MEDIA ROOTS — Apparently, militarised platoons of riot cops repressing peaceful protesters with police brutality and intimidation wasn’t enough. 

As the Occupy Movement has been successful in powerfully impacting the U.S. body politic, Republican Senator John McCain and Democrat Senator Carl Levin have secretly written, in a closed-door session, a provision into this year’s Department of Defense budgeting bill, which would authorise Presidential use of the U.S. military against its own people by being able to arrest anyone, anywhere in the world, and hold them indefinitely without charges. 

This provision to S. 1867 currently on the Senate floor would expedite a U.S. President’s ability to further repress First Amendment activities beyond the exemptions already built into the Posse Comitatus Act and the powers granted to a U.S. President within the Insurrection Act of 1807.  Obama has claimed he’ll veto the bill, but it’s hard to imagine him vetoing the yearly budgeting bill for the DOD. 

If it’s passed, Obama will have a greater ability to brutally crackdown against dissent.  We’ve seen this coming: in 2008, the Military was deployed against peaceful protesters during the Democratic and National Conventions, as protests hit record highs of discontent.  With the Occupy Movement posing a serious challenge to business as usual as we approach the 2012 election year, the Senate has already drafted a pre-emptive strike against dissent.  Learn more about the bill and how you can stop it below.

MR

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ACLU — The Senate is going to vote on whether Congress will give this president—and every future president — the power to order the military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians anywhere in the world. Even Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) raised his concerns about the NDAA detention provisions during last night’s Republican debate. The power is so broad that even U.S. citizens could be swept up by the military and the military could be used far from any battlefield, even within the United States itself.

The worldwide indefinite detention without charge or trial provision is in S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act bill, which will be on the Senate floor on Monday. The bill was drafted in secret by Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) and passed in a closed-door committee meeting, without even a single hearing.

I know it sounds incredible. New powers to use the military worldwide, even within the United States? Hasn’t anyone told the Senate that Osama bin Laden is dead, that the president is pulling all of the combat troops out of Iraq and trying to figure out how to get combat troops out of Afghanistan too? And American citizens and people picked up on American or Canadian or British streets being sent to military prisons indefinitely without even being charged with a crime. Really? Does anyone think this is a good idea? And why now?

The answer on why now is nothing more than election season politics. The White House, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General have all said that the indefinite detention provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act are harmful and counterproductive. The White House has even threatened a veto. But Senate politics has propelled this bad legislation to the Senate floor.

But there is a way to stop this dangerous legislation. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is offering the Udall Amendment that will delete the harmful provisions and replace them with a requirement for an orderly Congressional review of detention power. The Udall Amendment will make sure that the bill matches up with American values.

In support of this harmful bill, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) explained that the bill will “basically say in law for the first time that the homeland is part of the battlefield” and people can be imprisoned without charge or trial “American citizen or not.” Another supporter, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) also declared that the bill is needed because “America is part of the battlefield.”

The solution is the Udall Amendment; a way for the Senate to say no to indefinite detention without charge or trial anywhere in the world where any president decides to use the military. Instead of simply going along with a bill that was drafted in secret and is being jammed through the Senate, the Udall Amendment deletes the provisions and sets up an orderly review of detention power. It tries to take the politics out and put American values back in.

In response to proponents of the indefinite detention legislation who contend that the bill “applies to American citizens and designates the world as the battlefield,” and that the “heart of the issue is whether or not the United States is part of the battlefield,” Sen. Udall disagrees, and says that we can win this fight without worldwide war and worldwide indefinite detention.

The senators pushing the indefinite detention proposal have made their goals very clear that they want an okay for a worldwide military battlefield, that even extends to your hometown. That is an extreme position that will forever change our country.

Now is the time to stop this bad idea. Please urge your senators to vote YES on the Udall Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

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Photo by Abby Martin

MEDIA ROOTS — Many of us notice our society’s shift away from the use of anonymous cash and toward the use of databeast-tracked digital money.  But many are unaware that there are steps already being taken to outlaw cash in favour of debit/credit cards and digital transactions.  In Louisiana, House Bill 195 of the 2011 Regular Session (Act 389) was passed this summer by its State Legislature and Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.  This law makes it illegal to use cash in transacting second-hand goods.  The question becomes, ‘who actually motivated this law and why?’ 

The bill states:

“A secondhand dealer shall not enter into any cash transactions in payment for the purchase of junk or used or secondhand property.  Payment shall be made in the form of check, electronic transfers, or money order issued to the seller of the junk or used or secondhand property and made payable to the name and address of the seller.  All payments made by check, electronic transfers, or money order shall be reported separately in the daily reports required by R.S. 37:1866.”

Ackel & Associates LLC, a professional law firm in Louisiana, describes the new legislation as the U.S. Government taking private property without due process.  As one may have expected, the justifying pretext involves police crime-fighting. One Louisiana State Rep co-author of the bill, Rickey Hardy, argued the law is intended to be “a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead” in combating theft.  Yet, while local cops take no interest in white-collar crime, even shielding major financial criminals from nationwide Occupy Movement protests, they will definitely be ready to bust thrift shops, local antique stores, flea markets, and anyone who dares to use cash in second-hand retail transactions in Louisiana.

Already, we see class-division in the U.S. reflected between those who make virtually all purchases through digital transactions and those who rely on cash.  Here’s one possible scenario:  First an individual legislator (with or without external influence) establishes a precedent under law enforcement pretexts in a state, which may not often capture the national imagination.  Then it spreads to other states.  Unchecked, something that seemed outlandish at first becomes orthodox convention.  First, second-hand cash transactions are outlawed.  Then the slippery slope slide into fully outlawing cash becomes inevitable.  It may sound like a far-fetched concept, but in light of this legislative trajectory it’s not implausible.

Messina

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NATURAL NEWS — Besides prohibiting the use of cash, the law also requires such “dealers” to collect personal information like name, address, driver’s license number, and license plate number from every single customer, and submit it to authorities. And the only acceptable form of payment in such situations is a personal check, money order, or electronic transfer, all of which must be carefully documented.

The stated purpose of the law, which excludes non-profits and pawn shops, is to curb criminal activity involving the reselling of stolen goods, particularly metals such as copper, silver, and gold. But according to A&A, existing Louisiana state law already requires businesses and other resellers of secondhand goods to account for transactions, and has specific laws already on the books that address the selling of stolen goods.

The new law is so broad and all-encompassing that individuals who buy and sell on sites like eBay or Craigslist using cash will also be in violation of it. Even a stay-at-home-mom who holds a garage sale with her neighbors more than once a month could be required to refuse cash from customers, as well as keep a detailed record of every single purchase made, and who made it.

There really is no legitimate reason for banning cash payments, especially in light of the required collection of detailed and excessive personal information. The measure is simply just another excuse for the government to spy on individuals, and take away their economic and civil liberties.

Read more about Louisiana prohibits residents from using cash when buying, selling secondhand goods.

© 2011 Natural News Network

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Photo by flickr user purpleslog

MEDIA ROOTS — Felipe Messina of Media Roots speaks with Vaquous of Occupy Montreal to get an international perspective of the global Occupy Wall Street Movement, find out what Canadians are saying and doing as they participate, and what lessons they can share with their international counterparts about what can be done toward socioeconomic justice through collective action and the taking of the public square around the world, physically and digitally.

We apologise for the audio quality wherever distortion occurs.  We feel these stories from the ground are worth being shared even without slick production or bells and whistles.  Media Roots is a collaborative independent media project and not corporate-funded, so we rely on your contributions.  If you would like to support this type of fiercely independent, unembedded, journalism bringing you real stories of substance toward socioeconomic justice, please contribute whatever you can to help Media Roots bring you the highest quality content possible.

MR

MEDIA ROOTS — On Saturday, November 19, 2011, Occupy Oakland (OO) held another mass day of action after the nationwide crackdowns against the Occupy Movement days before.  In response to the coordinated Federalised repression, the OO General Assembly voted unanimously for a coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown, for which ILWU leaders have announced support, even urging a simultaneous East Coast port shutdown.  This would be the first nationwide port shutdown in U.S. history. 

Thousands vigorously took to the streets and jubilantly marched through downtown Oakland and around Lake Merritt before tearing down a fence around an empty lot at 19th & Telegraph to establish another OO encampment.  The uptown location draws attention to the ongoing gentrification in Oakland, as public schools are being closed whilst charter schools are opening.

The demonstrators held a huge dance party in the streets despite the pouring rain, as over thirty tents were set up by occupiers.  Although not enough people held the space overnight to prevent a third raid by Oakland PD the next morning, 11/20, the Occupy Movement continues undeterred.  Even as the long-standing OO encampment a few blocks away at Snow Park was forced out by police, 11/21, OO persisted with at least eight more tents sprouting later that evening “in a West Oakland lot at 18th and Linden streets.”

Messina

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Abby Martin of Media Roots covers Occupy Oakland’s Day of Action Saturday, November 19, 2011.

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On Friday, November 18, 2011, Jack Hayman, of ILWU Local 10, spoke with Steve Zeltzer of Work Week Radio on Pacifica Radio’s “The Morning Mix with Project Censored.”  They discussed the burgeoning solidarity between labour, particularly ILWU, and the Occupy Movement in the wake of the historic Occupy Oakland General Strike earlier this month, the new call for a West Coast shut down of ports, as well as urging East and Gulf Coast ports to also shut down next month.  -Messina

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PROJECT CENSORED

Dr. Peter Phillips (27:56):  “The Occupy Movement certainly is a nuisance to the 1% and increasingly more so, as they worry and coordinate nationally the repression of that.  And we’re just coming back stronger.”

Steve Zeltzer:  “That’s right.  That is a fear that they have.  The other thing is this week the President of ILWU Local 21, Dan Coffman, was here in San Francisco and he spoke last night to ILWU Local 10.  They are under attack by the same repressive forces in Longview, Washington where they brought in, union people are scabbing on their jobs, IUOE 701 [International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701].  But there was a meeting last night.  Jack Hayman is a retired Member of ILWU Local 10 and he’s joining us this morning to talk about the meeting [with] Dan Coffman and a formation of a new committee, the Committee to Defend ILWU.  Welcome, Jack, to the show.”

Jack Hayman:  “Hello.”

Steve Zeltzer:  “I wanted to ask you about a report about what’s happening, of the visit of Dan Coffman.  What’s going on with this Committee to Defend the ILWU.”

Jack Hayman (29:03):  “Well, Dan spoke at the Longshore Clerks Hall first, Local 34, to their union meeting.  And then he came over to address the Local 10 Membership.  And it was quite an event because we’ve all been waiting with bated breath to get a report on what’s happening up in Longview.  And he gave a tremendous talk to our Membership.  We hadn’t quite heard a report like this in a while.  It was very inspiring.  And the key point was that this multinational bank consortium, EGT, that they’re fighting up there is gonna be bringing in a big ship within the next month, he said.  And a call is going to go out to all ports on the West Coast to shut down because what this is about is about union-busting.  And they’re taking on probably the most militant union in the country.  It’s not just a small local up in Longview of 200 people.  It’s a challenge to all of the ILWU.  And, in fact, what Dan said, a call will also go out to the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to ask longshoremen there to shut down as well.  So, if this happens, it’ll be the first ever nationwide strike of all the ports.  And he got a tremendous standing ovation for that.  The Members were really, really inspired, fired up.”

Steve Zeltzer:  “The ILWU has supported the [Occupy] Movement and maybe you can talk about the march that’s gonna happen this coming Saturday [11/19/11], tomorrow at 2pm.  And Dan will probably be speaking at that march.”

Jack Hayman:  “That’s right.  Dan spoke about the march tomorrow.  But he first mentioned the November 2^nd Port Shutdown here in Oakland that was led by Occupy Oakland.  And he said they watched it on television.  And it sent thrills down the spines of their membership.  There was a collective shot in the arm for the entire Membership up there to see thousands of people pouring into the Port of Oakland in solidarity with the Longview longshore workers and shutting the Port down.  I mean, he’s never seen anything like that, he said.  And you could see it in his face, his expression.  So, yeah, they have their union banner, he and Byron Jacobs, the Secretary Treasurer of Local 21 in Longview, will be marching.  The Occupy Oakland march begins at 2pm, 14^th & Broadway.  They’ll be up front on the demonstration march.  But he’s also gonna be speaking tonight, if the listeners out there are interested.  There’s an Occupy Oakland General Assembly at 6pm and then we’ll be addressing that Assembly.  So, I’d encourage listeners to come out to both of those, the General Assembly tonight at 6pm at Oscar Grant Plaza, formerly Frank Ogawa Plaza, and tomorrow, Saturday, at 2pm, 14^th & Broadway.” 

Steve Zeltzer:  “Now, also there’s a committee that was recently formed at your union hall, Local 10.  It’s gonna be meeting this coming Tuesday at 7 o’clock, the Committee to Defend the ILWU.  You can reach it at [email protected].  What exactly is this committee?”

Jack Hayman (32:39):  “It’s a committee to build rank and file support within the longshore unions and the labour movement in general.  One of the activities it will be involved in is organising a caravan from the [S.F.] Bay Area up to Longview [in Washington state].  And that will be led by the ILWU Members.  We’ll have motorcycles and cars and buses.  And when we get the call from Longview, we’ll be heading up there in a caravan.  And we just kind of bounced it around a little bit in a discussion last night with Dan and he seems to think that’s a great idea.  Maybe they’ll have a caravan coming in from Portland and Seattle.  And the idea is that if we can show that kind of support when this ship comes in, there’s a good possibility that Occupy Portland and Occupy Seattle will do the exact same thing that we did down here on November 2^nd and shut the ports down.”

Steve Zeltzer (33:46):  “Well, that sounds like a powerful response to the attack on your Members in Longview, Washington and also the attack on all workers.  I was gonna discuss on the other segment there are many workers who don’t have a contract, Oakland Education Association, United Airline Mechanics, American Airlines.  The Railroad Workers are working without a contract nationally.  They wanna impose a contract.  All these workers have the power.  They’re not even without a contract.  But it would mean fighting and breaking the law, though, to actually go out in some of these cases.”  

Jack Hayman (34:17):  “Well, yeah, what we’re looking at here is a first ever shutdown of all the ports in this country.  And that’s gonna have an inspiring effect on other unions and people that are not unionised.  That’s exactly what happened in the ‘30s when with these convulsive militant strikes by workers occupying plants, mass-picketing.  And that’s what made the Labour Movement grow.  People saw they could challenge the power of capital.  And they organised millions and millions into the trade union movement.”

Steve Zeltzer (34:59):  “I wanna thank you, Jack for joining us.  We have to go on, but hopefully people can, if they are interested, come to the rally tonight and tomorrow at 2pm.  And also on Tuesday night at 7 o’clock, they’ll be a meeting of the Committee [to Defend ILWU] at 400 North Point, ILWU.  So, thanks for joining us this morning.”

Jack Hayman (35:18):  “Alright, thank you, Steve.  And thank you to everybody out there.”

Transcript by Felipe Messina

MEDIA ROOTS — In order to justify the so-called ‘War On Terror,’ the U.S. Government state apparatus and its Federal Agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have been caught engaging in gross cases of misconduct, fraud, entrapment, and other heinous tactics to manufacture increasingly flimsy pretexts for furthering a police state within the U.S. and projecting imperialistic hegemony abroad.

MR

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THE GUARDIAN — David Williams did not have an easy life. He moved to Newburgh, a gritty, impoverished town on the banks of the Hudson an hour or so north of New York, at just 10 years old. For a young, black American boy with a father in jail, trouble was everywhere.

Williams also made bad choices. He ended up going to jail for dealing drugs. When he came out in 2007 he tried to go straight, but money was tight and his brother, Lord, needed cash for a liver transplant. Life is hard in Newburgh if you are poor, have a drug rap and need cash quickly.

His aunt, Alicia McWilliams, was honest about the tough streets her nephew was dealing with. “Newburgh is a hard place,” she said. So it was perhaps no surprise that in May, 2009, David Williams was arrested again and hit with a 25-year jail sentence. But it was not for drugs offences. Or any other common crime. Instead Williams and three other struggling local men beset by drug, criminal and mental health issues were convicted of an Islamic terrorist plot to blow up Jewish synagogues and shoot down military jets with missiles.

Even more shocking was that the organisation, money, weapons and motivation for this plot did not come from real Islamic terrorists. It came from the FBI, and an informant paid to pose as a terrorist mastermind paying big bucks for help in carrying out an attack. For McWilliams, her own government had actually cajoled and paid her beloved nephew into being a terrorist, created a fake plot and then jailed him for it. “I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone,” she told the Guardian.

Read more about Fake terror plots, paid informants: the tactics of FBI ‘entrapment’ questioned.

© 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited  

Photo by flickr user D. Newman