THEISSUE #195: APRIL 1–30, 2014 INDYPENDENT A FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE DON’T FRACK WITH US A CANADIAN COMMUNITY RESISTS RUNAWAY GAS DRILLING By Michael Premo & Andrew Stern, p12 ANDREW STERN SCHOOL TESTING VENEZUELA ON EDGE REVOLT PEACE POETS KNOW IT p16 p10 p19 the reader’s voice THE INDYPENDENT question of whether these leaders vor of cutting taxes for the 1% and faction to admit that I exist, let THE INDYPENDENTISSUE #194: FEBRUARY 25–MARCH 24, 2014 also support Bratton’s longstand- their multinational conglomerate alone write an article about me A FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE ing commitment to the “broken monopolies, as well as the bloated (“White Men’s Rage,” February/ THE INDYPENDENT, INC. windows” theory of policing that budget for imperialist war monger- March Indypendent). Low-income 388 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor people who commit minor “qual- ing and Constitution shredding. urban white people are 2 percent Brooklyn, NY 11217 ity-of-life” offenses are the most of the population by the way. We 212-904-1282 www.indypendent.org likely ones to eventually commit — Kevin Schmidt, are never allowed to talk about Twitter: @TheIndypendent serious offenses and his emphasis from indypendent.org anything, because the issues that facebook.com/TheIndypendent on predictive policing — philoso- effect us are assumed to be “black” phies that have disproportionately KEYSTONE XL HELL issues. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: REFORMING THE NYPD targeted communities of color for It is my opinion that the Keystone — John Novak, Ellen Davidson, Anna Gold, AFTER THEIR STOP-AND-FRISK WIN, REFORM ADVOCATES PRESS FOR MORE CHANGES. as long as I’ve been alive. XL pipeline (“Learning Lessons from facebook.com/ John Tarleton By Alex Vitale, p9 MARLENA BUCZEK SMITH In less than 100 days Bratton for Next Keystone XL Battle,” TheIndypendent EXECUTIVE EDITOR: has managed to take the stage out February/March Indypendent) John Tarleton from under the feet of activists by is an invasion by a foreign na- AGIT-FOLK SONGS COMIN’ SOLVING IN THE PATH HOMELESSNESS OF A PIPELINE KIDS FOR CASH declaring our problems “solved.” tion onto U.S. territory and as BACK! p6 p8 p15 MANAGING EDITOR: I’m sure that Vitale is not fooled, such should be repelled by what- Thank you, Eli Smith, for shin- Alina Mogilyanskaya but in order to take back that stage ever means, including the National ing a light on the past and present THE INDY IS SOFT ON BRATTON and to take the fi ght to Bratton, we Guard. Kick their dirty oil out of of folk music in America (“Turn, CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Ellen Davidson, I was happy to see The Indypen- need to be clear about what we’re our country, and kick out the poli- Turn, Turn: A New Era of Folk Nicholas Powers dent run an article that took a up against and the fi ght that will ticians who have backed this dirty Music Emerges,” February/March closer look at the return of Bill be needed to keep New York from oil out while you are at it. Indypendent). With the ghouls ILLUSTRATION COORDINATOR: Bratton to the NYPD (“Police Re- becoming Bratton’s town once working overtime to damage lives Frank Reynoso form’s Next Step,” January/Febru- again. — Shirley Pettis, and damage the planet, the direct ary Indypendent). However, I was — Josmar Trujillo, from indypendent.org message from the heart that folk HEAD DESIGNER: Mikael Tarkela disappointed as I read what were via email music delivers is crucial. essentially some of the same talk- A TRAITOR TO MEN DESIGNERS: ing points of mainstream media REAL CAUSES OF Michael Kimmel is a traitor to men — Dan Hanrahan, Steven Arnerich, Anna Gold, and the cautiously optimistic spin HOMELESSNESS (“White Men’s Rage,” February/ from indypendent.org Christin Haschke coming from some quarters of The authors of your article on March Indypendent). He deserves New York City. homelessness (“Homeless Folks scorn for fronting for the world’s CALENDAR EDITORS: Seamus Creighton For example, when Alex Vitale Have Real Solutions to Housing largest and most offi cially coddled COMMENT ON THE NEWS AT refers to the pushback that Bratton Crisis,” February/March Indy- anti-male hate movement. The no- INDYPENDENT.ORG, FACEBOOK. GENERAL INQUIRIES: faced from community groups in pendent) wrote, “the bottom-line tion that his kind of man could COM/THE INDYPENDENT, EMAIL [email protected] Los Angeles, he refers to their con- cause of homelessness is the high ever be strong, appealing and sen- [email protected] SUBMISSIONS AND NEWS TIPS: cerns as “accusations” while large- cost of housing.” That is only sible is laughable. OR SEND A LETTER TO THE [email protected] ly taking at face value the “sup- partially right. Other causes are — Anonymous INDYPENDENT, 388 ATLANTIC SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS: port of minority leaders” there. free-trade treaties that decimated from indypendent.org indypendent.org/donate AVE., 2ND FL., BROOKLYN, NY ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION: The notion that “leaders” support job growth and income that pre- 11217. [email protected] Bratton should be challenged by viously kept up with productivity POOR, WHITE AND MALE READER COMMENTS: the policing movement — and gains. There’s also the decimation As a low-income urban white guy, [email protected] The Indypendent. It also begs the of social welfare safety nets in fa- I’m still waiting for any political VOLUNTEER: [email protected] The Indypendent is a New York-based free newspaper published 13 times a year on Mondays for our print and online audience of more than 100,000 readers. It is produced by a network of volunteers who report, write, edit, draw, design, take photos, distribute, fundraise and provide website man- agement. Since 2000, more than 700 journalists, artists and media activ- ists have participated in this project. Winner of more than 50 New York Community Media Alliance awards, The Indypendent is funded by sub- scriptions, reader donations, merchan- dise sales, benefi ts and advertising. 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SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT INDYPENDENT.ORG OR USE THIS FORM VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS: Sam NAME Alcoff, Bennett Baumer, Catherine Byun, Hye Jin Chung, Renée Feltz, ADDRESS CITY Seth Fisher, Lynne Foster, Robert Gonyo, Michael Hirsch, David Hollenbach, Dondi J, Adam Johnson, STATE ZIP Marty Kirchner, Timothy Krause, Rob LaQuinta, Christine Larsen, EMAIL THE INDYPENDENT THE David Meadow, Katie Moore, Mike Newton, Anna Polonyi, Andy Pugh, Ann Schneider, Jim Secula, Maiko PHONE Sembokuya, Marlena Buczek Smith, Elke Sudin, Gabriella Szpunt, Lucy MAKE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO“THE INDYPENDENT”AND SEND TO Valkury, Matthew Wasserman, Beth April 1–30, 2014 2 Whitney and Amy Wolf. 388 ATLANTIC AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR, BROOKLYN, NY 11217 community calendar A P R I L– M AY SUN APRIL 13 Nikki Kahn and Keisha Scarville will share 12:30pm • Free their ongoing work to tell Guyana’s stories MEET-UP: RADICAL EDUCATORS. An and counter stereotypes about the former open group of educators from various British colony and its wide-reaching backgrounds who meet and discuss critical diaspora. texts, educational organizing and other Schomburg Center for Research in Black dimensions of their work. Culture Bluestockings Bookstore & Cafe 135th St and Lenox Ave 172 Allen St 212-491-2200 • nypl.org 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com SAT APRIL 26 FRI APRIL 18–SUN APRIL 20 5–9pm • Free Various times • $15–$75 FULL DISCLOSURE CAMPAIGN: NYC MUSIC: 6TH ANNUAL BROOKLYN KICKOFF EVENT. Veterans For Peace FOLK FESTIVAL. This three-day festival is fi ghting to keep alive an anti-war includes 30 bands, vocal and instrumental perspective on the American war in workshops, a family-friendly square dance, Vietnam as the military plans to sanitize and fi lm screenings, the famous Banjo Toss mythologize that confl ict. Event incudes contest and more! guest speakers, spoken word performances The Bell House and a puppet show. 149 7th St, btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave, Bklyn Judson Memorial Church 718-395-3214 • brooklynfolkfest.com 55 Washington Sq South stopthesewars.org MON APRIL 21 TIMOTHY KRAUSE 7pm • Free THU MAY 1 HAPPY MAY DAY: Thousands of New Yorkers will march down Broadway again this year on May 1 in support of FORUM: WHISTLEBLOWERS & 12–6pm • Free worker and immigrant rights. SURVEILLANCE — SNOWDEN, YOU & RALLIES & MARCHES: CELEBRATE ME. Sponsored by Brooklyn for Peace and MAY DAY. May Day has seen a revival FRI APRIL 4 WORKSHOP: REPORTER’S PRIVILEGE. Get 16 Beaver St, 4th Fl World Can’t Wait, panelists include Faiza in the United States since 2006 and is 10am and 3pm • Free an overview of reporter’s privilege, how to 646-732 3261 • alwanforthearts.org N. Ali (Arab American Association of New now a day to celebrate the struggles of MARCH: AIRPORT WORKERS DEMAND distinguish a confi dential source and the York), Carl Dix (Stop Mass Incarceration both workers and immigrants. This year, GOOD JOBS: 12,000 service workers at history behind state shield laws. FRI APRIL 11 Network) and Debra Sweet (World Can’t the May 1st Coalition will rally from 12 to NYC’s three airports are demanding a living Brooklyn Public Library 6:30pm • Free Wait). 5:30pm at Union Square before marching wage. They and their supporters will mark 10 Grand Army Plaza SCREENING: VIDAS SECAS (BARREN Brooklyn Commons down Broadway to Lower Manhattan. the 46th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s 718-230-2491 • brooklynpubliclibrary.org LIVES ).