Via OccupyWallStreet.net:

Date:
Sunday, March 24, 2013 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Address:
55th St. and Church Ave.
Brooklyn New York 11203
United States

People in New York: Support Kimani Gray's community and all communities of color besieged by police violence, by coming out for a MASS MARCH SUNDAY THE 24TH. 3 pm, from the site of Kiki's vigil at 55th and Church, marching to the 67th precinct.

WEDNESDAY the 20th, there is a Stop and Frisk Town Hall Meeting (Co-Sponsored by Council Member Williams) 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, 833 Marcy Ave (Concord Baptist Church)

Jose Lasalle of Stop Stop and Frisk has asked people to make this Town Hall about police brutality, not violence amongst kids. There may be a speak-out and planning meeting for the Sunday march as well (for location, check: goo.gl/XjveK).

You have also been invited to come every day at 7 pm to show your support for East Flatbush in its fight against police brutality (55th and Church). Check the WE WANT JUSTICE FOR KIMANI GRAY Facebook page for updates.

Keep in mind that people from outside the neighborhood should come as supporters and take a back seat.
Here are some tips on how to show respect when you arrive (these are tips from OWS, not asked of us by community members):

Do not mic check at these demonstrations. That's for East Flatbush residents and march Organizers to take the lead on. If you do so, and you are not a resident or long-time Organizer in the area, we will know you are not with Occupy Wall Street.

If you choose to take photographs, ask people's permission. Feel free to livestream or film police activity: http://www.livestream.com/userguide/index.php?title=Broadcast_live

When asked whether people from outside the neighborhood should be coming by, a longtime Organizer had this advice to give: "Come, yes. But don't come if you are not internally organized. Come. Come if you can take a back seat. Come if you plan to develop real relationships and maintain them over the long-haul."

In Oakland there will be a solidarity rally, March 21st at 5pm #OaklandProtest in #solidarity w/ #BrooklynProtest

#KimaniGray
#OaklandProtest
#jailkillercops
#Justice4KimaniGray
#Justice4AlanBlueford

A group of eight squatters entered the north London library last week through an open window. They have now reopened the library to residents with the help of local volunteers. The Guardian spoke to both the squatters and community volunteers campaigning to keep the local library open.

Over 900 people have sought medical treatment following a massive fire at a Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, California this week. Tens of thousands of area residents were ordered to stay in their homes with the windows and doors closed after a series of blasts Monday sparked blazing fires that sent huge plumes of smoke. Chevron now says the situation is under control.

Amy Goodman and Nermeen ShaikhI of DemocracyNow! talk with Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, a member of the Green Party, who is seeking a full investigation into the blaze.

“We have a community that has been fighting Chevron for a long time, and I’m proud to and honored to stand for that community,” McLaughlin said.

Also joining the discussion is Andres Soto, the Richmond organizer for Communities for a Better Environment, an environmental justice group that has previously sued Chevron over what it says was a shoddy environmental impact report. “They refuse to sit at the table, they refuse to negotiate in good faith with the community over a wide range of issues, whether it’s fair taxation or whether it’s environmental safety and environmental justice,” Soto said.

Full transcript available here.

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Video thanks to David Edwards

Billboards that read "Dying for work," and "Hope you're happy, Wall Street" greeted commuters and residents in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, but what really got their attention were the dummies hung with nooses underneath the billboards.

911 switchboards were inundated with phone calls from concerned citizens reporting possible bodies hanging from signs around the city. The first report was regarding one of the billboards on Interstate 15 and Bonanza that read "Dying for work," with a dummy dressed in a business suit hanging by a noose.

Via:

The billboard space appeared to belong to Lamar Advertising. The company said the space was not purchased by any company.

Trooper Jeremie Elliott said, though, the billboard appeared to be a publicity stunt.

Later in the morning, FOX5 learned of another billboard location on S. Highland Avenue with a hanging mannequin. On this billboard, the words "Hope you're happy Wall St." were written with a similar mannequin underneath.

Nevada Department of Transportation was called to take down the I-15 advertisement.

The Occupy movement was a natural suspect for the Fox News affiliate, but they denied taking part in the billboards.

Later in the day, Occupy Las Vegas released this statement in response to the dummies seen hanging from billboards around Las Vegas Wednesday morning:

"The City of Las Vegas woke up to reality this morning, when a series of billboards adorned with hanging dummies and political messages were discovered around town. Some consider these displays to be an act of vandalism, while others see them as a brilliant piece of street art.

No matter which opinion you hold, the fact remains that - like the problems of homelessness, unemployment and suicide - these signs cannot be ignored. They are gigantic, they are complicated, they are painful, and they are telling you that our city - like our society - is in serious trouble. The truth has a way of pushing through, like grass through a sidewalk.

Here are some of those truths:

Clark County has the second highest rate of adult suicide in the country right now. It has the fifth highest rate of child suicide. and thanks to the governor's draconian education budget, the Social Work programs that used to supply volunteers and interns to help such people have been de-funded. The Clark County suicide hotline number is 'not in service at this time.'

While we here at OccupyLV do not know the identity of the artist responsible, we applaud their creative spirit and respect their dedication.

In a society continually hammered by waves of economic devastation, soul-sucking corporate shibboleths, humiliating governmental policies and a militarized police force which serves the interests of the 1% by trampling freedom of speech and assembly, it is not surprising that radical consciousness will find its expression through various forms of art.

More surprising is the fact that it took so long to appear."

The video above shows the areas of Syria that are experiencing violent clashes and shelling on Tuesday morning.

The Syrian regime is using Twitter to try to clarify recent comments about the country's weapons of mass destruction.

Syrian officials said Monday that they would use chemical and biological weapons if foreign countries intervene in the escalating civil war. Foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the army would not use the weapons against the rebels, but rather if “Syria faces external aggression.” Syria did not a sign a 1992 international convention that banned the stockpiling of chemical weapons, although its leaders have long denied having weapons stockpiles. Although Damascus residents did not report new fighting in the capital early Tuesday, residents in Aleppo reported shelling and clashing.
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However, on Tuesday morning, Makdissi seems to be walking back his statement a bit:

"The Foreign Ministry's statement was only a response to false allegations on WMD & explanation of guidelines of defensive policy," ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi tweeted on Tuesday.

You've got people talking about forcibly removing you from your country, and you take to "Twitter" to clarify your remarks on weapons of mass destruction?

Video: OccupyTheFarm's first day at the Gill Tract in Albany, Ca.

Via:

Occupy the Farm, a coalition of local residents, farmers, students, researchers, and activists are planting over 15,000 seedlings at the Gill Tract, the last remaining 10 acres of Class I agricultural soil in the urbanized East Bay area. The Gill Tract is public land administered by the University of California, which plans to sell it to private developers.

For decades the UC has thwarted attempts by community members to transform the site for urban sustainable agriculture and hands-on education. With deliberate disregard for public interest, the University administrators plan to pave over this prime agricultural soil for commercial retail space, a Whole Foods, and a parking lot.

"For ten years people in Albany have tried to turn the Gill Tract into an Urban Farm and a more open space for the community. The people in the Bay Area deserve to use this treasure of land for an urban farm to help secure the future of our children," explains Jackie Hermes-Fletcher, an Albany resident and public school teacher for 38 years.

Occupy the Farm seeks to address structural problems with health and inequalities in the Bay Area that stem from communities’ lack of access to food and land. Today’s action reclaims the Gill Tract to demonstrate and exercise the peoples’ right to use public space for the public good. This farm will serve as a hub for urban agriculture, a healthy and affordable food source for Bay Area residents and an educational center.

Water for the University of California-owned land has been shut off, and members of the group have urged supporters to contact the Chancellor's office to protest the move.

Hundreds of people turned out on Earth Day to weed and plant vegetables donated by supporters from as far away as San Jose.