From the open publishing newswire: Friday: The first time convoys have been blocked at Fort Lewis! At 8:00 p.m. demonstrators numbering 15-20 converged on Puyallup and East D. Estimates counted 30 police cars. Several convoys left the port beginning at 11:20 p.m.; last reported convoy at 3:30 a.m. A group of 25-30 demonstrators met the first convoy at Exit 122 at 11:45 p.m. A soft blockade on the overpass disrupted the transport for approximately 15 minutes. Estimates counted 20 police cars...

Saturday: Strykers and Hecklers ... At 12:00 p.m. demonstrators converged at Exit 119 for a "No War on Iran" protest. Usual counter-protesters arrived at 11:30 a.m. At approximately 1 p.m. one demonstrator was arrested on the overpass and charged with "depositing trash on the highway" and resisting arrest. His car was searched and photographed. The demonstrator is being released on PR. As of 4:00 nine Strykers have come thru this exit today!!!! 20-25 demonstrators are here now. We need you and more! Get out here!!!!!

[ Read More ]

From the open publishing newswire: The Nolympics(!) '08 demonstration is scheduled for next Sunday, August 3rd 1-3pm at the city park located at the intersection of 5th and Hall Blvd. in Beaverton. Our goal is to inspire a boycott of this year's Olympics (beginning August 8th) and draw media attention to the human rights situation in China/Tibet. We would be honored to have you join us in the continuing fight to raise awareness. We hope to see you there!

From the open publishing newswire: We will return to the Earlman's office this Thursday because talk is cheap and action is needed. Our Congressman must get in front of this parade on accountability or be run over by it. People are leaving the Democratic Party because we see no action and the criminals in the White House will walk in January 09.

Registration of new democrats is up, but by 2010 that will all be gone. Pelosi and her gang will damage the party to such an extent that it will take years to recover. The Democratic Party is dying and may be dead.

From the open publishing newswire: The red cross says it is torture
But the American Psychological association
Says that it is not torture
They should be there to oversea
Dog cages and human being electrocuted randomly
One person who was locked
Inside the walls of secret documents
Was a teacher
Whose only crime was flunking a student
The student fingered them for being a terrorist
The CIA says that 1/3 of those in Guantanamo
Are probably innocent

From the open publishing newswire: The Free Gaza Movement plans to break the medical aid blockade of Gaza by sea. On the weekly radio show, Questioning War- Organizing Resistance, seven of the courageous travelers will give details of the upcoming voyage, its purpose, their motivations. 41 people from 16 countries are committed to this action and ending the blockade of the truth of the Palestinians' plight from reaching the world. Listen to Questioning War- Organizing Resistance on WeThePeopleRadioNetwork.com Monday, July 21, 2008, from 8:00- 9:00 pm (PST) in the first hour and to our guests - Darlene Wallach, Kathleen Wang, Hedy Epstein, and Greta Berlinand ... in the second hour, 9:00- 10:00 pm (PST) to our guests - Mary Hughes-Thompson, Bill Dienst, and David Halpin. We've tried to enter Palestine by land. We've tried to arrive by air. Now we're getting serious. We're taking a ship. [ Read More | Questioning War- Organizing Resistance ]

From the open publishing newswire: I spent the afternoon at the IVAW NW Winter Soldier event and made a half dozen video clips of that days events[.] Lots of veterans and independent media and a few hundred people in the audience[.] It was held in Seattle Washington on a Sunday afternoon[.] The protest that followed the testimonies, was through the streets of downtown[.] The forum was of a variety of people from veterans to activists to a mother of a lady soldier who was assaulted by a fellow

 http://ivaw.org/

From the open publishing newswire: Has Portland interest in the human rights abuses in China/Tibet really waned, or are action groups not making themselves apparent? Recently, while combing through Indymedia in search of Portland groups for the liberation of China/Tibet, I was shocked by the absence of (or apparent absence) of such existing movements. There doesn't seem to be much going on at all. I've been organizing a demonstration (set for the first week in August) to protest U.S. involvement in the 2008 Olympics. So far, my search for other groups to network with has been unfruitful. I've found some older posts about events protesting the Olympics (like the Human Rights Torch Relay and the protest that was held downtown April 12) but I was disappointed to find nothing listed on the calendar for the upcoming months. Has interest really waned or are groups just not posting anticipated events? If anyone is interested in coordinating efforts, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail listed, we would love to hear from you.

From the open publishing newswire: Honor the Dead, But Save the Living

On this day of grief and remembering, listen to voices of some who are working to end war, ensure that those who return receive care and support, and stand as heroes of the force for peace.
KBOO, 90.7 FM Monday Morning Talk Radio

At 7:30, Ret. Col. Ann Wright, co-author of Dissent: Voices of Conscience will discuss the cost of war to women soldiers-PTSD, sexual assault, rape and murder.

At 8, Michael Marceau from D.C. Veterans for Peace will join us to tell how DC VFP was dis-invited from marching in the Memorial Day Parade there.

And at 8:30, Chanan Suarezdiaz of Seattle Iraq Vets Against the War will talk about next weekend's NW Winter Soldier event in Seattle.

Then at 10:30, Chris Andrea will talk with Malcolm Chaddock, VF72, about local events this day.

Listen up, OK?

From the open publishing newswire: [May 1, 2008] Minutes ago, I spoke with Clarence Thomas of the ILWU executive board. "The rank and file action against the war is indeed happening right now", he said. And today the workers will write history.

In an attempt to head this off last night the PMA went to court, "Employers, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), will not agree to it, and threatened union leaders with court action under Taft-Hartley if they don't call it all off."

but the judge refused to take any action, until there is concrete action by the union in violation of their contract. This is a rank and file action by union members who are united by their opposition to the war. They disagree with the decision of the arbitrator who has dis-allowed the choice of May Day, by the ILWU, as a "day for union business" for workers at all 29 ports on the west coast. A "day for union business" is allowed by their contract. Their original intent was to use this day for their official protest, but official or not, the protest is on. Protests in the Bay Area began early today, led by Direct Action to Stop the War. DASW organized the famous march on Washington that gathered 500,000 people from groups across the nation. Today, they will close down the war effort in San Fransisco. Their effort to shut down the Union Pacific Rail lines began at sunrise this morning. Indybay reported:

From the open publishing newswire: On May 1, all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast are to be shut down by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in protest against the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a historic event of international significance: labor action against imperialist war by a major American union. The strategically placed port workers in the ILWU can bring commerce with Asia to a grinding halt, and they're about to demonstrate it. The maritime employers are already screaming, and you can bet it's got the attention of the warmongers in Washington. All labor should take up the challenge this poses: For workers strikes against the war! M

eanwhile, immigrants' rights groups are once again mobilizing on May Day. And on April 30 and May 1, the independent truckers who move cargo to and from the docks may play an important role in a shutdown. The imperialist war on Afghanistan and Iraq is also a war on immigrants, minorities, working people and democratic rights "at home." We need to defeat this attack here and abroad, in opposition to both the capitalist war parties. The "antiwar movement," whose aim has always been to pressure the Democrats, is at a dead end. What's needed is working-class action independent of the bosses. What that takes is a fundamental break from the Democratic Party and the pro-capitalist politics that infuse the labor bureaucracy.

MayDay Picnic Noon-4pm | Mayday Immigrants Rights Demo 3 - 4 pm | Mayday GUELAGUETZA! 6-10pm | Red & Black mayday celebration starting at 7pm

From the open publishing newswire: The conspiracy to divide Bolivia must be denounced

The process of changes in favor of the Bolivian majority is at risk of being brutally restrained. The rise to power of an Indigenous president with unprecedented support in that country and his programs of popular benefits and recovery of the natural resources have had to face the conspiracies of the oligarchy and United States interference from the very beginning.

In recent days the increase in conspiracy has reached its climax. The subversive and unconstitutional actions of the oligarchic groups to try to divide the Bolivian nation reflect the racist and elitist minds of these sectors and constitute a very dangerous precedent not only for the country's integrity, but for other countries in our region.

History shows with ample eloquence, the terrible consequences that the divisionary and separatist processes supported and induced by foreign interests have had for humanity. Faced with this situation the signers below would like to express their support for the government of Evo Morales Ayma, for his policies for change and for the sovereign constituent process of the Bolivian people. At the same time we reject the so-called Santa Cruz Autonomy Statute due to its unconstitutionality and the attempt against the unity of a nation of our America.

Support Bolivia:  http://www.todosconbolivia.org/index.php?lang=2

From the open publishing newswire: APRIL 25: HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY, YOUR HOLINESS!! April 25th is the Birthday of a little boy kidnapped by the Chinese government...perhaps a nice birthday present for him would be your signature on this petition...

Tibet's stolen child is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima; the boy recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as inherently and potentially one of Tibet's most important religious and cultural persons. He is known as the Panchen Lama and is one of the young victims of China's brutal repression of the Tibetan people.

Determined to control religion in Tibet, the Chinese authorities kidnapped this young boy and his family in 1995 just days after he was recognized as the Panchen Lama. He is growing up under house arrest. Despite repeated appeals to gain access to him, no international agency or human rights organization has been granted contact with the young Panchen Lama or His family.

But the story is not over...

petition for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama

From the open publishing newswire: Tuesday, Apr 22nd, :00 PM - 08:00 PM
Rm 296 Smith Student Union
The SPP: The North American Corporate Coup'de'tat
(organized by North American Solidarity, Students for Unity)

A teach-in followed by a strategy/organizing meeting in opposition to the anti-democratic and fascist North American Leaders Summit in New Orleans, which is the fourth meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Be there if you want to learn about this overwhelmingly quiet organization that is directing our future.

 http://rootfoce.org