LAT, La Opinion tout historic vote as LAUSD ends "willful defiance" suspensions and redefines role of police in discipline

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:08:06 -0700

Calling it a "landmark policy", the media takes note as LAUSD votes 5-2 to end "willful defiance" suspensions and redefine the role of police in school discipline. The San Francisco Chronicle heralded as part of a nationwide educational trend to end the reliance on "zero tolerance" policys that swept the nation in the wake of the Columbine school shootings.

State bill to limit school police in discipline picks up steam, clearing first committee hearing (AB 549)

Zoe Rawson — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:02:41 -0700

On May 1st, AB 549 passed its first hurdle through the Assembly Education Committee, generating the news stories excerpted below.

New directions for new schools, not $4.2m budget increase for LA School Police

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:23 -0700

Science Now:Earth's greenhouse gas levels approach 400-ppm milestone

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:47:53 -0700

Scientists have spoken frequently over the last decade warning of the rising levels of "greenhouse gases" in earth's atmosphere. The increase in these gases has been linked to higher surface tempatures, increased storm activity and rising sea levels. As Science Now reports, these gases are about to reach a milestone high not seen on this planet since the Pliocene era.

In LAT, HuffPo, Sentinel--campaign for School Climate Bill of Rights heats up public debate

Daniel Kim — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:28:32 -0700

For the past month and half, as a founding member of the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition, the Community Rights Campaign has been a part of leading the "School Climate Bill of Rights" campaign. We've seen the campaign raise the level of public debate. Here's a recap as we head into the LAUSD board vote tomorrow!

Join us on April 20th for BRU Monthly Membership Meeting!

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:41:01 -0700

Join us for our Monthly Membership Meeting.

read more

The Life of Hugo Chavez and the death of the LA Mayoral Elections

Eric Mann — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:06:41 -0800

Yesterday, in between yawns and "oh, was there some kind of election in the news that I missed?" 8 candidates ran in the "fight for the soul-less city" mayor race. Meanwhile, on the same day, in Venezuela, a true champion of the people, the amazing Hugo Chavez, died. FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF THE CITIES OFFERS OUR BEST HOPE

On March 5th Vote No on LA's Measure A

Eric Romann — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:28:13 -0800

On March 5th, LA voters are being asked to pay another regressive sales tax, Measure A, which will generate another $215 million to cover the city's budget deficit

Going to DC on a Journey for Justice to fight school privatization

Haewon Asfaw — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:48:33 -0800

On January 29, 2013, the Community Rights Campaign and the Crenshaw Cougar Coalition headed to Washington D.C. to participate in a national forum held by the U.S. Department of Education at the demand of Journey for Justice, a grassroots coalition made up of students, teachers, parents, and community organizations.

Coalition still fighting against the Keystone XL pipeline

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:29:00 -0800

On February 17th environmental groups from all over North America gathered for a historic rally in Washington D.C. for climate justice. The Bus Riders Union, Idle No More, Sierra Club and many others marched here in Los Angeles in solidarity with the groups in Washington. Part of the rally was used to bring attention to continuing opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline.

Strategy Center screens film:Long Distance Revolutionary; A Journey with Mumia

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:38:23 -0800

The Bus Riders Union and the Community Rights Campaign were able to see an early screening of the new documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal, an American political prisoner currently serving a life sentence for an alleged murder of a Philadelphia police officer. Incarcerated since 1981, in a trial that was plagued with blatant judicial disregard, Mumia was originally sentenced to death and that was successfully appealed in 2011 and commuted to a life sentence.

LCSC, BRU and CRC Fight for the Soul of the City

Eric Romann — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:22:27 -0800

Leaders and organizers from the Labor Community Strategy Center, the Bus Riders Union, and the Community Rights Campaign reached out to the 2013 Los Angeles mayoral candidates. The letter outlines a series of priorites for the next mayor and urges the candidates to adopt our Fight for the Soul of the City proposal.

Federal charges against Alex Sanchez dropped, case "flawed"

Eric Mann — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:20:29 -0800

At January 16 court hearing, Judge Fischer dismissed all charges against Alex without prejudice. Alex discusses his work mediating gang truces and helping disenfranchised youth of color.

Django Unchained: Film review and listener call-ins

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:34:04 -0800

Eric Mann shares his review of the film Django Unchained and passionate listeners call in to share their opinions of the film.

Bus Riders Union welcomes the 2013 Planning Committee

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:45:08 -0800

On January 19th, at the Bus Riders Union monthly meeting, an election was held to see which members would serve as part of the 2013 Planning Committee.

Progress, broadening movement against more police in schools after Newtown

Daniel Kim — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:11:24 -0800

The movement is broadening. National coalitions and juvenile court judges are weighing in with concerns and opposition, with national and local media responding. The CRC is publishing OpEds and being interviewed in HuffPo, Colorlines and national Spanish-language public radio.

CRC OpEd: Menos policía en escuelas (La Opinion)

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:19:49 -0800

Tras el tiroteo de Newtown lo que necesitamos es menos, no más, presencia policial en las escuelas de Los Ángeles. La premisa de que con cada crisis se necesita más presencia policial, más vigilancia, más supresión sirve para aquellos que ya tienen una idea pre-existente, no para los estudiantes, padres y docentes afro-americanos y latinos del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles (LAUSD). Debería escandalizarnos al ver que seguimos el mismo camino destructivo que tomó el país tomó después del tiroteo ocurrido en la escuela de Columbine.

CRC OpEd: Less police in schools after Newtown (published in La Opinion)

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:57:13 -0800

The nation's largest Spanish-language daily, La Opinion, has published our OpEd calling for less, not more, police in schools after Newtown. We must not let Newtown be another Columbine for LA's school-to-jail-track.

The Revolutionary King

Eric Mann — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:04:13 -0800

Martin Luther King evolved from advocating an integrated American Dream to his observation that “we do not want to integrate into a burning building.” I read from his famous Riverside speech when he came out against the Viet Nam war and describe the complex dynamics of that historical moment.

Drug Policy Alliance, Drug Legalization and Decriminalization, and Criminal Justice Reform

Eric Mann — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:26:27 -0800

The Drug Policy Alliance is the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to current drug policy that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. The DPA works to ensure that drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of people - particularly young people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

The School to Prison Pipeline, Privatization, and School Reconstitution.

Eric Mann — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:48:31 -0800

Manuel Criollo on the heavy police presence at predominantly Black and Latino public high schools, School to Prison Pipeline, Privatization of Public Schools, and What is School Reconstitution.

Bus Riders Union: Meet the nominees for the 2013 Planning Committee!

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:38:02 -0800

It is January, which means that after two months of nominations, it is time to elect the 2013 Bus Riders Union Planning Committee. Made up of 5 volunteer members and 4 staff members, the Planning Committee (PC) is the decision making body for the Bus Riders Union. An introduction to the 10 volunteer members running for PC this year.

Steven Spielberg's Lincoln: Where are Frederick Douglass and the 200,000 armed runaway slaves?

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:23:00 -0800

Speilberg's Lincoln does a great historical disservice by portraying the Civil War as a debate among white people about Black people, who, in the film, hardly exist.

CRC Statement: New armed patrols in LA elementary schools erode students' civil rights and emotional well-being

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:15:53 -0800

By sending 600 armed LAPD patrols into our children’s schools, let us be clear that we are responding to violence with violence. Before we fall headlong down this path, we hope that LAUSD will reconsider and reflect deeply on the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: 'The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy…. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.'

No to the national surge of police, posses, soldiers in our schools after Connecticut shooting

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:32:05 -0800

CRC is calling for non-violent schools, holding candlelight vigils and organizing to stop the expansion of police in our schools. Today Los Angeles grade-school students returned from the holidays to be greeted by 600 armed patrols at LA Unified School District (LAUSD). Just yesterday, Sheriff Arpaio unveiled armed volunteer posses at schools in Maricopa County, Arizona. Last month, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced a federal bill to send the National Guard into schools.

CRC hosts community forum on school privatization and the school-to-jail track, national connections

Daniel Kim — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:37:30 -0800

In the fight for educational justice, the struggle to keep public schools public has become as critical as ending the school-to-jail track. In Los Angeles, two historic Black high schools, Crenshaw HS and Dorsey HS, face daunting "reconstitution" that will undermine community leadership and roots. On Jan 12, we will gather with grassroots organizers from Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia to explore what forces are driving school privatization and how they intersect with forces behind the school-to-jail track.

HuffPost: Think About the Transportation Sector

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:12:40 -0800

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the mainstream media has begun to talk about climate change in a new way. This article from the HuffPost Green is one of the few to tie climate change and mass transit together.

Crenshaw High School: Policy Attacks Continue on LA's Historical Black and Brown Public High Schools

Eric Mann — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:33:17 -0800

Community Coalition fights efforts by LA School District to "Reconstitute" Crenshaw High School, which would start by firing all the current teachers there...

A statement from CJA on Superstorm Sandy

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:42:56 -0800

The attached document is the statement that CJA/Just Transition Campaign groups are putting out post Sandy. It has evolved out of 2 different pieces that Ife, Kandi, and Movement Generation had drafted. It includes a new quote from a Grassroots Intl partner from Haiti and it names us as community groups & movements engaged in developing a Just Transition campaign.

Transportation sales tax bid backed by Mayor Villaraigosa and MTA defeated by grassroots coalition

Eric Romann — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:54:36 -0800

The bid by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to extend an existing transportation sales tax until 2069 failed to meet the necessary 2/3 threshold, delivering a setback to the Mayor's gentrifying and polluting vision for transportation expansion

LA Metro's rail expansion plan under Measure J and R can lead to less transit ridership

Sunyoung Yang — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:00:32 -0800

LA Metro's rail expansion plan under Measure J and R can lead to less transit ridership with continued hikes in fares and bus service cuts. As voters are asked once again tomorrow to extend a regressive sales tax measure funneling another $90 billion, will LA Metro's rail expansion plan deliver skyrocketing transit ridership for the region and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution as touted by it's proponents? Our answer is "no" based on history and experience of the last 20 years of rail experiment.

LA Daily News Opinion: Measure J equals gentrification, racism and pollution with public funds

Sunyoung Yang — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:47:25 -0800

The MTA claims that Measure J will help the environment. But did you know that the MTA has made a deal with the devil, that at least 20 percent of the Measure J funds will go to freeway expansion? How in the world can we combat greenhouse gases and air toxins by expanding the freeways again and again? When will we restrict auto use? But what if the MTA is really a rail construction agency?

No On Measure J with Sunyoung Yang and Barbara Lott-Holland

Eric Mann — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:21:43 -0700

If Measure J passes, the MTA will get tens of billions of dollars to spend in the near future, but borrowed against a 30-year extension of a one-half cent sales tax in LA County from 2039 to 2069.

Atlantic Cities:Does your city need a Transit Riders Union?

Eric Romann — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:33:14 -0700

Emily Badger of Atlantic Cities examines the growing trend of transit unions, starting with the model of the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union. She also examines how the changing economic landscape and the subsequent dismantling of support for transit has driven communities to organize.

Indigenous leaders rejecting California REDD hold governor responsible for their safety

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:36:38 -0700

An article from our allies in the Indigenous Environmental Network as they confront California lawmakers about the inclusion of REDD in CA's Global Warming Solution Act. California is shaping policy that will affect not only local but international solutions to the growing crisis of climate change.

Alternet:Transit Justice Providing Service and Shipping out Greenhouse Gases

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:20:33 -0700

Alternet takes a look at the Bus Riders Union as part of the series, Facing the Climate Gap , which looks at grassroots efforts in California low-income communities of color to address climate change and promote climate justice.

Bus Riders Union announces new coalition against MTA’s blank check sales tax Measure J

Eric Romann — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:44:15 -0700

The Bus Riders Union joined forces with community leaders from the Crenshaw district, Beverly Hills, East Los Angeles, Northeast LA, and the San Gabriel Valley to stop Measure J!

Media reacts as No On Measure J coalition hits the streets

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:36:12 -0700

Media takes notice as a diverse coalition group gathered on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson to announce our opposition to Measure J.

BRU and Community Leaders meet to Stop Measure J!

Eric Romann — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:45:26 -0700

On October 9th, Bus Riders Union organizers attended a meeting that gathered community leaders from all over Los Angeles to oppose the passage of Measure J.

"No on Measure J!" Some facts about the MTA's extension of the Corporate Welfare tax

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:18:30 -0700

In November, LA County MTA will ask voters to tax themselves again with a proposal to extend a 1/2 cent sales tax until 2069. In 2009, they raised the sales tax with big promises to improve transit, but in fact what they gave bus riders was a hefty fare increase and major cuts in our bus service.

Environmental movement mourns the loss of Barry Commoner 1917-2012

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:57:32 -0700

Barry Commoner, who inspired a generation or three of left radical environmentalists, died in New York on September 30th. He was a founder of the modern environmental movement, an anti-war activist, and a powerful critic of capitalism.

LA Unified School District threatens to fire entire teaching staff at Dorsey High School under "Reconstitution"

Eric Mann — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:23:15 -0700

The entire staff at Dorsey High School may be fired! Sharonne Hapuarachy and Taylor Broom discuss "Reconstitution" and what the impacts are for the student and the community and the movement to stop it.

Erin Aubry: The 2012 Presidential Elections and Right Wing Voter Suppression

Eric Mann — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:44:16 -0700

As the presidential election draws near, the right wing has increased their efforts at voter suppression. Journalist and political commentator Erin Aubry discusses Right Wing voter suppression strategies and the influences of Obama on Black movement building.

Sharonne Hapuarachy and Taylor Broom: Fighting "Reconstitution" at Dorsey High School

Eric Mann — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:41:58 -0700

Sharonne Hapuarachyand Taylor Broom help us understand how LAUSD is threatening to destroy another historic South Los Angeles High School with "Reconstitution"--a radical and racist restructuring program.

Diane Fujino: Biography of Richard Aoki, Black Panther Party.

Eric Mann — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:12:59 -0700

Diane Fujino discuses her recent book, Samurai Among Panthers: Richard Aoki on Race, Resistance, and a Paradoxical Life. The book has generated an intense debate on the historical record about Aoki and the Black Panthers.

Jeff Chang: Race, Hip Hop, Obama, and Movement Building

Eric Mann — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:41:35 -0700

The influences of Hip Hop and race on the presidential election and building social movements.

Is Just Growth Smarter Growth?

Eric Romann — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:54:24 -0700

Updated! LAT: Marchers demand more community say in Metro development plans

Eric Romann — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:29:00 -0700

Challenging how rail expansion is used to displace and gentrify our neighborhoods, the Bus Riders union marched with the Right to the City Coalition to call for return of the land to the control of the community.

Zachary Norris and Barbara Lott Holland: New Report on the Deep Crises in the Juvenile Injustice Sysem and Solutions Needed

Eric Mann — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:31:00 -0700

Barbara Lott Holland, organizer with the Community Rights Campaign of Los Angeles, and Zachary Norris, Co-Director of Justice for Families, discuss their new report called "Families Unlocking Futures: Solutions to the Crisis in Juvenile Justice".

Kitzia Esteva: No Papers No Fear Campaign

Eric Mann — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:23:23 -0700

Kitzia Esteva a dozen undocumented immigrants were arrested in front of the Democratic National Convention. The protest was the culmination of a month long UndocuBus Tour they took from Phoenix to Charlotte, visiting along the way many groups who are fighting for immigrant rights.

Atlantic Magazine leads back-to-school news about our work--LA Times, Time Magazine, Our Weekly

Daniel Kim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:59:32 -0700

It's September and back-to-school stories--and the CRC!--are in the news. Our work rolling back the daytime curfew (truancy/tardy ticketing) in LA is capturing attention and shaping the national debate with stories in Atlantic Magazine, Time Magazine, LA Times, and Our Weekly.

Mumia Abu Jamal: On his biggest political influences and the political "mentacide" of today's youth

Eric Mann — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 21:37:45 -0700

Mumia discusses black political thought, the great thinkers, movement builders, and decolonization of the mind.

Alex Sanchez and Luis Rodriguez: Truce between El Salvador gangs

Eric Mann — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:19:44 -0700

Alex Sanchez-former gang member and peace activist, and Luis Rodriguez-poet and author, discuss El Salvador's unprecendented gang truce which was initiated by the County's Top gang leaders and facilitated by top government and church officials.

To protect students heading back to school from ticketing, CRC rallies: media & LAUSD respond

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:32:05 -0700

We had a great rally to set the tone for the new school year. We urged LAUSD to adopt a more comprehensive plan to protect youth from discriminatory ticketing and overpolicing. There had been some solid progress earlier in the summer in our meetings with LASPD and LAUSD. But with students coming back to school, we need the District to take more concrete steps forward.

Graduating High School and working with the CRC

Carla Gonzalez — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:53:29 -0700

Delona Washington, an intern with the Summer Youth Organizing Academy, writes about her experience as a young black woman newly graduated from high school.

CRC Youth travel to Children's Defense Fund Conference

Carla Gonzalez — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:12:09 -0700

Community Rights member Ezinne Nwankwo writes about her trip to Ohio for the Children's Defense Fund Conference.

TRPT: Looking to the Future

Francisca Porchas — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:17:38 -0700

As you know, the U.S. Congress recently passed a $120 Billion Federal Surface Transportation Act after years of struggle over its content. TRPT sees an important struggle ahead over the future of mass transit.

Send an Email to President Obama asking: Mr President, Restore, Enforce Expand our Civil Rights!

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:49:38 -0700

We want to send a message to the President asking him to intervene and send a strong message to LA Metro and all federally funded agencies about the importance of Civil Rights. We are gathering with Bus Riders Union friends and allies all over the country to send an email to President Obama. He needs to hear from you.

Ok, ya le Pidió al Presidente Obama, ahora MUESTRELE….

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:42:17 -0700

Ok, ya lepidió al Presidente Obama, ahora MUESTRELE....

Art as Resistance

Carla Gonzalez — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:28:58 -0700

SYOA intern Khushboo Gulati wrote this essay on the importance of Art as Resistance. "Resistance art is the product of stories unheard, resilience ignored, and ideas suppressed. It is a vessel through which people unite, histories are documented and through which one can learn. Recording our work, our struggle, our losses and our victories is the only way we can keep our unheard histories and herstories alive as US hegemony controls our textbooks and classes."

Jay Levin: Founder of Fix Our America

Eric Mann — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:22:09 -0700

Jay will tell us about his latest political work as the lead founder of the organization Fix Our America and the effort to amend the constitution.

Pete White: Public transportation, police brutality, gentrification against the homeless in Los Angeles

Eric Mann — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:39:24 -0700

Police harrassment of the homless community, gentrification, and the fight for their civil rights.

LA Times and National Journal: Bus Riders Union calls on Obama to restore service hours in LA

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:47:29 -0700

LA Times story leads wide media coverage of the July 25 launch rally for the BRU's "Mr. President, Enforce, Restore, Expand Our Civil Rights" campaign. Media recap here.

Hundreds rally as BRU & regional coalition launch “Mr. President, Enforce, Restore, Expand Our Civil Rights!" campaign

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:04:42 -0700

Joined by 30 organizations from across LA, the BRU launched a national campaign with a rally calling on President Obama to enforce civil rights law and order the restoration of one million hours of bus service in LA. The campaign's public challenge to Obama and Mayor Villaraigosa was to side with a pro-civil rights, working class, environmental justice, bus-centered transit vision over a corporatist, gentrifying rail-centered vision of LA.

Cinthia Gonzalez: Mass transit, civil rights, and environmental justice organizing with the Community Rights Campaign

Eric Mann — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:58:48 -0700

Cinthia Gonzalez discusses The Labor Community Strategy Center's Civil Rights rally: President Obama: Enforce, Restore, Expand Our Civil Rights! and the broader work of the Bus Riders Union and training young organizers as a youth organizer with the Community Rights Campaign.

Extreme weather buffets US and World

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:34:40 -0700

Extreme weather, here and around the world, is keeping the discussion about climate change going. As we move into an election year, GOP pundits are ramping up their "climate denial" rhetoric.

Kim McGill of Youth Justice Coalition on juvenile injustice system, police and prison funding, and the school to prison pipeline

Eric Mann — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:50:11 -0700

Kim McGill discusses recruiting and training young organizers around the issues of the juvenile Injustice system, police and prison funding, the school to prison pipeline, what it means to build a movement led by people and communities of color, especially youth of color.

Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream, on the U.S. economic crisis, Obama, Foreclosures, Student Loans, Occupy, Building the Movement

Eric Mann — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:33:19 -0700

Van Jones, founder of Rebuild the Dream, discusses the U.S.economy, foreclosures, student loans, Obama, Occupy, and what it means to Build the Movement.

Join us at LA City Hall rally to launch national campaign: Mr President, Enforce, Restore, Expand Our Civil Rights!

Eric Romann — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:23:01 -0700

In the tradition of Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders, LA's buses are once again a frontline battleground for the future of civil rights. On July 25, 11am at City Hall, the Bus Riders Union is launching a national campaign calling on President Obama to stand for the civil rights of Black and Latino transit riders in Los Angeles by restoring one million hours of bus service in LA and restoring the public's right to sue for civil rights.

Summer Youth Organizing Academy:Stephen's Story

Carla Gonzalez — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:06:30 -0700

As the Summer Youth Organizing Academy begins its program, we asked the youth to write about their experiences. First in the series is summer intern Stephen Samayoa.

‘Crazy-hot’ US heatwave matches climate scientist warnings"

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:20:53 -0700

Simon Butler of Climate Change/Social Change examines the latest weather as the United States was hit by freak storms, intense heatwaves, prolonged drought, huge floods and out-of-control bushfires that have burnt out more than 2.1 million acres.

Carla Gonzalez: Training high school students as community organizers in LA’s inner schools

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:24:55 -0700

Carla Gonzalez. Carla is a community rights activist and co-founder and leader of the Summer Youth Organizing Academy (SYOA). Carla has been doing amazing work recruiting and training young high school age organizers for many years now from many of LA's inner city high schools.

Professor Miguel Tinker Salas: The recent presidential election in Mexico and consequences for movement building

Eric Mann — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:55:29 -0700

Professor Miguel Tinker Salas, on the presidential elections that took place in Mexico on Sunday. Now that the elections are over, what can we expect A) will be the real consequences for the Mexican people and, B) what will the consequences be for movement building in Mexico and in the U.S.?

Crystal McMillan: Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill--what Obama must do to strengthen it

Eric Mann — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:19:07 -0700

The Strategy Center organizer and policy analyst Crystal McMillan, tells us about the Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill that was just passed by the U.S. Congress and is waiting for Obama's signature. This is a huge bill worth $109 billion dollars over two years and we'll find out what the Strategy Center is asking Obama to do to strengthen it.

CRC and Allies work together with LAUSD Board member Nury Martinez to pass resolution to reform school discipline

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:15:56 -0700

A coalition of parents, students and civil rights groups are working together to reform school discipline. Right now in California there are bills in the State Assembly that address school discipline policy and we are working with our Dignity in Schools allies to support this vital reform.

Aris Anagnos: Greece, Europe, and the continuing world economic crises and the impacts on left movements.

Eric Mann — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:28:34 -0700

The on-going world economic crisis, particularly in Greece, and the impact it has on the work of building left social movements.

LisaGay Hamilton on activism and her work film, TV, and theater

Eric Mann — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:09:21 -0700

Lisa discusses her struggle as an activist who is pushing back against the stereotyping and misrepresentation of people of color in the film, TV, and theater industry.

Tammy Luu and Francisca Porchas: Their Report from the United Nations Rio+20 Conference on Sustainability

Eric Mann — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:52:00 -0700

Listen to the report back from Tammy Luu and Francisca Porchas who attended the People's Summit in Rio as two of thousands of activists from around the world who went to Rio to put pressure on the United Nations Rio+20 Conference on Sustainability.

Evelyn Servin, Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, and Ingrid Chapman: The grassroot struggle against Alabama's anti-immigration laws

Eric Mann — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:41:36 -0700

Evelyn Servin, Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, and Ingrid Chapman tell us about the intense struggle that's been happening in the state of Alabama against some of the most vicious anti-immigration state laws in the country.

Betsy Estudillo on the Dreamers' national victory: Pressuring Obama to stop deportations of 1 million undocumented youth

Eric Mann — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:59:32 -0700

Betsy Estudillo, an organizer with Dream Team Los Angeles, helps us assess the recent national victory that the Dreamers won from the Obama administration--an executive order stopping deportations of undocumented youth.

Sign Now! GGJ Petition: US State Dept "No Greed Economy at Rio +20!"

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:55:25 -0700

June 5th starts a Week of Action leading up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development on June 20th. Grassroots Global Justice is calling on all its allies to sign a petition to the US State department rejecting the false solutions of a "Green Economy"

National and local attention being turned on LA School police as data released

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:21:10 -0700

National attention is being turned on the Los Angeles School Police as their data on citations is released. Community Rights Campaign has done a preliminary analysis which is showing troubling trends and an apparent pattern of unnecessary and unjustified policing.

CRC turns to challenge of LA School Police citations in wake of Truancy Vote

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:11:04 -0700

Since L.A.'s major win against truancy ticketing and the daytime curfew in February, we're trying to take the fight bigger and are now in the early stages of opening up a broader challenge to ALL forms of student ticketing and aggressive school policing.

NEPA concerns with HR 4348 and S1813

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:22:03 -0700

As the House and Senate go to conference committee for the newest Federal Surface Re-authorization, their have arisen environmental concerns. The proposed Federal Surface Re-authorization bill has proposed streamlining of environmental processes in order to accelerate project implementation. In this report the breakdown of the proposed streamlining for both the House bill, HR 4348 and the Senate bill, S1813 are broken down and explained.

Updated! We must fight back! The Right Is Using Federal Transportation Bill to Gut NEPA and Pass Keystone Pipeline!

Francisca Porchas — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:23:35 -0700

Transit Riders for Public Transportation national campaign (Labor/Community Strategy Center) is calling on our allies in the EJ Movement to join us as we mobilize to stop this assault on the communities of color, the poor and the planet

Media reacts as LAUSD data shows black, brown students heavily ticketed

Haewon Asfaw — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:26:23 -0700

Building off the momentum of our victory in amending Municipal Code 45.04 and after four years of requests from the Community Rights Campaign (CRC), along with allies from the LA Chapter of the Dignity In Schools Campaign, Public Counsel and ACLU, the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) has finally released data for citations issued to students from 2009-2011. Releasing the data at a rally on May 3rd.

Cleveland High Taking Action 1000 Hoodie March

Carla Gonzalez — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:04:58 -0700

On April 12th, 2012, Cleveland High School's Taking Action organized a "1000 Hoodie March" with the support of the Village Nation and Black Student Union. Hundreds of students gathered outside the gym during lunch in solidarity with the nation's call for justice in the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin.

UPDATED! FTA ruling is out on LA Metro civil rights violations--we're calling on Obama to intervene, reverse MTA service cuts

Eric Romann — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:08:28 -0700

The Bus Riders Union and civil rights groups on Tuesday held a press conference to sharply denounce the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) failure to find Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) in violation of federal civil rights laws, and failure to restore 1 million hours of previously cut service. Despite overwhelming evidence showing that the agency knowingly discriminated against bus riders of color when approving the elimination of nearly one million hours of bus service between 2007 and 2011, the FTA issued a ruling with stern words but no remedies. Transit riders are urging President Obama to intervene, calling it a test of his administration's commitment to civil rights.

Damon Azali and Leonardo Vilchis: The 1992 L.A. Rebellion and its impacts 20 years later

Eric Mann — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:31:19 -0700

Damon Azali of the Strategy Center’s Community Rights Campaign, and Leanardo Vilchis director of the Union de Vecinos de Pico-Aliso discuss, the 20th anniversary of the LA Rebellion of 1992.

Hamid Khan On Spying Practices of the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department)

Eric Mann — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:22:47 -0700

Los Angeles organizer Hamid Khan discusses the spying practices of the Los Angeles Police Department as well as Left movement building in the United States.

Glen Ford on the murder of Trayvon Martin

Eric Mann — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:47:46 -0700

Glen Ford comments on Trayvon Martin and the latest developments in the case. Glen helps us understand Trayvon's murder in a larger political context.

Urgent Action: Tell FTA not to backpedal on civil rights!

Eric Romann — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:40:06 -0700

Please click here to send an email today to FTA Chief Peter Rogoff urging his agency not to backpedal on civil rights. The Bus Riders Union learned yesterday that the Federal Transit Administration appears poised to play along with Metro’s effort to whitewash the evidence of racial discrimination in years of bus service cuts. We must send a strong message to FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff that those who stand for civil rights around the country won’t stand for this.

Carlos Marentes and Dena Hoff: The Transnational Movement work of La Via Campesina

Eric Mann — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:27:36 -0700

Carlo Marentes and Dena Hoff are two leaders of the international movement La Via Campesina. They will discuss the upcoming April 17 event called A Global Day of Peasant Struggle Against Land Grabs.

Laura Pulido on her new book "A People’s Guide to Los Angeles"

Eric Mann — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:45:03 -0700

University of Southern California professor Laura Pulido discusses her new book A People's Guide to Los Angeles in which she maps 115 sites in Los Angeles where critical struggles for justice took place over the past two hundred years.

Diane Fujino: Her Bio of Fred Ho

Eric Mann — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:12:00 -0700

This is the last segment of the three hour round table discussion hosted by the Strategy Center three weeks ago at the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research honoring Fred Ho.

Who's Streets? Our Streets! Spring Break Taking Action.

Carla Gonzalez — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:02:53 -0700

On Monday, April 2nd the Spring Break Taking Action begins. The club is a political education and action program that welcomes high school students from all over Los Angeles.

BRU reaches goal for April 3rd National Day of Action!

Gabriel Strachota — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:37:49 -0700

Yesterday, April 3rd we reached our one day goal of generating 500 emails to the Federal Transit Administration. The emails called on FTA to ensure the restoration of 1 million hours of bus service stolen by the Los Angeles Metro. We still need your help to keep the pressure on!

National Day of Action: Send an email to FTA today for transit civil rights in Los Angeles

Eric Romann — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:22:33 -0700

Restore Our Civil Rights, Restore Our 1 Million of Hours of Bus Service! Please click here to send an email today to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to mandate LA Metro to restore one million hours of bus service and rectify the civil rights violations found in the FTA review. We're aiming for FTA to receive at least 500 emails from supporters in one day - today!

Fred Ho: Chinese American baritone saxophonist, composer, writer, producer, political revolutionary and cancer warrior

Eric Mann — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:09:13 -0700

Fred Ho is a one-of-a-kind Chinese American baritone saxophonist, composer, writer, producer, political revolutionary, and self-described cancer warrior and extreme raw foodist. His music, his world view, and his politics are very inspiring and thought provoking.

Truancy ticket fight resonates with local and national black press

Ashley Franklin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:26:39 -0800

Black columnists speak out about the increasingly obvious correlation between racial politics and school discipline. The issue of truancy tickets and harsh school polices has grown into a national educational crisis.

LAUSD and LASPD fail to report statistics to Federal Civil Rights Data Collection

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:22:11 -0700

In the latest report on school suspensions, expulsions, and school based arrests, Los Angeles Unified School District and Los Angeles School Police did not report figures to Civil Rights Data Collection.

John Santos: On the Politics and Commercialization of the Music Industry.

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:55:42 -0700

John Santos will talk about the politics of the Grammys Awards and the music industry as well as the struggle for progressive and anti-racist artists to find a voice in the increasingly commercialized music industry. He will also speak about his musical work.

Boys and Men of Color speak out

Carla Gonzalez — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:02:13 -0700

On March 2nd a historical gathering was held by members of the California State Assembly. Focusing on the issues facing boys and men of color in California communities, it was one of 5 regional hearings held.

Counterproductive and Wasteful -- End the Tickets: Alternatives for Youth

Ashley Franklin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:07:16 -0700

End the Tickets: Alternatives for Youth is a collection of reports and documents that reveal the problems of Los Angeles Municipal Code 45.04 and provide alternatives for youth that do not involve the use of tickets, police, probation or courts to address the root causes of LAUSD's 50% drop-out/push-out rate. This collection was presented to Los Angeles Unified School District at the October 20th, 2009 Board meeting as a platform to end the criminalization of truancy, tardiness and other disciplinary issues and as an alternative to the Verdugo Hills High model.

What are they saying about us on NPR’s Morning Edition?

Daniel Kim — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:25:25 -0800

n/a

Media gathers as LA City council ratifies changes to daytime curfew

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:54:16 -0800

On February 29th the Los Angeles City Council voted to ratify the amendment to LAMC 45.04, the Daytime Curfew Law. The media took note as Community Rights and a citywide coaltion of allies watched the 14-0, that ended the practice of punative truancy tickets .

Making history: CRC's 14-0 victory at City Hall to roll back the truancy ticketing law LAMC 45.04

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:55:12 -0800

In a letter from the CRC steering committee, we reflect on the meaning of our victory at City Hall last week, a 14-0 vote to roll back truancy ticketing and school policing under LAMC 45.04, the Daytime Curfew Law. Civil rights, our generation's fight against separate and unequal education, and the role of organizing...

LAT: MTA targets bus line serving Westside workers who live in South L.A

Eric Romann — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:49:16 -0800

MTA is once again on track to eliminate bus service on 9 bus lines and cut service to 11 others. The February 27 Los Angeles Times article focused on the impact these cuts will have on South LA residents who use the 305 bus line to travel to jobs, health appointments and school on the Westside.

"Updated" Media touts historic moment as LA City Council votes to amend truancy law

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:18:31 -0800

A standing room only crowd greeted the historic 14-0 vote with cheers and applause as the Los Angeles City Council voted 14-0 to amend the Daytime Curfew Law, responsibile for punitive truancy and tardy ticketing of low-income students of color. News is rolling in from the LA Times, statewide California Public Radio, the Associated Press and much more...

Los Angeles Times sides with students and parents!

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:37:43 -0800

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times editorial came out in support of removing the fines from truancy tickets. The editiorial agreed with the position that "Hefty tickets for students who are late or ditch school are counterproductive. Requiring community service is a better idea."

Updated-CRC's media impact snowballs as truancy code amendment heads to city hall vote

Daniel Kim — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:37:08 -0800

Tremendous media coverage of our rally and press conference for the Public Safety Committee vote, where the amendment to reform LAMC 45.04 was sent forward to City Council successfully! Media coverage centered on the civil rights core of the problem. A lot of great visuals captured, too. Youth in CRC green shirts marching with Councilmember Tony Cardenas and...

In-depth investigative reporting on HuffPo: "LA Moves Haltingly Toward Ending Fines for Truancy"

Ashley Franklin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:37:11 -0800

In an in-depth story on the Huffington Post, investigative reporter Susan Ferriss (iWatch News) delves into two students' harsh treatment by police in Nov, raising questions as to whether new guidelines issued last year by LAPD and LASPD to curb truancy and tardy policing are working.

ALERT! City council to vote Wed 2/22 to roll back truancy ticketing--we need your support!

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:08:41 -0800

We are looking for support on over-turning the punitive truancy practices for LAUSD. Two vital votes will be held this month. The Public Safety Committee on Feb. 13th and the full LA City Council vote on Feb. 15th. We are collecting signatures on petitions and asking for support from students and their families to let our City leaders know where we stand.

Sign our petition to tell City Hall you support rolling back truancy ticketing!

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:21:09 -0800

City Hall will vote next week on whether or not to roll back the infamous truancy law (LAMC 45.04). We are asking everyone to sign a petition to the Mayor, City Hall and city leaders to express our support for ending this assault on our most vulnerable students!

Stop the Attack on Public Transit Civil Rights and Enviro Justice!

Francisca Porchas — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:38:09 -0800

On Thursday, February 8th, TRPT will be joining a national coalition in a National Call-In Day against Federal Transportation bill H.R. 7. Reasons to VOTE NO on H.R. 7 (the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act) and maintain 30 years of dedicated federal commitment to supporting mass transit, creating jobs and protecting civil rights and environmental justice:

Media takes note as Student Attendance Task Force releases recommendations

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:44:23 -0800

The media took notice as the Student Attendance Task Force released a report recommending "Have zero tolerance for zero-tolerance policies." and ensuring that students get adequate counseling in school before suspension.

ALERT! Tell Congress to Vote NO on House Transportation Bill (HR 7)-- Attack on Public Transit, Civil Rights and Enviro Justice

Francisca Porchas — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:20:35 -0800

Word has raced out that House Republicans are moving to eviscerate transit in the federal transportation bill. But there's also a series of provisions in the bill that are aimed at our grassroots communities of color who make up the backbone of transit ridership across the country. They include the elimination of environmental requirements and planning tools that project our rights.

ALERT! Republicans moving tomorrow to eliminate transit from federal funding

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:01:00 -0800

In a shocking move, Republicans are moving to eliminate all federal funding for transit in the $200BN federal transportation bill (transit has traditionally recieved 20%). The Ways and Means Committee is in final negotiations over this proposal to zero out transit and will vote tomorrow morning. Please call your member of the Ways and Means Committee.

CRC, Public Counsel and ACLU Applaud Task Force Recommendations for Remaking Truancy Law

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:37:56 -0800

On February 2nd, the Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council announced their decision to unanimously endorse the findings and recommendations from the multi-agency Student Attendance Task Force.

Hamid Khan: Surveillance Practices of LAPD

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:11:56 -0700

Los Angeles organizer Hamid Khan will speak on the surveillance practices of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Kevin Alexander Gray: Community Organizing in South Carolina.

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:40:24 -0700

Kevin Alexander Gray is a veteran community organizer in South Carolina as well and author of The Decline of Black Politics: From Malcolm X to Barak Obama.

Tom Dutton: Fighting Gentrification -- The Over-the-Rhine People's Movement in Cincinnatti

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:46:24 -0700

Professor Tom Dutton will speak on his recent article for TruthOut.org, "Do YOu Have a Sign" where he describes the current struggle against gentrification in Over-the-Rhine People's Movement. His analysis sheds light on similar struggles taking place from New Orleans to Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago, New York, and many other cities in the United States.

Native Americans Applaud President Obama’s decision rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:23:28 -0800

Tribal leaders and Native organizations from the United States and Canada are standing together today pleased that President Barack Obama is acknowledging his pledge to listen to the voices of this countries' original people, by rejecting the Transcanada Keystone XL pipeline. "This is one battle won for our Mother Earth," said Clayton Thomas-Muller, campaign coordinator with Clean Air ally Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) Canadian Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign.

LA School Board President thanks Community Rights Campaign as board votes to roll back punitive truancy policies

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:49:30 -0800

In her press release announcing the Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) resolution to amend their daytime curfew law, Board President Monica García gives credit to the Community Rights campaign for their struggles to amend the law.

LA School Board (LAUSD) votes to support City Council motion to reverse punitive tardy/truancy ticketing

Ashley Franklin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:16:02 -0800

In the latest advance in CRC's campaign to roll back punitive truancy/tardy ticketing, the elected board of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) yesterday voted to support City Councilmember Tony Cardenas' motion to amend the ticketing law itself .

Robin Kelley on Palestinian Liberation

Eric Mann — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:26:29 -0700

UCLA Professor Robin Kelley, just back from Palestine, reports back on the liberation movement there.

CRC Students Featured in Special Issue of Rethinking Schools

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:42:05 -0800

CRC student leaders are featured in the current issue of Rethinking Schools magazine, a special issue titled, "Stop the School to Prison Pipeline." The article, titled, "Arresting Development- Zero Tolerance and the criminalization of children," is by Annette Fuentes, who wrote a guest blog with the CRC in August.

2012 Planning Committee Elections are here

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:42:48 -0800

After two months of nominations it's now time for the 2012 BRU/SDP planning committee elections. There are 11 candidates running for election, 5 of whom will be elected. Learn about the candidates here. BRU/SDP members this is your chance to decide who should lead the BRU/SDP in 2012!

House Speaker hopes to fund infrastructure with oil drilling

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:05:27 -0800

Some Republicans in the House led by Speaker John Boehner want to fund the new Federal Surface Transportation Bill with revenue from off-shore drilling.

Los Angeles Juvenile Courts Will Dismiss Curfew Tickets for Students on Their Way to School

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:40:47 -0800

Los Angeles' top judge for juvenile courts has released new guidelines to eliminate fines and unnecessary court time for students receiving truancy / tardy tickets. The court will also direct students who miss school to school- and community-based resources that are shown to improve academic achievement and get struggling students back on track. This is a major step toward CRC's goal of rolling back truancy and tardy ticketing that targets low-income students of color.

With Advancement Project, L.A. to Host Regional Action Camp for Activists Against School-to-Prison Pipeline

Carla Gonzalez — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:04:13 -0800

In February, the Community Rights Campaign and several local and national allies--including Dignity in Schools Campaign, Padres & Jovenes Unidos, Youth United for Change and the Alliance for Educational Justice--will be working with the Advancement Project to host a national training in Los Angeles, one of four regional action camps to train school-to-prison pipeline organizers, activists and advocates from across the country.

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Eric Mann — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:33 -0800

Katrina vanden Heuval, editor and founder of The Nation magazine, discusses the role that progressive social movements can play in the 2012 elections.

BRU and Coalition put LA Metro's back against the wall

Eric Romann — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:05:56 -0800

The Bus Riders Union and a broad coalition of allies put Metro's backs up against the wall today in the first Metro Board meeting since the release of the scathing federal civil rights audit earlier this week. The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) report calls into question the legitimacy and legality of policies that punished 100,000's of low-income bus riders and bus riders of color with repeated cuts in bus service and fare increases.

What the Community Rights Campaign means to me

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:37:01 -0800

A Blog by Michael Alvarado

You Are Just A Number: A Tour of County Jail

Carla Gonzalez — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:12:21 -0800

Read a blog by Community Rights Member Elizabeth Chaidez on the human impact of incarceration. Imagine being taken out of society, and forced to live in cell for 5, 10, 15 or maybe 20 years, or forever, for a crime you may or may have not committed. You do not have any human contact except when you are transferred from one place to another. However, when you are transferred you are handcuffed and chained by the waist like an animal.

Indigenous Peoples Condemn Climate Talks Fiasco and Demand Moratoria on REDD+

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:52:29 -0800

Indigenous leaders returning from Durban, South Africa condemn the fiasco of the United Nations climate change talks and demand a moratorium on a forest carbon offset scheme called REDD+ which they say threatens the future of humanity and Indigenous Peoples' very survival. During the UN climate negotiations, a Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities against REDD+ and for Life was formed to bring attention to the lack of full recognition of Indigenous rights being problematic in the texts of the UN climate negotiations.

Unprecedented Findings of Civil Rights Violations in Federal Audit of Los Angeles Metro

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:20:44 -0800

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has found unprecedented levels of racially discriminatory impacts in its civil rights audit of Los Angeles Metro, the second largest transit agency in the country. These findings represent the most serious civil rights compliance deficiencies by an agency in at least a decade. By finding Metro "deficient" in 5 of 12 civil rights categories, FTA went beyond its more typical findings of procedural 'deficiencies' to also find that Metro ignored evidence that its transit service cuts had a discriminatory impact on riders of color.

Coalition letter to LA Mayor & MTA on Climate Justice: Expand the Bus System, not the I-710 Freeway

Eric Romann — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:11:43 -0800

The BRU, Communities for a Better Environment, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, and Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles have sent this letter to Mayor Villaraigosa and the Board of Directors of MTA calling for swift action on climate change. We demand restoration and expansion of bus service and a halt to the multi-billion dollar expansion of the I-710 freeway as two immediate actions that would benefit the health and well-being of LA's low income communities of color while reducing LA's carbon footprint.

Report: Climate Justice from South Africa to LA City Hall

Eric Romann — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:40:24 -0800

Joining forces with Communities for a Better Environment, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, and Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA, the BRU marched to demand the Mayor and the MTA "Expanding the bus system, not the 710 freeway. Meanwhile, BRU organizer Francisca Porchas is representing Grassroots Global Justice Alliance and Transit Riders for Public Transportation in Durban, building our connections with the international climate justice movement.

Statement of Indigenous Environmental Network on the Obama Administration decision on Keystone XL Pipeline

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:48:20 -0800

Mother Earth Achieves a Victory Today with Obama Administration Decision to Delay the Keystone XL Pipeline Decision. Read the statement from Clean Air allies The Indigenous Environmental Network in the latest victory against Big Oil!

All the rest have 31: How the MTA snuck another fare increase on us

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:47:36 -0800

In selling new bus passes that are only good for 30 days, instead of the old 31 days, MTA has once again limited our mobility and forced us to pay more for less."With this new policy I can no longer get my child to school on the last day of the month because MTA found a way to make low-income families pay them more money." A single mother speaks out on the impact of the new policy.

Education Under Arrest: The Case Against Police in Schools

Ashley Franklin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:11:48 -0800

The increase in the presence of law enforcement in schools, especially in the form of school resource officers (SROs) has coincided with increases in referrals to the justice system, especially for minor offenses like disorderly conduct. This is causing lasting harm to youth, as arrests and referrals to the juvenile justice system disrupt the educational process and can lead to suspension, expulsion, or other alienation from school. All of these negative effects set youth on a track to drop out of school and put them at greater risk of becoming involved in the justice system later on, all at tremendous costs for taxpayers aswell the youth themselves and their communities.

The Occupy Movement and Its Demands

Eric Mann — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:20:27 -0800

Many in the Occupy movement believe that making specific demands will leave the movement open to cooptation and division. But without demands that ask the president, Congress, and Wall Street to make radical changes in policy, there is the danger that they will still carry out business as usual while the protests grow stronger.

TRPT reaffirms and regroups at national gathering

Francisca Porchas — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:17:40 -0700

Representatives from 11 leading member organizations of Transit Riders for Public Transportation gathered for 2 retreat-like days in Los Angeles.

Launching a Clean Air University

Sunyoung Yang — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:49:54 -0700

With our recent victory securing the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes, we've made it a priority to continue building an organized constituency of low-income bus riders who have the knowledge and commitment to intervene in public health and environmental policies that connect with mass transit.

Campus newspapers cite victory as LASPD issues new curfew protocols

Ashley Franklin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:15:22 -0800

Both High School and College campus newspapers respond to a victory for the community as LASPD adopts new protocols for enforcing daytime curfew and issuing truancy tickets to students.

What Are the Advances in New Victory with LASPD by CRC and Dignity In Schools?

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:17:34 -0700

We're really gaining ground in our fight for civil and human rights in our schools and communities. We need to highlight a few reasons why the policy changes on truancy/tardy ticketing that we won two weeks ago from LASPD are important. The media coverage was great but there's a few things they didn't cover.

Report Shows Time Is Now for Los Angeles to End Discrimination in School Discipline

Ashley Franklin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:45 -0700

This statement is from parents, students, and community and civil rights groups in response to a report released today about the Los Angeles Unified School District's implementation of the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support policy. The policy was adopted in 2007 with support from Public Counsel and CADRE parents to reduce out of school suspensions, particularly of students of color, and improve graduation rates, student performance and school culture. The report was conducted by the University of Oregon Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior in consultation with LAUSD leadership. Public Counsel, CADRE, Youth Justice Coalition, Community Rights Campaign and Children's Defense Fund are part of Dignity in Schools Los Angeles.

BRU in the news: 14 orgs give scathing indictment of MTA

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:07:01 -0700

Check out news coverage on the new report co-authored by the BRU and 14 other civil rights, labor, environmental, public health, and housing organizations from around los Angeles. The report Transit Civil Rights & Economic Survival in Los Angeles: A Case for Federal Intervention in LA Metro details the 4 year storm since the end of the consent decree. LA Opinión, LA Weekly, and Streets Blog report.

Media buzzes as nation’s largest school district police force joins LAPD in adopting new protocols

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:02:25 -0700

Media trumpeted the news as the Los Angeles School Police Department unveiled protocols intended to reduce the number of daytime curfew tickets written to students. The revised procedures are a result of collaboration and discussions between Public Counsel, the Community Rights Campaign, the ACLU of Southern California, Children's Defense Fund, CADRE, and Youth Justice Coalition - groups that work to keep students in school - and Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) leaders.

In new report, coalition indicts LA County MTA civil rights practices, calls for strong federal intervention

Eric Romann — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:37:09 -0700

Civil rights, labor, environmental, public health, and housing organizations argue bus service and fare increases result in civil rights harms for transit-dependent people and obstruct economic recovery for low-income transit-dependent Angelenos.

Push Back against the Push out: Dignity in Schools 2011

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:40:19 -0700

The collective voices of students and parents rang through the cities of Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland and Los Angeles as they demanded an end to the criminalization of their children, increased parental involvement in all school related decisions, and greater funding for schools. The event, which was hosted by the California Endowment, included a rally, a school to prison pipeline art installation and finished with a panel.

Transit Civil Rights and Economic Survival in Los Angeles

Eric Romann — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:35:51 -0700

n/a

Tea Time with the Bus Riders Union

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:24:11 -0700

On Tuesday, October 11th, the Bus Riders Union held its first Tea Time with Korean elders in two years. Eleven Korean bus riders attended the Tea Time to listen to a presentation that provided historical and political context around the Bus Riders Union, and the environmental justice campaign, Clean Air, Clean Lungs, Clean Buses

No Place for Kids:The Case for Reduciing Juvenile Incarceration

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:28:09 -0700

In the United States, we rely heavily on incarcerating kids. In total, 336 of every 100,000 of the world's incarcerated youth is locked away in a U.S. prison facility. That's nearly five times the rate of the next country on list, which is South Africa.

Community Rights holds a "Precious Knowledge" movie night

Carla Gonzalez — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:36:41 -0700

On Tuesday October 4, 2011, the Strategy Center held a screening of "Precious Knowledge:" The Love Struggle of Learning, a documentary about the battle to save the Ethnic Studies Program in Tuscan Unified School District. The documentary follows four high school seniors in the Mexican American Studies Program and their emotional journey to put an end to HB-2281.

Dignity in Schools: National Week of Action

Carla Gonzalez — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:31:38 -0700

So why is it important to know your rights? Throughout the week of October 1-8, 2011, thousands of parents, youth, and educators are taking part in student-led actions and events in 27 cities to expose the school pushout crisis in our nation and advocate for the human right of every young person to a quality education and to be treated with dignity.

Los Angeles City Councilmembers Cardenas and Parks Introduce Motion to End Truancy Tickets for Students on Their Way to School

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:51:53 -0700

During the past two years, the Los Angeles City Council in conjunction with the LAPD, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), County courts, other regional government agencies and community groups including: Public Counsel, ACLU of Southern California and the Community Rights Campaign, have been collaborating to revise existing LAPD procedures aimed at reducing the number of daytime curfew tickets issued. Cárdenas' motion seeks to amend Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 45.04, which imposes a daytime curfew on youth under the age of 18.

Brookline Study: Transit Access and Zero-Vehicle Households

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:16:59 -0700

"Zero vehicle households live in neighborhoods well served by bus and rail service..however, that transit service frequently falls short on connecting households to ample job opportunities." Brookline has created a study based an analysis of data from the American Community Survey and 371 transit providers in the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas.

Transportation Equity Network Report:The Road to Good Jobs

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:54:07 -0700

A report on boosting construction job access through training and apprenticeship programs

CRC joins Dignity In Schools (LA) training for 200 LASPD officers

Carla Gonzalez — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:37:19 -0700

It looks like a school assembly except that sitting in the auditorium are 200 LA School Police officers, and on the stage is a panel of community organizers who are giving the police officers a workshop in how to treat students more fairly.

Transit Day of Action makes national news

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:09:01 -0700

On Tuesday, September 20th the Bus Riders Union and Transit Riders for Public Transportation, joined with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to send a call to local allies and advocates in 13 cities around the country. Together we sent a message to President Obama and Congress, that protecting the funding for public transportation should be a national priority.

Bus Riders Union joins advocates across the country in National Day of Action

Francisca Porchas — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:12:35 -0700

On Tuesday, September 20th the Bus Riders Union joined in the APTA National Day of Action to urge President Obama and Congress to protect funding for transit. Joined by transit riders, transit and environmental advocates, and community organizations, the BRU, using the slogan "Put Yourself in our Shoes!" gathered on the corner of Wilshire and Vermont.

Addressing the root causes of chronic absences and truancy

Ashley Franklin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:53:51 -0700

Youth Justice Coalition is reaching out for help to move the vote on SB9

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:55:31 -0700

Youth Justice Coalition has been fighting hard to reform the law that determines youth sentencing. The YJC feels that it is a basic human right not to sentence a youth to a life sentence. While they feel very disappointed in the difficulty in passing this small reform to the bill, it now stands that they are one vote away! It is a small reform, which allows the right to petition after 15 years served. This matter will come up to another vote at the beginning of September.

Community Rights Campaign guest blog by author Annette Fuentes on the August 23rd Truancy Task Force

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:44:06 -0700

On August 23rd, the Community Rights Campaign was featured in the newest California Endowment Foundation article written by Annette Fuentes, a journalist and author of the recently published book about punitive school discipline and security policies, "Lockdown High: When the Schoolhouse Becomes a Jailhouse." Ms. Fuentes recounts the testimony of parents, students and school administrators to the Los Angeles County Educational Coordinating Council's Truancy Task Force at a recent Community Hearing hosted by the Community Rights Campaign and presided by Judge Nash of the Juvenile Informal Court.

Students bring demands to the Truancy Task Force

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:14:08 -0700

In Los Angeles County, during the years of 2005 to 2009, there were over 47,000 youth cited under the "Daytime Curfew Law" Municipal Code 45.04. 88% of the youth cited were Black and Latino students yet they only made up 74% of the school age population. For the first time, Community Rights brought together students, their families and administrators to hear the private impact of the ongoing criminalization of tardiness and truancy.

Capacity crowd, expert panel unmask transit crisis at Town Hall

Eric Romann — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:03:09 -0700

With a federal review of MTA's civil rights record still in progress, a standing room only-crowd of over 200 and an all-star panel exposed LA MTA's civil rights crisis at the Transit Justice Town Hall meeting Saturday. Overo 100 bus riders people gave three hours of testimony on the harms caused by deep cuts in bus service, inadequate bus service, increases in fares - all of which will be used for a report on the crisis to be released in September. The event was organized by the Bus Riders Union and sponsored by a city-wide multi-racial coalition of 35 organizations.

Transit Justice Town Hall Media Coverage

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:03:13 -0700

Saturday August 20th, the BRU and members of over 30 ally organizations packed Parish Hall at Immanuel Presbyterian Church with over 250 members and allies for our Transit Justice Town Hall! Over 100 people gave compelling testimony on the adverse and disparate impacts that the elimination of critical bus lifelines have had. The expert panel spoke amazingly of the intersections of race/the environment/gender/ public health and public transportation.

Transit Justice Town Hall this Saturday will put LA’s transit crisis in the spotlight

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:46:34 -0700

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Call out for Climate Justice in California!

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:51:30 -0700

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Transit Justice Town Hall on MTA Cuts to Transit Lifelines—Coming Aug 20!

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:26:00 -0700

On August 20th, the Bus Riders Union will be hosting a Community Forum on Civil Rights and transit to access the real impacts of the MTA's bus service policy. The event will be held at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 3300 Wilshire, starting at 9:30 am.

Mayor Villaraigosa passes motion regarding bus service enhancements

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:14:01 -0700

Today at the MTA board Mayor Villaragoisa and the MTA board passed a motion calling for a suspension of cuts in Tier 1 bus service and for a report on expanding Bus Rapid Transit improvements throughout the county.

New BRU report highlights LA Metro's transit civil rights crisis

Eric Romann — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:41:28 -0700

With the MTA subject of a civil rights compliance review by the Federal Transit Administrations, a new pamphlet report from the Bus Riders Union exposes the policy and human sides of the crisis created by MTA slashing bus service and raising fares.

Bus Riders Union featured in New York Times

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:01:39 -0700

On July 4th, the New York times ran an article highlighting the impacts of service cuts on daily riders. Using the Line 305 as a example, the article tells some of the stories of riders whose line is targeted for elimination.

CJ Minster on Bring the War Dollars Home campaign

Eric Mann — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:46:09 -0700

CJ Minster, CODEPINK’s national organizer for the Bring Our War Dollars Home campaign.

Domestic workers, security guards and bus riders demand action from federal investigation.

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:55:38 -0700

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T4A: House Proposal to End Two Transit Programs Could Impact $15 B in Projects

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:00:59 -0700

House cuts may eliminate $15 Billion for Transit The House of Representatives proposes to eliminate two programs that fund capital investment in transit.

BRU and broad coalition of allies win major breakthrough on Wilshire Bus Lanes at Los Angeles City Council

Sunyoung Yang — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:32:07 -0700

After six years of campaigning, the BRU scored a major environmental victory today: the Wilshire Boulevard Bus-Only Lanes won the resounding approval from the LA City Council and cleared the last major political hurdle for it to become reality

LA Times, KPCC, ABC, NBC & more: BRU victory on Wilshire bus lanes makes a media splash

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:39:20 -0700

After six years of campaigning, the Wilshire Boulevard Bus-Only Lanes project took an important step forward, with the Los Angeles City Council voting to approve the project and move it forward.

Open Letter to MTA Board & LA City Council: Planners support complete 8.7 mile Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project

Eric Romann — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:48:48 -0700

Planners from UCLA, USC and across the city weigh in on Bus-Only Lanes debate with a clear message: the complete 8.7 mile project is clearly the best choice.

Will full Bus-Only Lanes pass City Council tomorrow?

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:33:34 -0700

Tomorrow, our six-year campaign for Bus-Only Lanes on Wilshire Boulevard will finally face a vote at the Los Angeles City Council. We are close to sealing the deal on this important project, but not before overcoming continued efforts to cut down the project at the behest of wealthy West Side homeowner groups.

Clean Air youth reflects on his experiences at Power Shift 2011

Ronald Collins — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:10:32 -0700

For me as a youth of color, Power Shift 2011 was an inspiring and effective space for two major reasons: it gave me a chance to really start to build with youth from other grassroots organizations, and it allowed me to gain insight into the Environmental Justice movement as a whole.

Growing Again: Milwaukee Transit Riders Union joins as TRPT expands legislative supporters

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:04:58 -0700

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A strange day at City Council ends in a stalemate for the Wilshire BOL

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:01:34 -0700

With the battle lines drawn, the 5-member committee could not agree on any option and ended the meeting taking no action at all.

Missed Opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:58:20 -0700

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Call to Action: Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes at City Council Tomorrow!

Eric Romann — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:09:12 -0700

We need a strong showing from the broad coalition we have built for this project to come out tomorrow, Wednesday, June 8th at 2PM at the City Council Room 1010.

Strategy Center Associate Director Honored by Liberty Hill

Ragini Kathail — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:37:48 -0700

"Tammy is an example of the new generation of leaders in American communities whose connections to other countries offer the progressive movement a wider world view," Liberty Hill writes.

Student turned organizer: Reflections on People's Poetry

Alejandra Lemus — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:19:02 -0700

I was pumped and rejuvenated to see the next generation of warriors stand and fight back for a transformative and revolutionary educational system.

The Wilshire BOL advances one step forward

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:11:31 -0700

While the Bus Riders Union believes that the full 8.7 mile alternative is the best project and should be adopted by the city council, we see yesterday’s vote at the MTA board as a key advance in defeating the worst case alternative 5.4 mile option that the Brentwood homeowners have been pushing for and in moving the Wilshire Bus Only-Lanes project one step forward to reality.

Westside Rally in support of the Wilshire Bus Only Lane

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:05:56 -0700

Tuesday in West Los Angeles we rallied in support of the Bus Only Lane. This project will substantially improve service for 35,000 transit riders on Wilshire Boulevard, saving as many as 30 minutes of travel time each day, totaling 130 hours of travel time savings for each rider over the course of a year. If an estimated 10% of drivers on Wilshire leave their cars at home and switch to the bus (2,000 cars during rush hour!), we will reduce 22,000 tons of carbon emissions and 2,500 tons of criteria pollutants annually.

Struggle against bus service cuts continues at April MTA Board meeting

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:01:48 -0700

Missed the April MTA board meeting? Get the update and watch the highlights on video here. Watch BRU member Crystal McMillan tell the board, "empty seats on a train to Antelope Valley don't replace lost buses in Koreatown!"

Keep all $24 million of the federal funding and all 9 miles of the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes!!

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:02:26 -0700

The fate of the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project will be determined this May at the Los Angeles City Council and the Metro Board. We need you all to raise hell that LA should not compromise this decade long transportation project and the federal funding that we fought so hard to get.

Ash-Lee Henderson on Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:14:59 -0700

Ash-Lee Henderson on Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

Bill Gallegos on Climate Change Cap and Trade

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:57:53 -0700

Bill Gallegos, Executive Director of Communities for A Better Environment, updates us on CBE's recent Climate Change Victory against Cap and Trade.

Pushing back against MTA Service Cuts

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:47:18 -0700

We've been gaining a lot of momentum pushing back against the MTA's staff claims that the 305,000 hours of service cuts that they have proposed for June 2011, are to address service duplications, and that these cuts will make the system more "efficient".

Tom Goldtooth on Canada’s Tar Sands strip mining

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:34:12 -0700

Tom Goldtooth of Indigenous Environmental Network on Canada’s Tar Sands strip mining

Keep all $24 million of the federal funding and all 9 miles of the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes!!

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:13:07 -0700

Ten Reasons Why Protecting Unions Is a Life and Death Issue

Eric Mann — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:40:07 -0700

Reason #8 Union meetings are rough and tumble but a real exciting place to go. Some local unions are run by a clique but the members have the right to vote them out. Some union meetings are run top down but the workers have the right to yell out their ideas and get the floor. Some local unions—like the one I was in, UAW Local 645 in Van Nuys California—were hotbeds of political discussion where...

LA Times covers Community Rights Campaign's newest victory

Ragini Kathail — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:21:41 -0700

"The Los Angeles Police Department has agreed to avoid ticketing tardy students who are on their way to school, lawyers and advocates for students announced Thursday."

In LA Times, HuffPo, Colorlines, LAPD "Truancy" Ticketing Victory Reaches City Hall, Cardenas Responds

Daniel Kim — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:12:23 -0700

As news of our "truancy" ticket victory rolled through local and national media. the Community Rights Campaign carried the momentum of our coalition into City Hall on Monday, where Councilmember Cardenas presided over an unprecedented meeting where community voices were heard, and councilmembers were moved.

CRC in the news: Truancy ticket campaign attracts community media attention

Ragini Kathail — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:48:58 -0700

"Criminalize kids early and often? What’s next? Truancy – the new gateway crime? While this effort may generate short term statistical ‘success’, it is a jaw droppingly wrong headed, counter-productive way to treat kids," writes Home Education Magazine.

Los Angeles Times Article - L.A. Public Transit Moves in Wrong Direction

Esperanza Martinez — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:31:52 -0700

LA Times columnist David Lazarus fights against bus cuts and advocates for designated bus lanes, commuter routes, and a commitment to public transit in order to ease street congestion.

Strategy Meeting - Building a School Pipeline Toward Justice

Kendra Williby — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:29:42 -0700

Saturday, April 2nd 2011: Join us for an interactive and participatory citywide meeting to pave the way toward ending school push out and transforming our schools into healthy, enriching, and sustainable learning communities!

BRU in the news: Media spotlights MTA decision on bus service cuts

Yuliya Aleshina — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:01:01 -0700

On Thursday, March 24th 2011, the MTA Board met to vote on the first part of the proposal to cut 600,000 hours of bus service. The meeting and its decision brought on a slew of press coverage.

La Opinión Editorial Slams MTA's Bus Service Cuts

Gabe Lewin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:43:39 -0700

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BRU in the news: Media spotlights Federal Probe of MTA

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:07:04 -0700

The BRU was in the news in the wake of Thursday's announcement of the Federal Transit Administration's upcoming investigation of the Los Angeles MTA. Los Angeles, along with Atlanta, Georgia will be investigated for compliance with Federal Civil Rights statutes.

Important Tactical Victory in the fight against Bus Service Cuts

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:27:50 -0700

When Univision reporter asked BRU Lead organizer Esperanza Martinez "So what are you protesting today?" Martinez responded, "Primarily we are here today not in protest, but to celebrate an important tactical victory in the fight against the MTA's proposed Bus Service Cuts. This signficant move was triggered by an administrative complaint submitted last fall by the BRU, LACAN, and KIWA to the Federal Transit Administration who will now be conducting a comprehensive on-site civil rights review of the MTA."

Press Release- BRU Complaint on Bus Service Cuts - Spurs Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Review of the Los Angeles MTA

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:53:43 -0700

Breaking News - (Los Angeles, CA, March 14, 2011) - The Federal Transit Administration specified, in a letter in response to the Bus Riders Union (BRU) Administrative Complaint submitted in the fall of 2010, that it "plans on conducting an on-site compliance review of LA MTA this year. The decision to perform this compliance review was based, in part, on your (BRU) complaint submitted to the FTA Office of Civil Rights."

The Chevron Saga in Ecuador Halted for Now

Tina Hsu — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:06:33 -0800

Chevron continues to get away with large-scale environmental pollution in Ecuador as a U.S. judge has just granted a halt in the enforcement of a $18 billion judgement with complete evidence to back-up. This has been an 18-year battle to receive justice for the environmental crimes of this oil corporation.

Truancy ticketing resonates with journalism students in Los Angeles

Ragini Kathail — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:43:55 -0700

"Clearly, I’ve missed an important lesson in logic as it totally blew my mind that students could be fined for coming to school," writes Rachel Ferreira, a student at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Van Nuys, sharing her own experience receiving a truancy ticket.

NEW BRU Street Theater Piece to Stop The Bus Service Cuts

Yuliya Aleshina — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:12:57 -0800

Today the BRU Street Theater presented a piece on the impacts of two sets of MTA Bus Service Cuts on bus riders. The piece 'Francisca y la muerte/Death Searching Francisca' invites you, the spectator to become an actor and call Sup. Mark-Ridley Thomas asking him to take a stand to stop the cuts. See video here and learn how to take action here

At WSF Dakar, Ambassador Solon, Bolivians outreach to build climate justice movement for COP17 Durban and Rio+20

Daniel Kim — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:23:22 -0800

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Rio+20 and the rush to sell nature's invisible labor

Daniel Kim — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:23:21 -0800

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Mapping MTA's latest bus cuts proposal

Eric Romann — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:25:58 -0800

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New study finds MTA policies squeezing transit riders at both ends

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:08:27 -0800

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MTA - No Matter How You Spin it, You're Rolling Back Civil Rights

Esperanza Martinez — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:34:48 -0800

As MTA prepares to cut another set of over 300,000 hours of bus service, the Bus Riders Union has been on the offensive. Read on to see how despite how MTA slices it, their proposed service cuts and recent fare increases are rolling back Civil Rights!

Los Angeles People's Public Hearing

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:55:50 -0800

As Congressman Mica holds his field hearings across the country, he has not opened the hearings to spoken comments from the public. So one day ahead of the February 23 hearing in West Los Angeles, the BRU held its own People's Hearing on the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Western.

People’s Field Hearing Calls on the Federal Government for Action

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:54:33 -0800

What: People's Field Hearing Who: Transit riders, The Bus Riders Union, Transit Riders for Public Transportation national campaign, community allies including unions and community organizations Where: Wilshire Blvd and Western Ave. When: Tuesday, February 22 at 10:30 am

How 2 minutes can change your entire life | An Intimate Portrayal of a Black Mother's Fight to Save her Son

Kendra Williby — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:05:12 -0800

Let me share with you a story of a courageous and fierce Black mother. Her persistence to have her children do more than merely "survive" or "make it" and commitment to justice took her on a truly transformative journey that has inspired us all.

Hajo Meyer: An Auschwitz survivor says "Never Again for Anyone"

Eric Mann — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:57:26 -0800

An 86-year Jewish survivor of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz discusses why his own experience has led him to become a defender of the Palestinian people and carry the message of "Never Again for Anyone."

Christina Heatherton: Downtown Blues -- A Skid Row Reader

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:43:07 -0800

The editor of a new book, Downtown Blues: A Skid Row Reader, discusses the battles in Skid Row over criminalization of poverty and gentrification that sparked this unique collaboration between Skid Row activists, artists, and well-known scholars like Robin DG Kelley.

Saru Jayaraman & Mariana Huerta: Exposing conditions in LA's restaurant industry

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:56:04 -0800

Leaders from the Restaurant Opportunities Center disuss a watershed new report exposing the working conditions inside LA's restaurant industry, the largest in the country.

Vijay Prashad: Can Egypt go from revolt to revolution?

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:10:27 -0800

An expert on Middle Eastern and Third World social movements breaks down the contending forces in the Egyptian uprising, with a variety of opposition forces and potential defectors inside Mubarak’s ruling clique jockeying for position. Will the mass movement in the streets succeed in achieving a political revolution?

Action Alert: Wednesday 1/12/11! LA City Council Transportation Committee proposes to eliminate Westside portion of BOL!

Gabriel Strachota — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:06:10 -0800

Normal 0 Make sure that MC’s announce that the doors of the studio must be closed at all times for energy purposes and we will be fine $100 if they are caught open.

LA Times Editorial Slams BOL westside exemption

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:40:51 -0800

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Every Bus Stop is a Protest: Stop the Bus Service Cuts Now!

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:26:44 -0800

Report on Feb. 1st All Region Hearing on the bus service cuts Let's be clear: the MTA has declared war on a half million Black, Brown, Asian and working class bus riders. Just one and a half months after this last round of devastating bus service cuts, the MTA has aimed their battle axe at another 27 lines- 11 being proposed for elimination and another 16 to be reduced...

Battle for full Bus-Only Lanes continues at City Hall

Gabriel Strachota — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:12:55 -0800

At today's City Council, the 6-year campaign for Wilshire Bus Only Lanes returned to City Hall. We made an excellent showing and came away with a mixed result...

Street Teatro - Star Wars ep I: The Westside Menace

Sunyoung Yang — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:25:20 -0800

Here's the press release for today's action, "Star Wars Episode I: The Westside Menace" where we re-cast the events surrounding the fate of the Wilshire Bus-Only Lane project to the theme of the forces of Good and Evil in the Star Wars universe. The Bus-Only Lanes Jedi Council, consisting of Bus Riders Union, environmentalists, transportation advocates, and students, held a press conference, action and street theatre this morning in front of the County Supervisors Building...

Eva Golinger: Dispatches from the Bolivarian Revolution

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:50:40 -0800

The first of a new series "Dispatches from the Bolivarian Revolution" with award-winning journalist Eva Golinger

Eric Gardiner: Resisting grand juries and FBI repression of activists

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:05:44 -0800

An organizer with UCLA Students for Democratic Society discusses the latest round of federal grand jury subpoenas attempting to criminalize the work of international solidarity activists -- and the organized movement response.

John Malpede and Ronnie Walker: Los Angeles Poverty Department's new play exposes the costs of California's prisons

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:08:58 -0800

The founding director and one of the leading players in a Skid Row-based group Los Angeles Poverty Department discuss their new play State of Incareration.

Testimonies from January 12 City Transportation Committee Meeting

Tina Hsu — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:09:27 -0800

On Wednesday, January 12, our allies mobilized and demanded that Councilmember Rosendahl not exempt the Westside from the BOL project plan. We put on a united front in support of BOL while only 3 Westside residents voiced their opposition to BOL. Read the words of our allies!

Kat Rodriguez: Challenging the "Birth-Right Citizenship" bill and the latest attacks on immigrants in Arizona

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:23:57 -0800

An organizer with the Coalición de Derechos Humanos in Tucson discusses the latest round of attacks on immigrants in Arizona, including a proposal to deny birthright citizenship to US-born children from undocumented immigrant families and another proposal to exempt Arizona from compliance with any international laws.

Action Alert: Weds. 2/2! LA City Council will discuss the elimination of the Westside portion of Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes!

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:15:23 -0800

This is a further chipping away of the gains that were made in the last 6 years. This new proposal can compromise the entire funding ($23.5 million) from the FTA-they were generous with the Condo Canyon exemption but most likely this will bring other repercussions...

Is Your Bus Line on the chopping Block?

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:43:12 -0800

MTA is Proposing to Cut 13 Bus Lines & Reduce Weekend & Night Service on 16 others!

Christina Livingston: Foreclosed homeowners take on the big banks

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:57:59 -0800

An organizer with the Home Defenders' League and the Association of Californians for Community Empowerment discusses a growing campaign led by foreclosed and evicted homeowners in California to demand accountability from mega-banks like Chase who have profitted handsomely from the housing crisis.

Rosendahl Continues Action to Remove Westside BOL

Tina Hsu — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:46:18 -0800

Westside bus-only lanes threaten to be cut even more as Bill Rosendahl moves to exempt the 1.8 mile section in Brentwood. Read this LA Streetsblog article outlining the meeting process and the repercussions of this exemption.

Sarita Gupta: The latest war on organized labor and the fightback

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:31:15 -0800

The National Director of Jobs with Justice discusses state-level Right-wing attacks on public sector unions and the political power of organized labor in the wake of Tea Party-driven state-level Republican victories in the November elections.

Dahr Jamail: Uncovering epidemic of sexual violence in the US military

Eric Mann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:59:49 -0800

The investigative war journalist discusses an explosive expose recently published by Al-Jazeera uncovering widespread sexual abuse of both male and female soldiers inside the US military.

LA Times Editorial Slams BOL westside exemption

Tina Hsu — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:47:37 -0800

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Bolivia rejects Copenhagen Accord II

Tina Hsu — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:04:58 -0800

From Cancún this year, it was clear that many nations would rather compromise the lives of citizens around the world than take action to curb carbon emissions. Read for more in-depth reasoning for why Bolivia, the only voice of dissent, was against the final U.N. climate agreements from the COP16.

Inadequate results from Cancún; Bolivia was lone voice for climate justice

Tina Hsu — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:26:42 -0800

Results from Cancún were disappointing, not requiring developed nations to take action to solve this current climate crisis. Bolivia stood out as a dissenting voice from accepting the inadequate document, but was not enough to make an impact. Read this blog from Climate Connections for more analysis.

Cancún 2010 Review: Civil Society Shut Out of Summit

Tina Hsu — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:37:39 -0800

Watch these segments from DemocracyNow! from the COP16 climate negotiations in Cancún. These are highlights of the actions and activism around the conference and how civil society was shut out of this supposedly democratic conference

Major Wilshire Bus Only Lanes Victory!!

Esperanza Martinez — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:36:41 -0800

After a 5-year struggle - MTA Approves Final EIR for the Wilshire BOL: Project to bring substantial transit & environmental benefits to LA County! Yesterday's MTA Board vote was a historic one for the 500,000 Black, Latino and working class bus riders of Los Angeles who will soon enough benefit from the time savings and reduction air pollution and green house gas emissions projected by the implementation of the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes project. The project is projected to get at least 2000 people out of their cars onto the bus!

Letter to MTA: Refuting Condo Canyon exemption argument

Eric Romann — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:10:35 -0800

We also wanted to share with you the letter we just sent to the MTA Board urging them not to cave to the white, wealthy NIMBYs in Condo Canyon and to maintain the full 8.7 mile Bus-Only. We scoured MTA's EIR on the project and the private study paid for by the Condo Canyon NIMBYs...

A new target to push Wilshire BOL forward

Eric Romann — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:27:23 -0800

Here's a quick update. As you know, the MTA is considering compromising the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes project by caving to the demand of wealthy homeowners in Condo Canyon to remove their section of Wilshire from the BOL plan. Other groups of wealthy Westside residents have gotten word of this and gone on the offensive against the bus-only lanes.

Who is being affected? The fight for Wilshire BOL next Thursday!

Eric Romann — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:30:22 -0800

We are at a critical stage in the long struggle to win a Bus-Only Lane (BOL) on Wilshire Boulevard. Let's be clear: In spite of the speculative numbers being put out by Supervisor Yaroslavsky, there is no hard evidence that supports the removal of this section from the BOL route - the traffic impacts of the BOL are the same as anywhere else along the route; the only difference is who is being impacted.

RECLAIM: OUR CITY, OUR HISTORY MARCH & CONCERT

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:48:47 -0800

Top 10 reasons to come out and support the BRU & LA Human Right to Housing Collective March & Concert on December 1st:

Christine Ahn: Understanding the latest saber-rattling in Korea

Eric Mann — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:14:37 -0800

A fellow at the Korea Policy Institute unpacks the latest tensions on the Korean peninsula following exchange of fire and US-South Korean military exercises.

Nancy Yousseff & Judith LeBlanc: The Wikileaks diplomatic cables and opportunities for the Progressive movement

Eric Mann — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:42:03 -0800

The foreign affairs correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers and an anti-war movement leader with PeaceAction

Vincent Warren: Racial profiling by NYPD, repression of political dissent

Eric Mann — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:48:18 -0800

Director of the Center for Constitution Rights on a shocking new report on racial profiling endemic to New York's "stop and frisk" law and efforts to hold NYPD accountable. Warren also weighs in on broad "anti-terrorism" investigations and prosecutions.

Center for Political Graphics 21st Annual celebration

Nicole Eng — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:22:36 -0800

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Chip Berlet: Discussing Left responses to the rise of the Right and the Tea Party

Eric Mann — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:38:10 -0800

Longtime organizer and expert on right-wing movemenets in the US in conversation with Eric Mann

Marissa Nuncio: Criminalizing nonviolent protest in LA -- An Update

Eric Mann — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:27:51 -0800

One of dozens of activists arrested this year in LA for nonviolent civil disobedience for immigrant and civil rights

Tom Burke: FBI raids & grand jury escalate repression of anti-war organizers

Eric Mann — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:28:45 -0800

A leading member of the newly-formed Committee to Stop FBI Repression details recent FBI raids and grand jury investigations of anti-war and international solidarity activists in Chicago.

$70M Transit Breakthrough in Restoring Civil Rights Title VI

Francisca Porchas — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:20:11 -0800

In the first successful action of its kind in the nation, Bay Area members of Transit Riders for Public Transportation (TRPT), Public Advocates and Urban Habitat, filed a civil rights complaint to stop $70M in stimulus funds from being allocated to the $500-billion boondoggle rail project, the Oakland Airport Connector project (OAC).

Call Zev Yaroslavsky to Support the Bus-Only Lane!

Tina Hsu — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:00:57 -0800

We need your help! Come to the next MTA meeting or call LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to support the bus-only lanes and not exempt the Condo Canyon section!

Post Election Survey shows support for transit remains strong in New York

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:40:30 -0800

Normal 0 TRPT members, WEACT and UPROSE, are part of the New York State Transportation Equity Alliance (NYSTEA). The alliance created a survey, which asked crucial questions about transportation and equity that was circulated amongst New York State candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. The survey included questions like "what does the term transportation equity mean to you?" and "What are your top legislative priorities for the federal transportation bill that specifically address environmental justice and civil rights?"

TRPT Chicago explores worker transit cooperative to restore local service

Michael Pitula — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:49:09 -0800

Little Village for Environmental Justice starts local fight with a multi-year effort to restore bus service to 31st Street. The service to this area, which connects transit dependent Latino's, African-Americans, Chinese-Americans, working class whites, youth, seniors, and people with disabilities to jobs, schools, hospitals, and recreational areas has become the focus of their fight to restore local bus service. Little Village also building an alliance to start a worker managed transit cooperative

Come out to the MTA next Wednesday 1 p.m. to discuss the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project

Tina Hsu — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:55:28 -0800

The Final Environmental Impact Report is out!! This is the final stretch before the project can break ground and we need all the support we can get.

CRC Statement Letter Regarding the Hiring of New LASPD Chief Steven Zipperman

Kendra Williby — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:04:50 -0800

The Community Rights Campaign sent their statement letter to LAUSD Superintendent Cortines and the Board Members on November 12th, 2010 in response to Mr. Cortines announcement of the selection of the newly appointed LASPD Chief, Steven Zipperman, which involved virtually no community participation in the selection process.

Countdown to Cancun 2010: Getting the lowdown on the upcoming UN Climate Conference

Tina Hsu — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:24:16 -0800

The Clean Air Campaign's plan is to make sure that we, communities of color, the working class, the third world, the Indigenous, and the whole movement for a better environment have a big presence at the climate conference in Cancun to push back on the Obama administration to drop the Copenhagen Accord and adopt the Cochabamba People’s Protocol on Climate Change.

Mark Weisbrot: A different kind of national election in Brazil

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:39:07 -0800

The Director of the Center for Economic Policy Research and international newspaper columnist discusses the election of Dilma Roussef, former guerilla fighter and political prisoner, as the first female president of Brazil and the successor to Lula da Silva.

Vijay Prashad: Obama in Asia

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:45:19 -0800

An expert on South Asian politics and history discusses President Obama's trip to Asia and the political and economic tensions in the region.

Esperanza Martinez: Mayor Villaraigosa, 30/10, and Stopping the Subway to the Sea

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:30:01 -0800

Bus Riders Union Lead Organizer breaks down the flaws and false promises of Mayor Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan and his dream of building a Subway to the Sea

Without Public Notice, Input or Vote LAUSD Launches Truancy Detention Centers

Kendra Williby — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:07:21 -0700

From our view point, the AIC will serve as "truancy detention" centers rather than a space that has the actual resources and services to implement successful forms of prevention and intervention to address the underlying reasons for the student's tardiness/truancy. Thus, the Community Rights Campaign is urging the LAUSD Board to rollback and re-conceptualize the Attendance Improvement Centers.

Taking it Up a Notch: CR's Maze & Resistance Art Exhibit

Patrisse Cullors — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:57:19 -0700

On October 2nd 2010 the Labor Community Strategy's Center's Community Rights Campaign erected a "School to Prison" pipeline Walking Maze & Resistance Art Exhibit. This innovative art piece displayed a day in the life of a high school student at a LAUSD school. The exhibit was not only a viewing of art, but also a theater piece that encapsulated the experiences that a student faces when attempting to get to school on a poor y run and expensive bus system and the police harassment they encounter when they finally arrive to campus.

Rinku Sen: Race, Obama, and the coming Republic electoral victory -- an Election Day Special Edition

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:07:05 -0800

Publisher of the online magazine Colorlines, on election day 2010, discusses the national political spectrum in the wake of Citizens United, the rise of the Tea Party, and the contradictory position of Barack Obama.

Fernando Guerra: Prop 19, Prop 23, and the California elections

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:17:58 -0800

A California elections experts examines California state-wide elections, including races funded by landmark spending and ballot propositions with national implications.

CA's Prop 19 Starks Debate: Is Marijuana Substance Use/Abuse a Crime or a Health Issue?

Barbara Lott-Holland — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:39:33 -0700

California's Proposition 19 has raised some interesting debates around defining the thin line between substance abuse and "criminal activity" under our current legal system. Previous to these heated exchanges, I agreed that the use of marijuana needed to be decriminalized, because in my opinion it was no more addictive or harmful than other "legalized" substances, such as alcohol, caffeine or tobacco, but what was thought provoking for me was that it should be treated as a health issue.

Our letter to the MTA re: Subway to the Sea

Esperanza Martinez — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:40:37 -0700

Here is a letter that Barbara and I at the BRU sent to the MTA last week on October 19th. We sent this to MTA as part of the formal public comment process on the Westside Subway Extension. Also known as the "subway to the sea," Mayor Villaraigosa's pet boondoggle project could have a $9 billion price tag that could result in massive civil rights violations of bus riders in particular, the potential disparate impact on hundreds of thousands of low income people of color who ride the bus as the sole or primary means of transportation.

TRPT's take on Obama's $50bn "Roads, Railways, and Runways" infrastructure investment plan

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:51:44 -0700

Many of us have been carefully watching the administration's moves on infrastructure investment ever since he announced his "Roads, Railways and Runways" plan in September and started talking about a permanent Infrastructure Bank.

Gamelyn Oduardo: Student strikes against tuitition hikes and privitazation at the University of Puerto Rico

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:58:40 -0800

A law student at the University of Puerto Rico discusses the successful general strikes against tuition hikes and privitization of the Puerto Rican public education system.

Stephen Gutwillig: Prop 19 & the case for marijuana legalization

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:39:30 -0800

Against the backdrop of the campaign for and against California's pot legalization initiaitve Proposition 19, the California Director of the Drug Policy Alliance talks about two new studies that show pot-related arrests and convictions disproportionally impact Blacks and Latinos.

Devin Burghart & Lee Fang: White Nationalism, Citizens United, and the Tea Party

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:51:00 -0800

The co-author of Tea Party Nationalism and a blogger from Thinkprogress.org expose the real dynamics within the Tea Party Movement.

Oct Monthly Meeting report

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:19:40 -0700

Draft EIR Hearing: Fighting MTA's Subway to Sea Boondoggle

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:10:36 -0700

On Wednesday September 29th a band of BRU members entered the final Subway to the Sea Public hearing on the draft EIR and set the tone for the fight to come against MTA’s latest politically motivated boondoggle. This was less than week after they had witnessed the MTA vote to cute 388,000 hours of bus service...

Set-backs to Full Recovery: Aftermath of the BP Oil Spill and Hurricane Katrina

Tina Hsu — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:35:13 -0700

Five years after Hurricane Katrina and six months after the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast, residents of New Orleans still have not been able to return home. The fishing economy that many depended on for a livelihood has flatlined and homes and schools have not been rebuilt. Watch these two videos that include personal accounts of those affected by these two disasters to understand how these communities continue to be ignored by the federal government.

Solutions for Los Angeles School Police

Kendra Williby — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:32:35 -0700

Youth Blog Depot: A Call for Justice

Joanna Gaspar — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:00:55 -0700

n/a

Real LASPD reform is now on the table

Kendra Williby — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:09:24 -0700

For the past two months, the proposals in our Solutions for Los Angeles Schools Police Department document have been part of a successful organizing and advocacy effort. We are now in a strong enough position to move them into actual policy changes. Please continue reading to get the details around our School Police reform platform to reverse the impacts of the school-to-prison pipeline!

Back by Popular Demand: CR's Resistance Art Exhibition!

Kendra Williby — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:25:02 -0700

With such great reviews and high level of community participation & discussion we have brought back our "school-to-prison" pipeline maze for a second showing! Last Saturday, over 150 students, teachers, parents, and community members from various Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools and social & educational justice organizations joined the Community Rights Campaign at our Caps & Gowns NOT Jail Cell Bound event!

Rally to Kick Coal and Oil OUT OF LA!

Tina Hsu — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:09:19 -0700

On 10/10/10 join the fight against the oil and coal industry in Los Angeles! L.A. has one of the largest collections of oil refineries in the state, dumping loads of pollution into our air. It’s time to change all this, by getting fossil fuels out of our local energy mix! We don’t want to power our homes with coal-fired electricity. Meet at City Hall to rally with community members and groups from all over L.A. and then march through the city for CicLAvia!

TEN Hosts "One Nation: Indivisible"

Crystal McMillan — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:57:57 -0700

Transportation Equity Network (TEN) gathered members from all over the country for a Washington D.C. fly-in to advocate for flexible transit operations funding, job creation and the inclusion of civil rights in transportation policy. TEN's theme for the two day conference is that improvements to transit policy can be a unifying force for advocates, unions and policy makers.

Grab a costume and come to the Clean Air Campaign Halloween Fundraiser Party!

Tina Hsu — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:11:39 -0700

We're planning a night of dancing, costumes and fun to fundraise for the Clean Air, Clean Lungs, Clean Buses Campaign. Come to the First Unitarian Church of LA on Friday, October 29 at 7 pm to support our campaign to improve public transit and create healthier communities!

Rolling back civil rights: Major MTA bus service cuts hit hard in South and Southeast LA

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:05:39 -0700

The MTA Board approved yesterday a package of bus service cuts that will be the biggest single reduction in bus service in Los Angeles County in more than 15 years. A total reduction of 387,000 bus service hours this year - 5% of the entire system - will include the elimination of 5 rapid lines 5 other local lines and partial elimination of service on other lines. What does this mean? It will mean longer waits, more overcrowding, and more transfers that will result in an added financial burden to already struggling bus riders.

Evelyn Rangel-Medina & Jennifer Ganata: Defeating Prop 23, Big Oil's Dirty Energy Initiative

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:28:39 -0700

Organizers from Communities for a Better Environment and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights talk about the grassroots campaign to defeat Prop 23, a bill backed by Texas oil companies to roll back California's carbon emissions and air pollution regulations.

Raul Añorve: Seeking justice in the murder of Manuel Jamínez

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:08:00 -0700

The Director of the city-wide immigrant rights group IDEPSCA talks about the murder of Guatemalan immigrant day laborer Manuel Jamínez by LAPD officer Frank Hernandez. Community outrage exploded on the streets of LA's Westlake neighborhood in the aftermath of the September 5 killing, and mobilization to demand justice through the prosecution of Hernandez continue.

Proposed Bus Line Elimination or Service Reduction - by region Los Angeles County MTA Proposal, August 2010

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:27:40 -0700

Proposed Bus Line Elimination or Service Reduction - by region
Los Angeles County MTA Proposal, August 2010

Marty Hittelman: From the LA Times assault on teahcers to school choice, fighting back against attacks on teachers' unions and p

Eric Mann — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:14:04 -0700

On the first day of school, the President of the California Federation of Teachers talks about public education at a crossroads -- the LA Times series uses a popular yet controversial analysis to attack LA teachers and undermine the teachers' union, teacher/parent alliances take over management of 29 schools under LAUSD's school choice program, all as the specter of Meg Whitman gubernatorial victory hangs over the defenders of public education.

Kent Patterson: Massacre of migrants in San Fernando and Mexico's Arizona moment

Eric Mann — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:18:36 -0700

The editor of the New Mexico-based newspaper Frontera NorteSur talks about the massacre of 72 migrants in northern Mexico by a drug cartel, the culpability of US and Mexican state policy, and the international movement to protect migrants.

Ai-jen Poo: Domestic workers score major victory in New York, build a national movement

Eric Mann — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:34:57 -0700

The Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance reflects on the historic grassroots campaign to pass domestic worker rights legislation in New York, the battle to come in California, and the growth of a national and international movement for domestic worker dignity and justice.

Marissa Nuncio: LA's City Attorney cracks down on nonviolent protests for immigrant and civil rights

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:24:03 -0800

One of 33 activists arrested in LA for nonviolent civil disobedience against Arizona's SB1070 talks about the hearings this week, where LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is pressing for jail time in an apparent effort to cool political dissent here in LA.

Neidi Dominguez: A youth-led movement for the DREAM Act takes center stage

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:29:29 -0800

An undocumented young organizer with the Dream is Coming Coalition talks about today's setback for the DREAM Act in Congress, discusses obstacles inside the movement itself, and talks about where the militant youth-led movement to win residency for undocumented students will go from here. .

Dahr Jamail: BP's propaganda and punishment and the new realities of the post-spill Gulf

Eric Mann — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:40 -0800

The award-winning independent journalist talks about BP's real responsibilities for the Gulf oil spill, the challenges with clean-up and the grassroots fight-back, and the future ecological, political, and human consequences of the disaster and ongoing dependence on oil.

Monique Harden, Jordan Flaherty, Damekia Morgan: From the storm to the spill, the Gulf Coast 5 years since Katrina

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:32:09 -0700

Three New Orleans organizers who have weathered the storm in the five years since Katrina reflect on the ongoing struggle for a just reconstruction of the Gulf Coast, stories of hope and resistance, and the battles ahead -- from educational justice and housing rights to the impacts of the BP oil disaster.

Eric Ward: Anti-immigrant forces infiltrate the environmental movement

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:42:43 -0700

The National Field Director with the Center for New Community in Chicago uncovers the role anti-immigrant organizations are playing inside the environmental movement, attempting to use population control arguments to advance a reactionary platform

Aarti Shahani: 287g and Secure Communities agreements -- How cops and ICE are working together

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:57:43 -0700

An activist-researcher with the Justice Strategies Institute discusses her report on 287g and Secure Communities Program entitled Local Democracy on ICE: Why State and Local Governments Have No Business in Federal Immigration Law Enforcement

Lisa Magana: Behind SB1070 -- Arizona's disastrous adventure in radical conservatism

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:16:47 -0700

The backdrop in Arizona to the draconian anti-immigrant law SB1070 is a 10 year record of radical conservative legilsation -- attacks on immigrants and people of color alongside deep cuts to the social welfare state and tax cuts for the rich. An expert on the Southwest and the US-Mexico border breaks down how Arizona got where it is today.

BRU and Community Allies Call For Rejection of MTA Layoffs

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:44:48 -0700

The Bus Riders Union (BRU) and community allies held a press conference at a LA Unemployment Office in conjunction with the Transportation Equity Network and labor and environmental leaders across the country to strongly urge the use of Federal Infrastructure spending to strengthen transit and create more jobs.

SYOA Notebook: It is our Duty to Fight for Freedom | August 30, 2010

Lissett Lazo — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:06:58 -0700

Lissett Lazo, SYOA Alumni '07 and Community Rights Organizer, reflects on the highlights and breakthroughs of this year's Summer Youth Organizing Academy class. She looks back to her own experience as a SYOA student as a pivotal point in her own growth and transformation as an organizer and young Salvadoreña, Hondureña, Nucaraguense womyn.

Gary Grant: Shirley Sherrod, racial hypocrisy, & Black farmers

Eric Mann — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:42:47 -0700

The President of the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association, himself the son and grandson of Black farmers, talks about the hypocrisies of the Shirley Sherrod controversy -- how the US Department of Agriculture caved to a fallacious right-wing attack by firing a veteran of the Black civil rights movement while white USDA officials continue denying justice to Black farmers by flouting the federal court decision in the civil rights case Pickford vs Glickman.

BRU to Congress, "Say No to 30/10 plan!"

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:12:21 -0700

30/10 will gut the bus system, the backbone of public transit in LA. Read the BRU's letter to congress memebers asking them for a no vote to reject Mayor Villaraigosa's 30/10 initiative.

Robert Weil: The free market and grassroots resistance in contemporary India and China

Eric Mann — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:48:31 -0700

An expert on modern China and India talks about the transition to market socialism in China, the growing Maoist movement in India, and the historically divergent and increasingly convergent paths of two global economic superpowers emerging in Asia.

Fahad Ahmed: The Islamic Center near Ground Zero and the Right-wing attack on US Muslims

Eric Mann — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:25:16 -0700

An organizer in the fight to challenge Islamophobia talks about the controversy of the Islamic Center planned for lower Manhattan -- how the campaign led by Sara Palin, Rick Lazio, and the Anti-Defamation League is the leading edge of a much larger Right-wing offensive against Islam in the US . Where has the Left gotten in wrong on the question of Islam and where is the fightback?

Rick Wolff: Austerity & Class War in Europe & the US

Eric Mann — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:31:20 -0700

The well-known radical economist breaks down the economic and political crisis in Greece and the grassroots response from the Greek Left, drawing paraelles between the so-called austerity crisis sweeping Europe and the deep crisis here in the US, and what long-term and short-term demands should be advanced by the a US movement in waiting.

Marisa Franco & Hamid Khan: Resisting SB1070 from Arizona to Los Angeles

Eric Mann — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:31:24 -0700

A report from the frontlines of the battle against SB1070, Franco talks about the mood in Arizona 's immigrant and Latino communities and the state's emerging movement with the implementation day for the draconinian anti-immigrant two days from now. Khan of the LA-based South Asian Network talks about opposition in LA from City Hall to the streets.

Phyllis Bennis: Afghanistan after the Wikileaks war logs

Eric Mann — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:19:21 -0700

Authoritative writer-activist from the Institute for Policy Studies reflects on Congress's approval of a $33 billion war spending bill just two days after Wikileaks released 90,000 classified documents from the Afghan war. How will this leak, the largest of its kind in US history, impact the image of the war and the strength of anti-war forces?

Guest Blog from Tri-State Transportation Campaign: Follow the Money

Ya-Ting Liu — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:51:23 -0700

While transportation advocates struggle in Washington to derail the priorities that have shaped transit spending for the last 50 years, it is also important to understand how federal funding is only the first part of the transit pie.

SYOA Notebook: There are no Small Jobs in Building a Movement | August 3rd, 2010

Bryan Mauricio — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:26:23 -0700

Karla Chavez is a member and volunteer for the Community Rights Campaign. She is our volunteer photographer for the Summer Youth Organizing Academy. She blogs about her role in helping build a movement to end the criminalization of our people and the importance of documenting our work through photography.

SYOA Notebook: What I’ve Learned So Far in SYOA | August 3rd, 2010

Bryan Mauricio — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:44:41 -0700

Junior Summer Youth Organizing Academy, participant Lamont Harrell, writes about his reasons for coming back to the junior SYOA Program.Hi my name Lamont Harrell and I'm in Junior SYOA . I was in SYOA last year but I decided to come back for 3 reasons. Reason 1: I wanted to learn more about campaigns and I like to organize.

Voces desde los autobuses

April Wong — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:32:45 -0700

Durante los últimos 4 semanas he organizado para educar y recaudar apoyo sobre el proyecto de carril solo para autobuses de la calle Wilshire.

Mapping LAMC 45.04 "Truancy Tickets" by Geograhical Area, Race and Gender

Ashley Franklin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:10:13 -0700

The Community Rights Campaign has created a new map to track the geographical areas and the break down of the race and gender composition of students that have received Daytime Curfew "Truancy" Tickets under the Los Angeles Municipal Code 45.04. This map is an important tool in making the legal case that "truancy" tickets violate the civil and educational rights of the 90% Black and Latino students that attend LAUSD schools....

On 20th anniversary of Metro Rail, BRU says “Enough of MTA’s Train Wreck”

Evyn Espiritu — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:05:22 -0700

Citing lower ridership and civil rights violations after 20 years and $8 billion spent on Metro Rail, the Bus Riders Union renews call for bus-centered, low-cost transit system in LA County.

Designing Cities for People and Transit

Tina Hsu — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:58 -0700

This new publication lays out 10 principles for creating sustainable cities. Urbanist Jan Gehl and Walter Hook, Executive Director of the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) compile the main qualities of livable cities, citing examples from around the world in which transit has been integrated into urban design.

Truancy Tickets Resulting in Unreasonable Police and School Searches

Zoe Rawson — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:19:42 -0700

The Community Rights Campaign recently provided a "Know Your Rights" training where students, parents and organizers came out from around the city. We focused on the daytime curfew restrictions (informally known as "truancy tickets") the court process and we covered legal rights on police and school searches. As a group, we analyzed the ways in which the police, the schools and the courts interact with students and communities.

SYOA Notebook: The Next Generation of Civil & Human Rights Organizers in Training | July 24th, 2010

Bryan Mauricio — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:34:13 -0700

Summer Youth Organizing Academy, participant Desirae Monique Duncan, writes about her first day of organizing in buses. "People that are heavily impacted by the prison system need to be organized because if they share their experiences it will open our eyes to the conditions we're all exposed to and how unjust they really are...."

SYOA Notebook: It's Organizing Season Again!! | July 24th, 2010

Bryan Mauricio — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:54:02 -0700

Summer Youth Organizing Academy participant, Damien Romero, shares his lessons and experiences of organizing with the Community Rights Campaign for the first time. "Organizing for the first time was a very moving experience. Even though I was a bit nervous to be placed into conversation with strangers, the fact that I was able to carry them out was very reassuring as the day went on...."

Immanuel Wallerstein: From nuclear saber-rattling in the Middle East to global economic depression, understanding contemporary

Eric Mann — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:59:37 -0700

One of the great social scientists of the 20th century offers incisive analysis on the Iran/Israel/US tensions, the global economic crisis, and grassroots resistance bubbling in Europe and the US

The Word on the Street: Bring Bus Only Lanes to Wilshire Blvd!

April Wong — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:54:33 -0700

For the past two weeks Bus Riders Union members and volunteers have been going out on the 720 buses and asking people to write comments of support for the bus only lanes. Find out what people have been saying!

Bus-Only Lanes Around the World: This Stop is Paris

April Wong — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:55:37 -0700

"If buses are moving well, and carrying more people than the car lanes, the bus lane looks empty most of the time. Only a failing or obstructed bus lane looks like it's full of buses. That's why bus lanes such a hard sell in cities run by motorists who want to do the green thing but still form their impressions from behind the wheel."

Turning 4th Street into a Bike Boulevard

Tina Hsu — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:19:50 -0700

n/a

Mark Weisbrot: Behind's Stone's South of the Border

Eric Mann — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:03:29 -0700

Co-author of Oliver Stone's new film South of the Border reflects on the film's profiles of charismatic leaders of the new Latin America Bolivarian block and how the US media response to the film reflects what's wrong with US understandings of the Latin American Left.

Comment now to ensure Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes get approved!

April Wong — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:39:50 -0700

The draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project has been released for public review! Over the next month until July 26th, MTA will be taking in public comments online and via mail to be included in the official Environmental Impact Report.

Ana Rosa Rizo & Felipe Aguirre: Maywood's Progressives in the Spotlight

Eric Mann — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:24:30 -0700

Maywood's progressive Mayor and City Councilor reflect on the achievements a progressive City Council majority and a well-organized community can achieve in the face of a corrupt police department and attacks from conservatives locally and nationally.

Thandisizwe Chimurenga: Breaking down the Oscar Grant murder trial

Eric Mann — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:27:21 -0700

Covering the trial from its opening day, Thandi reports on the key arguments and counter-arguments as well as the racial dynamics inside the Court Room in the case against former Oakland Police Officer Johannes Mehserle for the murder of 22-year old Oscar Grant on January 1, 2009.

Breakthrough at the US Social Forum

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:04:33 -0700

In Detroit Michigan from June 22nd-June 26th, TRPT gathered with more than 15, 000 people for the U.S. Social Forum. Described not as a conference, but a political process to align and strengthen our communities, the Social Forum embarked with the motto: Another World is Possible, another U.S. is Necessary, another Detroit is happening.

Special LCSC Screening--Oliver Stone's New Film on Latin-America

Daniel Kim — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:05:11 -0700

News Coverage From July 1st Day of Action at Mayor's Mansion

April Wong — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:00:58 -0700

n/a

Strategy Center's US Social Forum delegation is back from Detroit

Daniel Kim — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:13:18 -0700

US Social Forum Special Edition: Ai-jen Poo on NY's historic domestic worker rights victory & the USSF Excluded Workers Congress

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:52:12 -0700

The Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance discusses the historic passage of a domestic worker bill of rights through the New York state legislature last week, and the Exlcuded Workers Congress of domestic workers, day laborers, farm workers and others in Detroit.

US Social Forum Special Edition: Maureen Taylor & Oya Amakisi on culture & resistance in Motown at the US Social Forum

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:53:32 -0700

Two Detroit-based organizers on culture and performance at the US Social Forum and the signifiance of Detroit as a host city.

JR Valrey: The Oscar Grant murder trial opens in LA

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:49:15 -0700

An organizer from the Prisoners of Conscience Committee discusses the Los Angeles trial for the murder of Oscar Grant, a 23-year old Black man shot and killed by police in Oakland on New Year's Eve 2009.

US Social Forum Special Edition: Stephanie Guilloud on crafting a new people's agenda at USSF's People's Movement Assemblies

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:50:28 -0700

An organizer with the Atlanta-based Project South talks about how 50 distinct People's Movement Assemblies will build unity and collective strategy among and between social movements at this month's US Social Forum.

Video from May 27th MTA Board Meeting

April Wong — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:41:14 -0700

The BRU's campaign to defeat MTA's racist fare increase reached a fever pitch on Thursday, May 27, when 150 BRU members and allies shut down the MTA Board.

Isabel Garcia: Arizonz'a mass mobilization against SB1070

Eric Mann — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:45:59 -0700

The co-chair of the Tucson-based Coalicion de Derechos Humanos talks about the 100,000-strong march in Phoenix against SB1070 and the next steps in defeating Arizona's draconian new law.

Thomas Kim: Behind the saber-rattling on the Korean Peninsula

Eric Mann — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:48:09 -0700

The Director of the Korea Policy Institute discusses the Cheonan warship incident, South Korean hawks' drive to provoke a broader conflict, and the backdrop of long-simmer North Korean/South Korean relations.

Esperanza Martinez: Bus Riders Union Showdown at MTA

Eric Mann — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:32:24 -0700

The Bus Riders Union lead organizer recounts the culmination of the Fast for Justice, as 150 BRU members and allies packed the MTA and shut down the Board meeting on May 27 to protest the fare increase.

Media Coverage--BRU Shuts Down MTA Board Meeting

Evyn Espiritu — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:27:21 -0700

According the the LA Times, "Demonstrators effectively shut down the meeting and interrupted a hearing involving the 710 before authorities ordered union members to clear the room." Glendale News Press and La Opinion also recognized the BRU. Pasadena Star News and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune ran the same story, which quoted...[Read on for links and more media]

Hunger Fast Showdown at MTA--Recap

Eric Romann — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:53:45 -0700

After months of campaigning and an intensive week of fasting and organizing at the Rosa Parks Tent City, 150 BRU members and allies shut down the MTA Board. We were left with no choice but to stop business as usual. We brought the MTA Board meeting to a halt for the better part of 4 hours. In the process, two of our organizers, Sunyoung Yang and Gabriel Strachota, were arrested in an act of civil disobedience. Here's a recap of the day...

Diarios from the Hunger Fast

Evyn Espiritu — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:32:32 -0700

The hunger fasters have been using their facebook page to blog, give live updates, and post pics and videos from each day's actions and happenings. After the first night at the Rosa Parks Tent City, Manuel Criollo, BRU member, testifies, "We greeted the morning with the help of a mexica indigenous saumadora with the sweet and earthy scent of copal. In an act of solidarity, Rosa Miranda, one of the BRU fasters for justice, goes to LA City Council to..."

Holly Mitchell: Candidate for Karen Bass's South LA Assembly Seat

Eric Mann — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:11:16 -0700

A longtime advocate for public health and the welfare of children vies to fill big shoes being vacated by Assemblywoman Karen Bass in Sacramento

Esperanza Martinez & Ronald Collins: Bus Riders Union Fast for Justice to Stop the Fare Increase

Eric Mann — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:45:58 -0700

Bus Riders Union Hunger Fasters for Justice on their 6th day of fasting in their struggle to stop MTA's racist fare hike and the upcoming Thursday vote at MTA's Board Meeting.

Becky Dennison: LA's Rent Freeze Campaign & Police Violance at City Hall

Eric Mann — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:50:19 -0700

LA Community Action Network (LACAN) Co-director on their campaign for a 3-month rent freeze, defeated by landlords at City Council meeting last week, followed by police violence and arrests

Day 5 of the Hunger Fast for Justice

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:23:37 -0700

On the morning of Day 5 of the Hunger Fast for Justice the BRU was joined by guest speaker Dolores Huerta.

Profiles of the Fasters: Staci Williams & Rosa Miranda

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:12:15 -0700

Interviews with two of the BRU hunger fasters. Rosa Miranda, inmigrante mexicano, lives in Westlake, mother of 3, a bus rider. Staci Williams, unemployed, lives in South LA, mother of 2, a bus rider.

The BRU announces Hunger Fast for Justice to MTA Board

Crystal McMillan — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:33:40 -0700

On May 19th in front of the MTA Budget Committee, Esperanza Martinez, lead organizer for the Bus Riders Union, announced the beginning of the Hunger Fast for Justice. The Bus Riders Union, wanting to graphically illustrate the true cost of the MTA's fare increase will begin a hunger fast on May 20th.

World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth

Sunyoung Yang — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:15:09 -0700

On April 19, over 30,000 activists, grassroots social movements, academics, students, indigenous delegates, and government representatives convened in Cochabamba, Bolivia for the first-ever World People´s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. I along with 21 other organizers and activists participated in the events as part of the US Grassroots Global Justice Alliance and Indigenous Environmental Network Delegation.

LA Times, media breakthrough on fight to stop fare hikes

Daniel Kim — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:46:12 -0700

Yesterday on the front page of their local news section, the LA Times ran a strong story on our fight to stop MTA's racist fare hikes. We also saw excellent coverage in La Opinion, by radio and on television (so far we have confirmed coverage on Channel 7, NBC Channel 4). The Times article quoted BRU Co-Chair Barbara Lott-Holland and lead organizer Esperanza Martinez talking...

Advocates Testify on Housing Crisis to Special City Council Meeting

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:08:18 -0700

Housing and Civil Rights advocates gathered to attend a special meeting of the LA City Council for Housing, Community and Economic Development committee. Giving testimony in front of a panel chaired by Councilmember Herb Wesson, residents of public housing and renters from all over Los Angeles county gathered to address the housing crisis. Speakers covered the pending descruction of public housing and down sized workers unable to keep up with annual rent increases.

Spring Break Take Action: The Building Ground for the Next Civil/Human Rights Organizers

Jeanette Charles — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:58:01 -0700

Jeanette Charles, Strategy Center member and co-coordinator of the 2010 Spring Break Take Action, blogs about the most impactful lessons the group experienced and the inspiration she gained witnessing the youth take leaps and bounds in their own organizing skills and expanding their understanding of our histories in this country as...

Charles Sherrod, Judith Richardson, Clayborne Carson & Fay Bellamy: The Civil Rights Revolution Remembered: SNCC 50 Years Later

Eric Mann — Sat, 22 May 2010 17:43:24 -0700

Eric Mann in conversation with three veterans of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee -- Judith Richardson, Fay Bellamy Powell and Charles Sherrod -- and Clayborne Carson, civil rights historian and author of In Struggle, the formative history of SNCC.

LA City Council Joins Call for Public Hearing on Fare Hike

Daniel Kim — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:22:23 -0700

Last Friday. we achieved a City Council resolution that urges a public hearing for the MTA fare hikes. Sunyoung put the gears in motion in the meeting she led with Councilmembers Rosendahl and La Bonge, both members of the council's Transportation Committee. The resolution acknowledges the economic hardship that...

Breakthroughs in New York--Times Square car-free, Bus Rapid Transit

Evyn Espiritu — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:32:49 -0700

Streetsblog has been highlighting exciting innovations in New York City that parallel our Clean Air efforts in L.A.: bus-only lanes, bus-centered transit and a car-free Times Square! It's exciting to see these projects developing simultaneously across the country.

Craig Miller: Rock for Equalty's campaign for the rights of LGBT seniors

Eric Mann — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:00:21 -0700

The CEO of Rock for Equality breaks down the discrimination faced by same-sex couples in social security and other benefits, and what the Rock For Equality campaign is doing to win justice for elderly same sex couples -- including a launch event this weekend in Hollywood.

Eveline Shen & Marisol Franco: Health care reform, women, and the future of reproductive justice

Eric Mann — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:16:14 -0700

Two leading advocates for reproductive justice unpack health care reform and its implications for women of color, immigrant women, and working class women. What setps forward and steps back does the bill take for women's reproductive justice? What interventions and organizing breakthroughs did advocates make as the bill took shape?

Get ready for Detroit--US Social Forum 2010 is almost here!

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:05:52 -0700

Clean Air Campaign meets with Councilmembers Labonge and Rosendahl

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:16:21 -0700

We met with councilmembers Labonge and Rosendahl because their continued leadership is crucial to making sure the Wilshire Bus Only Lanes project is finalized with final EIR approval by the end of this year. Both councilmembers are on the city council's Transportation Committee. Committee Chair Rosendahl assured us that he will work to consolidate the rest of...

Peter Schurman: A progressive gubernatorial challenge to Jerry Brown

Eric Mann — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:33:39 -0700

The co-founder of Moveon.org talks about why he is throwing in his hat, on a platform of economic fairness, climate change, and public education, to the 2010 gubernatorial race.

TRPT Meets with LA City Council Members

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:49:47 -0700

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TRPT joins Rev. Jesse Jackson and labor for NYC press conference on transit operations

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:54:28 -0700

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Reese Erlich & Muhammed Sahimi: Demystifying US policy In Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan & beyond

Eric Mann — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:41:41 -0700

Reese Erlich, award-winning journalist and author of The Iran Agenda, and Muhammed Sahimi, correspondent with the The Tehran Bureau, break down internal politics and US imperial interventions from Iran to Afghanistan to Iraq and Pakistan.

Part 2: Are we still trying to change the world?

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:41:53 -0700

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Voices from the Front Lines: A Look back at the last 15 years of the fight for Environmental Justice

Monte Marable — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:47:36 -0700

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UPDATED In surprise move, Mayor reaches out to BRU for public hearing

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:00:21 -0700

UPDATE 4/22: On Thursday, April 15, Mayor Villaraigosa introduced Motion #49 to the MTA Board, with L.A. DOT General Manger Rita Robinson and L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. The motion proposes an informational briefing to announce the fare increase and listen to “comments”; this is not a public hearing and not...

GUEST BLOG: What are the Real Intentions around LAPD's "Truancy" Sweeps?

Jorge Lopez — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:28:53 -0700

Jorge Lopez, social activist in East Los Angeles and world history teacher at Roosevelt High School, recently got involved with our "No to Pre-Prisons" Campaign. After feeling frustrated and angry at the increased ticketing of his students he began referring his students to us for legal services and support. Questioning the real intentions about the "truancy" sweeps at his school he writes in his blog: "I believe that if the Mayor had no interest in ticketing our students, there would not be one of his point persons overseeing the operation, and LAPD...."

Michelle Alexander: Mass Incarceration is the New Jim Crow

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:35:37 -0700

A leading civil rights attorney and scholar argues in her new book The New Jim Crow that the mass imprisonment of Blacks and Latinos in the US - and its impact on former prisoners, their families and communities -- has created a new racial caste system in the US.

Nathan Henderson-James: Succumbing to Right-wing attacks, ACORN closes its doors

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:40:16 -0700

A senior organizer at ACORN reflects on how blistering, underhanded attacks from the Right combined with internal problems, forcing the largest community organizing network in the US to close its doors.

Rachel Rosen Degolia: A universal health care advocate's scorecard on Obama's health reform

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:40:16 -0700

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MTA let the people speak! Public Hearing NOW!!

Esperanza Martinez — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:41:26 -0700

The BRU rallies after our Press Conference at MTA Headquarters to demand a stop to MTA's racist fare increase. BRU calls public attention to MTA's staff attempt to silence the public by denying them their rightful opportunity to speak on the impacts that another fare increase will have on the lives of half a million Black, Latino and Asian working class bus riders!

TRPT leads workshops at "A Seat at the Table" TEN Conference

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:03:39 -0700

Members of Transit Riders for Public Transportation, the Transportation Equity Network, Bus Riders Union, Urban Habitat, Public Advocates and WEACT led four workshops earlier this week (3/15-16) at the Transportation Equity Network's conference "A Seat at the Table."

An LA Bus Rider Goes To Capitol Hill

Crystal McMillan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:49:45 -0700

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Bob Fertik: Health Care Reform at the 11th Hour

Eric Mann — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:13:45 -0700

Democrats.com blogger and progressive Democratic Party activist assesses the 11th hour negotiations over health care reform, the prospects for reviving the public option and how progressive Democrats can challenge their party's Centrist leadership.

Glen Ford: Obama's Betrayals & the Black Community

Eric Mann — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:12:41 -0700

Black Agenda Report Executive Editor Glen Ford was one of the earliest and most outspoken critics of Barack Obama from the Left and inside the Black Community. A year into Obama's turn, how does Ford assess the Black community's relationship to the President?

We can't let this be the last word: "Almost every inmate in prison started out as a truant"

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:13:30 -0800

The San Fernando Valley Sun has been raising a public debate between us, the principal of Cleveland High, and LA School Police Dept Interim Chief Bowman. They've already written 3 pieces in a series. We need you to send letters to the editors because...

Transit Operations Crisis' Continue to Spread

Crystal McMillan — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:23:24 -0800

Operations Service Cuts are crippling Mass Transit in Atlanta

Prevention Beyond just "Say No" | Pre-Prison Diaries: March 4th, 2010

Kendra Williby — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:07:00 -0800

Jazmin Martinez, a senior at Manual Arts High School, blogs about being searched in a round-up with an auditorium full of students for being tardy. She writes about the need to end the racialization of the "war on drugs" by creating forms of prevention, intervention and ultimately decriminalizing drug usage in her blog, Prevention Beyond Just "Say No".

Maxine Waters: Self-Determination and Debt-Canceling in post-earthquake Haiti

Eric Mann — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:06:54 -0800

Recently returned from a devastated Port-au-Prince, the South LA Congresswoman talks about the challenges to democratic self-determination, from Haitian business elite and foreign powers blocking the returned of exiled President Jean Bertrand Aristide to renewed demands, promoted by Waters in Congress, to cancel Haiti's international debt.

Marty Hittelman: Saving Public Education in California & Unlocking the State Budget Juggernaut

Eric Mann — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:57:55 -0800

The President of the California Federation of Teachers speaks about the statewide March 4 mobilization for public education, the ongoing attack on funding for public education in the state government, and how to unlock California's budget juggernaut to win real reform.

GUEST BLOG: Lessons from the Oscar Grant Tragedy – We Need to Get to Work

Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:21:15 -0800

After weeks of nervous speculation, a victory against a court system that fails time and time again to convict and sentence police officers for murder. For Black people in particular, this perpetual lack of legal re-dress for one of the oldest problems impacting our community has created deeply entrenched pain, fear and anger. No matter the social status, economic class or skin tone, almost every Black person in America has experienced a nervous moment whenever a cop came near. This is not because we are a community of cowards. rather it is because...

Author Michelle Alexander to Speak on New Jim Crow, Mass Imprisonment of People of Color

Kendra Williby — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:35:33 -0800

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CNN features Community Rights on "zero tolerance," truancy tickets in schools

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:05:51 -0800

Just yesterday, CNN ran a top story in their legal news section that features our Community Rights work against truancy tickets and pre-prison conditions in schools: "But one thing is sure: Alexa's case isn't the first. At schools across the country, police are being asked to step in..."

Statewide Transit Justice Organizing Update

Esperanza Martinez — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:42:53 -0800

Earlier this month, more than 40 people, representing 16 organizations from across the state, piled into an AC Transit Bus and rode to Sacramento to demand that our Legislators stop the fare hikes, service cuts, and layoffs that have been devastating California transit operators and their riders.

Interview: Being New on the BRU Planning Committee

Daniel Kim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:21:12 -0800

Two new members were elected for their first time to the Planning Committee this year. I asked them about their impressions of their first month. What was it like at your first meeting? What surprised you? How has your perspective on our work changed?

Fundraising for the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Campaign

Channing Martinez — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:58:20 -0800

This year we're working on raising $10,000 to build support around the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Campaign which is so close to victory. To kick off our fundraising effort, we had our first event on Saturday January 30th--Clean Air Campaign Yard Sale.

$70M Transit Breakthrough in Restoring Civil Rights Title VI

Francisca Porchas — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:39:00 -0800

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GUEST BLOG: Update from Chicago--senators, doomsday layoffs

Mike Pitula — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:27:02 -0800

In January, the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) of Chicago was proud to take part in the TRPT's National Advocacy Day for Civil Rights. We met with the staff of Senator Durbin and Senator Burris, as well as the staff of Representatives Davis, Gutierrez, Jackson, Jr, Lipinski, and Quigley. Because senators’ number one priority right now is jobs, we stressed...

GUEST BLOG: Mehserle’s Trial Suggests Change in Law Enforcement

Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:06:34 -0800

The first pre-trial hearing for Johannes Mehserle - the Ex-BART officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Years Day 2009 - brought out a tapestry of emotion and activity. The Foltz Criminal Justice Center was abuzz with scores of brave protestors, media representatives, and agents of the legal system all taking part in the early morning rush. It was an amazing scene considering that the hearing itself was rather basic and bland. The biggest developments of the day included...

Advancement Project Releases New Report: Test, Punish, & Push Out

Kendra Williby — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:21:49 -0800

The report looks at how punitive discipline and testing policies and practices have combined to turn many schools into hostile and alienating environments that drive youth out of school and toward the juvenile and criminal justice systems. We highly encourage our members and supporters to read this important document.

LAUSD Students Launch Campaign to Reform School Police

Kendra Williby — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:45:49 -0800

In actions at Manual Arts, Westchester, and Cleveland High Schools, LAUSD students from our Community Rights Campaign weathered the rain to launch a new initiative for greater accountability from the Los Angeles School Police Department. They reached out to students, teachers and community members to support CRC's 5 new policy recommendations for creating new policies and procedures that restrict the use of force and role of police in our schools to protect the civil/human rights of all.

2010 BRU Planning Committee: Candidate Speeches

Gabriel Strachota — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:07:57 -0800

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Cynthia McKinney: Haitian Crisis, US Occupation, Progressive Response

Eric Mann — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:03:58 -0800

The former Georgia Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate breaks down the militarized US response to the disaster in Haiti, the parallels to Katrina, and interventions progresives can make to support recovery and self-determination fot the Haitian people.

Willie Pelote Sr: California's Next Budget Battle and Schwarzenegger's War on Unions

Eric Mann — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:00:29 -0800

Political Director for one of California's largest public sector unions, AFSCME, raps with Eric Mann about Schwarzenegger's latest proposal to slash the social welfare state and undermine unions and to challenge bloated prison and highway spending.

CRC Launches New Report Against Problems of Police in LAUSD Schools

Kendra Williby — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:49:14 -0800

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Police in LAUSD Schools: The Need for Accountability and Alternatives

Kendra Williby — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:11:32 -0800

The Strategy Center's Community Rights Campaign in collaboration with the Los Angeles Chapter of Dignity in Schools Campaign release the first of two policy papers, Police in LAUSD Schools: The Need for Accountability and Alternatives, to strengthen accountability and transparency in the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students and families.

Bill Fletcher, Jr: Taking stock of Obama after one year

Eric Mann — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:52:53 -0800

The veteran social movement organizer and editor of The Black Commentator discusses with host Eric Mann President Obama's record after one year office and how social movements should engage moving forward.

Elizabeth Méndez Berry & Demond Drummer: Where is the Obama Generation now?

Eric Mann — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:23:09 -0800

A former field organizer with Obama for America and a journalist who recently profiled 30 young veterans of the Obama campaign discuss where is Obama's army now and what do they think of Obama the President after one year?

Catherine Tactaquin & Sarahi Uribe: Criminalizing Immigrants & the Fight Against Sheirff Joe

Eric Mann — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:12:37 -0800

Two leaders in the immigrant justice movement talk about the national mobilization to challenge Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the fight to defend immigrant rights and win real reform.

Michael Fox & Carlos Martinez: Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution from the grassroots

Eric Mann — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:35:48 -0800

Co-authors of Venezuela Speaks! Voices from the Grassroots, discuss grassroots indigenous, Afro-Venezuelan, and other social movements and their role, alongside President Huga Chavez, in advancing Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution.

The Bus Riders Union is ready for 2010

Esperanza Martinez — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:55:21 -0800

As all good organizers do, we begin the year looking back to the lessons and breakthroughs of 2009 that will inform the character of the work of the Bus Riders Union in 2010. The year presented many challenges for the BRU in securing the 20% of Measure R funds that were promised for bus system improvements. We knew we would have to fight to ensure those funds be used for the much needed expansion of LA's bus system and its primarily working-class, immigrant, Black, Asian and Latina/o riders.

Clean Air Campaign highlights from 2009

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:19:37 -0800

2009 marks an important harvest of our last 5 years of hard work organizing bus riders, local businesses, public health and community allies and the local elected officials like former councilmember Wendy Greuel and Bill Rosendahl, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. With the full $23.3 million of federal funding secured, the tide has turned to move the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project into reality.

2009: A Tough but Exciting First Year for Transit Riders for Public Transportation

Francisca Porchas — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:33:47 -0800

It has been both a tough and exciting first year for our civil rights and environmental justice campaign to influence the second largest federal bill: the $500 billion federal surface transportation act. Over the past two weeks, I had the opportunity to step back and reflect on my eventful year as lead coordinator of Transit Riders for Public Transportation.

Climate Justice in Review: Early Lessons Fighting Market Driven Environmentalism

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:46:42 -0800

Many of the key lessons of the environmental justice movement from the 80s and 90s fighting market driven policies in local campaigns can illuminate how we can re-shape the discussions around climate solutions in Congress this year.

Cap and Trade Delusion

Sunyoung Yang — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:54:15 -0800

Ever heard of cap and trade or carbon trading? Here's a helpful animated video to help you navigate the basics of market driven false solutions like cap and trade and why ithey should be rejected as a climate change policy.

Tom Hayden: A fair trial for Alex Sanchez?

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:11:38 -0800

The journalist and former State Senator reports on the bail hearing and the prospects for a fair trial for Alex Sanchez, the gang member turned gang intervention leader now facing trumped up federal conspiracy charges.

Bill Berkowitz: Understanding the Tea Party movement and new anti-Obama Right Wing

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:35:52 -0800

An expert on Right wing movement breaks down the Tea Party and the new grassroots Right wing in the era of Obama.

Ziad Abbas: Palestinian resistance and international solidarity one year after the Gaza siege

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:23:28 -0800

A longtime grassroots Palestinian organizer reports on the Gaza Freedom March in Cairo, the arrest of West Bank grassroots leader Jamal Juma' and conditions in Gaza one year after the siege.

Steffie Woolhandler & Bob Fertik: Reform for whom? The dangers of corporate-driven health care reform and how and why to stop it

Eric Mann — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:14:42 -0800

The co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program and a progressive blogger from Democrats.com break down the dangers of the current health care reform bill, from a $476 billion subsidy to private industry to a mandate that people buy private insurance, and debate strategies for getting the health care reform process back to its original goals.

Federal Transportation Act: a Battle for Climate Justice

Sunyoung Yang — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:18:55 -0800

Lead Organizer and National Coordinator of the Transit Riders for Public Transportation (TRPT), Francisca Porchas discusses the battle for climate justice in the re-authorization of the $500 billion Federal Surface Transportation Act in this winter's issue of Race, Poverty, & the Environment themed "Climate Change: Catalyst or Catastrophe?"

Perspectives do change

Bryan Mauricio — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:26:46 -0800

18 year-old BRU Bryan Mauricio member blogs on his experience in transformative organizing.

Jose Bravo: On the betrayals of Copenhagen and the continuing struggle for climate justice

Eric Mann — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:01:16 -0800

The Director of the San Diego-based Just Transition Alliance, just returned from a US grassroots environmental and climate justice delegation to Copenhagen, breaks down why the deal brokered by President Obama in the 11th hour is really no deal at all. What opportunities lie ahead for social movements and government fighting for climate justice?

From the Battle in Seattle to the US Social Forum 2010

Daniel Kim — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:52:54 -0800

Where is the global justice movement 10 years after its birth in the Battle of Seattle? In a radio interview, the Strategy Center's Tammy Bang Luu remembers being "a young kid" on the streets, and being arrested in the protests. She draws connections between what happened then and where the global justice movement is today as it heads into the second US Social Forum in Detroit in 2010.

Interview with Bolivian Climate Change Ambassador Pablo Erick Solon Romero Oroza

Duyen Tran — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:01:55 -0800

Bolivian Climate Change Ambassador Pablo Erick Solon Romero Oroza speaks about an environmental justice platform that Bolivia and many Latin American nations are demanding for as real solutions on climate change.

Breaking the Spirit of Our Students | Pre-Prison Diaries: December 10, 2009

Kendra Williby — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:19:14 -0800

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Rooted in Struggle: Remembering the Past and Looking Towards the Future

Crystal McMillan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:09:45 -0800

BRU member Crystal McMillan reports on BRU's commemoration of the 54th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts."To use the example of the Boycott, we have to move forward with determination and we have to harness the will of the people. We will come together to stop the 2010 fare increase. We will use the Clean Air and Economic Justice plan to gain true mobility and a healthy environment. We will build an empowered and creative movement that can shape the Long Range Transportation Plan into a document that doesn't use fare increases and service cuts to fund our transit system."

GUEST BLOG: The Importance of the Oscar Grant Trial

Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:28:53 -0800

A recent decision to move the criminal trial of Johannes Mehserle – the former BART officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Years Day – to Los Angeles has again once thrust the city to the forefront of controversy involving police abuse and murder.

Michael McPhearson & Carolyn Eisenberg: Tactics & Strategies for Stopping the Afghan War Escalation

Eric Mann — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:43:02 -0800

The Director of Veterans for Peace and a national leader in United for Peace and Justice respond to Obama's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan and discuss grassroots and inside-the-beltway strategies for stopping the US war machine.

Congressman Raul Grijalva: Stopping the Afghan War Escalation and Holding the Progressive Line in the Democratic Party

Eric Mann — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:18:58 -0800

Ruth Cusick & Michael Murray: Creating Dignity in Schools

Eric Mann — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:52:05 -0800

An attorney and youth organizer from the Dignity in Schools Coalition discusses the National Resolution to End School Pushout being launched this week, and the discipline policies and class conditions that creating crisis of drop out/pushout for low income students of color in urban high schools.

Re-Envision Urban Transit with the Bus Riders Union

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:17:05 -0800

On Thursday November 19th, the Transit Riders for Public Transportation Campaign and the Bus Riders Union hosted a transportation briefing event, "Re-Envision Urban Transit: Los Angeles and Beyond."

Howard Zinn: A monumental figure on the US Left reflects on his life with in the movement

Eric Mann — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:28:15 -0800

A monumental figure on the US Left reflects with his old friend, host Eric Mann, on a long life in the movement, from Fanny Lou Hamer and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, teaching a Spelman College student named Alice Walker, and the writing and publication of his ground-breaking work A People's History of the United States.

Biju Mathew: Understanding the resurgent Maoist movement, Resource Exploitation, and State Repression in India

Eric Mann — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:38:05 -0800

The Indian writer-activist breaks down the grwoing Maoist movement in India, the state of the Indian Left, repression by state security forces, and the controversial multi-national mining project in Orissa

Are we still trying to change the world?

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:50:09 -0800

I don't normally write to newspaper columnists but, over the past few weeks, Bob Herbert at the New York Times has been writing some really sharp OpEd columns that have caught my attention. What hooked me was a column where he put his finger on a question that's been bothering many of us: where is the anger, the outrage, the action? where is the hope for changing the world?

How Bus-Centered Transit Works in Bogotá

Sunyoung Yang — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:04:55 -0800

There is an excellent 7-minute film that travels to Bogotá, Colombia to show you how the city runs a bus-centered transit system that is modern, inexpensive and efficiently moves 1.3 million people a day, integrating bicycles and auto free zones--and all without relying on rail or subways.

California's future of education cuts & expanding prisons | Pre-Prison Diaries: November 11, 2009

Kendra Williby — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:53:21 -0800

"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. Jackie Hill, current freshmen at Dominguez Hills, shares how the recent budget crisis and the increased spending on prisons in the last 25 years have impacted her life as a young Black woman.

Dahr Jamail: On GI Trauma and GI Resistance to Imperial Wars

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:11:53 -0800

In the wake of the deadly shooting by a military psychiatrist at Fort Hood, Texas, the award-winning independent war reporter discusses the conditions facing GI's in the face of another escalation of the war in Aghanistan and the small but growing GI resistance movement.

Heather Booth & Jim Crotty: Reining in Big Finance

Eric Mann — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:26:11 -0800

One year after the Wall Street meltdown and the biggest corporate bailout in US history, the Director of Americans for Financial Reform and an expert on international finance discuss the causes of the financial crisis and the strategies and proposals for meaningful reform.

US Diplomacy & Honduran Resistance -- A Balance Sheet

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:07:15 -0800

Last weekend, the Honduran political crisis entered a new stage when US diplomats brokered an agreement between the coup government led by Roberto Micheletti and the ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Is the agreement a victory for Zelaya and popular forces in Honduras and across Latin America or is it a triumph of a sophisticated strategy of US imperial manipulation? Manuel Criollo comments.

Eva Golinger: The end of the coup in Honduras?

Eric Mann — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:46:20 -0800

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Larry Aubry & Hamid Khan: What to expect and demand from the new chief at LAPD

Eric Mann — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:04:03 -0800

The Los Angeles Sentinel columnist and the director of South Asian Network reflect on the appointment of Charlie Beck to replace William Bratton as chief of LAPD. What should communities of color and civil rights activists expect and demand from the new leadership at LAPD?

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas: The Future of Transportation in Los Angeles

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:14:23 -0700

The LA County Supervisor from South Los Angeles discusses MTA's recently passed Long Range Transportation Plan, what he's done and will do to protect funding for the bus system, and what transit equity in LA looks like over the next 30 years.

One Step Forward Towards the Bus-Only Lane on Wilshire Boulevard

Gabriel Strachota — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:53:00 -0700

On Tuesday October 13th, the last of the four public scoping meetings was held regarding the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project to hear from the public around their thoughts and concerns around this project.

Voices From the Students: Testimonies on daytime curfew "truancy tickets"

Lisa Adler — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:22:30 -0700

Voices From the Students provides direct testimony from students who have receieved "truancy tickets." The testimonies document the consequences of these tickets and the experiences while receiving them from police officers.

Tammy Luu, G-20 Protests in the News and Blogs

Daniel Kim — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:38:19 -0700

Truancy Tickets as Exclusionary Discipline

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:54:44 -0700

School-wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) is a research-based, school-wide systems approach to improve school climate and create safer and more effective schools.

Esperanza Martinez & Bob Allen: Transportation, Civil Rights, and Environmental Justice in California

Damon Azali-Rojas — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:48:40 -0800

Two organizers on the ground in the fight for civil rights in transportatinon break down the challenges and opportunities for transit-dependent low income people and people of color in LA and the Bay Area.

LAUSD Equal Protection Resolution

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:12:31 -0700

A resolution passed by LAUSD Board members Ms. LaMotte, Ms. Garcia, and Ms. Flores-Aguilar that supports equal protection and civil rights for all students in LAUSD.

Positive Behavior Support Discipline Policy

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:41:17 -0700

Los Angeles Unified School District's School-Wide Positive Behavior Support policy establishes a framework that focuses on proactive strategies designed to prevent discipline problems.

Sample Drop-out/Push-out Prevention and Truancy Reduction Programs

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:50:08 -0700

A document on a variety of examples of drop-out prevention and truancy reduction programs that can serve as examples of alternatives to ticketing and police/court involvement.

BRU Wins Policy Breakthrough by Securing the 20% of Measure R Bus Improvement funds | October 22, 2009

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:41:06 -0700

BRU wins two major policy breakthroughs to protect bus riders' Civil Rights at the MTA's monthly Board meeting! After months of pressure from the BRU, Mayor Villaraigosa requests that MTA staff present a plan for bus system improvements and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas introduced an amendment to the 2009 LRTP that included language to protect the 20% of Measure R funds exclusively for bus expansion.

A Black Mother Takes Action to Challenge a “Guilty” Verdict on a Truancy Ticket | Pre-Prison Diaries: October 25, 2009

Barbara Lott-Holland — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:57:59 -0700

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Tamar McFarlane & Shannan Breaze: The Fightback -- Housing Struggles in Miami, New Orleans, and beyond

Damon Azali-Rojas — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:48:22 -0700

Two Black organizers on the frontlines of housing struggles in New Orleans and Miami discuss the grassroots fight-back by communities of color hard hit by forceclosures, displacement, gentrification and economic hard times.

Dedrick Muhammad & Carl Bloice: The Economic and Housing Crises in the Black Community

Damon Azali-Rojas — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:43:06 -0700

Leading commentators from the Institute for Policy Studies and the Black Commentator discuss the specific impacts of the economic and housing crises in the Black community. As unemployment and poverty rates sore, the foreclosure crisis is being called the largest transfer wealth out of the hands of Black people in modern US history.

LA bus riders speak out on why they support the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project

Duyen Tran — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:36:36 -0700

The Bus Riders Union surveyed LA's bus riders on the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes. LA riders overwhelmingly support the Bus-Only Lanes project for its anticipated reduction and greater efficiency in bus travel time and improvements in the city's air quality.

Transformative Organizing: Lessons in Humility and Non-Judgment bv SYOA 2009 Alumni Luis Hernandez

Kendra Williby — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:40:57 -0700

I learned by experience what transformative organizing is, it is when we transform ourselves by having our values and actions aligned. Even though none of us are perfect, we should try to live our lives with full integrity...

Super Pasajera vs. the LRTP Legion of Doom

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:52:42 -0700

We have just finished with our teatro / rally / action at the MTA headquarters, but we are repeating our performance on Wednesday 10/21/2009 at 12:30pm at the corner of Wilshire / Western. Don't miss our performance! The Bus Riders Union, bus riders and their allies will be urging the public to call on MTA Board of Directors to reject the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) draft that calls for permanent fare increases and bus service reduction.

Proposals for Implementing Alternatives to Daytime Curfew

Damon Azali-Rojas — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:08:57 -0700

Having fought for equal access to quality education for decades, Black, Latino, Asian and other people of color are now facing a whole new barrier. The mostly Black and Latino students of the LA Unified School District are being criminalized and ticketed for absences or lateness ("truancy"), contributing significantly to their 50% dropout/pushout rate.

October Monthly Meeting: E-Action Committee Reports!

Julian Lamb — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:52:10 -0700

BRU member Julian Lamb reports on the monthly meeting. "For me, the highlight of the meeting, was when Mike de la Rocha, community activist and strong supporter of the We are Alex campaign, spoke passionately on the plight of Alex Sanchez."

Henry Giroux: The Powell Memo, long and steady rise of Right-wing extremism, and what the Left can learn

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:36:24 -0700

The reknowned author and columnist traces the thread of the carefully planned and executed Right-wing strategy from the 1971 Powell memo to the current Right-wing anti-Obama, anti-health care upsurge.

Vijay Prashad & Phyllis Bennis: Afghanistan Inside & Out -- Afghan politics, US war strategy, the future of the region

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:25:22 -0700

Two distinguished commentators on Afghanistan break down the internal dynamics of Afghan politics, the history of US-Afghan relations pre- and post-invasion, political relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors, and the pro-war and anti-war forces in the US.

Truancy Tickets Aftermath | Pre-Prison Diaries: October 13, 2009

Ashley Franklin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:18:54 -0700

"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a new series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. Ashley Franklin starts the series with a look at the effects of the truancy ticketing law on one high school graduate.

We Are Alex: Join us in supporting a fair trial for Alex Sanchez

Lisa Adler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:08:44 -0700

Please join us in supporting ally and friend Alex Sanchez, internationally recognized peacemaker and co-founder of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles. Alex was arrested in June on conspiracy charges brought by the FBI. Alex was denied bail on June 30th. The bail appeal hearing is now scheduled for Monday, October 19th, 2009 and your action is needed to support the campaign for a free a trial.

Breakthrough: Community Rights Wins Withdrawal of Motion to Expand "Truancy Tickets" Law

Lisa Adler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:32:23 -0700

We are pleased to announce that LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan and Councilmember Tom LaBonge have withdrawn their motions to deputize police officers to issue LA Municipal Code 45.04 Daytime Curfew Citations, popularly known as "Truancy Tickets," inside LAUSD schools. Ms. Galatzan will now be chairing an agenda item on Truancy and Attendance at the October 20th Board meeting, where Community Rights Campaign organizers will be presenting. To advance this breakthrough, important next steps are still needed....

California Supreme Court: "Spillover" Transportation Funds Can't Be Diverted!"

Richard A. Marcantonio — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:01:40 -0700

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Lissett Lazo: Student Leader Reflects on "Truancy Ticket" Rally

Lissett Lazo — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:49:57 -0700

"Teachers, Not Tickets!" Even though it's been well over two hours ago, I still feel the energy of today's rally! It was so inspiring to see all of the dedicated students that took their day off of school from Westchester High and Cleveland High and came out to support the Community Rights Campaign!

Student Rally Against Educational Racism: No Tickets on School Grounds!

Lisa Adler — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:29:19 -0700

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Alejandra Lemus: Student Leader Reflects on "Truancy Ticket" Rally

Alejandra Lemus — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:49:50 -0700

We had students from Westchester and Cleveland High School organizing and helping folks make phone calls to Board member Galatzan. It was inspiring to see the students from coming out of Manual Arts High School (off Vermont and King) asking questions about our campaign and making calls to Galatzan. The energy on the street was great and the drum and chant crew just made everyone even more pumped up.

L.A. County MTA Board support H.R. 2746 (Carnahan Bill)

Sunyoung Yang — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:33:56 -0700

MTA approved to support H.R. 2746 (Carnahan Bill) at the September MTA board meeting. This bill will allow local transit agencies to use anywhere from 30-50% of the transit funding they receive from the federal government to operate their public transportation system.

Delegation Part 3: Lucille Roybal-Allard

Kelsey Tanaka — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:54:42 -0700

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E-Action Committee Presents: September Monthly Meeting Report

Ian Sawyer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:40:46 -0700

E-action Committee's first ever BRU Monthly Membership Meeting web-report, bringing you the newest and greatest from the BRU Monthly Membership Meeting. This month featured updates of the Clean Air and Economic Justice plan, as well as an update on the implementation of the Bus Only Lane.

"CRUDE": Indigenous Communities In Ecuador Fight Against Chevron Texaco

Sunyoung Yang — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:58:14 -0700

Clean Air, Clean Lungs, Clean Buses Campaign organizer Sunyoung Yang promotes "CRUDE" for its excellent portrayal of Ecuador's indigenous groups and colonial rainforest dwellers' fight against U.S. oil giant Chevron Texaco.

Strategy Center's Tammy Luu, Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz join panel challenging G-20 Summit

Daniel Kim — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:34:51 -0700

Strategy Center organizer Tammy Bang Luu will co-moderate a discussion led by Nobel Prize- winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, titled "Challenging the G20's Agenda of Corporate Globalization." Chaired by President Obama, the G-20 Summit opens this week in Pittsburgh.

Take Action Against Educational Racism

Lisa Adler — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:47:14 -0700

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Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Moves Forward with Environmental Impact Report

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:47:41 -0700

There are two major breakthroughs for the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Campaign this month. First on Wednesday September 22nd the city council approved the recommendations made by L.A. Department of Transportation and the MTA to conduct a full Environmental Impact Report for the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project. Secondly, Congress has approved the 2010 budget for transportation which includes the second installment of $13.5 million, awarding a total of $23.3 million of federal funding for the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes Project.

An Open Letter to LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan To Withdraw Her Motion to Expand Los Angeles Municipal Code 45.04

Kendra Williby — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:17:25 -0700

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An Open Letter to LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan From Teachers and School Administration

Lisa Adler — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:33:25 -0700

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Community Rights on KPCC 89.9fm with Larry Mantle: Is Being Late to School a Crime?

Damon Azali-Rojas — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:52:52 -0700

As a result of the press release that the Community Rights Campaign sent out last week regarding the systemic problems within the Los Angeles School Police Department and the LA Weekly article titled LAUSD's Finest I will be on KPCC's Air talk with Larry Mantle tomorrow from 10:30-11:00am.

SYOA 2009 Grads | Spoken Word Video to End School Pre-Prison Conditions

Kendra Williby — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:04:36 -0700

On August 29th, 2009 the Community Rights Campaign and its Summer Youth Organizing Academy held our third annual Graduation Celebration at a local community marketplace, Mercado La Paloma. Through spoken word pieces, each SYOA alumni reenacted a revolutionary activist/organizer from the past that inspires their work today--as they train to be the next generation of civil/human rights organizers with the Community Rights Campaign.

Jeffrey Perry: Hubert Harrison, the Voice of Harlem Radicalism 1883-1918

Eric Mann — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:15:22 -0700

The biographer and foremost historian on Hubert Harrison discusses Harrison's place within the rich tradition of Black radicalism. What were his intellectual and political contributions to the Black Liberation Movement? What relationship and influence did he have on some of the movement's leading figures, from W.E.B. Dubois to Marcus Garvey to A. Philip Randolph?

Delegation Visit Part 2: Xavier Becerra

Kelsey Tanaka — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:10:02 -0700

In the second part of our series of delegation visit reportbacks for the Transit Rider's for Public Transportation National Campaign, Bus Rider's Union members, John Bell and Maria Paz Jaen, visited the office of their congressmember, Xavier Becerra on Thursday September 3, 2009. They urged Congressman Becerra to co-sponsor and support H.R. 2746 and the TRPT campaign platform for better low fare bus service for low income communities of color.

BRU presents Mayor Villaraigosa 100’s of MTA bus service report cards - Huizar & Ridley-Thomas are next.

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:12:01 -0700

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BRU runs into Mayor at City Hall - members deliver postcards

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:56:30 -0700

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Colorlines on CRC: Young, Brown—And Charged With Truancy

Lisa Adler — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:58:24 -0700

The Community Rights Campaign is a feature in the new issue of Colorlines. Specifically, the article features our campaign on the Los Angeles Unified School District to place a moratorium on giving tickets for tardiness and truancies as one important way to challenge the "pre-prison" conditions in LAUSD.

LA Weekly Shows LA School Police Department - Community Rights Campaign Calls on the LAUSD Board to Protect Students

Damon Azali-Rojas — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:37:22 -0700

The LA Weekly article titled LAUSD's Finest (by Max Taves, September 4th), on the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) reveals what the Community Right Campaign has known from our past 3 years of work-the need to reign in the Department for their neglect of the human rights and personal safety for the 680,000 LAUSD students and everyone in their 710 mile jurisdiction.

LA Times Op-Ed: The Racism of Marijuana Prohibition

Damon Azali-Rojas — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:43:12 -0700

In his Sept 7 OpEd in the LA Times, Steven Gutwillig points out how the cultural mainstreaming of marijuana ignores the "racism of marijuana prohibition." The Community Rights Campaign applauds Mr. Gutwillig for bringing to light the racist treatment of Black youth by drug laws and enforcement.

BRU Report Card Summary Report

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:11:58 -0700

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Private Enforcement of Regulations Promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation to Effectuate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

Francisca Porchas — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:49:38 -0700

Sec. [ tbd ]. Private Enforcement of Regulations Promulgated by the Secretary of
Transportation to Effectuate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Our Trip to City Hall District Offices

Gabriel Strachota — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:00:41 -0700

BRU members spend 2 days at City Hall doing delegation visits to LA City Council and have a surprising encounter with Mayor Villaraigosa where they hand deliver 100's of postcards grading MTA bus service.

BRU Delegation present Councilmember Huizar 1248 postcards

Gabriel Strachota — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:11:50 -0700

Tuesday, September 1st- Bus Riders Union members conduct a delgation visit to LA City Council. They deliver over a thousand report cards to MTA baord member Jose Huizar.

Major Expose of the LA School Police - Read it Now

Lisa Adler — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:20:18 -0700

A major expose of the Los Angeles School Police force is titled LAUSD's Finest: Los Angeles School Police: How an oblivious school board lets a tiny, scandal-ridden force endanger L.A. kids.

Bus Riders Have Spoken: BRU Presents Supervisor Ridley-Thomas with Bus Survey Results

Ian Sawyer — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:53:16 -0700

After months of resultless waiting for Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to champion bus rider's needs, the BRU addressed him directly during the public comments section of the County Board of Supervisors Meeting, presenting the appalling MTA bus performance results from the BRU Survey and urging him to adopt the BRU Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan as a basis for the 20% of Measure R funds that were dedicated to improvement in the bus transit system.

Dave Zirin: Sports, Politics, & Race from Muhammad Ali & Saul Alinsky to Michael Vick, Caster Semenya & Barack Obama

Eric Mann — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:17:18 -0700

One of the best sportswriters in the US raps with Eric host Mann about racism, sexism and the politics of sports--from the controversy around South African track star Caster Semenya, boxers Muhammad Ali and Jack Johnson to community organizing guru Saul Alinsky, Barack Obama to Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress.

MTA Doesn’t Make the Grade

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:57:02 -0700

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Bus Riders Union visits Diane Watson

Kelsey Tanaka — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:23:04 -0700

With the reauthorization of the Federal Surface Transportation Act (FSTA) still pending in Congress, the first delegation of Bus Riders Union members visited House Representative Watson's office to meet with her district transportation staffer, Ken Bell, last Thursday August, 20th, 2009.

Community Rights Campaign Highlighted in Our Weekly Article

Kendra Williby — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:06:09 -0700

Following our August 18th "No to Pre-Prisons" press event, on-line journal Our Weekly covered the Community Rights campaign in detail...check it out!

Join CURB in urging the Governor NOT to appeal fed. court prison reduction order

Lisa Adler — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:18:50 -0700

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LA County riders grade MTA bus service - MTA did not make the grade!

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:13:30 -0700

Dozens of BRU members worked to collect close to 3000 postcards from bus riders who were asked to grade their bus service in LA County. People were asked to grade MTA bus service anywhere from an A for excellent thru an F for extremely poor, on the following aspects: fares, night service, on-time performance etc.,.

Forrest Hylton: US military expansion in Colombia--where the War on Drugs, the War on Terror and Latin America's new progressive

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:54:08 -0700

A historian and journalist of Latin American politics analyzes the agreement to expand US military presence in Colombia. What does this mean for Colombia politics and society, for the War on Drugs, the War on Terror and for left-leaning governments in neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela.

Jitu Brown & Alex Caputo-Pearl: Privatizing public education and the false choice of "school choice"

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:24:47 -0700

A Los Angeles-based high school teacher and organizer and a Chicago-based organizer and hip hop artist break down how the failure of inner-city public schools has set the stage for privatization and take-over by corporate-driven charter management organizations, and what working class communities of color are doing to fight back.

Next Push for Federal Transit Operation Funding! Take Action Now

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:00:47 -0700

The good news is that as a result of the calls and emails sent by members of the TRPT campaign over the past month, the number of congressmembers co-sponsoring H.R. 2746 (Carnahan-MO) has grown. As you may recall H.R. 2746 is a marker bill that will allow more federal transit dollars to be used for the cost of operating buses and trains in the upcoming $500 billion federal surface transportation act (FSTA).

TEN's report: Stranded at the Station

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:45:31 -0700

Our overview and the report by Transportation Equity Network (TEN) and Transportation for America (T4A): Stranded At the Station, outlining the financial crisis of public transportation across the country.

Problems of the Los Angeles Daytime Curfew Law

Lisa Adler — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:14:30 -0700

Why were 12,000 students fined up to $250 each just for being late or away from school in 2008? We surveyed approximately 1,400 students and parents, held several focus groups, researched the citation process, and consulted with educational justice and civil rights organizations around the country.

Community Rights Launches No to Pre-Prisons Platform as the Start of the School Year Approaches

Lisa Adler — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:29:59 -0700

With the new school year approaching, the Community Rights Campaign unviels its "No to Pre-Prison" Human and Civil Rights Platform to demand the end to LAMC 45.04 and Truancy Tickets.

Ken Jacobs & David Welch: Universal Care, the "Public Option" and the Health Care Debate

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:57:10 -0700

A leading economist in the health care policy world and a leader of the nurses' union break down the health care reform proposal in Congress, the significance of the "Public Option", and why the current health care system is broken.

Fernando Gapasin & Jane Slaughter: Internal Crisis in Organized Labor

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:57:23 -0700

Two longtime writer-activists in the labor movement discuss internal strife inside the Change to Win Federation and the AFL-CIO, the challenges of the new organizing models and passing new federal legislation--the Employee Free Choice Act--and the future of the labor movement.

Will state resist court order to release 44,000 prisoners?

Lisa Adler — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:52:19 -0700

On August 4th, a panel of 3 federal judges ordered California to reduce the prison population by 44,000 prisoners in the next two years to address the inhumane conditions caused by prison overcrowding! As the LA Times reported: "The 185-page opinion...accused the state of fostering "criminogenic" conditions, compelling former prisoners to commit more crimes and feed a cycle of recidivism."

Is it now a crime to be poor? The criminalization of everyday life

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:46:53 -0700

Barbara Ehrenreich's op-ed, Is it now a crime to be poor?, published on August 9th in the New York Times is an important contribution, written for the readers of the New York Times, about the criminalization of poverty in the U.S.

Is The BRU Winning the Battle of Ideas? (Part 1 of 2)

Esperanza Martinez — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:23:59 -0700

As local transit agencies cut much needed service and raise fares, despite the obligation the U.S. has to reduce green house gas emissions to curb global warming, forces in the world are calling for the restriction of auto use and working to implement policies to invest in a sustainable mass transit. Critical factors that shape the BRU’s programmatic demands – auto restriction, bus-centered system with bus only lanes and fare reductions as a means to free fares – are highlighted in the following articles of the last two weeks.

Thomas Kim & Aehwa Kim: Bill Clinton's visit and US relations with the Korean Peninsula

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:27:24 -0700

Korea Policy Institute Director and a leader in South Korea's Alliance of Progressive Movements discuss the significance of Bill Clinton's recent visit to North Korea in the context of US relations with the Korean peninsula.

Gerri Silva & Don Specter: Federal Court rules on California's prison overcrowding crisis

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:56:14 -0700

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Francisca Porchas & Laura Barrett: Turning the Highway Bill into Pro-Public Transit, Pro-Environment Policy

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:45:15 -0700

Two national public transit organizers explain why the federal surface transportation in Congress right now has huge implications for the future of public transit and the environment in the US, and how a national campaign led by environmental and transit justice groups are intervening to upset the traditional pro-highway, pro-auto script.

Cecil Corbin-Mark & Dan Lashof: Breaking down the American Clean Energy and Security Act

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:41:02 -0700

Two leading environmental and climate policy advocates break down the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Passed by the House in July, the most important climate bill in a generation moves to the Senate with the backing of the President and energy industry lobbyists. A discussion about what works and what doesn't about the bill.

Summer Youth Organizing Academy Launches

Mark-Anthony Johnson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:09:34 -0700

Our 4th annual Summer Youth Organizing Academy is underway. We launched SYOA last week with 18 students!

Isabel Garcia & Cynthia Buiza: The Border Wall, Immigration Crackdown, and Immigration Reform

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:52:02 -0700

Immigrant Justice leaders discuss state of the movement in under the Obama administration and the Senate's recent move to expand the border wall and E-Verify.

Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi & Peter Bibring: The end of the LAPD Consent Decree

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:22:11 -0700

In the wake of the police murder of Suzi Pena, Dante Story Jr. and the May 1st shootings in MacArthur Park, federal oversight of the LAPD has now ended. Two leaders in the fight against police brutality talk about the history of LAPD's history of crime and what was and was not accomplished by the ten-year consent decree.

Free Prof. Gates, Free the US 2 Million

Eric Mann — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:15:24 -0700

At this point we all know the story of racist arrest of Prof Gates. "So where do we take this story? I say we take this story to the US prison system where racial abuse from the police state is happening in genocidal proportions. We have to place the focus on protecting the rights of black people of all classes with a primary focus on the mass incarceration of the black working call and poor in genocidal proportions." Click the link to hear the rest of Eric Mann's commentary.

TRPT National Day of Action

Ian Sawyer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:48:03 -0700

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BRU Youth Leader Testifies at MTA: Demands 500 more buses

Cesar Chavez — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:13:58 -0700

BRU member Cesar Chavez testifies at the July 23rd MTA Board Meeting, demanding that the Clean Air and Economic Justice plan be included in the MTA's Long Range Transportation Plan. Click here to read the blog and see him speak!

BRU members testify at MTA: LRTP must include Clean Air and Economic Justice!

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:02:52 -0700

Leaders from South LA and Boyle Heights get in front of the MTA board member to demand major changes in the MTA's Long Range Transportation Plan. Watch the video testimony and read their reflections.

Bus Riders Union Organizes to Stop the Nationwide Transit Crisis

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:25:48 -0700

BRU members equipped with cell phones jumped on the buses to encourage bus riders to make phone calls to their congressmembers to co-sponsor H.R. 2746, a bill in the House introduced by Congressmember Carnahan (MO), that will allow 30-50% of federal transit dollars to be invested into transit operations.

National Day of Action Slide Show

Gabriel Strachota — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:43:58 -0700

See pics of BRU members fighting for more operations funds from the federal transportion bill.

S.E. Anderson & Horace Campbell: Obama's Africa Visit and the Reparations Movement

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:40:34 -0700

A leading Reparations scholar/activist and an expert on liberation movements in Africa and the African diaspora discuss President Obama's visit to and address in Ghana. What does it mean for Africans and people in the African diaspora struggling for reparations for Western colonialism and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and for US-Africa relations today?

Eva Golinger: Update on Honduras Coup, US role, and international response

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:50:08 -0700

Journalist, lawyer and the author of "The Chavez Code" breaks down three weeks since the coup against Honduran President Mel Zelaya by the Honduran military. What forces in the US have backed the coup conspirators and what is the status of international efforts to return Zelaya to power?

National Day of Action for Transit Operations Funds

Sunyoung Yang — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:32:56 -0700

Join us July 22nd in Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, New York City and Portland! We're calling on the Obama Administration and Congress to break with the last two decades of favoring toxic highway expansion.

Bus Riders Union Work Featured in Urban Habitat's Race, Poverty and the Environment

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:29:36 -0700

Manuel Criollo, Lead Organizer of the Bus Riders Union, interviewed by Race, Poverty and the Environment, Spring 2009 Edition.

La Opinion investigates Truancy Tickets

Lisa Adler — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:34:15 -0700

The most read Spanish language newspaper in LA covered our testimonies at the LAUSD Board on truancy tickets. The reporter interviewed our organizers and members, but he also further investigated the issue by interviewing other high school students and parents as well as school police.

Potholes in the Stimulus Plan - Why isn't Mass Transit Part of the Package?

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:53:19 -0700

We are featured in this piece in a Slate publication called "Big Money". It does a good job at showing how the stimulus transportaion funds follow the status quo of federal transit funds that virtually fund exclusively the expansion of highways over public transportation. It's titled, "Potholes in the Stimulus Plan - Why isn’t mass transit part of the package?" by Amy Tennery.

Traci Kato-Kiriyama & Sue Jin Kim: The 10th Anniversary Party of TN KAT’s Tuesday Night Café

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:59:50 -0700

Tuesday Night Café founder organizer and one of the party's regular performers discuss the even'ts 10-year contribution to LA's Asian/Pacific Islander community performing arts scene and the role of culture and performance in consciousness-raising. Includes performance by singer/songwriter Sue Jin Kim.

Lisa Fu & Tina Ling: Organizing Asian/Pacific Islander immigrant women and the Healthy Nail Salon Campaign

Tammy Bang Luu — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:26:25 -0700

The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative is using policy advocacy, research, industry outreach, worker organizing and education strategies to take on hazardous health and working conditions faced by mostly immigrant Asian/Pacific Islander women in the cosmetology industry. Discussion with Collaborative Coordinator and a legal advocate from Asian Law Caucus.

At Mayoral Inauguration, BRU LACAN and SAN Challenge Police Expansion, Stand for Human Rights

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:20:09 -0700

As Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa prepared to enter his second term as Mayor of Los Angeles, the Bus Riders Union, Los Angeles Community Action Network and South Asian Network made a deliberate choice to take public our struggles with him about policing.

Organizers Hold Free Speech Ground Against Police

Becky Dennison — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:34:01 -0700

As usual, General Services police and LAPD combined forces to attempt to curtail our free speech rights and our right to public space.

Bill Fletcher Jr. & David Swanson: Assessing Obama after 5 months--Fulfilling the promised change or a presidency in trouble?

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:14:39 -0700

Two progressive writer/activists--Black Commentator Executive Editor Bill Fletcher Jr. and Washington Director of Democrats.com David Swanson--take stock of the Obama Administration so far. Should progressives still be in "wait and see" mode or is this a presidency in trouble?

In the Media Spotlight: BRU Rally at Mayor's Inauguration

Anson Stewart — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:50:35 -0700

BRU's rally at Mayor Villaraigosa's Inauguration yesterday received extensive media coverage. Along with our allies from the South Asian Network, and the Los Angeles Community Action Network, we were calling on the mayor to reduce his prioritization of police funding over social services.

Clean Air Economic Justice Plan

Nicole Eng — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:39:53 -0700

The Bus Riders Union’s Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan is a proposal to greatly expand Los Angeles County’s public transportation infrastructure and to advance a new bus-centered model for urban transportation and economic development. Document download is available now.

BRU Launches Policy Paper: Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan

Esperanza Martinez — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:33:23 -0700

Eva Golinger: The Coup in Honduras and the Political Backdrop

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:50:51 -0700

Journalist, lawyer and the author of "The Chavez Code" breaks down the coup against Honduran President Mel Zelaya by the Honduran military, the political context that led to it, and the international response.

Vijay Prashad: Understanding Class and Power Struggle Behind Iran's Protest Movement

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:29:41 -0700

The expert on history and politics of the Third World breaks down the protest movement in Iran and the underlying class dynamics and political powers struggles behind the accusations of electoral fraud and the state crackdown on dissent.

Oscar Sanchez: The Arrest of Gang Intervention Leader Alex Sanchez

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:55:59 -0700

The brother of arrested gang intervention leader Alex Sanchez discusses Alex's path from being part of the Mara Salvatrucha to internationally recognized activist for gang reconciliation, the shocking conspiracy charges brought by the FBI, and the what people can do to support Alex's defense.

Blueprint for the FSTA Is Out!

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:43:28 -0700

The first draft of the reauthorization bill has been released by Oberstar's committee. We will be putting out a full analysis in a few weeks but a picture is coming into focus...

Stopping MTA Rush Vote on 2009 Long-Range Plan

Esperanza Martinez — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:43:37 -0700

Last Tuesday, MTA gave us just two days' notice of a special "workshop" on the 2009 Long-Range Transit Plan. This "workshop" was actually where they wanted to adopt the 2009 LRTP. The public has not seen a version of the LRTP since 2008! We knew we had to stop this undemocratic, unethical vote.

A Letter to Mayor Villaraigosa re: MTA's Long Range Transportation Plan

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:31:41 -0700

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TRPT Packs D.C. Briefing Room: Advocacy Day 2009 Report

Francisca Porchas — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:34:08 -0700

On Tuesday, June 9th, ten different organizations from across the country, including our allies from Transportation Equity Network (TEN) joined Transit Riders for Public Transportation (TRPT) for their first national Advocacy Day on the Hill. The first half of the day organizers from across the country met with at least 30 meetings with the staff of congressional leaders. The Advocacy Day culminated with a Congressional Briefing hosted by TRPT and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano on the importance of greatly expanding permanent transit operating assistance funding in the next federal surface transportation act...

People's Poetry Night brings down the house

Daniel Kim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:19:20 -0700

Join us for our First Advocacy Day in D.C

Francisca Porchas — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:17:05 -0700

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Hector Perla & Alexis Stoumbelis: Inauguration of FMLN President Mauricio Funes in El Salvador (Salvadoran Elections Part III)

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:47:39 -0700

Hector Perla & Alexis Stoumbelis: Inauguration of FMLN President Mauricio Funes in El Salvador (Salvadoran Elections Part III)

Daphne Wysham, Cecil Corbin-Mark, Tom Goldtooth: The American Clean Energy and Security Act and Climate Justice

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:03:23 -0700

Three leaders in the climate justice movement breakdown the American Clean Energy and Security Act under consideration in Congress right now. Why dangers does this bill, also known as Waxman-Markey, present? What policy alternatives exist and what can activists for climate justice do about it?

Tap Card Changes Would Hurt Student and Low-Income Bus Riders

Duyen Tran — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:16:08 -0700

The MTA's transition to the Tap Cards undermines the efforts the Bus Riders Union has committed to ensuring public transit affordability and accessibility. The Tap Card purchase imposes a $2 tax/fare increase to public transit that creates further financial burden to low-income bus riders and deters discretionary riders from investing in public transit use. Student discounted bus passes that were readily accessible on school campuses through the Student Bus Pass Campaign victory are threatened by the Tap Card transition as the new Metro Student Tap Card re-instates the application process and limits the venues from which the discounted bus passes can be acquired.

Kai Wright: A Fragile Union -- Race, Gay Marriage, and the LGBTQ Rights Movements

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:10:14 -0700

A veteran journalist on race and sexuality discusses Proposition 8 and the racial fault lines inside LGBTQ movements. 40 years into the movement for sexual freedom, Wright comments, the multihued cry against a universally felt oppression usually breaks down into deeply segregated, often opposing parts, along race lines.

False Choices, Unhealthy Relationships and California’s May 19th Elections

Damon Azali-Rojas — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:34:51 -0700

Have you ever been in an unhealthy relationship? Has it been because in some way you enabled your partner to continue to behave in unhealthy ways? Unfortunately when it comes to our relationships to policy makers in Sacramento we continue to enable unhealthy choices that in the end affect us in dire ways. Resources that we need to have sustainable, well-educated and healthy communities are being given away to corporations through tax breaks while the legislators increase our taxes; spend billions of dollars on freeway and rail expansion that exacerbates global warming; construct shiny new prisons and hire prison guards and police while the golden state's schools are crumbling and teachers and counselors are being cut.

Eveline Shen & Rocio Cordoba: Reproductive justice for women of color, immigrants, and young people

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:41:12 -0700

The Directors of Asian Communities For Reproductive Justice and California Latinas for Reproductive Justice discuss the growing national reproductive justice movement and the intersections of race, gender, class and national oppression that impact the reproductive choices of women of color, working class women, and immigrants.

Spring Break Take Action

Kendra Williby — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:20:33 -0700

As a young black womyn, I think back to my experiences attending public school where I was often the only person of color in the honors or advanced classes. I think about what it would have meant to have a space with other working class and students of color to discuss our concerns about the future of our people, our histories from a womyn’s and oppressed nationality perspective, build camaraderie and support with my fellow peers and most important gains the skills and knowledge to shift our conditions and history...

Check out what happened at the No to Pre-Prisons Community Meeting

Lisa Adler — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:35:12 -0700

On April 23rd we held our first community meeting on "truancy" tickets and school police conduct...find out more and learn how to get involved!

Pat Alviso & Devon Read: Veterans and military families say no to war in Iraq and Afghanistan

Eric Mann — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:24:55 -0700

A Chicana mother of a 3-tour soldier of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and an ex-Marine who served in Iraq discuss the necessity of ending the wars and what military families and veterans are doing about it.

Ajamu Baraka: The UN World Conference Against Racism, Obama, and the US boycott

Eric Mann — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:34:18 -0700

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Oregon Joins The Campaign

Francisca Porchas — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:23:11 -0700

We are glad to welcome Organizing People, Activating Leaders (OPAL) and the newly formed Portland Transit Riders Union to our national campaign. A third organization, Oregon Action, is currently deliberating joining. We also held extensive discussions with many new allies in the state. Oregon is extremely important because Congressman Peter DeFazio is the chair of one of the two main committees drafting the federal surface transportation act...

Westchester students petition against teacher layoffs

Lisa Adler — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:43:51 -0700

Punished For Coming To School

Edith Honorato — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:17:22 -0700

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Michal Goldman: At Home in Utopia, a new film on the Jewish immigrant Communist Tradition

Eric Mann — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:59:21 -0700

"The veteran documentary filmmaker discusses her new film on the United Workers Cooperative Colony - aka the Coops -- in the Bronx. There, Jewish immigrant families, many of them Communists, built a utopian new home for themselves in their new country, challenged racial barriers, and engaged in the mass struggles of the day."

Rose Braz, Arnoldo Garcia, Roger White: Prisons on Overdrive in the Post 9/11 Era -- A Roundtable Discussion.

Damon Azali-Rojas — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:05:21 -0700

Three on-the-ground experts break down prison expansion, immigration enforcement, and the War on Drugs in the 21st Prison/Police State. What are key developments and key fronts of the fightback in the current period?

What I liked this year about Spring Break Take Action

Jackie Hill — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:52:51 -0700

Spring Break Take Action this past week really challenged me-in a good way. SBTA teaches us to communicate to our people that we have a common struggle.

Reflections on Spring Break political education

Cristian Rendón — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:51:05 -0700

The discussions in the last few days of Spring Break Take Action have a connection to the topic of Prison Industrial Complex. This is a major issue that needs to be dealt with. Reality is, this is actually something that has a negative affect on many of us, if not directly then indirectly. It affects us in the sense that it can lead to you being separated from family members, like not being able to have a relationship with your own father, mother or any other person.

The Bus Riders Union Transit Model

Ryan Snyder — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:15:59 -0700

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Reverend Lucius Walker Jr: Shifting winds in US Cuba policy

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:42:14 -0700

Pastor for Peace founder explains why, after 47 years of trade embargo, now is the moment for a overhaul of US Cuba policy. On Obama lifting travel resrictions, the Congressional Black Caucus delegation, and the upcoming Summit of the Americas.

Thinking about the War on Drugs at SBTA

Jahmal Rivas — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:25:31 -0700

My name is Jahmal, and today we read and discussed this extremely interesting article on the Drug War by Graham Boyd. This 'war' on drugs is paralleled to America's dark history of slavery, seeing as how the number of black men in jail is equals the number of black men enslaved in the 1820s.

Atlanta Transit Riders Union – Atlanta Jobs With Justice: Statement On MARTA Financial Crisis

Terence Courtney — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:31:05 -0700

First day on the buses with Spring Break Take Action

Kassie Walters — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:15:50 -0700

Today was the first day we went out on the buses to organize people. Honestly it was very interesting, because it was the first time that I have actually tried it. It was kind of awkward because you're on a bumpy metro bus trying to keep your balance and hand out flyers at the same time, lol! The best conversation I had was with a man who worked for LAUSD, because... well...he works for LAUSD!

My first day at Spring Break Take Action

John Salinas — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:23:48 -0700

My name is John Salinas, I am a 9th grader at North Hollywood High School. I have been a member of the BRU for 3 months. What I really liked about my first day in Spring Break Take Action is how easily I spoke out because normally I am a shy person. I usually do not engage in a conversation, I just step back and let other people speak. I'm usually shy because I'm afraid of responding wrong or saying something that I think may not be suitable for the discussion.

Omar Sosa and John Santos: Afro-Caribbean music, culture, politics and spirituality

Damon Azali-Rojas — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:10:27 -0700

Two Grammy nominated Latin Jazz musicians talk with Damon Azali-Rojas about their lives and careers, the music they have made together and separately over the years, and some of the cultural and political meaning of music drawn equally from the cultural traditions of Africa and the Americas.

“Public Transportation NOT Truancy Tickets”

Lisa Adler — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:09:42 -0700

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Interview with Laura Flanders, Grit TV--Transit operations crisis, 80/20 and the climate future

Francisca Porchas — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:17:27 -0700

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Mark Rudd: My life in SDS and the Weather Underground

Eric Mann — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:16:50 -0700

An icon of the New Left talks with Eric Mann, fellow veteran of Students for a Democratic Society, about his years as an activist in SDS, a fugitive in the Weather Underground, and what reflections and lessons learned from that period can teach movement activists today.

We Want Human Rights in Los Angeles, Not a Growing Police State!

Lisa Adler — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:24:40 -0700

Community Organizations from across Los Angeles Call on Mayor Villaraigosa and other City Leaders to Support Healthy Communities in this Year's Budget!

Reese Erlich: The real story of US policy and the future of Cuba

Eric Mann — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:22:01 -0700

The veteran progressive journalist talks with Eric Mann about the findings of his book, the state of the revolution in the post-Fidel era, and what Obama’s Cuba policy will look like. His probing exposé, Dateline Havana, offers a close look at U.S. Cuba policy and the future of Cuba, from politics to the island’s music and art.

Ticketing towards prisons: LAUSD’s truancy tickets and the pre-prisoning of our youth

Lisa Adler — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:22:32 -0700

Did you ever come late to school? Of course, we all did. You'd get a look from the teacher, a warning about your grades, or even detention. Well, times have changed. Being 15 minutes late can now get you handcuffed by school police and issued a ticket for $250 with a mandatory day in court. Black and Latino students have been telling us about their experiences with these "zero tolerance" policies.

Hector Perla & Esther Portillo: Historic FMLN victory in El Salvador! (Salvadoran Elections Part II)

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:27:53 -0700

Solidarity organizer Esther Portillo reports live from El Salvador with scholar-activist Hector Perla on the how the FMLN made history, going from armed rebel movement to winners of the 2009 presidential election. Breaking down how journalist turned candidate Mauricio Funes and thousands of FMLN cadre beat back 20 years of rightwing ARENA rule.

Bill Fletcher: Rising to the occasion -- Reimagining socialism

Eric Mann — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:07:43 -0700

The Black Liberation and Labor Movement veteran talks with Eric Mann about his recent article co-authored with Barbara Ehrenreich in The Nation titled "Rising to the Occasion -- Reimagining Socialism." On the lessons of past socialist experiments and forging a new vision.

BRU members speak out on Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan

Gabriel Strachota — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:27:28 -0700

Series of video interviews showcase BRU leaders on their Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan.

Maria Ester Tejada, Presente!

Esperanza Martinez — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:25:19 -0700

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Walden Bello: The past, present, and future of the World Social Forum

Tammy Bang Luu — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:04:41 -0700

Filipino scholar-activist Walden Bello has been the first World Social Forum in 2001. In conversation with Tammy Bang Luu, he takes stock of the World Social Forum project and international social movements and declares the dawn of a new era of global social democracy.

Nina Moreno: Children's Defense Fund takes on the cradle-to-prison pipeline

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:06:33 -0700

Children's Defense Fund organizer breaks down why a black boy born in 2001 has a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison in his lifetime and a Latino boy a 1 in 6 chance? What are the conditions facing children of color and poor children that put them on the pipeline to prison rather than to college and good jobs? And what is the Children's Defense Fund doing about it.

Truc Nguyen: Exposing the dangerous new criminal DNA database

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:46:10 -0700

An expert on criminal DNA databases breaks down this frightening new aspect of the prison/police state in the US. On the significance of California Proposition 69, the current and potential future use and abuse of DNA databases by the government, and the impacts for communities of color.

Stimulus Package Lands at MTA

Daniel Kim — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:09:34 -0800

At today's MTA monthly board meeting, BRU organizers and members began struggling with the MTA over how it will use Obama Stimulus funds.

The good, the bad

BRU Planning Committee holds annual retreat

Daniel Kim — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Reflections from the World Social Forum, Belem, Brazil

Sunyoung Yang — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:41:46 -0800

The World Social Forum officially opened with a march. In the heat, in the pouring rain, it was confusion, excitement, celebration, thousands of people packed together in the street. People of all ages danced to the rhythms of the bantucada players (Brazilian street drum corps) while other groups such as the Indigenous delegations from the Andes and the Amazon marched waving the rainbow colored Wiphala flags.

Westchester HS reaches 250 incident form returns

Daniel Kim — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Westchester students reached a milestone in documenting the criminalization of youth in schools. They have collected 2500 incident forms (link to form and action) since beginning last October.

The Omnivorous Police/Prison State and the California "Budget Crisis"

Damon Azali-Rojas — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

So let's look at how the police/prison growth industry has been affected by the economic downturn. At a time when the California government can't pay its bills or cut welfare checks to the neediest, a time when it is sending IOUs for tax returns, it is driving forward (guns a blazin') with the largest prison construction project in the world. We're talking about AB 900 and its evil twin ABX1-10.

Edward Hailes: Defending voting rights

Eric Mann — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:53:47 -0800

Advancement Project civil rights attorney Edward Hailes asks if the criminal theft of the Presidential election in 2000 through the purging of thousands of Black voters could happen again in 2008?

New EPA Chief At WE ACT Conference, What's Our Next Move?

Francisca Porchas — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:49:15 -0800

To understand how monumental it is for Lisa Jackson to be the new EPA chief, you have to look at history. Traditionally, heads of the EPA have been for the most part white men praised for how much money they saved industry....

Ali Abunimah, Huwaida Arraf & Amal Sabawi: The crisis in Gaza

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:19:30 -0800

Free Gaza Movement activist Huwaida Arraf, Electronic Intifada co-editor Ali Abunimah and reporting live from Gaza, Amal Subawi discuss how a months-long Israeli blockade has created a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. How will Obama and the rest of the world respond?

Jean Friedman-Rudovsky: Bolivia's new constitution

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:48:16 -0800

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Rose Braz and Guillermo Mayer: Budgets, stimulus, prisons and buses

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:51:48 -0800

Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) spokesperson Rose Braz and Public Advocates civil rights attorney Guillermo Mayor unmask California's budget crisis, prison juggeraut, and future of public transportation.

Meet Natasha and Julio—Newly Elected to BRU Planning Committee

Manuel Criollo — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:26:23 -0800

Held at our January monthly meeting, this year’s annual Planning Committee elections were a window into how members become leaders. This year, two Bus Riders Union members have been elected for their first terms on the Planning Committee. Each represents major age groups and regions of L.A.’s bus ridership. Natasha is a mother of 4 boys who lives in South LA and Julio is a 21-year old student from the San Fernando Valley. In their speeches, you can hear....

Organizers Speak at 20th Anniv WE ACT Conference

Daniel Kim — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Esther Portillo: Salvadoran elections

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:29:27 -0800

Southern California-based Salvadoran activist, Eshter Portillo, talks about Path to Power: FMLN wins big in Legislative Elections

Stacy Perlata and Skipp Townsend: Crips & Bloods: Made in America

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:01:17 -0800

Offering unprecendented access into the world of active gangs, a new film looks at culture and context for the Bloods and Crips...

Rabab Ibrahim Abdulhadi & Ziad Abbas: The siege of Gaza

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:27:03 -0800

Two veterans of the Palestinian movement, Rabab Ibrahim and Ziad Abbas, discuss the Israeli Siege of Gaza and the trajectory of Palestinian Struggle.

Kali Akuno, Michael Letwin & Sara Kershnar: The Palestine solidarity movement in the US

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800

Black Liberation Movement organizer Kali Akuno, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network co-founder Sara Kershnar, and Assn. of Legal Aid Attorneys former president Michael Letwin discuss what role the Black Liberation Movement, the Labor Movement and the Jewish Community play in building a Palestine Solidarity Movement in the US.

Eric Mann: Film review of Revolutionary Road

Eric Mann — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:00:18 -0800

Revolutionary Road - A Road Not Taken. Film review by Eric Man.

Cecil Corbin-Mark: The climate crisis and obama

Eric Mann — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

WE-ACT for Environmental Justice climate policy expert and environmental justice organizer Cecil Corban-Mark asks whether or not the free market solutions that created the climate crisis should be used to fix it.

Victor Wallis: Capitalist and socialist responses to the ecological crisis

Eric Mann — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

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Jerry Tucker & Greg Shotwell: The auto industry bailout and the UAW

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:09:55 -0800

Two longtime rank and file activists in the United Auto Workers, Jerry Tucker and Greg Shotwell, talk about the UAW and the US Auto Industry at the Crossroads.

Bill Fletcher: Obama and the strategy of relying on good faith

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:00 -0800

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Eric Mann: Obama and the CIA

Eric Mann — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:44:55 -0800

Member of the stragety center, Eric Mann, says contrary to the popular illusions of liberals and many on the Left, Barack Obama is not in charge of the system; the system is in charge of him.

Glen Ford: Obama's cabinet choices and the false promises of Obamania

Eric Mann — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:29:22 -0800

Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report and previously co-founder and host of America's Black Forum, Glen Ford, says when you give the War Portfolio to the Warmongers and the Treasury Portfolio to the speculative bankers, you are demonstrating your intention to have continuity between the Bush Administration and yours.

Nikolas Kozloff: Venezuelan elections and the future of the Bolivarian Revolution

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:45:45 -0800

Author of "Revoltuion: South America and the Rise of the New Left.", Nikolas Kozloff, answers the question, does Venezuela under Hugo Chavez remain on a revolutionary course?

Elmer Kabong La Bog: Political repression and resistance in the Philipines

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:52:05 -0800

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Vijay Prashad: The Mumbai attacks and political fallout in India

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:25:56 -0800

Expert on South Asian history and politics, Vijay Prashad, answers the question, if the Mumbai attacks are India's "9/11", will the Indian government respond with their own version of the Bush doctrine?

Winona Laduke: Indigenous Peoples and the necessity of clean energy

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:30:20 -0800

Nationally recognized indigenous environementalist, Winona Laduke, breaks down the impacts of dirty energy on indigenous peoples throughout the US

Robin D.G. Kelley: Obama and the Black Liberation Movement

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:33:50 -0800

Black historian, scholar, and activist Robin D.G. Kelley, answers the question, what does Obama's election mean in the long view of the Black Struggle for freedom and liberation?

Fernando Guerra: Race, polls and the California election

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:38:55 -0800

An Elections Expert, Fernando Guerra, Breaks Down Important Results and Dispels Myths

Adrian Acosta & Valerie Wagner: Race and Proposition 8

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:44:42 -0800

Latino and Black LGBT activists, Adrian Acosta and Valerie Wagner, talk about the Prop 8 Fallout: The LGBT community, race, the wedge politics played to perfection.

Monica Wooters & Kristin Bricker: Felipe Calderon and Plan Merida in Mexico

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:03:51 -0800

Chiapas-based journalist Kristin Bricker and human rights activist Monica Wooters, answer the question, is US policy making Mexico into another Colombia?

Rocio Cordoba, Greg Akili & Shiu-Ming Cheer: Communities of color and state and national elections

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:50:44 -0800

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Javier Angullo: Defeating Prop 8, California's proposed gay marriage ban

Eric Mann — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:24:47 -0800

From the No on 8 Campaign, Javier Angullo, talks about another rightwing attack on civil rights in California.

Nancy Stengel & Michael Rivera: The longterm care workers in SEIU

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:27:51 -0800

Rank and file leaders of United Health Care Workers West, Nancy Stengel and Michael Rivera, take on SIEU president.

Pete White: "Safer Cities" and the criminalization of homelessness

Manuel Criollo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:52:30 -0800

Director of Los Angeles Community Action Network, Pete White, says cleaning up downtown means a police assault on homeless people…

Ruben Solis: Southwest Workers Union's 20th anniversary

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:08:57 -0800

Founder of SWU, Ruben Solis, talks about 20 years of organizing in the Southwest. Workers unite!

Loyda Colon: The murder of Sean Bell

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Member of the justice comittee, Loyda Colon, talks about police aquitted of Sean Bell's murder.

Pete White: Villaraigosa calls for more police

Manuel Criollo — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, Pete White, talks about Villaraigosa's call for increased police funding and cuts in social services.

Bill Quigly: Haiti hunger riots

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:31:35 -0800

Human rights lawyer and law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, Bill Quigly, talks about his recent article.

Clayton Thomas-Mueller: Extracting Canada's tar sands to the core

Tammy Bang Luu — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Member of the Indigenous Envrionmental Network, Clayton Thomas-Muelle, talks about how does Alberta's tar sandsfeeds our oil addiciton.

Winning Lessons from A Civil Rights Battle--MTA Board Rejects Service Cuts

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:34:48 -0800

We are very pleased to announce that yesterday, April 24th, 2008, the MTA Board of Directors unanimously rejected a series of proposed service cuts to local bus service which threatened the mobility of thousands of bus riders. This important victory comes after 3 months of intense organizing by our members, organizers, bus riders and allies. There are many lessons to be learned from this campaign....

The Wire: Actors Wendell Pierce & Andre Royo

Eric Mann — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:16:55 -0700

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Roberto Lovato: "How Immigrant Crackdowns Build the National Security State"

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:11:52 -0800

A contributing Associate Editor with New America Media, Roberto Lovato, talks about how immigrant crackdowns build the national security state.

Eric Mann: Clinton and McCain

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:56:54 -0800

Clinton and McCain: Conservative Bedfellows

Zachary Norris: Proposition 6 and the Books Not Bars Campaign

Manuel Criollo — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:37:23 -0800

Director for the Books Not Bars campaign at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, California, Zachary Norris, talks about Prop 6--14 year olds tried as adults!?

The Wire: Sonja Sohn and Rafael Alvarez

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:27:19 -0700

Starring in The Wire, the HBO series, Sonja Sohn and Rafael Alvarez, talk about the show with Eric Mann.

Carlos Montes: Chicano civil rights

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:10:42 -0700

A leader of the Chicano Blowouts in the 1960s, Carlos Montes, joins us to share his story of protest and resistance.

Jorge Mariscal: Chicano anti-war activism

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:27:06 -0700

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Rachel and Richard: Censoring the truth

Manuel Criollo — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:50:47 -0700

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Superpasajera Battles the MTA Grim Reaper

Geoff Ramsey-Ray — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:53:18 -0800

Support Superpasajera against service cuts and fare increases!

BRU Slows Down Pro-Fare Increase Forces on MTA Board and Protects Senior Age at 62

Geoff Ramsey-Ray — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:29:20 -0800

MTA Staff is Ordered to Take Fare Policy Back to the Drawing Board and Maintain Senior Age at 62 for All Senior Fares

Eva Golinger: Venezuela's consitutional referendum

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:12:18 -0700

Author of The Chavez Code and Bush vs. Chavez, Eva Golinger speaks on Venzuelan national referendum.

Sunyoung Yang: Bus only lanes and climate change

Sunyoung Yang — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:39:54 -0800

Bus Riders Union and Strategy Center Clean Air, Clean Lungs, Clean Buses campaign organizer, Sunyoung Yang, talks about Bus Only Lanes VS LA's Auto Addiction.

Barbara Becnel: Remembering Stanley Tookie Williams

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:59:42 -0800

Barbara Cottman Becnel, close friend of Stanley Tookie Williams, talks about the final days of ex-gang member's life.

Ryan Snyder: Bus vs. rail debate in LA

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:22:23 -0800

Urban planning expert Ryan Snyder speaks on why buses, not trains, are the future of mass transit.

Barbara Lott-Holland: Impact of MTA's racist fare hike

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:11:22 -0800

Chair of the Bus Riders Union Barbara Lott-Holland reflects on life on the bus and the real impact of higher fares on Black, Latino, and Asian working class bus riders.

Francisca Porchas: BRU strategy to stop the racist fare hike

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:17:46 -0800

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Lisa Kung: Prop 83, sentencing laws for sex offenders

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:57:52 -0800

Southern Center for Human Rights representative Lisa Kung discusses California 2006 ballot initiative--Proposition 83 re: sex offenders and draconian sentencing law.

Eveline Shen: Proposition 85 and the fate of reproductive rights

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:54:50 -0800

Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice, Eveline Shen, takes a closer look at a new initiative requiring parental notification for minor abortion and the question of reproductive access

Penny Newman: California's transportation bond measure Prop 1B and environmental racism

Lisa Adler — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

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Beverly Wright: Struggle to rebuild post-Katrina Black New Orleans

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Long time scholar and activist in the environmental justice movement, Beverly Wright speaks on the struggle for the right of return for Katrina Survivors and the remaking of New Orleans.

Kim McGill: Fight against gang injunctions and the California gang database

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:51:17 -0800

Los Angeles's Youth Justice Coalition representative Kim McGill takes a closer look at 100+ years of racist anti-gang measures in California

Clayton Thomas-Mueller: UN climate change conference, 2005 and the future of climate policy

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

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Sunita Narain: Kyoto Accords and the future of global climate policy

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:26:01 -0800

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Tom Goldtooth: UN climate conference in Montreal, 2005

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:28:58 -0800

Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, Tom Goldthooth, challenges market-based solutions and grassroots movements at the UN Conference.

Ed Avol: Air pollution and the health of children in Southern California

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

USC Medical Professor, Ed Avol, exposes the impacts of air pollution on the health of children and issues a call to action

Manuel Criollo & Cynthia Rojas: 2004 Salvadoran elections

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:00:22 -0800

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Ruthie Gilmore: California prison boom and the conditions of women prison

Damon Azali-Rojas — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:48:59 -0800

Radical geographer of the political economy of prisons in the neoliberalized state of California, Ruthie Gilmore, exposes the incarceration of women in California's exploding prison system.

Graham Boyd: Drug War as the new Jim Crow

Tammy Bang Luu — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:53:59 -0800

ACLU Civil Rights attorney Graham Boyd speaks on the fight against the War on Drugs as the civil rights struggle of the 21st Century.

An Environmental Justice Strategy for Urban Transportation in Atlanta

Eric Mann — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:35:15 -0800

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