Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

Through street theater (video here) and protest a message was sent to Congressman Xavier Becerra (District 34) lambasting his support of fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership (a secretive trade agreement described by Lauren Steiner as "NAFTA on steroids").

“If thing gets passed, it's going to make all of our food safety laws, all of our environmental safety laws moot," Steiner said. "They're going to be able to sue if we pass a ban on fracking here in L.A.” Also in jeopardy is internet freedom and prices for generic pharmaceuticals, and more U.S. jobs (which would be outsourced).

Some of Becerra's constituents had hoped to speak with a representative in his office. However, they were told by police that permission must first be obtained by the building's owner, the Chamber of Commerce. Steiner emphasized the irony that police--our public servants, ostensibly--where taking orders from private commerce. Permission was never granted . A field deputy for Becerra was reached via cell phone but claimed to be too busy to talk/listen.

Story and pictures: Protesting Xavier Becerra's Support of TPP by RP

For the last eight or so years, the Rose Parade has been the focus of activism on issues such as U.S. military aggression, calls for George W. Bush's impeachment, crimes by banksters, the endangered U.S. Constitution, China's oppression of Tibet, and this year a Sea World float (featuring "happy" orcas) was the target of animal rights activists. (According to the KPFK evening news (1-02-14) Wall Street was also depicted in an "unofficial" float entry near the beginning of the parade route. Discussion of it begins near the 30-minute mark.)

Nineteen animal rights activists were arrested for trying to block the Sea World float. Protesters at several locations along the route held up signs as the float passed. The float was accompanied by police, some in riot gear, in areas where activists were known to be. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of leaflets were distributed to parade spectators.

Story and pictures: Protesting Sea World at the Rose Parade by R. Plesset

(Photo above courtesy of Nicolas Tomas.)

The best quality organic fruits, vegetables, prepared specialties, and non-factory farmed animal products were all found at the Rawesome Food Club in Venice. That is, before the Federal Government (FBI) raided it and eventually shut it down. Raw goat milk was the much publicized reason for the raids, but what appears to have been unsaid is that Rawesome was just a coffee shop and one small intersection away from Whole Foods Market, a giant corporation.

. . . Alex Jones, a controversial radio host, interviewed James Stewart just this year. James told the story of how the Rawesome Food Club was destroyed by the Federal Government to a sympathetic host that described James as a Raw Food Advocate. Too bad the local lefties didn't show the same sympathy. Venice lost a unique free enterprise that provided awesome quality food.In Venice the Constitution and Bill of Rights have been broken concerning the rights of the poor. James and Rawesome assisted poor and unhoused people by providing donations, including vegetables and fruits to the vegetarian Venice Food Not Bombs chapter. Harassment of the poor and unhoused population of Venice, surveillance by Government Agencies, an FBI bust of a raw food club and large corporations moving into Venice (such as Whole Foods and Google) have brought together the excesses of oppressive government policies.

The combinations of government, corporations and abusive community groups have altered the bohemian character of Venice Beach. By using local and federal law enforcement to abuse and control the unhoused population and people who choose the freedom to drink raw goat milk.

Full story: A Venice Rawesome Story by Calvin E. Moss

Just 10 years after the Ballona Wetlands were acquired and preserved (an endeavor that took decades), they are again under attack. The Annenberg Foundation, which has done impressive work elsewhere, plans to purchase the wetlands, develop part of it, and restore Area C. The latter proposal has been described as "a phony restoration" to "give crony engineering companies some business" and "way too aggressive" for the highly- sensitive habitat. Annenberg claims their plans have been misrepresented, but there was no elaboration.

On Thursday, October 17, a demonstration was held outside the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills during that facility's very extravagant grand opening. Protest signs supported Annenberg's various plans, that include a pet rescue center, but lambasted any construction on or restoration of Ballona, which is among the remaining five percent of L.A.'s wetlands that has not been destroyed.

(Photo courtesy of the Wetlands Defense Fund.)

Story and photos: Ballona Wetlands Again in Jeopardy by R. Plesset

Update: Marcia Hanscom of Wetlands Defense Fund and Ballona Institute discusses recent developments and who we can contact to express our concerns on KPFK's Connect the Dots (4-28-14). (Available for about 90 days.) The discussion begins about half-way through the show.

On August 17-18, the weekly Eagle Rock peace vigil went for 24 hours (normally it's two hours on Saturdays). When asked why they were doing this, they said they cannot in good conscience let their neighbors ignore global warming, "The world isn't proceeding normally, so we cannot proceed normally." Besides signs (which addressed a variety of issues besides climate change), there was a teach-in led by Anne Porter of NELA Move to Amend, "Psychopaths in High Places;" live music; and videos, including one about mass transit.

On September 21, the Eagle Rock peace vigil participated in 350.org's national "Draw the Line" campaign. About 35 people from all over North East Los Angeles converged on the corner to gather signatures to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline would carry one of the dirtiest fossil fuels, "tarsands oil," from Canada, through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. It would threaten sacred lands, delicate eco systems, precious farmland, and the health of communities along the entire route. This action was a cooperative effort by local activist groups; North East Los Angeles Radical Neighbors for Peace through Justice (NELA Rad), Tar Sands Action SoCal, and SoCal Climate Action Coalition 350.

Story and pictures: All Nighter in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles California by Nina Zvaleko