Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

In a major step for the U.S. labor movement, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1, to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In a February 22 letter to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, ILWU International president Robert McEllrath reported that at a recent coast-wide union meeting, "One of the resolutions adopted by caucus delegates called on longshore workers to stop work during the day shift on May 1, 2008 to express their opposition to the war in Iraq."
From the newswire: ILWU to Shut Down West Coast Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan by Internationalist Group
Website: here
More on: KPFK's Beneath the Surface (4/28/08 at 5:45 pm) and Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod(4/29/08)
Also: VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST SRIKE AGAINST WAR by Vermont AFL-CIO
From the calendar: Twin May Day Marches for All Workers! by MIWON | | Ventura County May Day: March for Dignity and Work by Frente Contra las Redadas
From the newswire: MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by CDIR-USA | | May Day March & United Rally for Immigrant Rights by by AJLPP | | Did Google Block ILWU Web Page? by A | | ¡Por un 1° de Mayo proletario y de lucha! by by PCInt. | | May Day 2008-The Internationale in Many Languages by & | | All Out to May Day 2008 March for Immigrant Worker Rights! by by Lee Siu Hin

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, March 23, 2008 -- Peace Vigils are being held across the region to mark the 4,000th US military death in the Iraq war. From the Newswire: Orange County Candlelight Vigil for 4,000 Fallen | | 4000 death vigil Downtown LA Federal Building | | Easter Day Vigil in Highland Park -- More vigils are planned for the week: Vigil to Honor 4,000 U.S. Troops Killed

For the sixth consecutive Easter, a peace demonstration was held in Highland Park at York and Figueroa. In keeping with tradition, there were signs with messages including "resurrect peace," "resurrect justice," "resurrect the planet," and "who would Jesus bomb?" Also, a potluck meal was shared with the local homeless, and there was an egg hunt.
Story and photos: Easter Day Vigil in Highland Park by R of the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Saturday, March 15, 2008 -- Protests were held in Hollywood, Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach to mark the fifth year since the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. An estimated 2,000 protesters gathered at Hollywood & Vine and marched a short eight block route for rally at the CNN building on Sunset. Hundreds marched in Santa Barbara and formed a human peace sign in a local park. In Orange County a Silent Peace March of about 300 people was held in Huntington Beach. Latest From the Newswire:

Hollywood: Hollywood Peace March 3-15-2008, Part 1 & Part 2 by Don Hodges | | CFWP at the M15 March by Hugh Stegman | | Photos from the Anti War Protest in Hollywood 3/15/2008 by Organic Tofu Vegan Burger
Santa Barbara: Anti-War March in Santa Barbara by ForestDefender
Orange County: Orange County Peace Coalition: "How Many More? Resist, Resist the War!" Part 1 & Part 2 by df
VIDEO by df
Santa Monica: Silent Walk for Peace in Santa Monica by sgibson

More local protests are planned this week: This Wednesday, 4:00 pm - End the War Protest in Oldtown Pasadena | | Wednesday 5:30 pm - Candlelight Vigil in Orange County | | March 19th - Protest at Hollywood recruitment center

UPDATE: More demonstrations and peace vigils continued into the week across the region. Wednesday night saw a reunion of local peace vigils at street corners throughout the city. Demonstrations were also held at military recruitment centers. Latest from the Newswire:

Santa Monica: Silent Walk for Peace in Santa Monica by sgibson
Pasadena: Pasadena Protest against the Iraq War by Steven Gibson
Boyle Hieghts: Roosevelt High Students Picket Recruitment Center In Boyle Hts. & Images from Today's Boyle Hts. Protest by A
Highland Park: Highland Park Protests U.S. Aggression in Iraq on Five-Year Anniversary by R of the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors
Rancho Cucamonga: Five years too many: Vigil in Rancho Cucamonga by Rockero

In a major step for the U.S. labor movement, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1, to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In a February 22 letter to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, ILWU International president Robert McEllrath reported that at a recent coast-wide union meeting, "One of the resolutions adopted by caucus delegates called on longshore workers to stop work during the day shift on May 1, 2008 to express their opposition to the war in Iraq."

From the newswire: ILWU to Shut Down West Coast Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan by Internationalist Group
More on: KPFK's Beneath the Surface (4/28/08 at 5:45 pm)
Also: VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST SRIKE AGAINST WAR by Vermont AFL-CIO