Refuse & Resist!
305 Madison Ave. Ste 1166,
NY, NY 10165
phone: 212-713-5657
resist@walrus.com - info@refuseandresist.org
Table of Contents
1. MOR is spreading far and wide: The movement has begun to take shape!
2. Day of Injustice in the Bronx: Killer Cop Aquitted!
3. Update on Oct 22: Suspicious Activities surrounding March Plans in NYC & LA
4. Mall of America Racist Curfew Protests put R&R! in National Spotlight!
5. October 12th Coordinadora 96 March for Immigrant Rights a Success!
6. October 17th : San Francisco State Chapter of R&R! holds major debate:
"Is There Such a Thing as Reverse Discrimination?"
7. A Call to Youth: Make Halloween A Night-Mare for the Right-Wing!
8. October Calendar Update
9. October Upcoming Events
The call to Make October a National Month of Resistance reads, "Whether we vote, or whether we don't, in big organizations or alone in small towns, as many and as one . . . we say NO! to the politics of punishment, poverty and injustice - We will reach into every corner of society." Through the course of this month we have done a great deal of that reaching out. Letters have poured in from places like Mufreesboro, TN; Big Lake, AK; Tallahassee, FL; University of Wisconson; Stillwater, MN; Upland, CA; Fayetteville, AR; Murfreesboro, TN; Franklin, TX; and many, many other areas. One youth wrote to us saying: "I am writing to you guys so that I can make a difference and do what I can do so my voice can be heard."
People around the country have responded to the full-page Village Voice ad which printed the call the first week of October. A student called in to say that she'd never really done anything political before, or answered an ad before, but the call was something that spoke to her gut feelings about the direction this country is headed and what needed to be done. A man who called said that at first he didn't even notice the ad, but had clipped the article on the other side of the page. When he noticed what was on the back of his article, he went back and dug through the garbage to find the rest of it, and called us right up.
Through this month, we have also gotten in touch with new organizers. New chapters of Refuse & Resist! are being built in places like Oakland, Tallahassee, and Louisville. These are people who wanted to resist, and answered the call to "Refuse the politics of cruelty - to stand up - to act - " We never would have reached them without organizing on a national level. We need to continue to reach out even further, so that everyone who hates the politics of cruelty knows that there is a voice out there. That there is a growing movement to hook into. That this movement has begun with the October National Month of Resistance!
We are working towards re-publishing the October Statement of Resistance at the end of the month. The weight of the statement will be backed up by a new group of powerful voices. Reach out, talk to others, get more signatures! Those who have stepped forward so far, have made a difference. Keep reaching out, and it's not too late to hook up with some really exciting events which are still to come!!!!!!
On October 7th the cop who killed Anthony Baez was declared not guilty by a Bronx Judge. The story was simple, shocking and heart-breaking, but dreadfully similar to the growing number of police murders country-wide. Anthony Baez, a was out late with three brothers when an overthrown football accidentally struck a cop car. The brothers apologized but refused to be driven off of their own block as the cops had ordered. For this offense, Officer Lavoti arrested the then 17-year-old David Baez. When Anthony, 29, objected Lavoti put him in an illegal strangle hold. "When his father ran outside, screaming that Baez was asthmatic, Livoti taunted, "He's sick? He has asthma? Good for him!'" (Village Voice) Minutes later Anthony lay dead in the hands of a murderous cop who already had 11 complaints of misconduct and brutality against him! (In NY alone the police have killed more than 100 people since 1994.)
After weeks of the trial, with community and family members, and even a cop revealing how cruel and needless Anthony's death had been, Judge Sheindlin acquitted Livoti. People went wild. Paper was thrown at the judge, and the police barricades wear knocked over in the halls. Anthony's mother collapsed upon hearing the verdict. The atmosphere outside the courthouse was intense and protesters were surrounded by dozens of riot cops. People had brought their own signs including one of a cop and a KKK holding hands which a cop grabbed from a woman, tearing it up and throwing it in her face. The demonstrators rallied, spoke out, and marched, grouping and regrouping till near midnight, always surrounded by dozens of cops - on roofs, on horses, in helicopters, in full riot gear, & with surplus paddy wagons. This didn't stop people from hanging out their windows and pouring out of their houses, laundromats, corner stores and barber shops to join the swelling crowd because the people have seen far too many killer cops let back out on the streets.
During the march, riot police threw down and arrested three protesters who are due in court November 1st. This day of injustice is not yet settled. Everyone at the protest agreed, we need a movement to stop this epidemic of naked police terror, and the October 22, National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation is a very important beginning step!
In LA and New York City, police have denied marching permits for the protests. In NY they have raided a cultural center who's director is an endorser for the NDP. The courts just sent a message that the cops have the right to murder civilians (see article on Anthony Baez), but the people don't even have the right to march in the street! In Chicago police threatened and beat an endorser during a raid of Henry Horner Housing Projects saying, "This will teach you not to clown around in front of the cameras," after she appeared at a press conference. The NDP really speaks to the heart of the right wing attacks today, and people across the country have hungered for such a day. MTV News has been announcing the Day of Protest. This will show again on Saturday at 1:50 PM, 8:50 PM, and 9:50 PM, on Sunday at 10:50 am, and 9:50 PM, and on Monday at 5:50 PM. For more info call 212-677-6774.
Twin Cities R&R! made national news resisting the racist, criminalizing youth curfew laws at the Mall of America!!!!! Anti-youth, racist authorities of the Mall recently passed a new law which excluded youth under the age of 16 from being in the Mall past 6:00 PM Friday and Saturday evenings. R&R! organizers and youth from the community appeared on CNN, C-Span, Nickelodeon, Good Morning America, and many others! Their statement read, "This is discrimination and it criminalizes our youth - Mall officials blamed drops in sales on the number of youth in the mall, rather than on the stagnant economy - We are proud that this (protest at the Mall) is our first local action of the Month of Resistance."
Thousands of people marched against the attacks on immigrants in a spirited march led off by trumpets and drums. Hundreds of blue triangle buttons (the button which boldly symbolizes that "We all illegal," which the La Resistencia/Refuse & Resist! Contingent distributed) were immediately snatched up and the T-shirts flew off the table and were worn proudly, defiantly. The spirit was appropriate for the in-your-face tone which resonated with many protesters. Others held signs which read "Who you calling illegal, pilgrim!?" Nearly 10,000 Resistance Contingent broad sheets were distributed, sometimes not fast enough for the crowd who would grab bundles to share with their friends. Entire families traveled from places as far a Houston, TX. The R&R! table at the rally was continuously crowded and many people came over to take pictures. The mix of people was impressive, many of them had never protested before, and left DC with a renewed sense of community.
Over 500 students gathered in the auditorium of San Francisco State University to hear the heated exchange between Tim Wise, author and proponent of Affirmative Action, and Denish D'Souza, author who calls Affirmative Action reverse discrimination. The debate was an official part of the national month of resistance and was initiated by R&R! and was followed by a panel discussion of people from many different angles who see the need to defend Affirmative Action. Tim Wise got a standing ovation and demonstrated well the lies on which the myth of reverse discrimination is founded. D'Souza expected to do a book-signing in the hall after the debate, but was surrounded by about 25 students who began to argue with him and object to his presence. He had to be escorted out by the police. This debate energized and brought together some new forces on the campus and really dug into the issues surrounding the attacks on Affirmative Action.
Halloween is the one day of the year that kids go around asking for stuff, and they actually get it!!!!!!!!! This year lets add some weighty demands to the standard, "Trick-or-treat!" As the call for Halloween reads:
For generations our voices have not been heard For generations we have not been taken seriously Children should be seen, Not heard - yeah right!
Halloween will be the Grande Finale for the Month of Resistance! We need to find ways for youth to become the worst nightmares of the right wing!!!!!! For more info contact the R&R! National Office at 212-713-5657 or e-mail us at info@refuseandresist.org
October 1st: Demonstrators packed the Philadelphia courtroom and rallied outside for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
October 3rd: Youth in Honolulu held a spoken word/alternative music/speaking event to kick off the month.
October 5th: Shine 96 gathered poets, musicians and live bands in Cleveland to celebrate resistance.
October 6th: Pro-choicers counter-demonstrate against the so-called "Life Chain" in Detroit.
October 8th: Poetry for Political Prisoners in Cleveland. October 10th: Baltimore: poetry reading at the Jessup House of Corrections. Invited by inmates.
October 8, 15, Cleveland: Revolution Books Video Series, MOVE 9, Billings Montana
October 11th National Coming Out Day
October 11th Cleveland: EPOCH Incoherent Babble. Jellibene at Isabell's Web.
October 12th March on Washington: Coordinadora '96; Stop the US War on Immigrants! Resistance Contingent. Tens of thousands gathered of many different nationalities.
October 14th Mobilize America: A National Video-conference to Stop the Religious Right organized by the Americans United for Separation of Church & State. 1-800-665-0062.
October 16th, NYC: Art In General: a series of screenings that counter right wing representation
October 17th Bay Area: A Debate: "Is there such a thing as reverse discrimination? " Tim J. Wise, author of Little White Lies: The Truth about Affirmative Action and ëReverse Discrimination'" versus Dinesh D'Souza, author of . (510) 704-5293
October 18th Hawai'i: Refuse the Politics of Cruelty & Unleash a Spirit of Resistance! Rally & March
October 18th-20th Seattle: Resistance Art Show. Globe Cafe on Capitol Hill.
October 19th Cleveland: Poetry/Open Mike; Event for National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality
Columbus, Ohio: At the 3rd Annual Anti-Racist Action Network, demonstration against Police Brutality. (614) 424-9074. 9.
October 22 - National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation - demonstrations and other events across the country: Wear black! 212-387-8290
Chicago - Rally & march starting at noon, Daley Plaza, at Clark & Washington.
Cleveland - Revolution Books Video Series: The Murder of Fred Hampton
LA - converge at Olympic Blvd. and Broadway, 3 PM: March/Rally at 4:30 PM of LAPD headquarters: Parker Center.
NYC - Demonstration City Hall Park; 1pm Rally; 3pm March.
Philadelphia - Protest & Speak-out, 11:00 am at 14th & Arch.
San Francisco - Protest starts at 24th & Mission 2 PM, March to Van Ness and MacAllister, Rally 5 PM.
October 23 - NYC: Revolution Books poetry reading. 212-691-3345.
October 23 - Detroit: A Teach-in on Abortion. Part of the 10 Days of Truth Campaign. (313) 275-8979
October 24 - National Young Women's Day of Action: Voices, Power, Choices (413) 582-5645
Baltimore - Resist-stance, poetry reading and concert with the Bruderhof.
October 25 - Honolulu: GABRIELA Network-Hawai'i showing of The Women Outside, film by JT Takagi and Hye Jung Park and discussion about US bases in the Philippines, Okinawa, South Korea and Hawai'i UH Art Auditorium, 7:30pm.
October 25 - NYC: "A Night of Lyric Resistance". Soft Skull word/poetry event at . (212) 533-6152.
October 26 - National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers
events around the country.
Main event Melbourne Florida. (404) 239-8054.
Chicago: Reception to honor abortion providers hosted by Refuse & Resist!, Heartland Cafe, Dr. Quentin Young, Chicago NOW, DuPage NOW, Illinois NOW, NARRAL-Illinois & Northwestern U. Women's Center -- Saturday - 3-6 pm at the Heartland Cafe (Lunt & Glenwood)
October 27/28 - NYC: "Benefit for R&R!" by Ded Life at the Lion's Den.
October 28 - Honolulu: Teach-in at the University of Hawai'i Campus Center. Part of the 10 Days of Truth Campaign. (808)576-4430.
October 29 - Cleveland: Revolution Books Video Series : The Murder of Fred Hampton
October 30 - NYC: Michael Males, author of Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents speaking at Revolution Books, 7pm, (212) 691-3345.
October 31 - Halloween Finale. Events around the country. (212) 677-6774.
NYC: "All Power's Eve" Concert at Knitting Factory.
LA: March with parade.
Philadelphia: Concert/benefit organized by local youth.
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305 Madison Ave., Suite 1166, New York, NY 10165
Phone: 212-713-5657
email: info@refuseandresist.org