There are reports from many activist organizations that indicate both snail mail
and e-mail are continually late, often arriving after the planned meeting or rally.
A good alternative is to have a calendar on the web so those wanting to participate
in the political process may do so without Cointelpro interference....

This page is updated continually, so be sure to click the RELOAD button
on your browser.
 

Sunday, December 2, 4-7 p.m.
NOKOA Get-Together and Fundraiser
Activists, community leaders, and UT folks will join together to honor and support the work of NOKOA, a long time Austin progressive newspaper, edited by Akwasi Evans. There will be wine, beer, soft drinks, salty and sweet snacks, and other goodies. It will be an opportunity to network with old friends and new in the East Austin community, the UT community, the Progressive community, and others interested in building bridges and forming partnerships.
Suggested donation: $30/ $20/ $10 students and seniors or Give What You Can. Families and children are welcome. Plenty of free parking.
Location: Lyons Gardens, 2720 Lyons Road, just off Pleasant Valley Road.

Thursday, December 6, 8 p.m.
Documentary, "The Murder Of Fred Hampton"
        An unprecedented documentary on the slain leader of the Illinois
Chapter of the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton, killed on December
4th, 1969 by Chicago police while he slept in his apartment.
Filmmakers Mike Gray and Howard Alk were filming a documentary
portrait of this charismatic speaker and community organizer when his
murder occurred. Arriving at the crime scene only a few hours after
the police raid, the unsettling footage they captured was later used
to contradict news reports and police testimony in Hampton's
assassination.
Location: MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop.

Monday, December 10, 7 p.m.
Hutto: America's Family Prison - film screening and discussion
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church will be hosting a screening of Hutto:
America's Family Prison , a short documentary film about the T. Don
Hutto family detention center in Taylor, Texas. T. Don Hutto is a
converted medium-security prison that was reopened in May 2006 to
hold immigrant families, including children as young as newborns, in
detention while awaiting immigration hearings.
The prison has drawn broad criticism as an inappropriate environment
for children. After the short film, local organizers will be
available to answer questions about the facility and upcoming
activities, including a December 16 vigil at the prison. For more
information on the vigil, visit tdonhutto.blogspot.com.
Location: St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 14311 Wells Port Drive,
west of I-35 off Wells Branch Parkway.

Sunday, December 16, 2 - 6 pm
Vigil for Families in Detention at the T. Don Hutto Prison in
Taylor,  Texas
        The T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor, Texas, is a for-profit
prison operated by Corrections Corporation of America, through an
Inter-Governmental Service Agreement with Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and Williamson County. Since May 2006, immigrant
families, about half of them children, have been jailed in the
facility while they await asylum or immigration hearings. The prison
has been criticized by human rights organizations worldwide as an
inappropriate facility for children. An incident involving an
"inappropriate sexual relationship" between a CCA staff member and a
detainee, and one where an eight-year-old girl was left without her
mother for four days have increased scrutiny of Hutto in recent months.
        Hutto is neither an immigration solution or a national security
solution; it merely uses these pressing issues as an excuse for CCA,
Williamson County, and countless politicians to enrich themselves on
the misery of powerless people. At an occupancy rate of 400 (maximum
capacity is 512), CCA pulls at least $7,000 per month per prisoner,
or $28,000 for a family of four. The cost to shelter and feed the
same family at the Austin Hilton for a month? $14,934, featuring real
beds and an enclosed bath in place of prison bunks and a mid-cell
commode.
        According to studies conducted by the Vera Institute, more humane
alternatives, which ICE detailed in a March 2007 memo, are up to
fifty percent more cost-effective. A vast majority of immigrants
attend their hearings when enrolled in alternative supervisory programs.
        Immigrant rights advocates, residents of Williamson County, and
members of many faith communities have organized a vigil for families
detained at the Hutto prison. Advocates will also be gathering toys,
music players, and books to give to families detained at the prison.
Toys must be in their original packaging and cannot be wrapped.
Schedule: The main program will begin at 4:00 pm, with the
candlelight vigil starting as the sun sets at 5:00 pm. A walk to T.
Don Hutto Prison (1001 Welch) from downtown Taylor's Heritage Park
(4th & Main) starting at 2:00 pm will precede the vigil.
More information: Jose Orta at (512) 365-2143 or Bob Libal at (512)
971-0487 or blibal@grassrootsleadership.org.

Monday, December 17, 7 p.m.
Third Coast Film Night at Alamo Drafthouse,
John Pilger's "The War on Democracy"
        John Pilger's first film for cinema - The War on Democracy - "tells
a universal story," says Pilger, "analysing and revealing, through
vivid testimony, the story of great power behind its venerable myths.
It allows us to understand the true nature of the so-called war on
terror".
        Pilger's film, like his journalism and television programs, provides
the perspective of the oppressed and the partisans of resistance. He
focuses on the grassroots struggles being waged in Latin America, in
particular the revolutionary process unfolding in Venezuela: in the
barrios of Caracas, Pilger speaks to people learning to read in order
to participate in land councils, and visits free medical clinics and
the government-subsidised supermarket chain Mercal, which prints
articles of the constitution on the back of sugar and rice packets.
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, at the newly renovated Ritz
Theater location, 320 E. 6th Street
Tickets - $8.25 general / $6 student, senior - are available at the
door or online at http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=4952

Sunday, December 30, 6:30 pm
Last Sunday at Ruta Maya Coffee House
        The "Last Sunday" event in December with host Sean Tate will focus
on poverty in America -- of the soul and the body. In addition to the
speakers and music, we'll discuss the future of Last Sunday. Should
the gathering continue in the new year? Come and contribute to the
conversation.
        Tate will be joined by Last Sunday co-founders Eliza Gilkyson, Jim
Rigby, and Robert Jensen to discuss the spiritual crisis of
contemporary culture. As we reflect on the nature of the Christmas
buying binge, what spiritual problems can we identify? As we look
forward to a new year, what are spiritual resources we can draw on to
face ecological, social, economic, and political challenges?
        At the same time that we think about those issues, we also will
remember that many members of our community are struggling to meet
basic needs. We'll be joined by Sarah Michel from the staff at
Caritas of Austin - www.caritasofaustin.org - one of the local
organizations on the front lines of the fight against poverty, hunger
and homelessness. Michel will explain the group's projects, which
include a community kitchen, food pantry, and housing assistance.
Beyond those basic-needs programs, Caritas strives to help people
become self-sufficient through education programs focused on such
skills as language and money management; refugee resettlement; and
employment.
        Musical guest for Last Sunday will be songwriter/guitarist/producer
Tony Gilkyson. Recognized for his gutsy guitar playing with the
legendary Los Angeles band X and Lone Justice, Tony also has played
on numerous soundtracks, including the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The
Line." His latest CD, the earthy folk and country-roots "Goodbye
Guitar," was released last year.
Location: Ruta Maya Coffee House, 3601 South Congress.
Cost: $8 suggested donation to support the independent artists
performing; no one turned away for lack of funds.
More information: 471-1990, rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu

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