October 2006

Last night US Rep Jim McGovern, who was arrested earlier this year for protesting at the Sudanese embassy, spoke in Worcester about Darfur. Telegram:

Before Mr. McGovern’s speech, Clark security police handcuffed and carried from the hall an anti-Zionist demonstrator after he allegedly refused to stop passing out literature. Peter Lowney, 36, of Valdez, Ark., was taken to Worcester Police Headquarters and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Another anti-Zionist demonstrator, David Rolde a member of the Green Rainbow Party of Massachusetts, agreed to leave the hall. Picketing outside Higgins, Mr. Rolde said they were there to express opposition to a U.S.-U.N.-Zionist invasion of Sudan “for oil and uranium.” A third picketed on Main Street across from Clark, which she described in her placard as a “fascist university.”

The protestors have posted their own account at Indymedia.

The Green-Rainbow Party is mentioned with good reason: the GRP has a statement on Darfur. The statement opposes both military and financial action. Not sure where that leaves you.

Personal observations: I’m not buying the Zionist angle; I’d take the arguments of the protestors more seriously if they were also working to end the violence in Darfur; I wish the GRP would stay away from foreign policy issues, and focus on Massachusetts. I’m currently registered GRP, but this sort of nonsense makes me want to change that.

Photos and videos.

There’s a vigil Monday, October 30, at noon in front of Worcester’s City Hall to remember Brad Will, a US videojournalist associated with the Indymedia movement who was killed last week in Oaxaca. For more info about Brad, this BoingBoing post is as good a place to start as any. Speakers at the Worcester event will include local Indymedia activists who knew him.

The Telegram & Gazette’s excellent Jacqueline Reis writes:

Edward F. Behn of Westboro, whose oldest son is a U.S. Marine serving in Iraq, has offered to donate $2,500 to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust in honor of the Worcester high school senior class with the lowest percentage of students who “opt out” of allowing information about themselves to be provided to recruiters.

Interesting that he’s not a Worcester resident. Not bad, just an interesting twist.
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Opting out: Nothing in today’s paper about the rumored don’t-opt-out contest.

Albuquerque CW in homeless controversy: They sort of come off as jerks in this article, but this quote from their “opponents” is a classic:

“They want to start talking about Jesus, but we have legitimate safety concerns . . . .”

Peace: The South Bend Tribune has an article on St Marcellus.

Snow Ghost: Announcing The Snow Ghost Book of Scary Jokes. Available only at Happy Birthday Mike Leslie.

Democracy: If you live in Worcester, you can see my interview with Nicholas Reville on cable channel 13 this Saturday at 9am & 5:30pm, Sunday at 9am & 5:30pm, and Monday at 10:30am. If you live on the Internet, you can watch it online.

Portland: Tom Hastings arrested, profiled.