The Gainesville Iguana April 2016 Vol. 30, Issue 4 Noam Chomsky on income inequality, student debt crisis Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass . Jan . 22, 2016 Following is an excerpt from an inter- view with Noam Chomsky provided by David Barsamian’s Alternative Radio. Cara Jennings, a former Lake Worth city commissioner, criticizes Florida Gov . AR, established in 1986, is a weekly Rick Scott at a Starbucks on April 5, in a video that has gone viral . The video, with one-hour public affairs program offered captions, can be seen at: https://www .youtube .com/watch?v=PkTgBUYUkMM . free to all public radio stations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and beyond. AR provides Q&A: This is why I went off on Florida information, analyses and views that are frequently ignored or distorted in other Gov. Rick Scott at Starbucks media. Their funding depends on indi- vidual donations and subscriptions. Learn By Mary Emily O'Hara was the first anarchist elected to public more and support AR at www.alternative- office in Florida, becoming a Lake Worth Reprinted from the April 6 Daily Dot at radio.org. http://bit .ly/1PUod0X city commissioner in 2006 and inciting controversy when she refused to say the While the cost of living goes up, wages fall, Cara Jennings is a force of nature. Pledge of Allegiance in office. Though and we keep seeing in each of our states the Total disclosure: Cara is an old friend of she has traveled the world, Cara still lives ability to have a secure retirement is also mine. We spent our twenties traveling to in Lake Worth, the small town near West falling, while at the same time it seems the many of the same protests, in an activist Palm Beach where she and her sisters top one percent just keep getting richer . performance-art troupe called the Radical grew up. Now a working mom who does How long do you think we can sustain this Cheerleaders that Cara founded in the late contract work for the Service Employees trend before the system just breaks? 1990s with her two sisters, Aimee and International Union (SEIU), she resides If you haven’t looked at it yet, you might Colleen. As a young civil rights move- in an anarchist collective house known as pick up on the Internet the latest Oxfam ment within itself, radical cheerleaders a crash pad for activists passing through report. Oxfam comes out with a detailed were often found yelling loudly about the area. Her erudite criticisms of both lo- analysis of global inequality every year. things like feminism, environmental jus- cal politicians and global issues frequent- They just came out with their last one. ly make the news. tice, and labor rights at anyone who was See CHOMSKY, p. 16 within earshot. She spoke with the Daily Dot by phone So it wasn’t much of a shock when I on Wednesday amidst a media frenzy that INSIDE ... logged onto Facebook Tuesday night to had descended after the Scott video ex- Editors’ Picks...... 2 discover that a video of Cara had gone ploded in popularity online. From the Publisher...... 3 viral—a video in which she reads Florida Cara, you are very viral today. Are you Event Calendar...... 12–13 Gov. Rick Scott to filth in a Gainesville being hounded by the press? Radio Programming ...... 18 Starbucks. I hadn’t seen Cara in years, but I have a Fox interview in 15 minutes, but CMC Events ...... 19 there she was, the same fiery, unstoppable Oral History ...... 20-21 anarcha-feminist I remembered so fondly. it’s Fox so, you know, what do I care? I have 15 unread text messages that are all Directory...... 22-23 In the years in between, Cara Jennings See JENNINGS, p. 14 Editors’ picks: News that didn’t fit From the publisher: Subscribe! Bernie Sanders, the Foreign-Policy Realist of 2016 by Robert English – Of all the presidential candidates of either party, Bernie is actually the most sober and clear-eyed . All we want is some truth, The Gainesville Iguana D http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-the-foreign-policy-realist-of-2016/ is Gainesville's progressive events calendar & newsletter . Chomsky, Snowden, Greenwald on Privacy in the Age of Surveillance by Lauren McCauley – Panel discussion challenges just give us some truth the rhetoric that national security requires that governments can access individual communications . So the other night I got home about 9:45, and remembered the NCAA men’s basket- D http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/26/chomsky-snowden-greenwald-privacy-age-surveillance ball championship game was on. I flicked on the TV and started through the channels Individuals: $15 until I found it. As an underdog rooter, and not a big basketball fan, I was leaning (or more if you can) Slain Activist Berta Cáceres' Daughter: US Military Aid Has Fueled Repression & Violence in Honduras by Democracy toward Villanova, and my timing was great; score tied at 46 each in the second half. Now! – This is a stunning and powerful segment of Democracy Now devoted to Honduras, and the political assassinations Low/No income: What you can which have followed the coup that Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State allowed to stand . But the coverage was odd, crowd shots all NC fans, most all replays of North Carolina, Groups: $20 D http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/18/slain_activist_berta_caceras_daughter_us?autostart=true and the commentators totally biased to NC. Then on commercials I’d go over to MSNBC, Gainesville Iguana CNN or FOX and see what they were saying, which was P .O . Box 14712 What's the Matter with Liberalism? by Mike O'Connor – Historian's review of Listen, Liberal–or–What Ever Happened almost all about the campaign for President. I learned Gainesville, FL 32604 , Thomas Frank's new book on how the Democrats came to represent yuppies rather than workers . to the Party of the People? later regarding the basketball game that the networks now D http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/162357 Comments, suggestions, contributions will have multiple feeds of the game going out, with one (written or financial) are welcome. To Why is Honduras the world’s deadliest country for environmentalists? by Autumn Spanne each for the respective teams. But not knowing that, and list your event or group, contact us at: D http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/07/honduras-environment-killing-human-rights-berta-caceres-flores-murderD with my jumping over to the news stations, I started to see (352) 378-5655 bias in how the news channels report pretty clearly, too. Evident bias toward parties, and candidates. GainesvilleIguana@cox .net www .gainesvilleiguana .org Worse, because of this, truth suffers, because the information facebook .com/gainesvilleiguana The problem is ... money outlets cease worrying about presenting a complete and truth- by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship that also makes television executives and political strategists ful picture, and instead settle for the easy road of little back The Iguana has been published monthly Following is an excerpt from the Dec . 18 article “Bad News for wealthy. Here’s CBS chief executive Les Moonves at an and forth snippets of opinion by spokespeople from the cam- Joe Courter or bimonthly by volunteers for more Democracy is great news for TV Profits,” on how TV network investor presentation last week, cheering on Trump and the other paigns. And then just talk about the horse-race aspect, using than 25 years . Circulation for this issue heads encourage millionaires and billionaires to spend vast Republican candidates: “The more they spend, the better it is for polling for information to base their “analysis.” is 4,500 . amounts of money on ads to influence the presidential election. us … Go Donald! Keep getting out there. And you know, this is What I have been drawn to in the Bernie Sanders campaign is his blunt truthfulness. Publisher: (T)he problem is money. Tons of it. Trump brings ratings fun, watching this, let them spend money on us… We’re looking forward to a very exciting political year in ‘16.” When asked about the possible destabilizing role U.S. foreign policy may have had Joe Courter and ratings raise advertising revenue. What’s more, in an regarding ISIS, he went all the way back to mention Iran in 1953, and Chile in 1973. election cycle like this one, cash already is pouring in from the Fun? Exciting? Only if you enjoy getting rich, as Moonves appar- He defended his support of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua in the 1980s. All these were Editors Emeritus: production, sale and placement of political TV advertising, cash ently does, while watching the country go collectively bonkers. interventions to topple elected governments that the U.S. undertook with disastrous Jenny Brown This is the same Les Moonves who declared during the 2012 outcomes. Topic after topic, he addresses things head on; corporate power, climate Mark Piotrowski campaign, “Super PACs may be bad for America, but they’re change, health care and income inequity. This is a rare moment of political education very good for CBS.” And earlier this year, on an investors call, and ideal raising by a candidate for high office; one with a great track record of being Editorial Board: Pierce Butler he said, “Looking ahead, the 2016 presidential election is right on the right side of history again and again. We have to hope the momentum and en- thusiasm being generated can sustain itself. Joe Courter around the corner and, thank God, the rancor has already be- Beth Grobman gun.” You can hear the fictional Howard Beale of Paddy Chayef- The political conventions of both major parties will be quite something this sum- Jessica Newman sky’s Network spinning in his fictional grave, still mad as hell. mer, but especially the Repubs. As of now Kasich is still hanging in there, he is at Moonves likes to play the wise guy but he also knows that some least sane. The other two are showmen of different stripes, willing to say anything Production work & assistance: are predicting that the 2016 presidential election may cost as to please their audiences. Both are very dangerous to our country and frankly to Joye Barnes much as $5 billion, with much if not most of it going to televi- the planet. Neither gives a damn about the truth. Things seem pretty unstable, and Stephen Bender sion. Hard to believe that, as Julie Bykowicz at the Associated frankly scary, because so many people have been drawn in to their fear-based talking Jenny Brown Press reported earlier this month, “… Some 62,462 presidential points and apocalyptic visions. But is a split in the GOP a good thing for Progres- Scott Camil ads have been on broadcast airwaves already this year, accord- sives? What Glen Ford says on pages 8-9 bears consideration. Matt Kell Erica Merrill ing to advertising tracker Kantar Media’s CMAG. The 2016 We have fundamental problems in our society, entrenched problems of growing com- hopefuls and their related political groups, such as super PACs, plexity, because they magnify with succeeding generations. Inferior education and Distribution: have plans to spend $133 million on broadcast TV by the begin- minimal job opportunities in poor areas. Cutbacks in the social safety net. A proxy war Joe Courter ning of March, CMAG information shows.” machine all over the world. This is the status quo. These won’t be solved with an elec- Bill Gilbert This is why, despite the encroachments of cable, satellite and the tion, but an election can definitely make things worse. Jack Price Internet, local and network broadcast television is still such a Or this time perhaps it can be a catalyst to start making the needed changes. I was struck Anita Sundaram money-making machine. At some TV stations, a third of adver- by what Susan Sarandon said to Chris Hayes on his show on MSNBC on March 28, Contact us if you can help with tising revenue comes from political ads. which is reprinted below, underscoring her strong support for Bernie. distribution in outlying areas . So is it any wonder local and national TV news is squeamish about ------Authors & photographers have sole taking on real, in-depth coverage of the campaigns that unload SARANDON: I think (about) what’s going on now. If you think it’s pragmatic to credit, responsibility for, and rights to endless wheelbarrows of cash on their doorsteps? That broadcast shore up the status quo right now, then you’re in touch with (okay with) the status their work . Cover drawing of iguana executives have no qualms about ruining the airwaves and honest quo. The status quo is not working and I think it’s dangerous to think that we can by Daryl Harrison . discourse while taking glee at the windfalls of profits? ... continue the way we are with the militarized police force, with privatized pris- Printed on recycled paper . Read the entire article at: http://billmoyers .com/story/bad- ons, with the death penalty with the low minimum wage, with threats to women’s news-for-democracy-is-great-news-for-tv-profits/D See COURTER, p. 4

page 2, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 3 (April 2-11) and coordinating mass actions engines to generate mass participation for of 99Rise and sparkplug of this spring Mavericks and mad-as-hellers march to Washington and sit-ins at the Capitol (April 11-16). the more than two weeks of Democracy protest puts it, we’ll be “Standing up for The “Spring” (referring both to nature’s Spring and Democracy Awakening events. democracy by sitting in.” for a pro-democracy rebellion April 18 ... Because it’s time season of rebirth and the physical act of In other words, this is a huge and complex Do something! by Jim Hightower in a peaceful sit-in at the US Capitol. I don’t yet know the details leaping forward from a constrained posi- undertaking, but there is a serious buy-in With [this] month’s upcoming actions of the process, but I am certain why I’m doing it: to help reclaim tion) will also enlist those who can’t be Below is an excerpt from an article that originally appeared and commitment of resources and staff promising to electrify the movement for our People’s democratic rights from the moneyed elites who in Philadelphia/DC. There will be call-in from an impressive array of grassroots in the March 2016 issue of Jim Hightower’s Lowdown . See the democracy reform, now is an important have bought our elections and deeply corrupted our government days, webcasts, Twitter storms, online pe- doers. The importance of the effort is original and more at www .hightowerlowdown .org . time to get involved, stay involved, and in order to impose a corporate plutocracy over you and me. titions, local solidarity demonstrations in underscored by the willingness of so The jig is up, and my time has come. I’m about to be arrested. spread the word. You can start by visiting front of the district offices of lawmakers, many to risk arrest in what is expected They’ll be hauling me away in mid-April. I’m also certain I will not be alone in the paddy wagon. That’s democracyawakening.org. because thousands of mad-as-hellers will be converging on and a basket full of other fun/ effective to be the largest, non-violent, civil- Not for doing anything wrong, really. In fact, if the authorities Washington to launch a nationwide mass mobilization of ways that lively imaginations will con- disobedience action in a generation. The In addition to the schedule and outline of arrest me, it will be for standing up for what’s right. Or, more people power to halt Big Money’s control of our political jure up to amplify the message that our plan is to have peaceful sit-ins every the April 16-18 events, there you can find accurately, I’ll be sitting down for what’s right--by participating system. As I write this, more than 2,000 of us have already democracy is broken and that “we” (i.e., day, April 11-16, under the dome of our information on affordable transportation pledged to engage in the time-honored tactic of peaceful civil The People) now intend to fix it. Capitol--”the People’s house.” to Washington and affordable housing while in DC. (Click on the “Logistics” COURTER, from p. 3 disobedience by “sitting-in” for democracy. Five strong groups – 99Rise, Avaaz, Among those who’ve pledged to put their tab.) It will be cherry blossom season in rights and think that you can’t do something huge to turn that Democracy Matters, Energy Action butts on the line are Ben Cohen of Ben & But you don’t have to go so far as to risk arrest to join this mid April, so make your arrangements as around because the country is not in good shape. If you’re in Coalition, and the Retail, Wholesale, Jerry’s, Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, democratic moment, for the April mobilization will offer soon as you can! Follow them on Twitter the middle class, it’s disappearing and you look...you want to and Department Store Union – form anticorruption Congressional candidate a wide variety of ways to protest the plutocrats without at @DemAwakening and on Facebook. see Michael Moore’s documentary, it’s pretty funny the way leaving your comfort zone. the steering committee. More than 100 Zephyr Teachout, law professor Larry they describe it, but you’ll see that health care, you know, and organizations, including the Lowdown, Lessig, food activist and author Frances At democracyspring.org, you have the op- It [began on] April 2 with a patriotic rally at the Liberty Bell in education in all these other countries, we’ve been told it’s im- have endorsed the effort and are involved Moore Lappe, Rabbi Arthur Waskow of portunity to sign up for the Philadelphia- Philadelphia [followed by] a 10-day, 140-mile democracy trek possible (here). It’s like we’ve been in this bad relationship in a dozen or so working groups that are the Shalom Center, core Occupy Wall to-Washington march and/or to make a from Philly to Capitol Hill. On Saturday, April 16, there will be and now we have to break up with the guy because we realize divvying up the numerous chores that must Street organizer Winnie Wong, actors pledge to risk arrest by participating in the teach-ins, workshops, and non-violent direct action trainings, we’re worth it. We should have these things. We have to stop be done to create a successful mobilization. Gaby Hoffman and Mark Ruffalo, civil disobedience in DC. The organizers and on the 17th a big, colorful protest march, followed by a prioritizing war and I don’t like the fact she (Clinton) talks And hundreds of local volunteer leaders community activist Paulina Gonzales, have pledged both training and legal sup- “Rally for Democracy” on the Capitol lawn. The 18th will be a about Henry Kissinger as being her, you know, go to guy for are connected to more than 50 “regional and The Yes Men--plus your spunky port for direct action participants. You can “Congress of Conscience,” a day of direct action and advocacy the stuff that’s happened in Libya and other things; I don’t organizing hubs” set-up throughout the Lowdown contingent of “cat wrangler” also sign up to volunteer or just participate during which we commoners can demand, in person, that our think it’s good.” country to coordinate community outreach Jay Harris, “internet emissary” Deanna in the rallies. Follow them on Twitter (@ Congress critters expand voting rights and end their corporate and serve as the organizing and mobilizing Zandt, and me. As Kai Newkirk, director D I actually met her in Washington, DC at the A16 protest against money addiction. DemSpring) and on Facebook. the World Bank/IMF in 2000. She was there with us on the streets. She gets it. As I said last month... “This is not a Reality Throughout this People-A-Palooza, there will be an energizing Show, it is Real.” D balance of seriousness and fun: how-to workshops, tub-thump- ing speeches, cultural exchanges, pop-up musical performances, art exhibits and shows, and other activities. And it won’t even end in April. The convening groups and the rank-and-file people energized by the mobilization will be taking the demand for action back to the grassroots and directly into the myriad 2016 campaigns for public office. Two large coalitions, Democracy Awakening and Democracy Spring, each distinct but mutually supportive, are coordinating this pro-democracy rebellion. Democracy Spring Based on intense and inclusive social media organizing and a very diverse network of community activists and “roots” groups, this vibrant coalition is leading the Liberty-Bell-to-Capitol-Hill march

GALLERY TOUR BEGINS AT 7:00 PM

page 4, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 5 An artist’s response to a community tragedy Updates from Alachua County Labor Coalition by Barbe Hau Fight for $15, Orlando million workers being paid less than $15. Central Florida Jobs With Justice is a When I heard about the tragic death of coalition consisting of labor unions, A group of people from Gainesville and Robert Dentmond I had a deep visceral re- April 14 community organizations, faith based the ACLC are driving down in a rented action to it. Horrified, outraged and over- groups and students working together to It’s time to take the Fight for $15 to the van, meeting at the new Labor Coalition whelmed with grief I remembered the tre- build power for working people. We are streets! office. Please message Sheila Payne on mendous amount of pain I was in when I a part of the national Jobs with Justice also attempted suicide. It breaks my heart Nearly 64 million hardworking Ameri- Facebook if you can join us. which is a network of over 45 coalitions to know that someone so young and full cans make less than $15 an hour. That’s For more information and updates after- organizing in their communities along side of promise was feeling that way but for just not right – and on April 14, we’re the-fact, see the Facebook event at: with us for social and economic justice. him, the outcome was so much different. standing together in Orlando to yell https://www.facebook.com/ Learn more at: For him, help came in the form of a firing “enough.” Are you with us? We’re ral- events/1076100632446044/ squad, not a crisis intervention counselor. lying to show that we support $15 and http://laborcoalition.org. ------And then I thought about his family, es- union rights for all working people. Fast------pecially his sister and the tremendous food workers will go on strike in 300 cit- ACLC General Meeting with ies, including Orlando. County Commission Meeting amount of pain they were about to go Guest Speaker from Central on Living Wage Campaign through. About ten years ago I worked in The workers’ protests, timed to hit Florida Jobs With Justice South America as a human rights observ- just before Tax Day, will zero in on April 12 April 26 er in Colombia and I sat in a boat across McDonald’s, highlighting how the This issue of the Iguana will be out after from a mother who was waiting to find world’s second-largest employer and An organizer from Central Florida Jobs this meeting takes place, but learn more out if the corpse we found in the river was the industry leader in the fast food and With Justice will speak at this month’s about the issue and the outcome on the her missing son. The amount of pain ra- service economies is driving a race to the ACLC general meeting on April 26 at ACLC Facebook page at: diating from her every pore rose up and bottom that is undercutting wages across the Mennonite Church, 1236 NW 18th https://www.facebook.com/ shattered the heavens and I was sure the Robert Dentmond, 16, was shot and killed when 9 police officers fired at him after a tense stand- the economy and resulting in nearly 64 Avenue, in Gainesville. groups/109862125217/. D entire world could hear her cries. off in the parking lot at Majestic Oaks Apartments on March 20 . He had called 911 and said he Today I am an artist working in the tra- wanted to shoot himself and had an M-16 . It turned out it was a realistic looking plastic replia ditional mediums of oil paints, pastels, AR-15 . Many questions have been raised about police procedures and the availability of crisis charcoal and watercolors. counselors in such situations . Painting by Barb Hau . The day after I heard the news of the kid’s best friend anywhere in the country. he opened with a beautiful ceremony to shooting I went to my studio and started But he was one of our own, part of the tie Robert’s spirit to us so that he does drawing some of the several self-portraits Gainesville community. And he was dead not wander in pain. I found of Robert online. I saw a young now and that feels so very, very wrong. man, still boyish, with a rakish mischie- Robert’s father and brother were pre- vous grin, sometimes with just a glimmer The death of Robert Dentmond will impact sented with a flower imbued with wa- of sadness behind his eyes, part teenage this community for a long time to come. I ter we had made holy with our prayers. angst, part teenage bravado, part good- feel right now we are all still in shock. For Then local photographer and African natured jokester. This could be any high my own sake I had to get the overwhelm- dance instructor larry d. rosalez talked school student, any mother’s child, any ing feelings out on paper. As I worked in about his photographs on display and my studio that day I thought about what the ongoing series he has been working it means to be an artist responding to the on with actor DeAnna S. Wright on the world around us. As artists we are bedaz- theme of blackness, loss and mourning. zled by the world’s beauty, horrified by its He shared with us his powerful poem, violence and injustice, overwhelmed by its “black is” and DeAnna sang a soul- awesomeness, impermanence, immortal- shattering song before we collected do- ity. If anything is apropos of being memo- nations for Robert’s dad. rialized in art, surely this was it. Afterwards local activist from Porter’s Then I emailed all the artists I could think Sister Faye led us in a community discus- of who might be feeling the urge to re- sion to process of our feeling about the spond to this tragedy in some way and shooting and the loss of another precious we decided to put on a show. “Artists Re- young man’s life at the hands of the po- spond to a Community Loss: To the Mem- lice. Art and performance are meaning- ory and Benefit of Robert Dentmond” and less if they do not start a larger dialogue after much agonizing over whether this in the community, in this case about about was the proper time or place the event mental health, gun violence, racial and was held Saturday, April 2 at the Tench class disparities. Artist Studios in downtown Gainesville. We hope the art ceremony provided some Turbado Marabou, a nationally known comfort to Robert’s family and contrib- Subscribe $30/year visual artist whose works are very spiri- uted to a community healing process that tually based is also a Yoruban priest and still has a long way to go. D

page 6, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 7 Sanders supporters; no matter the lies she mouths about her A Republican meltdown won’t make the Democrats better commitment to the fight against economic injustice and corporate Post-election, pre-election By Glen Ford is in terminal meltdown. By choosing Trump as their champion, lawlessness; not matter how loudly she proclaims that Black Black Agenda Report, March 24, 2016 the GOP’s core white supremacist constituency is showing that lives matter, she and the rest of Democratic Party leadership will by Joe Courter it never gave much of a damn about the Republicans’ corpo- Glen Ford is an insightful write and thinker, and this is a vision instantly mobilize to embrace the “moderate” Republicans that Yes we just had an election here in Gainesville, and it came rate trade and tax agenda, and that their main interest in foreign that needs consideration . If we don’t build a strong left in this have been cast adrift by Trump’s GOP revolt. “Moderate” will out pretty well. With a higher voter turnout driven by contested policy is in keeping foreigners out of the USA. Their “conser- country, this is a very likely outcome of a Republican fragmenta- be defined as any Republican that, for whatever reason, cannot presidential primaries, we saw Mayor Ed Braddy turned out of vatism” is almost entirely defined by their racism – including tion . This article originally appeared on Reader Supported News stomach The Donald or abide the overt racism of his hordes. office by Lauren Poe, and Adrian Hayes-Santos score an over- white “evangelicals.” They feel betrayed, because Republican on March 26 . See more at readersupportednews .org . The dissolution of the Republican Party as we have known it whelming triumph in the City Commission race. leadership clearly cares more about capital gains taxes than the compels its duopoly partner, the Democrats, to move quickly to The impending breakup of the Republican Party will not create perceived collapse in white group privilege and prestige. They But being a democracy, and an even numbered year, we are scoop up the spillage: the tens of millions of disoriented Repub- more favorable conditions for Black and progressive electoral want a real White Man’s Party – as was promised to them by not done. August 30 will be the Primary voting day, so if lican-leaning whites that will instantaneously be categorized as politics. Instead, it will compel the Democrats to build a “big Barry Goldwater in 1964 and Richard Nixon in 1968 – not a you are a recent or longtime registered Democrat, you get “moderates,” to be ushered into the Democratic ranks. Clinton tent” party, after the convention this summer. The strategy will Wall Street Party, especially since many of the white racist rank to vote again in a number of races which feature multiple “push Blacks and progressives back to the margins, smothering and file associate Wall Street with Jews. and the DNC cannot help but lunge rightward with arms out- Democratic candidates. them with newly categorized ‘moderates’ who, before Donald stretched to grab a huge chunk of 2012 Romney voters. They are The ruling class and all its “complexes” – military, industrial, This includes very important races locally as both Alachua Trump’s intervention, were Republicans.” already savoring the prospect of gaining majority white support national security, financial – is in panic at the prospect of losing in a national election for the first time since 1964. Nothing will County Commissioners Robert Hutchinson and Mike Byerly Bernie Sanders’ surprise victory in Michigan – and his best control of a huge part of its white mass electoral base, which stop them from shaping a “big tent” strategy to build a “super- have Primary challengers. More details will be talked about in showing yet among Black voters, at 30 percent – increases the supports Trump despite (or, to some degree, because of) his pro- party” on the detritus of the GOP collapse. And not just for the the May/June and July/August Iguanas regarding other races. odds that Hillary Clinton will at some point in this primary sea- tectionism and foreign policy pronouncements that are to the 2016 campaign. The “big tent” they envision will no longer be These include two School Board races (yay Eileen Roy), a much son lose discipline and allow her inner witch to emerge, cackling left of Democrats Clinton and Sanders. Trump says he would 20 to 25 percent Black, with a similar proportion of progressive needed challenge to Sheriff Sadie Darnell by Zac Zadalis (yay insults at the Sandernistas and driving substantial numbers of not have attacked and overthrown Saddam Hussein and Muam- whites. Instead, corporate Democrats will launch an appeal to Zac), various constitutional offices, and judges. Major ones them out of the Democratic Party. mar Gaddafi, because “they fought terrorism,” and would simi- everyone to the left of the Aryan Nations. The campaign will to watch include Keith Perry (R) vs Rod Smith (D) for State The pollsters made their biggest miscalculations in decades in larly call off the proxy war against Bashar al-Assad in Syria. become a kind of “One America” crusade, appealing to all “de- Senator District 8, and Marihelen Wheeler (awesome D) against Michigan, where they had predicted Clinton would swamp Sand- He would violate the “bipartisan” taboo – cherished as dearly cent” citizens to “unite” against “bigotry” – but nothing sub- whoever is left from the Repub primary for State Rep #21. And ers by as much as 20 percentage points. Instead, the Vermont by Obama and Clinton as by McCain and Romney – against stantive that might repel the newly available former Republican the revolting Tea Partier Ted Yoho (R) is being challenged by Ed senator won 50 to 48 percent. However, most numbers-crunchers anything that impedes the free flow of capital across borders, voters that will now be in play. Black lives will only matter rhe- Emery (D) for US House of Representative. dragging jobs and tax bases with it. project that Sanders will himself need to pile up winning margins torically. Those elements of the Sandernista agenda that might As Bernie Sanders said when he was here in Gainesville, politics of 20 percent in a bunch of large states, plus win in Florida, to These titans of capital and their establishment Republican ser- be included in the Democratic Party platform adopted in Phila- isn’t a sport you watch from the stands, it is by participating in stand a chance of beating Clinton in pledged delegates – not to vants cannot coexist with Trumpism, no matter how crudely de- delphia will find no place in building a “centrist” superparty. the process that you amplify you voice and make democracy mention the overwhelmingly pro-Clinton “superdelegates.” Sand- fined, and are preparing to abandon or scuttle the ship, in search What we are describing goes way beyond the rightward shift real. More next time ...D ers cannot capture the nomination, but the longer he stays in the of a more dependable electoral yacht. Trump’s white legions that occurs after every Democratic convention. Duopoly elec- fight, the more his supporters will think of themselves as a move- will do the same if he is cheated of the nomination. Nothing can toral systems are like binary stars; they orbit around each other. ment that cannot coexist in the same party as Wall Street. save the GOP from debacle, resulting in either two right-wing The destabilization of one star/party’s orbit has an immediate There is only a possibility of an outright split in the Democratic tickets or one vastly weakened presidential campaign that might and dramatic effect on the orbit/behavior of the other; their place Party in Philadelphia, in July, but a Republican apocalypse in drag down congressional, state and local Republicans. in the universe is defined by each other. Democratic strategists Cleveland seems all but inevitable. Donald Trump’s wins in Unfortunately, the Democrats are likely to escape such an are now scheming to pull whole districts of previously Republi- Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii make it unlikely that he can implosion, unless Hillary’s inner witch makes it impossible for can voters into the party in November, and to keep them there. be stopped at a “brokered” convention. But, whether he wins the Sandernistas to quietly acquiesce to her coronation. But a Black Democrats believe their overwhelming support for Clin- the nomination or has it stolen from him, the Republican Party Democratic Party disaster is coming, whether Sander’s folks roll ton has made them indispensable to the party. They will wel- over or not. The Republican crack-up will immediately destabilize come Hillary’s “big tent” national unity campaign as evidence the Rich Man’s Party duopoly as it has existed since 1968. No of Black strength in the party, when in fact its aim will be to matter what Hillary Clinton says at the convention to mollify push Blacks and progressives back to the margins, to smother them with newly categorized “moderates” who, before Donald Trump’s intervention, were Republicans. What’s needed is a complete breakup of the duopoly, not just the Republican half, which would only make the Democratic half more amorphously “centrist” and useless. Given that the Democratic Party is hegemonic in Black Amer- ica, its fracturing would wreak havoc in virtually every Afri- can American civic and political structure – a very good thing, since the dead weight of the Democratic Party has calcified and corrupted those structures over the past two generations. Any weakening of the Democrats opens space for a more radical Black politics consistent with the historical Black consensus on peace and social justice. However, Black leftists cannot rely on white progressives, like the Sandernistas, to set Black politics free by bringing down the Democrats. It will require a grueling and painful internal Black struggle, such as we at Black Agenda Report – and previously, at The Black Commentator – have been advocating for 16 years. D

page 8, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 9 Keith Perry is coming for your utility Gainesville Votes! pushes for city elections in the fall Alachua by Jason Fults Gainesville voters see through this ruse and oppose any similar future attempts. by Harvey Ward dollars of savings this plan provides over We need you. Now. Not only to sign your Feb. 25 was a great day for Florida multiple years. own petition, but to tell your friends, County Representative Keith Perry (R). Promising In times of deep political division finding If not, they’ll be risking handing over near family, co-workers, etc. – every registered to “keep government off your back and out common ground — even on local issues We believe Gainesville can do better than complete control of their utility, including Gainesville city voter you know – about of your pocketbook,” he announced his bid — is hard. We should be able to agree, its record shows. The time has come to Peace Poetry “... managing, operating, controlling, and our campaign. for the newly-drawn Florida Senate district otherwise having broad authority with re- however, that democracy works better move our city commission elections to Contest that includes all of Alachua and Putnam spect to the utilities owned by the City of when more citizens vote and that our the fall. We propose following the model Right now Gainesville Votes! is working counties as well as part of Marion county. Gainesville ... free from direction and con- government needs to be more efficient successfully used by the Alachua County hard to raise awareness of the campaign. and less expensive. He also scored a legislative victory with the trol of the Gainesville City Commission.” School Board: Non-partisan elections You’ll see us at events around town; Reading, occurring in August (alongside county, assent of his House Bill 1355 by the House The “Gainesville Regional Utilities Author- Gainesville can simultaneously drive up and we hope you’ll ask questions. May 14 Regulatory Affairs Committee. This bill ity,” as proposed by Rep. Perry, would have voter participation and drive down the cost state and federal primaries) of every We’ll make presentations to civic clubs, offered Gainesville voters the “opportunity” had power to set utility rates for the communi- of running elections by moving elections even year. When a run-off is necessary, churches and any group who wants more to vote away control of their municipally- ty, build new power plants, exercise the power for Gainesville City Commission from it would be held on the first Tuesday in information. You can read about us on November along with county, state and our Facebook page or on our web page: For the seventh year in a row, owned utility, Gainesville Regional of eminent domain, issue revenue bonds, the current stand-alone spring model to federal elections. GainesvilleVotes.org. At either, you Gainesville Veterans for Peace Utilities (GRU), on the March 2017 ballot. dispose of utility assets, hire or fire GRU’s the traditional fall election cycle. Despite unanimous opposition to this bill General Manager, and determine the amount To accomplish this reform, Gainesville can download the petition. Feel free to hosted the Alachua County Peace Gainesville Votes! is a group of committed make as many copies as you like. Signed by the politically-diverse Gainesville City of funds that GRU transfers to the City’s bud- citizens who are working to do exactly Votes! needs the support of 7,463 Poetry Contest, where all stu- Commission, Alachua County Commission, petitions may be returned to PO Box get each year. In other words, this five-person this. Right now city voters are stuck in fellow Gainesville voters willing to dents in Alachua County, K–12, and Representative Clovis Watson, as well 12873, Gainesville, FL 32604. Authority would have had all the powers of constant cycle of elections every single sign a petition before May 29. We are invited to submit one original as emails and phone calls from more than our elected City Commission, but with none spring. Voters participate in rates as low are collecting signatures right now. We believe good government transcends poem on the subject of peace and 300 area residents, the Committee passed of the accountability to its citizenry. as eleven percent and these elections cost Assuming that we reach our goal, the political party. Our plan aligns city social justice. Rep. Perry’s bill by a vote of 13-2. Once they were appointed by a simple major- taxpayers upwards of $230,000 every year. question of whether to amend the city elections with all the other elections. It This was the third year in a row that Rep. charter will appear before city voters on breaks the cycle of never-ending elections ity vote of the City Commission, each mem- By contrast, in the city of Tallahassee, This year, VFP received more Perry had sought passage of some version ber of the Authority could have been reap- the November 2016 ballot. and allows voters — and commissioners which holds city elections in the fall than 250 poems from students of this bill, and it was supported by the pointed for up to twelve years, at a salary of — to focus on governing rather than cycle, as many as 76 percent of voters As a result of this reform, city commission in elementary, middle and high Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and $18,000/year, and could have been removed electioneering. It saves taxpayers money. participate in local elections. What’s terms would be four years, just like the school. Winners are selected by the North Central Florida Builder’s Assoc. only under very limited circumstances. And it has the potential to substantially Dr. Sidney Wade, English profes- more, Tallahassee spends less than school board and every county elected Following significant citizen resistance As former City Commissioner Susan $90,000 every two years on its elections. office. However, no current commissioner increase voter participation. sor at the University of Florida, and behind-the-scenes lobbying by our Bottcher pointed out: “To illustrate why We owe it to ourselves, and to future would have her or his current term Reforming Gainesville elections is good and her panel of graduate stu- City Commission and the Florida Mu- this is so dangerous, the Authority could, generations, to realize the millions of lengthened or shortened. government in action. D dents. nicipal Electric Assn., HB 1355 was fi- for example, decide to build another power nally killed through an 11th hour veto by plant even though it is not needed. Or the On May 14, the approximately 25 Governor Rick Scott. Given Rep. Perry’s Authority could decide to raise rates, sell winners (who will be announced promise to “go back to the drawing board” the telecommunications department and All Joking Aside: An evening of short comedy skits after April 18) will read their win- next session, however, it is important that gut the general fund transfer (which would presented by Sidney Homan and His All-Woman Company ning poems aloud at the Alachua bankrupt the city). fundraiser for the Doris Bardon Community Cultural Center County Peace Poetry Reading. Sure, you can attend their publicly noticed A fund-raiser for the Doris Bardon Community Cultural (1315 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida). There will The event starts at 2pm and will meetings and tell them to stop, but HB 1355 Center, Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 pm, donations at the door. Suggested donations are $15 for the be live music. take place at the Unitarian Uni- eliminates all legal or electoral recourse for anyone to control what they do. This general public and $10 for students. For more information The Doris Bardon Community Cultural Center is a unifying versalist Fellowship in Gaines- call 352-378-9166. ville, 4225 NW 34th Street. must be the ‘free-market principle’ that force for the arts providing a place where artists and arts Rep. Perry says he likes about the bill.” Sidney Homan and 13 actors known as His All-Woman organizations can meet to network, learn, and present their work; where inspiration, collaboration, and education help This debate has unfolded as Flint, Michigan Company – note that the “His” in the company’s name was The event is free and open to the develop future artists as well as future audiences. Look for continues to grapple with the catastrophic ruled non-sexist by the actors themselves – present “All public. There will be live music Joking Aside: An Evening of Short Comedy Skits” as a news and updates at www.thedoris.org. D and light refreshments after the decisions of political appointees regarding Reading. its water supply, and many in this community believe that Perry’s efforts are simply a step in the direction of privatizing All winning poems are printed in our publicly-owned utility. the 2016 Peace Poetry Book and will be available on the VFP web- Undoubtedly, the Chamber of Commerce site, vfpgainesville.org. and Builder’s Association will launch fur- ther attempts to create such an Authority, and citizens must remain vigilant against For more information, email vfp- these asinine proposals. We can send an [email protected] even stronger message this November or call Sheila Payne at 352-373- however by fighting to keep Florida Sen- 3435. ate hopeful Keith Perry “off our backs and out of our pocketbooks.” D page 10, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 11

JENNINGS, from p. 1 ly inappropriate. And basically where the Tallahassee weekly to try to meet with the Have you had any communication with Planned Parenthood just good access to healthcare, but also recognizing that safe ac- or the clinics that are impacted since the video blew up? cess to abortion is a basic healthcare issue for women. Because reporters, and I have a list of five that I video picks up is when I respond by say- governor and he refused to meet with us. the other part of this bill creates really horrible obstacles for haven’t called back yet, too. ing, “You’re an asshole.” So in some way, I guess, the only way you I haven’t even gotten to check my email yet, honestly. But I know some people who work at Planned Parenthood who I’ve talked to. abortion clinics, it’s not just about cutting Medicaid access. I understand that the video started re- At which point everyone watching this can get Governor Scott’s attention is if Some people—including people in my family—have messaged cording after your conversation with video starts to lose it with laughter. And you happen to run into him at Starbucks. This new bill defunded Planned Parenthood completely in me and said, “Look, I don’t support public funds for abortion.” Gov. Scott was already under way. this video, it kills me, because I know Because if you try to meet with him as the state of Florida, right? But they’ve been really misled. We’re not talking just about pub- What had been said before the video? you—and anyone who knows you knows a constituent, good luck. And that is the that you are fearless when it comes to reputation he has. Not completely. But what it did was impact the funding for any lic funds for abortion. We’re talking about a woman’s right to It started out very calm. I saw his profile provider that is in any way affiliated with abortion services. So choose where she gets her mammogram. And if Planned Parent- these confrontations, but this time there Tell me about another time when some- and wasn’t sure if it was him. So I just said, just happened to be a camera nearby. for low-income people who benefit from what they call Title hood provides the best medical service, then we should have the “Governor Scott,” and he turned towards thing like this happened and there X funding, that’s basic well-woman care, family planning, HIV right to go there. These laws that are being pushed by right-wing me. I asked, "Why did you pass that aw- The thing is ... I’m like, really? This is wasn’t anyone there recording it. What testing, pregnancy testing, breast exams, things like that. think tanks are hurting our basic access. the video that goes viral? I’ve been much other confrontations have you had with ful law last week that impacts women’s In places where I live in Palm Beach County, 45 percent of low- more poised and articulate many other political figures? For additional reading see: healthcare choices?" And he said, “I don’t income women get their basic reproductive healthcare—their D times. [laughs] The Guardian’s “Florida woman captured on video vote on bills,” which is so incredibly disin- Girl, I hope you have a long piece of pa- screenings, their STD testing, their birth control—from Planned confronting governor over healthcare” by Richard Luscombe genuous. If I didn’t understand the political Why confront the governor in person, per! [laughs] Parenthood. This bill basically forces all those people to find a at: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/06/florida- process, at that point I would have thought, as opposed to an online petition, or Yeah, I mean, I believe in engaging people different provider. But in some parts of the state, there aren’t woman-rick-scott-starbucks-planned-parenthood "Oh, I got the information wrong," and I whatever people would normally do? who have the political power to make de- other providers. Or the other providers don’t offer the same D The Establishment’s “What it’s like to confront Governor would have dropped it. But he didn't even Well, you know, 12,000 people signed a pe- cisions that affect our lives. So, I try to do quality of care or the same services. Rick Scott in a Starbucks” by Darlena Cunha at http://www. own up to the fact that he passed this bill. tition opposing this bill that was delivered that. In this situation, I just happened to So just to be clear, now the state of Florida won’t let women on theestablishment .co/2016/04/08/what-its-like-to-confront- So I said, right you don’t vote—but you to the governor. And for months, people stumble upon Governor Scott at Starbucks. Medicaid go to Planned Parenthood—is that how it works? governor-rick-scott-in-a-starbucks/ . D have executive authority to sign bills into have been trying to meet with him at the But in other situations … for example Right. Correct. It doesn’t even have to mean that there are abor- law. And this bill you signed into law is Capital in opposition to the bill. I’ve been in I was at the RNC [2012 Republican Na- tion services at that clinic. Just because the clinic’s care is pro- The Brainwashing of My Dad very harmful to women like me, who rely Tallahassee before to try to meet with him tional Convention] in Tampa a few years vided by Planned Parenthood and Planned Parenthood offers on women’s health services like Planned on immigration issues with over 100 of his ago to address Marco Rubio, to stop him abortion in other places, it makes it so you can no longer go A film by Jen Senko Parenthood. And he said, go to your coun- constituents, and he’s refused meetings. from running for office. He was across the there at all and have it be covered if you’re low-income. It’s A filmmaker examines the rise of right-wing media through ty health clinic then. Around the time when Florida was moving room, but I did share my thoughts with really too bad that the governor telling me to go to the county the lens of her father, whose immersion in it radicalized him So I have the governor of the state of Flor- forward with a copycat bill of the Arizona him. It was in the paper around that time. health clinic wasn’t on video, too. He thinks he has the authority and rocked the foundation of their family. She discovers this ida telling me which healthcare provider I anti-immigrant SB 1070 legislation, I was I don't know if there was video, but it was to dictate where women go to get their mammograms. It doesn’t political phenomenon recurring in living rooms everywhere, should go to, in a coffee shop. Complete- part of a group of people that were going to definitely covered. matter to him that the county health clinic doesn’t provide care and reveals the consequences conservative media has had that’s as good as Planned Parenthood. on families and a nation. He feels comfortable telling me where I should go. I feel com- The Brainwashing of My Dad is showing at Cyclops fortable telling him he’s an asshole. Cinema April 20-26. D Amazing. Is there anything else you wish you had said to him but didn’t have a chance to? The governor is so egregious, the list of things to bring up about him is very long. From environmental policy, to the brutal num- HOURS: Tues–Sat: 10am-6pm, Closed: Sun & Mon ber of executions in this state under his authority, to the lack of 1920 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville voting-rights restorations that is on his shoulders. We’re fighting fracking bills that he was expected to support if they had gotten to his desk. I would have liked a much longer audience with the governor to discuss a lot of the issues. But he left, so. What else are you working on as far as activism these days? I’m working on a few things. There’s an effort to stop a new federal max prison construction in Kentucky that they’re trying to build on a mountaintop-removal coal mining site. There’s going to be a convergence in D.C. in June to push the BPA to stop building these federal prisons and finally commit to reducing mass incarceration. I’m working on some local issues, too, around development and environmental issues where I live. What’s so incredible about this viral video is that so many people seem to agree really strongly with you. I haven’t seen a single person opposing what you said on social media—it’s all applause. Isn’t that incredible? Sometimes you just don’t wanna read the comments … but the comments here, I’ve been blown away. I think it speaks to the fact that while politicians across the coun- try are trying to defund Planned Parenthood, there’s actually massive public support for groups like Planned Parenthood. Not

page 14, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 15 CHOMSKY, from p. 1 would probably be about $20 an hour salaries because it’s a poor country. But The basic thrust is, get rid of the permanent history of what civilization has been about Europe. Say, in Italy, I don’t know the It now turns out that in 2016 the 1% now. That’s money that poor working they have free education. faculty and use temporary workers who for the last couple hundred years. But exact number, but kids who get out of people are handing over to the rich. And will own about half the world’s wealth, Take the U.S. Back in the 1940s and the don’t have any protection. It’s terrible for all of this is part of the basic neoliberal it goes on in case after case. So how long the educational system, it’s good for the framework. university are just living at home because meaning they will have as much wealth 1950s, this was a much poorer country will it be tolerated? As long as people trustees and the interests they represent. they can’t possibly afford an apartment, as 3 1/2 billion people. I think 60 families than it is now, far poorer, but it basically And it certainly doesn’t have to happen. don’t want to rise up and overthrow it. It But it certainly doesn’t have to happen. have practically all of it. It used to be 90 had free higher education. The GI Bill Like you say, it’s a terrible burden for they can’t get decent jobs. It has a terrible can stop. It’s not done by force, actually. families. It’s getting smaller. And it has was kind of race-based, there were a lot It’s happening in Europe, too. The young people, actually, a lot worse in effect on coming generations. D almost nothing to do with any contribution It’s not a totalitarian dictatorship. We’re Bologna Protocols, as they were called, very free in many respects. of things wrong with it, but it did offer to the economy or even any achievement. free education to a huge number of essentially are designed to undercut So, for example, a large percentage of the ------people who would never have gone to what was the university system, the idea people in the top families, the top earners, I have nieces and nephews who are college before. And not only education that the university ought to be free from are from the financial institutions, which graduating from college and they have but support. It was very good for them, it outside pressure and dedicated to the are kind of parasitic. this enormous student debt . They’re was very good for the country. This was pursuit of knowledge and understanding. There was an IMF study, about two years coming into the world of work often at the highest growth period in the country’s It’s an ideal that wasn’t observed, but ago which studied the profits of I think lower-paying jobs than the degree you history. And it was a poorer country. it’s a very important ideal. That’s being it was six leading American banks. It would think would bring them, and they So why do we have to have tuitions undercut by EU decisions, in Britain by turns out they almost all come from the are saddled with a debt that they can shooting up not only here but in England government decisions, to try to turn the taxpayer in one or another way. There is an almost never get out from under . and elsewhere? The same thing is universities into essentially business- implicit government insurance policy. It’s It seems like we’re driving more and more happening at the state college level. The oriented enterprises. not on paper, but everyone understands it. towards education being part of that 1 funding of colleges in the states has been There was an article about it by a good Informally it’s called “Too big to fail.” If percent, too, and not for anybody else . As sharply declining. Here too, but in many educational analyst in Britain recently who you have a big institution, the government a labor movement, we want our children places just going way down. This is all said that the Tory government in England is not going to let it collapse. That does to be educated but we also want to them part of the same neoliberal policies of is trying to turn first-class universities lead to the publicized bailouts. respect the fact that all work has dignity . shifting the burdens onto the people who into third-class commercial institutions, But that’s the least of it. It means inflated We seem to not be able to give them either are vulnerable and protecting the rich and making it a requirement on, say, the credit ratings, access to cheap credit, of those things . What role does higher ed powerful because they don’t want to pay classics department at Oxford that if they A destination game store and parlor. play? taxes. All of the same policies. want to hire somebody, they have to show which is a huge amount of money. It’s an 4205 NW 16th Blvd Gainesville FL 32605 352-378-PLAY (7529) incentive to carry out risky transactions, that they can survive in the market. I think we can. The sharp rise in tuition, Again, it’s not graven in stone. It doesn’t Find us online at gainesvilletabletop.com and Facebook which are very profitable. And if they go which leads to really onerous debt have to be like this. These policies can be This is monstrous in terms of the whole bust, don’t worry about it. The taxpayer problems, as you say, these are problems reversed. In the colleges and universities will bail you out. that a kid can’t get out of. You can’t themselves the work force is being Bloomberg News, the business press, declare bankruptcy. They can garnish treated kind of like what’s happening in tried to put a number on it. They estimated Social Security. People can live with it industry. So, for example, the faculty is an over $80 billion-a-year subsidy to the for their lives. I don’t think there’s any declining significantly relative to both top financial institutions from taxpayers, economic basis for this. administrators—the administrative class basically their profit. And things have I think there’s pretty good evidence is shooting sky high, deans and sub- been set up so that with stock options and for that. Take a look around the world. deans and provosts and one thing or all sorts of other trickery, incomes just Maybe the most successful so-called state another—and also because of a shift to shoot to the sky. There’s all sorts of other capitalist economy is Germany. It has free temporary workers, who are much more devices. education. The Nordic countries have easily kicked in the face. So adjuncts, graduate students, people who can’t The Oxfam report goes into the question free education. Mexico, a poor country, defend themselves, are doing more and of tax havens, which are by now a huge has free education—a pretty high level, more of the work. And there’s a limit on phenomenon. So Pfizer locates in Ireland in fact. If you go to UNAM, the main university, very high quality. Terrible tenured faculty, and it’s reducing. or in the Cayman Islands. They have kind of an office in the Cayman Islands, let’s say, or in the Jersey Islands in England and don’t pay taxes. Which is huge amounts of money. There’s no economic justification for them, nor are they natural processes of any sort. These are just decisions. So how long will they be tolerated? It’s a question you ought to be asking yourself. They will be tolerated as long as people are willing to tolerate them. Meanwhile, wages stagnate or decline. There’s big talk about the minimum wage, should it go up to $12 or $15. As you probably know, in the 1950s and the 1960s, the minimum wage tracked productivity and GDP. If it had continued after the mid-1970s, it

page 16, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 17 Veterans for Peace Memorial Day David Swanson to speak on ‘War is a Lie’ Nobel Peace Prize nominee and activist David Swanson will speak in Gainesville, display on hold until next year Sarasota and Jacksonville about the latest developments in the telling and the debunking of lies about wars. He’ll answer questions and sign copies of his new book, “War Is A By Veterans For Peace, Gainesville Park and Loblolly Woods Nature Park. Lie: Second Edition.” There are also two schools there. There will be no Veterans for Peace Me- Swanson is an author, activist, journalist and radio host. He is director of morial Day weekend display of tomb- It would save the city money to stop this WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. He blogs at stones this year in Gainesville. monstrosity now, change the design to DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk Nation Radio and is a 2015 We plan to come back next year, although three lanes, reduce the sidewalks from 10 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. the new design will condense the display feet wide back to five feet wide and restore Where’s CMC’s GROWRADIO.org the grass strips back to 60 inches. Other books he has written include “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and and move it further from the parking area. Forming a More Perfect Union,” “When the World Outlawed War,” and “War No SpringBoard event? programming schedule The former Gainesville City Commission This would be safer and less costly to do More: The Case for Abolition.” This year, breaking with tradition in a and maintain. Over the years, upkeep of voted to remake NW 8th Avenue into an The speaking events will be held: town with tons of fundraising events, Grow Radio is a listener-supported, ugly cement and asphalt speedway. four lanes of asphalt costs more than three the CMC will be “hosting” a “No Gainesville-based Internet radio sta- lanes. It would also be cooler, because re- • May 19, Sarasota, Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center 525 Kumquat Event” fundraiser. Does the CMC need tion that provides community members The new design turns everything be- placing the grass in the present plan with Court, 7 p.m. your support? Heck yeah. But are we tween 34th Street and 31st Street into an opportunity to create and manage concrete will create more heat. • May 20, Jacksonville, Florida Christian Center Auditorium, 1115 Edgewood Ave going to request you devote an evening engaging, educational, informative, concrete and asphalt, removing the to us? Not this time. locally-generated programming to pro- grass. It also reduces the amount of We will ask the new city commission ma- S, (904) 381-4800, 7 p.m. So please consider a small or larger do- mote fine, musical and visual arts and grass east of 31st Street from 60-inch jority to look at this immediately because • May 21, Gainesville, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, 4225 NW nation to give the CMC a jump-start on humanities for the enrichment of the wide strips to 36-inch wide strips. the sooner they stop the current design, the 34th St., 7 p.m. those hot summer months of running Gainesville community. more money will be saved. We now have a new Mayor and city The events are brought to you by Veterans for Peace Gainesville and Florida Veterans the AC. You see all the events we do Grow Radio is changing its format, commission majority. They have the op- This is a win-win because we would save for Common Sense in Sarasota. D in our event box; the CMC is all that moving from live-streaming, free- portunity to stop this ugly speedway and taxpayer money and bring back the park and much more. Beyond all the books form programming to a podcast-only redesign it into three lanes. atmosphere. and other resources we make available, format. 8th Avenue in this area is really a road We don’t want to look and be like Orlando countless folks have benefited from the The following schedule is subject that goes between two parks, Westside – we are Gainesville. D Civic Media Center events films and events we host, personal con- to change, and not all programs Check civicmediacenter.org for details, additional events nections have been made, political or- are broadcast each week. Check ganizing has been catalyzed and carried Every Thu Weekly Volunteer Meeting, 5:30 pm growradio.org for updates. “Remember, remember always, that all of us, forward. Musicians have had their ca- Every Thu Weekly Poetry Jam, 8 pm reers starts, touring musicians have had Sun 5 pm Joe and Craig Show and you and I especially, are descended ______a non-bar all-ages venue to share their Mon 5 pm Street Nuts from immigrants and revolutionists.” talents, and poets have had their starts 7 pm Malum Fri 4/8 Punk Black Music Show Friday, 7 pm or honed their talents. We have helped 8 pm The Sum of Your Life - Franklin D. Roosevelt Sat 4/9 Pierce Pettis & Elaine Mahon Music Show, 8 pm build a great little hub of activities Tue 10 am The Serene City Mon 4/11 Dharma in the Community: Social Justice & Buddhism: “Destroyer which include Citizens Co-op, Wild Iris Books, Sequential Artists Workshop, 4 pm Copyright Issue of Illusion” Film Series Monday, 7 pm 6 am Your Used To Be and hopefully soon a Tamale Shop. 8 pm Lost Sharks Wed 4/13 ACLC Presents: “Dream On” a Labor Film Wednesday, 7 pm Please take a minute to write a check, Wed 12 am Pyramid Society 64 WGOT-LP 94.7 FM Mon 4/18 Gainesville Peer Respite Center Presents: Beyond the Medical Model visit the website to make a PayPal do- 9 am Sax and Violins // Film+ Disscussion, 7 pm nation, come by for an event and give 1 pm The 2nd Ave. Shuffle Soon to be at 100.1 something extra, or just drop something Tue 4/19 Gainesville Socialist Host’s: Herschel Elliott’s Anti-Capitalist dis- 3 pm The Quiet City Gainesville's Progressive Community off. It is easy to take something that has 5 pm An Average Day cussion Tuesday, 7 pm existed for 20+ years for granted. But 9 pm The Otherness Radio Station WGOT is on the air Wed 4/20 Mellow Soul Poetry at The CMC! Wednesday, 8 pm it’s not easy to keep going, as any coor- Thu 12 pm Things Be Blowin’ Check out wgot.org for upcoming events Sat 4/23 Wild Iris Free Store Saturday, April 23rd 2 pm dinator past or present will tell you. The 2 pm The Breakup Song and a detailed schedule. whole community is who we serve, and 4 pm Hope & Anchor Wed 4/27 Trans Affairs Screening of Tangerine Movie, 7 pm it take a community to keep it going. 94.7 is a Low Power FM station with a transmitter at NW 6 pm The Kitchen Sink Fri 4/29 Art Walk: larry rosalez: the miseducation - curtain performances and As a co-founder, former coordinator, 39th Ave and I-75, so best reception is within 5 miles, but 8 pm florida rules works from my college experience, 7 pm current volunteer, and speaking for the 10 pm Eagle Death many people are able to pick up the station in their car. Sat 4/30 Mimi Oz Live Music, 8 pm CMC Board: Thank You! Fri 3 pm Ecstasy To Frenzy Questions? Comments? Sun 5/1 IWW Hosts MayDay Celebration, Sunday May 1st 1-6 pm Joe Courter 5 pm Artichokeification E-mail us at [email protected]. 7 pm Jazzville www.civicmediacenter.org 9 pm Bag of Tricks 433 S. Main Street • 373-0010 coordinators@ Sat 3 pm Brazilian Commando civicmediacenter.org 7 pm Planet of Sound Park just to the south at SE 5th Ave, (see sign), or after 7 pm 352-373-0010 9 pm Reality Bites Democracy NOW! at the courthouse (just north of 4th Ave), or GRU (2 blocks airs Mon.-Fri. 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. 433 S. Main St., Gainesville east of CMC). 32601 page 18, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 19 So I wound up going into the juvenile When I went to one of the ancestral donations can make a big difference in History and the people who make it: Phil Fixico system for a year. From being in jail homelands, they put me in the parade SPOHP’s ability to gather, preserve, and at 14, I was in solitary confinement. I in a limo like I was a returning son. And promote history for future generations . D Transcript edited by Pierce Butler . It would’ve been a great idea if they had predator. I got two pennies and I snuck off escaped. I was in the day room of the at the school on Seminole days I told somehow could have integrated the different and went to the store. And I was violently This is the 34th in a series of transcript psychologically mentally problems them, I said, well sorry I wasn’t here as socio-economic classifications of people. molested. I didn’t tell my mother, I told excerpts from the Samuel Proctor Oral and that is something you never forget. part of the community, you don’t know a neighbor. He told my brother who took History Program collection at the When you moved in, all the children You got 30 people in there and they’re me. But I promise I will speak 300 times some street vengeance on the guy. But I Citizens group University of Florida . literally lined up to see what you were attempting to break you. for the ancestors and I’ll take your story lost my smile, I began staring. I’m still bringing into your house. Shortly after we to the nation so I did it. Phil Fixico [F] was interviewed by Ryan affected by [that] [laughter]. After I finally got through that and went ‘Stand by our Plan’ Morini [M] in 2012 . moved in, a man was stabbed in the back, into forestry camp, I was helped. The help I was able to complete it and take it to When I was 9 I got a gang tattoo, what I was killed. And he bled over the back porch. came from professional people doing their the Smithsonian Institution, where you defeats Plum Creek M: Your date and place of birth? really saying is leave my body alone. My Soon thereafter, a young girl—fifteen at job. I’m sure that’s why I was able to have know, I’m featured. On March 1, the Alachua County Com- F: July 23, 1947. Los Angeles, California. ambition was to be a hustler. Those were the most—she was raped at 7:30 in the a life and not return to what I had came mission voted to deny Plum Creek’s plan Racially, I’m African-Native-American. my heroes because they were predators but That was thirteen years ago. It’s not even evening in front, and people pulled their from. I never forgot that. to destroy wetlands in our strategic Eco- Culturally, I’m an aspiring Seminole they weren’t the violent, hurt you predators. what I really wanna do. But I basically system east of Newnans Lake and the rural shades down, closed the door. That’s where My mother, her father was black as a do it because I’m afraid not to do it. Maroon descendant, but to the people of My fantasy was, I could take a ice cream quality of life of our citizens that live there. we lost it, the predators were in control. 1920 telephone, with straight hair. He was America who see me on the street, I’m truck, not the kind that makes the noise, My activism required thirteen years Cherokee. He was a Pullman porter. He had We thank Commissioners Mike Byer- just another flavor of black. That’s where our culture disintegrated so but that supplies the ice cream truck. I of research. But, it was precious to me ran off the reservation when he was 12. ly, Ken Cornell and Robert “Hutch” Racially, I say I’m African-Native- would get it and I would bring it to the because it was denied to me. I’ve now Hutchinson for voting to protect our ru- American, my ancestry is a mixture of projects and I would open the door and I I didn’t know about the Seminole Maroon spoken over five hundred times. When ral way of life, our environment and the Africans that came from Sierra Leone to would walk away, and everyone could just side. And we lived briefly with my I reach a platform where I can give my Comprehensive plan which protects both. South Carolina. They were rice growers go in there. So that was my sense of self. biological father. But she wouldn’t tell me take on it, I’ll be free. I can go do what I that he was my father and she wouldn’t really want to do. So. Plum Creek and its supporters are not in Sierra Leone. They didn’t wanna do I started getting in trouble. By 14, quite let him reveal that he was my father. They happy about this and are trying to replace slavery so they escaped and formed an naturally, I was in a gang, eventually I hit I’m basically into the arts—music, alliance with Native Americans. were doing a trial relationship when I was Mike Byerly on the County Commission the wall – airplane glue, weed and wine. art, theater—and I’ve come to the and Eileen Roy on the School Board with four to five so I remember him. Oh boy, conclusion that one reason there are so In the case of my ancestry, there was I had become a plague on my family, my Plum Creek task force members. They are he had problems with alcohol. Very smart. many frustrated, musicians, actors and a mixture and when I say that I’m an school and my community. My mother also after Eileen Roy because as a member I had an aunt who said he could pick up artists is because we do it for the wrong aspiring Seminole Maroon descendant, got us out of the projects by marrying a of the planning commission she voted to any instrument and play but he never reason. We do it for the obvious reasons I’m not a Seminole Maroon because guy with a small business but she wanted recommend denial of the Plum Creek plan. could finish the song. of fame, prestige, and money. I didn’t do the things that qualify you me to call him daddy and she had never to be a Seminole Maroon based on the Please protect the seats of those who pro- told me who my daddy was. There was some physical abuse from But the true value of a lot of these things tect us. Re-elect Commissioners Mike scholarly definitions of that. him towards her. I saw the blood and I is medicinal. I graduated from a two- So it became this epic battle between Byerly, Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson and was plotting how I could take his life. year junior college arts school and they I was born in LA. I grew up around a me wanting to know my identity and her School Board Member Eileen Roy. But they broke up. advised me, well, with your drawing community known as the Central Avenue feeling, hey no you not gonna. So, she put Community on the east side of town. skills you should do black family art. For more information about Stand by Our me out and my mind said — huh, I could One morning she walked in and she just Plan, go to: http://standbyourplan.org. D What a blow to me, because I had no Because there was no integration, you had a I’ve never forgotten that lesson. It’s not handle it because I had a gun, a twenty- threw a sheet on the floor, she threw a family that I knew of. So you know full range of people, the person who worked about the buildings, it’s about the people. five single-shot. I had a burglary kit. I had few clothes in it. And she said, let’s go. at the shoe-shine stand and the person who some locksmith tools but I didn’t know She tied that sheet and we just walk right I was crushed, I went into abstract owned a business or who was a doctor or a M: Your parents, who were they? how to use them. Of course I had a knife. out into a cab. expressionists and if you do that you 100-voice gonna stay home and not have no money. lawyer, all within that community. F: My biological parents, I didn’t confirm I was put out, then [it] occurred to her, he’s a I’ve just discovered that his family, they When integration came, of course, the who my father was until I was fifty-two. minor, I can’t put him out. So she called the were Seminole. His father was a famous I created about128 from Minimalism to community chorus more affluent moved out. Nickerson You say well how does that happen? police and said I ran away. Now the police Black Seminole leader. Poppy Fixico, Rococo using this process of attempting to present concert Garden Projects. Over the years it had been Well Mom was confused and she was are looking for me. I had already sold my which is my Indian name, Poppy. But to take the artists out of the creation of it Voices Rising Community Chorus, classified as one of the most dangerous desperate and she was just worrying about gun to get money for the glue. When they Poppy Fixico was his father and he had and then I realized, wow, this is not art. I projects, little houses off the alley and dirt drove by, I got rid of the burglary kit. received an allotment for land with oil. destroyed most of them. a 100-voice intergenerational cho- getting us out of those projects and you rus, will present its spring concert in the yard with cans and rocks and stuff. So I would like to do art, music, theater. know she wasn’t about to be concerned Eventually I hit the wall. I was fast Within one year of that, they murdered on Sunday, May 1, at First United But I just wasn’t able to pursue it because When we moved to Watts, the projects about my identity. discovering that I couldn’t make it in the him. The family had to take refuge in other Methodist Church, 419 NE 1st you had to take care of the family. were new. Two story, new plumbing, Hey, well, if you getting something to eat streets. There was a lady, a big strong states like Colorado, Kansas, and they did Street in Gainesville, with perfor- green grass. Wow, it was like a plush and you got a place to stay. I developed black woman. I did attempt to snatch receive a considerable amount of money mances at 3 and 7 p.m. condo. It was below poverty-line housing an identity problem very young and her purse, she was stronger than me. She from it. But his mother viewed my mother Search for “Phil Fixico” at http://oral. as another person who wanted to come in history.ufl.edu/collection/ for the full Among the works featured will that someone cared enough about poor I survived, but it was a devastating literally could have lifted me up, broke and get some Indian money. So she shut transcript of this interview . be music from West Side Story people to build. Not only did they care, upgrowing, you know. Four years old, I my neck and killed me. But she restrained somehow had fought the necessary herself [laughter]. Thank God. I’m here the door on my mother. as well as the Florida premiere of was having night terrors. The Samuel Proctor Oral History Newtown Requiem by jazz com- battles that it be built. today. Bless you lady for letting me live. They had to run off and leave his Program believes that listening carefully I was raised in a web of secrets and lies, poser Joe Utterback. All of the people that lived there were I felt a extreme sense of shame that I had property. It was on a huge deposit of oil. to first-person narratives can change but the worst ones were the half-truths poor. You had two classes of people, failed to be a hustler. The next day I at- At 52, I put together all the facts that I the way we understand history, from The suggested donation is $5-$20, where I would think I’d have it and then the poor rather financially helpless and tempted suicide. I was at my girlfriend’s knew. I found family in Los Angeles and scholarly questions to public policy . or give what you can. Half of all I’d run into the truth and I don’t have it. proceeds will benefit Bread of the defenseless. And those among the poor house and I lock myself in her bathroom. I I connected with them. And then in Texas SPOHP needs the public’s help to sustain D who decided, I’m gonna prey on the The same nightmare, night after night. We took a bunch of prescription drugs, drunk a and Oklahoma, and some members in and build upon its research, teaching, Mighty Food Bank. people closest to me. moved to the projects and so by age 8, a bottle of iodine, which probably saved me. Missouri and Mexico. and service missions: even small

page 20, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 21 Gainesville Food Not Bombs Local chapter Justice. [email protected] or 352-372-4825. championing the interest of women in science, the public about the critical differences between of loose-knit group of collectives worldwide technology, engineering, and mathematics the Comprehensive Plan and Plum Creek’s Iguana Directory who prepare and share free, vegan/vegetarian, Humanist Society of Gainesville meets 7 (STEM) across all disciplines and employment proposal. We do not support Plum Creek’s healthy, home-cooked meals made from local pm on the 3rd Wednesday of most months sectors. Meetings are usually the first Monday Plan. Alachua County’s Comprehensive Plan surplus with all who are hungry. Meals at 3 at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Call 352-378-5655 or email [email protected] with updates and additions of the month (except holidays) from 5:30 -7:30 is the best blueprint for future growth in the p.m. Sundays at Bo Diddly Community Plaza. 4225 NW 34th St to discuss and promote pm Millhopper Branch, Alachua County Public unincorporated areas of our county; it protects Prep starts at 11 am. Get in touch if you’d secular, humanist, atheist & agnostic social Library. All meetings open to the public. Email our valuable wetlands. standbyourplan@gmail. Notice to readers: If there is inaccurate www.chispasuf.org like to help. [email protected]. www. influences-www.gainesvillehumanists.org or [email protected] or go to www.ncfawis.org com; http://standbyourplan.org/. information in this list, please let us know . If facebook.com/humanistsocietyofgainesville; Code Pink: Women for Peace Women-led facebook.com/#!/groups/143660782367621/ for more information. you are connected to an organization listed [email protected]. Student/Farmworker Alliance A network grassroots peace and social justice movement here, please check and update so others can Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Occupy Gainesville is about engaging local of youth organizing with farmworkers to utilizing creative protest, non-violent direct action be accurately informed about your contact Justice (IAIJ) organizes faith communities Humanists on Campus UF organization pro- people in grassroots, participatory democracy, eliminate sweatshop conditions and modern- and community involvement. CodePink4Peace. information . Thank you . to work together for immigrant justice. Meets vides a community for freethinking, secular diversity and dialogue; we stand in solidarity org, [email protected]. day slavery in the fields. On Facebook, search 2nd Mondays at 6 pm at the Mennonite Meeting humanists. Goals include promoting values of with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the “Gainesville Student/Farmworker Alliance.” Art Lab is for artists who continually expand House, 1236 NW 18th Ave. Gainesvilleiaij@ humanism, discussing issues humanists face rest of the people peacefully occupying public skills and knowledge. Comprised of makers from The Community Weatherization Coalition is a gmail.com, www.gainesvilleiaij.blogspot.com, internationally. We strive to participate in com- space across this county and the rest of the world. Sunday Assembly, a secular congregation a range of mediums (e.g. forged iron, spun wool, grassroots community coalition whose mission is 352-377-6577. munity service and bring a fun, dynamic group www.occupygainesville.org and https://www. which celebrates life, meets the third Sunday of graphic design). Technique workshops, artist talks/ to improve home weatherization and energy ef- to the university! Preferred contact info: email facebook.com/occupygainesville. each month at 3 pm at 530 W. University Ave. critiques, professional practices meetings, critical ficiency for low-income households through edu- Gainesville Loves Mountains partners with Ap- [email protected], alternative: cation, volunteer work projects and community- (Santa Fe College campus building in downtown thinking discussions. GainesvilleArtLab@gmail. palachian allies to end mountaintop removal coal [email protected], phone- 561-374-3537. Our Santa Fe River Ichetucknee building. The CWC welcomes new volunteers to and Gainesville). There is a talk, music, sing-alongs, com. http://GainesvilleArtLab.org mining and build a prosperous economy/sustain- Alliance are two of a number of grassroots discussion, refreshments and felllowship. See get involved in a variety of ways, from performing able future for the region and its people. We pursue Industrial Workers of the World Local union audits, to PR/Graphics and more. Contact: 352- environmentalist groups campaigning to protect http://SAGainesville.weebly.com/. Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc. Protecting policies to strengthen our local economy through organizing all workers. Meetings are at the Civic 450-4965 or [email protected] and restore the rivers and springs. See: http:// North Central Florida’s natural, scenic, energy efficiency, clean energy. gainesvilleloves- Media Center the first Sunday of the month at www.oursantaferiver.org/ and http://www. UF Pride Student Union Group of gay, lesbian, historic & recreational resources for over 25 4:30 pm. [email protected]. www. Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. [email protected], 352-610-1090, http:// ichetuckneealliance.org/ bi and straight students & non-students, faculty years. ACT is the 2013 national Land Trust Non- gainesvilleiww.org profit land trust working to protect Florida’s rural gainesvillelovesmountains.wordpress.com/. and staff. www.grove.ufl.edu/~pride. Excellence award recipient. 352-373-1078. PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians landscapes, wildlife corridors and natural areas. International Socialist Organization AlachuaConservationTrust.org Gainesville NOW www.gainesvillenow.org. and Gays) meets the 3rd Tuesday of each UF Radical Student Alliance is a progressive 352-466-1178, Conserveflorida.org Organization committed to building a left [email protected] NOW meeting info month at the Fellowship Hall of the United grassroots organization that strives to combat Alachua County Green Party Part of a alternative to a world of war, racism and Democratic Party of Alachua County Meetings contact Lisa at 352-450-1912. Church of Gainesville (1624 NW 5th Ave.) at social justice issues on campus, with our core worldwide movement built out of four interrelated poverty. Meetings are every Thurs at the UF held the second Wednesday each month at 7 7 pm with a programmed portion and informal values being transparency, democratic process, social pillars that support its politics: the peace, Gainesville Socialists is a bi-weekly reading and classroom building at 105 NW 16th St. at 7 pm. p.m. in the 2nd floor auditorium of the County meeting with opportunity to talk and peruse the value of each member’s input, and the civil rights, environmental and labor movements. discussion group. Meetings are open to all who [email protected]. Administration Building at SE 1st St. and their resource library. pflaggainesville.org. ability of any member to assume a leadership alachuagreens.weebly.com, alachuagreens@gmail. consider themselves socialists, are interested in University Ave. Office is at 901 NW 8th Ave., Confidential Helpline 352-340-3770 or email role. Meetings are at 6:30pm Wednesdays on com, 352-222-3449. socialism, or are otherwise curious. Meetings are Kindred Sisters Lesbian/feminist magazine. 352-373-1730, alachuadems.org. [email protected]. campus, [email protected]. held at the CMC every other Tuesday at 8 pm, PO Box 141674, Gainesville, FL 32614. Alachua County Labor Coalition meets monthly www.kindredsisters.org, KindredSisters@ Edible Plant Project Local 100% volunteer-run [email protected] Planned Parenthood Clinic Full-service health United Faculty of Florida Union and organizes to support local labor and advance gmail.com. collective to create a revolution through edible and center for reproductive and sexual health care represents faculty at University of Florida. the national campaign for universal, single-payer National Women’s Liberation is a feminist food-producing plants. http://edibleplantproject. needs. Offering pregnancy testing and options 352-392-0274,[email protected], health care. Memberships are $20/year. Contact: group for women who want to fight back against Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program org/contact-us. counseling for $10 from 10am-noon and 2-5pm. www.UFF-UF.org. http://laborcoalition.org/, info@laborcoalition. male supremacy and win more freedom for women. needs volunteers to join its advocates who protect elders’ rights in nursing homes, assisted Located at 914 NW 13th St. 352-377-0881. org, 352-375-2832, PO Box 12051, Gainesville, Families Against Mandatory Minimums The inequalities between women and men are Work living facilities, family care homes. Training United Nations Association, Gainesville FL 32604 political problems requiring a collective solution. Pride Community Center of North Central to reform Florida's sentencing laws and restore and certification provided. 888-831-0404 or Florida Chapter Purpose is to heighten citizen Founded 1968. Join us: www.womensliberation.org, Florida Resources for the gay/lesbian fairness to Florida's criminal justice system. PO http://ombudsman.myflorida.com. awareness and knowledge of global problems American Civil Liberties Union Currently no Box 142933, Gainesville, FL 32614, gnewburn@ P.O. Box 14017, Gainesville, 32604, 347-560-4695, community, open M-F, 3-7, Sat. noon-4. local chapter. For info on forming a new chapter, and the UN efforts to deal with those issues. famm.org. 352-682-2542 [email protected]. MindFreedom North Florida Human rights Located at 3131 NW 13th St., Suite 62. 352- or ACLU info, contact Jax office 904-353-7600 www.afn.org/~una-usa/. group for psychiatric survivors and mental 377-8915, www.GainesvillePride.org. or [email protected] The Fine Print Gainesville Zen Center & Hostel A Zen Independent, critically thinking health consumers. 352-328-2511. United Way Information and Referral outlet for political, social and arts coverage Buddhist community offering rooms to rent on Protect Gainesville Citizens Group whose Amnesty International UF campus chapter of Human-staffed computer database for resources through local, in-depth reporting for Gainesville’s a daily basis. 404 SE 2nd St., 352-336-3613, Move to Amend, Gainesville is an organization mission is to provide Gainesville residents with worldwide human rights movement; www.facebook. and organizations in Alachua County. 352-332- students. www.thefineprintuf.org. [email protected]. dedicated to amending the US Constitution to accurate and comprehensible information about com/ufamnesty or [email protected]. 4636 or simply 211. establish that money is not speech, and that the Cabot/Koppers Superfund site. 352-354- Florida School of Traditional Midwifery Graduate Assistants United Union represents A only human beings have constitutional rights. 2432, www.protectgainesville.org. Veterans for Peace Anti-war organization Avian Research and Conservation Institute UF grad assistants by fighting for improved clearinghouse for information, activities and movetoamend.org/fl-gainesville that raises awareness of the detriments of (ARCI) Non-profit research organization educational programs. 352-338-0766 www. working conditions, community involvement River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding militarism and war as well as seeking peace- working to stimulate conservation action to save midwiferyschool.org and academic freedom. 352-575-0366, officers@ National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides innovative ways to resolve conflict ful and effective alternatives. Meets first threatened species of birds in the southeastern ufgau.org, www.ufgau.org Support, education and advocacy for families and provides services like mediation, Florida Defenders of the Environment Wednesday of every month at 7 pm. 352- U.S., www.arcinst.org. works to and loved ones of persons with mental illness/ communication skill building and restorative Grow Radio Non-profit provides opportunities for 375-2563, www.afn.org/~vetpeace/. protect freshwater resources, conserve public lands, brain disorders. 374-5600. ext. 8322; www. justice. www.centerforpeacebuilding.org. 2603 Citizens Climate Lobby (Gainesville Chapter) community members to create and manage engaging, and provide quality environmentaleducation since namigainesville.org. NW 13th St. #333, 352-234-6595 provides education/activist opportunities to 1969, 352-475-1119, Fladefenders.org educational, locally-generated programming to WGOT 94.7 LP-FM Community low- power station operating as part of the bring about a stable climate. Meetings are on the promote fine, musical/visual arts and humanities for National Committee to Preserve Social Security Sierra Club meets the first Thursday of every Gainesville Area AIDS Project provides Civic Media Center. [email protected], Wednesday after the first Saturday of each month at enrichment of the community. www.growradio.org. and Medicare Local advocates work to promote/ month at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist toiletries, household cleaners, hot meals, frozen www.wgot.org. 12:30, at Vine Bread & Pasta place at 627 N. Main PO Box 13891, Gainesville, 32604, 352-219-0145 preserve these threatened programs for senior Fellowship of Gainesville-4225 NW 34th St. food at no cost to people living with HIV/AIDS. St. 352-672-4327, www.citizensclimatelobby.org, (v), 352-872-5085 (studio hotline) citizens. We have literature, speakers, T-shirts. Email: 352-528-3751, www.ssjsierra.org www.gaaponline.org, [email protected], World Socialist Party of the United States [email protected] [email protected]. See national Web site to 352-373-4227, Open Tuesdays 10-1 and last (WSP-US) can be contacted by anyone wanting Harvest of Hope Foundation Non-profit join: http://www.ncpssm.org/. Sister City Program of Gainesville links Civic Media Center Alternative reading room Friday of month 5-7. provides emergency and educational financial aid Gainesville with sister cities in Russia, Israel to know and understand more about Marxian socialism and the WSPUS’s efforts to transform and library of the non-corporate press, and a to migrant farm workers around the country. www. National Lawyers Guild Lawyers, law students, and Palestine, Iraq, and Haiti. Meets the first Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to Death resource and space for organizing. 352-373-0010, harvestofhope.net, email: [email protected]. legal workers and jailhouse lawyers using Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the the dog-eat-dog – Devil take the hindmost world Penalty works to abolish the death penalty. Join www.civicmediacenter.org. the law to advance social justice and support Mennonite Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th created by capitalism into a democratically vigils when Florida has an execution. Meets first Home Van A mobile soup kitchen going to progressive social movements. nlggainesville@ Avenue (across from Gainesville HS). http:// arranged world society of equality by emailing The Coalition of Hispanics Integrating Tuesday every month at St. Augustine Church & homeless areas twice a week with food and gmail.com or www.nlg.org www.gnvsistercities.org. the Party at [email protected]. All email Spanish Speakers through Advocacy and Catholic Student Center , 1738 W. University Ave, other necessities, delivering about 400 meals received will be responded to. Upon request the Service (CHISPAS) Student-run group at UF. 352-378-1690, www.fadp.org. per week; operated by Citizens for Social NCF AWIS is an advocacy organization Stand By Our Plan is committed to informing Party will provide membership applications.. D

page 22, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org April 2016, Iguana page 23 Did you see the quote from John Ehrlichman that Dan Baum has kept on ice and just now released in this month’s Harper’s Magazine? “The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people . You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing Wild Iris Books celebrates both heavily, we could disrupt those communities . We could Independent Bookstore Day arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, April 30, 10 am - 4 pm and vilify them night after night Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) is a about the books that inspire them: on the evening news . Did we national initiative that started in Cali- know we were lying about the Lauren Groff, Joe Haldeman, Tom Hart D fornia and now includes over 400 in- Leela Corman, Sandra Lambert, William drugs? Of course we did.” die bookstores across the nation. Every Hatfield, Write Handed Poet A. Denèe, year they work with publishers to create and Leanne Lawrence. special limited edition titles and mer- chandise and they encourage authors to We also will have WellFlorida Council, The partner with stores in their area to create Inc. providing free HIV Testing/ Coun- Gainesville a gathering centered around a love of lit- seling, live painting with the art of Car- eracy and community. rie Martinez, music with Mama Trish, Iguana African dance performances with larry This year Wild Iris will not only be cel- Established 1986 d rosalez-lewis and poetry by Mellow ebrating local authors but also commu- Soul Tuesdays. The Gainesville Iguana nity organizations and creative artists and is Gainesville's progressive events of course our block family – CMC, SAW The list is still growing but currently we calendar and newsletter and the Citizen’s Co-op! know that Gainesville Area NOW, Trans Affairs in Gainesville, Alachua County Subscribe! Check out this amazing list of authors Individuals: $15 (or more if you can) who will be guest booksellers talking Humane Society, the Alachua County Li- brary District, and Gainesville Girls Rock Low/No income: what you can Camp will be there to join the festivities. Groups: $20 Gainesville Iguana, P .O . Box 14712, IBD is also all about the limited edi- Gainesville, FL 32604 tion merchandise – this year our favor- ites include a vinyl companion to Rad Comments, suggestions, American Women A to Z, a Neil Gaiman contributions (written or financial) coloring book and the cutest wallet with are welcome . To list your event or bookstore cats that you’ve ever seen. group, contact us at: Open: Mon-Fri 7 am-10 pm, Our friends at SAW will be hosting a (352) 378-5655 Sat-Sun 9 am-10 pm community art wall where can write and GainesvilleIguana@cox .net draw about your favorite or why you www .gainesvilleiguana .org DRIVE THRU & CALL-INS love indies or both! facebook .com/gainesvilleiguana Two locations: For more information, visit wildirisbooks. Current and past issues since 1996 407 NW 12th St. com, email [email protected] or and PDFs since 2012 are available 5011 NW 34th St. call 352-275-7477. We hope to see you at www .gainesvilleiguana .org there! D

page 24, Iguana, April 2016 Gainesville, Florida