NWU president Larry Goldbetter stands with NLN editor Tom Good
(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — December 21, 2009. On Saturday, National Writers Union President Larry Goldbetter issued a statement defending union writer, and NLN editor, Thomas Good who had recently been on the receiving end of what Goldbetter described as “an unprincipled attack” by Staten Island GOP boss John Friscia.

GOOD WORKS?

Goldbetter’s statement was only the most recent salvo fired by two sides that have squared off over the issue of Good receiving a Congressional certificate from Congressman Mike McMahon (D, NY-13) this past October. Honored by Peace Action for his work as a photojournalist, Good, along with three other honorees, received a certificate from McMahon’s office for “community service.” The Tea Party and the Staten Island GOP leadership attacked McMahon for issuing the certificate, prompting a response from Peace Action’s Sally Jones and subsequently a statement from Goldbetter.

Ironically, neither Peace Action, Goldbetter or Good support McMahon’s political positions. In his acceptance speech, at a Peace Action dinner, Good said that “I hope that it’s okay that I didn’t vote for this guy.” For their part, Peace Action will be holding a protest at McMahon’s office tomorrow — objecting to his support of the escalation of the Afghanistan War — and Goldbetter is annoyed that McMahon voted against health care reform.

RADICAL IDEAS

On December 11 of this year, Staten Island Republican Party Chair Friscia, a personal injury lawyer whose firm has as its motto, “Representing the people, not the powerful,” issued a press statement condemning McMahon for giving an award to Good. Friscia’s ostensible objection to McMahon’s office issuing the award was that Good is a “radical” who helped the new SDS in 2006. Friscia appeared to be repeating charges levelled at Good by Staten Island realtor Frank Santarpia who earlier had written a letter to the editor of the Staten Island Advance. In the letter, Santarpia identified himself as an “organizer” with the Tea Party, an ultra-right group that claims to be “non-partisan” despite the fact that they regard President Barack Obama as a “socialist” who is responsible for their members being “crushed under the boot-heels of radicals.” Santarpia’s website argues that Obama’s administration is “making capitalism a dirty word.” “They and their minions work day and night” towards this end, Santarpia said.

The Staten Island Advance reported that Friscia, like Santarpia before him, had come to the conclusion that McMahon’s giving a certificate to a radical was evidence of “Mike McMahon’s liberal agenda despite his conservative press releases.”

According to the Advance, “McMahon spokeswoman Lauren Amendolara called Friscia’s statement ‘inane.’”

PEACE ACTION CORRECTS FRISCIA

Peace Action responded to Friscia by issuing a press statement, “correcting” the GOP party boss. The statement said that:

Peace Action of Staten Island wishes to correct Staten Island Republican Chair John Friscia’s public statement criticizing Congressman Michael McMahon’s office for issuing a community service certificate to Peace Action honoree photojournalist Thomas Good.

Peace Action of Staten Island feels this honor was well-deserved. Mr. Good has given countless hours to record and document many Staten Island events on the online news website Next Left Notes (www.nextleftnotes.net), including rallies and forums for health care reform, marriage equality, living wage jobs, and for bringing the troops home from eight long years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Staten Island Advance has benefited from Mr. Good’s work to cover events that they do not have the resources to cover. Whether or not Mr. Friscia believes in the position of the hundreds of Staten Islanders who have participated in these events, as someone who believes in the free press, he would have to agree that the coverage of these events is a community service.

Mr. Friscia’s statement condemns Mr. Good for his support of the “radical” Students for a Democratic Society, which is a network of multi-issue student groups around the country grounded in the principle of participatory democracy that was revived in 2006. The new SDS members consider themselves “radical” because they want to change society to end oppression, create a sustainable economy, and end wars of aggression.

Peace Action of Staten Island stands for the “radical” ideas of ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible and negotiating now for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Many Staten Islanders have come around to believing in these “radical” ideas, too. We want to thank Congressman Michael McMahon for the certificate his office gave to photojournalist Thomas Good in recognition of his documenting these efforts.

THE NATIONAL WRITERS UNION PRESIDENT STANDS WITH TOM GOOD

On Saturday, Larry Goldbetter, President of the NWU — Local 1981 of the United Auto Workers – issued a statement expressing his support of Good:

I want to congratulate photojournalist Thomas Good on receiving his certificate of recognition from Congressman Mike McMahon. I am proud to count Tom among the more than 1,400 members of the National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981, the only union for freelance writers of all genres. Tom has spent thousands of hours and covered countless struggles of working people and in the service of progressive causes. Frankly, the Congressman could learn a thing or two from him, especially in relation to the current struggle for healthcare. Congressman McMahon was the ONLY Democratic Congressman from New York City to vote against the health care bill.

As for the unprincipled attack by Staten Island GOP boss John Friscia, a trivial job if ever there was one, Tom should consider that yet another award, a badge of honor. As a former member of SDS myself, I consider the years spent actively opposing the genocidal war in Vietnam, opposing racism and building a worker-student alliance as having set the course of my life on the side of working people. There’s an old union song called, “Which Side Are You On.” We know the answer with both Tom and Friscia. And I’m standing with Tom Good.

Health care advocates outside Rep. McMahon’s Brooklyn office
(Photo: Kathleen Kelly / NLN)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Special to NLN) — On Tuesday, August 25, 2009 health care activists held an effective, well attended, staff meeting and flyering event at Congressman Mike McMahon’s (D – 13th CD) Brooklyn office. The action was organized by Jenny Radtke of MoveOn.org. McMahon was not at the office, but a member of his staff named Jonathan met with activists — who reported that he appeared open to their question and concerns.

Representative McMahon is reported to have concerns with the Health Care Reform Bill — and he hopes to be able to work out the details when Congress resumes session in September.

Activists were told that the sticking points are related to the cost to businesses and health care providers, however McMahon agrees with most of the bill. One of the activists asked if the representative is willing to sign the bill if these issues are not resolved. The staffers could not offer a firm commitment that McMahon would sign the bill. The issue of the Staten Island Conservative base opposing health care reform came up and activists asked McMahon’s staff that the congressman not politicize the health of individuals and the nation.

Activists asked that Representative McMahon sign a bill with a strong public option.

View Photos/Videos From The Event…

An Open Letter to The Nation on the SEIU-UNITE HERE Struggle by Randy Shaw

Dear Editors:

As a longtime subscriber, I am very troubled that you have allowed SEIU to purchase the back covers of your July 6 and 13 editions to lodge false, malicious, and anti-union attacks on UNITE HERE. This is the first time that The Nation has sold such prize media real estate for anti-progressive attacks. Since you have failed to report on the dispute between SEIU and UNITE HERE, The Nation is effectively allowing SEIU to purchase and control what message is sent to your readers.

Why is The Nation allowing paid ads to substitute for honest reporting on this conflict? Why is a publication that identifies with the progressive cause assisting SEIU’s efforts to destroy a progressive union? Last week UNITE HERE held its international convention, which saw 15 international union presidents, along with the AFL-CIO, publicly back John Wilhelm and UNITE HERE in this dispute. The Nation did not even cover the convention.

UNITE HERE has greatly raised living standards for hundreds of thousands of previously low-wage workers, achieving far greater union density in its core jurisdictions than SEIU. Yet instead of reporting these facts, The Nation relies on SEIU’s paid advertising. Your subscribers deserve an explanation.

A striking feature of SEIU’s battles over the past year, first in California with the former SEIU-UHW and then against UNITE HERE, is the silence of labor journalists, progressive activists and academics, and progressive organizations. Initially, many did not want to choose sides in SEIU’s “internal dispute” with Sal Rosselli and the former UHW leadership. SEIU’s raids against UNITE HERE, however, are not internal disputes, and yet voices who would expected to be heard should a progressive union come under attack — such as The Nation — have remained troublingly silent.

The only story in The Nation that even alluded to the SEIU-UNITE HERE dispute was a brief piece on March 9, which mentioned SEIU only in passing.

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(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

NEW YORK — In recent years May Day in New York City has featured a large immigrant rights march, starting at Union Square. This year’s event was covered by NLN photographer Bud Korotzer.

(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

View Photos From May Day 2009…

Activist Elaine Brower (pictured with Representatives Mike McMahon
and Charlie Rangel) was arrested earlier today
(NLN File Photo)

PHILADELPHIA (Peace Action) — Seven activists were arrested today as several hundred demonstrators from a coalition of 30 national and regional veteran, youth and peace groups, including the Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, BuxMont Coalition for Peace Action, Student Peace Action Network, protested what they claimed were unethical military recruitment of teenagers at Franklin Mills Mall in northeast Philadelphia.

The protesters rallied at a church, then marched one mile to the Franklin Mills mall where dozens of police blocked them from entering the “Army Experience Center” (AEC). After nearly an hour of chants of “War is no game, shut down the Army Experience Center” and speeches, Bob Smith of the Brandywine Peace Community (a member of United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of 1,300 national and local organizations) delivered a criminal complaint (4) to a Captain at the AEC and to a representative of the mall’s parent company, The Simon Property Group, Inc. After two police warnings, hundreds of protesters continued to chant and listen to speeches by Col. Wright and others, until the police arrested seven conducting civil disobedience by refusing to leave. Forced out of the mall, people continued to vigil and listen to songs by the Granny Peace Brigade outside the “red” entrance to the mall.

“The Army Experience Center is an abomination. It epitomizes the turn for the worse that the military was forced to take over the last eight years. It is misleading. It targets impressionable minors, and it propagates the glorification of war. I am utterly disgusted that the Army which I loved and in which I served so long has resorted to such a deceiving recruiting strategy,” said Sergeant Jesse Hamilton, who served nine years in the Army including tours in Iraq. After receiving and honorable discharge, he joined Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).

Elaine Brower, 53, who sits on the board of Peace Action of Staten Island, was one of those taken to jail. She has been organizing against the AEC because she is the mother of a Marine who just returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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WASHINGTON (DHS) — Note the error in paragraph 7: “Anyone exhibiting symptoms is being referred to an isolation room where they can be evaluated by a public health official before proceeding to their destruction.”

Remarks by Secretary Napolitano at Today’s Media Briefing on the H1N1 Flu Outbreak and the U.S. Government’s Response

Release Date: April 29, 2009

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact 202-282-8010
Washington, D.C.

Secretary Napolitano: This is the daily briefing to bring everybody up to speed on where things are with respect to the 2009 H1N1 virus.

The three of us just returned from the Hill. We testified—at least, [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Interim Deputy Director for Science and Health] RADM [Anne] Schuchat and I testified—before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and then the three of us were present for a bipartisan briefing at the United States House of Representatives to make sure that the members of Congress are being kept up to speed. And of course, I am delighted to be joined today by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, because I have a feeling we’re going to be joined at the hip on this for quite a while as we move forward.

As you know, and I’m sad today to report, that today we had our first confirmed death as a result of the H1N1 virus in the United States. It was a 23-month-old child, and our sympathies go out to her family out of this. But as I said and have been saying, this is a flu, and a flu cycle. We think we’re at the beginning of a flu cycle, which typically brings with it some severe illness and death. Indeed, in the normal seasonal flu cycle, we will have about 36,000 deaths in the United States. That’s a fact that surprises many. But it is part and parcel of an influenza cycle. So our thoughts are with those who have contracted the virus now, and of course for the family of the child who died.

We now have 10 states with confirmed incidents of H1N1—Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Texas. We are likely to see more states, more cases, and some more hospitalizations over the coming days, and we are prepared for that.

Every American should know that we are aggressively responding to this outbreak. Antiviral medications are en route to states to supplement their own stockpiles. Indiana, New York, New York City, already have their allocations. Several other states will receive their allocations by today. And all states will receive theirs no later than the third of May.

Let me point out an important difference here. There’s been some confusion between antiviral and vaccine. A vaccine is administered to prevent the flu from occurring. An antiviral is occurred after you get sick to mitigate the symptoms so that you feel better. So it is the antiviral stockpile that I’m referring to now.

We’re also actively monitoring travelers at our land, sea, and air ports. We’re watching them for signs of illness, and we have appropriate protocols in place to deal with those who are sick. Precautions are being taken to protect travelers and border personnel. Anyone exhibiting symptoms is being referred to an isolation room where they can be evaluated by a public health official before proceeding to their destruction.

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A protester outside Motorola’s NYC HQ
(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

NEW YORK — The newly formed New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (NYCBI) launched their city-wide boycott of Motorola today.

The protest ran from 7:45 – 9:30 a.m. at Motorola’s NYC Headquarters at 335 Adams St. between Willoughby and Tillary Streets, in downtown Brooklyn.

 

Hanging up on apartheid
(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

In a statement released to the press, NYCBI said the boycott was launched because, “in the wake of Israel’s recent assault on the people of Gaza and the US government’s complicity in the attacks, we as people of conscience in the US must challenge Israeli policies. Hundreds of Palestinian civil society organizations have called on the world to work on campaigns of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, and New York is taking up the call.”

 

(Photo: Bud Korotzer / NLN)

According to NYCBI, Motorola was targeted because “Motorola USA and its wholly owned subsidiary Motorola Israel develop and provide equipment to the Israeli military and settlers, including bomb fuses, military communication systems, and surveillance systems for the wall and settlements. Similar practices by Motorola during South African apartheid prompted a successful boycott against them.”

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.GoodbyeMoto.org.

View Photos From The Action…

(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

NEW YORK — On Saturday, January 10th, in solidarity with other protests around the world, members of MDS Staten Island joined over a 100 protesters in Harlem — to denounce the indiscriminate bombing of Gazan civilians by Israeli armed forces. The event was one of many protests in recent days as the world takes to the streets in defense of Gaza. Protesters across the globe are demanding an immediate cease fire by Israel, which has the support of the United States government in its assault on the Palestinian civilian population.

Over the last two weeks, the movement against Israeli aggression has grown throughout the world. However, in spite of a UN resolution for Israel to stop the bombing, the United States Congress, both the Senate and the House, recently passed passed a bi-partisan resolution in support of Israel’s “right to defend itself” against terrorism. Conversely, the number of civilians killed, particularly women and children, has caused many in the peace movement to accuse the Israelis of committing genocide.

Members of the New Black Panther Party at the protest
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

In response to the Israeli aggression, Movement for a Democratic Society, World Can’t Wait, the Harlem Revolution Club, the New Black Panther Party and members of various Arab-American activist groups joined together Saturday, in front of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office building on 125th Street and 7th Avenue. On a cold and snowy afternoon the assembled activists were warmed only by their outrage. Demands shouted into bullhorns, audible over the din of the traffic in the bustling shopping center, announced “Down, Down Israel!”, “Free, Free Palestine”, and “From Harlem to Gaza, we are all Palestinians!”. Protesters ranging in age from 2 to 62 marched through the streets of Harlem, calling attention to what is happening in the Middle East.

The vibrant procession was met with shouts of solidarity, and questioned as to what was happening. A number of pedestrians were happy to see the march taking place, told protesters to keep up the fight, and a few joined the march as it wound down 125th street. Drivers honked their horns in support, people on the buses waved, and even some members of the NYPD, who accompanied the unpermitted march, were overheard saying they denounced what Israel was doing to the people of Gaza.

The march concluded back at the state office building at 3 p.m., with some of the protesters continuing on to Union Square to join another protest for peace and justice in Gaza.

***

CNN is reporting that on Sunday, January 11th, at a protest organized by the International Action Center, the NYPD arrested a number of protesters for allegedly injuring seven police officers. Despite the allegations of injury, the protesters are charged with disorderly conduct — a violation, not a crime — and “reckless endangerment”. Protesters report that police indiscriminately pepper sprayed them — a claim the NYPD denies, according to the NY Daily News. Protesters also reported that the police charged the crowd with horses — and targeted young Arab-American males. Organizers are asking activists to pack the courtroom at 100 Centre Street on Monday morning at 9 a.m. — where a number of those arrested will be arraigned.

Additional protests in defense of Gaza are scheduled.

On Monday, January 12th, a formation called “Jews Say Not In Our Name” — which includes Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights — will hold a vigil at the Israeli consulate at 5:30 p.m. The consulate is located at 800 Second Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

On Tuesday, January 13th, United for Peace and Justice is holding a vigil at the US Mission, located at 140 E. 45th Street (between Third Avenue and Lexington Ave). The vigil runs from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Elaine Brower and Thomas Good contributed to this article.

View Photos/Videos From The Action…

SDS die-in at L3 Corporation – April, 2008
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

NEW YORK (RSU) — On Wednesday The New School’s Radical Student Union, along with members of the War Resisters League, held a demonstration to demand university investment disclosure. The students also demanded the implementation of a committee on socially responsible investment and removal of the treasurer of the Board of Trustees, Robert B. Millard. The demonstration started at the headquarters of L-3 Communications, located at 600 3rd Avenue, and ended at the New School’s Arnhold Hall at 55 W. 13th Street where the Board of Trustees was having their last meeting of the semester. At about 5 p.m., after the students’ request to present their demands to the Board of Trustees was denied, the protest became an impromptu sit-in. Approximately 60 students entered the building and filled the lobby, demanding their requests be met.

Students were protesting the treasurer of the Board of Trustees, Robert B. Millard, because of his position as chairman of the executive committee of the military contractor L-3 Communications. L-3 Communications provides a large percentage of the “intelligence personnel” employed in illegal detention centers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and is currently facing four lawsuits from Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib. An L-3 subsidiary, Military Professional Resources Incorporated (MPRI), armed and trained both sides during the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s and armed and trained the Georgian army prior to and during their attack on Russia.

Bob Kerrey, regarded as an obstacle to Free Inquiry by students
(Photo: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)

Last semester, the RSU brought these demands to the attention of the university’s president, Bob Kerrey, when they held a demonstration against L-3 and Millard and attempted to attend a Board of Trustees meeting. At the demonstration they were granted a meeting with Kerrey – it was here where they first brought their research and demands around investment disclosure, Millard, and the Socially Responsible Investment committee (SRI) to the attention of the President. However, Kerrey refused to disclose the university’s investments to them or anyone else and made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of ever letting students know what the university is invested in. He also made it clear that he had no intention of ever letting students sit as voting members of the board of trustees. The Radical Student Union believes this denies students an important right to have a say in their own education. Kerrey hosted a conference on “Free Inquiry” and threats to academic freedom in late October. Ironically, many students see him as the biggest obstacle to the free inquiry of students who care about the future of their university.

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Protesters outside the courthouse.
(Photo: Matthew Daloisio / Witness Against Torture)

CCR Argues Case of Canadian Rendition Victim Maher Arar Against Ashcroft, Thompson, Mueller, et al.

U.S. Officials Must Be Held Accountable for Sending Arar to Torture in Syria In Rare Rehearing CCR Calls for Justice Before Full Second Circuit Panel of Judges

NEW YORK (CCR) — On Tuesday the Center for Constitutional Rights argued that high-level government officials must be held accountable for sending Canadian rendition victim Maher Arar to torture in Syria. The hearing was held before twelve Second Circuit judges after their extremely rare decision to rehear the case sua sponte, that is, of their own accord without a request by either party, in August of this year.

“I hope the respected judges have listened to my lawyer’s oral arguments with their hearts and do not fall in the government’s trap of portraying my case as simply an immigration matter,” said Maher Arar. “The panel has the historic opportunity to hold the United States officials accountable for their actions. Doing so will prove to the rest of the world that America is still a country where the law rules and where wronged human beings, regardless of their religion and color, can obtain justice through the courts.”

In January 2004, three months after he was released home to Canada from Syria, CCR filed Mr. Arar’s suit against John Ashcroft and other U.S. officials, the first to challenge an “extraordinary rendition,” also known as “outsourcing torture.” In February 2006 the District Court dismissed the case on the grounds that allowing it to proceed would harm national security and foreign relations.

CCR appealed the decision, arguing before Judges Cabranes, McLaughlin, and Sack in November 2007, but the majority issued a decision in June 2008 along similar lines, with Judge Sack dissenting. Today’s argument will determine whether Mr. Arar’s case may proceed. There is no date set for the ruling, but a decision is expected in 2009.

“The U.S. officials who sent Maher to Syria to be tortured also prevented Maher from coming to this very court to stop them,” said CCR Senior Attorney Maria LaHood. “We are now asking the court to refuse these same U.S. officials’ efforts to prevent Maher from seeking justice yet again. We are asking the Court to say enough is enough, and to uphold the fundamental constitutional and human rights that truly make our nation free.”

(Photo: Matthew Daloisio / Witness Against Torture)

Mr. Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian citizen, was detained at JFK Airport in September 2002 while changing planes on his way home to Canada. The Bush administration labeled him a member of Al Qaeda and sent him not to Canada, his home and country of citizenship, but against his will to Syrian intelligence authorities renowned for torture. He was tortured, interrogated and detained in a tiny underground cell for nearly a year before the Syrian government released him, stating they had found no connection to any criminal or terrorist organization or activity.

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