Oct. 15, 2005

Oct. 29 rally in Baton Rouge to demand a ‘new direction’ for U.S.

Gulf Coast union leaders hailed an action campaign launched by the AFL-CIO Sept. 30 to defend workers’ wages and rebuild their hurricane-torn states while turning the nation in a new direction that puts “people before profits.”

PHILADELPHIA — When schools opened last month, “Opt Out Campaign” activists were outside high schools in cities and small towns around the nation. They were there to let the students know they can stop their schools from giving their personal information to military recruiters.

“Unite to Fight” blue rubber wristbands, union-made buttons that say “Rebuild America, Bring the Troops Home,” and calling subscribers to give a “day’s pay” are all examples of grassroots, reader-powered fund raising projects for the People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo.

After heeding the Bush administration’s call to seek help regardless of status, a handful of undocumented immigrants who fled Hurricane Katrina have been ordered to appear for deportation hearings last month.

Delphi, the nation’s largest auto parts manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy last week. The company’s 12,000 retirees and 34,000 active workers who have spent their lives on hot, noisy production lines, making everything from air bags to instrument panels, are left staring at a future without pensions or health care.

NEW YORK — This election season, Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg has portrayed himself as a liberal — a Republican in name only — interested in things like housing, jobs, gay rights and fighting racism. But the facts, and many people and organizations, disagree.

LOS ANGELES — Latino immigrant rights leaders are responding to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s veto of SB 60 with a joint mobilization to defeat all Schwarzenegger-backed propositions in the Nov. 8 election. The bill would provide driver’s licenses for over 2 million undocumented workers here.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.: Romance amid the ruins; MIAMI: Budget cuts batter hurricane research; TRENTON, N.J.: Counter-terrorism agents profile Muslims; WASHINGTON: Bush threatens veto of Senate action outlawing torture; WASHINGTON: Millions More Movement marches

‘America is ready to end the war’

OAKLAND, Calif. — Cindy Sheehan “came home” to a loving welcome Oct. 5 as hundreds of supporters gathered here to give her standing ovation after ovation.

WASHINGTON — Some 1,000 peace activists from 40 states lobbied over 300 senators and representatives on Sept. 26, the Monday after the huge antiwar march here.