from: William Hughes

On Nov. 5, 2009, at the Palestine Center, in Washington, D.C., an award-winning journalist, Mohammed Omer, discussed the desperate human rights situation in Gaza--the result of Israel’s recent siege and military offensive. His presentation included his personal observations, interviews with the people of Gaza, his photographs and a video. Mr. Omer, now 25 years of age, was born and raised in the Rafah refugee camp. He spoke for over an hour, including the Q&A session. For more about the Palestine Center, go to “The Jerusalem Fund,” at: http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ Mr. Omer is a correspondent for the “Washington Report on the Middle East Affairs” magazine. Check out: http://www.washington-report.org/ For the latest on the Human Rights crisis in Gaza, see the UN Report of Judge Richard Goldstone, at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/FactFindingMission.htm and http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/11/03/un-endorse-goldstone-report and
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/impunity-war-crimes-gaza-southern-israel-recipe-further-civilian-suffering-20090702

from: William Hughes

On Nov. 3, 2009, on Capitol Hill, activists from the “Coalition for Free Gaza March,” personally confronted Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA,) just outside his office over the Goldstone Report. The Congressman then quickly rushed towards his private elevator. Afterwards, six activists strolled into Room 2221, Rep. Berman’s office, in the Rayburn Building, around 10 AM. There, they began reading the 575-paged UN Report of Judge Richard Goldstone. The Goldstone-authored document is highly critical of Israel’s recent military conduct in Gaza, labeling some of its action as “War Crimes.” Rep. Berman, who is Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, has introduced HR 867 in the House. Its purpose is to reject the report of the distinguished jurist, without giving Judge Goldstone a chance to personally testify before the Congress on his findings. HR 867 is due for a vote in the House later today. See, http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=5149 and
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2009/11/02/goldstone-tells-moyers-israel-guilty-of- and
http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=20823&CategoryId=5 and http://www.juancole.com/2009/09/goldstone-report-finds-israeli-military.html and http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2009/10/29/111643/30 and
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/47449

from: William Hughes

On the evening of October 29, 2009, in Baltimore, MD, Richard Becker, an author, political commentator and activist, discussed his new book, “Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire.” He is on a national speaking tour. See for background: http://www.pslweb.org/site/
PageServer?pagename=PalestineBook
Mr. Becker is also the Western Regional Coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition. Check out: http://answer.pephost.org/site
/PageServer?pagename=ANS_homepage The venue for the book talk was at “Sweet Tooth Dessert Shop,” located near the historic Hollins Street Market. Ms. Ashley Sauers served as the moderator for the event. Mr. Becker spoke for about one hour and a half, followed by a lively Q&A session, which lasted another 30 minutes.

from: William Hughes

Activist/nurse Sharon Black, who is with the “Bail Out the People Movement,” shared her views on the need for a Single Payer health care system. She said health care is a “human right,” and shouldn’t be for profit and that the country is going through “a desperate period.” Ms. Black added: “The money is there. The war budget is bloated. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.” Ms. Black was one of the protesters who were picketing the office of CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield, an insurance giant, at a Hi-Rise in Baltimore, MD, on Oct. 29, 2009. For background, see: http://bailoutpeople.org/ and http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/

from: William Hughes

On Oct. 29, 2009, a protest action in support of Health Care for All was held at a 17-story tower, in Baltimore, MD, which houses the office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield. The demonstrators were advocating for a Single Payer system that puts the patients’ needs before corporate profits. A 15 ft. vampire, “Count Bleed-Ya-Dry,” made an appearance at the spirited rally. He represented the grasping Insurance Industry and he was roundly hooted by the protesters. A few of the activists shared their views on why we need a “single payer” health care system to become the law of the land. For more background, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/

from: William Hughes

Sights and scenes from the protest action of Oct. 29, 2009, in support of Health Care for All. It was held, in Baltimore, MD, at the 17-story tower which houses an office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. For background, see: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/

from: William Hughes

On Oct. 29, 2009, four activists, who support a Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis, were arrested in Baltimore, MD, for trespassing. They were engaged in a “patients before profits sit-in” at a 17-story tower, which houses an office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. In this video, the four: Ms. Patty Courtney, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Dr. Eric Naumburg and Mr. Charles Loubert, explain their decision to choose arrest in order to serve a higher cause--the passage into law of a universal healthcare system that will serve all Americans. For more details on the Single Payer issue, the arrests and the exact charges placed against each defendant, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/

from: William Hughes

On Oct. 29, 2009, four activists, who support a Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis, were arrested in Baltimore, MD, for trespassing. They were engaged in a “patients before profits sit-in” at a 17-story tower, which houses an office of the insurance giant, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. It’s located in the Canton area of the city. The demonstration was part of an ongoing national campaign by the “Mobilization for Health Care for All” group. The protest included the staging of a 15 ft. vampire, “Count Bleed Ya Dry,” that represented the Insurance Industry. For more more details on the Single Payer issue, the arrests and the exact charges placed against each defendant, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/ One of the protesters arrested was Dr. Margaret Flowers. She is a member of the “Baucus Eight,” and an unrepentant advocate of a Single Payer System. See: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=liamh2#p/search/0/ncb58qnDyxs Another physician, Dr. Eric Naumburg, was also arrested, along with an 81 year-old retiree, Mr. Charles Laubert, and a school teacher, Ms. Patty Courtney.

from Left Streamed

Caracas, October 30, 2007: Produced as part of Centro Internacional Miranda's Transformative Practice and Human Development, directed by Michael Lebowitz. Posted on: http://www.socialistproject.ca/leftstreamed/

• Class Struggle Heats Up Over Battle for Wokers' Control by Federico Fuentes
• The Path to Human Development: Capitalism or Socialism? by Michael Lebowitz

from: William Hughes

At a hearing on Human Rights, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22, 2009, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), recalled a long list of miscarriages of justice in the UK, as they related to the struggle for peace and justice in the north of Ireland. He cited: “Bloody Sunday,” the “Guildford Four Case,” “The Birmingham Six,” the deportation of Joe Doherty, and the killing of the unarmed “Gibraltar Three.” Rep. Neal underscored that facing up to the past was important, and that resolving high profiles cases, such as the murders of Raymond McCord, Jr., Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright, would go a long way towards “reconciliation.” Rep. Neal has drafted a letter to UK’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to be cosigned by his congressional colleagues, requesting that the Prime Minister meet with Raymond McCord, Sr. He’s the father of Raymond McCord, Jr., who has been fighting tirelessly since 1997, to bring his killers, reputed members of the UVF, to the Bar of Justice. For background, see: http://www.hcfa.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1122 Check out related videos: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=liamh2#p/u/1/eDheK0vsrNk
and http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=liamh2#p/u/0/l9ayA0KY9Tw