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 2 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT Whitney and Amy Wolf. Amy and Whitney Beth Wasserman, Matthew Valkury, Lucy Szpunt, Gabriella Sudin, Elke Smith, Buczek Marlena Sembokuya, Maiko Secula, Jim Schneider, Ann Pugh, Andy Polonyi, Anna Newton, Mike Moore, Meadow,Katie David Larsen, Christine LaQuinta, Rob Krause, Timothy Kirchner, Marty Johnson, Adam J, Dondi Hollenbach, David Hirsch, Michael Gonyo, Robert Foster, Lynne Fisher, Seth Feltz, Renée Chung, Jin Hye Byun, Catherine Baumer, Bennett Alcoff, CONTRIBUTORS: VOLUNTEER clarity. and content length, for articles edit to right the reserves Indypendent The globally. and locally of people lives the —affect social and political economic, — of power how systems exploring lens, acritical through culture and at news look that submissions accept We benefi sales, advertising. dise and ts merchan- donations, reader scriptions, The Indypendent awards, Alliance Media Community York 50 New than of more Winner project. this in participated have ists activ- media and artists journalists, 700 than more 2000, Since agement. man- website provide and fundraise distribute, photos, take draw, design, edit, write, report, who of volunteers anetwork by produced is It readers. 100,000 than of more audience online and print our for Mondays on year a 13 times published newspaper free The Indypendent THE INDYPENDENT THE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS: SUBSCRIPTIONS ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION: ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS AND NEWS TIPS: SUBMISSIONS AND NEWS [email protected] ILLUSTRATION COORDINATOR: ILLUSTRATION facebook.com/TheIndypendent Steven Arnerich, Anna Gold, Anna Arnerich, Steven 388 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor 2nd Avenue, Atlantic 388 Ellen Davidson, Anna Gold, Gold, Anna Davidson, Ellen [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: @TheIndypendent Twitter: CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: CONTRIBUTING [email protected] indypendent.org/donate THE INDYPENDENT, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: [email protected] Alina Mogilyanskaya Mogilyanskaya Alina www.indypendent.org READER COMMENTS: READER GENERAL INQUIRIES: GENERAL CALENDAR EDITORS: MANAGING EDITOR: MANAGING EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Seamus Creighton Seamus Brooklyn, NY 11217 NY Brooklyn, Christin Haschke Christin HEAD DESIGNER: HEAD Nicholas Powers Nicholas Ellen Davidson, Davidson, Ellen Mikael Tarkela Mikael Frank Reynoso John TarletonJohn TarletonJohn 212-904-1282 VOLUNTEER: DESIGNERS: is a New York-based aNew is is funded by sub- by funded is Sam Sam INDYPENDENT TT ZIP 388 AVENUE, ATLANTIC 2ND BROOKLYN, FLOOR, 11217 NY CHECK OR ORDER MONEY MAKE PAYABLE TO PHONE EMAIL STATE ADDRESS NAME SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT MAILBOX —13 FOR TIMES ONLY AYEAR $25! GET NOW! SUBSCRIBE The Indypendent —and movement policing the by challenged be should Bratton support “leaders” that notion The there. leaders” of minority port “sup- the value at face ly taking large- while “accusations” as cerns con- to their refers he Angeles, Los in groups community from faced Bratton that pushback to the refers YorkNew City. of quarters some from coming spin optimistic cautiously the and media of mainstream points ing talk- same of the some essentially were what Iread as disappointed ary Step,”form’s January/Febru- Next (“PoliceRe- NYPD to the Bratton of Bill return at the look closer dent The happy to see I was Indypen- BRATTON ON SOFT IS INDY THE the reader’s voice THE INDYPENDENT THE By Alex Vitale, p9 AlexVitale, By PRESS FOR MORE CHANGES. THEIRAFTER STOP-AND-FRISK WIN, REFORM ADVOCATES REFORMING THE NYPD For example, when Alex Vitale Vitale Alex when For example, Indypendent run an article that took a took that article an run HOMELESSNESS SOLVING p6 THE INDYPENDENT THE ). However, Iwas . It also begs the the begs also . It OF APIPELINE IN THE PATH p 8 ISSUE #194: FEBRUARY 25–MARCH 2014 24, A FREE PAPERA FREE PEOPLE FREE FOR KIDS FOR CASH p15

INDYPENDENT.ORG MARLENA BUCZEK SMITH again. once Bratton’s town becoming York New to keep from needed be fi the and up against will that ght we’re what about clear to be need fi the to take and we to Bratton, ght stage that back to take order but in fooled, not is Vitale that I’m sure “solved.” problems our declaring by of activists feet the under from out stage the to take managed has alive. been I’ve as long as of for color communities targeted have disproportionately that phies —philoso- policing predictive on emphasis his and offenses serious commit to eventually ones likely most the are offenses ity-of-life” “qual- minor whocommit people that of policing theory windows” “broken to the commitment ing Bratton’s longstand- support also leaders these of whether question of social welfare safety nets in fa- in nets safety welfare of social decimation the also There’s gains. productivity up kept with viously pre- that income and job growth decimated that treaties free-trade are causes Other right. partially only is of housing.” That cost high the is of homelessness cause pendent February/March Crisis,” to Housing Solutions Real Have Folks (“Homeless homelessness on article of your authors The HOMELESSNESS OF CAUSES REAL In less than 100 days Bratton Bratton days 100 than less In ) wrote, “the bottom-line bottom-line “the ) wrote, — Josmar Trujillo, — Josmar DELIVERED YOUR TO STRAIGHT via email via OR USE THIS FORM Indy- “THE INDYPENDENT” “THE oil out while you are at it. you are out while oil dirty this whohave backed ticians poli- out the kick and country, our out of oil dirty their Kick Guard. National the including means, ever by what- repelled be should such as and territory onto U.S. tion na- by aforeign invasion an is POOR, WHITE AND MALE AND WHITE POOR, sible laughable. is sen- and appealing strong, be ever could of man kind his that tion no- The movement. hate anti-male offi most and largest coddled cially world’s for the forfronting scorn March Men’s February/ Rage,” (“White to men atraitor is Kimmel Michael MEN TO A TRAITOR February/March Battle,” XL Keystone for Next Lessons (“Learning pipeline XL Keystone the that my opinion is It HELL XL KEYSTONE I’m still waiting for any political guy, white urban alow-income As ing and Constitution shredding. Constitution and ing monger- war forimperialist budget bloated the as well as monopolies, conglomerate multinational their 1% forthe and taxes vor of cutting Indypendent from indypendent.org from indypendent.org from indypendent.org — Kevin Schmidt, — Kevin — Shirley Pettis, — Shirley CITY CITY — Anonymous ). He deserves ). deserves He Indypendent AND SENDAND TO ) 11217. NY BROOKLYN, FL., 2ND AVE., INDYPENDENT, 388 ATLANTIC THE TO ALETTER SEND OR [email protected] EMAIL INDYPENDENT, COM/THE INDYPENDENT.ORG, FACEBOOK. AT NEWS THE ON COMMENT crucial. is delivers music folk that heart the from message direct the planet, the damage and lives to damage overtime working Indypendent February/March Emerges,” Music of Folk Era Turn, Turn: ANew (“Turn, America in music of folk present and past the on alight ing forshin- Smith, Eli you, Thank BACK! COMIN’ SONGS AGIT-FOLK issues. issues. “black” to be assumed are us effect that issues the because anything, about to talk allowed never are way. by the We population of the 2percent are people white urban March March Men’s February/ Rage,” (“White me about article an write alone let Iexist, that to admit faction Indypendent from indypendent.org ). With the ghouls ghouls the ). With — Dan Hanrahan, from facebook.com/ — John Novak, — John TheIndypendent ). Low-income ). Low-income THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 3

Veterans For Peace May Day has seen a revival 207 STARR ST STARR IN 207 TO RECEIVE AN Nikki Kahn and Keisha Scarville will share their ongoing work to tell Guyana’s stories counter stereotypesand the former about British colony and its wide-reaching diaspora. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 135th St and Lenox Ave 212-491-2200 • nypl.org SAT APRIL 26 5–9pm • Free NYC CAMPAIGN: FULL DISCLOSURE KICKOFF EVENT. ghting tois keep fi alive an anti-war perspective on the American war in Vietnam as the military plans to sanitize and mythologize ict. that confl Event incudes word performancesguest spoken speakers, and a puppet show. Church Memorial Judson 55 Washington Sq South stopthesewars.org THU 1 MAY 12–6pm • Free CELEBRATE MARCHES: & RALLIES MAY DAY. in the United States since 2006and is now a day to celebrate the struggles of both workers and immigrants. This year, the May 1st Coalition will rally from 12 to 5:30pm at Union Square before marching down Broadway to Lower Manhattan. rally union-sponsored labor a Meanwhile, will be held at 5pm at City Hall. The two groups will march together nal leg for the fi of the trip past Zuccotti Park and the Wall Street bull. May1.info An A P R I L– M AY . WE WILL COVER THE BASICS OF

This three-dayfestival Award-winning photographers Sponsored by Brooklyn for Peace and

BUSHWICK. SAVE THE DATE — SAT MAY 17 17 MAY — SAT DATE THE SAVE WITH GROOVE ANDGET ON DANCE AWAY THE NIGHT YOUR WE’RE THROWING A BENEFIT DANCE PARTY THE INDY. STREET THE STARR AT STUDIOS AT FEATURED PERFORMER: DJ STYLUS + CASH BAR $10 ADMISSION: FOR DETAILS! TUNED MORE STAY open group of educators of from group variousopen backgrounds who meet and discuss critical texts, educational organizing and other work. their of dimensions Bluestockings Bookstore & Cafe 172 Allen St 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com MON APRIL 21 7pm • Free FORUM: WHISTLEBLOWERS & SURVEILLANCE — SNOWDEN, YOU & ME. World Can’t Wait, panelists include Faiza N. Ali (Arab American Association of New York), Carl Dix (Stop Mass Incarceration Network) and Debra Sweet (World Can’t Wait). Brooklyn Commons 388 Atlantic Ave 718-624-5921 • [email protected] THU APRIL 24 6:30pm • Free PHOTOGRAPHY: A WORLDVIEW FROM GUYANA. SUN APRIL 13 12:30pm • Free MEET-UP: RADICAL EDUCATORS. FRI APRIL 18–SUN APRIL 20 Various times • $15–$75 MUSIC: 6TH ANNUAL BROOKLYN FESTIVAL. FOLK instrumental and vocal 30 bands, includes workshops, a family-friendly square dance, lm screenings,fi the famous Banjo Toss contest and more! The Bell House 149 7th St, btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave, Bklyn 718-395-3214 • brooklynfolkfest.com TIMOTHY KRAUSE TIMOTHY

MAY 10 FROM 1–5PM FROM 10 MAY org . Celebrate Cinema Novo SATURDAY, alwanforthearts VIDAS SECAS (BARREN Directed by Nelson Pereira dos ). Santos, thislm drama 1963 shows fi the desperate struggle for life of skilled but landless peasants in the drought-ridden northeast of Brazil. It is considered an early masterpiece of theBrazilian movement that focused on the economic poor. the conditions political of and PSC/CUNY Union Hall 61 Broadway, 16th Fl 212-354-1252 • psc-cuny.org SAT APRIL 12 8pm • $5-$10 PERFORMANCE: PETE SEEGER CELEBRATION SING-ALONG. the life and music of Pete Seeger with Peoples’ Voice Café performers. This is a fully participatory event, come to sing. Peoples’ Voice Café 40 E 35th St 212-787-3903 • peoplesvoicecafe.org 16 Beaver St, 4th Fl 646-732 3261 • FRI APRIL 11 6:30pm • Free SCREENING: LIVES Get TOM befriends Philosophy in the and In this 57-minute THE MUSLIMS ARE Arun Kundnani reads from and . Later, de Sade visits Jefferson’s the author of Justine Bedroom Virginia plantation anded is by horrifi what he sees. Brecht Forum Bklyn Ave, 388 Atlantic brechtforum.org • 212-242-4201 Islamophobia, on book new his discusses extremism and the domestic war on terror. Alwan for the Arts JEFFERSON, SALLY HEMMINGS & HEMMINGS SALLY JEFFERSON, MARQUIS DE SADE. mockumentary, the author of the Independence of Declaration THU APRIL 10 LAUNCH:BOOK COMING! WED APRIL 9 7:30pm • $6/$10/$15 sliding scale TALES OF THE 1% FILM SERIES: WORKSHOP: REPORTER’S PRIVILEGE. REPORTER’S WORKSHOP: an overview of reporter’s privilege, how to distinguish dential a confi source and the history state behind laws. shield Brooklyn Public Library 10 Grand Army Plaza 718-230-2491 • brooklynpubliclibrary.org

WILL HOSTING BE A COMMUNITY REPORTING WORKSHOP Acceptable

Thousands of New Yorkers will march down Broadway again this year on May 1 in support of

JOURNALISM, INCLUDING LEDE WRITING,JOURNALISM, INCLUDING INTERVIEWING, RESEARCH ARE LIMITED SPACES AND STORY AVAILABLE. DEVELOPMENT. SCALE SLIDING $10-$25. PLEASEAPPLICATION, [email protected]. EMAIL US AT THE INDYPENDENT HAVE YOU WANTED TO TRY YOUR HAND AT JOURNALISM BUT YOU’RE NOT SURE WHERE TO WHERE START? NOT SURE YOU’RE BUT JOURNALISM HAND AT TO YOUR TRY WANTED YOU HAVE 7pm • Free WED APRIL 9 10–4pm • Free YOUR OF RECYCLING: DISPOSE ELECTRONICS. UNWANTED SAT APRIL 5 computers,electronics include monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, cell cables, equipment. Events game video and phones will be held throughout April in locations in ve boroughs.all fi For full list of locations & dates, visit theLES Ecology Center website. Greenwich Village 6th Ave between Bleecker and Houston 212-477-4022 • lesecologycenter.org FRI APRIL 4 10am and 3pm • Free MARCH: AIRPORT WORKERS DEMAND GOOD JOBS: 12,000 service workers at NYC’s three airports are demanding a living wage. They and their supporters will mark the 46th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination striking defending sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., with rallies and a march from JFK to LaGuardia. The JFK rally begins at 10 am. A second rally will be held at LaGuardia at 3pm. HAPPY MAY DAY: worker and immigrant rights.

community calendar BE THE MEDIA! 4 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT

OTHY KRAUSE OTHY TIM THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 5 - - - - arden witharden two young gardeners. G Meanwhile, is looking Kate Temple-West “The kids get excited about any little thing prevail. OnMarch their 10, pro-bonolawyers filed suit in the State Supreme Court claim ing the fenced-off parcel land of was theirs rightby possession,” “adverse of a New York State law that under certain circumstances allows one party claim to another’s property if they notoriously use and “openly, it exclu years. for 10 sively” forward another to growing season. She’s hoping acquire to enough topsoil start to some new vegetable beds. With the part the of gar den that gets the most sunlight behind a fence, set hershe’s sights on plants thatwill do well in the shade — fig trees, raspberries, blackber mint. and elderberries ries, that comes through up the ground,” she said. - - - emple-West (center) of Children’s Magical Kate T When boomed again New York in the A booming real estate market continues to In the case Serge of Hoyda, the members of GREEN THUMB:GREEN ty. Withty. several neighborhood schools located thenearby, Norfolk lot at and Stanton became a magnet for children and their families. 1990s, theGiuliani administration to moved hand the over gardens private to developers. Protests and lawsuits followed and hundreds gardensof were preserved from bulldozers. make thegardens a temptingtarget for pri vate developersvate and presents some intriguing questions: Who should this land belong to? The people and it who work through their col lective efforts bring value their to communi ties? real to Or, estate speculators who invoke claims private of ownership make to off with the wealth produced others? by Children’s Magical Garden still hope they can

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Villager lease P NTS 212-242-4201 register online:register E Children’s Magical Garden traces its roots That could soon change. Last real May, estate developer Serge Hoy In November, Hoyda submitted a plan to dren. back the to early 1980s, when hundreds of community gardens began across up sprout to In neighborhoodsNew York. like the Lower East Side that had practically been abandoned theby city government, residents cleared gar bage-strewn lots and turned blight into beau they want forward go to with building on the disputed lot the for benefit their of own chil that would happen on the Lower East Side. It’s what makes the neighborhood liveable.” da staked his claim a parcel to the of garden he purchased in 2003 for $180,000 having by a fence installed. It effectively cut the garden in half and deprived its of it raised vegetable beds, chicken coop and meditation circle. City Council member Margaret Chin and Com munity Board 3 came the to aid the of kids makingby sure that the rest the of garden was placed under the aegis the of Parks Depart Green ment’s Thumbprogram and received permanent protection. the Department Buildings of proposing to build a six-story building with a penthouse and a gym that the would over tower garden. And in January, he flipped the property for a cool $3.3 million the to Yonkers-based Ho rizon Group whose owners the told brechtforum.org - - - 7:30PM • treets) MENT S oyt BUILDING H he Commonshe THAT MOVES THAT A MOVE

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T FORUM DAY SPECIAL MAY and Movement Women’s The and Revolution: Women Marxism in the 1970s and Hester Eisenstein Vogel With Lise Sliding scale: $6/$10/$15

WED, APR 27 • 7–9:30PM 27 APR WED, BRECHT FORUM SPRING PARTY music and with friends, Come celebrate the spring thaw donation! drinks by Sliding scale: $6/$10/$15 THU, APR 17 17 APR THU, IN SOCIALISM CAMPAIGN DISCUSSING STRATEGY: YORK? NEW Hawkins, and Howie Dan la Botz With Gloria Mattera, Hoke Matt moderated by Sliding scale: $6/$10/$15 T

It was the first spring day of and Children’s tree,” they apple up “Wake sang in out uni tree, apple up “Wake wake up!” tree, apple up “Wake wake the to up sun!” Across Emily the prepared way, Weichers if“Even live in you a small City New York

the barren branches an of tree. apple MagicalGarden was openbusiness for the at corner Stanton of and Norfolk on the Lower East the longtime garden’s Side. Temple-West, director, had already helped some children plant as clover well as brightly colored tulips and violas. The wind had an icy sting it, to but theneither nor children she discouraged. were son. “Wake up!” small seed packets mint, of fennel and aru gula while she watched the of out corner of her eye as her son Tristan, 6, dug for worms. The seeds were be to planted in dirt-filled egg cartons that gardeners would place on their kitchen window sills until the end April. of apartment, can you still be a part garden of saiding,” Weichers. She stumbled across this green space two years ago while walking her son school to and is still amazed herat good fortune. son has “My eaten apples and peaches from the trees here. I never thought L

By John Tarleton When Hope Springs Anew Springs Hope When CITYLIFE 6 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT save Long Island College Hospital. College Island Long save STANDING OUT: By Peter Rugh Peter By SAFETY NET SAFETY N NYC’s Vanishing Hospitals zheimer’s, her geriatrician is at LICH.” at LICH.” is geriatrician her zheimer’s, Al- has and 90s her now in whois my mom, and apatient been “I’ve closed. are doors its and emergency an is there if turn will ers oth- and she where wondering Roca, Maria defender ago,” LICH said years 28 Hospital Bedford-Stuyvesant. in ter Cen- Medical Interfaith bankrupt nearly the way to save under also are efforts Similar (LICH). Hospital College Island Long close to York of New (SUNY) University State by the efforts resisting been has Brooklyn in caregivers and of patients coalition a vocal doorstep.” to your cleanses and juices cold-pressed of organic deliveries “at-home certifi “regular and massages” ed services,” fi spa and cise beauty classes, tness exer- group and trainers personal “on-site walker,” dog “a residential guidance,” Shui Gothamist to the cording ac- up. Amenities, sprung has development another facility, treatment acancer operated simulator. agolf and pool swimming 25-meter-long a parking, underground garden, a private now contains also site new The apartments. two-bedroom terraced, with units care tient inpa- have replaced Holdings Global and Company Management at Rudin developers West Avenue Village, the in Seventh and Street 12th on ahalf and acentury than formore stood hospital the Where 2012. in demolished was Center Medical Catholic profi Vincent’s St. shutdowns, recent ofle the high- most the In 2003. since down closed everyone. to open are doors room emergency whose profi more are centers treatment than table few wealthy foraselect, condos and limited is Space tag. aprice has foot square every Located on a high embankment along along embankment ahigh on Located College Island at Long “My born was son next, be could hospital their that Fearing Vincent’s St. where north, blocks Three have York New hospitals City Fifteen sometimes more, in a city where where a city in more, sometimes up blocks, whole take They out. dying are Yorkew hospitals City Then-mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio was arrested last July at a protest to to aprotest at July last arrested was Blasio de Bill candidate Then-mayoral , include “Feng “Feng , include keep the facility open. open. facility the keep to miracle foralast-minute hoping are they offi elected and staff hospital with cials, ing Work- Coalition. Save LICH of the part key a have been down, shuts LICH if a hospital to reach farther much have to travel would Hook. Red and dens Gar- Carroll Heights, ofBrooklyn munities com- adjacent the serves also hospital the But stands. rently cur- LICH where loft apricy from skyline of Manhattan’s view unobstructed an with sunset the watching languidly a yuppie imagine can One a developer’s dream. is hospital the hood, neighbor- Hill Cobble gentrifi ed Brooklyn’s in River East the and bolstered LICH’s cause. However, a cause. LICH’s bolstered and race primary Democratic acrowded in polls top of the to the bottom the from him vault helped disobedience of civil act The tients. pa- and providers care LICH adozen about offimidtown with together July last ces information.” that we need to save LICH, work together offiFor elected to community forthe cials, proposals. of the details we don’t the know We adeveloper. is are, don’t whothey know “one said, Blasio providers,” de care health are of them “Most hospital. the purchasing in interest expressed whohad of parties names the seeking was and time at the cate we need.” information the provide and thing right to dothe [of trustees] board SUNY the forces and in steps community the “unless York’s New elected was mayor, he before months four warned, Blasio de cent’s,” Bill Vin- way of toSt. go the going is “LICH ROLE DE BLASIO’S Patients from the surrounding area, who area, surrounding the from Patients De Blasio was arrested in front of SUNY’s of SUNY’s front in arrested was Blasio De offi the held Blasio De advo- of public ce Interfaith Medical Center on January 19. January on Center preserve to Medical rally Interfaith activists community fellow and scarf) white in center (at Perry Sharonnie ODDS: THE BEAT TO TRYING

PETER RUGH LICH remaining ahospital.” remaining LICH of chance best “the as release press joint a it in describing arrangement, the hailed Coalition Save LICH the in groups munity com- local and (SEIU) Union International Employees Service (NYSNA), Association May. this early as off sold be could LICH leaders, elected and SUNY unions, labor between reached agreement the Under tain. uncer- hospital’s fate the leaves 20, February announced Cuomo, Gov. Andrew with dem tan- mayor in new by the championed deal decision in early April. early in decision its to announce expected is It hospital. the of future say over the largest the has SUNY settlement ofthe terms the Under hospital. afull-service as to continue LICH allow fi including kind, of some would ve that cility fa- amedical and space commercial housing, market-rate and of affordable combination a creating envisions proposals nine of the Each $210 from to $251ranged million. offered being amounts The it. redevelop and LICH to purchase deadline 22 by aMarch proposals submit groups sawnine tlement employees. 1,400 of LICH’s of 600 layoffs announced SUNY February, of Trustees. Board SUNY to the members appoints he because and funds for bailout to protests ear adeaf turned had he cause be- shutdown, attempted the in hand hidden governor’s sawthe Many down. hospital the shutting and ambulances diverting began administrators SUNY after July in Court ty Coun- Kings from order won the groups nity hospital. of the itself divesting from it prevented had that order a restraining from SUNY frees it also But services. health providing keep will that buyers potential to given be will preference whereby system apoint establishes and hospital the chase pur- whowill deciding committee technical advocate’s offipublic a on vote aminority ce the and members coalition gives deal The DEAL THE OF TERMS signed by former President Bill Clinton in in Clinton Bill President by former signed and Congress by aRepublican-led passed law of afederal a result as reduced, been have formulas reimbursement Medicare and Medicaid Simultaneously, to 2008. 2000 from annually of 7percent at about arate inflmedical soaring skyrocketed, has ation York’s of New First, closing the hospitals. to leading of factors anumber are There FLATLINING ARE HOSPITALS WHY Nonetheless, New York State Nurses York New Nurses State Nonetheless, The bidding process mandated by the set- by the mandated process bidding The in brokered was deal the Two after weeks advocate’s offipublic The commu- and ce ances that pay very well.” pay very that ances whohave insur- patients treat that hospitals at services expanded we’re seeing time same the At to close. patients to those cater that hospitals forcing cut, being are Medicare and “Medicaid board. governing sociation’s As- York New Nurses of the State member same. to dothe power market the lack hospitals outer-borough er affl most Small- their holders. ing policy uent los- risk and hospitals out of these cut to be whodon’t want insurers private from rates reimbursement better extract can They tals. World Report’s top of at the land routinely Center Medical Langone NYU and Sinai Mount York New like Presbyterian, ters cen- medical to university ties with systems haven’t either. helped economics care health of private vagaries the bankruptcy, into spiraling patients derly el- and working-class poor, many too serve that hospitals sending role in akey played time. that since cut heavily been also has forhospitals 1997. support State recent years,” reports Crain’s reports years,” recent in to protect have battled groups munity com- many so hospitals away beloved at the services. outpatient costly favor of in less beds of hospital ber num- the reduce will that initiatives redesign goMedicaid toward will funds that noting deal, of the assessment frankest the fered of- community, business city’s to the caters put bailout. toward be will funds of none those open, hospitals nity commu- other and LICH tokeep struggling forthose letdown another in But, services.” have suffered from diminishing health care that Brooklyn, in particularly munities, com- forour conclusion apositive towards forward step biggest “the as assistance the hailed Gov. initially Cuomo government. federal the from funds Medicaid in billion $8 York New received State February In BEDS HOSPITAL DWINDLING FOR BILLION $8 er neighborhood — or another borough.” another —or neighborhood er to anoth- travel require will services medical complex to more …Access selves. former of their asliver be will Many beds. lose will city the throughout hospitals community that is funding federal new of the reality “It’s profi about a Petty, t,” Sean said hospital Manhattan-based Prestigious have policies austerity government While “The $8 billion grant will actually chip chip actually will grant billion $8 “The York New Crain’s Honor Roll of Best Hospi- of Best Roll Honor , a publication that that , apublication Continued on page 8 page on Continued U.S. News & News U.S. . “The blunt blunt . “The

PETER RUGH THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 7 12/12/12 5:30 PM

! NYC RADIO M-F WBAI 99.5FM 8am NYC TELEVISION CUNY-TV 1am Tu-F M-F, 6:30pm Manhattan MNN 8am and 7pm M-F Brooklyn BCAT 9am M-F Network & DirecTV DISH Free Speech TV 8am, noon, 8pm and midnight M-F 8am, noon, 7pm Sat 8am, noon Sun Link TV 11am and 6pm M-F ) Madison/Park DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG TUNE IN and resistance 212-787-3903 April 5 April 12 April 26 New York, NY 10016 York, New Sing-Along of celebrating music www.peoplesvoicecafe.org Mike Hurwicz 40 E. 35th St. ( doors open 7:30; wheelchair accessible of peace Saturdays at 8 p.m. at Saturdays The Ray Korona Band Ray Korona The and Juan Gonzalez with Amy Goodman Amy with 32 years More if you choose; less if you can’t; no one turned away you can’t; if you choose; if less More Suggested Donation: $18 or TDF; $10 PVC members PVC $10 or TDF; $18 Donation: Suggested Pete Seeger Celebration Seeger Pete Global News Hour News Global Community Church of New York Unitarian-Universalist York Community New Church of Irthlingz: Sharon Abreu Sharon & Irthlingz: Colleen Kattau & Some Guys & Some Colleen Kattau A Daily Independent Independent A Daily

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ULA SEC M JI ------it onceit stood. Now, whichever hospital the neighborhood’s residents to, is go it neither in the of nor The neighborhood. Catholic Church didn’t single St. out St. Vincent’s the isn’t only hospital that has St. Vincent’s was demolished in 2012. To Others will tell that you Rudin Manage What and what I know, our communities Years afterward, Years close a friend went the to GHBORHOOD ing night, fell asleep andtwo up woke and a half months later still in the hospital. He had contracted a spinal infection that mirrored meningitis He wasn’t. was but well taken care untilof he went a nursing to home. That was in right 2010, as the doors St. of Vincent’s good. for closing were closed. There been have since 15 2003 and an other two are on the brink: Long Island Col lege Hospital and Interfaith Medical Center, both in Brooklyn. None the of powers-that-be really want them, save to because they serve patients without insurance and without clout. see we luxuryday, housing being built where al hospitals left in the Maybe city. the monies being paidfor abused out childrenwiped out the resources needed keep to them open. ment, the builder the of new housing in St. Vincent’s footprint, is coincidentally former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s larg est campaign contributor and she didn’t do all she could the save do to hospital. Or just it might be total incompetence on the part the of financialchurch’s management. Who knows? is thatknow, health care has taken a beating in Greenwich Village and Chelsea and that citywide, the assault continues. Gary Schoichet is a photographer and jour nalist in the labor movement and hasbeen liv ing in Chelsea for almost 50 years. ing people, some new and some I knew from neighborhood.my They included the guy who sold me pot, was who there because the cops had cracked his kneecap. He me a nice gave joint smoke to in the stairwell. could do You that. St. Vincent’s emergency room on Thanksgiv Vincent’s; been it’s closing hospitals, as well as schools, all There over. are Catholic no gener I - - - - - FFERENCE. ITAL, ITAL, AND THAT MADE ALL DI THE IT WAS OUR NE HOSP - - - - -

came back from town of out one day in the mid-1980s find to son my with a black eye, a real shiner, caused a basketball by hit by

At the hospital he was immediately taken St. Vincent’s had a long history. Established More than that, St. Vincent’s was the at I spentTwice, few a days in thehospital for As walked we St. to Vincent’s Hospital, ment and that made all the difference. in was — it St. Vincent’s policy see to children as soon as they arrived — and I was quickly asked if I had done that. I explained what had happened was but glad they asked, thinking, “St. Vincent’s protects children. Good.” the by in Roman 1849 Catholic Sisters of Charity with the spe cific purpose help of ing the poor, was it the third-oldest hospi tal City in New York and the first estab to lish an ambulance ser vice. It helped the city through some its of worst disasters, treating victims Triangle the of Shirtwaist 1911 Facto ry fire, Spanish the 1918 flu outbreak and the Center Trade bombing. World 1993 It served as the first-response hospital at for the 9/11 tacks, taking in more than 800 survivors. epicenter the of 30-year battle against AIDS. When the pandemic began spread, to was it St. Vincent’s that created special a ward care to for those who would die. At the time there was living.no Whether that ward was isolate to — there was general ignorance about AIDS and its transmission make — or to treatment But was it a hospice know. witheasier, I don’t art-filled walls and kind patient care. hernia surgeries. St. We, Vincent’s intake and I, had a disagreement about the method be to used for the operations. I was on Medicaid, and was it in the financial hospital’s inter est keep to me as long as they could for the reimbursement. Once that was dealt with I was a patient be to cared for like any other. In days my there I wandered the wards meet a baseball bat into the left side his of face. peoplestared his at swollenblack-and-blue cheek and the at man who must done have that that to poor child. Located in the West Village, St. Vincent’s was our neighborhood thehospital. north To was Roosevelt, the to east were Cabrini and Beth Israel and the to south was Beekman Downtown, could we but walk St. to Vincent’s from our Chelsea apart I

By Gary Schoichet Remembering St. Vincent’s FIRST PERSON 8 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT tal bed. For residents of Manhattan there there of Manhattan For residents bed. tal hospi- one is there Brooklynites 500 every capacity.For of its at 106 percent erating op- —was closure facing LICH, like and, —bankrupt Center Medical Interfaith offi Bedford-Stuyvesant’s that showed ce advocate’s public the from year last report a Sandy. Meanwhile, by Hurricane caused to that away of patients turning by the spawned crisis the compared paramedic one ambulances, diverting to cease tors hospital’s administra- the ordered a judge before summer, last LICH At Brooklyn. beds.” in You have adecrease ercise. will ex- of the point the is that “Yes, because funds. the about made he remarks vious pre- contradicting Cuomo, said reduced?” 6 page from Continued Closings Hospital There is already a shortage of beds in in of beds ashortage already is There are beds hospital some it mean “Will Since 2003 Since NYC HOSPITAL CLOSURES INTERFAITH MEDICAL CENTER (SECOND HOSPITAL CAMPUS) HOSPITAL (SECOND CENTER MEDICAL INTERFAITH ✚ CLOSED 2006 CLOSED ISLAND —STATEN CENTER MEDICAL ST. VINCENT’S ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL —MIDTOWN HOSPITAL ST. VINCENT’S ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL ST. VINCENT’S CLOSED 2010 CLOSED cate. advo- public new city’s the James, Letitia York New in City,” care remarked health with meddling be not should Koch David facility. anonunion be will name, Koch the bear will which wing, hospital —the Charles brother, of his those and — patron ofthe politics the with line in Right Drive. Riverside on wing outpatient anew to establish plans York Presbyterian billionaire industrialist David Koch, New from spring last donation $100 million to a Thanks Manhattan. in expanding is care health line top-of-the of services, three. are ✚ wondered board, advisory community center’s medical the Perry, with Sharonnie January, in Interfaith outside arally At COOPERATIVE MODEL CLOSED 2007 CLOSED “Right-wing, anti-union profi anti-union “Right-wing, like teers distribution skewed already the Despite CLOSED 2008 CLOSED HOSPITAL MEMORIAL VICTORY ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2006 CLOSED ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2008 CLOSED CENTER MEDICAL CABRINI ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2003 CLOSED BROOKLYN HOSPITAL CENTER — CALEDONIAN DIVISION ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2010 CLOSED HOSPITAL GENERAL NORTH ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL ST. JOHN’S CLOSED 2005 CLOSED ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL We have no direct say in these decisions.” these say in We have no direct revenues. and of costs basis the on made are we get of services kinds what and cated allo- are how about resources “Decisions fithe Interfaith. and LICH to preserve ght in together came that coalition grassroots the with conjunction in by NYSNA tuned fi being still is which proposal, initial ne- an reads communities,” forour working residents. local and patients of staff, leadership elected by an replaced hospitals struggling Brooklyn’s at of directors boards the see would that aplan developing Perry, are like activists with partnering Association, Nurses the Instead, to arrive. swift hasn’t been One benefactor. wealthy own their Interfaith of fi task the with James charged nding jokingly She from. come would hospital to save Bed-Stuy’s funds the where aloud If implemented, the plan would insti- would plan the implemented, If isn’t system care health current “The CLOSED 2009 CLOSED PARKWAY HOSPITAL PARKWAY CLOSED 2008 CLOSED ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2013 CLOSED CENTER MEDICAL SQUARE WESTCHESTER ✚ ✚ MARY IMMACULATE HOSPITAL IMMACULATE MARY CLOSED 2006 CLOSED ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL the lap of real-estate corporations. of lap real-estate the in landing keep York’sNew will hospitals then, Until services. health city’s of the tion preserva- the after: ultimately are they what achieve can have built they coalition the if seen to be it remains But serve. they patients the with up together have built unions care health the that power political the cating mayor’sthe offi into him catapult indi- ce, Perry. said around,” bureaucrats. industry and government than rather ers of stakehold- hands the in spent are funds how to decide power put increased could plan The serve. they communities the with interface often boards governing whose co-ops, worker-run of existing to that lar simi- hospitals, 14 community and public at Brooklyn’s model acooperative tute Bill de Blasio’s defense of LICH helped helped of LICH Blasio’s de defense Bill things to turn ready “We’re getting ✚ ✚ CLOSED 2012 CLOSED HOSPITAL PENINSULA CLOSED 2009 CLOSED ✚ ✚

MIKAEL TARKELA THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 9

. Judson Memorial Church Memorial Judson Sq. So. 55 Washington stopthesewars.org New York City York New Kickoff Event 26, April Saturday, 5-9 pm Manhattan ietnamfulldisclosure.org v destruction and damage done to the Vietnamese people and and people to the Vietnamese done damage destruction and of impact confront the lasting the campaign does Neither land. life of loss families—from their and soldiers U.S. on conflict this birth of to the transmission illnesses and disabilities physical and The government progeny. defects to their by Orange Agent caused women including Vietnamese, of the millions mention not does killed. and who tortured, captured, were displaced, children, and who resisted soldiers U.S. the of heroic representation no There is protest. domestic of acknowledgment real any nor the war, postwar and to the pay voices not And tribute does the project activities of many antiwar veterans. reconciliation 26 to April on Church Come to Judson the the truthhear and Nam Viet about Afghanistan and to Iraq connections from those who there were Cohen,

The Veterans For Peace Full Disclosure Campaign Disclosure Full For Peace The Veterans justification of the war without acknowledging the terrible the terrible without the of war acknowledging justification

and Fast Eddie Patrick McCann, Michael McPhearson, George Packard, Susan Schnall, Margaret Stevens, Debra Sweet Puppet Kevin by show Augustine—Lone Tribe Wolf word Professor by Spoken Louie and Fast Eddie Camillo Mac Bica, Jeff Bica, Mac Camillo

tHe AmericAn WAr in nAm Viet WAr AmericAn tHe

An Honest commemorAtion oF commemorAtion An Honest Full Disclosure Disclosure Full Rather than conducting an honest evaluation to learn from the to learn evaluation honest an conducting than Rather post ex an promoting is the DoD Nam, Viet in intervention U.S. facto President Obama announced a plan, starting in 2012, for a 13-year a 13-year for starting 2012, in a plan, announced Obama President we observe the 50th “As at $65 funded million: commemoration … we than pay to the more tribute War anniversary theVietnam of jungles through who servicemen women … pushed and 3 million to protect heroically fighting monsoon, heat and paddies, rice and and what It the President is Americans.” as dear we hold ideals the significant. say that’s the Department don’t Defense of The Full Disclosure campaign is a Veterans For Peace effort a Veterans is to campaign Disclosure The Full perspective the antiwar on truth alive speak keep and to power to the alternative a clear It is Nam. Viet in War the American efforts mythologize and to sanitize Department Defense’s of further of the continuation legitimizing the war, in role the U.S. unnecessary destructive and wars. Sponsored by: • Music by by• Music Sponsored by: Veterans For Peace • • by• Music AgainstIraq Veterans the War Brooklyn for Peace • 10 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT SPURS GROWING PAREN PUBLIC EDUCATION PUBLIC ganized a standardized test boycott at Gar boycott test astandardized ganized or teachers other and Hagopian Jesse When BI P Davis Owen By N TOP-DOWN NEW and Discontents its The Common Core testing,” she said. she testing,” this to stop determined so of parents body a seen never “I’ve allies. innumerable Sopp arms. up in spectrum political the across educators and parents has plementation im top-down rapid and standards’ The gram. Top to the Race pro administration’s Obama by the adoption widespread guaranteed and cash of philanthropic gobs with promoted committees, nonprofit in forged benchmarks of educational aset Standards, State Core scores. to test attached stakes ever-heightening of the provoke areappraisal and testing of standardized march the verse to re aim They closed. being risk or scores to increase schools and jobs of their sake the for marks high to post teachers pressure that of policies arepudiation in tests high-stakes aside pushing be will York,to New students to Denver Seattle from cities In history. tion educa modern in movement opt-out largest her. join will students test-age school’s 300 of the percent 80 begins, 3-8 forgrades period York’s New when April, exam 146. This PS 2011. in held parents other and Sopp meetings from emerged that group testing York-basedNew a anti-standardized Stakes, the Change build helping and parents with speaking continued mother her ened, Heart to students. reading class, kindergarten a in aide an as Kya week the spent graciously: responded school The period. testing six-day the out during Kya sitting that be would ing made her brilliant.” what erode “would disability, areading has who daughter, of her says Sopp scores,” test on focus much “That out. kids their opting to discuss of parents agroup with meeting began Sopp school’s neck. the from heavily hung testing of yearly millstone the there even but School, New 146, Brooklyn or PS gressive bubbles. first their in fill would kids before 18 prep months test begin would rationally, school, the So closure. even administration, anew layoffs, teacher sanctions: dire in result could of low scores year Another (DOE). tion - of Educa Department Bloomberg’s Michael Mayor from a“C” received just had school 2011, was It daughter’s her and amiss. was something knew Sopp Janine parent Brooklyn RTH This confluence of policies has brought brought has of policies confluence This Common of the onset the is fire the Fueling of the up part make will 146PS students out at opted Kya year, others five and Last explain principal to the aletter sent Sopp pro to the daughter her transferred Sopp announcement, baffling that Hearing the start of the second. of the start the at begin would grade of third end at the given tests forstandardized reparation OF THE OF T ESTI NG R EGI ME ATIO NAL CURRICULUMNAL T-STUDE ------curricula. narrowed has testing high-stakes that finds of research arange and students forall clined de has education of Teacherstion study. Arts - Federa American to an according year, school of the upto afifth to consume have grown administration and preparation test Behind Left Child No following, years the In arts.” and music in learning deep reduced and lars extracurricu have reduced that measures punitive “we’ve seen says, Slekar aresult, As assessments. yearly on part in based tions delphia. Phila in 4,000 nearly and year, last Chicago in employees 2,100 layoffs: massive with dem tan in came closings Those respectively. year, last shuttered were schools 22 49 and where Philadelphia, and Chicago like cities in tably no closed, have been schools of public sands neighborhoods.” but disrupt nothing done has “accountability Slekar, says of equity, language the on sold often are policies reform Though union. the in state forevery manuals opt-out provides that organization resistance a test Out, Opt United found helped Slekar scores. of test basis the on —all tive ineffec deemed teachers lay off and schools) charter publicly-funded privately-run, (usually ones new open schools,” “failing close must states goes, reasoning the broken, is education public Since narrative: schools wood College, call the failing Edge Wisconsin-based son, Madi at the of education dean Slekar, Tim like some, what considerably. assessments of stakes the raising evaluations, to teacher results test to attach states pressured grant, petitive acom as structured program, Top to the Obama’s Race sure. clo outright or layoffs mass to undergo schools low-scoring consistently forces and wide nation 3-8 grades in testing standardized requires bill The regime. accountability school federal forthe groundwork the laid act Behind Left Child Top.” to the Race and Behind Left Child of No initiatives the “a be revolt against will hopes Hagopian what in participate to inspiration as boycott ful success that cite community opt-out the in Many Hagopian. movement,” said reform porate cor whole of the lifeblood the is testing “Standardized clear: was reasoning the spring, last Seattle in School High field - evalua now employ teacher states Most thou Behind, Left Child of No wake the In tests, from children own his pulling After on function initiatives Both No the 2002, in Passed NT REVOLTNT ------

standards and the tests aligned to them. aligned tests the and standards Core Common of tougher newer, onset the spring: this resisters of test numbers the swell the nature of the Common Core’s implemen Common of the nature the It’s Singapore. and Finland in those like dards, stan education national of strong importance the acknowledge Core Common of the wary policy.” whoare education Many into input citizen’s ordinary the undermining time each together, control corporate and “government says, Naison left,” the and right the both Tea Partiers. fuming to progressives justice racial old-school from range 50 states across members 40,000 whose Teachers Association, Badass Core Common critic. Core aCommon became quickly of color, communities in closings school fought previously who Naison, standards. to the aligned testing the about upset became parents” suburban and white “largely says, he when year, last tests Core-aligned Common York’s of New foray into midst the first in University. at Fordham History and Studies American of African- professor Naison, Mark than Core Common on pot the stirring in active more have been Beck Glenn than other people Few E NTER But it’s another policy that promises to to promises that policy it’sBut another “Common Core is like the nightmare of of nightmare the like is Core “Common anti- the found way helped he the Along Core Common of the aware became Naison CO MM ON CO RE - -

lum products for its corporate parent. parent. corporate forits products lum curricu Core Common to develop nonprofit its using forillegally fines in $7 million paid recently which Pearson, behemoth testing like of companies ears to the music That’s scale.” to taken be can products best the where kets mar enjoy national will entrepreneurs cation edu 2011, that in “means DOE, the in staff of chief Weiss, Joanne wrote standards” mon of com adoption “The Core. Common the up behind to line haven’t hesitated investors development. during place took parents and teachers from periods of comment rounds four that emphasize they though place, have taken standards of the runs no trial that initiative.” undemocratic foundly “It’s apro Naison. says discussion,” or bate de testing, no trials, have been “There sion. way discus of public the in little very with all Core, Common to the committed had states 45 order short in and standards, of new tion standards. the developing organizations to grants in over $150 million became what lavishing began foundation their and dations, recommen his with smitten were Gates linda Me and SAT Bill of overhaul. the mastermind now Coleman, by David paper policy 2008 foul. crying them has that tation Parents’ concerns hit closer to home, to home, closer hit concerns Parents’ and businesses elsewhere, outcry Despite confirm representatives Core Common adop to states’ Top to the funding Race tied a in hatched standards forthese idea The ------ROB LAQUINTA THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 11 ------And test-based sanctions been have rat In the era accountability, of black and La What Duncan’s “gaffe” indicates is that, If the Common Core aims continue “to to This is the “train wreck” that education re Common Core resistance reflects an aware Opt-out parents like Brooklyn New School There is a silver lining, though. Accord In this light, Jose Vilson sets his sights be

this sentiment. “I’m black, Latino,” I’m he goingsays. with work to “If me, you’re you need consider to me Par your The equal.” Tea withty, its spurts racism of and overt hatred toward a black president, makes tooa bit for odd a bedfellow. tling schools in communities color for of years. When test low scores doom a school closure,to overwhelmingly it’s black and La tino kids who are sent packing. The students Chicagoof schools closed last summer were percent87 black, compared percent 43 to of the whole district. As Vilson says, the testing “became a tool which by could you castigate neighborhoods.” entire castigate people, tino students lost have far more arts and music than their white peers. According Ameri to cans for Arts, less than a third black of and Latino children receive now a full arts educa tion, and the number is slipping. with public education systems in communities color of already in upheaval, the standards- based reform machine must lurch now toward middle- and upper-middle class enclaves. theprove failing schools narrative” in previ ously impervious communities, as Slekar sup poses, already it’s working. scores Test have cratered in states that already implemented Common Core exams. saw its New York Common Core trial run last year sink scores aboutby 30 points, just as education officials like Commissioner John King predicted. form champion Jeb Bush anticipated in 2012. guess“My is going there’s be to people a lot of running he warned. for cover,” The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, noted last year that Common Core advocates “expect the results mobilize to suburban and middle-class parents the to cause education of reform.” ness the of metastasis standards-based of reforms into broader swaths the of Ameri can school system. “The changes in public education beginning touch to suburban com munities, white or black” says Royal, “have touched us already in urban communities.” parent Elsass, who is white, acknowledges this dynamic. somewhat insulated “We’re from happeningwhat’s other at schools,” she says, citing Brooklyn campuses where arts have been eclipsed test-focused by instruction. “It’s pushing us down a bad road for education.” ing Slekar, to Common Core resistance has opened dialog between cities and their vanilla suburbs. More affluent parents, Slekar says, finally“have burst their of out bubbles and see the harm that’s being done in the cities.” Royal considers“good entrée it for them into the whole problemwhat of public education has become.” theyond Common Core battle. “If there is a resolution the to Common he wonders, Core,” all the“do other things — the racism, clas sism, sexism that are pervasive throughout a communitieslot of Will keep you away? — go fighting for those people that are marginalized theseby situations?” For more, see timeoutfromtesting.org and ch angethestakes.wordpress.com.

ES K TA S THE CHANGE ------Brown vs. Board ,” put a pie in put the face,” the of opt- Could be it that Arne Duncan, who once not goingBut be to she’s opting any out time someMoreover, elementsthe of opt-out Jose Luis Vilson, an author and New York Karran Harper Royal is fan no the of stan Royal has seen “two different school expe out parentsout tend come to in from New York the professional class, concomitant with a whiter demographic. Schools with opt-out activity, though diverse, also skew white. mused that the Common Core was “among the most important things happen to public to education in America since ered time over from first my she says. son,” “Standardized testing the over last years 15 has served dumb to down public education. narrowedIt’s down what to is on this test.” soon. Though she supports Common Core re sistance, she says, “here in New Orleans it’s not the greatest area concern.” of In a city fac ing a class-action lawsuit discrimination over against children with disabilities, and a state under Department Justice of investigation for impedingdesegregation, “most parents just see dangerdon’t in the Common Core.” movement seem precludeto fromit becoming a racial justice project. see “I me, don’t as an African-American mom, aligning myself with Royal says. Party,” the Tea public school teacher who “totally agrees with the testing,” movement of opt to out echoes of Education of out movement? dards-based reform movement. An advocate for children with disabilities and New Orleans public school parent for more than 20 years, seenshe’s her struggling district transform af ter Hurricane Katrina into a fractured system schoolof choice where percent 91 children of attend privately-managed charters. riences” in the course her of two sons’ educa tional careers. “I was see to able the quality theof and work the quality material of cov

------MS MO Parents opting their children out of 2014 New York State tests, from a Change the ube video.ube T OICE: ou AN SUBURB

TE IR CH Facing pushback on the Common Core, Were it just it a flub, theWere comment wouldn’t The anti-testing contingent spans the Test resistanceTest is already taking shape else Everyone involved in the opt-out move THE Stakes Y WHI There’s an apparent wrinkle in the coalition, though. Secretary Education of Arne Duncan snick ered last fall that was it only “white suburban afraidmoms,” unflattering of test results, who composed the Common Core rebellion. sparkedhave the firestorm did. it But con it tained a kernel truth of that made some deeply uncomfortable. political spectrum. Mostly white Tea Partiers who cast the Common Core as big-government overreach pushed have deep-red states like Georgia and Indiana to delay implementation or withdraw from Core- aligned test coalitions. The progressive flank theof movement also skews white, though. Change the Stakes’ Cauthen notes that opt- tening parents, to teachers, administrators and educational professionals public at hearings,” GOP majority leader Skelos announced, he had concerns “grave this over flawed rollout” the of standards. where. in Teachers two Chicago schools boy cotted state exams this year, with backing from the progressive Chicago Union. Teachers District authorities in Mass., Worcester, re cently affirmed the right parents of opt to their kids Core-aligned of out tests. ment sees a bumper crop in store. According Cauthen,to the Common Core “is absolutely fueling the Change opt-out movement.” the Stakes predicts least at three times more opt- Cityouts in this New York year compared to last, a total that may a thousand approach students. Slekar foresees something larger: an Spring.” “Education ------PS 146 parentPS 146 Elizabeth Elsass, whose According guidelines to that de Blasio’s Testing aside, parents and educators fear “The Common Core contradicts decades’ “Kindergartens look like today don’t they not much there’s indicate to More broadly, That stopped hasn’t states from bringing Parents in Long Island, rallying around a though.At root, new standards promise to ratchet testing up pressures. According to Nancy Cauthen, Manhattan a parent and Changethe Stakesmember, parents increas ingly report students bringing home vexing new assignments and experiencing unprece dented test anxiety. among “Even parents who are divided on the Common Cauthen Core,” says, parents “more are seeing the damaging effects high of pressure around the tests.” third-grade son Atticus will be opting for out the first time this April, bristles most the at amount time of spent testing: a parent I “As find almost it After abusive.” months prep, of practice tests and benchmark assessments, studentsNew in York grades 3-8 will spend leastat six days taking tests starting in April. More states adopting new Common Core as sessments expect aggregate testing time in to crease, some reaching as high as ten hours. DOE recently released, “the principle should respect the parents’ decision” in opt-out cases. Students would face direct no consequences, though they may be disadvantaged when ap plying selective to high schools and gifted pro grams that use test scores in admissions. And although schools no been have in New York punished for test refusal, some principals, afraid for their funding, reportedly have pres sured opt-out students change to their minds. that the standards are developmentally inap propriate, especially in younger grades.The standards cite a range established of research, asbut Lesley University early childhood edu cation professor Nancy Carlsson-Paige has noted, the individuals of 135 in Common Core development teams, teachers. none were K-3 worth child of development theory and research that helps us understand young how children learn,” Carlsson-Paige says. She worriesthat thetest-driven focus on concrete standards “will be responsible for influencing instruction, direct more toward pedagogy lessmuch experiential, multidimensional learning in early grades,” crowding by out hands-on learning and and play consequently hampering imagination and curiosity. did a few years Carlsson-Paigeago,” says. “Classrooms for young kids really have be come much more factories for learning stan dards than the kind multidimensional of learning know we works.” that introducing newer, higher standards as a stand-alone policy necessarily reduces learning gaps or makes students any better reading at and math. In a paper sometimes cited (ill-ad visedly) Common by Core advocates, Joshua Goodman Harvard’s of Kennedy School of Government found that in every statestudied, “changes in the quality standards of little have impact on overall student achievement.” the Common Core the to vast majority of million 50 the nation’s public school pupils. Within this whole, the ranks families of opt ing are out miniscule, their but movement car ries more water politically than their numbers would suggest. 15,000-strong Long Island Opt Out Facebook group, pushed have State Senator Dean Skelos co-signto a call for a two-year Common Core moratorium. “After having spent months lis 12 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT and commercial fishing in an area with limited economic opportunities. economic limited with area an in fishing commercial and R ploration equipment. ploration tion as a result of the testing, although SW although testing, the of aresult as tion I lines. exploration IN DEFENSE OF THEIR LAND &WATER FRACKING was coming from beneath a tree with a metal plate marking one of of one marking plate a metal with tree a beneath from coming was water the that and land, his on nowhere from up sprung had aswamp that for SW for thoroughfare efficient an provided here highways regional few The side. road the line that geophones by recorded and below rock the by fracted re then are that vibrations seismic off set trucks the underground, locked te 126, blocking police vehicles and burning tires and shale gas ex gas shale and tires burning and vehicles police blocking 126, te N to collect data on the amount of natural gas in the area. the in gas natural of amount the on data collect N to Mi’kmaq land protector Velma C Velma protector land Mi’kmaq AHEART: WITH summer. last since fracking prevent to fight the of part been has WOODSMAN: subsistence to arisk pose projects energy extreme other and C A WAY LIFE: OF protest near near protest BURNING BRIGHT: BAD VIBRATIONS: BAD aquifer off R off aquifer CHEMICALS: gas natural for To explore Brunswick. New Laketon, near 126 that define C define that WATERWAY: t is believed that the aquifer was exposed to contamina to exposed was aquifer the that believed t is anada’s Maritime provinces. anada’s Maritime te 126 near near 126 te The The W French-speaking lumberjack Aldore French-speaking SW ater and chemicals bubble up from a punctured apunctured from up bubble chemicals and ater yril Polchies’ lobster traps. Fracking for gas gas for Fracking traps. lobster Polchies’ yril Richibucto R Richibucto N worksites, land protectors barricaded barricaded protectors land N worksites,

I SW n response to a court ruling that banned banned that ruling acourt to n response N “thumper” trucks travel along along travel trucks N “thumper” R ogersville. An elderly man noticed noticed man elderly An ogersville. iver is one of many waterways waterways many of one is iver N denies that testing is unsafe. is testing that N denies lair. C haisson haisson SW Rte Rte N’s N’s - - - - “thumper” trucks. “thumper” Mi’kmaq Nation. Mi’kmaq IDENTITY: tion with police. with tion campment alongside R ON: LOGGED VIGILANT: New Brunswick. ENCAMPMENT: A Mi’kmaq warrior brandishes the Grand C Grand the brandishes warrior AMi’kmaq Mi’kmaq land protector protector land Mi’kmaq E lsipogtog land defenders sit by the fire in their en their in fire the by sit defenders land lsipogtog A tipi in an encampment alongside alongside encampment an in Atipi te 126. The camp was set up to stop stop to up set was camp The 126. te Candi S Candi imon during aconfronta during imon R ouncil Flag of the the of Flag ouncil te 134 in in 134 te Rexton, Rexton, SW N’s N’s - - its operations and pulled out of the area on December 6. December on area the of out pulled and operations its BY

M ICHAEL STANDOFF: equipment along R equipment NOW: FOR GOODBYE, stop to attempt adaily in police with off square tectors P REMO I ndigenous and E &A te 126 as land defenders observe. observe. defenders land as 126 te SW N workers remove seismic testing testing seismic remove N workers nglish- and land French-speaking pro NDREW SW S SW N’s trucks. TERN N halted N halted

- Royal C Royal the with clashed protesters anti-fracking October, Last America. North sweeping boom gas and oil lucrative wildly the challenge to dared have locals non-native and NSWICK, C NSWICK, BRU NEW world, rural communities are increasingly forced to confront that question. question. that confront to forced increasingly are communities rural world, the around spreads resources energy extract to fracking, or fracturing, hydraulic of use the As corporation? energy apowerful by risk at put was life of way your for on ed tion in the area by the Texas-based energy firm firm energy Texas-based the by area the in tion explora gas natural preventing blockade aroad up set protesters the Nation, First I n the eastern eastern n the anadian Mounted Police ( Police Mounted anadian C anadian province of New Brunswick, an indigenous community community indigenous an Brunswick, New of province anadian anada — anada W RC hat would you do if the land and water you depend you water and land the if do you would hat MP). Led by members of the Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaq the of members by Led MP). SW N. W N. hen the police raided their their raided police the hen E lsipogtog lsipogtog - - water and a toxic soup of chemicals in order to release reserves of oil and gas. gas. and oil of reserves release to order in chemicals of soup atoxic and water cember, energy projects across across projects energy E inthis mind, polluted. badly land and water surrounding the leaves often that apractice is across headlines made battle The cars. police six of burning the and gas tear of a storm arrests, 40 than more in resulted melee the encampment, protest ing operations and expect that their fight with SW with fight their that expect and operations ing lsipogtog is part of a growing movement of indigenous resistance against extreme extreme against resistance indigenous of movement agrowing of part is lsipogtog Fracking involves drilling deep into the earth andFracking drilling involves deep millions injecting earth the of gallons into of SW N announced it was suspending operations in New Brunswick until 2015. 2015. until in Brunswick New operations was suspending it N announced E lsipogtog community members have vowed to resist any future frack future any resist to vowed have members community lsipogtog C anada and is linked to similar struggles in the the in struggles similar to linked is and anada wick.org and starrstreetstudios.com. and wick.org documentary. For more, see artsinbush forthcoming the for tuned Stay 30. May opening Studios, Open Bushwick during and Studios Street Starr by Warriors.” hosted be will “Water It entitled exhibition an in appear will that Stern Andrew and Premo Michael by work of body alarger of part are photos These N is far from over. The struggle in in struggle The over. from far N is The Indypendent Indypendent The C United S United anada. anada. I tates. n De With With -

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13 T INDYPENDEN THE 2014 1–30, April 14 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT port,’” and face few regulatory hurdles in in hurdles regulatory few face and port,’” forex- to dothis say, we want and ‘Hey day next the around turn could “Liberty &Water at Food Watch, organizer senior States. United the in than markets international in higher times to six three is gas of natural price the out that pointing claim, at the scoff critics Its gas. ral natu- imported handle only will port the sists by aToronto affi managed in- is Liberty liate. that fund investment Islands-based Caymen by a owned is which LLC, Gas Natural erty Energy. forSafe Citizens of Catskill Ferguson to Bruce according Shale, Marcellus the from production total of the 3percent around or aday, of gas feet cubic million 400 to handle able be would York facility New The Harbor. to entrance the near Island Long Beach, Long of coast the off constructed to be port (LNG) aliquifi Ambrose,” “Port is gas natural ed diffi and lucrative to stop cult York New in more drilling future make could state the across infrastructure gas of natural build-out the that concerned increasingly are against fracking. to uphold amoratorium governors two last the by pressuring Marcellus the in drilling from companies gas and oil blocked has ment move- grassroots However, apowerful state. of the parts central and southern the through EXTREME ENERGY EXTREME N Tarleton John By Liquified Natural Gas Wind, Waves and If the port is built, says Eric Weltman, Weltman, Eric says built, is port the If Lib- is sponsor corporate Ambrose’s Port it were, as pipeline, the in project key One opponents fracking success, this Despite cellus Shale formation that runs runs that formation Shale cellus Mar- the in gas of natural reserves vast York to contain ew believed is ing.org nyagainstfrack- see information, more For security.” and economy resources, natural state’s residents, to the risks “unacceptable citing NJ, Park, of Asbury coast the off build to sought Liberty that port deepwater LNG said. Weltman coastline,” the about cerned con- whoare people with movement fracking project. to the of “adjacentnors states” gover- as positions their it in to veto power their to exercise Jersey of New Christie Chris Gov. or Cuomo Gov. either Andrew suring pres- in lies Ambrose Port of stopping chance best the However, says he statement. impact environmental an to issue government for the information necessary the provided not has company the because stalled has ministration Ad- Maritime federal to the application erty’s rope,” noted. he Eu- in way to help people the not is water fi Weltman agoal gas, short-sighted. nds natural Russian on dependence European to lessen opportunity an see They terminals. export LNG more to opening backing tional uncondi- its to give administration Obama the urging are conservatives many Russia, with relations worsening amid And ening. weak- is policy that booming, production U.S.-based With manufacturers. and sumers con- fordomestic prices higher of causing forfear exports gas natural restricted tightly revised. license its getting In 2011, Gov. Christie vetoed plans for an foran plans vetoed 2011,In Gov. Christie “You have aconfl anti- of avast uence The told Weltman Indypendent our polluting and climate our “Wrecking has government U.S. the Historically, that Lib- that

GARY MARTIN tests. tests. forseismic explosives the plant and cables to lay companies forthe markers were They intent: asinister belied of fabric strips simple The fences. garden to their attached even and lands their out across laid being ribbons of workers. busloads and guards of security by cohorts accompanied of villages, muddy tracks the into —growled detected to be underground gas or oil allow turn in which earthquakes, artifi off to set —used trucks seismic cial time, that At November. in earnest in began exploration the until thought another it gave 2013, nobody March in fracking on torium mora- its lifted Romania While oil. and gas of sources unconventional as well as tional forconven- of Transylvania hills low-lying the to explore plans announced ago long land. their on illegally place taking is claim they that exploration oil and gas to resist farmers local with side by side working are Romania, across from here whohave come activists, The tivists. ac- of environmental band asmall against fi investment international and rms ernment gov- Romanian the companies, exploration gas pitting battle anew in front unlikely an have become Transylvania in County of Sibiu forests protected and munities night. long meadow. a to be It’s going Transylvanian of a grass damp cool the in again out once stretched down, myself Ithrow to hide. team the through shout goes the roadand the in forus. looking hilltops the now sweeping are that hicles ve- police and teams security of the ahead step one to stay we struggle as mouse and of cat game edgy an playing Prospectiuni, I move on. to Time says. one another phone,” bile mo- the from light the see can you cops, the be must it “No, out. hiding are we where to close ahalt to crept has car a why about speculating turns taking balaclavas, in activists of abunch with Transylvania, in the bushes crouched of region Romanian central the I’m in whispers. group the of one sex?” have TO ABOUT THEY’RE YOU“DO THINK Wickens Jim By Rendezvous Romanian booming sounds of controlled explosions explosions of controlled sounds booming intermittent the toward village out of the ribbons day, the Ifollow forthe and guide move. every fi and following men uniformed our lming black- crossroads, at the parked seen be can jeeps security private above, street the on Up pitch. soccer village the from yards few a dynamite ahole with prepares workers of ateam as Iwatch village, one in rive Iar- When territory. occupied an entering like feels place taking are tests seismic the where communities remote the into Driving LAND’ THIS FROM LIVE ‘WE Residents here told me that they awoke to they that told me here Residents Romgaz company gas Romanian The com- Saxon sleepy the months recent In bend the around appears light Another Community activist Hans Hedrich, my Hedrich, Hans activist Community the Romanian gas exploration company company exploration gas Romanian the by owned equipment trashing started group the since hour over an been t has busted. busted. to say, gets of alot equipment Needless streams. boggy and clearings woodland bushes, thorn scratchy through clawing and scrambling of adrenaline-fueled whirlwind a in evening the spends archy, group the an- army, part Part road. nearby the from appear vehicles security of suspected lights head- sweeping the forcover as dives team across. come box they generator disfi and converter electrical every guring and wires seismic orange the snipping ing, work- begins team the bend, the round fade headlights the as soon As cutters. wire and pliers with armed activists adozen half with undergrowth the into scurrying roadside, darkness. frosty the away into we trundle shut and slams door rusty the out loud as laughs She clock!” [217,500 the on kilometers miles] 350,000 Only —it’s quick. super vehicle getaway our about “Don’t me. worry to greet turns driver The balaclavas. in women and men en Ifi adoz- darkness, among sitting nd myself appointment. another have fi But sleep. night’s early an to get me I rst urging explain, they Transylvania, in ration fi the be would explo- gas against protest rst day. This following forthe cameras their charging and accounts Facebook updating country, the across from to arrive begin activists adozen as kitchen the in made is the exploration activities. against planned Icover aprotest while home at their to stay me have invited Lavinia wife his and Schuster Willy farmer where area. to leave the us orders he work before paper- up with backed be can claim his says He place. taking are tests the where of land parcel every on to be permission has pany com- the that insisting and “neo-fascists” exploration of gas opponents calling work, gion. re- the in out tests to carry for $55 million subcontracted been has which Prospectiuni, company exploration forthe operations of director and mologist aseis- Daianu, Gheorghe is He himself. introduces man portly Asmall inside. equipment over electrical poring men topon and dangling antennae wheels, on lab geological a giant don’t have salaries!” We land. We this from live true? this is poisoned, be will land the “We’ve heard foranswers. over begging comes neighbor Her hisses. she thieves,” are up. “They speaks alady guards, rity Away secu- the leys. from val- the around echoing plectic with rage. with plectic apo- them, after chasing door out the runs fi to his route en window his past He elds. rolls aconvoy trucks when of gas kitchen farmhouse his in Willy with coffee drinking sitting Iam morning 7o’clock next At the CHILDREN’ MY FOR TERRIFIED AM ‘I Every so often a shout goes up, and the the up, and ashout goes often so Every out onto the escorted Iam later, Minutes cover of under van arusty into Bundled fi the cluck, Chickens cheese and roars re of Mosna, village nearby to the I head his against protests the condemns He Ifi top of ahill the At nd THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 15 Prisoner of Conscience Chelsea Manning, US Army

truth JIM WICKENS JIM . Faced with an increasingly galvanized Community activists claim that half a Prospectiuni and Romgaz both turned lateBy afternoon, under the lee a of “Honestly, I feel sorry for them,” one of opposition, the government is preparing to ght back. A “Law Expropriation” of will fi companies multinational allow potentially taketo privately-owned over land if is it felt the developments are “in the national inter- It failedest.” pass to the house lower the of Romanian Parliament in December, the but government is trying amend to it. At pres- ent, the law is focused primarily on mining, observersbut is it say widely expected be to extended energy to development projects in the near future. dozen laws are being breached Prospec- by tiuni’s gas exploration, including permit testing regarding regulations requirements, near homes and trespassing laws. “The real problem here is that village people simply know theirdon’t rights,” says Hedrich. down an opportunity comment to on claims illegality,of in but a statement on Prospecti- uni’s website the CEO states: “Occasionally stillwe make mistakes, they but are not ill- intentioned, try we however active have to environmental permits and town planning c e r t i fi c a t e600-year-old s medieval church, volunteers . ” are dishing potato out cakes soup, and hot tea. Elderly ladies in headscarves and traditional dress are rubbing shoulders with pierced activists and men in balaclavas. It’s an intriguing mix. The marches crowd out ripto more out seismic wires in full view theof policemen who stand watching from the side the of road. Residents too scared talkto the day before stand now outside their houses, cheering and applauding the protesters in delight. cers tells me, as they stand the police offi aside and allow the protesters rip to a out mile bright of orange cabling, dragging it through the dust on their back the to way village. “What the company is doing here, well, Then just wrong.” it’s he moves his head closer mine. to illegal,” it’s “Actually, whispers. he Jim Wickens is an investigative journalist covering environmental issues around the world. can You follow him on Twitter at @Jim_Wickens. An earlier version of this article appeared in The Ecologist A Romanian anti-fracking activist hauls away wires that were installed to conduct I arrive on the scene just in time see to As the morning unfolds, streams secu- of A man more accustomed milking to cows Southern rolling Transylvania’s hills are His stance opened the door for fossil fuel UNLIKELY SUPPORTUNLIKELY With almost 4 million peasant farmers in Romania reliant on clean air, water and soil for their livelihood, support for natural re- source protection campaigns is growing in the most unlikely places, of among the con- servative communities in the country’s rural heartland. workers from the exploration company fi lingworkers from the exploration company fi their of out company coach and spreading elds. Willy screams acrossout his snowy fi impoundingthem away, a company pickup and refusing let to until go it the police come le a criminal complaint. fi to rity trucks are chased, kicked and turned ed from Willy’saway land. “I am terrifi imsy children,”for my he says, waving a fl branch the at assembled security forces fac- ing him down on the track. muddy “I am ghting for their future.” fi ghting multinationals, he is nonethe-than fi less standing the to up gas companies. Many more are beginning follow to the example of this accidental herowho is rapidlybecoming a thorn in the side the of country’s energy ambitions. one several of new fronts opening in up Ro- mania’s search for homegrown deposits of natural gas and oil. Victor Ponta, the Roma- nian prime minister, made a bold argument for energy extraction in June. “Do want we gas? have to — First all of stop to importing from Russia want — do we cheap it have to and want do we make to the Romanian in- dustry competitive and, course, of have to expenseslower for the people? Then we must gas.” have companies expand to across the hills Eu- of second-poorestrope’s nation. But Ponta’s government is facing- an unexpectedly diffi cult battle in realizing its domestic resource ambitions. In recent months the controver- sial Canadian-owned mine gold in Rosia Montana was on hold, put following a series protestsof that brought have tens thou- of sands Romanians of into the streets. And in one the of latest — and continuing — public showdowns, gas Chevron’s exploration in the remote village Pungesti of was tempo- rarily halted residents by deeply fearful of the damage that they believe fracking may bring. UNWIRED: tests.seismic 16 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT LATIN AMERICA Government supporters march in the capital Caracas. capital the in march supporters Government STREETS: THE TAKING main- they where lobby building, of her the in bunking activists 10 masked around of presence uncomfortable the from Apart daughter. teenage her with alone who lives diffi supporter agovernment forRuiz, cult especially was barricades the behind Life BARRICADES THE BEHIND STRANDED awarning. as wind the in swaying barricades, several from hang known, are supporters government as to represent appear which dolls, Red-clad buildings. nearby into drift fumes toxic whose tires, and rubbish burning with alight often are barricades the night, At Chávez. Hugo succeeded he after year one just Maduro Nicolás of President ignation res- the force and cities to shut down to try of astrategy part are barricades the wire, barbed and sheets iron corrugated lamps, terminal. bus main city’s the and centers medical several off cutting Avenue, completely Americas Las down kilometers forseveral continue avenuebarricades nearby. The main the on called complex apartment the around barricades constructed ernment gov- of Venezuela’s opponents socialist tant mili- when February early in began of war” to. subjected was dence resi- her occupation self-imposed the during ritual daily of her whospoke mid-50s her in teacher kindergarten aretired Ruiz, by Alba night. forthe down shuttered Andes, Venezuelan the in capital aprovincial Mérida, of center the near blocks of apartment a set stoned!” apartment their have will lights out their doesn’t turn ever out! Who- —“Lights Venezuela MÉRIDA, Robertson Ewan By TACTICSPROTESTERS’ CAUSE SUPPORT WANE TO VenezuelaBacklash teacher. kindergarten daughters,” aretired recalls going kill to our usrape and they were said and apartments our of in front stood “They Built with torn-up bus stops, street street stops, bus torn-up with Built a“state in living as described she What reporter to this described was scene The of residents and out at 9pm, rang cry The and and Campito El Chavistas, Chavistas, and services. In the upper- and middle- and upper- the In services. and property to lives, damage intensifi causing ed, of Venezuela’s some in cities barricades street and nation’s the capital, Caracas, people. million of 30 nation oil-rich the infl56 a percent and in rate foodstuffs ation basic some in shortages irritating crime, of high problems solve the government the that to demand protests peaceful joined also Exit”). (“The campaign called Salida La a in struggle” with of Venezuela streets the up to “light supporters on called Machado, Corina María and López Leopoldo tion, opposi- hard-line of the leaders after ruary home. returned hasn’t yet and ricades bar- by the unaffected city of the apart in mother elderly her with stays currently She the families in her building, fl building, her in ed families the of up to half with along who, teacher, tired Ruiz. said daughters,” our to rape going were they that and dren chil- our to kill going were they that us, kill to going were they that said and apartments photo. and bor’s name neigh- the with elevator, along building’s the to next aposter on messages the published they and them, whosupported residents cal lo- and of militants group the in by someone discovered were tweets The men’s activities. masked the icizing crit- of tweets a series wrote neighbor door next Ruiz’s when threats. verbal constant toendure had women two the materials, other and Molotov cocktails asupply of tained Nightly riots in the wealthy east of east wealthy the in riots Nightly Many moderate opposition supporters Feb- early in started unrest political The The incident was the last straw for the re- forthe straw last the was incident The of our front out in stood they “Then worse got Things capital of Mérida. of capital BARRICADES: El Campito El Opponents of Venezuela’s socialist government stand guard at a street barricade in the provincial provincial the in barricade astreet at guard stand government socialist Venezuela’s of Opponents . MIGUEL GUTIERREZ investigation for instigating violent acts. under and jailed remained López Leopoldo shrunk. had barricades street by the fected af- zones the while ebbing, to be appeared several national guardsmen. and civilians other supporters, government activists, opposition include killed Those conditions. bail on released or freed later of were whom majority the 1854 arrested, and 461 wounded killed, been had people government. the port to sup- continue majority country’s the as and problems, to solve existing time cessor suc- his to give to want appear They Chávez. of Hugo administration the under of living standard improved an and participation cal of politi- mechanisms new programs, social have benefi sectors These protests. from ted the join not did base political ernment’s rural and viewers. TV of foreign screens the across offi Guard National splashed were cers with clashing militants masked wielding political affiliation. diffi their whatever residents forlocal cult life making impeded, deliveries fuel and food and off blocked centers medical closed, schools shut down, was transportation public by barricades affected zones class that those arguably most affected by crime by crime affected most arguably those that and base, middle-class and upper- ditional opposition’s tra- the beyond spread not has unrest why the have to explain discontent of outpouring anational simply are protests margin. by a10 percent elections local won December’s coalition government the after wing moderate the and government the between occurring was that dialogue the torpedoing opposition, of the leadership the to seize radicals by the attempt an is and politics, opposition’s internal the do with support. popular maintain thus and problems economic able to solve existing being from it to prevent down government the wear or Maduro President to overthrow attempt an represents strategy the that argued fi the in actions street have Some place? rst for call opposition hard-line the did Why MOTIVES OPPOSITION’S THE By late March, attendance at protests at protests attendance March, By late 33 of unrest, amonth than more After of Molotov cocktail- images Meanwhile Meanwhile, those who argue that the the that whoargue those Meanwhile, to more has strategy the suspect Others With few exceptions the urban poor poor urban the exceptions few With campesinos that form the gov- the form that or said that pro-government armed civilians civilians armed pro-government that said or may- opposition local the while barricades, fi the arifl behind ring from arms other e and militants opposition showing emerged has Footage happened. what exactly clear not fi is It wounded. also were civilians and cers of- both which in militants, barricade and police between clashes during worker died home. her aroadnear from abarricade clear to trying while shot whowas student female apro-government and motorbike her with trap awire whohit woman a middle-aged fi The were barricades. two the rst around or confl the during Mérida in on have been ict city. of the parts other in groups pro-government and militants tion opposi- between have occurred clashes that say residents city However, other residence. the near barricades the to attack appeared had groups vigilante pro-government no roadblocks. to remove their tried and them attacked said whothey groups, government pro- armed allegedly and Guard National the were enemies their that and students opposition activists. of militant group of another activities the photographing after earlier days afew point at gun- threatened been had of mine league nearby, acol- astreet On passing. from ists motor- roadto prevent the across strung wire and tires burning with maintained was barricade their them, Behind hand. in networks. to social information ing incriminat- to upload any ready appear and smartphones through another one with tact con- maintain activists barricade the jeans, and T-shirts ordinary in Dressed twenties. fi tired his get in whowas man, the rst,” said fi tired we get “Either ernment. they or rst, gov- the down to wear of attrition” a “war one. here,” said now, why that’s we’reMaduro’s resignation we want so corruption, and misery in sunk out of offi government the force “We’rece. to was struggle of their aim the that clear were they momentum, gaining were protests from far not barricade Maduro. with have stayed shortages and On March 22 a state telecommunications telecommunications astate 22 March On occurred far have so that deaths four The that told me Campito El from Residents were they said barricade at the men The The men looked at me suspiciously, rocks suspiciously, rocks atme looked men The fi were they that told me Another ghting a on activists to masked Ispoke When Continued on page 18 page on Continued as the the as Campito El

RYAN MALLETT-OUTTRIM GETINTRAVEL.COM THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 17 The CARICOM reparations movement relative Fraser’s Dr. pessimism WEALTH STILL IN WHITE HANDS the white descendantsToday, European of colonizers, who represent a small minority of Caribbean citizens, own most the of English- speaking islands’ wealth. The majority the of largest businesses in theregion are owned by families who amassed huge fortunes from plantation slavery and later, when slavery was abolished, from the compensation paid to them the by British government for the loss of their human property (see sidebar). faces plenty hurdles of in challenging Europe. AsAdrian Dr. Fraser,historian and retired head the of University the of Indies West Open Campus in St. Vincent, said the of reparations claim, “I am not sure that there is going to be any success down the road, because is it a the have power.” don’t question We power. of notwithstanding, the CARICOM governments are forging ahead, establishing national reparations commissions and reaching allies to out around the world, including African-American activists in the United States. Their campaign is an assertive resistance. of move And while the question of whether money will change hands remains, CARICOM’s claim is already challenging the imbalance power of in our postcolonial world. Don Rojas previously served as press secre- tary to Prime Minister Maurice Bishop of Grenada, executive director of Free Speech TV and general manager of WBAI.

and the Telegraph the monument stands at the entrance to Emancipation Park in Kingston, , and a high-level Swedish offi cial , and a high-level Swedish offi If the European powers fail publicly to European reactions the to CARICOM cial shot ce offi But a British Foreign Offi 12 lm fi Oscar-winning the Meanwhile, Many the buy now argument that the cur- The Song Redemption consistently advocated reparations. apologize and refuse come to the to negotiat- ing table,le the CARICOM nations plan fi to a lawsuit against them the at International Court Justice of in the Hague. demands so have far been mixed. In recent weeks, there been have several relatively bal- anced reports in majorBritish newspapers like the London Times, Guardian said thathis government welcomes the op- portunity a reparations have to dialogue with CARICOM. down the CARICOM plan, saying, “The U.K. has been clear that deplore we the hu- man suffering caused slavery by and the slave trade, do not see we however, reparations as the answer.” Years a Slave has opened new up conversa- tions in the CARICOM countries, as well as in the large Caribbean migrant communities in Britain, Canada and the United States. Not too long ago, these conversations about repa- rations would been have considered unrealis- Pollyannaish. even tic, rent conditions underdevelopment of in the Caribbean are a direct and lasting legacy of the trade slave and descendants enslaved of Africans should be compensated for contem- porary injustices rather than historical suffer- ing. EMERGING: Jamaica. The transatlantic trade slave brought over At the St. Vincent meeting the CARICOM The plan also calls for assistance boost to the ENORMOUS MORALENORMOUS AUTHORITY The economies CARICOM of member states total bil- about $78 lion which in GDP, would place the region 65th in the if world were it a single country. Clearly, this is a region that can’t claim much in the economic of way clout, yet after having suf- fered 400 over years slavery of and colonial- ism the at hands European of powers, mainly Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, its demands for repara- tions possess enormous moral authority. million10 captured Africans as work to chat- tel slaves in sugar and cotton plantations throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. It was the largest forced migration in human CARICOMhistory. Today, nations a have population million,16 of and the diaspora in the United States, Canada and Europe totals about 4-5 million people. leaders unanimously adopted a 10-point plan that would seek a formal apology for slavery, debt cancellation from former colonizers and reparation payments address to the persisting “psychological trauma” from the days of es plantation The slavery. document identifi “the persistent racial victimization the of descendants slavery of and genocide as the root cause Caribbean of nations’ suffering today.” technologicalregion’s capacity and strengthen its public health, educational and cultural in- stitutions. It even calls for the creation a of “repatriation program,” including legal and diplomatic assistancefrom European govern- ments potentially to resettle members the of Rastafarian spiritual movement in Africa. Re- patriation Africa to has been a central tenet of Rastafari for decades and their followers have in U.S. imperialism’s so-called so-called imperialism’s U.S. in “backyard.” Without exception, all are currently ongood terms with Washington and all represent countries that were former colonies one of or another European slave- power. trading — Alina Mogilyanskaya—

The British government paid out £20 million Slave-owners that compensation received

The scene played in out the conference room There was applause the at end Professor of THE ORIGINAL REPARATIONS While Caribbean nations struggle to make Europe recognize their claim for reparations, similar compensation has already been paid out once before: to British slave-owners being forced to give up their “private property” upon the abolition of slavery in 1833. — translating to almost $27.5 billion today, and totaling 40 percent of that government’s spend- ing in 1834 — to more than 46,000 people. included the ancestors of prominent Brits such as Prime Minister David Cameron, authors George Orwell and Graham Greene, poet Eliza- beth Barrett former minister Browning and Douglas Hogg. Freed slaves, meanwhile, re- nothing.ceived KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grena- dines— It was almost surreal, improbable lledwith presi-just a few years ago: a room fi dents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM), all listening with atten- rapt tion, several nodding in agreement, as Dr. Hilary Beckles, one the of most region’s distinguished academics, a report gave on the recent CARICOM’s of work Repara- tions Commission, established Yes, last July. “reparations,” meaning compensation for the crimes slavery of and indigenous geno- cide the at hands former of European colo- nizers. theof Buccament Bay Resort on the eastern Caribbean island St. of Vincent on March 10. The occasion: the 25th Inter-Sessional Meeting theof Conference Heads of Government of of the Caribbean Community. Contrary what to a casual observer might conclude, this was not some gathering radical of black nationalists demanding reparations from white society. Beckles’ report. Not a single dissenting voice was heard from a group leaders of whose poli- tics ranged from conservative through liberal nd themselves progressive,to all whom fi of By Don Rojas Caribbean Reparations SLAVERY 18 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT 50 years protest campsoverthepast Oaxaca, through50different journey from Tahrir Squareto author of Join Anna Feigenbaum,co- READING: PROTEST CAMPS APRMON •7PM 28 •FREE pregnancy. the experienceofherlife: her graphicmemoirabout of A.K. Summers,author-artist Months Spent inDrag. Pregnant Butch:Nine Long R WED APR •7PM 23 •FREE emerging women poets. featuringcase New York-based # FIERCE POETRY READING: #GROW- APRMON 14 •7PM THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD LAWYERS NATIONAL THE SPRING FLING GALA FLING SPRING GrowFierce is apoetic show- EADING &BOOK LAUNCH INVITES YOU TO ATTEND OUR YOU TO ATTEND INVITES CHARNEY, IAN HEAD, SUNITA SUNITA HEAD, IAN CHARNEY, T������ ���� • ���� ��� ������ • ������ ��� ���� •���� T������ Pregnant Butch, PATEL, CHAUNIQUA YOUNG L radical bookstore | activist center | fair trade cafe trade |fair center |activist bookstore radical C RSVP BY  APRIL RSVP & & ANGEL ORENSANZ ARTS ORENSANZ ANGEL JONATHAN MOORE JONATHAN    C  C    E V I C   R: C   C AI S IL TA OCK BAHER AZMY, DARIUS DARIUS AZMY, BAHER     :       : bluestockings bluestockings.com O S HOR M  NORFOLK ST. NORFOLK         172 ALLEN ST • 212-777-6028 •212-777-6028 ST ALLEN 172 E & D & FOUNDATION NLGNYC.ORG FLOYD FLOYD A G  A Protest Camps  S     :   
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OETS CEP EA P THE THE INDYPENDENT April 1–30, 2014 19 ------Luke braham A Through the com am3” Jerome, R We do a little We evof bit mcee” Candelario and E E: How do you share the la What’s next for the Peace -B- ast L mum just wage, surviv we’re ing. Those are choices make. we What thePeace Poets been have doing is going Haiti, to out out Palestine,to where to out one no wants — that’s out go, to help to where need we be to and what needwe The do. to money is not the focus. MR: “Five part-time“Five the jobs at same time, I make 5 look 9 to like part are doing time.” We work that is urgent and necessary, and because do it we our spirits are called are notdoing it. to We it for money or for compensation. Some us of in the group don’t a salaryhave considered mini bor of being in a collective to gether? A erything. I guess that’s what’s special an about our I’m crew. artist, beatboxer rapper, and artistsalso educator. We’re but alsowe for the work group jug gling design, web promotion, PR, marketing, getting gigs, conferences, protests. com We bine all our of individual input as educators, organizers and em cees make to happen. it MR: Poets? FRANKIE 4: munity organization Brother hood/SisterSol, are we doing a journalism community youth exchangeprogram where two folks Bra to go from New York zil days and with for 10 work different youth and media orga- nizations within the Rio de Ja neiro area. Then in August two young people from Brazil will Lookingcome New to York. forward that. to For more about the Peace Poets, thepeacepoets.com. see he ------T ópez, Frantz “ L Emphasis Emphasis The Peace Peace The nmanuel “ ntonio outh Bronx-based Peace Poets from top to bottom: E A S he MCEE: T MCEE: ephew. E E N VE: elazquez, O V The collar blue is the If I can lyrically break it We are super We working- ” E E: E: Would you consider your consider you Would How didthe Peace Poets espierto” -B- AM3: HE LAST HE LAST -B- -B- N THE M on the working, little emphasis on the class. R cape. A down, from a single on the album called “No More Mondays”: self working-class artists? A class. T Poets formed in a few different places. Frank, myself and Abe went high to school together. Frank meet Franz the at Ghetto Film School, where he introduced us and formed we a group called the Cypher Matrix. there From joinedwe a youth organization called the Brotherhood/SisterSol and started a collective called the Lyrical Circle. spent many We of getting politicized; years those before then were we just rapping nonsense. eventually We went off college,to and there I met Luke. He came a session to Lyrical at Circle and then stayed and be came one us. of 2007 By or 2008, the group had changed, so we had a meeting and changed the name the to Peace Poets. MR: ibility. Now when are we making this album, are we really thinking be to about how not only artists alsobut ambassadors, advocates ourof own art. Any greatartist issomeone has who empathy and taps into shared people’s experi ences. Got That’s “Water why No Enemy” is about the crimi nalization young of people of color: specifically about Ramar ley Graham, also but about any young person who has been mur dered or stopped and frisked by the see cops. something We that connects people a lot of to there. MR: form? T O “D Frank “Frankie 4” “A

------In this State the of Art. MCEE: E Inlight what of is A lot of whatlot A of comes What kinds of issues are And what’s most valu soon You’ll be releasing What I always try remember to HE LAST boards, exist don’t you as a musi cian. been have making We music for a long time. One the of illu sions or misconceptions had we before was if just we make a good product will it the to go it top, will receive affirmation and cred world if you’re not on the bill ifworld you’re ing with it? T What’s the direction you are go to usto the over past years 10 are incarceration,solitary confine ment,war in general andimmi grant rights. What do is we about connecting with people. When comesit worked war, to we’ve in Palestine, Liberia, Colombia and Mexico — I would consider that a war zone tooand — with people affected armed by conflict in other places. is real how the conflict is here. How real the war is all here. It’s about framing: if just we consider war as dropping bombs, de we crease the significance the of con flict that is happening right here, in this community in the Bronx. MR: you seeing in your work with young people, and how are you them? combating FRANKIE 4: whileout working with young people is aroundself-image and identity issues. people are Young told, and arewe all told,not to ourselves,love that are we not enough. When share we a space with the young people,lota it’s about sharing and communal participation, which is where we get see to ourselves in a valuable light. There’s spaces not a lot of for that, in this society that tells thatyou what makes valu you isable this item, this car, these clothes. So those spaces where all is have and youryou word your yourstory, experience, that in herently comes out with self-love. MR: able about this work to you as a group? FRANKIE 4: valued in this society, especially mainstream hip-hop, have we different consider values. We ourselves extremely in wealthy, spirit, in community — people got our backs all the over world. That in itself is a gift and it’s something a price can’t put you tag on. At the same time, work ing toward being sustainable and being do the to able love we work and our spirits are called do. to provide to for ourselvesIn way, a and the ones love. we MR: your new album, ------Where do do Where State of the

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Interview by Messiah Rhodes ‘It’s About Sharing’ About ‘It’s INTERVIEW ism engaging by with youth, and that is very connected with fight DESPIERTO: litical issues that are most impor tant to you? tion young of are people. We rac institutional against working ing police brutality. The other issues that been have important MR: torical power hip-hop of to unify very close not only our to performance and musical work, alsobut our using work hip-hop usingfor education. hip-We’re andhop creative writing as tools empowerment,of give to folks a platform speak to about up goingwhat’s on in their commu Letnity. be it about social justice goingor what’s on in your hood, your personal story just or you making a name for yourself, pro claiming the to your iden world tity and your experience. I think that reflects our music, a lot of which is definitely political, but alsoit’s about the personal and itself. political being that FRANKIE 4: you see yourselves in the world of hip-hop? MESSIAH RHODES: streets and on stage around the world. The groupis a five-mem 10-year-oldber, hip-hop collec tive based in the South Bronx, and their rhymes grapple with some of the most urgent political issues of our time: institutional ized racism, police brutality, im migrant rights, war and more. for their new single, “Water Got No Enemy,” off their soon-to- be-released album Art. Bronx’s 47th Precinct — the home base of the NYPD officer who, in 2012, fatally shot un armed black teenager Ramarley Graham — and featured Frank Graham, Ramarley’s In father. the video opening, says, he “We are demanding justice.” Richard Haste, the officer who shot Gra ham, still hasn’t been held ac countable for the killing. ets — artists Enmanuel “The Last Emcee” Candelario, Frantz “Ram3” Jerome, Frank “Frankie Antonio4” López, Luke “Despi erto” Nephew and Abraham “A- B-E” Velazquez — to dig deeper into their South Bronx origins, musicaltheir and educational work and their upcoming album, State the of Art. 20 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT about the plight of public schools intheUSAtoday.”about theplightofpublicschools With With clarity, verve, and passion,movement. Naison reform outlines the school challenges people’s the for manifesto cation we face in transforming public schools and he forges a guide a forges he and schools public transforming in face we to our actions. is book is must reading for anyone “Brings back theattitudewe back needtoconfront“Brings thecorporate —Jesse Hagopian,associateeditorfor —Henry LouisTaylor Jr., director, UBCenterforUrbanStudies, www.haymarketbooks.org reform bullies and reclaim ourschools.” andreclaim reform bullies Rethinking Schools Schools Rethinking H University atBuffalo scholarly treatise, scholarly traditional “No Unite! Teachers Badass i by BrianJones R s Mark Naison, t e E o Foreword fl A d r e y c u , c t a c concerned i t is an edu- an is v a i n o i t s d n i o m Y s n o o , u n t h T Powers Nicholas By P POWER Hurts So Good House of Cards TELEVISION Garrett Walker get elected elected get Walker Garrett candidate presidential helps who whip majority House the as Cards grays, and blues with Macbeth Shakespeare’s than older tragedy of agenre intrigue, palace the of version amodern show is The PALA joy of being cruel. joy of being briefly,the experience, us lets he our inner authoritarian desires; into taps Underwood simple. is reason The glee. it with reference both groups progressive and Conservative drawl. Southern Spacey’s menacing imitating homage, online in series the from out scenes act politicians the nation’s capital? 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BROOKLYNFOLKFEST.COM MAIKO SEMBOKUYA MAIKO — Michael Hirsch Conversely, theConversely, police, as hold- Then there are class, race and writes,eld “The story: As Byfi The book demonstrates press it leads”it news Unlessworld. nitive proof that the there is defi police are implicated in malfea- sance, they get a pass. Sources information, contradictory with such as social workers, religious or black community leaders or defense lawyers,are seen as less reliable. ers a monopoly of on legitimate violence, need maintain to a eld, “that good image. Says Byfi image could determine the re- sources they receive. The police agencies need effectively to use producers cultural of products to cance signifi own their articulate in society.” noteseld that gender issues. Byfi whereas community newspapers run a police blotter column out- lining a range law-breaking of in the catchment paper’s area,the focus media commercial large on the lurid and atypical, and at- tacks men by color on of white women, though rare, is a centu- ries-old trope. “the other” It’s at- tacking the fair heart civiliza- of tion that becomes the news. White woman jogging in black section park of raped and near- beatenly death to black by and Latino boys on a rampage” is a twofer, “that is, while women crossing racial boundaries are in dangergrave [northern Central cation Park, before the gentrifi Harlem,of was considered a no- zonego for whites in the public imagination], blacks a pro- have pensity rape to white women.” led long She calls the coverage, fi before the trial or any objective look real at evidence, modern- “a day cautionary tale based on an culturalold narrative from the days traditional of racism.” critic A.J. Liebling’s obser- apt that everywherevation “people confuse what they read in news- papers are with the We news.” poorer that for confusion. , Herbert mocked Daily News Daily “To me,” she writes, me,” “To “the What language? Ritually refer- Doing content analysis two of Readers who might be troubled “Some grown-upshad tried Against all that, the kids never So did why this happen? Part ing indictment police-media of collusion in framing a story. story was then, a as is it now, classical case study innews how — and consequently reality — is constructed media. by It is also a great example how of language as operates: a how, system knowledge, of language ects as well as reproduces that refl cation and disparities in stratifi any society.” ring the to attackers as “savage,” wolf- “a “wilding, “animalistic,” andpack,” “mutant” only rein- forces the notion attackers of as “the other.” years coverage, of including her the showseld how story own, Byfi contextualized “not slanted, was as a story about the rape culture in our society a white of … [but] woman brutalized ‘savage by black and Latino boys.’” theby usemedia’s crude of ra- cial stereotypes were urged not wasteto their sympathy on the defendants even an by African- American liberal such as Bob Herbert. Then a columnist for the the boys’ appearance a 1990 at hearing. pre-trial dressto them like divinity stu- dents or something, didn't it but Herbertwork,” intoned before going on describe to one the of defendants as a “wimpish pip- squeak” and another as being “tall andawkward” and whose pretense youthful of innocence and appropriate dress “fell apart as soon looked as his you at an- kles. Hissocks were the color of pistachio ice cream.” had a chance. is it of a codependent relation- ship the media withhave insti- tutional sources — and sources are the at heart whatof passes for objectivity. The police are a news-savvy source and crime is a major feature the of “if bleeds, it , Savage is both New Daily York News

t was April 19, 1989. A A t was April 1989. 19, 28-year-old white woman who lived on the Upper East

Confessions, illicitly procured, procured, illicitly Confessions, years laterTen a career crimi- At the time the of attack, Nata- a history the of case anddamn- a Side and as worked Street a Wall investment banker was raped, beaten and left for dead while northern in evening that jogging Central Park. Within hours the police arrested four black and one Hispanic teen in what is still known as “the Central Park Jog- ger Case.” were ruled admissible trial at by a judge picked order of pre- out cisely because he was known to prosecutors.favor No other cred- evidenceible was introduced. the A ed vilifi media cooperative children, and who ages 15, 14 were found guilty in and 1991 sentenced prison. to The case it- self became a national template for trying teenagers as adults. nal — one who raped women just days before in the same section of the same park — confessed the to assault. DNA evidence showed he was the perpetrator. The young men, adults now and pris- of out ghting the city for on, are still fi nancial settlement, somethinga fi the Bloomberg administration re- sisted mightily and which Mayor de Blasio has not weighed in on yet. waseld a young scribbler lie Byfi theat Portrayals: Race, Media and the Central Jogger Park Story

assigned the to Harlem hospital treating the comatose jogger, followed theShe’s case ever since, from reporterjournalism to pro- fessor University St. to John’s sociologist. Her study, I

Memories Savage Portrayals: Race, Media and the Central Park Jogger Story eld Byfi By Natalie 2014 Press, University Temple Jogging Our BOOKS 22 April 1–30, 2014 THE INDYPENDENT THEATER W 13 through April Theater for the NewCity Directed byMichaelDomitrovich By Eduardo Machado Worship ‘Worship’ Scenes of enter from stage left and how you’ll and left stage from enter always must how evil women, hated secretly Ibsen Henrik playwright how famed about nouncements pro makes waver she as grandiose slow, Her group. of the leader the perpetuate. they nonsense interpersonal the and of personality cults groups, cliquish about saying it is what appreciate world to theater the about in-jokes play’s of the all toget need really You be. can don’t of them all ating exasper however personally, lytes aco of her some and Estelle meet we could wish us makes really that choruses Greek hypnotic and study character of flashback, semblage bringing them together again. Alzheimer’s advanced from death imminent her with play begins the and career, of her course over the als profession of theater cohort whole a mentored whohas Estelle, wright, play alarger-than-life around ality of person cult over-the-top ciously adeli we see though, force, driving the As lovers. and friends ly among uneven distributed success of career heartbreak the jealousy, by romantic unleashed madness We the ters. see charac it has as answers many as about has world, theater the about mini-epic Machado’s one-act ardo us? invalidate and the challengesthe “ superstar. deaf first baseball’s league major became of the O the of game he loves. the play to fights and past his with wrestles he as field the off and on both understood be O team of ballplayers, “ ballplayers, of team arowdy and reporter newspaper too-curious all- an umpire, a play-by-the-rules manager, astern With 1886. in season league minor PRESENTED DIRECTED WRITTEN SI THE LIS THE APRIL Crystal Field is delightful as as delightful is Field Crystal as absorbing an is follows What ver a 14-year career, William “ William career, a14-year ver

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TICKETS 212-262-4216 or through SmartTix 212-868-4444 | smarttix.com Presents Set Design by Mark Marcante Sound Design by Elizabeth Rhodes Costume Design by Michael Bevins April 4-28, 2014 April 4-28, All Seats $15/Students & Seniors $10 Crystal Executive Field, Director Lighting Design by Alexander Bartenieff Alexander Lighting Design by March 22 - April 13, 2014 22 - March April 4-7; 10-13; 10-13; April 4-7;

Heather Velazquez & Tatyana Yassukovich* Tatyana & Velazquez Heather Featuring: Crystal Field*, Quinlan Corbett*, Featuring: THEATER FOR THE NEW CITYNEW THE FOR THEATER APRIL IN PARIS? YES, IF MONEY GETS ITS YES, MONEY ITS IF GETS PARIS? IN APRIL IS DRILLED AND PARIS FOR OIL. WAY this comic fantasy exposes the real-life threat that people power power people that threat real-life the exposes fantasy As oilmen try comic to frack the NY mountainsthis and funnel tar sands south,poses to their plans. “What one makes with oil,” says this 1943 comedy by Jean Giraudoux,Jean by comedy this1943 says oil,”with makes“What one is “Poverty. Ugliness. War. A miserable world.” Can the Crazy Lady and her friends stop the greed-heads?

Lori Fischer*, Sharon Ullrick*, Hugh Sinclair*, Ullrick*, Lori Fischer*, Sharon Chaillot of Lady Crazy The

Theater for the New City 155 1st Avenue, New York, NY York, New Avenue, the New City 155 1st for Theater medicineshowtheatre.org | 549 West 52 St. at 11th Ave at 11th 52 St. West medicineshowtheatre.org | 549 18, 19, 21; 24-28 24-28 21; 19, 18, LIMITED RUN DATES Performances Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm Thursday - Saturday Performances THEATRE SHOW MEDICINE AT PLAY A

(212) 254-1109 for info & Res. www.theaterforthenewcity.net for (212) 254-1109 BROOKLYN MUSEUM BROOKLYN — Mike Newton (1960) shows a ped- (1960) (1964): just a smoky, crack- just a smoky, (1964): One can imagine that in the late While seeing the how 1960s pertly rendered social-realist draw- social-realist rendered pertly ings. 1960s, would it been have hard for U.S. artists respond not to the to civil rights movement. With the daily news conveyed in such stark terms — a ceaseless, wrenching re- frain “white” of and “black” — it’s only logical that this graphic tur- intond its way works moil would fi art.of One favorite paintings my of in the is show Virginia Jaramillo’s Divide ling, white form against a black background, conveys it a mourn- ict in a charred ful, elemental confl and barren place. Jaramillo made the painting as a young mother of a mixed-race family, living in the L.A. neighborhood impoverished Watts Watts 1965 of (the riots con- vinced her that there was future no for her family in America, so they left). Leon Polk abstract Smith’s Black Anthem estal-like black mass, playfully but assuredly overtaking two errant white blobs. At face value, the piece has nothing do with to civil rights; looked in at context, way no there’s could it possibly be about anything else. civil rights movement served as a point rallying life-changing vital, for all manner artists of and think- ers, strange it’s think to that these people were operating against per- vasive, accepted social forces, and stranger still realize to that many thoseof forces are still the order not only In have theof 2014, day. problems wealth of disparity, mass incarceration and systemic violence they stillnot gone away, out play largely along racial lines, too. De- spite whatthe Constitution says, equal rights for all Americans are still not — and never have been a — given. In that context, the basic po- cacy and (often literal) litical ineffi abstraction art-making of can feel frustrating. But exhibitions like this the show help value art of as histo- ry: More than anything least at (or anything I can think of), art shows us whathistory felt like.Looking everything,isn’t better it’s but to look than notlook. to There’s a witness- between difference huge ing and averting eyes. like one’s It’s black and white. , (1970), (1969). Red April

B e a r d e nall-encom- ’ s passing mid- col- 1960s lages, Sam Gilliam’s luminous p a i n t e d is another

years on, still still on, years feels contex- risky. tually exhi- Other bition high- lights include R o m a r e homage to Martin Lu- ther King, Jr. ( 1970), and Charles W. that, even 45 BROOKLYN MUSEUM BROOKLYN White’s ex- of elements elements of senting a mix senting a mix Lawdy Mama Mama Lawdy ing while pre- ing while pre- classically pleas- classically classically pleas- classically Flag for the Moon: an:The is work an:The is work beautiful Black wom- beautiful Black wom- (1969) starts (1969) with a niques depict to a stoic, niques depict to a stoic, City Limits Homage to Nina Simone centuries-old European tech- European centuries-old centuries-old European tech- European centuries-old Big Daddy Paper Doll Near Near To create hisTo Elsewhere, Bob vi- Thompson’s ment through the eyes artists: of It’s history not as was it made so much wasas it felt. how large, cartoon-y canvas: May Ste- vens’ Philip Guston,Philip Limits City Die Nigger ag design, but simple American fl there are breaks and disturbances, with the “DIE” word peeking out from behind the stars. Ringgold’s painting was in response the to U.S. ag that had recently been planted fl surface:on the moon’s a symbol of thehow government was ignoring its own (Black) people. Barkley L.(1969) Hendricks used in which the artist’s own racist eshy dad is imagined as the pale, fl embodiment America of its at re- actionary worst. Stevens’ naked fa- theris portrayed, paper doll-style, ts alongside some appropriate outfi policeman’s(a uniform, a butcher’s bloody smock); the is work bitter tender,but animated rage by but not hate. by brant nds the legendary musician fi (1965) and civil rights activist presiding a psychedelicover idyll: a picnic for people all of colors (including cher- ry red, electric and blue lemon yel- a piece It’s that dareslow). imag- to ine a utopia after all the struggle. Faith Ringgold’s (1969). (with three Klansmen

hilip Guston — the famed American painter — is best known for his big, pink can-

The Brooklyn “Wit- Museum’s r i g hmove- t s about the civil P

Movement the Art and Civil Rights in Witness: Sixties Museum Brooklyn 2014 6, July through Art the and EXHIBITION vases of sloppy, truncatedvases sloppy, of bod- ies. What’s less known is that by the time he started on this kind already work, beenof he’d paint- ing for nearly 40 years, having achieved considerable success with strictly abstract,non-representa- tional images. Speaking about the 1960s, Guston said, “I was feeling split, schizophrenic. The war, what was happening in America, the bru- tality It was in the the of world.” late ’60s that Guston created an infamous suite paintings of show- ing cartoonish, hooded Klansmen going about their lives against a Americanbruised, bombed-out landscape. It was news the of civil rights struggle that caused Guston turnto from abstraction away and toward the style that would ulti- ne his career. mately defi ness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties” includes 1969 Guston’s City Limits riding “Witness” ina jalopy). isthe latest the of socially museum’s con- scious survey exhibitions, com- but pared with other recent shows (on subjectslike wartime photography and LGBTQ history),takes it more a sidelong,of elliptical view its of era. The exhibition is about the civil r i g hmove- t s Barkley L. Hendricks, Mama Lawdy 85 S. Oxford St. Ft. Greene, BK C to Lafayette Ave G to Fulton St or 2,3,4,5,D,B,M,N,Q,R to Atlantic Ave-Barclays Ctr