Mar 5, 2005

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The will of the people to speak their mind at Vermont’s Town Meeting Day overpowered the snowfall that pounded the Green Mountain State, March 1. In more than 50 towns voters took a day usually reserved for decisions on school budgets and new snow plows to debate an issue of international significance — the war in Iraq. At press time, 49 towns had passed a resolution calling for the troops to come home and only three had voted against it. click here for Spanish text

WASHINGTON — Defenders of Social Security angrily demanded that President George W. Bush disavow a right-wing attack ad that targets the AARP, the nation’s largest organization for people 50 and older, for its opposition to Bush’s plans to privatize Social Security.

Hundreds of political activists around the country are pooling their resources to ensure the establishment of three regional centers that will be hubs for working-class study and activism.

CHICAGO — The Workers Education Society celebrated the gala opening of its Unity Center here by putting out the welcome mat to the community Feb. 12. More than 100 people were on hand.

LAS VEGAS — A campaign to defend Social Security, patterned after labor’s massive 2004 election mobilization, was formulated at the annual winter AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting here Feb. 28–March 3. The campaign plan includes strong media and grass roots components.

?dV¬GH — “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s the message that hundreds of thousands of seniors, students, clergy and union members have sent to Republicans, who have been out on the stump to sell the privatization of Social Security.

NEW YORK — Out of a struggle against racist hate speech emanating from New York City’s nationally known hip-hop and R&B station Hot 97, a new coalition, tentatively called Hip-Hop for Social Justice (HHSJ), has emerged.

WASHINGTON: Supreme Court halts death penalty for youth / CARSON CITY, Nev.: State Assembly rejects Social Security privatization / ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.: Hands off Social Security, say lawmakers / CYBERSPACE: MoveOn joins Social Security fight / WASHINGTON: ACLU sues Rumsfeld on torture / SPARTANBURG, S.C.: Judge rules Bush must charge or free Padilla

Two contrasting health insurance bills were introduced into California’s Legislature last week, just before the deadline for new legislation. One would cover all Californians under a single-payer plan while cutting overall health care costs. The other would shift the burden to individuals, requiring all residents to buy basic coverage for themselves if not covered by an employer.

NEW YORK — In a case that civil libertarians say will have a chilling effect on lawyers representing unpopular clients, a jury has convicted civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart of conspiring to aid terrorists and lying to the government.