Copwatcher and member of the Free Mind Media Center (a Santa Rosa based radical infoshop and bookstore) Ben Saari, was arrested on May Day while doing Copwatch and has charges pending against him.

On May 1st, as thousands were entering Santa Rosa’s Juliard Park from the east side, Santa Rosa police officers began trying to corral youth, mostly young Latinos, on the west side of the park. SRPD had extended metal batons at ready and a very agitated police dog. Different squads of police were yelling conflicting orders at the nebulous group of youth they’d defined as a gang. As police advanced on the crowd, which Mr. Saari was pushed into, Mr. Saari made a point of communicating with the advancing officers and keeping a safe distance between himself and the officers. At one point an officer being most directly observed stepped up his pace and shoulder-checked Mr. Saari, claiming the contact as Mr. Saari’s interference with police activities and arresting him for such. Mr. Saari was never told by the police or the police department what he was being arrested for. He was only informed of his charges when released on bail by the person who posted the bail.

Elements of Sonoma County Law Enforcement, particularly among the Santa Rosa Police and Sonoma County Sheriff, have been resistant to public observation of their activities from a safe distance, in some cases not identifying themselves, obscuring the visibility of interactions or even threatening the observers with arrest.

Read More | "Watch The Cops" : copwatching and Sonoma County law enforcement | Copwatcher Arrested May 1st Santa Rosa | Ben Saari’s Arrest | Tell Santa Rosa DA To Drop Charges Against Copwatcher

On May 31st, nearly a thousand protesters marched across the Golden Gate Bridge to protest the proposed spraying of the Bay Area for light brown apple moths. Groups gathered on both sides of the bridge and marched to the middle carrying signs protesting the proposed aerial spraying of a moth pheromone over the parts of the Bay Area in the state sponsored campaign to wipe out the moth.

Last fall, the State of California sprayed pesticides over Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties to control the potentially invasive Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM). In the following weeks, over 600 people reported adverse health effects, ranging from breathing problems to rashes. Since then, tens of thousands of Californians have called on Governor Schwarzenegger to investigate the health complaints and place a moratorium on future aerial pesticide spraying.

Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | Protest Announcements 1 | 2 | 3 | UC Davis Scientists Ask USDA To Halt Eradication Program | Bush Administration's Ongoing Assault on Blue-State California | LBAM Spray .com | Stop The Spray Marin

Previous Indybay Coverage: CASS Releases Economic Impact Report on LBAM Pesticide Spray Program | Aerial Spray Program Imposed by CDFA May Violate Human Rights and Incur Liabilities | Plan Announced To Spray Toxic Biological Chemicals Over San Francisco

Santa Rosa October 22nd Coalition March and Rally to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, & the Criminalization of a Generation Santa Rosa has called for a protest to represent the North Bay in this year's 12th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, "to give collective voice to People's grave concerns about law enforcement, both locally and globally."

On Monday, Oct. 22nd, the People of Sonoma County will wear black and march through Santa Rosa neighborhoods to protest the 9 deaths of people killed in the past year by local law enforcement. The march begins at 4pm in Southwest Community Park (Hearn & Burbank Aves; with a 5pm feeder march from Sebastopol Rd and West Ave), followed by a 6pm rally in Old Courthouse Square (4th St and Mendocino Ave). There will be an open microphone at the rally. Speakers expected include surviving loved ones of victims, people who suffer from past and present police abuses.

The Santa Rosa coalition says that this "epidemic of deadly force is long established: From Apr. 1, 1995 to March 10, 1998, at least 15 people were killed by local police or died in-custody. From Jan. 7, 2000 to Sept. 24, 2007, at least 35 people were killed by local police or died in-custody. In a recent 9 week period, local police shot and killed 5." Deaths have resulted from situations such as 911 calls for help in mental health crises; from the lack of health care in the County Jail for health conditions such as sickle cell anemia and withdrawal. The coalition continues, "We believe that resisting these abuses of power is both necessary and possible."

Opposition to these deaths in Sonoma County has come from the US Commission on Civil Rights, Committee for Civil Rights, Committee for Immigrant Rights, NAACP, ACLU, County of Refuge, AIM, MEChA, Copwatch, Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County, & NAMI-- as well as a cross-section of the community, which is calling for systemic change. People of color, especially youth, are racially profiled by police through schemes such as anti-gang violence efforts. The Sheriff has requested that ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) collaborate with MAGNET to deport people not proven guilty of crimes.

DUI checkpoints sweep working class neighborhoods for minor infractions, impounding cars of those who can least afford it. Local police agencies benefit financially from impounds and tickets while also benefiting through increased social control and decreased community empowerment. Read more

Press Release | Announcement with Leaflets | 7/9/07 Report from Santa Rosa Copwatch | Santa Rosa Copwatch | October 22nd Coalition

On July 28, the Minutemen border vigilantes held a meeting in Larkspur, California, to organize a new chapter in Marin County. Local immigrant rights activists greeted them with the message that, "racists are unwelcome in our county." Watch a Video

@ comments: Well done. We in the south bay are making sure that the minutomen are drowned out by voices for human rights and respect for all workers. Immigrants have always been a convenient scapegoat for working class angst in this country. The struggles of the Chinese and Filipino and Japanese and Mexican workers against racism in California are an inspiration and white folks should remember that someday they and their kids may be economic refugees. Read More

In the wake of two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) of 5:00am raids by I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) teams in San Rafael and Novato, numerous Marin County groups felt called to respond. The Marin Interfaith Council, in cooperation with numerous local civic and community groups, announced that vigils will be held each morning from 5:00am to 8:30am in solidarity with immigrant neighbors in the Canal District of San Rafael. The first vigil of witness and solidarity took place on Friday, March 9th, at Medway and Canal Streets in the San Rafael Canal District ( Photos: 1 | 2), and these actions will reportedly continue "until no longer necessary." Some 50 religious leaders and activists were stationed around the area to tell neighbors and Federal officials "'we are here, we are watching, we are in solidarity.' We wish to voice our strongest opposition to these raids which are tearing families apart in our community and terrorizing our neighborhood. We especially want the children of the Canal district to know that they are safe and supported as they go to school."

The Marin Interfaith Council and a number of civic and non-profit organizations are calling for I.C.E. to immediately cease all enforcement activities until proper protocols and adequate constitutional safeguards can be put into place to protect the innocent and those not directly targeted with arrest warrants. When the ICE knocked on doors before dawn, agents identified themselves as "Police," pushed their way into living rooms-- rousting people from their beds-- and questioned everyone in the house. They arrested people en masse, (including children) and took some away without apparent legal cause. In at least one case a U.S citizen child was taken along with his father. As has happened in other raids around the US, “old” or invalid addresses, were used along with warrants as a front to invade unnamed houses and apartments. Many Canal and Novato children were afraid to go to school and many families remain afraid to go out of their homes even to shop for food.

The Marin Interfaith Council says, "Lay participants are encouraged to wear white and bring candles and flashlights. Clergy are urged to identify themselves by wearing the symbols of their faith community. We will stand vigil from 5:00am-8:30am to be present in anticipation of any potential raids, as well as provide safe passage for children to leave their homes to attend school. Participants are also urged to bring cameras and video recording equipment to document the activities of the I.C.E. teams." On Monday March 12th, Canal Alliance, Canal Welcome Center, and Parent Services Project will hold a community meeting in response to the raids, at 6:00pm at the Pickleweed Center, at 50 Canal St in San Rafael. The ICE raids will be an agenda item at the Marin County Board of Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30am, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 330, Civic Center, San Rafael, CA 94903.

ICE Raids Monitoring Report Form | Announcement from Marin Interfaith Council | Canal Alliance | Marin Peace and Justice Coalition | ACLU Seeks Records on Immigration Enforcement Actions in Northern California

For several years, developer Russell Shaw has been trying to build about 26 luxury homes on Oxford Valley in San Rafael, a fragile watershed that contains Miwok archeological sites. He recently withdrew his initial plan and submitted a single home construction plan for the site that many in the neighborhood viewed as an attempt at skirting California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.

On February 23, the Marin Community Development Agency sent a notice to Shaw that his plan to build one house on the valley required environmental review. This was a temporary victory for activists trying to protect the land. Shaw had driven a bulldozer around the property a few weeks ago and continues to park it at the entry to the site. In Friday's Marin Independent Journal, Shaw published a giant ad warning that property rights were being threatened by Marin's proposed countywide plan for creek setbacks. Two seasonal creeks run through Oxford Valley that convey water to nearby Gallinas Creek, a known habitat for endangered species. Video

On Sunday November 19th, there will be a benefit for exonerated former prisoners at 4:00pm at the Marin Academy Theatre, 1600 Mission Ave. in San Rafael. Pam Maffei's Justice in America class will show the film "After Innocence," and several exonerees will be present. After the movie, the students will serve dinner in the cafeteria in honor of our visiting exonerees.

"After Innocence" tells the story of the exonerated -- innocent men who were wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. The film focuses on the stories of seven men and their emotional journeys back into society and efforts to rebuild their lives. Included are a police officer, an army sergeant, and a young father sent to prison and even death row for decades for crimes they did not commit.

Tickets for the movie and dinner are $10 and can be purchased at the Marin Academy Website. Proceeds will go toward the Life After Exoneration Program and to the speakers.

The People’s Revolutionary Organization (PRO), which is based in Petaluma, CA, organized Pirates of Propaganda, a day of workshops about youth radio, stencil and graffiti art, and writing and self-publishing using Indybay. The PRO is a group of youth working towards creating solidarity, bringing like-minded people together and engaging the community. The PRO "directs the multi-faceted political communities of Sonoma County towards militant direct action." The group organized 30 days of action in July. By putting on events and workshops all month, the PRO wanted to show other groups and activists that activism is, “Essentially about doing stuff, and taking initiative... showing that single issue politics can be connected, even within a small group of people.”

On July 23rd about 15 people gathered at Free Mind Media Info Shop (FMM) in Santa Rosa, CA to show people that media is accessible and that people don’t have to watch- they can have access to the means of making their voices heard. The afternoon started with Tatiana and Claudia from the Voice of Youth Radio Program. Next, Emily and Ryan spoke about stencil art and graffiti. Then, people gathered to make their own stencils, using manila folders and X-acto knives. Fault Lines Editorial Collective member Katrina led the group in writing about the day's events, and how to post articles to Indybay. By 5:00 p.m., "the sweaty group felt successful." People were able to take home stencils, paint, ideas, and see a news article about their efforts on line by the time they had left. Reflecting on the day, organizers noted that more people had turned out than were planned. Report and photos

Free Mind Media | Graffiti Resources: Not My Government | Stencil Revolution | 12 Oz Prophet

The 26th protest against the Bohemian Grove took place on July 22nd. An opening rally featured the Native Resistance Drums and Cora Lee Simmons from the Round Valley Indians for Justice. Mary Moore from the Bohemian Grove Action Network welcomed the protestors. The event was chaired by Miguel Molina and Kris Welsh from KPFA radio. Other Speakers included Calvin Gipson from Glide Memorial and A.N.S.W.E.R., Richard Becker the West Coast Co coordinator of A.N.S.W.E.R. and Casimiro Alvarez the regional director of the United Farm Workers. The mile long march into the grove was stopped by layers of California Highway Patrol officers just before the gates to Bohemian Grove but that did not prevent the strength of the demonstration from being heard inside. Photos

Bohemian Grove is a 2000 acre retreat owned by the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. For over 130 years, the elite of the corporate, banking, military and political circles have gathered for two weeks in July to "Cremate Dull Care," watch elaborate plays, and listen to the twice daily "Lakeside Talks." Since 1980, a growing coalition of peace and social justice groups has worked to expose the speakers and subjects of these talks. The talks often feature ex-presidents, CEOs of the Fortune 500, generals and admirals, and top financial executives such as the head of the World Bank. Read more

Indybay's Coverage of Protests of the 2005 Bohemian Grove Gathering | BGAN

On Saturday, May 23, In Defense of Animals (IDA) and Citizens for Cruelty-Free Entertainment protested in front of the ticketbooths at Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo after winning a Federal Court ruling that stopped Six Flags from banning protestors on Six Flags' grounds. The protesters educated the public about Marine World's history of premature animal deaths, including the inherent cruelty of using animals at the amusement park, and urged Six Flags to stop exhibiting animals and focus solely on rides and other forms of entertainment.

Read More on Indybay's Animal Liberation News Page

Developer Joe Shekou recently filed a frivolous lawsuit, aka SLAPP suit, against Gallinas Creek activists. The activists have been effective and vocal in stalling attempts by the developer to build a 3 acre indoor soccer complex on endangered wildlife habitat in Marin County.

Environmentalists and nearby residents are expressing concern over the implications that such a massive complex will mean for the community and wildlife. The wetlands of Gallinas Creek are home to the endangered clapper rail and marsh mouse. The proposed 2.5 acre sports complex sits in the middle of this habitat and is in the pathway of a variety of local and migratory birds, river otters and a wide range of nature enthusiasts. Read more

On Monday, April 10th, 2006, immigrants and their allies continued their recent historic mobilizations in cities all over the US to oppose HR 4437. In San Rafael, 3000 exhuberent protestors took the streets.
Photos

Read More On Indybay's Immigrant Rights News Page