Party On Dudes.

One Pill Makes You...

Some of you may remember me mentioning a J or two in my writings. It is a common initial and I know many, hell I am one myself. I met this J down the rabbit hole, a chair at the Madhatter’s Tea prepared in perpetuity. It is scary the talk going around since the Newton school shooting of making adjustments to provide more seats at said table as long as they are permanent. That was the counter argument to gun control on some of the chattering class circle jerks. That and giving the teachers guns so they can shoot back.

I will leave the gun control for the time being. I am conflicted about it anyway. I certainly don’t want a world where only the piggy on the corner gets to have guns. And getting rid of high volume delivery devices and military style weapons will probably take too long to work for our vapid little culture. Perhaps this is a turning point moment. When the folks at home see the dog actually being set on the grandmother in her Sunday go to meetin clothes by the State Trooper it can sometimes never be unseen. I have little faith in my fellow man. I have even less in our current crop of leaders.

Getting back to the rooms of rubber. I should not make light of the plight, as part of the problem is that we end up isolating those that need help with bad jokes and poor understanding. My friend is a bit outside the middle of the curve but far from either tail. When told a certain way any of our tales can come across as “crazy.” When they say wanting to go home is a sign of sickness anyone can be branded ill. My friend’s crime was getting on the wrong bus and making the mistake of calling the system. Before anyone starts talking about locking people up to save the children let us look at what happens to real people in that system.

Locked away for months I met J when someone from the Human rights commission dropped another friends name and she came to a place I help out now and again. Let that sink in, the Human Rights Commission could do nothing to help someone being deprived of their basic human right to live free. No right to refuse to take a shot you hate that makes you feel sick. No right to live with your spouse.

We did some research and went to the spot she lived, like so many in Humboldt County uniquely beautiful and took some pictures. Talked with some folks and ruffled some feathers. That was unintentional and the party in question was a bit over sensitive but in the end our friend went home and is out from under the thumb of the crazy police. All it cost her was 4 months of her life.

I am convinced that without some outside agitators J would still be locked away. Before we go off the deep end locking people up remember that fragile hold we have on freedom.

Fair Wage Cafe

The Cafe was a huge success. lots of food lots of folks and lots of music.

Anarchists on the peninsula

All the pretty young anarchists came to our little town

On the move again the Fair Wage Folks were on the Samoa Peninsula to raise awareness at the Anarchist Book Fair. The fifth year was a Rabble Rousing success.

Talking to the community about the need for fair wages and decent working conditions was just a part of the day. Workshops were given on a variety of topics from vertical gardening to rebuilding after a natural disaster.

A diverse group of people came out to read, learn and share some pretty awesome food. Humboldt Grassroots, Redwood Curtain Copwatch, Food Not Bombs, the Raven Project and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to name a few. The Eureka Fair Wage Act shared a table with Redwood Curtain Copwatch and collected signatures and handed out literature. We were inviting the creative folks in the crowd to try their hands at designing our new graphic in a contest we are sponsoring.
Look for us at the Labor Temple on December 15th from noon to 5 for the First Fair Wage Cafe. Another community building event put on by local labor supporters and the Fair Wage Folks.

You've been served

The lawsuits from occupy Eureka continued, All 4 suits are filed and the defendants served. Started with Murl at the City council last night. Then we finished up at EPD using substitute service and handing 8 different orders to appear for the cops.

Small Claims Occupation.

Occupy Eureka is not done yet.

On December 4th and 5th 2012 a number of Lawsuits were filed by members of the Eureka Occupation for violations of civil rights that occurred last November.

We decided to serve the city in public at the meeting of the city council. Several members were not able to file until tomorrow so they will be conducting service over the next few days.
I spoke to the city council. You can read my prepared remarks here. I will post the link to video when it is posted.

I have some papers for the clerk. This is a suit filed today naming the city of Eureka and 3 police officers, Murl Harpham, Patrick O'Neil and Stephen Watson as defendants. Others are here tonight to serve more suits and still more will be filed tomorrow. These are in response to the absolute total disregard for civil rights by the Eureka police department during the Occupy Eureka protest in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse beginning on October 7th of 2011. Hundreds of community members participated over a period of 9 months in an attempt to reform the corrupt capitalist system of socializing risk and privatizing profit. That system continues unfortunately as a rich company owner will get more then ½ a million dollars in subsidies paid for on the backs of the poor.

During my time in front of the courthouse I witnessed the casual disdain for the the poorest members of our community the police exhibit constantly. I witnessed a constant assault on first amendment freedoms by officers of the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff's department.

Today we live in a country that is operating as a police state with indefinite detention threatened by our federal government and the militarization of local police and Sheriffs. The worst aspects of that trend were on display in front of the courthouse during Occupy Eureka. The slanderous email thread with the Rumsfeldian “we don't know who is in those tents” and the insinuation the some “professional protesters” were planning nefarious activities. Then those people Identified were arrested on false charges and held in some cases for over a week. This violation of personal liberty will not tolerated by the people of Eureka. You were given the opportunity to deal with these problems in the form of claims filed earlier and in the matter of hiring a new chief for Eureka PD. You made the wrong decision in both cases.

We also served the Chief of Police with more cops to be served in the weeks to come. It is a long struggle we are engaged in and Occupy Eureka is not any where near done yet.

Fair Wage Cafe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/04/12
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT, Saturday, Dec 15:
FAIR WAGE CAFE
On Saturday, December 15th, bring family and friends to the first FAIR WAGE CAFE, hosted by the Eureka Fair Wage folks.
The Fair Wage Cafe will be at the Labor Temple in Eureka from noon to 5pm, a family friendly event with food, music, poetry, and children's activities. We invite speakers to talk about fair wages and working conditions, and welcome local community groups to set up information tables. The Fair Wage Cafe is envisioned to be an open and casual space where people of all ages and stripes are free to encounter each other, express ideas for community building, relax, learn, and perhaps get involved in helping pass the Eureka Fair Wage act, raise in-home health care wages, and build strength in the working class of Humboldt County.
FAIR WAGE CAFE
a free community event
Saturday, December 15th, noon to 5pm
at the Labor Temple, 840 E Street in Eureka, where 9th and E intersect

Call 707.442.7465 for more information or email info@fairwages.org
See you there, at the FAIR WAGE CAFE, Saturday December 15th!

Too Graphic?

PSA For Immediate Release December 1, 2012

ANNOUNCING THE FAIR WAGE GRAPHIC CONTEST
contact for media: James Decker 707.442.7465



Submit a GRAPHIC for posters and lawn signs promoting the Eureka Fair Wage Act and you could win $100!! (and higher wages)

Announcing the FAIR WAGE GRAPHIC CONTEST

The Eureka Fair Wage Act, which will require large employers in Eureka to pay a $12 minimum wage, is expected to be on the ballot in March. The Eureka Fair Wage campaign is offering a $100 award to the person who submits a great graphic for use on fair wage posters and lawn signs.

Submit your drawing or computer art by mailing it to:
Fair Wages
c/o Don Swall
1140 E Street #30
Eureka, CA 95501

or emailing it to info@fairwages.org.

Please include your name and a way to get in contact with you.
All contest submissions must be in by January 10th and the winning graphic will be announced at the Eureka Fair Wage benefit show, featuring local honky-tonk band, Rooster McClintock later in the month. Second and Third place prizes will also be announced at the benefit. You need not be present to win.


More contest details can be found on the internet at fairwages.org or call 707.442.7465.


Contest participants do not need to be residents of Eureka.

Use your artistic talent to help raise wages!! And win $100 doing it!

Days Of Action

I took part in the National Days of Action Against Police Brutality and the Criminalization of a Generation.

We began at Sunrise on Monday by remembering those killed by the police here in the county of Humboldt. It was shocking to see how many graves the fascists have filled.

We gathered at the Gazebo in Old Town. Food, Music and fellowship followed. Baked blue potatoes and broccoli were on the menu in the rain.

The rain intensified and so did our resolve.

We moved in the rain to EPD and Angie told the bastards what we thought of them.

From there we marched on city hall and I ran my big mouth for a bit.

In Eureka we marched to Cesar Chavez park to have a meal and dry off a bit under a huge tarp our comrade Jack rigged up. We lit candles and feasted. We sang to our favorite "Granny". Martha celebrated her birthday with us with a delicious vegan cake.

In Eureka we call it the days of action and march through the city to remember Chris Burgess, a young man shot down by the EPD on the 23rd of October. In the morning we served breakfast at city hall.

We ended our Action with a little food at Highland Park and parted with this chant.