This is what democracy looks like

Like many of you, I've spent much of my time in the last two weeks watching the revolution in Egypt unfold and flower, and reading as much as I could, because I want to know: how did this happen?  How were the people in Tunisia and Egypt able to succeed?

I've heard it was a revolution enabled by social media-- then I heard we (in the U.S.) arrogant to think social media could play such a significant role.  I've heard Egyptian activists saying that their revolution had no leaders-- and yet, as a community organizer, I know how nearly impossible it is for such well-organized actions to take place without coordination.

This morning's New York Times has the best article I've read so far about how the revolution in Egypt organized itself.  I'm sure we'll read more and better detailed accounts in the future, but for now, this is it: years of work that came about because of repressive conditions, lots of organizing, and a big role for social media.

CAIRO — As protesters in Tahrir Square faced off against pro-government forces, they drew a lesson from their counterparts in Tunisia: “Advice to the youth of Egypt: Put vinegar or onion under your scarf for tear gas.”

The exchange on Facebook was part of a remarkable two-year collaboration that has given birth to a new force in the Arab world — a pan-Arab youth movement dedicated to spreading democracy in a region without it. Young Egyptian and Tunisian activists brainstormed on the use of technology to evade surveillance, commiserated about torture and traded practical tips on how to stand up to rubber bullets and organize barricades.

They fused their secular expertise in social networks with a discipline culled from religious movements and combined the energy of soccer fans with the sophistication of surgeons. Breaking free from older veterans of the Arab political opposition, they relied on tactics of nonviolent resistance channeled from an American scholar through a Serbian youth brigade — but also on marketing tactics borrowed from Silicon Valley.

Poster from Nick Bygone's photostream at Flickr.

Just ONE of the many defensive actions we'll be needing to take

WHAT'S HAPPENING?:  The Obama Administration has proposed devastating cuts and changes to Community Action. Anti-poverty agencies nationwide, including Springfield Partners for Community Action, will be forced to cut programs or close the doors if these changes go through. Critical services for low-income families will be lost.

WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO DO? The Obama Administration is set to propose a 50% cut to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the central source of funding for Community Action Agencies in the United States. President Obama's budget will be released Monday, Feb. 14.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?  CSBG is the ONLY federal program focused on comprehensive services to fight poverty. If CSBG is eliminated, more than a thousand Community Action Agencies nationwide - including Springfield Partners - will be forced to slash programs, or even to shut their doors.

WHAT CAN WE DO?  It is essential that President Obama and Congress hear from communities across America. We need to let our national leaders know that Community Action is important to us!

SIGN THIS PETITION!!  http://www.petitiononline.com/4iA8vA4g/petition.html<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?SpringfieldPartnersf/13e6fc036d/89621df06d/f63799a6b1>

Performance Project!

Questies are in this performance...

Justice for Brisenia

From Presente: Nine-year-old Brisenia Flores was murdered in her home in Arivaca, Arizona in May 2009. She pleaded, “Please don’t shoot me,” right before she was shot — point blank, in the face — by a member of the Minutemen American Defense Corps (MAD)¹
The alleged mastermind behind Brisenia’s murder, Shawna Forde, has publicly represented anti-Latino hate groups including the Minutemen and the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR). Forde is currently on trial in Arizona for the murder of Brisenia and her father, Raul. As we speak, the jury is deliberating and will return a verdict within days, or hours.
Our community is waiting on justice for Brisenia.
Her murder represents the violence that follows when hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric and the groups that promote it goes unchecked.
Brisenia’s story has been largely ignored in the mainstream media, but her life has galvanized people around the country to speak out against hate violence towards Latinos. We at Presente designed a poster to honor Brisenia’s memory, and to send a statement that we want justice.
Together, let’s take a stand against anti-Latino violence and the hatred that ruins lives. Please download this memorial poster, display it proudly, and share it with your friends and family:
http://act.presente.org/go/240?akid=301.115011.-ZyVdy&t=4

Here's a New York TImes article with more details: Murder Trial in Tuscon.

Last week at Arise

CONGRATULATIONS, PEOPLE OF EGYPT!

Just ending a busy week at Arise and feeling as if we moved ahead.  Different Arise members went to other events, also, but from my end:

Monday: With the No One Leaves Coaltion, protested and temporarily postponed an auction of the Diaz' family home.
Tuesday: vigil for David Kato.  Very cold weather; about 20 of us took turns vigiling and going inside to get warm.  Met some new allies.
Wednesday: I spoke at WNEC Lw School with City Councilor Mike Fenton about the biomass incinerator and efforts to stop it.
Thursday: Back to the Diaz home, about 30 people, this time the bank buys the house back.  It's not over.  Then on to the Springfield Institute, for our second meeting of a coalition loosely titled, Group to Stop Hate and Homophobia in Springfield.  Arise, Out Now, Raging Grannies, and the OUTlaws from WNEC, plus more.  Next meeting March 3, place to be announced.
Friday: Brunch at Arise.  Every 2nd Friday, we invite members and folks who've stopped in during the week to join us.  A dozen people ate bananas and bagels and talked about why we care about social justice.  Then, at 3:30, ten of us attended the Community Coalition for Justice workshop on knowing your rights with the police.

Another busy week ahead.  Call us at 413-734-4948 to get involved.

What's going to happen to us?

8:00 am.: It's minus 13 degrees outside right now, and I wonder: what's going to happen to us?

President Obama wants to halve the funding for the  Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps eligible families pay for some of their heating costs.  This is only one of the many cuts affecting poor people that we'll be writing about in the next weeks, but one that is much on my mind as I sit by my little electric heater. This is the third year I've decided that I just didn't have enough money to put oil in the tank that provides central heating for my apartment, and instead to get by with my gas stove and space heater.  But this was more or less a choice for me.  Many don't have that choice.

The other issue really on my mind right now is housing.  Yesterday about thirty people from the No One Leaves Campaign stood outside the home of the Diaz family, as we attempted to shame Wells Fargo and potential buyers into calling of the auction of the Diaz family's home.  We didn't succeed yesterday, but the fight is not over.

More than 12,000 homes were foreclosed in Massachusetts last year.  What happens to people forced back into the rental market?  What options do they have?  Not many now, and ever fewer after the Obama and Patrick administrations get done with us.  And Obama and Patrick are supposed to be on our side!  Just keep remembering: none of these cuts would even be necessary if the rich were paying their fair share of taxes, if banks were loaning out the money we, the taxpayers, gave them, if we weren't in a state of perpetual war.Just to get this discussion started, take a look at this great flyer done by WRAP: Sorry that I'm unable to reproduce it fully.

David Kato Vigil: Tomorrow, Tuesday, 1 pm.

Don't forget-- in front of Arise, 467 State St.  Don't let hate grow in Springfield.  For more background, see here and here.   Please join us.

Diaz auction postponed to Thursday

About 15 of us showed up this morning at 9:30 (auction scheduled for 10 am.) to try to stop the auction of  the Diaz family's home on Champlain St..  We chanted, held signs, and listened to a few speakers, including Ms. Diaz.  You can read the story of the predatory banks and their war against Ms. Diaz here.

We'd been out there about ten minutes when this white man in his 60's walked up and told us to go away.  Apparently he is a "neighbor" from down the street.  A few folks tried to talk to him but he just walked back down the street, shouting things like, "If you can't pay your mortgage, don't buy a house!"  I know that neighborhood fairly well and it is pretty white.  Some racism at play here?

A few minutes later a police cruiser pulled up and the officer told us we'd have to make sure we moved if any traffic came by, and we said we would, and then moved so he could pass.  (You have to understand that Champlain St., like five or six other streets in a row that run off Berkshire, are nearly cul de sacs, connected by a little road at the end used only by the few people with houses on that road.  In other words, no traffic.)

A few minutes after that, a car pulled to the side of the road-- the auctioneers from Wells Fargo National Bank!  Then along came another cruiser.  This officer said we were upsetting several elderly people in the neighborhood-- couldn't say which ones-- and that if we didn't have a permit, we'd have to leave.  While Lara was attempting to negotiate with the officer, the auctioneers decided they weren't going to go ahead that day after all, and they postponed the auction until Thursday at 2 pm.  

Of course, we'll be back on Thursday, also, with even more people (want to join us?) and a little more clarity on the permit situation.  I think we don't need one as long as we're in motion, or if we were to be on the Diaz' property-- not too easy unless we want to be knee-deep in snow.  But we'll figure it out.  No auction!  Not today, not Thursday, not ever!  Join the No One Leaves Campaign!

A message of hope and freedom

The people of the world stand at the doorway of a fretful future. What exactly will it be no one can say for sure. The people may not be able to predict the future, but I'm sure they know what they want; peace, liberty, an enriched life, that is free from want, oppression, violence and restriction; the people want democracy, a refreshed democracy; they want to be able to feel, see and smell freedom. The people want to sink their teeth into democracy and freedom and they want tangible assurances that all the loud chatter of democracy will include them, regardless of their station in life. They want certainty and will not be satisfied with mere high-sounding yet trite and cliche remarks by politicians or presidents.

These turbulent times are hardly the time to fumble with mere abstractions. The people want concrete safeguards of their rights so their faith in the democratic system won't be lost. We the people are in a titanic life-and-death struggle for our rights and freedoms against ruthless and efficient foes. Now is the time for the people of the world to galvanize into decisive action on the side of freedom and democracy. Freedom has become a world-wide issue to discuss and settle here and now.

Should the elitist and their vision of a "New world order" (N.W.O.) suddenly fold up their tent and surrender to the people's will tomorrow, the capitulation would provide only a brief respite of peace unless the people believe and act without reservation to make true the words of Sumner Welles that, "Our victory must bring in it's train the liberation of all peoples. Discrimination between peoples because of their race, creed, color or sexual orientation must be abolished".

Millions of people of all stripes; black, brown, yellow, red, white, straight, gay, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and all other minorities do not believe that the elitist and their police state N.W.O. intend to put into effect democracy and freedom for the people. In fact they have done everything in their power to take away our rights and freedoms, tear up the Constitution and destroy the principles of democracy. This belief is what accounts for the depths of passion that underlie all the struggles for freedom and democracy witnessed around the world today.

The rumblings for freedom and equality for the people of America and the world will reverberate into a mighty roar and spread like wildfire in the days to come, the days of talking quietly have past. These are the days for bold action, this is the time to serve the ways of democracy and preserve the integrity of the Constitution. Sweeping changes will set the peoples of the world on fire and they will stand in great numbers and have the power to demand justice, demand freedom and demand equality. Help us fight for our freedom and for what's right.

ARISE for Social Justice has been in the fore-front of the struggle for freedom, justice, democracy and human rights for many years, however we cannot continue in this struggle without the help and support of the people we serve. Because we accept no government funding and due in part to the economic downturn, we find ourselves in a rather precarious financial situation. We need the help of the people to continue fighting for the people. If you can spare a dollar, a few dollars or a few hundred dollars please consider a donation to ARISE, anything that will help us to continue helping the people would be appreciated.

Please send what you can spare to the following address: ARISE for Social Justice P.O. BOX 5423, 467 State Street, Springfield, MA. 01101. Your contributions are tax deductable. Thank you so much for standing with us for freedom and against oppression.


Don James

President: ARISE for Social Justice

FRIDAY: Know Your Rights with the Police Workshop!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING

Do you know when police are and are not allowed to search you?
Do you know when you have to answer an officer’s questions?
By fully understanding our rights, we can protect ourselves against  unjust police practices.
Join us for a free “Know Your Rights” workshop to learn the basics of  asserting your rights when dealing with the police.

Friday, February 11, 2011 3:30-5pm
Arise for Social Justice
467 State Street in Springfield
Free and open to all

This workshop is brought to you by the Community Coalition for  Justice. We are a group of community members and organizations working to stop police brutality in Springfield and to increase police
accountability to the community.  Questions? Want to get involved? Contact community.coalition.for.justice@gmail.com or call Arise at 413-734-4948 or 413-519-5964.

Michaelann VS Palmer Renewable Energy

Last week I had a chance to debate PRE developers about their proposed biomass plant.  Wish we'd had more time!

Things are heating up-- more soon on our plan to get PRE's permit revoked.

Biomass from WGBY on Vimeo.

Foreclosure protest this Monday!

No One Leaves Campaign to Protest Foreclosure Auction of Diaz Family Home 
                      

SPRINGFIELD, MA On Monday February 7th at 10am, Wells Fargo National Bank, as trustee for an asset-back securitized loan pool, will foreclose on the home of Maribel Diaz, who lives with her three children, Josue, Maribel and Freddie, at 129 Champlain Avenue in Springfield. At 9:30 am, Springfield residents will gather to protest the auction, demand that the bank work with Ms. Diaz to give her a fair and non-predatory loan, and make clear that we will oppose anyone whose business plan is to foreclose and evict the Diaz family from their home.

The Diaz family has lived in their home since 2006, when Ms. Diaz took out a mortgage with WMC Mortgage Corporation through Millennium Mortgage to buy a home for her family to live in. She received a predatory loan. One mortgage, with a principal of $157,600 was an adjustable rate mortgage with a 7.25% interest rate that is scheduled to jump to 14.75% by 2013. That mortgage also had a balloon payment of $149,000, to be paid at the end of 30 years. Mrs. Diaz was never informed of the balloon payment. Her other mortgage, was a fixed rate mortgage with a 11.35% interest rate! Worse, the mortgage company included her then boyfriends income on the mortgage application to qualify her for the loan, but only made the mortgage out to her! 

Her mortgages were quickly sold by WMC Mortgage Corp. to Litton Loan Services who then sold her mortgages to Saxon Bank and Chase Bank. Now Wells Fargo, as trustee, is moving to foreclose. A securitized loan, the foreclosure of Ms. Diaz’s home comes in the wake of the recently decided Ibanez vs. US Bank case, which showed that banks must prove that they have the right to foreclose on an owner before they do so.

“This loan is a prime example of the predatory practices of banks that have helped create the housing bubble and the economic collapse that followed,” say Jeff Napolitano, a No One Leaves coalition member.

These same banks have received billions in taxpayer bailouts and are recording record profits while they move to foreclose and evict families throughout Springfield, leaving families homeless, homes vacant and our neighborhoods in disrepair.

With support of the Springfield No One Leaves Bank Tenant Association, Ms. Diaz and her family are continuing to work to try and get the bank to call off the auction and work with them. If Ms. Diaz is successful, we will hold a rally and press conference at the Diaz family home.

The No One Leaves Campaign is a community-based campaign working to organize residents in foreclosed homes and prevent mass evictions and displacement after foreclosure that are destroying our community. For more information visit www.springfieldnoooneleaves.org

Contact: Malcolm Chu  - 718-666-6872                       nooneleavesspringfield@gmail.com

 

Need affordable housing? Join SAVE For All!

In case you haven't heard, affordable housing is under big-time attack by the federal government.  In Massachusetts alone, we could lose 50,000 Section 8s and 5,000 public housing units.  We've joined the national effort and you can, too!  Here's one way:
Washington, D.C.
February 2, 2011

Dear NAHC Members and Supporters,

Strengthening America's Values and Economy For All is a new campaign to SAVE low- and moderate-income people from loss of economic security due to threatened severe cuts in federal funding and to SAVE the federal capacity to spur economic recovery and progress for the benefit of all. The campaign is being coordinated by the Coalition on Human Needs, and NAHC is taking a leading role.
NAHC has just signed on to SAVE for All's Statement of Principles, and encourages you to do the same. The campaign is developing materials that will make a case for the involvement of federal resources, engage grassroots advocates, employ media strategies, and contact members of Congress with messages consistent with SAVE's Statement of Principles.
You can view SAVE's Statement of Principles here.
To sign on to the Statement of Principles, click here.
SAVE for All is committed to including state and local organizations, especially grassroots service providers, in its campaign. In the next few days, you will receive a message from us inviting you to join the campaign as a field advocate and participate in congressional visits via conference call. NAHC encourages all its members and supporters to join these efforts. Direct communication from constituents is crucial to the success of this campaign.
Please forward this message to your networks and other service providers in your area.
Thanks for all that you do,
National AIDS Housing Coalition

Houston cops beat teenager

Once again, the question: how many beatings are NOT caught on tape?  Would anyone have believed this fifteen year old young man without the backing of technology?  How many people did these particular officers beat before this beating was caught on camera?

State of the Dream, 2011: Austerity for Whom?

Each year on Martin Luther King's birthday, United for a Fair Economy releases its "State of the Dream" report.  You can read a summary here, and have access to the full report.  doesn't look good, folks.

This video features Mazher Ali and Brian Miller of United for a Fair Economy, two of the co-authors of the report, discussing the key findings of the report.

State of the Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom? from United for a Fair Economy on Vimeo.

The First Step to Defeating Tyranny is Solidarity in Alternative Media

The First Step to Defeating Tyranny is Solidarity in Alternative Media

There can be no peace without justice, there can be no justice without truth and there can be no truth, unless someone rises up to tell the truth. (Unknown)

Greenland's Glacial Meltdown

Greenland's Glacial Meltdown

SNOW!

Weather even worse than predicted.  Liz and I are headed to Arise in case anyone shows up for the vigil for David Kato.  Obviously we will schedule another vigil ASAP.