likely.

Student movements across Bangladesh have committed to sending 1000 letters. Let’s match that in the US by sending 1000 personal letters to Judge Duffey, urging him to reduce the sentencing to time served (best case scenario) or the lowest sentencing possible in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.

Template can be found on the facebook group page under “disacussion topics” – Please make it as personal and from the heart as possible! Visit www.freeshifa.com for more information in the “Who is Shifa” section

Send hard copy to judge and PLEASE EMAIL A COPY TO freeshifa@gmail.com – Include your name and contact information.

Send hard copy to:
Judge William S. Duffey
District Court Judge
United States District Court
1721 Richard B. Russell Federal Building and United States Courthouse
75 Spring Street S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Send email copy to: freeshifa@gmail.com

2) September 11th – Challenge the Culture of Fear
Join us at Charis Bookstore at 8pm-9:30pm to write letters & learn more about the case. Food provided!

Charis Books & More
1189 Euclid
Atlanta GA 30307

3) Community Meeting – Atlanta Supporters
Monday, September 21, 2009 – 6:30pm
@ 9 Gammon Ave
Atlanta GA 30315
(Project South offices)

Come and find out more about the case and build long-term strategies to support the families, activate our solidarity with the Muslim community, and to eliminate these kind of attacks on all of our communities. We will discuss Media Strategies, Organizing Strategies, Safety Strategies, and general community awareness about all the issues that are connected to this significant and historic case. We will also prepare for the October 15th Sentencing Hearing.

If you are not in Atlanta and want to support, please don’t hesitate to contact freeshifa@gmail.com. There are multiple opportunities to join and support the organizing efforts through writing solidarity statements, connecting to media around the country, and connecting to similar cases and community responses.

Wherever you are, please write letters and forward this call on to your networks, friends, families, and organizations!

GO TO www.freeshifa.com
JOIN Facebook group with videos and all press releases from the 7 days of trial: Justice For Shifa

******PLEASE VISIT THE FACEBOOK GROUP DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR SAMPLE LETTER.

Stop this Deportation

alexis — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:06:54 +0000

Today, Herta llushlo, DREAM Act student is being deported to Albania – her bags are already packed.

We can make sure that doesn’t happen.

Can you write in support of Herta Llushlo?

Click here to write your letter to Secretary Napolitano: http://action.seiu.org/writedhs4herta.

Herta Llusho, a 19 year old college freshman and a National Honors Society high school graduate, will be deported on August 19th, unless Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano intervenes.

Click here to write your letter to Secretary Napolitano: http://action.seiu.org/writedhs4herta.

Thanks!