On the 22st day (May 14th) of the University of Puerto Rico student strike: The situation in Puerto Rico has intensified. Over the last few days the university students have demonstrated heroic & militant resistance. Yesterday, at a huge assembly of students at the PR Convention Center, students overwhelmingly decided to to step up the 22-day takeover/strike at the University of PR despite intimidation & harassment attempts by the university administration.
The colonial government has responded with intolerance and repressive police tactics. On this day the riot police squad was mobilized against the students! Water has been cut off to the Rio Piedras campus, the campus dorms have been evacuated, and folks have been arrested for simply trying to pass water & food through the fences to the striking students.
The father of a striking student who was bringing food and water was beaten and then arrested.
Fortunately, the blockade was broken when hundreds of professors, parents, and supporters began to arrive with water and bags of food, which they successfully tossed over the fence and over the heads of the cops, unable to stop them in front of the TV cameras. In the face of this repression, hundreds of parents, workers, community leaders and concerned have joined the picket lines (at all the island campuses) to protect the striking students.
Later in the day, José Pérez, a disabled graduate student who has won the love and respect of the entire striking community for his militancy and dedication, was badly beaten, dragged on the floor, and arrested for “aggression” when he attempted to re-enter the campus, after leaving momentarily to take care of personal affairs. Professors and fellow students who tried to come to his aid were doused in pepper spray. Two more students have been also been arrested for unknown reasons.
This afternoon, the workers unions of Puerto Rico have announced a general strike (work stoppage) for Tuesday May 18th in unity with the student movement and to denounce the confrontational politics of the colonial government of PR.
A call has been made to all people & workers to mobilize in unity with the students at all the various UPR campuses on the island.
In NYC, the Network in Support of the Workers of PR CALLS for ALL TO DENOUNCE THE REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT AND FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE STRUGGLE OF WORKERS AND STUDENTS OF UPR.
Join the NYC Protest!
Tue May 18,
5:30PM
at the Offices of the PR colonial Government (PRFAA)
135 West 50 (between 6th and 7th Ave)
MTA Hearing Turns Rowdy In Brooklyn
March 4, 2010
NY1 – Four people were arrested Wednesday night after an argument broke out at a Metropolitan Transportation Authority hearing in Brooklyn.
It happened inside the Cantor Auditorium of the Brooklyn Museum.
Police say a speaker was led away and later handcuffed after she went up to the podium to try and speak out of turn. She was asked to stop and when she didn’t, witnesses say she was taken outside.
“I have no connection to her, but I just felt an adult or someone should be involved because she looked like she was probably under 18,” said one witness. “And then he really started rough-handling her and really kind of backed her out. So then I followed her and I followed him and I kept saying ‘Why are you doing it? What’s going on? Why isn’t any adult involved?’ And then he took her around and locked the door behind her.”
Others in the audience got involved, too. Some were led out into the hallway and handcuffed. One was cuffed inside the auditorium.
In all, four people were arrested for disorderly conduct.
Panel for Education Policy (PEP) meeting, Brooklyn Tech High School, January 26th 2010
We Won’t Pay, F*ck the MTA part 2
January 30, 2010
On Monday at 12:30pm another rally against the MTA’s attempts to terminate student metrocards, be there!!!
JOIN US for the STUDENT RALLY IN FRONT OF THE MTA HEADQUARTERS on FEB1ST!
Location: 437 ave between 44th st and 45th st
Time: 12.30 pm
Train Directions: 4.5.6.. line to 42ND St Grand Central
B.D.F.V to 47-50th st Rockefeller Center
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“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world, indeed its the only thing that ever has”- Margaret Mead
WE ARE STANDING UP AND SAYING WE WONT TAKE IT ANY MORE !
A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS/ STUDENTS/ PARENTS/ MTA WORKERS/ TEACHERS & FACULTY MEMBERS /CONCERNED CITIZENS
ARE JOINING TO FIGHT AGAINST THE MTA CUT OF STUDENT METRO CARDS.
Let them hear you like they never had before!
Protest School Closings – Tues, Jan 26th, 4pm, Brooklyn Tech
January 25, 2010
Shut Down City (Hall) Not Our Schools!
We say:
-Fix Public Schools, Don’t Close Them!
-Public School Buildings for Public Schools Not Charter Schools!
-We want a People’s Board of Education Not Mayoral Control!
Protest at the Panel for Educational Policy
Show UP and Speak Out
*****WEAR RED!****
Tuesday January 26, 2010
Starting at 4PM
@ Brooklyn Tech High School
29 Ft Greene Place
Directions: B,M,Q,R to Dekalb Ave.; C to Lafayette Ave.; G to Fulton St (B,klyn); or 2,3,4,5 to Nevins Street. For detailed directions visit hopstop.com.
For more information contact
harlem120@msn.com
Coalition for Public Education/
The New School Reoccupied 