portland independent media center  
images audio video
actions & protests

Global resistance is rising. In response, the global corporate media have done everything in their power to downplay the size, scale, number, and importance of protests, marches, actions, organizing, and other forms of resistance. In the United States, the peace and social justice movements in other countries are rarely mentioned. You only have to look at the coverage of peace marches in European countries, the U.S. backed coup in Venezuela, the growing movements in Latin America and South America, and countless others to begin to see the pattern. Likewise, news about organizing, tactics, and actions occurring within the U.S. are often concealed from the global community

These pages represent a testament to the variety of ways that people are learning to come together to resist the various forces of oppression they face in their daily lives. These pages will not be silent to the large numbers of people from every conceivable background who are waking up from the long nightmare that is our civilization and starting to act to bring about change. Another world is possible and it is worth fighting for.


actions & protests | environment 04-Aug-2008 23:31

Portland Climate Convergence Action

From the open publishing newswire: Today, August 4, 2008, in the final event of the Climate Convergence, about two dozen people participated in a multi faceted rally, street theater, and march to NW Natural Gas.

The first portion of the action took place along the Portland Waterfront, just north of the west side of the Hawthorne Bridge, where, amid chants and exhortations in favor of riding bicycles, tickets were given to mock automobiles by officers of the Oil Enforcement Agency. Replete with chants and signs, the event was mainly organized around resistance to the proposed 6 lane I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.

Leaving there the gathering marched along the Waterfront, where at the Morrison Bridge they came upon a young man locked down on an access ramp to the Morrison Bridge. As the group arrived, a young woman climbed the structure of the bridge and unfurled a banner which read, "6 More Lanes = More Sick People NO EXPANSION."

read more >>


actions & protests | imperialism & war 03-Aug-2008 11:13

Resistence Building at Fort Lewis and Strykers Being Shipped NOW

Stryker vehicle / APC (notice the large wheels and rubber tires) 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 ]

actions & protests | labor 27-Jul-2008 14:38

Rally for Legacy workers on Monday. EVERYONE IS INVITED!

From the open publishing newswire: On Monday July 28th from 3p to 6p (media arriving at 5p....most important time to be there....) We are holding an informational picket in front of Emanuel Hospital on Vancouver Ave. THIS IS NOT A STRIKE

Legacy continues to ask most Emanuel Members of Local SEIU 49 to accept a 1% cost of living raise for 2008--that's 2% less than members at Good Samaritan are receiving this year. We need fair compensation and benefits to recruit and retain good staff so we can provide consistent, quality patient care. We have been bargaining for months and our contract ended June 30th. Legacy Admin. refuses to offer anything better than the 1% raise. April Whitworth sent out an email to over 50 Dr.s, and also to ALL EMANUEL USERS stating she "has been working with the State Appointed Mediator and the SEIU" on settling the new contract. there was almost no movement on our most important issues, and especially the insulting 1% raise.

read more >>


actions & protests | energy & nuclear 26-Jul-2008 11:11

Nuclear power station in the UK blockaded yet again

From the open publishing newswire: 6am and nine anti nuclear power activists head to Sizewell for a day on the beach, well almost the beach, they actually stop at the entrance of Sizewell A and B nuclear power stations and lock themselves together with a number of things and seal the entrance for health and safety reasons.

Sizewell looks to be the next place for another new nuclear power station, with two reactors larger than the existing Sizewell 'B' reactor.

After two previous blockades in the last few months, security had been stepped up and they had put a land rover and two security guards at the gate, but must have decided that this was no longer needed as when we arrived they were not there and yet again we were not spotted.

 http://www.easterncnduk.org

actions & protests | energy & nuclear 26-Jul-2008 11:09

UK: Climate action activist super-glued to Prime Minister Gordon Brown!

The moment he super-glued himself to the prime minister... From the open publishing newswire: A campaigner from the climate action group, Plane Stupid ... super-glued [himself] to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the State Dining Room of 10 Downing Street.

Dan Glass, a 24 year old MSc student based in Scotland, gained access to the PM's official residence at 5pm this evening. He greeted Mr Brown and asked the Prime Minister why he and his ministers have refused to meet West London residents opposed to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow. He simultaneously put his super-glue covered hand onto Brown's polyester suit. When Brown went to turn away he found he had been super-glued by his clothing to Plane Stupid, and had no option but to listen to Dan.

www.planestupid.com

read more >>


actions & protests | imperialism & war 19-Jul-2008 09:55

Free Gaza Radio Show Monday, July 21st, 2008, 8-10 pm

The Free Gaza Movement plans to break the medical aid blockade of Gaza by sea. O 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 ]

actions & protests | forest defense 14-Jul-2008 14:01

I-69 Protestors Shut Down Asphalt Yard Again!

From the open publishing newswire: This morning, over 20 people opposed to the construction of Interstate 69 shut down work at the Haubstadt Asphalt Yard belonging to Gohmann Asphalt & Construction, Inc. Five of the opponents locked themselves together in a circle at the yard's gate, accompanied by five others dedicated to keeping them as comfortable as possible in the face of summer heat and the threat of police violence. With construction slated to begin this week, opponents are demanding that Gohmann immediately drop their contract for work on I-69. Additionally they demand that Gohmann and their accomplices, Riverton Trucking, Inc., drop a spurious civil suit brought against the only I-69 opponent arrested at a previous lock-down at Gohmann Asphalt's Haubstadt facility.

Gohmann A&C is the primary contractor with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the construction of the first 1.77 miles of Section 1 of the proposed highway from Evansville to Indianapolis. Several weeks prior, five opponents chained themselves to a truck leaving Haubstadt Asphalt Yard belonging to Gohmann Asphalt & Construction, Inc.. The five, accompanied by twenty five supporters, demanded that Gohmann drop their contract with INDOT or face continued opposition and work stoppages. Until Gohmann drops its contract, opponents will continue to hold them accountable for the evictions of farmers, the disruption of communities, and the devastation of the environment caused by I-69.

read more >>


actions & protests | homelessness 08-Jul-2008 22:06

Be In The Streets! Hands Off The Poor!

Poverty From the open publishing newswire: Be in the streets July 9th at 5pm. Help end police harassment! Meet up in the North Park Blocks by the elephant for a brief rally, followed by a march. Police harassment of the poor and houseless has spiked as the city is cleansed for the summer festival season.

In response to the targeting of poor and houseless people in the community, a demonstration is planned for Wednesday, July 9th. It will start in the North Park Blocks at 5pm. "Hands Off the Poor," a demonstration organized by the Portland Coalition Against Poverty demands an immediate end to police harassment and arrest of poor and houseless people in the community.

read more >>


actions & protests 25-Jun-2008 06:57

I-69 Resistance and Repression Round-up

Solidarity torch march From the open publishing newswire: Indiana June 24- Resistance to I-69 has been rapidly heating up in the past month. While the first protest camp set up was quietly evicted in early May, a tree-sit and occupation created in the path of a proposed onramp later that month lasted five weeks.

During that time, participants also built an elaborate ground camp, while simultaneously carrying on intensive organizing with local families threated by the road, culminating in a community picnic in Oakland City attended jointly by landowners and eco-activists. Exciting demonstrations and solidarity actions happened throughout the month - in Bloomington, Louisville, Maryland, and beyond.

read more >>


actions & protests | animal rights 22-Jun-2008 10:28

Force-Fed Ducks, Ten-01 Sucks: Foie Gras Protest Report

From the open publishing newswire: On Friday night, June 20, a group of about a dozen protesters headed to the restaurant Ten-01, at 1001 NW Couch. The owner of this restaurant (who ironically also owns the veg restaurant Nutshell) had previously told protesters in person that he would take foie gras off the menu and never serve it again - at which point an earlier protest was cancelled, and protesters with signs in hand walked away from the establishment. However, he has once again put it on the menu.

To produce foie gras (fatty liver) ducks and geese are force-fed two to three times per day using metal pipes shoved down their throats. Their throats and esophagus' are scratched and wounded with the insertion and removal of the pipes, sometimes causing mortal infections... Some animals are too sick to even stand. The production of foie gras is banned in many places, including the UK, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Israel, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Argentina, on grounds of animal cruelty. For more information and video, see http://www.goveg.com/feat/foie/

Managers and employees at Ten-01 taunted us, saying they would never take foie gras off the menu, and that we were only letting potential customers know that foie gras was served there, thus helping their business. However, we saw a number of parties turn away and go elsewhere, once they were shown that foie gras is served at Ten-01. The valet told us that business was slower than usual... At one point an Elmer Fudd looking dude who identified himself as "block security" and was wearing an "official t-shirt" told us that we had to move on.... Fortunately, what remains of the First Amendment dictates that it is legal to peacefully protest. Message to Ten-01: you do not in fact own the public sidewalk.

read more >>


actions & protests | homelessness 20-Jun-2008 21:36

Call out for June 21st

From the open publishing newswire: Acting in solidarity with the call out for a decentralized day of action on June 21st, an ad hoc group of Portland residents intends to establish a temporary autonomous zone in downtown Portland. The space created by our action intends to

-Challenge the Sit/Lie Ordinance through community power
-Create a conversation surrounding the criminalization of poverty
-Demonstrate that commodified and (para)militarized urban areas can be re-imagined through creative transformations.
-Uphold the demands of the United Poor People (UPP).  http://homelessliberation.wordpress.com/
-Recognize that listening and cooperation requires attention to systematic modes of oppression and privilege related to race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.

read more >>


actions & protests | faith & spirituality | green scare 20-Jun-2008 20:30

Summer Solstice - Energy Circle for Tre Arrow

From the open publishing newswire: WHAT: Summer Solstice-Energy Circle for Tre

WHEN: June 20th, Friday @ 5:30PM

WHERE: Top of Mt.Tabor

WHY: This has been a really long road for Tre and he could really use our love, light, and healing energy. Tre is aware this is happening and he will be receiving the energy at 5:45pm. If you cannot make it to Mt. Tabor, please still send him positive energy at 5:45pm wherever you are.

Summer officially begins wuth the Summer Solstice on Friday, June 20 at 4:59pm. Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their longest summer day in December.

The Summer Solstice represent a new beginning. It is time for purification, and renewal of the self. A time to release the sadness, fears, and pains from your life. It is time to celebrate the joy, warmth, and laughter of summer. A time for purification and renewed energy. A time to celebrate the fullness of life and the power of the sun. A time to heal mother earth, heal yourself, and heal Tre.

*NAMASTE*

~Blessed Be~

read more >>


actions & protests | environment 03-Jun-2008 05:39

Citizens Hunger-Strike Against NW Natural’s Liquefied Natural Gas Proposal

From the open publishing newswire: Citizens of Oregon have begun a ten (10) day hunger-strike on the main entrance of the NW Natural Energy Company headquarters building to bring awareness to the fact that the Palomar Gas Transmission System (PGT) is a serious and intolerable threat to the ecological and social integrity of Oregon.

NW Natural and Palomar are preparing to install a massive pipeline through over 500 miles of Oregon's public and private property. This will result in devastating impacts on streams, rivers and waterways, wildlife habitat areas, wilderness, and small family farms. NW Natural is carelessly destroying these precious ecosystems for private gains. All fuel piped through the PGT system will go to supply California with liquefied natural gas. There are no direct benefits for Oregonians who are affected. As we stand on the verge of global environmental crises, NW Natural is stepping in the wrong direction.

read more >>


more features >>

open publishing newswire

publish

newswire archive >>