ON THE SHOW IN MAY 2011:

* MUSICIAN AND ACTIVIST STEVE EARLE SPEAKS IN CHICAGO

The noted musician and political activist Steve Earle wrote his first novel and spoke recently in Chicago; we'll hear an excerpt in this episode.

* THE ALMIGHTY BLACK P STONE NATION

Two Chicagoans write and publish a social history on a noted South Side street organization. We'll hear an interview about the organizations, related issues, and connections to today.

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HEADLINES FROM THE INDYMEDIA NETWORK

Venezuela Extradites Refugee Journalist to Colombia
Two features on Venezuela Indymedia in April 2011 highlighted the case of alternative journalist Joaquin Perez Bezerra who was extradited from Venezuela to Colombia. Perez Bezerra, a refugee from Colombia and a resident of Sweden operates a news website called Anncol, which the Colombian government accused of supporting the FARC rebel group in Colombia. The Colombian government deemed Perez Bezerra a terrorist. Perez Bezerra travelled from Sweden to Venezuela, and at the request of Colombian president Juan Santos, on May 3, 2011, Venezuelan authorities detained Perez Bezerra and extradited him to Colombia. Activist and human rights groups decried the move by the Venezuelan government, saying that Perez Bezerra's status as a political refugee who renounced his Colombian citizenship in 2000 should be recognized.
http://venezuela.indymedia.org/or/2011/04/28782.shtml
http://venezuela.indymedia.org/or/2011/04/28821.shtml

German Anti-Nuclear Activists Target "Atomic Forum" in Berlin-Mitte
Germany Indymedia featured organizing efforts against an annual "Atomic Forum" in Berlin-Mitte. The lobby of nuclear energy efforts in Germany met from May 17-May 19 in the Berlin Central Congress. Germany Indymedia featured grassroots opposition to the forum, including a outdoor rally with some 800 attendees despite being held in the rain, blockade actions, banner drops, a resistance camp, and the public placement of barrels made to look like radioactive waste. Given his opposition and recent events in Japan, the Atomic Forum was described in subsequent Indymedia posts as being on the retreat: a planned gala dinner was called off, as was a political component of a larger meeting.
http://de.indymedia.org/2011/05/306409.shtml

Subcontractor Sodexo taken to task for worker violations at Emory University
Atlanta Indymedia has been reporting on student efforts against worker violations by subcontracting companies at a prominent Atlanta university. On April 25, seven students were arrested on the quads of Emory University for holding an encampment outside the administration building. The encampment protested the contract Emory had with the company Sodexo for providing workers to operate the University's cafeterias; Sodexo has a long history of workers' rights violations, intimidation against workers, low wages, and few benefits accorded to other Emory employees. A follow-up Atlanta Indymedia feature and video highlighted a public forum with Emory University president James Wagner, held on May 11, where Wagner discussed Sodexo and the arrests. Activists decried the forum as unproductive and accused Wagner of skirting valid complaints and "telling straight up lies".
http://atlanta.indymedia.org/local/seven-emory-students-arrested-sodexo-demonstration
http://atlanta.indymedia.org/local/emory-president-james-wagner-forced-make-public-statements-regarding-sodexo-and-student-arrest

Court: Philadelphia activist/journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal must have new trial for death penalty
Philadelphia Indymedia featured developments in the case for prominent jailed activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal. Quoting from the feature: "On April 26, 2011, the Third Circuit Court [in Philadelphia] upheld earlier rulings from 2001…and 2008…that 'overturned' the death sentence and stated that if the DA wants to reinstate the death penalty, then Mumia must first be given a new sentencing phase jury trial where Mumia can present evidence of innocence but the jury can only decide between execution or life in prison without parole. According to the ruling, the DA now has 180 days to decide whether or not to have a new sentencing trial. However, the DA is now appealing this ruling to the US Supreme Court, further postponing the 180-day deadline. The description of the death sentence as 'overturned' must be qualified because, following the 2001 ruling, at the DA's requeset, Mumia has never left his death row cell or been given general population 'privileges' such as contact visits with family."
http://phillyimc.org/en/3rd-circuit-says-mumia-must-have-new-sentencing-trial-if-death-sentence-be-reinstated

37 Arrested in Anti-drone Protest in Upstate New York
New York Indymedia and Rochester Indymedia posted features about an antiwar protest and mass arrest in upstate New York against the use of robotic drones in war. Quoting from the Rochester Indymedia feature: "On April 22, 2011, hundreds of people from around New York State and beyond demonstrated against the use of Reaper drones…in front of the Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, NY [—demanding that the drones be grounded and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan be ended]. Pilots at the base remotely control Reaper drones that fly missions of surveillance and death over Afghanistan. Thirty-seven people were arrested for blocking the entrance to the base after being told to move by sheriffs. Demonstrators were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration." Among those arrested were longtime Chicago peace activist Kathy Kelly and 91-year-old Jerry Berrigan, brother of noted peace activists Dan and Phil Berrigan.
http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/20076/index.php
http://nyc.indymedia.org/or/2011/04/114807.html

Oregon Congressman Receives "Foreclosure" At the Hands of Activists
Rogue Valley IMC in Oregon featured a creative kind of protest against a local government official. Quoting from the feature: "Activists from around the state [of Oregon] converged on Bend, Oregon on Saturday, May 7, 2011 for the Rural Organizing Project's Annual Caucus, and to deliver a 'Notice of Foreclosure' to the office of US Representative Greg Walden [Republican, Oregon's 2nd Congressional District]. Several dozen ROP members assembled mid-day at the Bend School Administration Building to rally and hear speeches about how the Congressman from Oregon's Second District, which covers two-thirds of the state, represents neither the voices nor the interests of his constituents. A large 'Notice of Foreclosure' poster shared billing with another that listed the key contributors and amounts provided for the Congressman's latest election campaign, and provides strong evidence that his main support comes from large national and multinational corporations and from the notorious Koch brothers of Wisconsin notoriety…After speeches the crowd marched to drums and chanted anti-Walden slogans for several blocks through the crowded streets of downtown Bend to the Congressman's office (which was closed…) where the foreclosure notice was read and posted on the door."
http://rogueimc.org/en/2011/05/17253.shtml

Chicago Marks 125th Anniversary of Haymarket
Chicago Indymedia commemorated the 125th anniversary of the Haymarket affair with a feature recounting the event's history and aftermath. On May 4, 1886, in response to a strike, lockout, and killings outside Chicago's McCormick Reaper Plant, some 2000 workers came to Haymarket Square at Randolph and Des Plaines, to hold a rally of support. As the rally ended, police entered the square and began attacking attendees despite an order by the mayor to halt, at which point someone threw a bomb at the police. The explosion and subsequent gunfire killed police and workers, but the bomb galvanized a campaign against Chicago activists, eight of whom faced conspiracy charges though only one of those eight was at Haymarket at the time. An international campaign of support couldn't stop the deaths of five of the Haymarket eight, four of whom were hanged; the remaining three were later pardoned by Illinois governor John Peter Altgeld. Because of Haymarket, May Day has been an international workers' holiday worldwide, galvanizing generations of activists. Memorial events in 2011 included a service at the Haymarket Monument in Chicago's Waldheim Cemetery, and a full-scale reenactment of the affair in Haymarket Square on April 30, 2011 organized by Pocket Guide to Hell Reenactments.
http://chicago.indymedia.org/feature/display/70447/index.php

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