Dec 11, 2004

Peace, religious groups protest infiltration

PORTLAND, Ore. — Peace and justice leaders across the nation hailed an American Civil Liberties Union project, announced Dec. 2, to spotlight FBI spying and infiltration of grassroots organizations that oppose the Iraq war and other right-wing policies of George W. Bush. click here for Spanish text

CHICAGO — How can union activists make sure the unfolding discussion in the AFL-CIO includes the issues of international solidarity and peace? How can we move the foreign policy debate forward in the labor movement? How can we support the growing sentiment in labor for bringing the troops, predominantly workers and the sons and daughters of workers, home from Iraq and out of harm’s way?

CHICAGO — Fernando Suarez del Solar will be the featured speaker at the annual People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo banquet here Sunday, Jan. 16.

NEW YORK — In an amazing bounce- back from the frustrating Nov. 2 electoral defeat, labor leaders, academics and rank-and- filers turned out en masse here to discuss and debate “Labor at the Crossroads: Competing Visions, Alternative Strategies, and the Future of the U.S. Labor Movement.”

CLEVELAND — Upset by the certification of Ohio’s presidential election results by Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, several Ohio groups are demanding a recount of the vote.

HOUSTON — Texans who value democracy are preparing for yet another major challenge from George W. Bush’s party. Three Republican candidates for state representative who were beaten in the Nov. 2 ballot count have appealed to the state Legislature to have their election defeats overturned.

WASHINGTON: Soldiers sue to come home / SACRAMENTO, Calif.: Repressive ‘parade law’ repealed / DETROIT, Mich.: Kurdish restaurant owner fights deportation

CHICAGO — Faculty members at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) reached agreement on a new contract Dec. 8 after a 20-day strike halted classes here for 12,000 students.

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Progressive Party convention here Dec. 4 celebrated the party’s electoral achievements and mapped plans for the upcoming legislative session.

HOUSTON — On Dec. 1 Texas Gov. Rick Perry agreed with a rare recommendation from his state parole board that he intervene and stop a Harris County woman from being executed by lethal injection.