San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

You are here: Home / Archives for Activism / #ResistanceSD

Building a Network of Sanctuary Homes in San Diego

by

By Dianne Lane

Two activists hosted a Sanctuary House Party/Teach-in at their home in Ocean Beach on Saturday, February 25.

The impetus for the event sprang from a “Teaching Positive Alternatives to Trump Teach-In” last month in Balboa Park. The aim is to build a San Diego network of sanctuary homes in resistance to Trump’s fascism and to corporate capitalism. Over the next few months, a series of neighborhood house parties throughout San Diego will help define and create this vital new network of hope and resistance. The goal is to form real connections during these social /educational events.   [Read more…]

A Message to the Grass Roots: Be Wary of Corporate Democrats in Sheep’s Clothing

by

The momentum created through movements such as the Women’s March on Washington and the various Indivisible Groups is great and is noticed. All the strategists in the Democratic party – who, by the way, couldn’t excite and capture this level of energy during the last election – are conniving to capture and steer this energy for the Party’s gain. In other words, going forward, what may look like grassroots organizing and politicking will more than likely be a front for the “corporate Democrats” the movements are pushing against.   [Read more…]

Weekly Progressive Activism Calendar for San Diego, February 24-March 5, 2017

by

We’re Not Going Away! More Than Three Dozen Ways to Get Involved

Duncan Hunter’s on the Run! The Los Angeles Times ran a hilarious article about the San Diego Congress-Critter’s pathetic attempts to close down his offices in the face of ongoing protests. Also, Congressman Darrell Issa tried and failed to co-opt the local resistance this week.

Two hundred representatives are not even bothering to try and meet with constituents during the February break. But that hasn’t stopped people from picketing their offices and flooding their switchboards with calls demanding answers on immigration, health care, and a host of other issues. And it’s not going to stop anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Congresspersons Susan Davis and Scott Peters spoke before full houses this week, answering questions and seeing up close and personal the passion people are feeling these days. As Democrats, these representatives didn’t face crowds that were necessarily upset, but the message of resistance was just as strong.   [Read more…]

Big Oil Capture of Calif. Politics Shatters the “Greenest State” Narrative

by

California oil lobby tops spending in 2015-16 session with $36.1 million>

By Dan Bacher

In spite of California’s reputation as a “green leader,” Big Oil is the largest corporate lobby in the state and exerts enormous influence over the Governor’s Office, Legislature and regulatory agencies.

As usual, the California Oil Lobby was the biggest spender in the 2015-16 legislative session, spending an amazing $36.1 million as of December 31, 2016.

The spending amounts to $1.5 million per month — nearly $50,000 per day — over the last two years. The $36.1 million surpassed the $34 million spent in the prior session, according to a report by the American Lung Association in California. “That’s enough money to buy 103,000 goats,” reported Stop Fooling California.   [Read more…]

Trump’s ‘Military Operation’ Against ‘Bad Dudes’

by

In a meeting with corporate executives this morning, President Donald Trump took time out to extol the virtues of his administration’s immigration policies, saying his effort to ramp up deportations is a “military operation” aimed at ridding the U.S. of “really bad dudes.”

The reality of what’s happening is divorced from the administration’s portrayals. Mexican authorities say they’ve seen no increase in deportations. What has increased are public relations efforts to justify the new policies.

Locally, the suicide of Guadalupe Olivas Valencia, less than an hour after he was deported has impacted the immigrant community. The 45-year-old Mexican citizen jumped to his death from a pedestrian bridge spanning the border in San Ysidro.   [Read more…]

My 10 Core Social, Political Beliefs

by

By Anne Haule / Musings of a Boomer Feminist

The election of Trump has caused me to focus on my core beliefs and work toward advancing them. I recommend this exercise for everyone. It is a useful way to clarify where you stand and to focus your energies.

So, in no particular order and subject to further additions, here they are.   [Read more…]

Nationwide Indivisible Movement Challenges Issa, Other Elected Officials

by

‘This is Democracy. You Should Come Try It.’

By Doug Porter

Pressure from citizens groups continues to mount nationwide, as elected representatives grapple with political blowback over health care, immigration, environmental, and other issues raised by Republicans seeking to dismantle America’s social contract.

Nearly 2000 people came to what was billed as an ‘Emergency Town Hall’ in Vista on Tuesday night, even though the guest of honor, Congressman Issa, made it clear he had no intention of showing up.

The Jim Porter Recreation Center quickly filled up to its legal capacity of 350 people; the remaining attendees rallied outside. Midway through the proceedings, which included speakers from faith-based and healthcare organizations, the room was emptied to allow a new group of constituents in to hear speeches.   [Read more…]

Why The Left Should Worry About Russian President Vladimir Putin

by

By Ed Merta

In the age of Putin and Trump, the left is divided over what to think about reports of Russian interference in the 2016 elections and the new U.S. President’s ties to the Kremlin. Are the reports credible? What do they mean for those who’ve always been skeptical of U.S. actions toward Russia? Should the reports be dismissed, given the U.S. record of (among other things) sabotage in foreign elections, pervasive cyber-intrusions around the world, support for needlessly provocative NATO expansion into Eastern Europe, and complicity in robber baron plunder of Russia after the collapse of Communism?

Understanding possible answers to these questions requires first looking at the history behind them. Learning from that history depends on an act of faith: believing in whatever truth emerges, even when it conflicts with what our faith has taught.   [Read more…]

Happy So-Called President’s Day: The Administration Spins On

by

Here we are, just over one month into the Presidency of Donald J. Trump, [Insert your favorite descriptive phrase here]. Things aren’t going well for the current administration.

It’s leaking so much that ‘false leaks’ — like the story about the National Guard being mobilized to aid in deportations — are now part of White House strategy designed to portray the press as the “enemy of the American people.”

Based on a misunderstanding of a Fox news show, our government is now at odds with the government of Sweden. Rather than admit the error, the administration is doubling down on it. (If they want to declare war, I’m willing to negotiate terms of surrender!)

Most importantly, resistance against the policies and proposals of the administration and its Republican allies continues to spread.   [Read more…]

Readers Write: It’s Gonna Be Known as the The D.C. Shuffle

by

By Michael-Leonard Creditor

I watched (again) the movie “Lucky Number Slevin” just last night, so as soon as the thought hit me, I called it a Kansas City shuffle.

No, it’s not a card trick. But it is an old jazz tune, originally by Benny Moten, who hailed from there.

But, that’s not it either. It’s more akin to the kind of side-step that Charles Durning performs as a fictional Texas governor in another film, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

As used in “Lucky Number Slevin” Kansas City Shuffle is a distraction tactic. When everybody looks one way, you do something else in another direction.

That’s exactly what is going on in D.C. lately, in the administration of 45*.   [Read more…]

Photo Gallery: Rally in Solidarity with Immigrants

by

“Trump’s a fool, Trump’s a clown, we are here to shut him down”– crowd chant.

The bad weather took a pause for Saturday’s Solidarity with Immigrants rally. SDFP editor Frank Gormlie counted two thousand people as the crowd left the staging area in front of the County Administration Building.

Speakers included Sharia Alam (Rage against Fascism), Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales-Fletcher, Ismahan Abdullahi (PANA), Former Los Angeles Major Antonio Villaraigosa, Dreamer Maren Ramos, Imam Taha Hassane (Islamic Center San Diego) and Christian Ramirez (Alliance San Diego).   [Read more…]

Geo-Poetic Spaces: Resistance

by

RESISTANCE

The sun rose
without an executive order

Unvetted clouds immigrated

Crows bullied each other
over the tallest lampposts
in vacant parking lots
  [Read more…]

©2010-2017 SanDiegoFreePress.org

Code is Poetry