Jun 14, 2003

WASHINGTON – Wearing plastic top hats and chanting, “Who needs Medicare? I’m a millionaire!” over 1,000 mock-capitalists marched to Vice President Dick Cheney’s residence, June 6, to thank him for pushing through another trillion dollar tax cut for the rich while slashing Medicaid and education.

With evidence mounting that George W. Bush and top administration officials lied to the American people to justify the Iraq war, the smell of Watergate, Iran-contra and other scandals is starting to waft over the Bush White House.

Sometimes we need to hear a little good news. So often all we hear and read about is bad news – things that bring you down, make you doubt yourself or your neighbor – heck, things that make you doubt humanity.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Parents, teachers, students and civil libertarians are still in an uproar over an incident on April 23 when U.S. Secret Service agents swooped down on Oakland High School and interrogated two male 16-year-olds about their comments critical of the Iraq War and an alleged threat they made against President George W. Bush.

CHICAGO – A spirited crowd of several hundred people braved the early morning chill June 11, to protest as President Bush arrived here to push what they charge is a phony Medicare prescription drug plan.

The Stop Media Monopoly Petition, a campaign to reverse the FCC’s decision to allow further monopolization of the media, already has nearly 200,000 signers, evidence that Americans don’t want a few big companies controlling their access to news and entertainment.

WASHINGTON – Civil liberties activists, led by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), denounced Attorney General John Ashcroft’s demand that Congress grant him wider police-state powers by passing the so-called “Patriot Act II.”

CHICAGO – “There are really no great people. But there are ordinary people who courageously respond to great challenges,” said Carlos Arango, executive director of Casa Aztlan. Arango was reflecting on the life and legacy of Rudy Lozano at a June 7 gathering to mark the 20th anniversary of his assassination in 1983.

AUSTIN, Texas – A scandal is brewing in Texas related to the use of the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement resources to advance the partisan political agenda of the right-wing extremists who control the state and federal governments.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.: Prison labor is back / DETROIT, Mich.: Millionaires and unemployment / BUFFALO, N.Y.: When empowerment means exploitation