Free Republic

Christians pray for Charlotte in light of upcoming DNCChristian group gathers in Marshall Park, urges citywide show of faith By Brittany Penland The Charlotte Observer Posted: Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 Hundreds gathered in Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte Saturday morning to pray for the city in light of the upcoming Democratic National Convention. The Rev. Robbin Black, an associate pastor of Abundant Life Church International, on West 32nd Street in Charlotte, said she organized the citywide prayer to help protect Charlotte as people from around the world attend the convention. “In a couple of weeks, the world’s eyes will be...

Protesters make their DNC plansBy Ely Portillo and Lindsay Ruebens The Charlotte Observer Posted: Saturday, Aug. 04, 2012 **SNIP** “The sitting president is here,” said Matt Hickson, of the Coalition to March on Wall Street South, sponsor of the kickoff protest. “People who have been foreclosed on by Bank of America will be here. Students who have student loan debt from Wells Fargo...people whose communities are being mined by Duke Energy, who have seen their rates go up double digits, will be here.” **SNIP** Police also worry about “black bloc,” or anarchist protesters who appear at large protests and don...

The wail across the vast, reasonable U.S. citizenry has been dismay and outrage that Barack Obama undid then-President Bill Clinton's Welfare Reform, which was worked-out with Congress and voted upon and passed by both Chambers of Congress. With a few words, maybe written, but with no name other than a "policy directive," freeloaders may continue to freeload, living on your money and mine, with no need to provide for themselves - no need to show up at employment agencies, no need to find temporary work - no need to do anything but whip out the EBT card and cash the...

Occupy L.A.'s chalk protests prompt melee, free-speech debateJuly 14, 2012 | 7:34 am The melee that occurred in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday night over a chalk protest by Occupy L.A. and homeless-rights advocates has raised questions over freedom of speech. A small group of activists gathered at the corner of 5th and Spring streets during the heart of downtown's popular monthly ArtWalk, handing out chalk to passersby and using the sidewalks as their canvas for more anti-gentrification and some anti-police slogans. For reasons that are not entirely clear, clashes began between some activists and LAPD officers, resulting in a...

Line Forms Outside SCOTUS for Obamacare DecisionBy Serena Marshall | ABC OTUS News – 2 hrs 43 mins ago With only 18 hours remaining until the Supreme Court rules on one of the most controversial issues facing the Justices-Obamacare-a small line has already formed outside the court. The line may only currently be four people long, but as time gains on the decision the line is expected to grow. During the healthcare debates the line to gain access began Friday before the Monday start of the three-day event. **SNIP** Brennaman, who a former nurse who teaches nursing, says she sat...

Liberals shed frustration, gear up for election fightBy John Whitesides | Reuters – Fri, Jun 8, 2012 PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Reuters) - After a gut punch in Wisconsin and frequent bouts of disappointment with President Barack Obama, liberal activists could be excused for a lack of enthusiasm about November's U.S. election. But many of those attending Netroots Nation, a three-day gathering of grassroots progressives in Rhode Island, said the stark choices in the looming battle for control of the White House and Congress were all the motivation they need. While liberals have frequently criticized Democrat Obama for being too quick...

Groups to hold pre-Democratic convention protestAssociated Press – 7 hrs ago CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte has given permission to a coalition to hold a major protest the weekend before the Democratic National Convention. The long-awaited permits are being issued after the Coalition to March on Wall Street South collected petitions with more than 1,000 names demanding that the North Carolina city approve the Sept. 2 protest. The petitions were handed to city leaders this week.

Occupy Wall Street sues NYC over confiscated booksBy Joseph Ax | Reuters – 9 hrs ago NEW YORK (Reuters) - Occupy Wall Street filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against New York City, claiming authorities destroyed $47,000 worth of books, computers and other equipment confiscated from the protesters' encampment in lower Manhattan last fall. **SNIP** As part of the sweep, Occupy claims, police officers seized more than 3,000 books from the "People's Library." While some of the books were eventually returned, many were in unusable condition, while the rest were apparently destroyed, according to Occupy's lawyer, Norman Siegel.

"...the social thought and political economy program (STPEC)... with its emphasis on theory and practice and ethnic, gender, and race studies, is unique in the country... it has 150 majors and approximately 1,000 alumni. Core courses and electives are designed to prepare students to be change agents..."

May Day Eve Quickly Turns Ugly In San FranciscoA day that is expected to be filled with anti-establishment protests all around the globe began early last night with a roving band of "anarchists" smashing car windows and store fronts in San Francisco's Mission District. The mini-riot (which was technically on April 30, but still) may have started as a "ruckus street party" organized by Occupy Oakland protesters who invaded their sister city ... The Atlantic Wire via Yahoo! News - 24 minutes ago

Protesters at US party conventions could be armedBy MITCH WEISS and TAMARA LUSH | Associated Press – 44 mins ago TAMPA, Florida (AP) — The thousands of protesters expected at the Democratic and Republican national conventions can come armed with a lot more than signs and slogans: State law in Florida and North Carolina allows concealed weapons, including guns. In Tampa, where the Republicans will hold their festivities this fall, officials are starting to worry about people toting guns in such a politically charged environment. The City Council voted Thursday to ask Republican Gov. Rick Scott to help them temporarily...

Muppets Revenge: Outraged Homeless Muppets to Converge on Goldman SachsPRWeb – 6 hrs ago At 11:00 a.m., April 23, 2012, artist Joey Skaggs will lead a band of outraged costumed muppets down to Goldman Sachs offices at 200 West Street in NYC. Skaggs will be peddling his Mobile Homeless Homes prototype -- a low cost alternative living space for the millions of upside-down, underwater or foreclosed homeowners who have lost their houses due to the banking crisis that caused the real estate collapse.

Fixing Destroyed L.A. City Hall Lawn After Occupy Protest PRWeb – 6 hrs ago Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 17, 2012 - Southern California drought and historic sites landscaping expert Glen Dake, Landscape Architect at GDML, is part of a panel addressing the lawn replacement issue facing City Hall after the Occupy Los Angeles encampment was removed. He will explain solutions for replacing the lawn at the upcoming Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo (MGBCE) April 26, 2012. The Expo is Southern California's longest running and largest sustainability and green building event focused on the needs and concerns of municipalities....

Union joins Occupy for protests against public transportation cutsBy Kevin Bogardus - 04/04/12 06:00 AM ET The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) will join demonstrations Wednesday to call attention to fare hikes and service reductions on public transportation systems. Members of the Occupy Wall Street Movement are teaming up with unions for the demonstrations, and events are planned in at least 15 different cities, including Boston, Chicago and Denver. The rallies, leafleting and candlelight vigils will commemorate April 4, 1967, the day Martin Luther King Jr., spoke out against the Vietnam conflict and linked war to poverty. Larry Hanley, ATU’s president,...

A Guide to Good Etiquette When You're Under ArrestBy Adam Martin | The Atlantic Wire – 2 hrs 14 mins ago We're not here to pass judgment on why you wound up in police custody, but if it happens you should know how to comport yourself while getting arrested and once your'e in a holding cell. Now that jail authorities can strip search you even if they don't suspect you of carrying contraband, etiquette is especially important. There are all kinds of reasons you could find yourself behind bars: Maybe you got scooped up at a protest such as Occupy...

Puerto Rico warns Occupy Movement to clean up messAssociated Press – 2 hrs 26 mins ago SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico officials threatened the island's Occupy Movement with legal action Thursday if its supporters do not clean up a public park they occupied for five months and abandoned suddenly this week. The group has 48 hours to respond, said Mari Batista, director of San Juan's Sports and Recreation Office. "The amount of garbage, waste and rubble left behind is impressive," she said. "They were supposedly defending the environment, fighting for a better Puerto Rico ... what they...

Students angry over pricey courses pepper-sprayedBy GREG RISLING | Associated Press – 2 hrs 37 mins ago SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — A state agency that oversees California's community colleges asked the attorney general on Wednesday to assess the legality of a school's plan to charge students more for popular classes. The move comes the morning after Santa Monica College police pepper-sprayed demonstrators as students angry over the plan tried to push their way into a meeting of the school's trustees, authorities said.

Anti-capitalist battles injure 15 police in FrankfurtBy Edward Taylor | Reuters – 2 hrs 23 mins ago FRANKFURT (Reuters) - At least 15 German police officers were injured, one seriously, during rioting that lasted into Sunday morning, following an anti-capitalist protest in Frankfurt, police said. Demonstrators threw paint bombs at the European Central Bank and attacked emergency vehicles on Saturday in violence which escalated after police tried to arrest several protesters in the heart of Germany's financial capital. Battles stretched through the night and one officer was taken to intensive care after being singled out by a handful of demonstrators....

New York police eject Occupy protesters, arrest sixBy Barbara Goldberg | Reuters – 2 hrs 5 mins ago NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 100 protesters from the reawakened Occupy Wall Street movement were ejected from Union Square Park early Wednesday after a standoff with police resulted in six arrests. **SNIP** One person, Paul Schoechert, who refused to leave the park was arrested at 12:20 a.m. for disorderly conduct and violating a local law on park closure. The crowd continued to mill around the area and before dawn five other men were arrested for blocking pedestrian traffic, police said. Charges...