In his final days, Dr. King planned a mass OCCUPATION FOR JOBS
Make MLK Day OCCUPY 4 JOBS DAY! Demand jobs, housing, education and people's rights!
10:00 A.M.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th
DEMONSTRATE at GROVE HALL POST OFFICE
647 Warren St, Dorchester (in Grove Hall)
SAVE JOBS AND SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITIES!
Stop the Post Office shutdowns!
Stop the fraudulent, disastrous & totally unnecessary attack on our postal services!
• Rightwingers want to kill Postal Service:
slash 200,000+jobs or close 3,700 stations -
•—Most shutdowns are in poor communities,
where service is needed most.
• The postal service is NOT in financial crisis, it is subject to ridiculous
and unfair requirements imposed by a rightwing Congress in 2006.
Let your voice be heard:
No reduction in postal service - keep 6-day delivery!
No Post Office Closings - expand the postal service, don t destroy it!
Stop the PRIVATIZATION - the postal services belong to the people!
Demand a WPA style 30 million Jobs program at union wages for all, regardless of immigration status
Jobs for Youth - NOT JAILS!
Support the postal workers' unions:
*******
If Post Offices close & Saturday mail delivery ends...
Who will suffer?
V People who need medicine delivered
V People without computers or internet
V People who need money orders
V People who ship packages to relatives In need
V People who need a P.O. box due to lack of safe or permanent housing
V People who will have difficulty traveling to the remaining offices
and standing in long lines
V Businesses where postal workers spend their pay
V Whole communities, when formerly well-paid unionized workers can no longer afford their mortgages (Have you seen Detroit since the auto plants closed?)
V Children and grandchildren who will lose a source of funding for college
V More than 200,000 postal workers faced with losing their jobs!
From the inner cities to country roads, the overall prosperity
and health of populations already struggling are at risk
if congress cuts the U.S. Postal Service.
Save Our Jobs & Services!
To endorse and join this campaign, email: Occupy4JobsBoston@gmail.com
TOUCH
106.1FM
Boston Metro Local 100 APWU 137 South St 4th fl Boston MA 02111 617-423-2798 Occupy 4 Jobs Network c/o USW L. 8751 25 Colgate Rd. Roslindale, MA 02131 617-524-3507 Minister Don Muhammad, Temple 11, Nation of Islam Boston City Councilors Charles Yancey & Tito Jackson; Boston City Councilors at Large Felix G. Arroyo & Ayanna Pressley. Charles demons, Gen Mgr, Touch106.1FM;Grove Hall NDC; Coalition for Equal Quality Education; Mass. AFL-CIO; Cntrl Mass AFL-CIO: USW Dist 4; Myles Calvey, Bus. Mgr./Fin Secy, IBEW 2222; Painters & Allied Trades DC35; Women's Fightback Network; SistaCipher Fanmi Lavalas Boston; Bishop Filipe Teixeira.OFSJC, Diocese of St Francis of Assisi, CCA; Dorotea Manuela, Exec Dir. New Mission School; Intl Action Center; Bail Out People Mvmt; Chelsea Uniting Against War (partial list) For info and to volunteer call International Action Center 617-522-6626 or email occupy4jobsboston@gmail.com
Showing posts with label As The Class Struggle Heats Up And We Take Arrests-Some Important Information From The American Civil Liberties Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label As The Class Struggle Heats Up And We Take Arrests-Some Important Information From The American Civil Liberties Union. Show all posts
Monday, January 09, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
From #Ur-Occupied Boston (#Ur-Tomemonos Boston)-This Is Class War-We Say No More- Defend The Occupy Movement!-Defend Our Unions! - Defend The Boston Commune! Take The Offensive!- OB Endorses Call for General Strike-May Day 2012
Click on the headline to link to updates from the Occupy Boston website. Occupy Boston started at 6:00 PM, September 30, 2011. I will post important updates as they appear on that site.
Markin comment:
We know that we are only at the very start of an upsurge in the labor movement as witness the stellar exemplary actions by the West Coast activists on December 12, 2011. As I have pointed out in remarks previously made elsewhere as part of the Boston solidarity rally with the West Coast Port Shutdown on that date this is the way forward as we struggle against the ruling class for a very different, more equitable society. Not everything went as well, or as well-attended, as expected including at our rally in solidarity in Boston on the afternoon of December 12th but we are still exhibiting growing pains in the post-Occupy encampment era. Some of that will get sorted out in the future as well get a better grip of the important of the labor movement to winning victories in our struggles.
******
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend The Occupation Movement And All The Occupiers! Drop All Charges Against All Occupy Protesters Everywhere!
*******
Fight-Don’t Starve-We Created The Wealth, Let's Take It Back! Labor And The Oppressed Must Rule!
*********
OB Endorses Call for General Strike
January 8th, 2012 · mhacker · Passed Resolutions No comments The following proposal was passed by the General Assembly on Jan 7, 2012:
Occupy Boston supports the call for an international General Strike on May 1, 2012, for immigrant rights, environmental sustainability, a moratorium on foreclosures, an end to the wars, and jobs for all. We recognize housing, education, health care, LGBT rights and racial equality as human rights; and thus call for the building of a broad coalition that will ensure and promote a democratic standard of living for all peoples.
Markin comment:
We know that we are only at the very start of an upsurge in the labor movement as witness the stellar exemplary actions by the West Coast activists on December 12, 2011. As I have pointed out in remarks previously made elsewhere as part of the Boston solidarity rally with the West Coast Port Shutdown on that date this is the way forward as we struggle against the ruling class for a very different, more equitable society. Not everything went as well, or as well-attended, as expected including at our rally in solidarity in Boston on the afternoon of December 12th but we are still exhibiting growing pains in the post-Occupy encampment era. Some of that will get sorted out in the future as well get a better grip of the important of the labor movement to winning victories in our struggles.
******
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend The Occupation Movement And All The Occupiers! Drop All Charges Against All Occupy Protesters Everywhere!
*******
Fight-Don’t Starve-We Created The Wealth, Let's Take It Back! Labor And The Oppressed Must Rule!
*********
OB Endorses Call for General Strike
January 8th, 2012 · mhacker · Passed Resolutions No comments The following proposal was passed by the General Assembly on Jan 7, 2012:
Occupy Boston supports the call for an international General Strike on May 1, 2012, for immigrant rights, environmental sustainability, a moratorium on foreclosures, an end to the wars, and jobs for all. We recognize housing, education, health care, LGBT rights and racial equality as human rights; and thus call for the building of a broad coalition that will ensure and promote a democratic standard of living for all peoples.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
From #Occupied Boston (#TomemonosBoston)-Day 69- Judge Lifts Restraining Order-Stand In Solidarity-All Out In Defense Of Occupy Boston!
Click on the headline to link to updates from the Occupy Boston website.Occupy Boston started at 6:00 PM, September 30, 2011. I will post important updates as they appear on that site.
***********
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend All The Occupation Sites And All The Occupiers! Drop All Charges Against All Protesters Everywhere!
********
Fight-Don’t Starve-We Created The Wealth, Let's Take It Back! Labor And The Oppressed Must Rule!
********
A Five-Point Program As Talking Points
*Jobs For All Now!-“30 For 40”- A historic demand of the labor movement. Thirty hours work for forty hours pay to spread the available work around. Organize the unorganized- Organize the South- Organize Wal-mart- Defend the right for public and private workers to unionize.
* Defend the working classes! No union dues for Democratic (or the stray Republican) candidates. Spent the dough on organizing the unorganized and other labor-specific causes (example, the November, 2011 anti-union recall referendum in Ohio).
*End the endless wars!- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops (And Mercenaries) From Afghanistan! Hands Off Pakistan! Hands Off Iran! Hands Off The World!
*Fight for a social agenda for working people!. Quality Healthcare For All! Nationalize the colleges and universities under student-teacher-campus worker control! Forgive student debt! Stop housing foreclosures!
*We created the wealth, let’s take it back. Take the struggle for our daily bread off the historic agenda. Build a workers party that fights for a workers government to unite all the oppressed. Labor and the oppressed must rule!
********
Markin comment December 7,2011:
And as always-everybody, young or old, needs to stand by this slogan - An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend All The Occupation Sites And All The Occupiers Everywhere! Hands Off Occupy Boston!
***********
Judge rules against Occupy Boston protesters, clearing way for eviction; Mayor Menino urges them to leave
By Martin Finucane, Travis Andersen and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
A Suffolk Superior Court judge today ruled against the group of Occupy Boston protesters who have set up a tent city in a downtown square for more than two months, denying their motion for a preliminary injunction that would protect them from eviction from the site.
In the wake of Judge Frances McIntyre’s decision, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino encouraged the protesters to “remove their tents and refrain from camping in that area.”
Menino said in a statement that conditions in the area had deteriorated and posed “very real health and safety risks,” and he warned that “the city will act appropriately to fulfill our duty to preserve the public’s peace and safety.”
The ruling in the case left the future unclear for the encampment, which was part of a series of Occupy protests nationwide. The protests have brought attention to issues of social and economic inequality, but they have ended with police evicting protesters in other major cities.
One lawyer representing the group of protesters who brought the case immediately vowed an appeal.
“We certainly hope that the city does not take any precipitous action until all of the legal avenues … have been fully followed,” said Jeffrey Feuer.
The judge wrote in her 25-page decision that protesters had no right to seize Dewey Square, which they have occupied since Sept. 30.
She reasoned that “while Occupy Boston protesters may be exercising their expressive rights during their protest, they have no privilege under the First Amendment to seize and hold the land on which they sit.”
Drawing a distinction between the “occupation” of the land and the “living activities” on the land, McIntyre wrote, “The act of occupation, this court has determined as a matter of law, is not speech. Nor is it immune from criminal prosecution for trespass or other crimes.”
The living activities, on the other hand -- such as erecting tents, sleeping, and setting up a self-governing community on the site -- are “expressive conduct and symbolic,” she found.
“Nevertheless, it is subject to City and Park regulations and restrictions,” she said.
The judge went on to say that the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy’s ban on sleeping overnight and other restrictions on Dewey Square are “valid, and applicable to Occupy Boston.”
Dewey Square is part of the Greenway, a new park made possible by the Big Dig project that winds through the city’s downtown, replacing an ugly elevated highway. The Conservancy leases the park from the state and is required under the lease to set rules and regulations for the park. In doing so, it is “effectively acting as a governmental agency,” McIntyre said.
Ariel Oshinsky, an Occupy Boston media volunteer, said in a brief phone interview that the ruling was “a disappointment. But I don’t think it’s [a decision] that we weren’t prepared for.”
She declined further comment because she had not yet read the ruling.
Urszula Masny-Latos, executive director of the state chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, which also represented protesters, said, “Right now we don’t know what will happen and how the Boston police and the mayor’s office will allow the movement to go forward.”
McIntyre had issued a temporary restraining order on Nov. 16 barring the city from evicting protesters unless there was a fire, medical, emergency, or “outbreak of violence.”
On Dec. 1, McIntyre said she would extend the temporary restraining order until she decided whether to issue the preliminary injunction that would permanently protect the encampment. She set a Dec. 15 deadline for herself to rule on the preliminary injunction, issuing the ruling today, a week early. McIntyre's ruling also vacated the temporary restraining order as of 3 p.m. today.
The judge said her decision “clears the way but does not order the plaintiffs and other protesters to vacate the site and request permission to set up tents or other equipment for expressive purposes.”
She noted, however, that under Greenway Conservancy guidelines, overnight sleeping and living at Dewey Square are “not options.”
***********
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend All The Occupation Sites And All The Occupiers! Drop All Charges Against All Protesters Everywhere!
********
Fight-Don’t Starve-We Created The Wealth, Let's Take It Back! Labor And The Oppressed Must Rule!
********
A Five-Point Program As Talking Points
*Jobs For All Now!-“30 For 40”- A historic demand of the labor movement. Thirty hours work for forty hours pay to spread the available work around. Organize the unorganized- Organize the South- Organize Wal-mart- Defend the right for public and private workers to unionize.
* Defend the working classes! No union dues for Democratic (or the stray Republican) candidates. Spent the dough on organizing the unorganized and other labor-specific causes (example, the November, 2011 anti-union recall referendum in Ohio).
*End the endless wars!- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops (And Mercenaries) From Afghanistan! Hands Off Pakistan! Hands Off Iran! Hands Off The World!
*Fight for a social agenda for working people!. Quality Healthcare For All! Nationalize the colleges and universities under student-teacher-campus worker control! Forgive student debt! Stop housing foreclosures!
*We created the wealth, let’s take it back. Take the struggle for our daily bread off the historic agenda. Build a workers party that fights for a workers government to unite all the oppressed. Labor and the oppressed must rule!
********
Markin comment December 7,2011:
And as always-everybody, young or old, needs to stand by this slogan - An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!-Defend All The Occupation Sites And All The Occupiers Everywhere! Hands Off Occupy Boston!
***********
Judge rules against Occupy Boston protesters, clearing way for eviction; Mayor Menino urges them to leave
By Martin Finucane, Travis Andersen and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
A Suffolk Superior Court judge today ruled against the group of Occupy Boston protesters who have set up a tent city in a downtown square for more than two months, denying their motion for a preliminary injunction that would protect them from eviction from the site.
In the wake of Judge Frances McIntyre’s decision, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino encouraged the protesters to “remove their tents and refrain from camping in that area.”
Menino said in a statement that conditions in the area had deteriorated and posed “very real health and safety risks,” and he warned that “the city will act appropriately to fulfill our duty to preserve the public’s peace and safety.”
The ruling in the case left the future unclear for the encampment, which was part of a series of Occupy protests nationwide. The protests have brought attention to issues of social and economic inequality, but they have ended with police evicting protesters in other major cities.
One lawyer representing the group of protesters who brought the case immediately vowed an appeal.
“We certainly hope that the city does not take any precipitous action until all of the legal avenues … have been fully followed,” said Jeffrey Feuer.
The judge wrote in her 25-page decision that protesters had no right to seize Dewey Square, which they have occupied since Sept. 30.
She reasoned that “while Occupy Boston protesters may be exercising their expressive rights during their protest, they have no privilege under the First Amendment to seize and hold the land on which they sit.”
Drawing a distinction between the “occupation” of the land and the “living activities” on the land, McIntyre wrote, “The act of occupation, this court has determined as a matter of law, is not speech. Nor is it immune from criminal prosecution for trespass or other crimes.”
The living activities, on the other hand -- such as erecting tents, sleeping, and setting up a self-governing community on the site -- are “expressive conduct and symbolic,” she found.
“Nevertheless, it is subject to City and Park regulations and restrictions,” she said.
The judge went on to say that the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy’s ban on sleeping overnight and other restrictions on Dewey Square are “valid, and applicable to Occupy Boston.”
Dewey Square is part of the Greenway, a new park made possible by the Big Dig project that winds through the city’s downtown, replacing an ugly elevated highway. The Conservancy leases the park from the state and is required under the lease to set rules and regulations for the park. In doing so, it is “effectively acting as a governmental agency,” McIntyre said.
Ariel Oshinsky, an Occupy Boston media volunteer, said in a brief phone interview that the ruling was “a disappointment. But I don’t think it’s [a decision] that we weren’t prepared for.”
She declined further comment because she had not yet read the ruling.
Urszula Masny-Latos, executive director of the state chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, which also represented protesters, said, “Right now we don’t know what will happen and how the Boston police and the mayor’s office will allow the movement to go forward.”
McIntyre had issued a temporary restraining order on Nov. 16 barring the city from evicting protesters unless there was a fire, medical, emergency, or “outbreak of violence.”
On Dec. 1, McIntyre said she would extend the temporary restraining order until she decided whether to issue the preliminary injunction that would permanently protect the encampment. She set a Dec. 15 deadline for herself to rule on the preliminary injunction, issuing the ruling today, a week early. McIntyre's ruling also vacated the temporary restraining order as of 3 p.m. today.
The judge said her decision “clears the way but does not order the plaintiffs and other protesters to vacate the site and request permission to set up tents or other equipment for expressive purposes.”
She noted, however, that under Greenway Conservancy guidelines, overnight sleeping and living at Dewey Square are “not options.”
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
From Boston Indy Media-Labor Must Choose Between Occupy and the Democrats by workers action
Labor Must Choose Between Occupy and the Democrats by workers action
(No verified email address) 21 Nov 2011
The Occupy Movement couldn't have come along at a worse time, from the viewpoint of the Democrats. Election season is just getting started and Occupy has thrown a giant wrench into the political machinery. Some labor leaders too are sensing “politics as usual” shifting under their feet; the “get out the vote” for the Democrats may elicit blank stares from the rank and file.
Occupy has the potential to create earthquakes within the labor movement and labor’s relationship to the Democrats, if it approaches the subject intelligently. This seismic shift could permanently change politics in the United States, much for the better.
Many commentators have noted that the Occupy Movement can be only poison for the Democrats. Unlike the Republicans, who benefited from the corporate sponsored far-right Tea Party, the Democrats have no intention of moving — or even flirting — with an independent movement to its left. Long before the corporate Presidency of Bill Clinton, the Democrats have moved only to the right, with the leftist talk reserved strictly for election campaigns. This evolution is now to the point where President Obama stands to the right of President and arch-Conservative Richard Nixon on most economic and social issues. Times have certainly changed.
In an effort to pretend that times haven't changed, some labor leaders are obsessed with comparing the modern Democrats with the modern Republicans, the latter who have evolved into a party that openly denies evolution and disdains all things non-corporate. Comparing Democrats with Republicans in this distorted manner certainly makes Democrats look good, while also avoiding the real issues at stake.
And then came Occupy. Real issues are now being talked about. Occupy has successfully pointed out the absurd policies of both corporate owned political parties. This disruption has created open hostility from Republicans and Democrats, the latter have stood silent as local riot police-- controlled mainly by Democratic Party administrations-- have attacked peaceful Occupy protesters all over the country. Even the eternally loyal Democrat Daily Kos website has spewed anti-Democrat anger over this:
"The deafening silence from Congress, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, and President Obama on the abuse of civilians exercising the right to assemble, and the right to freedom of speech, speaks volumes as to the priorities, concerns and goals of the political class in D.C. We should be very, very concerned and angry over this silence...Silence is in fact, complicity." (November 16, 2011).
The labor movement sees a natural ally in Occupy and is openly embracing it, to varying degrees. Of course the two movements are mutually compatible: labor has been fighting off and on against corporations since unions were born. The Occupy Movement is breathing fresh air into the working people's movement, and the unions had better go "all in" with Occupy, lest they stand alone and become totally irrelevant.
The labor movement thus has a foot in both worlds; one in step with the Occupy Movement and the other with the Democrats, who are working to crush Occupy outright. Labor's split personality is obviously unsustainable; something has got to give. A stark example of these incompatible positions was put forth by Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), when she discussed SEIU's recent endorsement of President Obama:
"We need a leader [Obama] willing to fight for the needs of the 99 percent . . . .Our economy and democracy have been taken over by the wealthiest one percent."
What?! Corporations gave Obama far more money than his previous Republican opponent, John McCain. Corporations are again giving Obama more money than his current Republican counterparts. He doesn't need the dues money of union workers; he's already flush with corporate cash.
Mary Kay Henry is just one of several top labor officials who frame the Occupy Movement as a battle against "the right wing,” i.e., Republicans. In response to this argument, Glenn Greenwald of Salon commented:
"...pretending that the ongoing [Occupy] protests are grounded in the belief that the GOP is the party of the rich while the Democrats are the party of the working class is likely to fool just about nobody other than those fooled by that already" (November 19, 2011).
If labor plans on being relevant to the Occupy Movement — and this means being relevant at all in the near future — major changes must occur. And although many Occupiers have expressed concern about Labor having ulterior motives to co-opt the Occupy Movement, the threat is greatly exaggerated.
Most labor unions are politically co-opted by the Democrats. Labor still needs a national political voice. Though the mass actions of the Occupy Movement have done more to change the political climate than the millions who voted for Obama, most of Labor's entrenched leadership remain attached to the Democrats in an illusory attempt to have a national voice.
In practice this means that labor ignores the pro-corporate policies of Democratic politicians while unions water down its demands to make them compatible with the positions of Democrats. Occupy won't stand for this, or even listen to it.
Some major examples of labor's neutered pro-Democrat Party politics are:
-National labor unions largely ignored the fact that Democratic Governors, elected with the help of the unions, recently forced major concessions on public sector unions all over the country, substantially weakening the larger labor movement.
-Labor's political subservience to the Democrats also means that, instead of demanding a real jobs program, labor is reduced to supporting Obama's truly pathetic jobs program, which would create a million or so jobs, when 20 million plus are needed.
-Worse yet is labor's virtual inaction in response to Obama's Super Committee, which intends to cut the national budget deficit on the backs of working people, especially by slashing Medicare and Medicaid, and very likely Social Security, creating a precedent for even larger cuts in the future. This amounts to perhaps the biggest single attack on working people in recent U.S. history, as it would dramatically affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. While AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has made some strong statements against these cuts, neither he, nor any of the other top labor officials, have called for what is really needed, which is a massive, nationally coordinated mobilization of the ranks of the labor movement and labor’s allies, the 99%, to take to the streets of America to demand of the government: No Cuts! No Concessions! Tax the Rich!
If labor plans on building a strong movement with Occupy — and they had better — then these suicidal pro-Democratic Party policies must end. Labor cannot earn credibility within the Occupy Movement and then completely change course to campaign for Obama, in effect throwing all credibility in the garbage.
If labor puts forth watered down demands — like Obama's jobs bill — it will elicit no response from the vast majority of Occupiers and their supporters. The Occupy Movement recognizes the dire economic situation the country is in and is not held back by mainstream politicians.
This gives the Occupy Movement an amazing chance to lead labor down the right path. There is a wide gulf between the demands that the labor movement and the Democratic Party are putting forward and what working people desperately need. Occupy would not exist were this not the case.
Therefore, Occupy must address the nationwide social crisis in a serious way that can unite working people, and help drive the labor movement forward in the process.
For example, instead of the labor movement merely demanding End the Bush Tax Cuts, Occupy could demand Tax the 1% at 90% (as it was under Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
Instead of labor demanding that Obama's Jobs bill be passed, the Occupy Movement should demand that revenue from taxing the rich be used to create 20 million new jobs, a federal jobs program similar to the one implemented in the 1930s, but bigger.
Most importantly, Occupy could start a national campaign demanding NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid by taxing the rich and corporations.
Taxing the rich should be a critical demand of the Occupy movement, since it naturally unites working people against cuts and produces revenue that can create jobs. Taxing the rich is also the demand that naturally emerges from the slogan "We Are the 99%,” which reveals the giant wealth disequilibrium that has happened in the country, in large part due to the shrinking tax rates of the rich.
There is plenty of room for Occupy to prove its political independence by putting forth demands that will discredit the Democrats and lead Labor towards campaigns that the majority of working people will join, making Occupy/Labor an unstoppable force. If occupy mobilizes over key demands that resonate with the majority, the unions will follow. They will have no choice, since their rank and file will already be following Occupy.
See also:
http://www.workerscompass.org
This work is in the public domain
**********
(No verified email address) 21 Nov 2011
The Occupy Movement couldn't have come along at a worse time, from the viewpoint of the Democrats. Election season is just getting started and Occupy has thrown a giant wrench into the political machinery. Some labor leaders too are sensing “politics as usual” shifting under their feet; the “get out the vote” for the Democrats may elicit blank stares from the rank and file.
Occupy has the potential to create earthquakes within the labor movement and labor’s relationship to the Democrats, if it approaches the subject intelligently. This seismic shift could permanently change politics in the United States, much for the better.
Many commentators have noted that the Occupy Movement can be only poison for the Democrats. Unlike the Republicans, who benefited from the corporate sponsored far-right Tea Party, the Democrats have no intention of moving — or even flirting — with an independent movement to its left. Long before the corporate Presidency of Bill Clinton, the Democrats have moved only to the right, with the leftist talk reserved strictly for election campaigns. This evolution is now to the point where President Obama stands to the right of President and arch-Conservative Richard Nixon on most economic and social issues. Times have certainly changed.
In an effort to pretend that times haven't changed, some labor leaders are obsessed with comparing the modern Democrats with the modern Republicans, the latter who have evolved into a party that openly denies evolution and disdains all things non-corporate. Comparing Democrats with Republicans in this distorted manner certainly makes Democrats look good, while also avoiding the real issues at stake.
And then came Occupy. Real issues are now being talked about. Occupy has successfully pointed out the absurd policies of both corporate owned political parties. This disruption has created open hostility from Republicans and Democrats, the latter have stood silent as local riot police-- controlled mainly by Democratic Party administrations-- have attacked peaceful Occupy protesters all over the country. Even the eternally loyal Democrat Daily Kos website has spewed anti-Democrat anger over this:
"The deafening silence from Congress, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, and President Obama on the abuse of civilians exercising the right to assemble, and the right to freedom of speech, speaks volumes as to the priorities, concerns and goals of the political class in D.C. We should be very, very concerned and angry over this silence...Silence is in fact, complicity." (November 16, 2011).
The labor movement sees a natural ally in Occupy and is openly embracing it, to varying degrees. Of course the two movements are mutually compatible: labor has been fighting off and on against corporations since unions were born. The Occupy Movement is breathing fresh air into the working people's movement, and the unions had better go "all in" with Occupy, lest they stand alone and become totally irrelevant.
The labor movement thus has a foot in both worlds; one in step with the Occupy Movement and the other with the Democrats, who are working to crush Occupy outright. Labor's split personality is obviously unsustainable; something has got to give. A stark example of these incompatible positions was put forth by Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), when she discussed SEIU's recent endorsement of President Obama:
"We need a leader [Obama] willing to fight for the needs of the 99 percent . . . .Our economy and democracy have been taken over by the wealthiest one percent."
What?! Corporations gave Obama far more money than his previous Republican opponent, John McCain. Corporations are again giving Obama more money than his current Republican counterparts. He doesn't need the dues money of union workers; he's already flush with corporate cash.
Mary Kay Henry is just one of several top labor officials who frame the Occupy Movement as a battle against "the right wing,” i.e., Republicans. In response to this argument, Glenn Greenwald of Salon commented:
"...pretending that the ongoing [Occupy] protests are grounded in the belief that the GOP is the party of the rich while the Democrats are the party of the working class is likely to fool just about nobody other than those fooled by that already" (November 19, 2011).
If labor plans on being relevant to the Occupy Movement — and this means being relevant at all in the near future — major changes must occur. And although many Occupiers have expressed concern about Labor having ulterior motives to co-opt the Occupy Movement, the threat is greatly exaggerated.
Most labor unions are politically co-opted by the Democrats. Labor still needs a national political voice. Though the mass actions of the Occupy Movement have done more to change the political climate than the millions who voted for Obama, most of Labor's entrenched leadership remain attached to the Democrats in an illusory attempt to have a national voice.
In practice this means that labor ignores the pro-corporate policies of Democratic politicians while unions water down its demands to make them compatible with the positions of Democrats. Occupy won't stand for this, or even listen to it.
Some major examples of labor's neutered pro-Democrat Party politics are:
-National labor unions largely ignored the fact that Democratic Governors, elected with the help of the unions, recently forced major concessions on public sector unions all over the country, substantially weakening the larger labor movement.
-Labor's political subservience to the Democrats also means that, instead of demanding a real jobs program, labor is reduced to supporting Obama's truly pathetic jobs program, which would create a million or so jobs, when 20 million plus are needed.
-Worse yet is labor's virtual inaction in response to Obama's Super Committee, which intends to cut the national budget deficit on the backs of working people, especially by slashing Medicare and Medicaid, and very likely Social Security, creating a precedent for even larger cuts in the future. This amounts to perhaps the biggest single attack on working people in recent U.S. history, as it would dramatically affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. While AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has made some strong statements against these cuts, neither he, nor any of the other top labor officials, have called for what is really needed, which is a massive, nationally coordinated mobilization of the ranks of the labor movement and labor’s allies, the 99%, to take to the streets of America to demand of the government: No Cuts! No Concessions! Tax the Rich!
If labor plans on building a strong movement with Occupy — and they had better — then these suicidal pro-Democratic Party policies must end. Labor cannot earn credibility within the Occupy Movement and then completely change course to campaign for Obama, in effect throwing all credibility in the garbage.
If labor puts forth watered down demands — like Obama's jobs bill — it will elicit no response from the vast majority of Occupiers and their supporters. The Occupy Movement recognizes the dire economic situation the country is in and is not held back by mainstream politicians.
This gives the Occupy Movement an amazing chance to lead labor down the right path. There is a wide gulf between the demands that the labor movement and the Democratic Party are putting forward and what working people desperately need. Occupy would not exist were this not the case.
Therefore, Occupy must address the nationwide social crisis in a serious way that can unite working people, and help drive the labor movement forward in the process.
For example, instead of the labor movement merely demanding End the Bush Tax Cuts, Occupy could demand Tax the 1% at 90% (as it was under Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
Instead of labor demanding that Obama's Jobs bill be passed, the Occupy Movement should demand that revenue from taxing the rich be used to create 20 million new jobs, a federal jobs program similar to the one implemented in the 1930s, but bigger.
Most importantly, Occupy could start a national campaign demanding NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid by taxing the rich and corporations.
Taxing the rich should be a critical demand of the Occupy movement, since it naturally unites working people against cuts and produces revenue that can create jobs. Taxing the rich is also the demand that naturally emerges from the slogan "We Are the 99%,” which reveals the giant wealth disequilibrium that has happened in the country, in large part due to the shrinking tax rates of the rich.
There is plenty of room for Occupy to prove its political independence by putting forth demands that will discredit the Democrats and lead Labor towards campaigns that the majority of working people will join, making Occupy/Labor an unstoppable force. If occupy mobilizes over key demands that resonate with the majority, the unions will follow. They will have no choice, since their rank and file will already be following Occupy.
See also:
http://www.workerscompass.org
This work is in the public domain
**********
From SocialistAlternative.org -Capitalism, Social Movements and Police Repression
Published by SocialistAlternative.org Read online at: www.SocialistAlternative.org/news/article20.php?id=1721
Capitalism, Social Movements and Police Repression
Oct 28, 2011
Ted Virdone
On September 24 an #OccupyWallStreet protester videotaped a NYPD officer macing peaceful protesters in the face for no apparent reason.
The video shows several women standing calmly as the police unroll and surround them with a bright orange net. Once the women are corralled, a white-shirted police officer walks up to the group and sprays them all in the face with pepper spray. He then walks away.
Over the next couple days, over a million people watched that video on YouTube as the Occupy Wall Street movement spread to hundreds of cities around the world. Far from fearful, protesters responded with renewed vigor, joining the anti-corporate protests in the thousands.
The mace-wielding maniac was identified as NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna, who, if former incidents of police brutality are any indication, will receive no consequence.
A Few Bad Apples?
On the other side of the country at the Occupy Wall Street solidarity protest in Seattle, Seattle Police Department officers spent the nights tearing down tents and even arresting protesters who attempted to shelter themselves under umbrellas. One protester called 911 on himself so that he could be taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
During the day, however, the police moved through the crowd of protesters with friendly smiles saying, “We are not interested in taking away anyone’s freedom of speech.” There was even a debate at one General Assembly meeting on whether to include the police in the General Assembly meetings.
However, the actions of Deputy Inspector Bologna were not the isolated incident of one bad apple. He maced women who were already being corralled by other members of the NYPD. Other videos of the NY protests show one protester punched in the face by a different officer and another protester getting his leg run over by a police motorcycle.
Acts of police violence around the country are systematically covered up, and rarely does any officer receive any meaningful consequence. This is because police brutality can serve a purpose for the ruling class and the corporate elite. JP Morgan Chase has gone so far as to donate $4.6 million to the NY City Police Foundation (jpmorganchase.com).
Violence is Political
Police violence has been used around the world and throughout history to keep oppressed people fearful and subservient. From the revolution that swept northern Africa last spring, to the Civil Rights Movement to the current Occupy Wall Street movement, protesters have had to face intimidation tactics. Protesters were killed in Egypt, but they were still able to overthrow the dictator.
In the United States, police intimidation is far subtler, but the principal of repression remains the same. In New York, over 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested in just one mass arrest. And the FBI is still calling activists from the antiwar movement before a grand jury.
Compare this to the pro-corporate Tea Party protests. These right-wing demonstrations never see police harassment, even when they bring firearms and live ammunition. The police do not assault these right-wing demonstrations because they are not a threat to big business.
Racial Profiling
For most people of color, police brutality is nothing new. 400,000 Latin American immigrants were rounded up and forcibly deported in the last year alone. African Americans face constant police harassment, leaving one in ten African-American males in prison at any given time.
Police brutality against oppressed minorities again serves a political purpose for the ruling class; it keeps these doubly exploited sections of the working class desperate for even the worst-paying jobs and afraid to revolt.
A Movement Without Fear
Sometimes, however, police violence cannot dispel a movement and, instead, enrages broader sections of workers, young people and the oppressed. When the NYPD pepper sprayed peaceful protesters in the face, new people joined the protests around the country.
At this time, the more violence the ruling class is willing to resort to, the more resolved workers and young people are to overthrow them. The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are just two examples of this courage.
The Limits to Repression
Throughout history, every ruling elite has used the laws of the land and their police to try to maintain their power. This means that sometimes the oppressed 99% of society have to break those laws.
This decision shouldn’t be taken lightly or in an individualized manner. Mass civil disobedience can demonstrate that certain laws are corrupt. This is especially true when the movement finds support among large numbers of people, as the Occupy Wall Street movement has. In this situation, mass support can often hold the hand of the police, who fear that further repression could further enflame an already erupting movement. Resting on broad public support, the Occupy Wall Street movement has defied bans on tents and protests – and in this way managed to spread its message.
Also, when thousands of people break these undemocratic laws the police have found it far more difficult to intervene. Mass movements have repeatedly overthrown despotic leaders and regimes when soldiers broke from a regime they despised and found a common interest with workers and youth in the streets. As long as capitalism remains intact, however, the ruling 1% will look to find a way to use police violence to maintain its interests.
Capitalism, Social Movements and Police Repression
Oct 28, 2011
Ted Virdone
On September 24 an #OccupyWallStreet protester videotaped a NYPD officer macing peaceful protesters in the face for no apparent reason.
The video shows several women standing calmly as the police unroll and surround them with a bright orange net. Once the women are corralled, a white-shirted police officer walks up to the group and sprays them all in the face with pepper spray. He then walks away.
Over the next couple days, over a million people watched that video on YouTube as the Occupy Wall Street movement spread to hundreds of cities around the world. Far from fearful, protesters responded with renewed vigor, joining the anti-corporate protests in the thousands.
The mace-wielding maniac was identified as NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna, who, if former incidents of police brutality are any indication, will receive no consequence.
A Few Bad Apples?
On the other side of the country at the Occupy Wall Street solidarity protest in Seattle, Seattle Police Department officers spent the nights tearing down tents and even arresting protesters who attempted to shelter themselves under umbrellas. One protester called 911 on himself so that he could be taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
During the day, however, the police moved through the crowd of protesters with friendly smiles saying, “We are not interested in taking away anyone’s freedom of speech.” There was even a debate at one General Assembly meeting on whether to include the police in the General Assembly meetings.
However, the actions of Deputy Inspector Bologna were not the isolated incident of one bad apple. He maced women who were already being corralled by other members of the NYPD. Other videos of the NY protests show one protester punched in the face by a different officer and another protester getting his leg run over by a police motorcycle.
Acts of police violence around the country are systematically covered up, and rarely does any officer receive any meaningful consequence. This is because police brutality can serve a purpose for the ruling class and the corporate elite. JP Morgan Chase has gone so far as to donate $4.6 million to the NY City Police Foundation (jpmorganchase.com).
Violence is Political
Police violence has been used around the world and throughout history to keep oppressed people fearful and subservient. From the revolution that swept northern Africa last spring, to the Civil Rights Movement to the current Occupy Wall Street movement, protesters have had to face intimidation tactics. Protesters were killed in Egypt, but they were still able to overthrow the dictator.
In the United States, police intimidation is far subtler, but the principal of repression remains the same. In New York, over 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested in just one mass arrest. And the FBI is still calling activists from the antiwar movement before a grand jury.
Compare this to the pro-corporate Tea Party protests. These right-wing demonstrations never see police harassment, even when they bring firearms and live ammunition. The police do not assault these right-wing demonstrations because they are not a threat to big business.
Racial Profiling
For most people of color, police brutality is nothing new. 400,000 Latin American immigrants were rounded up and forcibly deported in the last year alone. African Americans face constant police harassment, leaving one in ten African-American males in prison at any given time.
Police brutality against oppressed minorities again serves a political purpose for the ruling class; it keeps these doubly exploited sections of the working class desperate for even the worst-paying jobs and afraid to revolt.
A Movement Without Fear
Sometimes, however, police violence cannot dispel a movement and, instead, enrages broader sections of workers, young people and the oppressed. When the NYPD pepper sprayed peaceful protesters in the face, new people joined the protests around the country.
At this time, the more violence the ruling class is willing to resort to, the more resolved workers and young people are to overthrow them. The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are just two examples of this courage.
The Limits to Repression
Throughout history, every ruling elite has used the laws of the land and their police to try to maintain their power. This means that sometimes the oppressed 99% of society have to break those laws.
This decision shouldn’t be taken lightly or in an individualized manner. Mass civil disobedience can demonstrate that certain laws are corrupt. This is especially true when the movement finds support among large numbers of people, as the Occupy Wall Street movement has. In this situation, mass support can often hold the hand of the police, who fear that further repression could further enflame an already erupting movement. Resting on broad public support, the Occupy Wall Street movement has defied bans on tents and protests – and in this way managed to spread its message.
Also, when thousands of people break these undemocratic laws the police have found it far more difficult to intervene. Mass movements have repeatedly overthrown despotic leaders and regimes when soldiers broke from a regime they despised and found a common interest with workers and youth in the streets. As long as capitalism remains intact, however, the ruling 1% will look to find a way to use police violence to maintain its interests.
Friday, December 02, 2011
From The "Socialist Alternative" Website- Video: Socialist (S.A.) Union Leader reports from Occupy Chicago
Click on the headline to link to a Socialist Alternative website entry for a report of a S.A.labor leader on Occupy Chicago.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
As The Class Struggle Heats Up The Court Battle Looms And We Take Arrests-Some Important Information From The American Civil Liberties Union-Defend "Occupy Boston" From Any Attempts To Shut It Down
As The Class Struggle Heats Up And We Take Arrests-Some Important Information From The American Civil Liberties Union
http://aclum.org/news_9.28.11a
Click on the headline to link to an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)-Massachusetts website for additional information and links to other chapters.
Markin comment:
I have crossed swords with the ACLU over their defense of "free speech" for fascists and other issues but this information is very useful as we take more arrests in our current struggles. And as the class struggle heats up and more occasions for arrest occur. We are not constrained by legalism, the ACLU's or anybody else's, in our actions, obviously, but we had better, collectively, be prepared on all fronts otherwise we will be picked off one by one.
*********
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE STOPPED BY POLICE, IMMIGRATION AGENTS OR THE FBI
We rely on the police to keep us safe and treat us all fairly, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin or religion. This card provides tips for interacting with police and understanding your rights.
Note: Some state laws may vary. Separate rules apply at checkpoints and when entering the U.S. (including at airports).
YOUR RIGHTS
- You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.
- You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.
- If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.
- You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately.
- Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Do stay calm and be polite.
- Do not interfere with or obstruct the police.
- Do not lie or give false documents.
- Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested.
- Do remember the details of the encounter.
- Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
Stay calm. Don't run. Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them.
Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.
You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud.
In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself.
You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel.
Upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.
If an officer or immigration agent asks to look inside your car, you can refuse to consent to the search. But if police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, your car can be searched without your consent.
Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.
IF YOU ARE QUESTIONED ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS
You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents or any other officials. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. (Separate rules apply at international borders and airports, and for individuals on certain nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. If you are over 18, carry your immigration documents with you at all times. If you do not have immigration papers, say you want to remain silent.
Do not lie about your citizenship status or provide fake documents.
IF THE POLICE OR IMMIGRATION AGENTS COME TO YOUR HOME
If the police or immigration agents come to your home, you do not have to let them in unless they have certain kinds of warrants.
Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant allows police to enter the home of the person listed on the warrant if they believe the person is inside. A warrant of removal/deportation (ICE warrant) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.
Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.
IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY THE FBI
If an FBI agent comes to your home or workplace, you do not have to answer any questions. Tell the agent you want to speak to a lawyer first.
If you are asked to meet with FBI agents for an interview, you have the right to say you do not want to be interviewed. If you agree to an interview, have a lawyer present. You do not have to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable answering, and can say that you will only answer questions on a specific topic.
IF YOU ARE ARRESTED
Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.
You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.
Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.
Special considerations for non-citizens:
- Ask your lawyer about the effect of a criminal conviction or plea on your immigration status.
- Don't discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
- While you are in jail, an immigration agent may visit you. Do not answer questions or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
- Read all papers fully. If you do not understand or cannot read the papers, tell the officer you need an interpreter.
IF YOU ARE TAKEN INTO IMMIGRATION (OR "ICE") CUSTODY
You have the right to a lawyer, but the government does not have to provide one for you. If you do not have a lawyer, ask for a list of free or low-cost legal services.
You have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate of your arrest.
Tell the ICE agent you wish to remain silent. Do not discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
Do not sign anything, such as a voluntary departure or stipulated removal, without talking to a lawyer. If you sign, you may be giving up your opportunity to try to stay in the U.S.
Remember your immigration number ("A" number) and give it to your family. It will help family members locate you.
Keep a copy of your immigration documents with someone you trust.
IF YOU FEEL YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED
Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint.
Write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first).
File a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish.
Call your local ACLU or visit www.aclu.org/profiling.
This information is not intended as legal advice.
This brochure is available in English and Spanish / Esta tarjeta tambián se puede obtener en inglés y español.
Produced by the American Civil Liberties Union 6/2010
Defend Occupy Boston, Defend Occupy Boston, an injury to one is an injury to all, PARTISAN DEFENSE COMMITTEE, class struggle defense, CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER, ACLU,
http://aclum.org/news_9.28.11a
Click on the headline to link to an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)-Massachusetts website for additional information and links to other chapters.
Markin comment:
I have crossed swords with the ACLU over their defense of "free speech" for fascists and other issues but this information is very useful as we take more arrests in our current struggles. And as the class struggle heats up and more occasions for arrest occur. We are not constrained by legalism, the ACLU's or anybody else's, in our actions, obviously, but we had better, collectively, be prepared on all fronts otherwise we will be picked off one by one.
*********
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE STOPPED BY POLICE, IMMIGRATION AGENTS OR THE FBI
We rely on the police to keep us safe and treat us all fairly, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin or religion. This card provides tips for interacting with police and understanding your rights.
Note: Some state laws may vary. Separate rules apply at checkpoints and when entering the U.S. (including at airports).
YOUR RIGHTS
- You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.
- You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.
- If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.
- You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately.
- Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Do stay calm and be polite.
- Do not interfere with or obstruct the police.
- Do not lie or give false documents.
- Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested.
- Do remember the details of the encounter.
- Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
Stay calm. Don't run. Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them.
Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.
You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud.
In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself.
You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel.
Upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.
If an officer or immigration agent asks to look inside your car, you can refuse to consent to the search. But if police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, your car can be searched without your consent.
Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.
IF YOU ARE QUESTIONED ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS
You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents or any other officials. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. (Separate rules apply at international borders and airports, and for individuals on certain nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. If you are over 18, carry your immigration documents with you at all times. If you do not have immigration papers, say you want to remain silent.
Do not lie about your citizenship status or provide fake documents.
IF THE POLICE OR IMMIGRATION AGENTS COME TO YOUR HOME
If the police or immigration agents come to your home, you do not have to let them in unless they have certain kinds of warrants.
Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant allows police to enter the home of the person listed on the warrant if they believe the person is inside. A warrant of removal/deportation (ICE warrant) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.
Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.
IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY THE FBI
If an FBI agent comes to your home or workplace, you do not have to answer any questions. Tell the agent you want to speak to a lawyer first.
If you are asked to meet with FBI agents for an interview, you have the right to say you do not want to be interviewed. If you agree to an interview, have a lawyer present. You do not have to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable answering, and can say that you will only answer questions on a specific topic.
IF YOU ARE ARRESTED
Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.
You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.
Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.
Special considerations for non-citizens:
- Ask your lawyer about the effect of a criminal conviction or plea on your immigration status.
- Don't discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
- While you are in jail, an immigration agent may visit you. Do not answer questions or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
- Read all papers fully. If you do not understand or cannot read the papers, tell the officer you need an interpreter.
IF YOU ARE TAKEN INTO IMMIGRATION (OR "ICE") CUSTODY
You have the right to a lawyer, but the government does not have to provide one for you. If you do not have a lawyer, ask for a list of free or low-cost legal services.
You have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate of your arrest.
Tell the ICE agent you wish to remain silent. Do not discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
Do not sign anything, such as a voluntary departure or stipulated removal, without talking to a lawyer. If you sign, you may be giving up your opportunity to try to stay in the U.S.
Remember your immigration number ("A" number) and give it to your family. It will help family members locate you.
Keep a copy of your immigration documents with someone you trust.
IF YOU FEEL YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED
Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint.
Write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first).
File a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish.
Call your local ACLU or visit www.aclu.org/profiling.
This information is not intended as legal advice.
This brochure is available in English and Spanish / Esta tarjeta tambián se puede obtener en inglés y español.
Produced by the American Civil Liberties Union 6/2010
Defend Occupy Boston, Defend Occupy Boston, an injury to one is an injury to all, PARTISAN DEFENSE COMMITTEE, class struggle defense, CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER, ACLU,
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