Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

What started on May 1, 2006 as some of the largest political demonstrations in U.S. history for immigrants' rights have in 2008 brought together three fronts -- labor, immigrant, and antiwar -- in one struggle for peace and social justice.

The work stoppage at all 29 West Coast ports on May 1, 2008 by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) was an historic turning point for the U.S. labor movement. For the first time in more than seventy years, a major U.S. trade union led marches and a system-wide strike on May Day. And for the first time ever, it was not for economistic reasons, but for the political demand to end the disastrous and debilitating U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Story and photos: May Day revival on three fronts: labor, immigrant, and antiwar by Sharat G. Lin

On Thursday, May 8, the Ad-Hoc Working Group for Haiti launched a weekly vigil outside the Brazilian consulate in Beverly Hills for the return of Haitian human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antione. A weekly fast, begun last November and practiced around the world, continues.
Story/photos: A Weekly Vigil is Launched for Haiti and Kidnapped Human Rights Activist by Ross Plesset

Update: (5-15-08) Today was our second weekly vigil. Seven of us held our banner and signs and talked to pedestrians about the issue. There were lengthy and interesting conversations, and people signed our petition. Many of us continue to fast each week.

Update: (6-12-08) For over a month now, we have been standing here each Thursday with signs and banners. Today, nine of us turned out. Passing motorists seemed especially enthusiastic--even the double-decker Starline Tour buses honked. Pedestrians stopped and asked to learn more about the issue, and we got more signatures on our petition.

Update: (6-26-08) Today we held a large photo of Don White along with our usual signs. Don was an organizer of this vigil--the banner pictured above was his idea. Also, Wilson, a colleague of Lovinsky's, called from Haiti at his own expense to express his regret about Don. Seven of us were present.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Monday, May. 05, 2008 - Approximately 200 people gathered today in honor of Jose Fernando Pedraza, a Jornalero (day laborer), leader, and friend, who died while defending his right to be a worker in Rancho Cucamonga. Pedraza died after being struck by a car. The motorist is said to have been distracted by the protest when they hit Pedraza. A march to city hall was held demanding Pedraza's dying wish: a day labor center for the city. Full Story Day Laborer Remebered, 1 year after Killed in Rancho Cucamonga during Minutemen Protest by miss x

LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2008 – May Day demonstrations and marches were held throughout the region yesterday. Two marches converged downtown at 5th and Broadway in the late afternoon. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people took part in the downtown demonstrations. Although not as large as the past two years the marches were described as festive and high spirited. Immigrant rights was the primary focus of the demonstration, but other issues such as the Iraq war were featured as well.

Scattered student walkouts and sit outs also took place at a number of local high schools. Dockworkers at the port of Los Angeles staged a one day strike that halted port operations for the day. The dockworkers’ strike, which included all west coast ports, was called by the workers to protest the continuing US war on Iraq.
Reports from the newswire: Workers/Immigrants March Rally in LA on May 1 by AJLPP | | Venice High School Students Walk out of Class by Marcus | | May Day Time Line by LA-IMC | | May Day Strike Against the War Shuts Down All U.S. West Coast Ports by Internationalist Group | | MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by AJLPP

PHOTOS: Marcha Primero de Mayo by Oliver Santana | | MAY DAY 08 in LA by Marcus | | MARCH AND RALLY FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS! by AJLPP
VIDEO: ¡Afuera Con La Migra! May Day Video & May Day March in Downtown. Video by Que Chido

From Democracy Now: Report on dockworkers' strike
In related news: Did Google Block ILWU Web Page?

Video report from Oxnard: May 1, Oxnard : Farmworkers, Longshoremen, and Youth Take to the Streets by FCR-VC

LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2008 – Environmental activists from AmazonWatch with support from the LA Greens and other local groups paid a visit to Occidental Petroleum’s corporate headquarters today. Dressed up in Haz Mat uniforms demonstrators staged a mock toxic clean up outside the Oxy building in Westwood.

Activists are demanding that Oxy pay for the clean up of an area of the Amazon home to the Achuar people. Oxy is blamed for the poisoning of an entire ecosystem that the Achuar depend on for their survival. Today’s demonstration was the first of two planned for this week. The next protest will be held at Oxy’s shareholders meeting this Friday, May 2nd at 9am at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.From the Newswire: AmazonWatch Clean Up Crew Hits Occidental Petroleum Headquarters | | PHOTOS - From Oxy Protest | | "This is What a Clean-Up Looks Like!" by RP | | MP3 AUDIO – Protest at Occidental Petroleum Headquarters by A