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Call President Obama to Veto Indefinite Detentions Without a Trial

December 19, 2011 1 comments

(This post is taken from an urgent call to action email sent by Muslim Peace Coalition USA.)

The President has neither vetoed the NDAA bill nor he has signed it yet. Which means there is still opportunity to ask him to veto it.

The NDAA bill passed by Congress contains some of the most dangerous provisions we’ve ever seen: it would allow the government to imprison anyone indefinitely without trial or charges—even US citizens just based on suspicion.

This is America. We have rights, and we demand that our government respect and protect them.

Call President Obama Today: 202-456-1111

  1. Call President Obama urging him to veto indefinite detentions in NDAA 2012 bill: 202-456-1111.
  2. Call ten friends, colleagues and relatives to call President Obama as well. Do it every day.
  3. Forward this action alert with your friends.

What is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)?

Read an excellent editorial of New York Times.

Read another critical analysis here.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a bill passed by Congress in early December. It contains provisions that, if made law, would order the military to arrest, and indefinitely detain, even US citizens merely accused (but never proven) of involvement in terror-related crimes. Americans who care about liberty and freedom must take immediate action.

Whether concerned about communities vulnerable to racial profiling in the war on terror, or the ideological profiling apparent in the FBI’s investigation of dozens of peace & justice activists around the country, or simply preserving the right to trial or the longstanding prohibition on domestic military deployment, all Americans share a stake in this struggle.

Please tweet on this topic by hashtags: #indefinite #detentions to tweet your messages about it.

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Mic Check: Teachers, Parents, Community Take Over Board of Ed Meeting Today

December 14, 2011 0 comments

Today (Dec 14), parents, teachers, community members, and the CTU Community Board (Coalition of the CTU and community groups, including TSJ), w/ support from Occupy Chicago, shut down the Board of Education meeting. A big shout out to TSJ members who attended the vigil in front the Board on Dec. 13, slept out on the sidewalk in front of CPS Headquarters in the rain, brought the campers food and coffee, showed up before 6 Am with more coffee and spirit, and attended the Board meeting.
At the meeting itself, the people did a mic-check on the Board and shut down the meeting (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoIsdXkVzVg). Then, we held our own public participation session. This is a new day. People had enough, finally.
Quoting from a message from the CTU:
"Congratulations to each of you for your work which culminated in today's historic walk-out of the Board of Ed members and CPS officials. They cannot ignore us any longer. Because of our unified efforts we have successfully amplified the voices of justice-parents, teachers, students, and community leaders who love and support our children and are fighting for the world class education they deserve.
Because of you, more than 300 people turned out Tuesday night for the candlelight vigil in front of the Board. Kudos to the brave souls who battled inclement weather and sat-in overnight at the Board. The City has not seen this level of protest in many years. This is the spark of a pure, social justice movement in this town. We must sustain it and continue our organizing and public education efforts until we break down the walls of education apartheid."
There is a long road ahead. Check TSJ website and CTU website for school rallies, meetings, upcoming events, and what you can do.
Checkout good print media, and there is much TV footage on the web:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/9440216-418/protesters-take-over-chicago-school-board-meeting.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-crowds-gather-to-protest-cps-school-closures-and-turnaround-projects-20111214,0,10496.story
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Call to Action: Fight CPS School Closings!

December 5, 2011 0 comments

For more information on school closings, go to ctunet.com/closings.
To get involved, contact teachersforjustice@hotmail.com.

500 Demand NO School Closings!
On Dec. 3, at King HS on Chicago's South Side, 500 teachers, parents, students, security guards, classroom aids, community members, organizers, and more came together at the CTU Community Board's "Teach-In Against School Closings." Chicago Public Schools are proposing to close/phase-out/consolidate/turnaround 19 schools this year. Over the next 10 weeks, the struggle will accelerate-the struggle of people in neighborhood schools for real resources and support, as an alternative to "school actions" (charters, turnarounds, private control of public schools paid w/ public dollars)!

The solidarity and unity across the city was evident-there were people from 125 schools in CPS!! And 25 unions and community organizations! This is NOT business as usual, as we could feel by the astoundingly high level of militancy, determination, and political consciousness that these are policies of the 1% against the rest of us. The "arrogant racism" (as Jitu Brown of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization termed it) of a school system that doesn't believe that Black and Brown parents and teachers know how to educate their own children is disgraceful and more. (For further reports on the Teach-In, see http://substancenews.net/)

Here are two maps which locate the school closings (old and proposed) in relation to race, foreclosures, and public housing. The CTU Research Dept developed the maps, and they speak for themselves. Click on the images to see the fullsized maps.



The NEXT step in this fight is the Board of Education Meeting on December 14, 125 S. Clark St (CPS HQs). The night before, Tuesday, Dec. 13, there will be a candlelight vigil starting at 6 PM at 125 S. Clark.

We will then assemble at Dec. 14, at 6 AM Wednesday morning, because that is the only way to get to speak at the Board meeting. You get on line at 6, get signed in to speak starting at 8, wait till 10:30 for the Board meeting to start, and until about 11:15 for the "public testimony" period to begin, where you have 2 minutes to speak, no two people can speak on the same topic, and you can no longer even stand up to support the speakers. And don't forget that you have to miss your 9 to 5 to be there, IF you're lucky enough to still have one. This is democracy? Public input? It's a sham and a shame.

IF YOU CAN ATTEND THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, PLEASE EMAIL: teachersforjustice@hotmail.com

See you December 13 and 14th!
Teachers for Social Justice

Links:
CTU's Resource Page on School Closings
Substance News article on CTU Community Board's Teach-In



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December Calendar: Fight CPS' School Closings!

December 1, 2011 0 comments

Dec 3, Saturday, 10 AM- 2PM
  •  School Closings Teach-in. Sponsored by the "CTU Community Board" (which TSJ is part of)
  • King HS, 4445 S. Drexell Blvd
Dec 4, Sunday, 1 - 3 PM
  • TSJ December Monthly Meeting
  • Sum-up Curriculum Fair
  • Organize against CPS School Closings
  • Launch ItAGs
Dec 13, Tuesday, 6 PM
  • Vigil to protest CPS School Closings, CPS Headquarters, 125 S. Clark St., 6 PM
Dec 14, Wednesday, 6 AM—Get on line to get in!
  • CPS Board Meeting, 125 S. Clark Street (officially starts at 10:30AM).
For more info, email teachersforjustice@hotmail.org
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