Simon Sedillo offers perspectives on global implications of the Oaxacan people’s struggle for communities in the United States.

Through lectures, workshops, and screenings Sedillo helps open a powerful space for dialogue on the effects of neoliberalism on indigenous communities, immigrant communities, and communities of color in the US and Mexico.

If you are interested in a fearless analysis and current perspective on the situation in Oaxaca which links to the same issues on a global scale, you must attend one of Simon’s presentations.  There are few people doing this work so fearlessly and truthfully.

Simon has THREE Santa Cruz County upcoming events:

Monday, April 20
6:30-8PM
at Watsonville Cabrillo Center
Dance Room

Wednesday, April 22
7:00-9:30 PM
at UCSC Kresge Town Hall
in Kresge College

Thursday , April 23
7:30-9PM
at Brown Berets Warehouse
555 Main Street (back of building)
Watsonville, CA 95076

Download our flyer for these events and help spread the word!

He will also be the keynote speaker at the 15th Anniversary of the Watsonville Brown Berets on Saturday, April 25.

© 2009, bradley. All rights reserved.

Thursday, August 16
7pm True to My Pledge (w/ english subtitles)
Watsonville Brown Berets office
* WBB meeting to follow

We will be projecting True to My Pledge, a new film by Mal de Ojo TV.

“Compromiso Cumplido” (True to My Pledge) is the first of a two-part documentary about the human rights violations during the current conflict in Oaxaca. The film documents some of the horrors committed against the civil society of Oaxaca, and shows the strategy of state terrorism employed by the local governor. Numerous deaths have been reported, and yet there have been no criminal accusations or investigations for these murders.

More information on Oaxaca solidarity at
http://elenemigocomun.net

Mal de Ojo TV surfaced in Oaxaca City after June 14, 2006 as a coalition of independent, indigenous and community media workers, including Indymedia Oaxaca and Ojo de Agua Comunicacion, dedicated to covering the rising social movement and its repression in Oaxaca. The organization has been targeted by the Oaxacan police. Mal de Ojo TV has been a vital source of coverage for most of the major events involving police repression in the city, but they have also been covering the building of a popular movement, documenting assemblies, peaceful marches, press conferences and proclamations.

http://www.maldeojotv.net

original image ( 1006×1382)

© 2007 – 2009, bradley. All rights reserved.

View Photos on Santa Cruz Indymedia

Pajaro to Watsonville

Ramiro

Crossing Arizona at the Watsonville Guerilla Drive-In

View more photos on Santa Cruz Indymedia
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/05/04/18409418.php

© 2007 – 2009, bradley. All rights reserved.

Root Force is a strategic campaign designed to exploit weak points in the global economy and hasten the system’s collapse. Using direct action, Root Force pressures all those involved in specific infrastructure construction projects in Latin America to end their participation in ecocide and genocide.

Thursday, April 26th
Watsonville Brown Berets meeting
WBB meeting starts at 7pm, Root Force presentation at 8pm
406 Main St., Suite 408b

Download the Flyer

This free event will feature:

* Segment from a new film on Plan Puebla Panama called “La Conquista Sigue” (The Conquest Continues), produced in Chiapas, Mexico.

* A puppet show on international solidarity

* Slides from communities of resistance in Mexico and El Salvador

* A talk on the Root Force campaign

ROOT FORCE ROAD SHOW: APRIL 26-MAY 2

PUPPETS * FILM * SLIDES * MUSIC

The Root Force Road Show is coming to the greater Bay Area!

4/26: Watsonville
4/27: Santa Cruz
4/29: Berkeley
4/30: San Francisco
5/1: San Jose
5/2: Santa Rosa

Watsonville: April 26, Watsonville Brown Berets, 406 Main St., Suite 408b.
WBB meeting starts at 7pm, Root Force presentation at 8pm.
http://brownberets.info

Santa Cruz: April 27, 7pm, Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway, 831-423-1626

Berkeley: April 29, 7pm, Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave, 510-540-0751

San Francisco: April 30, 8pm, Station 40, 3030b 16th St (@ Mission)

San Jose: May 1, 7pm, Pagesincolor, 888 E Santa Clara St., 408-924-0846

Santa Rosa: May 2, 7pm, Free Mind Media Guild, 546 Pacific Ave (at the corner of Slater/Pacific), 707-579-1605.

For more information, visit www.rootforce.org.

–

¡La Gira de Fuerza Raíz viene a Watsonville!

Bajé el Flyer

LA GIRA DE FUERZA RAIZ, 26 ABRIL-2 MAYO

TITERES * PELICULA * DIAPOSITIVA * MUSICA

¡La Gira de Fuerza Raíz viene al Area de la Bahía!

26-4: Watsonville
27-4: Santa Cruz
29-4: Berkeley
30-4: San Francisco
1-5: San Jose
2-5: Santa Rosa

¿Está cansado de quejarse sobre “el sistema” y listo para hacer algo en contra?
¿Está buscando una manera de luchar contra la globalización corporativa además de protestar en las cumbres o comprar “comercio justo”?

Fuerza Raíz es una campaña estratégica, diseñada para aprovechar de los puntos debiles de la economía global para apretar el paso de su derrumbamiento. Utilizando la acción directa, Fuerza Raíz presiona a todos que están involucrados en unos cuantos proyectos de construcción de infraestructura en América Latina, hasta que ponen un fin a su participación en el ecocidio y genocidio.

Este evento es gratis e incluye:

* Un segmento de “La Conquista Sigue,” una pelicula nueva acerca del Plan Puebla Panama producido en Chiapas, México

* Una presentación de títeres sobre la solidaridad internacional (solo en inglés)

* Diapositivas de comunidades de resistencia en México y El Salvador

* Una plática sobre la campaña Fuerza Raíz

Watsonville: April 26, Watsonville Brown Berets, 406 Main St., Suite 408b.
Junta de WBB a las 7pm, presentación de Fuerza Raíz a las 8pm.
http://brownberets.info

Santa Cruz: April 27, 7pm, Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway, 831-423-1626

Berkeley: April 29, 7pm, Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave, 510-540-0751

San Francisco: April 30, 8pm, Station 40, 3030b 16th St (en la esquina de Mission)

San Jose: May 1, 7pm, Pagesincolor, 888 E Santa Clara St., 408-924-0846

Santa Rosa: May 2, 7pm, Free Mind Media Guild, 546 Pacific Ave (al rincón de Slater/Pacific), 707-579-1605

Para más información (en inglés), visita a www.rootforce.org.

© 2007, bradley. All rights reserved.

March 1st, 2007
8:00pm
Watsonville Brown Berets Office
406 Main St, Watsonville, behind Ritmo Latino

Shannon Young and Vladimir Flores, Oaxaca correspondents for Free Speech Radio News and Mal de Ojo TV, will be in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco to present a series of short films produced by Mal de Ojo TV. Indybay reporters Danielsan and Ariel will show photos and reportback on their recent experiences in Oaxaca City.

Download a flyer: english or spanish

In the Bicentennial of Juarez – This is What Happened in Oaxaca (8:08): An overview of the popular uprising from June to November of 2006

About the Struggle (8:11): Reflections on the who, what, why, and how of the popular movement in Oaxaca

Viguera (5:16) Federal police take revenge on a neighborhood that blocked their entrance into Oaxaca City

The Victory of All Saints Day (11:49) Local people win a seven hour street battle against police attempting to clear barricades around the state university

In Memoriam (8:55) The Day of the Dead memorial for Indymedia videographer Brad Will in the barrio where he was killed

Slideshow with Music (9:04) A photo slideshow from June to November of 2006 set to music
by Oaxaca’s Jaime Luna

© 2007, bradley. All rights reserved.

Chip Fitzgerald is the longest held Black Panther comrade in captivity. He is up for parole on March 29, 2007. Legally, he has every reason to be given his FREEDOM!! HE NEEDS YOUR LETTER OF SUPPORT! HE NEEDS HIS COMMUNITY!!

Who is Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald?

In 1969 Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald was a member of the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party that was targeted by the FBI for its political activities. Fitzgerald, a dedicated cadre who educated his community through his work selling and circulating the Black Panther New Service, has been locked up for over 38 years. The state of California continues to violate the law, i.e. penal code 1170.2(b).

Today, Chip is the longest held Black Panther political prisoner in the United Stares prison system. He has had a stroke and major back surgery. He is disabled. He has a slight paralysis on his left side and walks with a cane.

Mel Mason, President of the Monterey Peninsula NAACP, which advocates on Chip’s behalf said, “Chip had a stroke and major back surgery…this is absolutely political…The rule of law says that people sentenced to “Life With Parole” must be given a release date. If he was anyone else, he’d have been out a long time ago. He should never have been incarcerated, and he meets the requirements for release.

Chip is from Compton, California.

If you want us to print and send your letter on your behalf, e-mail it to:

freechipfitzgerald@yahoo.com

OR

You can send one signed copy of your letter to the Board of Prison Terms and one to Chip’s lawyer:

Official organizational / business / personal affiliations are VERY helpful.

Board of Prison Terms
1515K Street. Ste. 600
Sacramento, CA
95814

Attorney Linda Buchalter
1011 5th Street No. 6
Santa Monica, CA
90403

Let us know if you send a letter. Sample letter with more information about Chip is below…

[Date]

Ms. Margarita Perez, Chairperson
Board of Prison Terms
State of California
1515 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Ms. Perez & Board Members:

I am writing in support of the release of Inmate Romaine Fitzgerald, B27527, who may be scheduled within the next two to three months for a parole hearing. Mr. Fitzgerald is currently incarcerated at the California State Prison in Lancaster, California.

Since 1972, Mr. Fitzgerald has been serving a life sentence, with possibility of parole. This means that by California law, Mr. Fitzgerald should have long ago been given a release date. In the near 38 years Mr. Fitzgerald has been in prison, Mr. Fitzgerald’s prison records reflect that he has been and continues to be a model prisoner who has never been involved in any acts of violence or of a criminal nature. In fact, Mr. Fitzgerald has participated in a number of rehabilitation activities, including individual and group counseling. He has a record of diligence and commitment in these activities. While in a previous prison, Mr. Fitzgerald suffered a massive stroke, which has left him significantly disabled. He has also had back surgery for a degenerative spinal condition.

Mr. Fitzgerald has received the support of leaders of his community of Compton, California to include City Attorney LeGrand Clegg and Compton City Councilwoman Barbara Calhoun. He has also received support from his U.S. Representative Maxine Waters and from the Monterey Peninsula Branch of the NAACP, which accepted Mr. Fitzgerald as a member in 1999 when he was incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison. Mr. Fitzgerald remains a member of that NAACP branch and is part of the adult advisory team to that NAACP branch’s Youth Council, whose members see Mr. Fitzgerald as a mentor and adviser. He regularly writes them and gives them advise about how to be positive role models for other youth in the community.

Mr. Fitzgerald’s incarceration has far exceeded the maximum amount of time he should have served given his sentence. As a result, I ask that Mr. Fitzgerald, in accordance with state law, be released to return to a supportive community that will assist him with education and employment and a family that will provide him with love, protection and guidance and a smooth entry back into society.

I thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

————–

BPP Prisoner Needs Your PHONE CALL!

Pass Widely!!!

Use numbers and script below.

CHIP FITZGERALD IS UP FOR PAROLE (again) MARCH 29, 2007! He is currently on lockdown 24/ 7.
Your immediate phone calls are essential…200 calls by Wednesday 2/21/07 to get him off lockdown!

Write a letter for his FREEDOM on March 29!

What is going on at Lancaster? How can we FREE CHIP?????

Over 600 inmates have been on lockdown since early January at Lancaster State Prison. One of those inmates is Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald, the longest held Black Panther Party member in the prison system.

The men have been allowed one shower every 72 hours. Two grown men in a shower for one.

In the words of Chip Fitzgerald, written on January 23, 2007…

“…still on lockdown. They are dragging this nonsense out. They don’t respond to administrative appeals because they investigate themselves, and turn a blind eye to each others violation and corruption.

This is where outside phone calls are so vital- especially from politicians and Cali Legislator, or in the name of the NAACP. Why we’re on lockdown? The possession of weapons, call phone, narcotics, etc. has nothing to do with white/ black convicts- only about 6 convicts. So why are we being punished? No privileges – the whole facility has been searched! A telephone and e-mail campaign can move mountains!”

TAKE 5 MINUTES! MAKE 3 PHONE CALLS! Goal is 200 calls by Wednesday, February 21, 2007

YOU SAY THIS:

“Lancaster State Prision has had over 600 prisoners on lockdown status since early January? Why are the prisoners STILL on lockdown status and when are they coming off? When will they have their entitlements and rights as prisoners, reinstated?”

Secretary of Corrections: J.E. Tilton (916) 323-6001
CA Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation (916) 445-7682
Federal Judge Thelton Henderson (Civil Rights Attorney) (415)522-3630

Please send an email after you call to… freechipfitzgerald@yahoo.com
Contact us for more info on writing a letter of support for Chip! Look for more info in the coming days.
www.brownberets.info
brownberets@msn.com

© 2007, bradley. All rights reserved.

CULTURA

PODER

UNIDAD

EDUCACION

RESISTENCIA

ESPIRITUALIDAD

DIGNIDAD

JUSTICIA

LIBERTAD

TIERRA

Photo: Fred Hampton Jr, Immortal Technique, Army of Africa, POCC, the Moors of the Maroon Community Imperial League, and the Watsonville Brown Berets at the 6th Annual Youth and Power.

© 2007, bradley. All rights reserved.