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Progressive Action Roundtable: A forum for progressive groups in the Greater New Haven Area where actions and ideas may be publicized so that others are aware of peace, health, justice, energy, environmental and other issues for the common good.

Archive for category Human Rights

Possibly wrongful conviction of Ronald Taylor will never be overturned

Dec 29

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights | No Comments

– Gregory B. Hladky, CT.com/news/advocates

Even if it’s eventually proven that Ronald Taylor never took part in the 1993 New Haven murder of Eugenio Deleon Vega, he will never be vindicated in Connecticut courts because he died too soon. That was the ruling last week by state Superior Court Judge Samuel J. Sferrazza, who told Taylor’s wife and lawyer that the only way to overturn Taylor’s conviction was a new trial and that’s impossible now. Taylor, 52, succumbed to colon cancer in late October.

He and George Gould spent nearly 16 years in state prison for the killing of that New Haven bodega owner. Read the complete article at:

http://www.ct.com/news/advocates/latest-news/nm-ff52upfront-briefgouldtaylor-20111221,0,7486059.story

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New Haven/Leon Sister City Project for 2012: An Invitation to Make a Difference

Dec 29

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Events, Human Rights | No Comments

– Chris Schweitzer, NHLSCP

New Haven/Leon Sister City Project is launching a new campaign in 2012…WalkBikeTransit…which will educate people about the links between food insecurity in rural communities around the world, climate change and their transportation choices, in particular, car use. Go to www.newhavenleon.org to learn more or get involved, or to take the WalkBikeTransit pledge to help create a healthier world in 2012.

Support Food Security work in Goyena, Nicaragua, including pilot projects and community education led by the Environmental Youth Brigade. Make a year-end tax deductible donation to expand this important work. Volun-teer with these or other efforts at New Haven/Leon SCP.

New Haven/Leon Sister City Project works to promote social justice in Nicaragua and Connecticut.  For more information call (203) 562-1607 or see: www.newhavenleon.org;  nh@newhavenleon.org;  www.facebook.com/newhavenleon.

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Save Jeju — Island Of World Peace

Dec 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

— Mary Compton, Greater New Haven Peace Council

On Saturday, October 29, during the Autumn Nor’easter, at the New Haven Public Library, Ms. Youn Ae Park spoke with a strong voice of optimism about the fierce non-violent struggles of the people of Gangjeong Village, to save Jeju Island.  Citizens are risking their lives to stop the construction of a Korean Naval Base which will “become part of the U.S. missile defense system to contain China.” The base is being built on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Biosphere Reserve and a Geological Park.  UNESCO staff is working relentlessly in Jeju to publicly speak out on this issue.  Citizens claim their consent was not obtained in a fair democratic process.  The Mayor of Gangjeong Village has been imprisoned for over 70 days along with two of his colleagues.

It is so important for you to write to your representative and senator, the U.S. Korean Ambassador Sung Kim, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. One letter does make a difference, when we all do it. If we are to succeed in saving the unique places on earth and the livelihood of people living in these places, we must work hard together to do all that we can. The treasured places of beauty on the earth are being destroyed by forces of militarism; once they are gone, we will not be able to replace them. We must do all we can to prevent the destruction of places where the earth breathes beauty.

Those imprisoned will welcome your kind words of support. Please write them. Mayor Kang Dong Kyun, Kang Dong-Kyunb, Prisoner #161, Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2dong , Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea, 690-162,  Kim Dong-Won, Prisoner #156 and Kim Jong Hwan, Prisoner # 315.  Visit the website www.savejejuisland.org and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/nonavalbase  to deepen your awareness and understanding of this current nonviolent struggle. This event was hosted by the Greater New Haven Peace Council and co-sponsored by War Resisters League/New England and Promoting Enduring Peace.  Information: (203) 230-1312.

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Ron Taylor Couldn’t Wait For His Exoneration

Dec 1

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— Sally Joughin, People Against Injustice

Ron Taylor hoped to live long enough to win a 100% exoneration in his battle with Connecticut prosecutors.  Unfortunately, Ron lost his 2-year battle with colon cancer on October 25. Taylor’s last wish was to have his attorney Peter Tsimbidaros continue his work to clear his name in the 1993 murder of a Fair Haven shopkeeper.

When Ron was accused of the murder, it might have been possible for him to avoid a life sentence by blaming co-defendant George Gould. But Ron was too honest for that.  He and George both insisted on their innocence for the over 16 years they spent in prison. Finally in 2010, a Habeas judge ruled that these two men not only should not have been convicted, but should never have even been arrested by police—as it was New Haven police officers who fabricated the “witness” testimony that brought about their conviction. Four years of outstanding investigation by private investigator Gerald O’Donnell produced the evidence that brought about Ron and George’s freedom.

People Against Injustice sponsored a wonderful event in April 2011, at which Ron, George, Attorney Tsimbidaros and Investigator O’Donnell were guest speakers.

But freedom was only temporary because CT prosecutors appealed the decision. And in July 2011 the CT Supreme Court agreed that it wasn’t enough to show that the witness wasn’t there and had been coerced by police to lie at the trial; Ron and George still had to “prove” that they were innocent of murdering the Fair Haven shopkeeper!

Because he was so ill, Ron was allowed to stay at home while awaiting Habeas trial #2. Three and a half months later he passed away at home with his wife Mary, who had stuck by him all those years he was in prison.

The second Habeas trial is scheduled for January 23 at the Superior Court, 20 Park Street, Rockville,. Hopefully People Against Injustice and many others will be there to support Ron and George. Hopefully, with the skill of two lawyers and Investigator O’Donnell, George (now waiting in prison) will fulfill Ron’s last wish, for both of them.

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Jobs, Not Jails! March and Rally Jan. 14, 2012

Dec 1

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— Submitted by ANSWER CT

On Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at 11 a.m. there will be a march and rally for Jobs, Not Jails! in Washingon, D.C., part of a nationally coordinated day of local actions. Planned are a Prisoner rights march, a march to end the drug war now, to release all non-violent drug offenders, to end exploitation of prisoners’ families and to end inhumane living conditions in the prisons. Join us in a rally against mass incarceration in Washington, D.C. or in events in your city. On Martin Luther King weekend 2012, we want to raise the voices of thousands of people around the country demanding Jobs, not Jails!

The United States, with 2 million people locked behind bars, holds 25 percent of the world’s prisoners despite having only 5 percent of the world’s population. Although African Americans represent roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for over 35 percent of those in prison. Under the so-called “War on Drugs,” the mass incarceration has been disproportionately aimed at poor and working-class people, particularly Black communities.

More than 21 percent of those incarcerated in the United States are there for non-violent drug offenses. Many non-violent offenders are addicts who are criminalized rather than treated for their addiction. We want the release of non-violent drug offenders as well as provisions to make treatment available for those suffering from substance abuse.

The recent hunger strikes by California prisoners brought attention to the 513 prisoners who had spent a decade or more in Pelican Bay’s solitary confinement units. The number of prisoners subjected to prolonged isolation has rapidly increased along with the fast proliferation of “supermax” prisons around the country. Trapping prisoners in tiny cells for 20 to 24 hours a day, long-term isolation is widely considered akin to torture. We demand an immediate end to isolation policies and long-term solitary confinement.

Jobs, Not Jails! Meaningful employment must be provided to prisoners returning to society. The economy would have to create 18 million new jobs just to return to the same rate of employment that existed in 2000. This underscores the massive scale of the employment crisis for society as a whole, not to mention the extra restrictions and hurdles placed on former prisoners. As such, we demand jobs for all with special protections against the abuse of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Endorsed by: ANSWER Coalition; Ceasefire: Don’t Smoke the Brothers and Sisters; Political Education and Action Committee-Howard University; New Jim Crow Movement; Party for Socialism and Liberation (list still in formation)

For more information: JobsNotJails@gmail.com

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Are You Looking for a Cause to Be Involved In? Leonard Peltier Needs Your Help

Oct 29

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–PAR Planning Committee

Native American activist Leonard Peltier has been unjustly imprisoned since 1977. In 1975, two FBI agents were killed in a shoot-out at Wounded Knee, a reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Leonard was accused of being involved in the killing.

Federal agents manufactured evidence, hid proof of his innocence and lied to the judge. Constitutional violations abound. He did not receive a fair trial and continues to maintain his innocence.

Please see this website for background information and updates: http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/

If you are interested in helping win freedom for Leonard, the PAR Planning Committee wants to help you become an organizer. You can learn how to plan activities, do  media outreach and work with others to build the struggle for Leonard’s freedom.

Interested? Plan on coming to our Nov. 1 meeting. Leonard’s case will be the first item on the agenda. We will discuss ways you can be involved. Call Paula at (203) 562-2798 for the time and location.

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Dramatic Portrayal Of Abolitionist John Brown, Sept. 23, SCSU

Aug 31

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– The Amistad Committee, Inc.

The Amistad Committee, Inc. is sponsoring a free public performance of the nationally acclaimed play “Sword of the Spirit,” a dramatic portrayal of the famed abolitionist John Brown, while in jail awaiting his execution, with his wife, Mary, on Friday, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Engleman Hall, Rm. C112, SCSU, Crescent Street in New Haven. This professional production has been critically acclaimed as a cultural contribution to the examination of the role John Brown played in the struggle against slavery prior to the Civil War. Brown, whose homestead is on the Connecticut Freedom Trail in Torrington, has been a contentious historic figure.

“Since this is the beginning of a four year commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, the Amistad Committee wishes to make this contribution to the discussion. It is our purpose to show that the struggle against the inhumane institution of slavery had a long and heroic history prior to the Civil War. Slavery was brutally enforced by the federal government and institutions. It is against this background we hope an understanding of John Brown will emerge,” Alfred Marder, President, Amistad Committee and Chairman, State of Connecticut Freedom Trail, declared. Along with the Amistad Committee, the following organizations are co-sponsoring the performance: Multicultural Center, State of Connecticut Freedom Trail Committee, Office of Public Affairs, with support from the History Department of SCSU and the SCSU Student Chapter, NAACP.

The play will also be shown on Friday morning to the Social Studies classes of the New Haven Public Schools at the James Hillhouse High School. The Amistad Committee noted that James Hillhouse was a leading New Haven Abolitionist and, as a Senator of the US Senate, offered legislation against slavery.

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People Against Injustice Annual Meeting 2-4 p.m. Sept. 17, New Haven

Aug 31

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– Mary Johnson, PAI

People Against Injustice (PAI) invites you to attend and participate in our annual meeting, which will be held on Saturday, September 17, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the New Haven Main Library, corner of Elm and Temple Streets, on the lower level.

We hope to have panelists from a variety of criminal justice groups who will outline their goals and activities. There will be ample time for questions and we hope it will not only be a learning experience for everyone, but will also lead to more cooperation among groups and more support from everyone.

We hope to increase PAI’s membership and that of the other groups as well. As many of you may have noted, local justice problems have certainly increased recently.

Please join us on Sept. 17. For more info call Mary at (203) 387-7858.

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New Haven/Leon Sister City Project to produce play in New Haven in October

Aug 31

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– Chris Schweitzer, NH/LSCP

The New Haven Leon Sister City Project, in conjunction with Bregamos Community Theater, is currently working on mounting a production of “A Peasant of El Salvador” during the first two weeks of October. The play will be performed in New Haven, but we are also hoping to take the play to schools and universities. The play focuses on the struggles of a peasant in El Salvador in 1980 at the time of Oscar Romero’s assassination. Although based in El Salvador, the play explores themes common to many Latin American countries. It exposes the drastic consequences of globalization and colonization, revealing the daily hardships of a poor farmer. For more information, contact Chris at nh@newhavenleon.org or (203) 562-1607.

Boat Watch Volunteers Needed

May 31

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights | No Comments

—Stanley Heller, Middle East Crisis Committee

In late June, two CT activists will be on the U.S. boat to Gaza which will join up with a dozen or so other boats in an attempt to break the Gaza siege. Gale Khoury Toensing and Libor von Schonau will be aboard the U.S. flagged ship named the “Audacity of Hope.” Last year’s attempt called the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was met with brutal violence. Israeli commandos killed 9 aboard the Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara, took all the ships to Israel, and destroyed or seized millions of dollars of photographic and computer equipment.

This year with more publicity we hope for a better outcome. We are gathering together a group of “Boat Watch Volunteers” who will try to get the new effort well known before boats leave and to make an even greater effort once the boats depart.  The effort could be as little as calling Congress, writing a letter to the editor or street pickets, etc. Those interested should call (203) 934-2761 or write to mail@TheStruggle.org.

Some of the names of the people on the U.S. boat are well known. They include 86 year old Heddy Epstein whose parents were killed in the Holocaust, retired soldier and diplomat Ann Wright, Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence and Medea Benjamin of Code Pink. There will also be a score of journalists/media persons.  For more information see www.ustogaza.org and www.TheStruggle.org.

Finally, because of concerns about the awful Supreme Court Holder vs. Humanitarian Law decision there will be no cargo on the boat. The only thing that will be brought to Gaza are letters expressing support, love and accounts of what people in the U.S. are doing to help out.  Look at www.ustogaza.org for more information on this.

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Job Opening – Civil Rights And Social Justice

May 4

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By Partnership For Civil Justice Fund

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is seeking a highly skilled, enthusiastic and motivated Online Outreach and Communications Manager to develop electronic communications in support of its mission to defend and advance civil rights and social justice. The OOCM will coordinate the PCJF’s online presence and constituent systems used for emails, fundraising, media outreach, action alerts, and events. To learn more about this position, the job description, qualifications and application procedures, go to www.justiceonline.org/ site/PageServer?pagename=JobListingOnlineOutreach

The PCJF is a non-profit legal and educational organization that engages in complex constitutional rights litigation, including landmark First Amendment and Section 1983 cases, civil rights and anti-discrimination cases, economic justice issues, exposure of government misconduct and Freedom of Information Act cases, and defense of targeted communities and political organizations and activists. The PCJF’s work has resulted in significant victories including, in the past year, some of the largest settlements in U.S. history for protest cases and the elimination of the D.C. police’s controversial military-style checkpoint operations.

Our litigation work is integrated with outreach, edu-cation and advocacy to affected groups, communities, activists and organizations; and is focused ultimately on creating meaningful social, political and legal impact. To learn more about the work of the PCJF, visit www.JusticeOnline.org.

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Dr. King’s Legacy Of Environmental And Social Justice 2011

Dec 29

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

— Josue Irizarry, Events Coordinator, Peabody Museum

The Yale Peabody Museum will open its doors for a FREE, two-day festival in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his efforts to ensure environmental and social justice among all people. The Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Avenue, will host its 15th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, 2011.

In his tireless efforts to work toward equality for, and harmony between, all people, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. strove to raise awareness about public health concerns and urban environmental issues that disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities. We now refer to this as environmental justice, a term coined long after Dr. King’s death. In recognition of the progress that has been achieved in these areas, and with optimism for the future, we will celebrate with music, dance, children’s storytelling, teen diversity workshops, a community open mic and our annual poetry slams.

From 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, teens from the Yale Peabody Museum’s EVOLUTIONS After School Program will host “Stop the Violence: Teens Standing Up For Change.” This interactive session, focused around a message of non-violence and intended for all high school students in the greater New Haven area, will include exciting performances, dynamic presentations, and teen-run workshops. All students who participate for the full event are invited to an after party from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., where there will be free food, music and dancing. Come be a part of something great!

An important component of this celebration is our Zannette Lewis Environmental and Social Justice Community Open Mic and Poetry Slam on Monday,

Jan. 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Community Open Mic is an exciting aspect of our festival that gives people a unique opportunity to honor the spoken word legacy of Dr. King by sharing original poetry and rap or speaking their mind about issues of environmental and social justice our society faces today. The Poetry Slam includes well-known poets from around the United States.

Every poet who registers for the Community Open Mic by Friday, Jan. 7, will have at least three minutes at the mic to speak his or her truth, will receive an MLK Day T-shirt, and will be entered into a drawing for a one-year Yale Peabody Museum membership. Space is limited! To register, contact peabody.events@yale.edu.

For more information on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. festival visit www.peabody.yale.edu/events/mlkday.html.

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Mazin Qumsiyeh Detained 10 Hours ….. Released

Dec 29

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— from e-mails sent to PAR Planning Committee

Mazin Qumsiyeh, former New Haven activist and faculty member of Duke and Yale universities who is now teaching at Bethlehem University, was arrested with seven others on Dec. 22 for objecting to an expanding settlement in a Palestinian town. The arrest took place in the West Bank, in Al-Walaja, in Beit Sahour near Bethlehem.

Mazin heard that bulldozers were working in a new part of al-Walaja and rushed over to protest. He was recognized by an officer and arrested and held for 10 hours under difficult and humiliating conditions. Though he has been released, please send an email to the Embassy to say:

  1. The settlement is illegal, not the demonstration (in fact there wasn’t a demonstration, just people questioning soldiers);
  2. Drop all charges against Mazin and the others;
  3. Investigate the brutality and humiliations of the arrest; and
  4. Demand the Israelis get out of al-Walaja.

The Embassy e-mail address: JerusalemACS@state.gov

You can also call. The telephone of the U.S. office in Jerusalem for the Territories is 011-972-2-622-7221 or 011-972-2-622-7207. The best time to call is from 1 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

Link to the pictures of arrests http://tinyurl.com/3xjky9j

Updates about Mazin is at http://thestruggle.org/

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