Activists Reclaim the Streets Against War
Submitted by marlon on May 5, 2008 - 8:20pm.
On
May Day, international worker's day, activists in Sarasota held a
Reclaim the Streets party to protest the US role in war at home and
abroad. Protesters shut down the street outside Vern Buchanan's office
in solidarity with workers all over the country who shut down ports and trucking routes in opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
Between 100-200 people participated in the festival of resistance, dancing, drumming, breaking piñatas, drawing on the street, and chanting. Police responded by arresting two people and eventually forcing demonstrators out of the street. A spirited spontaneous march through downtown followed the street party.
Anti-war Protestor Arrested For Climbing Lightpole
More interviews, video, and eye-witness accounts will be added as they're posted.
CIRV Starts Second IRV Initiative, Moves to Ban Business and Corporate Contributions in County
Submitted by viva la revolucion on April 23, 2008 - 4:11am.SARASOTA COUNTY REGISTERED VOTERS: Download, Print and Mail your signature to CIRV! Get 5 of your neighbors to sign it (good excuse to meet your neighbors)!
The Coalition for Instant Runoff Voting (CIRV) in Florida has begun their second initiative in Sarasota County for Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). This new initiative will also limit contributions to "natural born persons," effectively excluding corporate and business interests from donating for county elections.
Earth Day Protest Against SAVE Act (video)
Submitted by marlon on April 22, 2008 - 10:11pm.Activists in Sarasota, FL storm congressman Vern Buchanan's office on Earth Day to demand he withdraw support for the SAVE Act.
Newtown Redevelopment Plan Begins this Week
Submitted by Isabel on April 4, 2008 - 1:50am.On March 14th and 15th, the Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) held a
conference to educate residents and the public on the Newtown
Redevelopment Plan. William Russell, director of the Housing Authority
states that the plan will “replace 388 units of distressed public
housing with approximately 850 units of housing that will be one-third
public housing, one third affordable housing and one-third market
rate”.
The conference was organized by Janie Poe resident council president, Valerie Buchand, and the Orange Avenue, Courts, and Bertha Mitchell resident council president, Jackie Green. Both presidents are long-term Sarasota residents working to help families in public housing relocate and stay connected. In an interview two months ago, Buchand explained, “There is a lot more to moving a family out of the community than you may think.” Residents recieve Section 8 vouchers to move to other public housing. Buchand said, “some moved out of the city, some moved to other public housing, and some moved to Northport or Bradenton."
The conference was organized by Janie Poe resident council president, Valerie Buchand, and the Orange Avenue, Courts, and Bertha Mitchell resident council president, Jackie Green. Both presidents are long-term Sarasota residents working to help families in public housing relocate and stay connected. In an interview two months ago, Buchand explained, “There is a lot more to moving a family out of the community than you may think.” Residents recieve Section 8 vouchers to move to other public housing. Buchand said, “some moved out of the city, some moved to other public housing, and some moved to Northport or Bradenton."
All Power to Imagination! The Ivory Tower Meets Grassroots This Weekend at Conference on New College Campus
Submitted by A Roc on April 1, 2008 - 10:51pm.
Academia & Activism: The Unbridgable Chasm?
This is a source of constant debate amongst activists, academics and community organizers of all shapes and sizes. Do grassroots organizations have anything to learn from the Ivory Tower? Does the fact that an often-detached academia is two, five, ten years behind the times (when they don't miss the boat all together) make it irrelevant to movement? Does the nature of the division of labor in our society naturally create the unequal power relationship characterized by a 'vangard' of academics trying to direct the masses through policy and their 'superior knowledge'?!
There are no simple answers, and I will not pretend to try and tackle the issues here. Why would I when this weekend, there will be a powerful event in our own backyard that is down for the cause?
Anti-War Banner on US 41
Submitted by Isabel on March 24, 2008 - 3:38pm.
Film showing a banner drop on US 41 and Myrtle in Sarasota on the fifth anniversary of the occupation of Iraq.
Music by Snoop Doggy Dogg
Food for the People: Mad Farmer Liberation Front hosts Weekly Potlucks
Submitted by Anonymous on March 14, 2008 - 9:05am.by Jose Godinez 02/08
An Interview with spokeswoman Julia Onnie-HayThe Mad Farmer Liberation Front (MFLF) is a group of activists that hosts a community potluck every Monday at Gillespie Park. In the words of potluck host Julia Onnie-Hay, “This is grassroots, anarchist social services.”The name Mad Farmer Liberation Front comes from the title of a poem by Christian farmer-poet Wendell Berry.
“The process [of how the Potluck originated] was really an act of the Divine that came through going to church and praying together,” acknowledges potluck cook Julia Onnie-Hay . However, Julia also acknowledges that spirituality is not a driving factor for everyone in the group. “When people ask us if we’re a church, [we tell them that] we’re not a church,“ says Julia as we chat in her house and I type her words into my laptop.
Secure Bicycle Parking is Approved in Sarasota
Submitted by mikelmodem on March 8, 2008 - 11:23am.On February 27,2008, the City of Sarasota Planning Board met to consider 15 changes to theCity Zoning Code. After
apresentation by Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates (BPA) staff and members,
as wellas members of the Sarasota County Bicycle/Pedestrian/Trails
Advisory Committee(BPTAC), the Planning Board directed City Planning
staff to develop a zoningchange that requires secure bicycle parking,
in the form of lockers, chain-linkcages, or locked rooms, in future
city parking garages.
"Immigrants and the 2008 Elections: What is at Stake?": Commentary on Saturday's Immigration Forum
Submitted by Anonymous on February 28, 2008 - 5:04am.MISinformation. MISconceptions. MISdirection.
Such was the focus of Saturday’s Immigration Forum at First United Methodist Church of Sarasota (February 23, 2008) . Keynote speaker Maria Rodriguez, Director of the Florida Immigrants Coalition, presented the audience of eighty or so attendees with an array of facts and figures refuting claims propagated largely by political pundits. Informational booklets were handed out, presenting some of the well-known myths and realities about immigration, everything from employment to crime.
What of these MISs then?
Bond Money Needed to get activists out of jail
Submitted by Anonymous on February 19, 2008 - 5:50pm.
We need your help!
24 hours after hundreds of environmental protestors shut down the construction site of Florida Power and Light's natural gas power plant (see press release below), 23 activists are still in jail! Nine of them should be released shortly on their own recognizance, but 14 are awaiting bond at a total cost of $10,000!
The legal office is working hard to come up with the money to front the cost and we need donations ASAP to get these activists out of jail! We will also need money for legal defense for all 27 arrestees!
