January 9, 2012

Wells Fargo, king of private prisons, shut down for the day; seven arrested

http://sfbayview.com/2012/wells-fargo-king-of-private-prisons-shut-down-for-the-day-seven-arrested/

Santa Rosa, Calif. – On Dia de Reyes, the Day the Three Kings, a false king was exposed. Wells Fargo is the king of private prison finance, a king who shows no remorse as it forecloses on the houses and homes of its victims. But, on Friday afternoon, Jan. 6, two branches of Wells Fargo in Santa Rosa were closed for the day and seven people were arrested after they did civil disobedience inside the banks.

The protest, a collaboration between the immigrant rights community and the Occupy movement, drew 400-500 people for a march and rally. Their target, Wells Fargo, is the trustee of a fund that is heavily invested in two private prison corporations, Corrections Corporation of America and the GEO Group. These corporations own a majority of the detention centers that house undocumented immigrants across the U.S.

These same corporations helped draft the model for the Arizona anti-immigrant law, SB 1070, insuring a steady stream of immigrant prisoners for their private detention prisons. Because they contract with the U.S. government at a cost to taxpayers of $5.5 million a day, they profit from the misery of the immigrants and their community.

January 9, 2012

National Defense Authorization Act Protest Washington D.C. 1/7/2012

January 9, 2012

#J15 Worldwide Candlelight Vigil for Unity MLK, Jr.'s Birthday 7pm

j15global.org

Help turn this moment into a world-wide wave of light:

Like our Facebook page and share with your friends.
Follow @J15global on Twitter.
Call a friend and make a plan to light a candle together.
Organize a vigil on your block or in your town.

January 9, 2012

New Bill Known As Enemy Expatriation Act Would Allow Government To Strip Citizenship Without Convict

(Very interested in what DUers have to say on this...)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/01/06/new-bill-known-as-enemy-expatriation-act-would-allow-government-to-strip-citizenship-without-conviction/

First, Congress considered the National Defense Authorization Act, sections of which gave the President the authority to use the military to arrest and indefinitely detain Americans without trial or charge. The language was revised because of strong condemnation from the American people. But now a new bill has emerged that poses yet another threat to the American citizenry.

Congress is considering HR 3166 and S. 1698 also known as the Enemy Expatriation Act, sponsored by Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Charles Dent (R-PA). This bill would give the US government the power to strip Americans of their citizenship without being convicted of being “hostile” against the United States. In other words, you can be stripped of your nationality for “engaging in, or purposefully and materially supporting, hostilities against the United States.” Legally, the term “hostilities” means any conflict subject to the laws of war but considering the fact that the War on Terror is a little ambiguous and encompassing, any action could be labeled as supporting terrorism. Since the Occupy movement began, conservatives have been trying to paint the protesters as terrorists.


The new law would change a part of US Code 1481 which can be read in full here. Compare 3166 to 1481 and the change is small. The new section makes no reference to being convicted as it does in section (7). So even though the language of the NDAA has been revised to exclude American citizens, the US government merely has to strip Americans of their citizenship and the NDAA will apply. And they will be able to do so without convicting the accused in a court of law.

January 8, 2012

Andy Borowitz BREAKING: Republicans Considering Not Telling Rick Perry Where Next Debate Is (nt)

January 8, 2012

Caption Romney and McCain

January 8, 2012

Occupy 2012 roundup: NDAA, victories against corporate personhood, descending on DC, general strike!

On New Year’s Day, President Obama signed into law the latest National Defense Authorization Act, which includes new powers for detaining US citizens and further entrenches the prison at Guantanamo Bay in American policy. Occupiers, some of whom see the new powers as likely to be directed at them, mounted a roving protest in New York on January 3. NDAA will also be a focus of the Occupy Congress action in Washington on January 17, which has reportedly just secured permission from the Park Police to hold a protest.

The day after Occupy Wall Street’s General Assembly passed a Resolution to End Corporate Personhood by consensus, the New York City Council approved its own resolution against corporate personhood on January 4. This comes after similar resolutions in several cities, including Los Angeles, as well as Montana’s vow to uphold a ban on corporate campaign contributions, despite the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Corporate personhood is the focus of Occupy the Courts, a nationwide day of action on January 20, the eve of the second anniversary of Citizens United, spearheaded by the preexisting coalition Move to Amend.

A number of events are planned around Martin Luther King Day, including a worldwide “candlelight vigil for unity” on January 15, “Occupy the Dream” protests at all 13 Federal Reserve sites around the country on January 16, and Occupy 4 Jobs actions on January 14 and 16—which purport to fulfill King’s hope just before his death to mount a mass action against unemployment. Posters about Occupy 4 Jobs are among the first Occupy posters I’ve seen in my predominately African-American neighborhood, suggesting that the movement is enlarging its demographic reach. Then, for the anniversary of King’s death on April 4, Occupy the Dream is planning for big mobilization in Washington.

http://wagingnonviolence.org/2012/01/occupy-2012-roundup-ndaa-victories-against-corporate-personhood-descending-on-dc-general-strike/

January 8, 2012

RuPaul in New Hampshire: ‘This country was founded by a bunch of men wearing wigs’

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/rupaul-hampshire-country-founded-bunch-men-wearing-wigs-000641848.html

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- "I am not Ron Paul!" shouted RuPaul, the famous drag queen (wearing men's street clothes), at the top of his lungs inside a cramped diner here, a picturesque little restaurant that presidential candidates have visited for years. "And I am not running for president of the United States!," he added.

Sleepy locals sipping their coffee looked up from their cups. What the hell?

And what was RuPaul doing in chilly New Hampshire just days before the state's first-in-the-nation primary? The back story: When Ron Paul first ran for president as a Republican in 2008, a picture posted online of a Ron Paul campaign sign altered to say "RuPaul for President 2008" spawned a viral joke that the septuagenarian statesman from Texas was actually RuPaul, the black drag queen. Now that Ron Paul is ranking at the top of the polls, after placing third in the Iowa caucuses, RuPaul is here to capitalize. Leaving Los Angeles behind for a few days, he's traveling the state "campaign-style" with television cameras in tow to prove once and for all that he is definitely not Ron Paul. The tour will feature in his reality TV show, "RuPaul's Drag Race," which airs on Logo.

January 8, 2012

The Hopi Elders Speak

Stolen from #Occupy San Diego on FB:

The Hopi Elders Speak

We Are the Ones
We've Been Waiting For
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for.

—The Elders Oraibi
Arizona Hopi Nation

January 8, 2012

What happens when someone PMs you with the indirect phrase "death threats"?

Not specifically directed... I know some on DU would like for me to leave, but seriesly:

"Are you actually applauding christian open mindedness?

Your "mystery school" stalks, harrasses and sends death threats to people (with obviously more experience than you) who have taken a stance against the fraud.

Or didnt you know that?"

No explanation or context was provided after I'd requested it. Only the weak thought that it was a misunderstanding. Lame :/ I know that without a specific, personalized statement of intent to harm, it's not taken as seriously. Pretty lame to attempt to frighten people. Dare I say, unDemocratic?