Nov 20, 2004

Los Angeles struggles to save trauma center

LOS ANGELES — In a massive show of strength, thousands of South Los Angeles residents and labor, community, and religious leaders gave notice Nov. 15 to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that its plans to close the Martin Luther King/Charles Drew Medical Center’s (KDMC) trauma center will be met with unprecedented opposition every step of the way.

In the wake of the U.S. assault on Fallujah, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, called for investigation of possible violations of international laws on treatment of civilians and war prisoners in Iraq.

Just one week after the disappointing outcome of the Nov. 2 election to which the American labor movement had committed unprecedented money, troops and passion, leaders of the AFL-CIO gathered in Washington, D.C., for a one-day meeting to draw lessons and plan for the difficult battles ahead.

BERKELEY, Calif. — They came from all regions of the country and from every arena of the racial justice struggle, and with one voice they declared that in the wake of Nov. 2, their determination to fight for democracy, equality, social and economic justice is more powerful than ever. click here for Spanish text

WASHINGTON — Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has asked President Bush to “call off the dogs at the IRS” by terminating the tax agency’s probe of the NAACP.

News Analysis

CHICAGO — If Mayor Richard M. Daley thought he could sneak a new school privatization scheme by the public, he’s had a rude awakening. Vowing to block the mayor’s “Renaissance 2010” plan, over 500 union members, parents, community activists and students rallied Nov. 12 across from City Hall.

LOS ANGELES: Council bars sweatshop products / SMITHERS, W.Va.: Union-busting hurts communities / OKLAHOMA CITY: Peace marchers undeterred by Bush election / CHICAGO: City college teachers ratify pact

A statewide recount of the Ohio presidential vote will take place next month, according to the Green Party. Two third-party presidential candidates, David Cobb (Green) and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian), announced their intention to request a recount last week. Over $113,000 was raised in four days to pay the required fees.

News Analysis

Even before the polls closed on Nov. 2, the political slings and arrows were being aimed at the movement for marriage equality.

Enlisting technology creates a whole new set of problems in the election process.