Civil Rights

Civil Rights

• SOCIALIST PARTY USA STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE SCREENWRITERS STRIKE- SOCIALIST PARTY USA STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE SCREENWRITERS STRIKE Labor Commission of the SP-USA When the irreverent early 20th century comedian W.C. Fields was once caught reading the bible he explained that he was “looking for some loopholes.” On Monday November 5th, 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) took a bold strike action to sew up some of the loopholes which have allowed the entertainment industry to make exorbitant profits from their labor. The Socialist Party USA (SP-USA) stands with the WGA and calls upon the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to concede to the WGA’s demands for a just contract. Unlike the often inebriated actor Fields, the AMPTP has found many profitable loopholes. While screenwriters are paid industry rates for work aired in traditional media venues such as television and movies, they receive only a small fraction of the profits generated in the “new” media outlets of DVD sales and internet based programming. Writers currently receive only 5 cents per unit for the sale of a DVD. For entertainment delivered via internet streaming video WGA members receive only 1.2% of gross revenue. There is also currently no language in the contract regarding the producer’s right to insert product placements into WGA member created scripts.
• North American New Humanist Forum, NYC- Come see the SP-USA table at:

  The North American New Humanist Forum,

  November 16-18, 2007, in New York City. Registration is free on their website, along with details. Opening (friday the 16th) at El Museo Del Barrio Teatro Heckscher 1230 5th Avenue, at 104th Street Plenary Sessions and working tables at Hunter College School of Social Work 129 East 79th Street, at Lexington Ave From Their Website:
  "How do we map out a new direction for our region, one that is guided by principles of non-violence with respect for diversity and with real democracy? Can we imagine a united North America that transcends national boundaries by building upon the best qualities of our peoples and cultures?" "As humanists, we believe this is possible and the time for it is now."
• Film showing of "The Trial: The Untold Story of the Cuban Five"- Dec. 1 (Saturday) New York, NY Event details: 1199 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center Auditorium 6:30 p.m. 310 W43rd St. (btwn. 8th-9th Ave.) Take the A,C, E, 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, or W Trains to 42nd St. and Times Square Suggested Donation: $10 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds) PROCEEDS GO TO A SPECIAL HOLIDAY COMMISSARY GIFT FOR THE CUBAN 5!! The Program also will consist of a short Legal Update, Update from the Canadian Conference to Free the Cuban 5, and several campaign updates. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by: The Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5 For more information contact: freethecubanfive@hotmail.c
• International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo- The Socialist Party is formally endorsing and our members will participate in the International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo on January 11th, 2008. Check http://www.witnesstorture.org and here for updates as they become available.

  ---

  International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo From: "Matthew W. Daloisio" --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Hey folks... Hope you are well. So here we are again. We hope that the Socialist Party NY, SP NJ and the SP USA can sign on again this year, so that hopefully in '09 we can celebrate the one year anniversary of the closing of Guantanamo! Let me know as soon as you can so we can update our materials. You can also go to http://www.witnesstorture.org and click on endorse to fill out a form.
• LEFT FORUM 2008- Save the date! LEFT FORUM 2008 will take place March 14-16 at The Cooper Union, New York City. This year we are excited to present many speakers who are new to Left Forum audiences, from around the world and right here in New York City, as well as many who are joining us again: Naomi Klein, Grace Lee Boggs, Tariq Ali, Staughton Lynd, Billionaires for Bush, Mahmood Mamdani, Adam Hochschild, Jeremy Scahill, David Harvey, Max Elbaum, Stanley Aronowitz, Frances Fox Piven, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Patricia McFadden, Patrick Bond, John Bellamy Foster, Michael Albert, Carlos Vilas, Dennis Brutus, Deepa Fernandes, and many more will participate. The theme of Left Forum 2008 is Cracks in the Edifice. What is the nature of the emerging crises in global political economy? How can the Left confront its current challenges to build stronger anti-capitalist movements? If another world is possible, what will it look like? We will be adding several movement-building workshops to our program, and plan to examine1968 after 40 years.
• DEC. 21st - Memorial Service for Homeless New Yorkers- From: http://www.picturethehomeless.org Dear Friends and Members, Please join Picture the Homeless for an Interfaith Memorial Service dedicated to our Homeless Brothers and Sisters who have passed away this year. This powerful event is held annually on the longest night of the year (December 21st). This year's theme: HONORING OUR ANCESTORS: STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY! With presentations from Pastor Katrina Foster of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church, Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid of the Mosque of the Islamic Brotherhood, Rabbi Michael Feinberg of the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition, New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, and community ministers from Judson Memorial Church. Friday, December 21, 2007 Hosted by Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square So.
• Vermont Police Attempt To Arrest Socialist Presidential Candidate-
  
  Police order candidate Moore to start
  shopping, run for president less.

  Democratic Process Not So Easy For Minor Party Candidate Moore, Several Miles from New Hampshire Border Where Major Party Candidates Campaign Effortlessly

  Socialist Party USA Presidential Nominee Brian Moore was threatened with arrest Sunday afternoon by Brattleboro (Vermont) Police officers for petitioning in a supermarket parking lot to qualify on the presidential primary ballot of the Liberty Union Party of Vermont. The primary is scheduled for March 5th.

  The manager of Hannaford Supermarkets in Brattleboro repeatedly ordered Moore, in a hostile voice, to leave the large mall parking lot because it was private property and owned by the store. Moore and his three colleagues stood their ground and refused to leave claiming they had a constitutional right to participate in a democratic process in a public area so that he could be a qualified presidential candidate in Vermont.

  Two City of Brattleboro police cars, containing a lieutenant and a Sergeant Mike Gorman, arrived on the scene within minutes and ordered Moore and three of his petition colleagues "to leave or they would get a trespassing order, and would arrest us if necessary," Moore stated. Peter Diamondstone, an attorney and a leader of the Liberty Union Party in Vermont, and one of Moore's colleagues doing the petitioning, informed the officers that they had a constitutional right for such actions.

• Anti-War Action - BLOCKADE THE IRS- Weds. March 19th gather at 7:00a BLOCKADE THE IRS http://www.warresisters.org/IRSinDC.htm On March 19, 2008, we will set up a nonviolent blockade of the national Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington, DC, as part of the day of actions against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just as military recruiters supply the bodies for the war, the IRS supplies the funding. Just as some soldiers have the courage to resist the war, we — as tax payers — should have the courage to resist paying the taxes that send soldiers to war. We call on all war opponents to help dramatize our opposition and to disrupt business as usual by joining this nonviolent blockade. For at least this one day — March 19, 2008 — we need to create a disturbance in the smug complacency of the
• Anti-War Action - BLOCKADE THE IRS!- Weds. March 19th gather at 7:00a BLOCKADE THE IRS http://www.warresisters.org/IRSinDC.htm On March 19, 2008, we will set up a nonviolent blockade of the national Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington, DC, as part of the day of actions against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just as military recruiters supply the bodies for the war, the IRS supplies the funding. Just as some soldiers have the courage to resist the war, we — as tax payers — should have the courage to resist paying the taxes that send soldiers to war. We call on all war opponents to help dramatize our opposition and to disrupt business as usual by joining this nonviolent blockade. For at least this one day — March 19, 2008 — we need to create a disturbance in the smug complacency of the

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