From the open publishing newswire: Grant is currently serving a 12 year sentence for ELF related actions. Please take a moment to write him a letter and show this Brother he is nor forgotten.
In a recent letter from Eco Political Prisoner Grant Barnes he made a few requests. He says in part "Challenging reading material is hard to get here but More then anything I enjoy correspondence.... please feel free to pass my address around." I get the impression from his letters that mail for him is pretty hit or miss. It would do a lot to lift his spirits if folks would write him. For more info on Grant Barnes see www.ecoprisoners.org .

Grants received books from books to prisoners groups in the past and has gotten zines from South Chicago ABC as well but hasn't gotten anything in a couple months.

Books and Zines
Grant Would like books on Marxist theory and history also anything related to a non Marxist perspective on anti imperialism, feminism and primitivism. Welcomes zines as well as books.

Specific Authors Grant would like.
As for specific authors anything by Perman, Chomsky, Ward Churchill, Zerzan, Bonanno, or Debrod

From the open publishing newswire: Update on Eric's situation in Victorville, and a letter from Eric
Dear friends,

Our apologies for taking so long to get this to you...

First of all, we would like to thank everyone who helped us with the tour during the past month. It was an amazing success, and it would not have been possible without all of your support. Finally getting to meet so many folks who have been working for Eric these past few years was inspiring and rejuvenating in more ways than you know. Our deepest, most heartfelt thanks to all of you.

For those of you who don't already know, we learned earlier this month that Eric received an "infraction" for "unpermitted contact with the media." This apparently stems from a phone call Eric made to his family's home during which he spoke with a journalist who was at the house. Leaving aside the inherent absurdity of the charge itself, the ramifications for Eric have been quite real. His phone and email access were immediately cut off, leaving him with no real ties to the outside world other than letters (which can sometimes take weeks to reach their destination) and visits. This has been difficult for him and his loved ones, to say the least. Unfortunately, he will be without phone and email indefinitely. It could take weeks for the issue to be resolved, and even afterwards there is no guarantee that he will regain access to either of these "privileges." We will keep you updated as things progress.

From the open publishing newswire: It has recently come to our attention that FBI Informant and cooperating defendant in the Mideast Green Scare cases Frank "The Fink" Ambrose is attempting to contact current and former activists. If you receive any communication from Frank you should assume it is coming directly from the FBI.

For your own and others safety DO NOT talk to Frank Ambrose, do not respond to emails from him, do not write him, do not take calls from him. If he calls you tell him to never call you again and hang up. Do not respond to or repeat any claims he makes or information he might be claiming to pass along.

From the open publishing newswire: A man who was assaulted on Belmont street as he was getting on a bus to go to work back in June 08.
He calls for the police and waits ....only to get tasered and arrested. Months latter while looking for his police report at the Central Precinct .... he is arrested again. Is this justice or a Mockery of Justice?
Follow up two video set for man that was tasered by the police when he was the victim of an assault. After being tasered, arrested and then appearing in court for the charges, Clifton found out the case was not being pursued at the time.

From the open publishing newswire: The latest communique from Tre Arrow, environmentalist locked up in the Federal prison system.
A Blessed Autumnal Equinox to you all!

I am being held here at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) while the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) designates me to a Federal Corrections Institution (FCI).

(I'm not sure what they are correcting...)

I am on a unit with about 180 guys. They only let half the unit out at a time. It may take another month or two until I am designated (that is, until an FCI is selected for the remainder of my sentence) and then still longer until I am actually moved. There is no guarantee I'll be going next door, to Sheridan FCI. I might be moved literally anywhere in the country.

From the open publishing newswire: Join us this Sun 9/21 at 7pm for a musical event benefiting the Long Haul Infoshop in Berkeley. On the morning of August 27th police raided the Infoshop, taking all their computers, and not letting infoshop members into the building. Long Haul is an intergral part of the East Bay community and houses projects such as the Slingshot Newspaper and Organizers, East Bay Prisoner Support Network, and Food Not Bombs.
Join us this Sun 9/21 at 7pm for a musical event benefiting the Long Haul Infoshop in Berkeley. Featuring music by Brenna Sahatjian, Stumptown Strugglers, and The Dapper Cadavers. $3-$300 no one turned away for lack of funds.



On the morning of August 27th police raided the Infoshop, taking all their computers, and not letting infoshop members into the building. Long Haul is an intergral part of the East Bay community and houses projects such as the Slingshot Newspaper and Organizers, East Bay Prisoner Support Network, and Food Not Bombs.
************************************

Can't Come To The Benefit?

Four things you can do to help the Long Haul

From the open publishing newswire: Protest against Portland Oregon police Department, September 17, 2008, which is the second anniversary of the death of James Chasse, at the hands of the Portland Police.

Chasse, a mildly schizophrenic man died in the police car on the way to the hospital, after jail officials refused to book him due to his severe injuries.

Lightly attended but vibrant and energetic the gathering marched repeatedly around the entire block on which the Portland Central Precinct is located, moving several times past the front doors of the Justice Center.

Video of Protest at Central Precinct.

PhilosopherSeed.org

From the open publishing newswire: Homeland security has setup up 3 internal checkpoints on the Olympic Peninsula. These checkpoints are in addition to checkpoints at Washington Ferry docks and highway border crossings. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, it has a jurisdiction of about 100 miles from the border. This puts most of Washington state in an area where border checkpoints are authorized, including Seattle.

From the open publishing newswire: We're showing Super Troopers at the Red and Black to benefit Cold Snap Legal Collective, plus our local and international comrades being persecuted by the state for fighting for what they believe in!


When: Sunday September 14th 7PM
Where: Red and Black Cafe, 400 SE 12th

Donations are going to be accepted at the door in the amount of $3-$300987489437984398

From the open publishing newswire: Less than two weeks ago, I spent several evenings in a row listening to people getting tear-gassed, reading reports of torture, viewing scenes of senseless brutality and thinking, "This is America's heartland."

During the RNC in St Paul, Minnesota, the police basically had carte-blanche to enact any terror they saw fit on the public in order to keep them from interfering with the meeting of the powers that be. More than 800 people were arrested during those few days. They and many many more suffered multiple abuses from the police including being tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed, tased, beaten, tortured, shot with rubber bullets, attacked with concussion grenades, suppressed and generally harassed. The vast majority of arrests were for such trumped-upped charges as 'Conspiracy to Riot' and other bogus charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.

From the open publishing newswire: On a Sunday in March of 2004, Jahar Perez looked in the rearview window of his car and saw something that surely caused his heart to beat faster. He saw a Portland police car cruising close behind his car. Perez had done nothing wrong. He had committed no crime, he had violated no ordinances, he had committed no traffic infractions. But there it was, just the same. Perez had reason to fear this sight even more than many of us in Portland: Jahar Perez was Black. And, as a Black man in Portland, he knew all too well that the police never need a reason to stop African Americans in this city. They never need a valid reason to search, harass, intimidate, beat, taser, and even kill Black people in Portland. They have done it over and over again. Not only have they gotten away with it; They've actually gotten medals for it. Again and again and again, the ridiculously inappropriate phrase, "I feared for my life," has gotten officer after officer off for murder.

And apparently, it was enough. Both officers were cleared by the obligatory secret grand jury. Although a toothless inquest later ruled the killing a homicide, no charges were ever filed. Both officers were allowed to keep their jobs and their guns. Sery later resigned, but is now carrying a badge and a gun out in Beaverton. Macomber is still prowling the streets of Portland. Yes, this is how it works. Again and again and again.

This week, word comes that the city of Portland will finally settle a lawsuit with Jahar Perez's family. They will hand the Perez family a check for $350,000, and business will go back to usual. I'm shocked by this "award." Although it is clearly an admission of guilt, it is way too little, way too late. The PPB should have changed its policies long ago, to prevent this kind of senseless killing. They should have disciplined Sery and Macomber severely. Both should have been stripped of their badges, and both should be serving lengthy prison sentences for the violent homicide which they committed. They should never be allowed to carry guns again. But none of this has happpened. I'm shocked that anyone could conclude that $350,000 is a fair price to pay for the taking of a life -- especially the predictable, repeated, savage taking of the life of yet another Black man on the streets of Portland.

From the open publishing newswire: The marriage of private and public security forces and the Portland Business Alliance is threatening the organic infrastructure of the inner Eastside of Portland. Recent events point to gradual takeover... it's almost nostalgic, thinking of the days when PPI and Clean and Safe patrol and harassment were limited to Portland's Corporate Livingroom: Pioneer Courthouse Square and Pioneer Place. Then the Portland Business Alliance took advantage of unconstitutional, racist and fascist 'laws' like the Sit-Lie and Anti-Camping ordinances and Drug Free Zones in order to expand their control over most of downtown. In cooperation with the Sheriff, the Portland Police, Tri-met Security, Portland Patrol Services, Blackwater and others, they have even set up a fusion center (go see it yourself: the logos cover the windows) at the Old Town/Chinatown MAX stop, right next to the TopOff3 dirty bomb target: the Steel Bridge.

Now they're on the Central Eastside Industrial and Commercial area. With spreading gentrification, real-estate grabs and looming MLK/Grand Streetcar plans (where Blumenauer's business buddies are padding his PAC coffers and re-election plans), it appears that the PBA and their rent-a-cop thugs are reaching their tentacles into our dear neighbourhood. We stopped the big box development plans on the Burnside Bridge, but that wasn't a big enough hint. The other day they were seen rounding up ruffkins and later came into our shop to tell us we had nothing to be afraid of: we were safe now. What I want to know is which businesses asked them to come over here and "save us" in the first place? We're doing fine on our own, thank you very much. If there are any problems, it's the drunk Pearl District prowlers, getting their kicks at the Doug Fir and Union Jacks, vomiting and knocking over our plant boxes. That's no reason to call over private mercenaries and harass the homeless, now, is it?

From the open publishing newswire: press statement from rnc welcoming committee after sheriff and sppd raid of convergence space

FRIDAY AUGUST : Assitant Police Chief Bostrom has talked about the St. Paul Standard, and on the anniversary of last years' critical mass police riot, we saw its true face. The ramsey county sheriff's dept and the SPPD raided the RNC convergence space and detained over 50 people in an attempt to preempt planned protests of the rnc on Monday.

Looking for items found in any twin cities house like jars, paint, and rags, this attempt to portray us as criminals and destroy our credibility has already backfired as evidenced by the masses who have come to support us. Children and elderly people were inside the convergence center when the police violently busted down the doors. The police may claim that the raid was executed according to protocol - however, the violence inherent in this action may only be a hint of the violence to be expected on Monday and beyond, and is only a hint at the violence perpetrated daily by the police. The convergence center is simply a gathering place and is not used for illegal actions - it is a place for workshops and trainings. Tonight we were watching films and sharing food.

This action will not deter us from our plans to protest the RNC on September 1st. We want to invite all people who oppose this police oppression to join us on Septemeber 1st. See you in the streets.
[ Read More ]

Ongoing Coverage at: twincities indymedia

Anarchists Attack Bank in Pittsburgh

The Greater Pittsburgh Anarchist Collective received this anonymous communique and were asked to post it. ------ Late Tuesday night the National City Bank branch on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh was attacked with iron bars. We damaged the front windows, smashed out the side windows, and destroyed the ATM. The reason we chose this target is obvious. It was an attack on a symbol of the entire capitalist system of exploitation. Primarily, however, we chose to carry out this attack as an act of solidarity with our friends and comrades who are fighting in Denver and the Twin Cities against the conventions. For those of us who cannot be there, this is the least we can do to stand in solidarity with you. We hope that this action inspires you and lets you know that you are not alone. We know that comrades all over the country are carrying out actions like this in solidarity, and we know that there will be many more. Fight your hardest, and we'll do the same.
[ Read More ]

Second Night of Anarchist Attacks In Pittsburgh