Land Of The Flea

Pittsburgh police relations meeting ends with white officer arresting black teacher

"Officer Gromek handcuffed Henderson and an associate, freelance photographer Rossano Stewart, and forced them to sit on the ground. By that time, others attending the Community Empowerment Association meeting had come outside to witness the confrontation. Gromek then decided that the growing number of people posed a danger to his safety and called for backup. 'It was threatening to us, 15 police cars, four dogs, hands on the mace, hands on the guns,' Community Empowerment Association CEO Rashad Byrdsong told KDKA. 'We were the ones in fear of our life, not them.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPittsburgh police relations meeting ends with white officer arresting black teacher

150 People Arrested In NAACP Protest Against NC Republicans

"Police estimated that roughly 1,000 people attended a rally late Monday afternoon behind the Legislative Building on Halifax Mall. Hundreds then entered the building. Upwards of 150 people were arrested outside the doors to the state Senate chambers, where demonstrators chanted, sang and delivered speeches decrying what they called a regressive agenda that neglects the poor. The NAACP has been holding weekly protests in Raleigh since mid-April, and what started with 17 arrests and tens of supporters back then has grown every week, bringing the total number of arrests to nearly 300 after five weeks of protests." Continue reading →

Continue Reading150 People Arrested In NAACP Protest Against NC Republicans

Texas Troopers forcibly arrest 72-year-old woman during Wendy Davis filibuster

"A 72-year-old woman who appeared to be doing nothing more than observing Texas Senate proceedings following state Sen. Wendy Davis’ (D) filibuster of an abortion bill was forcibly arrested and charged with assaulting an officer early Wednesday morning. Video captured by 23-year-old Austin resident Elizabeth Willmann shows two troopers surrounding Martha Northington as she sits in the gallery. One of the officers approaches from behind and yanks Northington’s arm to bring her to her feet. Arrest records published online showed that Northington was charged with 'assault by contact' and resisting arrest. Bond was set at $4,000." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas Troopers forcibly arrest 72-year-old woman during Wendy Davis filibuster

Woman jailed for late-night water purchase after anti-sexual assault rally

"A University of Virginia student was arrested on multiple felony charges and spent 24 hours in jail after she tried to flee a grocery store parking lot when agents attempted to arrest her for buying a case of La Croix water. According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress, 20-year-old Elizabeth Daly and her two roommates panicked when plainclothes Alcoholic Beverage Control officers surrounded their vehicle, flashing badges and weapons because the officers believed the women had purchased beer during dry hours. Daly was profusely apologetic when she realized that she wasn’t about to be abducted or killed. All charges against Daly were dropped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWoman jailed for late-night water purchase after anti-sexual assault rally

Snowden Is Not the Story

"Deep Throat was not the story in 1972, and Edward Snowden is not the story today. The abuse of America’s intelligence agencies is. And yet, we are not having an open discussion. We are instead seeing a media circus. The messenger, Edward Snowden, has been made 'the story.' Keeping under safe political cover, President Obama is deferring to the Justice Department—the same Justice Department which seized the Associated Press’ phone records and criminalized Fox News reporter James Rosen to pursue a leak investigation into a former State Department contractor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden Is Not the Story

Activist found not guilty of vandalism for writing with chalk outside Bank of America

"An anti-bank activist who faced more than a decade behind bars for using chalk to voice his protests against Bank of America was found not guilty of vandalism on Monday. A jury found Jeff Olson, 40, not guilty on all charges, according to NBC San Diego. Olson was charged with 13 counts of vandalism by San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith for writing statements such as 'No thanks, big banks' and 'Shame on Bank of America' in front of Bank of America branches last year. Mayor Bob Filner had described the prosecution of Olson as a waste of resources and 'a stupid case.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingActivist found not guilty of vandalism for writing with chalk outside Bank of America

San Francisco public transportation system shut down by striking union workers

"The strike by 2,400 BART workers came after acrimonious negotiations centered on wage and benefit issues broke down late Sunday, just hours before current labor agreements expired. Both sides blamed the other for abandoning the talks. BART serves about 400,000 riders daily, many of whom rely on the system to travel from Oakland, Berkeley and other communities on the east side of San Francisco Bay into the city of San Francisco. The strike will shut down the system once all trains are parked early Monday morning and is expected to bring widespread travel disruptions and traffic gridlock." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Francisco public transportation system shut down by striking union workers

Gun-maker airlifts 20,000 extended magazines into Colorado ahead of ban

"Gun-maker Magpul airlifted thousands of extended assault rifle magazines into a Colorado gun show on Saturday, giving away 1,500 and putting the rest up for sale just 24 hours before a new law takes effect that makes the magazines illegal across the state. The event, 'A Farewell to Arms,' attracted over 3,000 gun enthusiasts who received free extended magazines with their purchases, according to CBS Denver. An additional 18,500 magazines were designated to be sold at discount, with the proceeds going to benefit a pro-gun group calling itself 'Free Colorado.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGun-maker airlifts 20,000 extended magazines into Colorado ahead of ban

Protesters rally in support of anti-bank chalk activist facing 13 years

"Demonstrators gathered outside the Hall of Justice in San Diego, California on Sunday to chalk their support for a local man facing up to 13 years in jail for using washable chalk to voice his protests against Bank of America. 'All I am permitted to say is, I disagree,' the defendant, Jeff Olson, told KGTV-TV as he joined the rally on his behalf before slapping a piece of tape across his mouth with the words 'Gag order' written on it to comply with Judge Howard Shore’s order for him not to comment on the case. Olson attracted the attention of the office of City Attorney Jan Goldsmith at the behest of bank officials, who asked for him to be prosecuted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProtesters rally in support of anti-bank chalk activist facing 13 years

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable