Cops Tear Down Jersey City Encampment

Home , Bonzo Goes to Bitburg, Reagan Youth

‘BUSHVILLE’ BLUES, P.3 MOB RULE, P.5 FROM ‘CONTROL ROOM’ TO ‘THE CORPORATION,’ P.14 THE INDYPENDENT THE NYC IMC • ISSUE #51, JUNE 16–30, 2003 • NYC.INDYMEDIA.ORG

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IHE ULRICH MICHAEL WHEN I LIKED REAGAN BY JOHN TARLETON

was paying any attention ly cultivated forgetting. Vietnam was no to the lyrics, which bore longer an indiscriminate slaughter of several the lament of a disillu- million people who looked and thought dif- sioned Vietnam vet ferently than us but a “noble cause” that had (“Got in a little home- been betrayed by un-American protesters and town jam/So they put a equivocating politicians. rifle in my hand/Sent me Pouring hundreds of billions of dollars off to a foreign land/ to into new weapons systems, Reagan restored a go and kill the yellow messianic belief in the force of American man”) returning home arms. When Bush and company launched to a dying factory their invasion of Iraq, they expected to be town. greeted warmly by locals awed by both their By crushing power and their moral goodness. It hasn’t tiny countries like worked out that way. Grenada, Libya Ironically, all those new Tomahawk cruise and Nicaragua, missiles, Patriot missiles, M-1 tanks, the Gipper show- Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Apache helicop- was 18 when Ronald Reagan bombed ed Americans they ters and Aegis air-defense cruisers that Libya. It was 1986 and Big Ron was kick- could be winners Reagan helped provide haven’t made the once again. Reagan United States safer – just more easily ing ass again, just like in Grenada. Sitting in cheerfully embodied the ideal tempted to launch a war where it can be I of “American exceptionalism” – the defeated by people armed with rocket pro- back of my English 101 class, I listened impatiently as our rather extraordinary notion that we are pelled grenades and homemade bombs. teaching assistant, an earnest woman with straight black hair, led a uniquely virtuous among all the peoples of the Now, former Reagan-era officials like John discussion of the previous night’s events. She criticized Reagan for world and that while other nations’ actions Negroponte and Elliott Abrams, who played may be driven by venal self-interest, our gov- key roles in the Central American wars of the killing innocent civilians (including Moammar Gadhafi’s adopted ernment’s actions abroad are motivated only by 1980s that left 200,000 people dead in three 1-year-old daughter) and violating international law. the highest of ideals. According to this unstat- countries, are overseeing the U.S. counter- ed creed, whatever we desire is “good.” Anyone insurgency in Iraq. who opposes us is “evil.” And people who Negroponte’s past record as Ambassador to “C’mon,” I snorted. “We did what we had to After defeat in Vietnam and the confusion of question this are “America-haters.” Honduras was barely mentioned during do. We have to defend ourselves when we’re the Carter years, Americans wanted to feel Under Bush Jr., exceptionalism has evolved recent Senate confirmation hearings and he attacked.” Most other guys in my class were of strong and righteous once again. Memory was a into unilateralism. A perpetual “war on ter- was approved for his new post as Ambassador the same mind. It was that kind of decade. Not burden. Rambo was the rage. Military spending ror” and the catastrophe in Iraq are a fulfill- to Iraq by a vote of 95-3. The forgetting con- unlike the one in which we’re currently living. soared. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” ment of Reagan’s perverse idealism. Between tinues. One can only wonder at the suffering And Reagan has everything to do with that. topped the charts, presumably because no one My Lai and Abu Ghraib were years of careful- that lays ahead. PHOTO: FRITZ ASKEW NEW YORK CITY INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER

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With autonomous chapters in more COMMUNITY CALENDAR than 100 cities throughout the world, the Independent Media Center is an international network of volunteer THE INDYPENDENT Spunk Lads. TUES JUNE 22 FRI JUNE 25 www.officeops.org Pacific Street btw 5th & 6th Ave, media activists. has open meetings every 6:30-7 p.m. Free 7 pm Free Tuesday, 7pm at 34 E. 29 St., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, 1st Amendment Mob Critical Mass MON JUNE 28 The IMC seeks to create a new www.developdontdestroy.com 7 p.m. Free 2nd floor. Every Tuesday, gather at Bikers reclaim the streets. media ethic by providing progressive, Reading of Moving in-depth and accurate coverage of SUN JUNE 20 the WTC Path station to Last Friday of every month. SAT JUNE 19 recite the 1st Amendment Meet at Union Square North, Mountains: The Race to issues. We are a community-based 12:30-2:30 p.m.Free Treat Global AIDS organization using media to facili- 10a.m–2 p.m.; 3–7 p.m. Free Summer Ice Skating into your cell phone. www.times-up.org/cm.php Street Theater Workshops NE corner Ground Zero, Film and reading of Anne- tate political and cultural self-repre- Free ice skating at Chelsea Church St. train entrance, 9 p.m. $7 Christine D’Adesky’s book sentation. We seek to illuminate Theaters Against War (THAW) Piers this and every Sunday. is planning workshops in: www.revbilly.com Rooftop Films: Home Movies from the front lines of the and analyze issues affecting individ- The Sky Rink Movies remembered and agit-prop, invisible theatre, 23rd St. & the Hudson River AIDS crisis, featuring lively uals, communities and ecosystems WED JUNE 23 mis-remembered. image theater, drumming, 212-336-6100 dispatches from India, by providing media tools and space 5:30 p.m. Free spoken word, costume mak- The Old American Can Factory, Russia, Haiti, South Africa, to those seeking to communicate. 1:15-3:45 p.m. Free LEGAL OBSERVER 232 Third Street ing and mask making. Also and many other countries We espouse open dialogue and Resistance Cinema Park Slope, Brooklyn, invited: a speaker from the TRAINING FOR THE RNC and charting in depth the placing the means of communica- www.rooftopfilms.com National Lawyers Guild to Presents Two Documentary The National Lawyers Guild worldwide situation. tion and creativity back in the hands provide legal information Films Dealing With U.S. is conducting trainings of SAT JUNE 26 Bluestockings, 172 Allen St, of the people, away from the drive about performing in the Policy in the Phillipines legal observers to prepare 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. Free www.bluestockings.com of profit. streets. No theater experi- Basilan: Siklab Ng Digma for the RNC. Chelsea Block Fair & Fiesta The Indypendent is funded by bene- 99 Hudson Street, 3rd Floor, ence necessary. (Sparks of War) and Savage The Chelsea Coalition On TUES JUNE 29 RSVP to [email protected] fits, subscriptions, donations, grants Hunter College 9 a.m. free Acts: Wars, Fairs, and 212-679-6018 ext 15, Housing is a grassroots non- and ads from organizations and indi- 4th floor, Hunter West Pack the Court for the Empire 1898-1904. www.nlgnyc.org profit housing organization viduals with similar missions. 68th St. & Lexington Ave, Community Church of NYC, 40 that has held this fair for over APOC Trial www.thawaction.org East 35th St. at Park Ave, THU JUNE 24 Jury selection begins for WHAT CAN I DO TO GET INVOLVED? 35 years. Vendors, arts & www.nyc.notinourname.net 7 p.m. Free (vegan meal incl.) the trial of the arrestees of The IMC has an open door. You can 11 a.m. Free crafts for children, delicious The Secret Blackout the November 16th NYPD Bridge the Health Care 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. free homemade latin food, a 10 write for The Indypendent, film attack on the Anarchist Gap – National Day of Anarchist Soccer Cafe Opening piece salsa band, and a DJ. events and rallies, self-publish arti- People of Color party at cles to the web, take photos or just Protest & Walk Across the Fun, supportive pick up An exhibition addressing West 17th Street in Chelsea, the spontaneous communi- btw 8th and 9th Ave, contact: Critical Resistance. Pack help us run the office. As an organ- Brooklyn Bridge games for all skill levels. ty and camaraderie that [email protected] the courts in solidarity. ization relying entirely on volunteer “From the Golden Gate Every sunday. Brooklyn Criminal Court, Jury support, we encourage all forms of Tompkins Sq. Park by Ave B emerged during the August 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Free Bridge to the Brooklyn 2003 NYC blackout. On Room One, 120 Schermerhorn participation. Coney Island St. in Brooklyn, Critical Bridge, we are taking to the 7 p.m. $5 suggested Tuesday, Thursday and The print team reserves the right to Mermaid Parade Resistance 718-398-2825 streets to send the message When Bush Comes to Saturday. edit articles for length, content and Celebrate the sand, the that every man, woman and Shove: Organizing Strategies 156 Rivington St clarity. We welcome your participation child in America must have sea, the salt air and the WED JUNE 30 from the Global South www.abcnorio.org in the entire editorial process. quality, affordable health beginning of summer as 7:30 P.M. Free Learn about grassroots well as the history and Democracy Now’s Amy VOLUNTEER STAFF: care we can all count on.” strategies in Central America 7:30 p.m. $6–$10 suggested mythology of Coney Island. Goodman Discusses Her Chris Anderson, Silvia Arana, Bennett www.bridgingthegapforhealthcare.org to resist Bush’s destructive The Politics of Gay Starts on Boardwalk New Book The Exception Baumer, Jed Brandt, Mike Burke, Ellen 2 p.m. Free free trade and immigration Marriage by the Cyclone To The Rules: Exposing Davidson, Ryan Dunsmuir, Miguel Erb, Save the Blocks Party policies. Featuring Guadal- A dialogue seeking to take www.coneyisland.com/mermaid Oily Politicians, War Alley Ernst, Chris Fleisher, Mike Flugen- A Brooklyn community stands upe Erazo of the Popular stock of the debate on nock, Katelan V. Foisy, Alfredo Garzon, up to developer Bruce Social Bloc for Real Demo- gay/lesbian marriage, includ- SUN JUNE 27 Profiteers, And The Media Neela Ghoshal, Lauren Giambrone, A.K. Ratner and the municipal cracy of El Salvador. ing its various social implica- 5-11 p.m., $5-$10 sliding scale That Love Them. Gupta, Andy Harris, Vanessa Hradsky, machine – and everyone is Bluestockings Bookstore & Cafe tions, the impact on elec- Punk Rock Prom – Benefit Barnes and Noble, Broadway at Irina Ivanova, Ashley Kidd, Janelle invited to partake in the 172 Allen St, toral politics, the argument for ABC No Rio Building 82nd St, 212 362 8835 www.bluestockings.com Lewis, F. Timothy Martin, Yoni Mishal, fun. Time’s Up departs for against marriage as exclu- Renovation Fund Nik Moore, Lenina Nadal, Lydia Neri, the rally from Union Square at MON JUNE 21 sively heterosexual, and how Get dressed up, bring a Ana Nogueira, Jennifer Nordstrom, Tracy 2 p.m. Popular Brooklyn THE INDYPENDENT leftists have positioned date or two, and support Norton, Lina Pallotta, James Powell, dusk, free musical acts and DJs Movie: American Graffiti themselves in the debate. the NYC DIY scene. With: Donald Paneth, Mark Pickens, Derq Quiggle, include: The French Kicks, Free movies on Bryant Park Featuring Lisa Duggan, Piss Death, Pank Shovel, Sam Rasiotis, Frank Reynoso, Ann DJ Scribe (Love Revolution), TO LIST AN EVENT: lawn at dusk, every Monday Richard Kim, Carmen Vas- Hot Sauce, Back2n8. Schneider, Catriona Stuart, Sarah Eman (Bang the Party), DJ [email protected] for the summer. quez & Richard Goldstein. OfficeOps, 57 Thames St, 2nd Stuteville, Suzy Subways, John Tarleton, Dhundee (Sugar Cuts), Bryant Park, between 40th & Moderated by Angela Dillard. floor (between Morgan and Ishaan Tharoor, Rhianna Tyson, Michael TO SUBSCRIBE: Gamall (Rude Movements), 42nd St. and 5th & 6th Ave. Sponsored by The Nation Knickerbocker Aves), East JUNE 16 — 30, 2004 Ulrich, Matthew Wasserman Touch It Crew. Special www.bryantpark.org and Brecht Forum. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, [email protected] Guests: MC Enemy, The www.abcnorio.org,

2 122 W. 27 St., 10th Fl. THE INDYPENDENT JUNE 16 — 30, 2004 3 newswire, .org www.noRNCposters.org RNC WATCH [email protected] NYC.Indymedia.org For more info: And some of New York’s coolest radical artists And some of New York’s Still think that the Republican Convention will Even worse could be the convention’s harm- In a post to the Filmmakers connected with the Hudson City Council’s governmental operations commit- hearing in which The vote followed a public congressional Five members of the New York Two prominent right-wing groups, the

NO RNC POSTER PROJECT have organized the NoRNC Poster Project in City order to “create a visual blitz in New York against Bush and the Convention, and to blend style.” art with politics in the finest New York LESS THAN ADVERTISED? might be a big financial boon to the city? You want to think again. According to an economic analysis by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk Convention “the Republican National University, City will generate only $184 million in New York rather than the $260 million in economic activity, claimed by the city’s administration.” And that’s not all. The Institute notes that this estimate does not take into account the so-far unan- will be tak- nounced security measures New York Not only that, but the city itself ing this summer. will be forced up after the to pay for cleaning Republicans as well as for police overtime. ful impact on small business owners in Manhattan, especially those around Madison Square Garden. ‘SHOUT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD’ NO RNC IN 30 SECONDS Mohawk Independent Media Center have just releaseda 30-second video PSA about the upcoming protests and have launched the NoRNC Spot campaign. Filmmakers are encouraged to make (a la Bush in 30 Seconds) 30-second video PSA’s that will be assembled for a DVD/VHS compilation and be screened at micro-cinemas across the country The dead- in the lead-up to the convention. line is July 12. Email: tee approved Resolution the Right to Assemble one abstention. The June 16 by a vote of 5-0 with proposed resolution calls on city officials to respect rights of protesters the 1st Amendment at this summer. the Republican National Convention The resolution, which has 19 co-sponsors, will come before the full council in late June. representatives from the New York Civil Liberties Justice, a major Union and United for Peace and frontanti-war coalition, testified in of a standing room only crowd 75 people. of over delegation are also urging Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city police to respect the rights of protesters.Owens (D-NY) Rep. Major has authored a Memorandum of Understanding that he plans to present to Bloomberg. It is co- signed by Representatives Elliot Engel, Carolyn Jerrold Nadler and Edolphus Towns. Maloney, Christian Defense Coalition and the National Clergy Council, have sued the city for placing unconstitutional restrictions demon- on peaceful strations and prayer vigils during the RNC. have called for coordinated some New Yorkers direct at the action on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. Republican National Convention. The call titled says in part:“Shout Heard Round the World” are are We people who work for a living. “We students, we are retirees. are caregivers, We builders, teachers, dreamers. the people We’re who fight the wars, who pay taxes, who have lost loved ones on September lost our jobs. We want to take democracy from the 11th. We Halliburtons and Enrons and bring it back to town halls, schools, and neighborhoods.” CITY POLS PUSH RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY

RN IVANOVA IRINA PHOTOS: Bushville’s communal kitchen. police, Bushville is going to happen. All we have is our voice, and they’re trying to take Dowlin says that Bushvilles may that away.” be set up in various boroughs of New York City depending on what happens in the coming weeks. KWRU is determined to area in maintain a presence in the New York the months leading up to the Republican National Convention. ABOVE: MEDIA Three residents of the short-lived shantytown settle into their new MEDIA OR NYC INDYMEDIA VIDEO, CALL 212-684-8112 OR E-MAIL [email protected]. BLACKED OUT IS A PROJECT OF THE NYC INDYMEDIA VIDEO COLLECTIVE. This provocative half-hour weekly news series appears on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. on channel 34, (www.mnn.org) basic cable. The show is expanding to Brooklyn Community Access and will make its national premiere on Free Speech TV on May 31, 6 p.m. (BCAT), (www.freespeech.org). Activist Tim Dowlin vows that “no mat- Activist Tim KWRU built a second Bushville June 14 ter how many times we’re harassed by the under the Jersey Turnpike and were quickly under the Jersey Turnpike shut down by state troopers. whatever the cost. “This is an issue of people turning away more than of not seeing it. If people realized, they’d want to take steps in their own lives.” FROM TOP: home, just before they got the boot. ASSERMAN W ATT & M ARRIS

H on’t bother checking the real estate on’t youngest listings for New Jersey’s already disappeared. village. It’s NDY

A TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BLACKED OUT TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION “It’s a fire hazard,” remarked one officer, “It’s Bushville was no ordinary encampment. It actions include marches, past KWRU’s From the beginning, the Bushville in stop there. Two But the harassment didn’t just leave know why they can’t “I don’t Activist Rocco Rosanio stresses the Y “Bushville,” which was built June 1 by the “Bushville,” which was built Rights Union (KWRU), Kensington Welfare from a sat in an abandoned lot across The tiny Dunkin’ Donuts in Jersey City. ramshackle community consisted of two dormitory – tents – one medical and one harmless, but and a kitchen shack. It seemed it threatening Jersey City Police deemed enough to tear down. who refused to give his name. “This is pri- None of these lots down here vate property. are abandoned.” is one of many projects that KWRU has since 1995 to raise awareness of organized poverty issues. Its residents were demanding “economic human rights:” housing, healthcare, education and a living wage. building tent cities and free food distribu- a tion. In Philadelphia, they organized “Ridgeville” and a “Clintonville” leading to takeovers of abandoned buildings to house residents. During the 2000 Republican National Convention, an earlier version of Bushville was a center of activism. Jersey City was the subject of police harassment. Local police officers greeted tent city residents on June 2 by threatening to turn their children over to child services. The Jersey City Police Department the same day, towed three of the protesters’ cars while NYPD officers observed from the Dunkin’ Donuts across the street. The Bushville residents got their cars back by the middle of the day after revealing inaccuracies in police their reporting of the incident. However, toys equipment, which includes children’s is currently being held by and camping gear, order of the Jersey City Police. KWRU is $150 per day for storage of being charged the seized equipment. days after it was built, nearly a dozen officers from the Jersey City Police arrived at 12:30 a.m. with a dump truck and orders to break down and haul away the encampment, evicting the two dozen people living there. Four members of KWRU were charged with “posting signs without authorization.” them alone,” said onlooker Elena Gonzalez. even using that property.” “They ain’t importance of making the issue visible, BUILT TO PROTEST REPUBLICANB REGIME ‘BUSHVILLE’ BUSTED ‘BUSHVILLE’ TEARCOPS JERSEY DOWN CITY ENCAMPMENT D 4 JUNE 16–30, 2004 THE INDYPENDENT W dent portfolios,teacherevaluations,andoral evaluation. Theseschoolsuseamixofstu- Standards Consortium’s (PSC)systemof state participatinginthePerformance one of28alternativehighschoolsinthe dents. ButBeacon,locatedinManhattan,is mandated Regentsexamstoevaluatestu- like guncontrolanddrugaddiction. class talkedabouttheirresearchintoissues Nathan Turner’s ContemporaryAmerica in threedaysParis.Andstudents tions inFrenchaboutwhattheywoulddo Foreign-language studentsgavepresenta- work inarollercoastermodeltheybuilt. interviews withtheirteachers. Beacon HighSchoolsatdownforpersonal B SCHOOLS ALTERNATIVE FAILS TESTING Y Most publicschoolsrelyonthestate- Science studentsdescribedtheforcesat RMLITERATURE FROM CHILDREN THE SAVING Regents. rial onthenexttwo caught alteringmate- test makerswere sanitizing excerpts, to stop promising Regents. Despite used intheEnglish excerpts the literary had beencensoring education officials thatstate covered York Citysenior, dis- New a of step-parent Jeanne In June2002, A NDY H Regents exams,studentsat State preparedforhoursof hile studentsacrossNewYork Heifetz, the ARRIS A MW —AH & & M ATTHEW Some censored excerpts(materialinbracketsdeleted): Some censored W ASSERMAN [She’s gay!]Andyouhadnoidea!” afterall! notgettingmarried “Whoa -they’re Regents: “Ah,friend, Original: “Ah, [love], Matthew Arnold, known.”] United Statesisthebiggestdebtor, asiswell what issaidanddoneonCapitolHill.”“The of level[regardless atthegrass-roots organization forthe Americansupport Polls “showstrong Annan totheCommonwealthClubofCalifornia: GeneralKofi aspeechbyU.N.Secretary From Anne Lamott, while followingtheperformanceassessment to findthetimeprepareforRegents 62.6 percent. college, asopposedtothecityaverageof schools send91percentoftheirstudentsto half thestatewideaverage.Inaddition, whole, yettheirdropoutrateislessthan dropping outthantheschoolsystemasa more studentsconsideredtobeindangerof poor students,morestudentsofcolorand testing issaidtopromote. undermine theperformancestandardized ing thesestudentstopasstheRegentsmay exams inordertograduate.Ironically, forc- first onesrequiredtopassallfiveRegents in performancestandardschoolswillbethe this waiverin2001.Eleventhgradestudents current CommissionerRichardMillsrevoked waiver fromtheRegentsin1995.However, and writtenexaminationstoassessstudents. let usbetrue.” let usbetrue.” But teachersandstudentsarestruggling The alternativehighschoolshavemore The alternativeschoolsweregranteda Bird byBird Bird Dover Beach : : says PSCCo-ChairAnnCook. become moreimportantthanstudents,” you needtoworkon individually.” and “yougetmoreof achancetoseewhat Raymond, “teachersreally workwithyou” statistics. Inperformanceassessment,says a testgradeandfocusingonfacts,dates individuality” bysimplifyingknowledgeto Douglas Raymond,“underminesastudent’s of “trivial”knowledgeassessedbythetests. history couldpreparestudentsforthetypes only animpossiblewhirlwindtourofworld Geography Regentsexamconcludedthat evaluating theGlobalHistoryand 1890,” saysTurner. Sherman Anti-Trust Actwaspassed in don’t getthatifyoujustknowthe to laborstrategiesintheGildedAge.“You types ofunionsinvolvedandtheirrelation Students respondedbyaskingaboutthe talked abouthisexperienceataprotest. issues thathistorianshavetodealwith.” dents analyticalskillsthataddress“real skills theycanapplytotheirlives. teach studentsandgivesthemlearning ment, theysay, isamoreeffectivewayto based learningusedinperformanceassess- retain knowledge.Thetypeofinquiry- students disinterestedandlesslikelyto and leavingschool. son whystudentsaredoingbadlyontests prep factories.”Cookthinksthatisonerea- stakes testingisturningschoolsintotest symptomatic ofalarger trendwhere“high- TESTING FACTORIES challenged inBrownv. BoardofEducation. reminiscent oftheeducationaldiscrimination tion ofhigh-stakestesting,saysthetestsare statewide coalitionthatadvocatestheaboli- co-chair ofTime OutFromTesting, a largest gapinthenation.JaneHirschmann, opposed to75percentofwhitestudents,the Latino studentsgraduateinfouryearsas ly 50percentinthepasttwoyears. enrolled inGEDprogramsincreasedbynear- and thenumberofNewYork Cityyouth less than58percentsincethelateeighties graduation ratedroppedfrom66percentto eighth grade.InNewYork, thefour-year transfer toGEDprogramsasearlythe ing, andstudentsarebeingencouragedto states sincetheymovedtohigh-stakestest- LIZ TILLOTSON “For someschools,testscoreshave Such atour, saysBeaconfreshman A groupofhistoriansandjournalists He describesaclasssessionwherehe Turner saysheteacheshishistorystu- Teaching tothetest,saycritics,makes All ofthesestatistics,saysCook,are Statewide, around35percentofblackand Dropout rateshaveincreasedinmany norm. aspects ofaschool,includingteachers’ test resultsdeterminemoreand “teaching tothetest”hasbecome jobs andschoolfunding,acultureof the countryduringlastdecade.As test score–hasbecomecommonacross basing educationaldecisionsonasingle TEACHING TOTHETEST Turner, whoteacheshistoryatBeacon. they’re readyforcollege,”saysNathan and defendtheirwork,youknow lege professorthey’veneverseenbefore their owndevelopment. ing studentsmoreaccountablefor a deeperkindofknowledgeandhold- argue thattheirstandardsarehigher revoked. sortium sincetheirwaiverwas than thoseoftheRegents,evaluating schools havedroppedoutofthecon- to changetheircurricula,andseveral High stakestesting–thepracticeof model. ManyPSCschoolshavehad “If astudentcansitinfrontofcol- Advocates ofperformancestandards THE INDYPENDENT JUNE 16–30, 2004 5 CITY SUED OVER NYPD’S CITY SUED PROTEST TACTICS AGGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS MEET COMMUNITY OPPOSITION MORGENTHAU: FREE THE WEED FOR THOSE IN NEED COMMUNITY BOARD DEFIES COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NYC CARIBBEAN TEACHERS SET TO LOSE THEIR VISAS Morgenthau’s endorsement came just

NY Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver has called for public hearings to examine Gov. George Pataki’s $7 billion proposal to use eminent domain to expand the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s west side. Meanwhile, activists at Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn are another giant corporate fighting development proposed in the name of public interest: Bruce Ratner’s proposed stadium project, which would level 13 acres of existing Brooklyn homes and businesses. Nearly 200 Caribbean teachers – mostly Jamaicans and Guyanese – will lose their jobs June 30 due to stringent new visa laws, according to a recent report demands “This Gleaner. in The Weekly community and political response as the Board of Education is acting New York said Irwinewith insensitivity,” Claire, one of the architects of the plan to recruit Caribbean teachers into the school system. Community Board West 9 has a plan for Harlem – one that doesn’t involve buck- After a ling under to Columbia University. year of collaboration with the Pratt Institute’s public interest planning center and the grassroots group Coalition to Preserve a committee of CB9 Community, has completed a draft of a zoning and land use proposal for the area. Once the board it accepts the plan, they will submit where it will go head-to-head to the city, with Columbia’s competing rezoning proposal. Then the big decisions rest with the city: it will either accept Columbia’s plan, allowing the University to begin construc- tion on nearly 20 acres of 30-story buildings, or it will accept the propsal. Closing arguments in the New York Civil Closing arguments New York in the Libertiesthe Union’s lawsuit against of demonstrations areCity’s policing The lawsuit scheduled for June 17. barringseeks a federal injunction the NYPD from using specific “crowd control” tactics: the denial of public access to demonstrations through the use of barricades and street closures, the use of horses to forcefully disperse peace- the use fully assembled demonstrators, to confine of interlocking metal pens demonstrators, and the mandatory bag searches demonstrators. Judge of Robert Sweet should release a decision by the end of the month. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau has become the first New law enforcement official to endorse York legalizing medicinal marijuana “It should be available to those whose suffering would be eased by the use of marijuana,” Morgenthau said during a June 15 news conference. “There is absolutely no reasonfor for not using marijuana medical purposes.” hours before a medical marijuana bill proposed by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D- and Means Manhattan) passed the Ways Committee. The bill still has no sponsors in the Republican-dominated State Senate. Morgen- thau said talking with TV talk-show host Montel Williams, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, helped him see the good in grass.

IN BRIEF NYC IRINA IVANOVNA IRINA ILA members received a generous pension price can’t Hall sees it as a positive. “You Health insurance is also a hot topic and that sets up multiple tiers a contract “It’s average salary, East coast longshoremen’s In addition to being hindered by corruption, The ILA stands as a divided union. Union Outside the fence that surrounds the idle is owned by Hong Global Terminals As estimated tallies were phoned in, one $90,000,” commented Local 1233 business agent Herbert Hall. increase over the six-year life of the contract, which, as Leonard Riley sees it, is supposed to mollify members for lower entry-level wages. he going to earn what’s a guy out too early, 20-25 years from now [and] can the market bear that?” union members who work under 700 hours will not earn health benefits. According to rank-and-filers, the healthcare fund faces a projected deficit of more than $700 million over the life of the contract. no There’s and sets workers against each other. excuse for an industry like ours to have people go without insurance,” said an East coast longshoreman who wished not to be identified. health benefits and guaranteed weekly work coast counter- hours are inferior to their West At a parts and union cultures contrast greatly. time when both coasts handle hundreds of bil- East coast lions of dollars worth of cargo, longshoremen wonder why entry-level wages earn more New hires out West are so low. than $22 compared to only $16 in the east. the ILA has lost thousands of members to mechanization in recent decades and thus con- The early days of militancy and siderable power. then mob domination of the waterfront starting in the 1930s passed the union a long time ago. and New Jersey are sepa- locals in New York rated by race, and the industry is set up so that regions, ports and workers compete against each other for business. which handles in Jersey, Global Terminals roughly three ships a week that take 24 hours to unload, opponents of the contract sat in banged-up cars and made calls to other union can always tell activists for vote tallies. You how many hours a longshore member worked based on the condition of the car. Kong-based Oriental Overseas Container Lines and its letters “OOCL” mark thousands of containers sitting in ports. Its parent company boasted record profits of $329 million is last year and its former CEO C.H. Tung governor in Hong Kong. now Beijing’s union activist climbed a container strapped onto a railroad cart. From the top he could bare- financial district ly see into hazy Manhattan’s the other that houses the ILA headquarters. To towering multi-colored cranes side, the port’s loomed over the Jersey waterways in silence. . IRINA IVANOVA PHOTO: Newark Star-Ledger “I had a guy in my office with over 47 years On the other side of the tracks, longshore During a racketeering trial last year, When pressed about mafia influence in the In 2001, reputed Genovese crime family Understandably, what ILA officials are also Understandably, When asked about the vote breakdown, and he’ll have a pension worth almost members greeted each other warmly and union milled around Newark Local 1233’s a wood-paneled lobby, hall. Inside the musty, Martin Luther King, framed portrait of Dr. hung next to a glass case with Polaroids of Jr., retirees stretching back two decades. George Barone, a “Made Man” in the George Genovese Family and veteran longshoremen tough, fingered Cernadas as being an associ- ate of alleged Genovese Capo Larry Ricci. Barone also implicated Cernadas as part of an health effort to extort money from the union’s fund, according to the union, Cernadas paused momentarily and said, “No Comment.” Standing up, he patted me on the back as he announced, “The interview is over.” member Joseph Lore, who once threatened to blowtorch union officials’ crotches if they defied him, was convicted of conspiracy to embezzle. Lore inherited the union from gangster and former boxer John DiGilio who was found floating in the Hackensack River in 1988 with two bullets in the back of his head. hesitant to breakdown is the history of mob influence both in the international and many locals. In 2003, Bayonne Local 1588 and six other President John Timpanaro union officials were indicted on a kickback the gov- for hire scheme. Before Timpanaro, ernment convicted the two top Bayonne union officials of embezzling union funds. ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said, “You gotta call the locals.” He did say that the master contract covering every ILA port passed 5,084 to 3,920. bers’ requests for the election result. Cernadas also serves as a top international union official. fromunload cargo Local 1235 at the Port of Red Hook.

AUMER B

ENNET

walked into the Holiday Inn at the Newark airport where Local 1235 of the walked into the Holiday Inn at the Newark airport Association (ILA) was voting on a “master International Longshoremen’s 3 p.m. One of the ballot contract” for the 15,000-member union. It was

MOBBED-UP UNION DISSIDENTS FIGHT DISSIDENTS

MOBBED-UP UNION DISSIDENTS FIGHT DISSIDENTS B Cernadas was also probably pleased that At the Holiday Inn, no third party mediat- Elections in the ILA are not often con- union officials are sweating over a Yet Many union members say the contract creates “This contract is infested with cuts… [and] When the vote concluded in the evening, The rank-and-file activists watched the And the “boss,” attired in a finely fitted dark blue suit, had a lot to be happy And the “boss,” attired in a finely fitted dark blue Y earlier in the year he had escaped being indicted with seven other ILA union leaders crime. for ties to organized ed the voting and locks did not appear on some ballot boxes. I asked Cernadas if the voting had ended. Referring to the union members, he said, “Oh no, they have until 6pm to vote.” Putting his arm around me, Cernadas steered me toward the other end of the room from the open ballot box. tentious. Dissidents in the union say a history of mob influence has a way of silencing opposition on the waterfront. rolling rank-and-file movement from New to Florida that is roiling the labor peace. York a two-tiered wage and health insurance system. Public opposition to the contract in New York and New Jersey area ports is limited to a hand- to union members, ful of members. Talking discontent appears to be widespread, however, but no one is willing to give their name for fear of retribution and loss of work hours. we’ve made concessions in the past. I’ve been and Jersey that told by many in New York they are afraid to go against the contract because they know they’ll be blackballed or worse if they’re successful,” said Leonard Riley, a member of Local 1422 in South Carolina. according to eyewitnesses, three union members who arrived to observe the count were told by Cernadas, “Get the fuck out of here.” Cernadas only relented when presented with a letter from the international union stating members could observe the election process. count, but no tally was given. “Call the international,” said Cernadas in reference to mem- B boxes was open and some representatives from the Local’s election committee the Local’s boxes was open and some representatives from about a dozen members of were sorting through the paper ballots. There were room. I asked to speak to the election committee in the cramped conference to the boss,” one election com- someone about the contract ratification. “Talk of Local 1235, he had mittee member said, pointing to Al Cernadas. President committee. taken the day off to oversee the vote with his election and a stream of well-wishers fell over birthday, about. It was June 8, Al Cernadas’s and kisses on the cheek. themselves to greet him with handshakes, backslaps LONGSHOREMAN I 6 JUNE 16–30, 2004 THE INDYPENDENT N at (212)679-6018. Chapter. Contactusat www.nlgnyc.org or National LawyersGuild, NewYork City ofthe The People’sLawyer is aproject thesacrifices ofthemany.”from ability topaysothatafewdonotgain to den isequitablydistributedaccording attack... Itisourdutytoseethatthebur- potential defenses tomeetanyandevery tobuildupournational national effort “We engaged inagreat Congress: are OnJuly1,1940,hetold support. FranklinRooseveltfor may citePresident passed byCongress. would makethemsubjecttoanewtax,if gotiated attheendoftwoyears.This allcontractstoberene- requiring thereby priations forwarcanlastonlytwoyears, years itwasineffect. raised halfabilliondollarsinthefour Tax OilWindfallProfit Crude Act,which calledthe during thegasolineshortage the excessprofits.” into America.Afterthetax,theypocketed allputtingmoneyback tal improvements, facilities,andmakecapi- their production intheircompaniestoupgrade reinvesting taxesby to minimizetheirexcessprofits Corporationshadbeentrying recession. wentinto a Thecountry terminated. the Americaneconomyaftertaxwas war. whathappenedto Ialsoremember Taxthe ExcessProfits attheendofthat Eisenhowerterminated when President eran JohnShivelytestified,“Iremember Warhearings heldinOakland,Korean vet- was successful.Lastyearatcitycouncil of accountingsystemsandIRScodes,it made. mous profits vided underwarcontractsandtheenor- hearings exposingdefectiveequipmentpro- In the1930s,Sen.RussellNyeconducted toadoptitduringWorld War I. led theeffort Sen.“FightingBob”LaFollette 19th century. movementattheendof in theanti-trust the Iraqwarandreconstruction. from taxonallexcessprofits 100 percent callingfora Council passedaresolution 2003, theSouthBayAFL-CIOLabor Council followedsuit.Thesameweekin contracts. OnMay20,theOaklandCity Tax andpost-war Profits on allwartime topassanExcess calling uponCongress Council unanimouslypassedaresolution War. duringtheKorean excess profits taxon teering ledtoa100percent “excess.” Publicoutrageaboutwarprofi- is whatamountofprofit determine enue. Economistslooktotheprioryear ofthetotalfederalrev- about 23percent DuringWorldrevenue. War in II,itbrought ofgovernment accounted for59percent Taxan ExcessProfits onwarcontracts Berkeley, Calif.,bytheendofWorld War I Institutein Meiklejohn CivilLiberties TaxExcess Profits againstwarprofiteers. War,the Korean imposedan Congress anoldidea.DuringWorldrecycle War Iand isknown,it’sagoodtimeto Halliburton B OUT OFWAR THE PROFIT TAKING P Y For more infogotowww.mcli.org.For more Tax ofanExcessProfits Proponents Under theU.S.Constitution,allappro- enactedasimilartax in1980 Congress While the1950lawisacomplexmaze TaxThe originsoftheExcessProfits are On April8lastyear, theBerkeleyCity toAnnFaganGingerofthe According LAWYER A EOPLE T NN HE bid $7billionwarcontractto theno- inapproving Cheney’s role Dick ow thatVicePresident S CHNEIDER ’ S THE INDYPENDENT? WHERE DOIGETMYCOPYOF B BELOW 14THST. B Since themid-nineties, CASE STEWART PRESSIN COURT FULL required totestifyagainsttheirsources. second circuitwherereportershavebeen record asoneofthefirstmajorcasesin supporting terroristplots.Itwillalsogoon Rahman afterhewasconvictedin1995of assistance” toherclientSheikOmarAbdel which accusesStewartofproviding“material ny willbecomepartofthegovernment’s case, have alsoreceivedsubpoenas. years, interviews withStewartinthepast10 Reuters reporter, whohavealsoconducted Abrutyn, side isextremelyproblematic,”saidStephanie ering thetrial–turningintoawitnessforone tiality inordertoeffectivelydothejobofcov- and needstomaintaintheappearanceofimpar- view sheconductedwithStewart. requiring thatshetestifyabouta1997inter- ernment servedHurtadowithasubpoena reporter forthejob. effectively disqualifyingthemostqualified ment tobeginonJune21,everyoneat when thecourtsscheduledStewart’s owncriminalindict- gone tobatforpoliticalprisonersandterrorsuspects.So Hurtado hascoveredattorneyLynne Stewartasshehas Hurtado wouldbethereporteronstory. Broadway 8th St.btw6th Ave. & Video TLA 213 W. 13thSt. Center LGBT 126 CrosbySt. Housing Works 3rd Ave. &St.Marks Kim’s Video (btw 9th&10th) 155 First Ave. New City the for Theater May DayBooksat (btw. 8th&9th) 139 Ave. A Alt.Coffee Clinton &Stanton Lotus Café 172 Allen & Café Bluestockings Books 156 Rivington ABC NoRio Y If thesubpoenasareupheld,theirtestimo- Two “For ajournalistwhoiscoveringthetrial– In thefirstweekofJunefederalgov- OEADINSECURITY HOMELAND M ARGARET room andontothewitnessstand– ing todragHurtadooutofthepress ut now, thefederalgovernmentistry- New York Times Newsday H UNT ’s in-housecounsel. ABOVE 96thST. 96TH ST. 14TH TO 68th &Lex. Office) College(USG Hunter 55th &9th Ave. Laundrocenter Second Wave 122 W. 27th,Fl.10 Brecht Forum 23rd &9thSt. Chelsea Sq.Diner 9 W. 19thSt. Revolution Books W. 181St. Bakery &Deli Fort Washington 450 W. 145th St. Green Chimneys Clayton Powell 123rd & Adam Restaurant Strictly Roots 113th & Broadway Kim’s Video 536 W. 112th St. Labyrinth Books (Room N141) G RAM writers andone 808 BROOKLYN 7 HenshawSt. Cafe Seven Vermillya) (btw. Broadway& W. 207thSt Jalapeños Jumpin’ 7th Ave. at9thSt. Union St.at7th Ave. Tea Lounge 782 UnionSt. Food Co-op Park Slope 7th &CarrollSts. Store Community Book 30 Lafayette Ave. BAM Dean &6th Ave. Backroom and Freddy’s Bar 680 FultonSt. Marquet Patisserie 110 Dekalb Ave. Café Green Apple 248 Dekalb Ave. Tillie’s ofBrooklyn Newsday rorism legislation case andJohnAshcroft’s notoriousanti-ter- between thesubpoenasinLynne Stewart Society ofNewspaperEditors,seesalink tify ineverycircuit. bers ofjournalistshavebeenrequiredtotes- judge islikelytothrowoutthesubpoenas. tain theconfidentialityoftheirsources, Amendment thatallowsjournaliststomain- privilege,” aninterpretationoftheFirst has beenrelativelyrespectfulofthe“reporter’s Press, notesthatbecausethesecondcircuit Reporters CommitteeforFreedomofthe and Reutershavealreadyfiledsuchmotions. week toquashHurtado’s subpoena.The they shouldbeabletocoverthenews.” legal assistantsforthegovernment, said. “Reportersreallyshouldn’t be repeated againstthemincourt,”he they thinktheirwordsaregoingtobe constitutional freedomofthepress. fy againstasourceinfringesuponthe tains thatrequiringareportertotesti- counsel for Kevin Goldberg, counselfortheAmerican But sinceSeptember11,increasingnum- Lucy Daglish,executivedirectorofthe Newsday “People won’t speakto[reporters]if But George Freeman,in-house REPPRFRFE PEOPLE FREE FOR PAPER A FREE QUEENS 301 GroveSt. Walking Make theRoadby 93 Montrose Ave. Jane DoeBooks 933 Manhattan Ave. Photoplay Video 472 AtlanticAve. Laundry Center Atlantis Super 49-22 Skillman Ave. Cafe Aubergine 100-01 NorthernBlvd. Library Langston Hughes 78-11 Roosevelt Ave. Tavern Friends’ 35-51 81St. Library Jackson Heights Blvd. 95-06 Astoria Library East Elmhurst 43-06 Greenpoint Ave. Sunnyside Library reporter Patricia Newsday The NewYork Times plans tofileamotionthis assumed JERSEY CITY BRONX 43-06 Greenpoint Ave. Sunnyside Library 530 Jersey Ave. Ground CoffeeShop 472 Jersey Ave. Library Downtown Public 678 Newark Ave. Library Five CornersPublic 940 Garrison Ave. The Point 541-549 E.138thSt. Coalition Air South Bronx Clean distribute 212.684.8112 the Indy, , main- To help call Lynne Stewart Times able fromtheRCFPat pack thecourtroom. Courtroom 110.Stewartasksthatsupporters of NewYork (40FoleySquare),at9:30in United StatesDistrictCourt,Southern begin inNewYork CityonJune22atthe be aninvestigatoryarmofthegovernment.” case istheincreasingrelianceonjournaliststo really dangerousprecedentI’mseeingfromthis rights,” Goldberg toldaReutersreporter. “The ernment totrampleonFirstAmendment that conceivablymakeitveryeasyforthegov- at Legal informationaboutreporter’s privilegeisavail- Testimony inthe trialofLynne Stewartwill “There areprovisionsintheUSAPatriotAct Information aboutStewart’s defenseisavailable www.lynnestewart.org www.rcfp.org/privilege . THE INDYPENDENT JUNE 16–30, 2004 7 EWSWIRE N NDYMEDIA NYC I VANOVA I federal grand jury is considering indicting a Buffalo man on bio-terrorism charges after he was found in ederal agents in four states on ederal agents arrestedWednesday seven activists Animal Crueltywith Stop Huntingdon RINA I Arrested were Harper, Joshua Wednesday A poster to our open newswire writes that The case in question has important free- Steven Kurtz, an artist and professor at Kurtz is a member of the Critical Art The three strains of bacteria found in Several demonstrations have taken place Eight other artists from the CAE have Y ROM THE BUFFALO ARTIST BUFFALO CHARGED WITH ‘BIOTERRORISM’ FOR ART INSTALLATION ANIMAL RIGHTS’ ANIMAL MILITANTS INDICTED FOR WEBSITE (SHAC) and charged them with a multi-year conspiracy to terrorizeLife Huntingdon in New Jersey. Sciences, which has labs The charge carries up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Jacob Kevin Kjonas, Lauran Gazzola, John McGee, and Darius Fullmer, Conroy, Andrew Stepanian, these Federal fools think arres- “obviously, tign a handful of aboveground activists like stop the cam- Josh Harper will somehow the torture...paign to close HLS and stop with stay- An earlier attempt to stop SHAC away orders, etc led to a 500% increase in ALF actions aimed at HLS-related targets.” speech implications. U.S. Attorney Christ- opher J. Christie said the indictment “cites inflammatorySHAC that postings by Web crossedfrom the line free speech to crimi- believe that the conduct they’ve “We nality. engaged in is not a lawful exercise of their First Amendment rights,” he said. “People were to frightened by what was being done them. It’s no question that it created an atmosphere of fear.” B F possession of petri dishes that contained household bacteria. SUNY Buffalo, called 911 after his wife died of a heart attack May 11. Police arriving on the scene were alarmed to find petri dishes and other scientific equipment in his home and alerted the FBI. After a criminal search warrant was obtained under the USA Patriot Act, agents from the Joint Bioterrorism Task Force spent parts of two days searching Kurtz’s home. They seized the body of Kurtz’s wife as well as his computers, science equipment, parts of his personal library, teaching files, ID, and research on a new book. Ensemble (CAE), a small group of artists that is “dedicated to exploring the intersec- tions between art, radical poli- technology, tics and critical theory,” according to its website. Kurtz had been working on an exhibit that included the seized petri dishes. Kurtz’s home posed “no health risk in or around the house,” according to the NY State Health Department. The FBI has not revealed any other evidence it may have. in Buffalo and other cities to protest Kurtz’s case. been subpoenaed along with Kurtz. The US Attorney has refused to comment on the case. Kurtz’s lawyer Paul Cambria suspects politics are driving the investigation. They are zeroing in on his message,” Cambria told The Scientist. “I know that because they’re looking at past things that he’s written and so on, and they’re trying to use that to circumstantially show that he’s some kind of terrorist, which is kind of ridiculous.” A F The new approach is taking root in a subur- the Freespace’s Now that the trial is over, more Freespace activists – a few years older, Cash, who quietly endured the two-week “Through this, I got to see what we really have, direct action trainings to avoid casting his the wrong light. And the case in friend’s Freespace constituted itself as a mutual aid and radical education project seeking grants and mainstream support, toning down the Mutual aid means a pro- anarchist ideology. gram that supplies refurbished bicycles to otherwise day laborers and others who can’t Long Island, a free get around on car-happy afford to buy guitar project for kids who can’t project, plus a one, an educational women’s free booking service for punk/hardcore shows. ban setting where the idea of direct action is mostly greeted with incomprehension, but where many young people are desperate for alternatives to the strip-malls and multiplexes. Meter observes, commu- On Long Island, Van not in New York, nity is everything. “We’re where there are a hundred different groups around various things,” he says. organizing you’re here. In the city and are it when “You other places, there are too many excuses not to build a substantial community.” next goal is to secure a lease on a storefront it found close to the Huntington train station to host classes, performances and later per- And haps an independent media center. despite its evolution away from explicit anar- chism, Freespace veterans are anxious to get just back to political activism. This summer, before the Republican convention in New they plan to hold an educational “coun- York, terconvention” on the political issues raised – and ignored – by the two-party system. experienced and still determined to build a lib- erated community – are finding a new sense of Meter and a half-dozen other permanence. Van members have formed a writing group to collect attempts to information about the government’s pin acts of eco-sabotage on Cash and the extent of FBI surveillance and dirty tricks against Long Island activists. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be to convey the wave of feeling when the jury cleared their friend of the charges. trial that determined the rest of his life, wrote in an email message to his friends and supporters the day after the verdict: and how very successful we’ve been in creating the community we talk about, and that the alternative we strive for is alive and well between us.” Kevin Van Meter, the Freespace’s only full- the Freespace’s Meter, Kevin Van Long Island’s anti-authoritarian community Long Island’s The Freespace’s support for the Workplace The Freespace’s Some members who have had personal or Some Freespace members missed work and time employee besides Cash, stopped doing may have been strengthened by the three-and- a-half-year witch-hunt, but it has changed a lot too. While trying to convict Cash of conspiracy to commit arson, the FBI and prosecutors surveilled Freespace members and attempted to turn them into informers. They offered deals to the two young men who actually participated in a series of arson incidents in December 2000 in exchange for helping to One is convict Cash of being their ringleader. now in jail, his deal revoked, because of an instant message he sent to an animal rights activist saying that Cash is innocent. Project in Hempstead, a Latino rights group growing and often that helps Long Island’s abused population of immigrant day laborers, entire office was also paid back as the project’s staff took a day off to attend the trial. political disagreements, and even stopped speaking to each other during the past few years, found themselves working together liberal activists who had some- again. Older, times kept their distance from the Freespace’s culture of punk rock, bicycles and vegan cui- trial and con- sine, showed up for Cash’s tributed to the meals program. risked being fired to sit in court after Brewington appealed to them to make a strong presence during the two-week trial. SUNY Stony Brook graduate students, Two a Chris Jensen and Gabi Moisan, organized program to bring meals to the attendees and family during the trial. make dinner for Cash’s strengthened the Freespace and even helped to widen its circle of supporters. celebrates his acquittal on three charges arson. of politically-motivated

AURSEN L

right sunlight streamed through the plate-glass sheath of the Alphonse M. D’Amato Federal Courthouse in

RIC E itself and build solidarity build solidarity itself and the Long Island Freespace renew Island Freespace the Long How a year-long court a year-long How helped case Not only was the tape stricken, but the ruling shattered a three-and-a-half- Platt’s instead, the jury came back Later that day, In the weeks since then, members of the

Y STRONG ISLAND RISING B Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington huddled in the hallway Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington friends and supporters of outside a Long Island courtroom with with being the charged his client, Conor Cash, a local activist ring. “This is a major, kingpin of an environmentalist arson told the crowd of dozens major move for this judge!” Brewington Judge Thomas Platt rule of supporters there. They had just heard key piece of evidence, a videotape of Cash that the prosecutor’s be shown to the jury. getting gas at a Hess station, could not CONOR CASH

Central Islip on May 20 as Brewington assessed what had just happened. The videotape appeared to be different from the one that attorneys dur- prosecutors had given to Cash’s It seemed to contain images ing discovery. presence at the doctored to emphasize Cash’s Hess station, even though there was no indica- tion he was planning anything illegal. ruling gave the jurors something else judge’s to deliberate on: that the prosecutors had been using tainted evidence to convict Cash. year effort by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney and Suffolk County police to disrupt an activist community that was bringing direct-action politics and a variety of mutual aid projects to one of the most conservative places in America. Cash to jail It could have sent the 22-year-old for as long as 80 years. with a verdict: Not guilty on all three counts. Cash walked out of the courthouse free. Long Island Free Space have been trying to impact on their community: assess the trial’s the price it exacted and how it may have helped change their direction as activists. The Freespace is an anomaly – an experiment in bringing an anti-authoritarian, participa- to Long Island’s tory style of organizing expanse of suburban homes, malls and cozy Republican Party machines. Far from dis- rupting its efforts though, the ordeal of see- and pursued ing one of its members targeted for years by the authorities seems to have B 8 APRIL 21 - MAY 11, 2004 THE INDYPENDENT HUMAN WRONGS HUMAN AIN’T NO WAR LIKE CLASS WARCLASS WARLIKE NO AIN’T 1948: Contras “the moral equivalent of America’s Founding Fathers.” cocaine wholesalers. He called the and taking money from areas 30,000 lives, with the Contras killing teachers and nurses in rural in Nicaragua. The civil war claimed elected Sandinista government Rights Act of 1964,” he said in 1966. “humiliating to the South.” “I would have voted against Civil war we’ve ever fought?” (They hadn’t.) has stood beside us in every and killing thousands of dissidents. of torturing despite his history of 30,000 civilians. murder regime’s got too fat to fly. there outside the nation’s capital that vultures The death squads dumped so many bodies at one spot church. in archbishop nuns, killed priests, and assassinated the country’s 30,000 civilians, raped and murdered whose death squads massacred Reagan financed the Contra guerrillas against the democratically Reagan financed the Contra guerrillas The Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Gipper said in 1980, had been that (South Africa under apartheid) “Can we abandon this country loans to Chile under dictator Augusto Pinochet, He provided despite that assistance to Argentina, military He supported of El Salvador, aid to the government military Reagan provided MAYBE IT’S JUST US, BUT WE NOTICED A CREEPY SIMILARITY CHESTERFIELD AD Spoke in tongues and was incomprehensible Possessed by Satan, aka the Beast the highest level since Depression. than 10 percent, to more unemployment rose the 1982 recession, he said. During vacation for freeloaders,” insurance is a prepaid He also made unemployment benefits taxable. “Unemployment While cutting taxes on the rich, he raised Social Security tax. at $3.35 an hour for eight years. He kept the minimum wage frozen their union (which had endorsed him in 1980). on strike, breaking who were controllers 11,359 air-traffic On August 5, 1981, he fired Main weapon was ballistic vomiting No memories of her possession BETWEEN RONALD REAGAN AND REGAN, Scared the living shit out of us Scared Called Ellen Burstyn Mommy Cut herself until she bled LINDA BLAIR’S HEAD-SPINNING, VOMIT-HURLING CHARACTER Killed priests IN THE EXORCIST 1967: REALLY Main weapon was ballistic missiles Called Nancy Reagan Mommy Reagan, is the sign of Beast—666 The number of letters in his full name, Ronald Wilson until they bled Cut social programs Spoke in English and was incomprehensible Killed priests, nuns and archbishops No memories of his presidency MAD MAGAZINE SPOOF scared the living shit out of us scared 1985: RAYGUNLEFT HAS REAGAN VISITS SS CEMETERY. “THEY WERE VICTIMS, TOO.” KETCHUP EATTHEM LET TREES CAUSE POLLUTION CAUSE TREES 1983: to restore prayer in schools. to restore as vegetables. should qualify insisting that ketchup and relish the federal school-lunch program, billion from sidizing intellectual curiousity,” he said in 1966. Reagan supported a constitutional amendment Reagan supported In 1981, Reagan attempted to slash $1.5 has no business sub- “The state of California under a desk,” he said in 1980. A 22,000-cubic-foot desk, maybe. do you need to look at?” How many more a tree. he said, “A tree’s in 1981. rules. of environmental weakened enforcement Gorsuch Burford, of the Interior, James Watt, and EPAhalf. His Secretary chief, Anne “All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored “All the waste in a year from In 1966, while opposing the expansion of Redwood National Park, “Trees pollution than automobiles,” Reagan declared cause more Agency’s budget in Protection Reagan slashed the Environmental “I PITY THE FOOL.” THE BUILDING THE DID YOU KNOW...? YOU DID White House reception for mayors White House reception of Housing and Urban Development, during a secretary his Samuel Pierce, things in your city?” – greeting are you, Mr.“How are Mayor? I’m glad to meet you. How been born.” has already for abortion who is “I’ve noticed that everyone Uniquely observant: woman (Nancy). a pregnant and marry to be divorced A family-values type guy, both he was the only president he couldn’t understand such “complex subjects.” since when explained to the President, 3x5 index card His aides had to be simplified and transcribed on a WAR IS PEACE WARIS war. might have tried to Reagan explains Congress which has sole constitutional authority to declare Congress, in 1983 without informing Grenada $110 billion has been spent on “missile defense.” scientists as technologically unworkable. So far, criticized by and has been roundly Missile treaty “Star Wars,” it would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic would shoot down incoming missiles. Dubbed military. He invaded the tiny Caribbean island of Reagan pushed for space-based weapons that Over $3 trillion was spent in the 1980s on for “Insane Anglo Warlord.” His full name, Ronald Wilson Reagan, is an anagram things.” stubborn who said, “Facts are National Convention, attempting to quote John Adams, stupid things.” – at the 1988 Republican “Facts are why take the chance.” anybody, but I figure work never hurt “They say hard you.” “Oh, I didn’t recognize to which Reagan replied, “I’m your son, Mike,” The individual responded, address. school commencement himself after delivering a prep “My name is Ronald Reagan. What’s yours?” – introducing expatriate named Osama bin Laden. and al-Qaeda, including a young, rich Saudi leaders of the Taliban future the mujahedeen were in Kabul. Among fighting the Soviet-backed regime Contra scandal. of the Iran- to use against Iraq as part Ayatollahs aid to the his administration gave military against Iran, including chemical weapons. Then commander-in-chief.” constitutional powers as the president’s “restrict He financed and armed the Afghan mujahedeen He financed and armed aid to Saddam Hussein use He gave military

VOODOO ECONOMICS VOODOO the industry. of billions dollars to bail out coughing up hundreds in massive fraud with taxpayers resulted industry “Voodoo economics.” spending as military by cutting taxes and increasing to Reagan’s plans balance the budget Bush referred spending. cuts in social to justify further of funds in order the government the rich, was intended to starve toward acknowledged that the 1981 tax cut, skewed heavily H. W.George Bush, left office. until his successor, the time Reagan took office from FRIENDS NEW MAKING Reagan’s deregulation of the savings and loan Reagan’s deregulation mate in 1980, Prior to being chosen as his running David Stockman Reagan’s budget director 450 percent approximately National debt increased JUST SAYNO JUST THE GAYDISEASE THE Reagan said in 1984. homeless, you might say,are by choice,” sleeping on the grates, homeless who is the people who are in this country… “What we have found funds by 75 percent. Reagan, He cut federal housing before than 2 million. to more has quadrupled, people in prison or jail the United States of crack. possessing about $250 worth pot plants or 100 or more growing sentences – a five-year minimum for Reagan’s solution? “Just say no.” dramatically.increased First Lady Nancy number of Americans imprisoned for drugs slashed as the were Funds for treatment emphasized imprisonment. on drugs” Homelessness was virtually nonexistent Homelessness was virtually the number of Since Reagan took office, minimum Reagan imposed mandatory Under Reagan, the Nixon-spawned “war that we once had in our own country.” “They have eliminated the segregation in 1985, Reagan said: government by Christmas.” (Oct. 10, 1965) parking strips on it and still be home and put pave the whole country jungles of Vietnam when we could years we will have to spend in the 1982. in countries,” after visiting the region all individual be surprised. They’re their views. You’dthem and (learn) to (Latin America) find out from mic check.) Gipper thought he was just doing a begin bombing in five minutes.” (The that will outlaw Russia forever. We today that I’ve just signed legislation Americans, I’m pleased to tell you announced on the radio: “My fellow Organization code for infant formula. Organization single vote against a World Health is threatened.” “except when the life of mother procedures ban on all abortion focus solely on abstinence. education insisted that all prevention Commandments,” he said in 1989. illicit sex is against the Ten down this plague [because] brought “the gay disease.” “Maybe the Lord to call died of what he was reported over 19,000 Americans had already mentioned AIDS publicly in 1987, Speaking of South Africa’s apartheid “It’s silly talking about how many “Well a lot... I went down I learned On August 11, 1984, Reagan Under Reagan, the U.S. cast a constitutional Reagan supported of Education Reagan’s Secretary By the time Reagan first .“B Movie,” Gil Scott-Heron 1. “Kill the Poor,” Dead Kennedys 2. the “Hinckley Had a Vision,” 3. “Fucked Up Ronnie,” D.O.A. 4. (a.k.a. “My “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg” 5. 6. “Re-Ron,” Gil Scott-Heron “Overkill,” False Prophets 7. “Reagan Youth,” Reagan Youth. 8. hoppers Non Phixion. occult hip- Brooklyn 1998 12-inch from gangsta-punx Suicidal Tendencies, and a L.A. Reagan”: a 1983 album track from some devastating critiques. laid down funk side, poet Gil Scott-Heron Hinckley’s bullets.) Meanwhile on the jazz- John photo of Reagan grimacing from a cover Them Eat Jellybeans, featured Biafra’s seminal 1981 compilation, Let about America. (Jello was evil and wrong of all that the incarnation was considered scene, Ronald Reagan the hardcore-punk all about yuppies. In The 1980s weren’t B AGAINST Y There are also two songs titled “I Shot are There after Reagan’s visit to a Nazi cemetery. Ramones Brain Is Hanging Upside Down”), the senility, believe in overkill”? Reagan up in one line better than “Mumble to bass player, but who else has summed garbage bag! Hinckley had a vision.” his head, and mail it to them in a chop off cleaner yowl: “I want to take the President, vacuum- the punk era, featuring Doc Dart’s outrageous band name/song title pairing of four words: “You’refour words: fucked up, Ronnie.” and Canada’s finest punk band, four chords night/While we kill the poor.” and dance away the OK/So let’s get dressed wop melody: “Convinced the liberals it’s over a punkified doo- era’s ethos perfectly, his specifically about Reagan, but captured been an early hip-hop classic. percussively,jazzily and more this would’ve Again.” If he’d phrased his vocals less Born to Bonzo to Birchite for seven minutes, “from goes on to devastate Reagan and Scott-Heron Then the bassline kicks in with a funky clank, thing I want to say is, ‘Mandate, my ass!’” Crucifucks Heil.” Queens, “We Reagan youth/Sieg from are Michael Jackson.” take Jesse Jackson? Hell, we’d RONNIE S TEVEN ROCK . Joey Ramone wrote this in 1985 Joey Ramone wrote . W From Michigan, the most From ISHNIA . OK, I was the . . “The first “Would we From

Not Four kids

9 APRIL 21 - MAY 11, 2004 11, MAY - 21 APRIL THE INDYPENDENT THE THE INDYPENDENT JUNE 16 — 30, 2004 3 newswire, .org www.noRNCposters.org RNC WATCH [email protected] NYC.Indymedia.org For more info: And some of New York’s coolest radical artists And some of New York’s Still think that the Republican Convention will Even worse could be the convention’s harm- In a post to the Filmmakers connected with the Hudson City Council’s governmental commit- operations hearing in which The vote followed a public congressional Five members of the New York Two prominent right-wing groups, the

NO RNC POSTER PROJECT have organized the NoRNC Poster Project in City order to “create a visual blitz in New York against Bush and the Convention, and to blend style.” art with politics in the finest New York LESS THAN ADVERTISED? might be a big financial boon to the city? You want to think again. According to an economic analysis by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk Convention “the Republican National University, City will generate only $184 million in New York rather than the $260 million in economic activity, claimed by the city’s administration.” And that’s not all. The Institute notes that this estimate does not take into account the so-far unan- will be tak- nounced security measures New York Not only that, but the city itself ing this summer. will be forced up after the to pay for cleaning Republicans as well as for police overtime. ful impact on small business owners in Manhattan, especially those around Madison Square Garden. ‘SHOUT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD’ NO RNC IN 30 SECONDS Mohawk Independent Media Center have just releaseda 30-second video PSA about the upcoming protests and have launched the NoRNC Spot campaign. Filmmakers are encouraged to make (a la Bush in 30 Seconds) 30-second video PSA’s that will be assembled for a DVD/VHS compilation and be screened at micro-cinemas across the country The dead- in the lead-up to the convention. line is July 12. Email: tee approved to Assemble Resolution the Right one abstention. The June 16 by a vote of 5-0 with proposed resolution calls on city officials to respect rights of protesters the 1st Amendment at this summer. the Republican National Convention The resolution, which has 19 co-sponsors, will come before the full council in late June. representatives from the New York Civil Liberties Justice, a major Union and United for Peace and frontanti-war coalition, testified in of a standing room only crowd 75 people. of over delegation are also urging Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city police to respect the rights of protesters.Owens (D-NY) Rep. Major has authored a Memorandum of Understanding that he plans to present to Bloomberg. It is co- signed by Representatives Elliot Engel, Carolyn Jerrold Nadler and Edolphus Towns. Maloney, Christian Defense Coalition and the National Clergy Council, have sued the city for placing unconstitutional restrictions demon- on peaceful strations and prayer vigils during the RNC. have called for coordinated some New Yorkers direct at the action on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. Republican National Convention. The call titled says in part: “Shout Heard Round the World” are are We people who work for a living. “We students, we are retirees. are caregivers, We builders, teachers, dreamers. the people We’re who fight the wars, who pay taxes, who have lost loved ones on September lost our jobs. We want to take democracy from the 11th. We Halliburtons and Enrons and bring it back to town halls, schools, and neighborhoods.” CITY POLS PUSH RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY

RN IVANOVA IRINA PHOTOS: Bushville’s communal kitchen. police, Bushville is going to happen. All we have is our voice, and they’re trying to take Dowlin says that Bushvilles may that away.” be set up in various boroughs of New York City depending on what happens in the coming weeks. KWRU is determined to area in maintain a presence in the New York the months leading up to the Republican National Convention. ABOVE: MEDIA Three residents short-lived of the settle into their new shantytown MEDIA OR NYC INDYMEDIA VIDEO, CALL 212-684-8112 OR E-MAIL [email protected]. BLACKED OUT IS A PROJECT OF THE NYC INDYMEDIA VIDEO COLLECTIVE. This provocative half-hour weekly news series appears on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. on channel 34, (www.mnn.org) basic cable. The show is expanding to Brooklyn Community Access and will make its national premiere on Free Speech TV on May 31, 6 p.m. (BCAT), (www.freespeech.org). Activist Tim Dowlin vows that “no mat- Activist Tim KWRU built a second Bushville June 14 ter how many times we’re harassed by the under the Jersey Turnpike and were quickly under the Jersey Turnpike shut down by state troopers. whatever the cost. “This is an issue of people turning away more than of not seeing it. If people realized, they’d want to take steps in their own lives.” FROM TOP: home, just before they got the boot. ASSERMAN W ATT & M ARRIS

H on’t bother checking the real estate on’t youngest listings for New Jersey’s already disappeared. village. It’s NDY

BY IRINA IVANOVA

f all the myths about Reagan floating around in the rose-colored standing white code for rolling back civil O eulogies of late, perhaps my per- rights gains and longing for the days of seg- sonal favorite is the one touted as his great- regation. est accomplishment: he won the Cold War. Maybe they have burned in their memories Or, in the words of a woman I spoke to at a the way Reagan attacked welfare programs candlelight vigil for Reagan, “he defeated with stories of “strapping young bucks” buy- the Evil Empire.” ing T-Bone steaks, while hardworking tax- Having spent the first six years of my life in payers could only afford hamburger, or how the Soviet Union, I have few personal memo- Reagan fabricated a story about a “welfare ries, and more testimonies of my parents, but queen” from Chicago with 80 names, 30 nowhere among them are the words “evil” or addresses, and 12 Social Security cards, “empire.” It was more like “inadequate,” receiving more than $150,000 in tax-free “ineffective,” often “incomprehensible.” income. That Reagan picked Chicago as the The USSR officially went out of business in site of this entirely fictional woman, and not 1991 – nearly three years after Reagan left the some mostly white rural area where there stand. He is credited with putting into motion were plenty of welfare recipients too, was the foreign policy that led to its eventual col- hardly lost on African-Americans. lapse. The truth is, Reagan did no more and no Perhaps black folks and other people of less than other American presidents by simply color remember the words of former Reagan creating something for the USSR to compete Education Secretary Terrell Bell, who noted with. And allow me to raise an issue of termi- in his memoir how racial slurs were common nology: you cannot “defeat” someone you are among the “Great Communicator’s” White not actually combating. You can engage in a House staffers, including common references showing-off contest and see which of you looks to “Martin Lucifer Coon” and “sand niggers.” more impressive. However, Reagan is credited Perhaps they recall that Reagan supported with dismantling the Soviet political and eco- tax exemptions for schools that discriminat- nomic structure, not just the unsurprising fact ed openly against blacks. that the United States was the one looking Or how Reagan opposed sanctions against more impressive at the end. the racist South African regime, and even In fact, the fall of the USSR can be traced to denied that apartheid, under which system the nature of Soviet-style communism. It was blacks could not vote, was racist, noting that not a sustainable economic system because it its policies were “more tribal than racial.” denied any selfishness on the part of humans; And it isn’t surprising that few if any it was even less sustainable politically because Salvadorans or Guatemalans who came to the of the extreme authoritarianism it required. A United States in the 1980s, fleeing from vio- government that creates unhappy people with REAGAN’S AMERICA lence in their countries, were to be seen plac- insufficient food and close to no mobility who ing flowers outside Reagan’s library either. have to tolerate bureaucratic difficulties to Many of them no doubt recall how Reagan procure the most basic of necessities will brushed off the genocidal policies of eventually fall – especially when its totalitari- Guatemalan dictator Rios Montt – whose anism is loosened, as during glasnost. scorched-earth tactics, especially against the Giving Soviet communism a moral classifi- NOT COLORBLIND, nation’s indigenous resulted in at least cation did two things: it secured Reagan the 70,000 deaths – by saying he was getting a overwhelming support of the American peo- “bum rap” on human rights, and was instead ple, who, in the spirit of our Puritan founders a man of “great personal commitment” who and Hollywood masterminds, still like to view JUST BLIND was dedicated to “social justice.” the world in terms of good and evil, and as a That whites would view much of this as result, gave him free rein in foreign policy. irrelevant is only proof positive that for many Anything was permissible, as long as it was such folks the opinions of black and brown done in the name of democracy and anti-com- If one needs any more evidence that whites and people of color persons is of secondary importance to the fact munism, and the United States’ many mili- that Reagan – as many have been gushing – tary excursions of the eighties are directly live in two totally different places, just look at the visual evidence “made them feel good again.” related to this public mindset. provided by the death of Ronald Reagan. While people of color By 1980, most whites were already tiring The Cold War was not a struggle for ideolo- of civil rights and were looking for someone gy. No one who does not currently believe in make up approximately 30 percent of the population of the who would take their minds off such trou- communism’s viability believed in it a decade bling concepts as racism and instead implore ago. The Cold War was a power contest and by United States, the Reagan faithful look like another country them to “greatness,” however defined, the time Reagan came along, the USSR was altogether. As they gathered in Simi Valley – home of the 40th “pride,” however defined, and flag waving. obviously losing its grip, helped along by no Having to grapple with the real world is one but its own unsustainable foundation. President’s library, as well as the jury that thought nothing of stressful and people with relative power and Putting Soviet communism in the context privilege never know how to deal with stress of morality saddens me, because calling some- the police beating of Rodney King – one wonders if they very well. As such, they long for and thing “evil” necessitates placing blame. To noticed the incongruity between themselves and the rest of the applaud easy answers for the stress that occa- me, an entity like the USSR cannot be called sionally manages to intrude upon their lives, evil; that gives it too much agency. In my state in which they live: a state called California, where people so they blame people of color for high taxes, mind, the USSR had three distinct compo- like them are slightly less than half the population now. failing schools, crime, drugs and jobs they nents. The first were the people who populat- didn’t get; they blame terrorism on “evil” ed it, subject to the country’s unlivable con- BY TIM WISE Or that as Governor of California, Reagan and the notion that they hate our freedoms: ditions. The second were the men who gov- dismissed the struggle for fair and open a belief one can only have if one really thinks erned it, alternately striving for personal suc- oubtful. Most of them, after all, are housing, by saying that blacks were just one lives in a free country in the first place. cess, as do most people, and success of the quite used to never seeing black and “making trouble” and had no intention of In other words, delusion is the fuel that THE INDYPENDENT incredibly difficult entity that was the Soviet Dbrown folks, since the vast majority moving into mostly white neighborhoods. both propels someone like Ronald Reagan Union. The third was the ultimately flawed of whites live in communities with virtually Perhaps they have a hard time forgetting forward in political life, and then makes a ideology of Leninism, on which the whole no people of color around them. that of all the places Reagan could have rational assessment of his legacy impossible thing was based. What white folks ignore, but what most begun his campaign for the Presidency in upon his death. Which of the three should I blame? black folks can never forget, is how Reagan 1980, he had to choose Philadelphia, The phrase “He won the Cold War” pre- opposed the Civil Rights Act at the time of Mississippi, a town famous only for the 1964 Tim Wise is an antiracist essayist, activist and

JUNE 16 – 30, 2004 sumes that in Reagan’s time, there was a war its passage, calling it an unwarranted murder of three civil rights workers. And father. He can be reached at [email protected]. to be won, and not a country slowly collaps- intrusion on the rights of business, and perhaps they recall that the focus of his Excerpted from a longer article that originally

10 ing as the rest of the world looked on. never repudiated his former stand. speech that day was “state’s rights,” a long- appeared on www.blackcommentator.com THE INDYPENDENT JUNE 16 – 30,2004 11 magazine. Soon after, survey ranked Reagan Mother Jones New York Times Magazine Times New York Cold War historian Martin Walker writes that by 1983, historian Martin Walker Cold War a The threats did have one positive effect: catalyzing Nonetheless, the danger Reagan posed is hard to overstate. do to There was an opportunity at the close of the Cold War Right-wing think tanks have been on the warpath ever For Heritage president Edwin Feulner Reagan worship name has even The quest to preserve and glorify Reagan’s Americans would survive “if there are enough shovels to go Americans would survive “if there are enough shovels to around... Dig a hole, cover it with a couple of doors and then the dirt that does it.” throw three feet of dirt on top. It’s talk about fighting and winning nuclear war” loose “Reagan’s had so frightened the Soviets that they believed a NATO but exercise that November was “in fact not an exercise at all Union.” nuclear strike against the Soviet an actual Western on During the exercise “the Soviets put their military forces strike.” alert and prepared for a Western and nuclear disarmament movement among Americans the Europeans. Massive rallies and outright resistance forced Reagan administration to tone down its belligerence. pre- Stoking fear in the Soviets might have led them to strike emptively if they decided the U.S. was about to launch a sneak the “Evil Empire” proved to be more ration- attack. Ironically, the al than the Americans. Confronted with economic decline, Soviets chose Mikhail Gorbachev to peacefully negotiate with instead of seeking a military confrontation. the West, legacy is found in away with nuclear weapons. But Reagan’s as our warped values that prize weapons of mass destruction the guarantors of peace, leaving the nuclear sword still dan- gling over our heads. since a 1996 as “average,” according to Norquist initiated the project with backing from conservative like the Heritage Foundation. organizations knows few bounds. “[In the Heritage Foundation,] pictures and portraits of him hang in the hallways, and many staffers have set up little shrines to him in their offices where they’re free to pray several times a day.” moved Nordquist to quip, “Just because conservatives hate to use taxpayer money mean we won’t government doesn’t honor the 40th President.” Los

quoted him in January 1982 arguing all quoted him in January 1982 arguing

T.K. Jones, who was Reagan’s under secretary of defense for Jones, who was Reagan’s T.K. The Reagan administration engaged in macabre scheming. And it was. In 1981 Secretary of Defense Casper Bellicose pronouncements by Reagan-era officials were The Soviets responded to this “joke” by putting their And don’t forget that Chief of Staff Donald Regan revealed that Chief of forget And don’t Reagan believed in biblical armageddon. When Thus far, the tiny island of Grenada – which Reagan invaded Thus far, It also plans to encourage similar re-namings and memori- The project seeks to place Reagan’s face on the $10 bill and The project seeks to place Reagan’s Angeles Times nuclear forces, was a prime example of the insanity. The nuclear forces, was a prime example of the insanity. Plans were drafted for the IRS to continue collecting taxes in Plans were drafted for the IRS to continue collecting taxes the post-nuclear apocalypse (so much for ending big government), while the Post Office would deliver the mail. Civil defense included “Crisis Relocation Planning” to evacuate American cities a week before the start of a nuclear war. Weinberger warned, “During the 1950s and 1960s we had a Weinberger Now we have got to regain it.” first-strike capability.... matched by a massive arms buildup, a new generation of matched by a massive arms buildup, a new generation cruise nuclear weapons and the positioning of nuclear-armed heart- missiles in Europe just minutes away from the USSR’s land. This led Soviet leaders to believe that the United States was intent on a first strike. nuclear forces on alert. the Reagans consulted astrologers before making major policy decisions. Reagan was a commonplace nut, but one with live his finger on the big red button. In 1984, he said on radio that he had signed legislation outlawing Russia, begin bombing in five minutes.” announcing, “We asked about this during the 1984 presidential Armageddon could debates, Reagan replied, “Yes, He used apocalyptic come the day after tomorrow.” language, describing the Soviet Union as an “Evil Empire” in 1983. and then believed them. He thought trees produced and then believed them. He dioxide with carbon pollution, confusing carbon bad because of a mysterious was monoxide. Welfare drove a Cadillac while on Chicago ‘welfare queen’ who relief.” in 1983 – has issued a commemorative Reagan stamp collection. als abroad. Every former Communist country, argues als abroad. Every former Communist country, Norquist, ought to have some dedication to the man who lib- erated them from “evil tyranny.” designate Feb. 6 – the Gipper’s birthday – as “Ronald Reagan designate Feb. 6 – the Gipper’s a proposal already ratified in 29 state legislatures. Day,” including Washington, D.C.’s International Airport and a D.C.’s including Washington, face may mountain in New Hampshire. Dismayed that Reagan’s other dead white men, not be carved next to Mount Rushmore’s Norquist and some South Dakota legislators want to christen name. the highway leading up to the site with Reagan’s

, Reagan approved a National Security IN FIVE MINUTES’ IN FIVE HAROOR

T recent hagiography admits: “He invented stories UPTA

elieve what you want about Reagan, but there is one elieve what you want about His administration put fact his disciples can not deny: humanity on the brink of annihilation by promoting

pearheaded by Grover Norquist, notorious anti-tax Reform – a zealot and founder of Americans for Tax right-wing lobby advocating low taxes and small gov- SHAAN I A.K. G In a statement released following Reagan’s death, Norquist In a statement released following Reagan’s the project has suceeded in re-babtizing 60 sites, Already, Of course with two adversaries armed with tens of thou- The Reagan faithful claim he was just employing the Reagan had a hard time distinguishing fantasy from Yet, With the Soviet Union just a memory, it seems outrageous the Soviet Union just a memory, With there After assuming office in 1981, Reagan said, “Yes, Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev responded, “Even the use stop the Reagan administration. According to This didn’t Y Y

BOMBING ‘WE BEGIN BEGIN ‘WE ernment – the Reagan Legacy Project hopes to rename mon- uments, airports, national parks, historical landmarks, and even calendar days in honor of the former President. intended to work “toward one announced that his organization significant monument named after [Reagan] in each of America’s 50 states, as well as some dedication in every county in America.” That would amount to 3,067 separate dedications. B LEGACY LUNACY for ardent supporters of in a name? Apparently, What’s Ronald Reagan, a revisionist, messianic mission. Just in heard enough about the Gipper over the case you haven’t past weeks, a group of wealthy right-wingers hopes to imprint it on the psychic and physical map of the United States for decades to come. HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE B Decision Document in late 1981 that committed the United the State to fighting and winning a nuclear war against Soviets. The plan envisioned the two sides lobbing hydrogen bombs at each other for up to six months. The only question sands of nukes, there could be no winner. was: would humanity even survive? he “madman strategy” of trying to make the Soviets believe was capable of anything, but that the nuclear bomb rattling was all bluff and swagger. reality – twice telling Israeli leaders that he helped liberate Nazi death camps when he spent the war in Hollywood. Even Newsweek’s the idea of a “winnable” nuclear war. But that a group of men actively planned a nuclear holocaust. White House was home to ideological true. The Reagan it’s extremists who used government agencies to concoct plans and for pre-emptive war and justified it in terms of “good evil.” (Sound familiar?) could be a limited nuclear war in Europe.” Secretary of State have contingency plans Alexander Haig added that year: “We to fire a [nuclear] warning shot at the Soviet Union, warning of U.S. intentions to begin a nuclear war.” of one nuclear bomb would inevitably lead to an all-out nuclear exchange.” Times The New York

B S 12 JUNE 16–30, 2004 THE INDYPENDENT NEWS NBRIEF IN saying hewanteda“changeofpace.” Monday, resigned chief, EdKast,abruptly lost, orcouldbelost.” woman NicoleDeLara.“Novotesare cups thathappen,”saidstatespokes- minortechnical hic- election. “Theseare impossible inNovember’spresidential machines couldmakemanualrecounts flaw in11ofthestate’svoting of Statehasadmittedthatasoftware the FloridaSecretary votingfront, tronic signontheelec- In yetanotherworrying fourblackmen. out ofevery includingone oronprobation), on parole tions (notincludingthosestillinprison, their votingrightsduetofelonyconvic- than600,000Floridianshavelost more in2001showedthat Minnesota report lastweek.AUniversityof released Center forJusticefoundinareport election, theNewYork-based Brennan denied avoteinthisyear’spresidential state’s “felonmatch”listtheywillbe a from removed those individualsare butunlessthenamesof or pardons, clemencygrants through cially restored with felonyconvictionshavebeenoffi- The votingrightsof25,585Floridians they mightbeaskedtocommit.” own safetyandbecauseoftheabuses ...bothfortheir about joiningthemilitary prisoner mightmakepeoplethinktwice hoping thattheimageofanabusedIraqi explained,“Ididthis device. Previtera andpossessingahoax bomb threat, disturbing thepeace,makingafalse with Previtera hadcharged Prosecutors lastmonth. photosreleased torture tion ofonethenotoriousAbuGhraib hishands,inimita- danglingfrom wires inablackhoodandshawl,with dressed stoodonamilkcrate Boston. Previtera stationin recruiting outside amilitary on May26posingasanIraqiprisoner whowasarrested year-old JoePrevitera, against21- havebeendropped Charges TheDAplanstoappealtheruling. ruling. into legalprinciples,”statedKatzinhis ourprejudices lestweerect on ourguard, “We musteverbe same-sex marriages. tutionality ofthelawagainstperforming riages. Katzalsoquestionedtheconsti- inbanningsame-sexmar- mate interest state hadfailedtodemonstratealegiti- thatthe arguing missed thecharges, JusticeJonathanKatzdis- Town Court onFeb.27.NewPaltz sex marriages Williams, forsolemnizingover20same- against himbyUlsterCountyDADonald brought on June10ofcriminalcharges, New PaltzMayorJasonWest wascleared nyc.indymedia.org NEWS DEBATETHE AL RECOUNTS FLAW MAY PROHIBIT MANU- …AND ADMITSSOFTWARE At thesametime,Floridaelections EVEN THERE-ENFRANCHISED FLORIDA DENIESVOTETO CLEARED OFCHARGES ACTIVIST ANTI-TORTURE QUEERWEDDINGS HOOK FOR THE NEW PALTZ MAYOR OFF B B intotheTigris. directly POLLUTE: TO FREE US-led invasion,anda yearlater, reportedthe doubled betweenAugust 2002,beforethe eases, suchastyphoid, dysenteryandcholera, ing ofIraqis.Theincidence ofdiarrhealdis- and flowrightintotheriver. tem, completelybypassinganytreatment, dents canbepumpedthroughthesewersys- Raw wastefromthecityoffivemillionresi- treatment plantsinBaghdadareoperational. Iraqi weaponryusedsincethe1991GulfWar. other chemicalsreleasedbyAmericanand says, plusremnantsfromuntoldamountsof US-fired depleteduraniummunitions,he with particlesfromantiquatedpipingand condition oftheTigris. Rawsewagemixes and BiologicalSciencehasresearchedthe an IraqiwhoholdsaPhDinEnvironmental heavy metals,reportsDr. HusniMohammed, of pesticides,fertilizers,oil,gasolineand lem,” hesaid. give uscleanwaterorfixthesewageprob- has beennoworkherebytheAmericansto near apoolofrawsewageinthestreet.“There the USmakinganefforttohelp.Azizstood war,” hesaid,echoingothers’complaints. situation hereisworsenowthanbeforethe of potablewaterinthisBaghdadslum.“The joined achorusofvoicesprotestingthelack open Icansmelltheoil.” wish Icouldeatthefish,butwhencutthem atop theriver. “Butitistoopollutednow. I ing atophisdredgingmachineasitfloated Ministry ofWater Resources. but whichwasrecentlyincorporatedintothe by acompanythatdredgesthemuddyTigris, most ofhislife,hehaslongbeenemployed running adredgingmachine.Arivermanfor ins asitflows. through theheartofBaghdad,collectingtox- of theTigris, whichsnakesprominently of theseunfortunatesturntotherottenbanks without aclean,reliablesource.Alltoomany treatment plants,millionsofresidentsremain drinking waterfromafewofthefunctional unwilling tohelp. water, andUScontractorsappearunable or improve Baghdadresidents’accesstopotable of theriver, notmuchisbeingdone to that isfocusingonthecleanupofonesection formed Iraqinon-governmentalorganization from theTigris River. Asidefromanewly choice buttodrinkhighlypollutedwater some residentsofBaghdadareleftwithlittle standstill throughoutmuchofCentralIraq, Y Statistics underscorethewidespreadsuffer- Adding tothehazards,veryfewsewage Tigris Riverwaterisaconcentratedcocktail Many heresaytheycannotseeanysignof Sadr CityshopkeeperRanziAmherAziz “I ammarriedtothewater,” hesaidstand- Abdul SalamAbdulaliworksontheriver, While manyareasofBaghdadhaveaccessto D AHR and distributionsystematanear a highlyinadequatewatertreatment aghdad, Iraq—With reconstructionof J AMAIL Waste and garbage from this Baghdad area refinery maketheirway Waste refinery thisBaghdadarea andgarbagefrom PHOTO: DAHR JAMAIL/ DESPITE BECHTELREBUILDINGCONTRACT, IRAQIWATER QUALITYWORSENS A RIVERRUNSRANCID NEWSTANDARD Coalition-run “GreenZone”areaechoed into theriveroverpastyear. companies todumptheirgarbageandsewage cleanup; heblamestheCoalitionforallowing Coalition ProvisionalAuthority(CPA) inthe business ownerswhodonatemoneyaswell.” Kamel said,“butsomeofthevolunteersare get somemoneyfromthemunicipality,” are paid,butthemajorityvolunteers.“We workers, saidco-founderSalimKamel.Some a waterwayconsideredvitalbyIraqis. the UnitedStates’disinterestintakingcareof tion nowthanbeforetheinvasion,andblames river andestablishgardensalongthebanks. uge ofrawsewagethatisflowingintothe He hopestoremovethegarbage,stopdel- a particularlypollutedsectionoftheTigris. because hefeltitwastimetostartcleaningup ed thenon-governmentalorganization Environment andChildren(NADEC),found- National AssociationforDefenseof im governmenttoundertake. wait forforeignauthoritiesorthenewinter- of enactingchangestheydonotbelievecan begun totakeontheresponsibilityandwork having improvedmuch.Therefore,somehave uation isnotseenbymostresidentshereas the reportadds. sicknesses arelinkedtocontaminatedwater, an crises.Seventypercentofallchildren’s coordinating responsestoseverehumanitari- Affairs (OCHA),aUNagencytaskedwith Office fortheCoordinationofHumanitarian near Baghdad, a major and often direct source of water for the city’s residents. of waterforthecity’sresidents. source near Baghdad,amajor andoftendirect RIVERSIDE THE BY DOWN A contractorinterviewedinsidethe Kareem isreluctanttoworkwiththe NADEC drawsonthelaborofaround1,000 Kareem saidtheTigris isinworsecondi- Shwaqi Kareem,thepresidentof Over oneyearintotheoccupation,sit- : The remains ofacowdecomposeonthebanks theTigris : Theremains the presidentialpalace. Root warehouseandyardsontheeastendof as a“disaster”–neartheKelloggBrown& ticular aboutdumping–whichhereferredto worse,” hesaid.Khammocomplainedinpar- the GreenZone,butthingswentfrombadto the Palacegroundandriversidewithin Tigris. “Itriedalllastyeartohelpimprove ing tocleanuptheareasofCPA nearthe recently quithisjobinfrustrationafterwork- Kareem’s sentiments.Awshalim Khammo Standard water system.” heavy blowtothecountry’s alreadycreaking and thelootingthatfollowedit,havedealta sanctions, aswelltheCoalitioninvasion more broadly:“Threewarsand13yearsof water problemsIraqisarenowfacing. mismanagement aretoblameforsomeofthe the poorstateofIraq’s infrastructureandpast Water ResourcesinIraq,toldtheBBCthat completed bythismonth. million litersperday. Theworkwasdue tobe expected toincreasepotablewaterby225 priority inBaghdadsinceJune2003,is the SharkhDijlahplant. the rehabilitationandcapacity-buildingof ishing datefortwoprojects,oneofwhichis ing watersituationonlygivesaconcretefin- light itsworkinIraqconcerningthedrink- water treatmentfacilities. verify progressmadeonanyBaghdadarea treatment projectsyieldednoinvitationsto in charge ofcivilianpressaccesstowater Treatment Plant. Baghdad, aswelltheKerkhWaste Water Sharkh Dijlahwatertreatmentplantin responsible fortherehabilitationof contract madeBechtelanditssubcontractors 2003 worth$680million.Thecontroversial cost-plus-fixed-fee contractonApril17, This articleoriginallyappearedin The U.N.’s OCHAreportspreadtheblame Dr. AbdulLatifRashid,theMinisterfor Work ontheplant,Bechtel’s numbertwo The brochureproducedbyBechteltohigh- Repeated contactswithvariousauthorities Bechtel Corporationwasawardedano-bid, PHOTO: DAHRJAMAIL/NEWSTANDARD , http://newstandardnews.net. The New KURDISH LEADERS FURIOUS, BUT SISTANI IS THE BIG WINNER NEWS IN BRIEF CHIAPAS INDIGENOUS ACTIVIST MURDERED On Monday, June 7, Zapatista Eduardo IRAQ’S Vázquez Álvaro was murdered in broad daylight in the middle of Chilón’s city center. The 50- year-old indigenous activist spent several years in Cerro Hueco prison and is known there for his role in the Zapatista prisoner organization “The voice of Cerro Hueco.” Alvaro was attacked by five men who shot him three times and then attacked him with a machete as he FAILED STATE lay on the ground. The men then drove their The United Nations Security Council on June 8 unani- cars over his lifeless body. Hundreds of Zapatistas and sympathizers gathered to mously approved a new resolution on Iraq granting protest the murder. They charge that Chiapan legitimacy to the caretaker government of Iyad Allawi. landowners were behind Alvaro’s death.

BY JUAN COLE is not a dictator or a Khomeinist. He is much CANADIAN TREE-SITTERS more analogous to Jerry Falwell in the U.S. – On June 1, police and private guards arrived he resolution gives the new Iraqi gov- a major religious voice who wants to move the at the site of a tree sit in Hamilton, Ontario, ernment substantially more sovereign- society in a certain direction through weaken- and threatened to arrest supporters on the Tty than had been envisaged by the ing the separation of religion and state, with- ground, forcing them to leave. Three people U.S. in the initial draft and the Bush admin- out himself seeking political office. had occupied trees in the Red Hill Valley, hop- istration essentially compromised in order to The most significant concern is Sistani’s ing to stop a six-lane expressway that would have an achievement for the election season. completely unsympathetic stance toward be built through the park. The city of Hamilton The resolution will make it easier for the Kurdish demands for safeguards as a minority, admits that some 44,000 trees would be cut Allawi government to gain the Iraq seat at the and his desire to remove their veto on the new down and 22 archaeological sites impacted in U.N. and at organizations like the Arab constitution. The potential for Kurdish-Shiite the valley, which is part of the Niagara League. It also constrains the U.S. from under- violence is substantial in the coming years. Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. On taking major military actions (like Fallujah) June 13, environmentalists struck back. A without extensive consultation with the Iraqi Juan Cole is professor of modern Middle Eastern group of 75 people marched to site, over- GRAND AYATOLLAH ALI SISTANI’S government and establishes a joint committee and South Asian history at the University of whelming six private guards, and managed to cautious approach is paying off. of U.S. and Iraqi representatives to carry out Michigan. His website is www.juancole.com. re-supply the two remaining tree-sitters. those discussions. This military “partnership” Excerpted from The Daily Star (Lebanon). For more information, Friends of Red Hill was substituted successfully for a stricter Valley website, www.hwcn.org/link/forhv French proposal that the Iraqi government have a veto over U.S. military movements in obituary Iraq. Still, the language went far beyond what the U.S. had wanted. That the U.S. and the U.K. had to give away so much to get the resolution shows how weak they are in Iraq. They have created AUSSIE a failed state in Iraq and this new piece of paper really changes nothing on the ground. INDYMEDIA The resolution did not mention or endorse the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), PIONEER, or interim constitution, adopted last February by the interim Governing Council DEAD AT 33 and based on the notes of Paul Bremer. The Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, had written Kofi Annan forbidding the U.N. from endorsing the TAL, on the grounds that it was illegitimate and contained provisions harmful to majority rule. Michael Patrick Carlton The Kurds on the other hand were furious aka Predator that the U.N. did not mention the TAL, which they see as their safeguard against a n 1997, Predator helped set up Catalyst, tyranny of the Arab majority. It stipulates a community tech collective in Sydney, that the status quo will remain in Kurdistan IAustralia. They went on to provide infor- until an elected Parliament crafts a permanent mation technology services for a wide range constitution in a year and that the three of activist and community-based organiza- Kurdish provinces will have a veto over that tions around both Sydney and Australia. In new constitution if they do not like it. The the process, knowledge was shared, and Kurdish leaders threatened in a letter to skills were learned and taught – from build- President George W. Bush on Sunday to boy- ing and maintaining hardware to writing cott the elections this winter if there is any computer code. It was from this original ini- move to curtail their sovereignty or to rescind tiative that an open-posting model of web or amend the interim constitution. As a result, publishing was developed for the interna- the Kurdish street is anxious about the future, tionally organized “J18” protest in 1999. feeling insecure and deserted. The code base was named “Active” and The entire process was a big win for went on to power the first Indymedia site. Sistani. It is now often forgotten that the As they say, the rest is history. Bush administration had had no intention of However, Predator’s influence extended involving the U.N. in this way in Iraq. The further. An Urban Explorer, he was a part of original plan was to have stage-managed, the Cave Clan – whose membership council-based elections in May, producing a extends around Australia and international- THE INDYPENDENT new government to which sovereignty would ly – and founded the Sydney Cave clan be handed over by the U.S. directly. branch. Over the years the tribe has It was Sistani who derailed those plans as explored thousands of miles of under- undemocratic. When the involvement of the ground passageways, drains, mines and U.N. was first broached last winter by other components of the urban vasculature. Governing Council members, the Americans Predator was also a dumpster diver, anar- JUNE 16–30, 2004 were said to have been “extremely offended.” cho-syndicalist, molecular biologist, squat- Sistani is not a secularist by any stretch of ter and well-known good guy. the imagination. If he gets what he wants, Even with the realization that he had can- religious law will have a vast influence on cer, Predator did not stop, but continued to

Iraqi society and politics, and women’s rights play an active role in all spheres of his life 13 will be rolled back. On the other hand, Sistani – until the very end. Predator is dead, but his legacy lives on. —sydney.indymedia.org REVIEWS CULTURE, POLICS AND CRITICISM

ARAB MEDIA watch: a dead boy's intestines splayed on a hospital sheet; an Iraqi SCHOOLS THE woman in front of her bombed-out WORLD house yelling "If this is Bush's democracy, then we don't want it!" CONTROL ROOM But, Noujaim does not prosely- Dir. Jehane Noujaim tize. She peppers the images with 87 minutes commentary from unlikely sources, or Jehane Noujaim, a 29- like CNN reporter Tom Mintier. In year-old Egyptian-Ameri- one moment, Mintier expresses his F can filmmaker now living anger at the media frenzy behind in Brooklyn, timing was every- the rescue of Pvt. Jessica Lynch in thing. Noujaim arrived in Qatar the film. Commenting on what two weeks before the U.S. invasion was essentially a blackout of battle- of Iraq, and in the course of filming, field developments as U.S. forces gained access to both the back- entered Baghdad, Mintier says, rooms of Al-Jazeera and U.S. Cen- “They’re burying the leads.” tral Command, or Centcom, the One of the more fortunate turn Pentagon's media center. The result of events for Noujaim is meeting is Control Room, a documentary Centcom press liaison, Lt. Josh THE SORROWS OF EMPIRE examining the inner workings of Rushing who worked as a U.S. Al-Jazeera, that hit theaters nation- military script supervisor for Hol- wide on June 11 after a successful lywood prior to coming to Qatar. Militarism, imperialism and an inbred elite have opening in New York. Rushing is a surprisingly com- Control Room is a must see if for plex character who proves to be a brought the American Republic to the end of it’s no other reason than it provides an good listener to Arab concerns rope, says Chalmers Johnson. alternative lens to the ethics gov- about the war, while being a will- erning news, especially in relation ing participant in the “U.S. liber- popular singer takes center stage at the A sense of sadness and loss permeates this to Al-Jazeera. The Qatar-based ation of the Iraqi people.” Super Bowl to perform the national book. Washington elites dream of leading a During one exchange, Ibrahim A anthem. She is escorted by the Vice- 21st century Rome. But for Johnson, longtime news channel is often maligned by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while four Japan expert, former spook and author of the grills the youthful lieutenant about the Bush Administration for broad- fighter planes roar overhead. A decorated war eerily prophetic Blowback: The Costs and Con- casting news that is characterized as the realities of military occupation, hero runs for President and is denounced as a sequences of American Empire (published in “not factual,” “nationalist” and in revealing Rushing’s naiveté about traitor for his youthful opposition to a disas- 2000), the quest for world domination is a mor- the words of Donald Rumsfeld – imposing democracy on Iraqis trous colonial war he fought in 35 years earlier. tal threat to whatever shreds of Constitutional “Osama Bin Laden’s mouthpiece.” “Democratize or we’ll shoot,” says The Pentagon demands Congress supply anoth- government still remain in this country – and is Early on, Noujaim introduces Rushing in the exchange. er $25 billion (on top of the $450 billion plus ultimately self-defeating. the audience to the primary fig- The movie is strongest when it per year it is already receiving) to fund the war “Rome,” he notes, “ruled all the known world ures of the film – Hassan Ibrahim, challenges the sanitized images fed in Iraq, without bothering to itemize its project- except China, but in the process Roman democ- ed expenses. A modified version of this meas- racy was supplanted by dictatorship, and even- a former BBC reporter from the to Americans during the invasion. ure passes the U.S. Senate by a vote of 95-0. tually the Romans were overwhelmed by the One example, the toppling of the Sudan and Samir Kahder, Al- These are among the countless examples of world of enemies they had created. To the very Jazeera’s senior producer. Both Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad, runaway militarism in American life that form the end Roman armies pretended to speak for the Ibrahim and Kahder resemble emerges as anything but a clear-cut backdrop to Chalmers Johnson’s latest book, The ‘Senate and the Roman people’ and paraded 1940s film noir characters, punc- demonstration of Iraqi joy for the Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy and the under the banner with the Latin initials SPQR tuating opinions with each new ousting of the former dictator. End of the Republic. In Sorrows, Johnson traces (Senatus Populusque Romanus). But the days cigarette they light. Another is the U.S. military’s the rise of the American empire and the far-flung when the Senate mattered were long past; “You are the most powerful bombing of a building in Bagh- military establishment that currently garrisons it empire had become an end in itself.” nation on earth; you can crush dad housing Al-Jazeera staff, with bases in over 130 countries worldwide. — John Tarleton everyone, but don’t ask us to love which killed Palestinian-Jordan- it as well,” Ibrahim says between ian journalist, Tariq Ayoub. The inhalations, while he both praises Pentagon later called the incident interview: might make advertisers a little Achbar discusses some of the issues the United States for beinga liber- “an unfortunate accident.” squeamish. So while The Corpora- raised in The Corporation and solu- al democracy and condemns its The scene of Ayoub waiting atop tion has triumphed at film festivals tions to reforming a dominating policies in the Middle East. the building motionless and Mark around the globe, including an and amoral system. Among the film’s major themes frightened on live television min- Audience Award win at Sundance, is Al-Jazeera’s unwavering commit- utes before his death is a surreal Achbar the only way to see it in the US is History has humbled every formerly ment to showing the consequences moment that will raise questions during its limited summer tour of dominant institution from the Roman of war – which Secretary of State about how he died. (It is revealed in Director of ‘The Corportation’ selected cities. Empire to communism. You’ve said Colin Powell claimed was jeopard- the film that Al-Jazeera’s executive & ‘Manufacturing Consent’ Achbar’s conclusions aren’t that the corporation is unlikely to izing reconstruction efforts in Iraq. director gave the U.S. State Depart- without their detractors. Between become the first to defy history, but No wonder, since Al-Jazeera’s war- ment specific coordinates of the espite being the top- clips of early newsreels, corporate with globalization, corporations are time images, beamed to 40 million location of its reporters throughout grossing Canadian docu- propaganda films and explosive becoming more pervasive and powerful Arab households worldwide, have Iraq, including Tariq’s.) Dmentary ever, Manufac- free trade summit footage, high- than ever. Is a reversal of this trend shown viewers that there is no such Control Room raises difficult turing Consent, an exploration of ranking (and invariably smiling) likely any time soon? thing as a sterile or bloodless war. questions about media responsibili- Noam Chomsky’s media control business figures such as the CEO Noujaim uses footage from Al- ty during wartime. Keep an eye out theories, has never aired on a com- of Goodyear, the former chairman MA: I’m starting to see a Jazeera showing dead and wound- for the upcoming P.O.V. special mercial network or major cable of Shell, and Nobel Prize-winning groundswell of people no longer

THE INDYPENDENT ed Iraqis and pairs this with that will air on PBS stations July 6, station in the United States. His economist Milton Friedman give willing to acknowledge the legiti- reports by U.S. newscasters tout- “War Feels Like War.” Directed by latest film, The Corporation, has their opinions on capitalism (lest macy of the institution. If you ing the amazing abilities of the Spanish filmmaker Esteban Uyarra, already surpassed Manufacturing the right wing call the progres- would’ve said that the Berlin Wall Pentagon, often from reporters in the documentary offers another take Consent’s success in his homeland, sives unfair). Critics like Chomsky, was going to fall, two years before full “embedded” combat gear. on the non-embedded or “unilater- but don’t strain your eyes looking Howard Zinn, and Michael Moore it did, nobody would have believed

JUNE 16–30, 2004 Some of the Al-Jazeera footage al” journalists covering the war. for this one in TV Guide, either. face off in the other corner, but the you. There comes a tipping point, has never been aired before by U.S. —Jackson Allers The film’s theme – that the clash is transparent. Corporations and you never know when it’s

14 media and, at times, is difficult to corporation is a psychopath – value profits above life. Here, going to happen... but you get a The Corporation opens June 30 at the Film Forum

sense of things. There’s certainly corporations have a duty to make The film paints a very negative picture been a move towards reform. money for their shareholders, but of privatization, from the genetic There’s more of a consciousness not at the expense of human patenting to the revolts in Bolivia of the institution itself, and this rights, the environment, etc.” against Bechtel’s ownership of the film is a part of that growing water supply (including rain), but consciousness. But how do you enforce the well- some public institutions are so intentioned legislation that manages bureaucratic and inefficient. Could- But corporate ideology is so to get passed? Sam Gibara (Chair- n’t privatization benefit, say, inescapable, as if this system were a man and former CEO of Goodyear) American public schools? foregone conclusion and there are no seems to be taunting the public in the alternatives. How do you get outside movie when he says, “Governments MA: That’s a tough question, but it this envelopment to get a critical are powerless compared to where they seems to me that the incentives are detachment? were before.” When breaking the law all wrong. What do you do if a is profitable, corporations are notori- school isn’t profitable? Shut it MA: You go see this movie ous for simply paying fines for viola- down? That could be pretty disrup- (laughs). It’s very hard to escape tions. The film even shows how 57 tive and the children could suffer unless you move to an island, U.S. multinationals were fined in greatly. Call me old-fashioned, but and even then airplanes are going one week for trading with officially there’s just something not right to fly overhead and stuff is going recognized enemy states, but they just about the public education system to wash up on your beach, so I write a check and it’s back to business being manipulated for profit. don’t think escape is a goal. We as usual. This seems ludicrous, need to diminish the harmful because under California’s Three But isn’t this already happening? effects of industry or we might Strikes law, for example, repeat not have a world to debate the offenders can get 20 years for stealing MA: Well, there’s the infiltra- modern business structure. a candy bar, so why aren’t corporation of schools by advertising, tions held to the same standards? with McDonald’s serving lunches, Well, the film shows the public out- etc. Then there are actual for- cry when it was revealed that little MA: There’s actually people like profit schools that are owned by kids in Honduran sweatshops were Robert Benson at UCLA who publicly traded corporations. making the clothes for Wal-Mart’s advocate Three Strikes legislation This means that their principle Kathy Lee Gifford line, and Kathy for corporations. I think the motivating force has to be prof- Lee apologized and stood up for these problem is a question of equality, it, which seems to clash with kids, but Wal-Mart still exploits like with these “triple P’s” (Pub- what it should be – education. cheap labor and they haven’t crumbled. lic-Private Partnerships). They It seems like America demands more can be good, we certainly would- What about the theory that says accountability from its celebrities n’t have got this film made with- what’s best for the market is best for than its corporations. out the (Canadian) government, the people? but industry wants to be per- MA: Kathy Lee’s public image ceived as an equal. They should MA: I think the inequalities in matters to her a lot – and I think be subordinate to the govern- society today prove that market she genuinely cares about how ment and the public, not the forces need a little regulation. kids are treated – so it made other way around. In theory, the invisible hand strategic sense to expose her, will take care of companies that because she had to respond. She’s In some cases, like certain aspects of completely stomp on their the human face of one aspect of biotechnology shown in the film, workers, because people won’t the WalMart brand, so they made where corporations have begun work there, but workers are des- her publicly accountable. Wal- patenting living organisms and dis- perate, so they do. Parecon by Mart can deflect bad publicity, coveries relating to the human genet- Michael Albert is about partici- because it’s so huge, but when ic sequence, there doesn’t seem to be patory economics. It’s complete- Kathy Lee takes a hit, she’s got to much of a question as to who’s writ- ly different model for seeing come up with some answers. ing the rules. What are the implica- how an economy could be run, tions of these developments? and under what principles, and So how can the public work towards how to get the things we value increasing corporate accountability? MA: I’m not an expert in that enshrined in an economy. field, but I just find it deeply I think it’s a model worth con- MA: Demanding progressive leg- offensive that some corporation sidering- or at least discussing. islation from politicians is a good has any claim to my genetic I’m not smart enough to design start. With all the deregulation make-up. It’s morally repug- an alternative society, but it has to that’s been lobbied for, look at how nant that they’re divvying up the come as a result of the democratic the Bush administration has sys- genetic commons. We need to find process. It’s important that there tematically reduced constraints on another system of incentives to are some people who are thinking air polluters. It’s a case study in the allow the research to be done. I’m forward and trying to conceive of THE INDYPENDENT film’s thesis, because the not saying, “Let’s all be Luddites a system that’s not what used to euphemisms used to justify it are and not explore how to cure dis- be called communism and takes stunning in their duplicity. It’s eases,” but there must be a system the best things in terms of alloca- Orwellian – good is bad, black is of public ownership and manage- tion and use of markets and put it

white, and the Clean Air Act puts ment of these research facilities. together in a humane, equitable JUNE 16–30, 2004 more pollution in the air. But way promotes good values. We accountability can start locally. What about universities? need to keep our humanity intact. The film shows Arcata, California, — Liam O’Donoghue doing this, and there’s a communi- MA: Maybe, or it could be an Excerpted from the premier issue of ty near Minneapolis that’s trying international body or a section Fault Lines, the new newspaper of 15 to pass a law saying, “Officers of of the UN. the SF/Bay IMC. See Indybay.org