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Chicago Media Action is co-sponsoring an encore screening of "Aftermath: Unanswered Questions from 9/11" by the Guerrilla News Network, with Neighbors for Peace, on Sunday, November 23, 2003, in the Evanston Public Library media room, starting at 2pm. For more information, please click here.
Some thoughts from Georgia Today was the first of a two-day protest of the School of Americas/WHISC. In an age where the mass media may have you believe that people don't care, it is something to see so many young and old (and a few in the middle) come together to be a force for positive change. In the midst of the declared "war on terror" and the undeclared police state that we are living in (many awful stories from Miami) we know we must come together and bear witness to the crimes funded, trained, and supported by our government. In the local Columbus paper there have been several articles regarding the protests. They are are not so much negative as condescending--protestors only know "one side" and there are interviews with current attendees of the SOA/WHISC, who of course are not trained to toture people. There is NO mention of the hundreds of SOA graduates who have murdered thousands of innocent people--all under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam. Nor is there any kind of discussion of what right the US has to impose its will--economic and otherwise on Latin America.
Perhaps more amazing is the activity surrounding the protest--the first-hand reports of Columbians, legislative updates, all of the many social justice projects the people of SOAW are involved in. And I think, THIS is what democracy looks like. And I have to think, why do I have to come to a Columbian teach-in to find out about the current amendments regarding funding for Plan Columbia (which Columbian call Plan Washington, because Columbians had no say in it), or attend an organizing meeting for immigaration issues to find out Patriot II IS being passed, bit by bit in ryders attached to bills for park funding and the like. WHERE IS THE MEDIA?! In the National Media Reform conference held several weeks ago about every other speaker suggested that the democratic nature of this republic hinged on media reform. And as I process the tremendous information presented here I can appreciate as never before the gap between what the media offers and what is needed for citizens to make informed decisions about our governments actions.
Tommorrow will be the funeral procession, and thousands will witness hundreds of people "crossing the line" which means certain arrest and a 3-6 month federal jail sentence. They do it for all of us, to protest the injustice of the SOA and the repression it stands for, please hold them in your thoughts.
Every year SOA throws something new into the mix, last year was wanding people, this year during today's protest loud music blared from behind the stage, where people spoke or sang. It was extremely irritating (people on stage stated they could not hear themselves) but they CANNOT SILENCE US! peace everybody Entry 116 first created by Jennifer: 2003-11-22 21:50:28
This lineup is stacked! Absolutely stacked.An alert was sent earlier today to CMA's ever-growing
mailing list. Here's a list of what's going on:
And in a late-breaking development, CMA has, for the fourth time this year,
made an appearance in Danny Schechter's blog.
Whew.
But of course all this pales in comparison to Michael
Jackson's arrest warrant. :-/ Entry 115 first created by Mitchell: 2003-11-19 14:12:55
Noam Chomsky on Tavis SmileyI just heard Noam Chomsky interviewed on Tavis Smiley. Not only was he on (too briefly of course) but it was advertised at least twice in the last 12 hours. The interview was quite different from the one his NPR counterpart Bob Garfield (On The Media, about a year ago)peformed. In his typical smarmy fashion Garfield only allowed Chomsky a soundbite on a rather distant topic (Chomsky's testimony in Turkish court for a Turkish writer) and referred to Chomsky as a "human-flame thrower". Smiley, on the other hand, as he always does with his guests, treated Chomsky respectfully, and as the "intellectual heavyweight" that he is. For admirers of Chomsky no new ground was broken but hopefully some people who heard him for the first time (which had to be quite a few) might be inspired to get his new book.
I have written about the Tavis Smiley show before, and think its worth stating that this show may be the most "balanced" show on NPR. Smiley has many leftist and leftish regular commentators such as Connie Rice (cousin of National Security Advisor but with very different politics) and Cornell West. Of course he has given more time to Ward Connerlly, Mr. anti-afirmative action, then anybody else on the radio. Nevertheless, in his choice of topics alone I think Tavis Smiley shows a genuine interest in topics that are important to most working people, regardless of their race, or ethnic background. Entry 114 first created by Jennifer: 2003-11-19 14:06:44
The campaign heats up!A report from Madison is still forthcoming, but let me kindly direct your attention to the left column. A new Rapid Response campaign is launched, in an effort to clean up WTTW and really put the public back into Chicago public broadcasting.
Or you can click here instead.
There's more to come. Stay tuned. Entry 113 first created by Mitchell: 2003-11-13 17:03:01
A hearty hello to everyone at the Media Reform ConferenceTo everyone who learned about CMA at the National Conference
for Media Reform, let me bid a hearty welcome to you all
and a hearty congratulations to Free Press for organizing
a fantastic conference with such a stacked lineup.
A lot of organizational contact and encouragement took place
at the conference, plus the place was packed with lots
of great ideas and strategies. To everyone we promised
I would contact, I ask for your patience. No doubt
everyone's exhausted from everything that took place over
the weekend but rest assured that everything will be addressed
in due time (plus a summary report of the conference from
CMA's view will be written up and posted, complete with photographs!).
If CMA can be of service to any of you, feel free to
contact us.
Thank you. Entry 112 first created by Mitchell: 2003-11-09 20:10:02
And there's more! Much more!This came across the wires this morning. CMA will have a table presence at Chicago's Tell Us The Truth tour date on Monday Night (7:30pm, at Park West), but word just came down that there's going to be more:
Join us Monday afternoon and learn more about the fight against big media!
Artists Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Lester Chambers, Mike Mills and Boots Riley will join together with Common Cause President Chellie Pingree and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach to host a panel discussion on Monday, November 10, 2003 at 1:30PM at the HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo in Chicago.
This event complements a 13-date tour featuring Bragg, Morello and Chambers (of the Chambers Brothers). The Tell us the Truth Tour includes concerts and awareness raising on current media reform and trade issues, including the upcoming Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) summit in Miami (Nov. 19-21). With support from unions, environmental, religious and media reform groups - including the AFL-CIO, Citizens Trade Campaign, Common Cause, Free Press and the Future of Music Coalition - this tour will be the loudest,
angriest, funniest and most effective challenge to corporate domination of the public discourse in recent history.
What: Tell us the Truth Panel Discussion
Agenda: Chellie Pingree, President, Common Cause; Lori Wallach, Director, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch; Tom Hansen, Mexico Solidarity Network; Billy Bragg (musician); Tom Morello (musician); Lester Chambers, The Chambers Brothers (musician); Mike Mills, R.E.M. (musician); Boots Riley, The Coup (musician)
When: Monday, November 10, 2003, 1:30-3:30PM
Where: The HotHouse; 31 E. Balbo
For More Information contact Hugo Rojas of Common Cause / Illinois at 630-268-2428
A complete Tell us the Truth Tour itinerary as well as more in-depth information is available at www.tellusthetruth.org.
Entry 111 first created by Mitchell: 2003-11-06 09:17:45
And we have an airdate!Word just came our friends at CAN-TV.
CMA's October 16 forum on "Racial Stereotypes in the Media" is scheduled to air on Sunday, November 30th, 3:30pm on CAN-TV channel 21.
A flyer with additional details will be posted later. Entry 110 first created by Mitchell: 2003-11-05 16:36:16
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Join us Thursday, December 18, 2003. Chicago Media Action is holding a protest against FCC Chair Michael Powell, who will be in Chicago to give a talk before the Economic Club of Chicago. The protest will be Thursday, December 18, 2003, from 6:45pm to 8pm, outside the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Chicago (301 E. North Water St.) See more