Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

From The Newswire:ART AND RESISTANCE! Come celebrate the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the ARTS IN ACTION space! Help support another year of creating an environment, which generates artistic and political dialogue and action. Keep the doors open for another year! Keep this independent cultural center alive! Arts in Action is a cultural and political collective housed in the Westlake/Pico Union area of Los Angeles. Our vision is to create an environment which generates artistic and political dialogue and action. BE THERE!

From The LA IMC:Arts In Action is a non hierarchical group of creative activists that have helped many good causes. The Pico Union studio space was the host of the anarchist anti war conference this past year. Fine silkscreen signs and t-shirts as well as paper mache sculptures have added vibrant life to many local struggles in los angeles. They offer several interesting classes and workshops to take part in.Contact Them!
More Info

On Friday, Feb. 28th, there will be a convergence outside Taco Bell Headquarters from noon to 4pm in support of the CIW and the hunger-strikers. Here's a schedule of this week's CIW solidarity events in Irvine.

Actor David Clennon star of the CBS drama ‘The Agency’ has reportedly become the target of a whispering campaign to get him fired in the wake of his anti-war statements. Clennon has spoken at both of LA’s recent major peace marches on Jan 11, and Feb 15.Ultra-conservative commentator Sean Hannity of WABC radio and Fox news are allegedly trying to get him fired after Clennon likened George W. Bush to Hitler and expressed disappointment in how CBS is using “The Agency” as a vehicle for pro-war propaganda on Hannity’s radio program, February 3, 2003
Listen here

The LA chapter of Refuse and Resist is asking people vote in an online poll in support of Clennon. More

On Friday, January 24, 2003, protesters gathered at the Westwood Federal Building on the 1 year anniversary of the raid on the home of the webmaster of raisethefist. On that day, agents of the FBI, Secret Service, LAPD, and the Sherriffs Dept entered Sherman Austin's home and confiscated his computer equipment (including the raisethefist servers and backup cd.) Other possessions taken included much of his literature.

The raid was allegedly conducted because bomb making directions were displayed on the site. Authorities uncovered a menacing Snapple bottle with a miniscule amount of a flamible liquid. Missing from the "destructive device" was any other object such as a wick to activiate or light the "device". Austin felt he had to accept a plea bargain that included three months in jail, five months in a half-way house, and years of supervised probation. On council's advice that the current legal climate regarding terrorism and activists makes it likely that he would be given a much more serious sentence if he didnt comply, he accepted this plea bargain .

The judge threw out this agreement after it was accepted, and insists that Austin should spend more than a year in jail. Six to twelve months is the typical time that someone with Austin's record is given for the charge. More.

The Coalition of Coalitions that organized Saturday's massive anti-war march and rally in Hollywood, estimate that 75-100,000 people turned out to protest against war on Iraq. Crowd estimates are always a tricky business, but if you doubt the organizers' estimate, check out this aerial shot; it's pretty convincing - this demonstration was HUGE. Across the southland, thousands more turned out to express their discontent in their localities. For many, this was the first time they'd gone to a demonstration. Keep uploading your stories, pictures, sounds, and video, and IMC will link them. (If we're missing your local event - just add your story to the newswire. Also, we want an estimate of how many people showed up - small events matter as much or more.) (PS. please resize photos to 600 or 800 pixels wide.)

Hollywood
estimated 100,000 people
The Heart and Soul of Los Angeles
photos: 1 (plus report), 2, 3, 4 (funny), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, posted Sunday 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 the aerial shot, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Corpus Delicti, 28, 29, 30, 31, posted Monday & after 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

50-80 Breakaway Marchers Arrested
A breakaway march of youth, Black Block, and others took down Sunset after the main march. It turned into a police confrontation and people were beaten and arrested. Discuss and debate.
Breakaway Demo Attacked
LAPD Brutality at Protest

audio 1, 2, 3, & KPFK
Newswire Highlight - a message from Saddam.

Long Beach estimated 1250-2000 people
Nearly 2000 march in Long Beach
Report from CSULB Campus Progressives
Press Telegram excerpt

Orange County
estimated 2,000 people (The Register count)
photos 1, 2. stories Report on Orange County Protest
audio

Santa Monica
estimated 5,000 people
photos 1, 2

Ventura
estimated 400 people
Report from Ventura

Palm Desert, Hemet and Northeast LA also had substantial anti-war demonstrations,

For the best coverage of all the F15 anti-war protests around the world: www.indymedia.org.

Also, in Downey there was a protest about the murder of Gonzalo Martinez by the DPD.