Pulitzer-Winning Author Alice Walker on Obama's First White House Visit as President-Elect
One day after Barack Obama’s first visit to the White House as President-elect, we speak to the Pulitzer-winning novelist Alice Walker. In a recent open letter to Obama, Walker writes, “Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.” [includes rush transcript] http://www.theroot.com/id/48726
http://www.democracynow.org/features/winter_solider On Veterans Day, 15 Vets of Iraq and Afghanistan Face Trial for Antiwar Protest
Today, on Veterans Day, we turn to the voices of veterans who are speaking out about the crimes they committed and the impact of the war on their lives. http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/ Fifteen antiwar veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of disorderly conduct at a protest last month outside the final presidential debate. We speak to IVAW member Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, who refused an Iraq deployment after fighting in Afghanistan; and Aaron Glantz, http://www.warcomeshome.org/ an independent journalist who reported extensively from Iraq and has been covering the stories of American military veterans since his return. [includes rush transcript–partial] http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081124/glantzhttp://iwitnessvideo.info/
I-Witness Video Blog : The Policing of Protest
Iraq Vet Crushed By Police Horse at Presidential Debate
Video Captures Shocking Image
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2008
by Eileen Clancy and Emily Forman
Nick Morgan of Iraq Veterans Against the War is trampled by a police horse outside the last presidential debate. © Emily Forman, I-Witness Video
Watch video: YouTube blip.tv | QuickTimestill images
Last Wednesday, while presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain debated domestic policy issues in front of a live television audience at the Long Island campus of Hofstra University, Nassau county police faced off with a few hundred spirited but peaceful demonstrators. And using excessive force, police -- on horses and in full riot gear -- trampled several people including Iraq vet Nick Morgan. I-Witness Video member Emily Forman captured the ensuing bedlam, police violence, and injuries on tape.
Earlier that night, a group of protesters from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) had, in accordance with a pre-announced plan, assembled on the streets outside the Hofstra University venue where the debate was being held. IVAW had informed the police in advance that several of their members would be participating in a symbolic, non-violent, civil-disobedience action: attempting to deliver two questions for the candidates. The group has engaged in similar actions before, at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Last week, at the presidential debate, the veterans hoped to ask Barack Obama if he would support soldiers who do not want to be deployed to an illegally occupied Iraq, and to ask McCain why he has voted against funding for the Veterans Administration since the beginning of the war in Iraq.
But the veterans' efforts to stage a peaceful protest last week were countered by violent police actions. After a small group of veterans was calmly taken into custody in a choreographed arrest, the police became very aggressive. The police commander on the scene ordered the horses and lines of riot police to push the crowd from the street
onto the sidewalk. Mounted police officers charged into the assembled vets and other protesters, pushing the frightened people backwards and up onto the sidewalk. Riot police then forced some demonstrators to the ground, where police horses rode over them.
Former Army Reserve Sergeant Nick Morgan was caught under the hooves of a horse ridden by Nassau County police officer Quagliano. The horse stepped on Morgan's face, breaking his lower orbital (cheekbone) in three places. Bleeding heavily from his face, Morgan drifted in and out of consciousness until another police officer appeared and dragged him away from the scene. After a delay in which Nassau County police refused to take Morgan to the hospital, he was finally taken to Nassau County Medical Center, handcuffed to a gurney, given Motrin and a prescription for antibiotics, and sent on to jail.
Besides Morgan, several others were injured in the crush of horses and police, including Nadine Lubka, whose nose was broken. Fifteen people in total were arrested; they all received disorderly conduct charges.
Except for a brief Associated Press story and some video and photos uploaded to CNN's iReport website by citizen journalists, there has been almost no corporate media coverage of this story.
NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau and CCRB investigate theft of Flux's camera
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2007
FluxRostrum, whose videocamera was stolen by NYPD officers on October 30, 2006, is still fighting for possession of his camera and tape. Sources tell us that the Civilian Complaint Review Board has opened an investigation into the matter. The blogger Aldon Hynes sent a complaint to the NYPD via e-mail and received a follow-up phone call from a Sgt. Hanlon of Internal Affairs. Hynes reports
READ MORE >>Has Chief Bruce Smolka been muzzled?
Tuesday, 23 Jan 2007
by Eileen Clancy
>> PLAY VIDEO
After 26 years on the police force, two-star NYPD Chief Bruce Smolka is retiring and leaving for a security job at Revlon. The timing of his departure is both striking and curious. Since the Street Crimes Unit which he commanded was forced to close after the killing of Amadou Diallo, Chief Smolka has had a meteoric rise within the NYPD. He is currently the borough commander of Manhattan south of 59th Street,
which is the plum patrol assignment at his level within the department.
Why would Chief Smolka choose to leave now, at the height of his career, holding one of the most prestigious assignments the department has to offer?
http://www.warcomeshome.org/blogViolence in the heart of Afghanistan
Posted on: October 30, 2008 - 7:26am by Pratap ChatterjeeA suicide bombing deep inside the heart of an Afghan ministry in Kabul has raised concerns about the ability of the country’s new security forces to tackle the Taliban, the country’s former fundamentalist rulers who were ousted by the U.S. in 2001.
One person was killed and nine wounded on Thursday morning at the Ministry of Information and Culture in central Kabul in an explosion believed to have been set off by a man disguised as a police officer. Part of the Ministry wall was destroyed in the blast.
Afghanistan 2008: Seven Years After Invasion
Posted on: October 27, 2008 - 7:45am by Pratap ChatterjeeSeven years after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, the country faces an increasingly uncertain future. While it has made great strides forward, political and religious killings are increasingly common in Kabul and southern Afghanistan. Pratap Chatterjee and Nobu Sakamoto return to the country as part of a CorpWatch/KPFA collaboration to take stock.Pratap Chatterjee's blog
Winter Soldier On Capitol Hill * Live Blog
Posted on: May 14, 2008 - 3:55pm by KPFAThursday, May 15, 6am-10am PDT - Nine members of Iraq Veterans Against the War testify under oath before the Congressional Progressive Caucus about rules of engagement, the killing and abuse of civilians, the use of drop weapons, and the true consequences of the troop "surge". Hosted by Aimee Allison and Aaron Glantz. LiveBlog moderated by Rose Ketabchi.KPFA'sblog
Winter Soldier on Capitol Hill: Thursday, May 15, 6am-10am PDT
Posted on: May 14, 2008 - 2:42pm by KPFA
KPFA will broadcast the Winter Soldier hearing on Capitol Hill, where nine members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will testify under oath before the Congressional Progressive Caucus about rules of engagement, the killing and abuse of civilians, the use of drop weapons, and the true consequences of the troop "surge". The coverage of the special hearing to the Congressional Progressive Caucus will be hosted by Aimee Allison and Aaron Glantz, part of the team that recently was nominated for a Project Censored award for KPFA's coverage of the Winter Soldier gathering in Silver Springs, Maryland this March. Hearing participants will include CPC Co-Chairs Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, and Maxine Waters.
This broadcast is another program in KPFA/Pacifica's recent coverage of returning veterans' issues, including "Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan" and "The Crisis in Veterans' Healthcare."
KPFA's blog
"Shh!".... 1,000 veterans at VA attempt suicide every month
Posted on: April 22, 2008 - 10:05am by KPFA
In one e-mail made public during the trial, the head of the VA's mental health division, Dr. Ira Katz advised a media spokesperson not to tell reporters 1,000 veterans receiving care at the VA try to kill themselves every month. The e-mail beings with "Shh!..." Click here to read the email (pdf).
KPFA's
blog
Comment Here: "Crisis in Veteran's Healthcare" Broadcast Open Thread
Posted on: April 21, 2008 - 5:24pm by KPFATell us what you think, ask our hosts Aimee Allison and Aaron Glantz a question, or respond to what other people are posting! You can also send our on air hosts an email at vets@kpfa.org. Click here to post a comment, or read how others have responded. Some responses may be read during the April 22nd Crisis in Veterans' Health Care broadcast on KPFA.KPFA'sblog
KPFA Asks: "Support the Troops" has been a mantra of those supporting the Iraq War. What are your feelings about the slogan?
KPFA asks listeners: "Support the Troops" has been a mantra of those supporting the Iraq War. What are your feelings about that slogan, and the intent behind it? Click here to post your response, or read how others have responded. Some responses may be read during the April 22nd Crisis in Veterans' Health Care broadcast on KPFA.KPFA'sblog
KPFA Asks: What responsibility does the VA have in the suicides of US servicemembers? What if the veterans don't seek help?
Posted on: April 21, 2008 - 5:06pm by KPFAKPFA asks listeners: What responsibility does the VA have in the suicides of US servicemembers? What if the veterans don't seek help? Click here to post your response, or read how others have responded. Some responses may be read during the April 22nd Crisis in Veterans' Health Care broadcast on KPFA.Antiwar Soldier Promoted to Staff Sergeant
Posted on: April 15, 2008 - 10:05am by Aaron Glantz
One of the leading voices of dissent inside the U.S. Army has been promoted. Sergeant Ronn Cantu -- who signed a petition to Congress demanding the U.S. withdraw from Iraq and gave interviews to the news shows "60 Minutes" and "Democracy Now!", as well as IPS detailing his opposition -- has seen his rank upgraded to staff sergeant
Download this clip (mp3, 3.64 MBytes)
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