Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
From Sept 25-27, thousands of Indigenous Colombians marched in Bogata, calling for an end to paramilitary violence in their regions. They also voiced support for social reforms to alleviate poverty, pointing out the systemic connection between economic hardship, drug cartels, and the violence. It’s a connection that many places worldwide can, unfortunately, relate to.
In Los Angeles, hotel workers are making a little headway, securing a deal with a second hotel. The agreement covers 300 workers and offers increased wages, improved healthcare, more robust staffing, pension increases, and more inclusive hiring procedures for formerly incarcerated people and unauthorized immigrants. United Auto Workers have employed a similar strategy to the hotel workers, launching rolling strikes that have kept the industry scrambling and cost manufacturers $200 million so far. The UAW won one of their demands already, which was to gain battery factory union jobs for US workers as the industry shifts to hybrid and electric vehicles.
Perhaps due to the rolling strike strategy, mainstream media is coming up short in calculating the size of the strike wave happening. While their headlines mention thousands of workers on strike, the total is in the hundreds of thousands. A new report shows that at least 453,000 workers have participated in 312 strikes in the U.S. this year. This week alone, 75,000 Kaiser striking workers joined the 160,000 SAG/AFTRA actors, 32,000 LA hotels workers, 150,000 UAW auto workers, and many more who are on strike. Of course, if Quebec’s 420,000-person strong public worker union goes on strike (as they’re threatening to), Canadian labor action will outstrip the United States’ annual tally in one fell swoop. (It’s even more impressive when you remember the relative population size of the two nations: Canada has 36 million people. The US equivalent would be around 4 million workers on strike. May we see that day soon.)
In other Nonviolence News, Londoners marched against North Sea oil extraction; Haitians are protesting a US-backed, Kenyan military presence in their country; thousands of people worldwide once again protested Japan’s Fukushima wastewater discharges; and a 6-year campaign succeeded in getting rid of Chicago’s racist gangs database.
There are so many creative actions this week. A pair of climate protesters locked down to the stage during a performance of the musical Les Miserables – and invited the audience to sing-along to their rendition of “Can You Hear The People Sing?” Portugal’s public art installations are in the crosshairs of a reckoning with the nation’s role in the slave trade. Germans launched a floating anti-nuke art show in a river. Italian climate activists built a 20-ft tall Trojan Horse to warn people that pretending the climate crisis doesn’t exist is a dangerous deception. An ecofeminist art show from tree-huggers to Greenham Common reveals the deep, abiding connection between feminism and nonviolent action.
There’s much to learn … and more to celebrate in Nonviolence News this week.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
THANK YOU to our recent donors. We are so grateful.
Donate here>>
LA Hotel Workers Win Second Tentative Agreement: After nearly three months of sporadic strikes at dozens of hotels in Southern California, the union representing workers at one property — the Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles — announced that it has reached a tentative deal for higher pay and benefits. The union, Unite Here Local 11, said in a written statement that once the contract is ratified, the 300 workers at the Biltmore will see “unprecedented wage increases that keep pace with the soaring cost of housing.” The agreement also provides improved healthcare, more robust staffing, pension increases, and more inclusive hiring procedures for formerly incarcerated people and unauthorized immigrants. Hotel workers are targeting 5 hotel chains and 100+ stores throughout Los Angeles with their rolling strikes. Read more>>
In Fresno, Sikhs and Oaxacans Unite To Pass Caste Discrimination Ban: The Fresno City Council voted to make Fresno the first city in California to ban discrimination based on caste or Indigenous heritage, while a similar bill sits on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Read more>>
‘Unbreakable Solidarity Is Working’: UAW Wins Protections for GM Battery Plant Workers: Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words, “Eat the Rich” in his latest online broadcast Friday afternoon, United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain told the union’s 145,000 members that brand-new progress made in contract negotiations with the Big Three automakers made one thing clear: “We are winning.” Read more>>
Australian Coal Mine Funding Slashed: Australian Aboriginal activists teamed up with New Yorkers to stop one of the biggest banks from funding a giant coal mine, and won. Watch a short action video here>>
Chicago Nixed Its Racist Database of Gangs. Other Cities Should Follow. Six years of tireless organizing by a coalition of grassroots activists led to this month’s victory in Chicago. Read more>>
Climate Defiance Put The Heat On Deputy Interior Secretary. He Resigned. Climate action works! On September 19th, Climate Defiance orchestrated a highly dramatic, disruptive confrontation with Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau, publicly exposing his decision to sign the Willow Project to 100Ks of viewers. “We interrupted his day with 5 actions in 2 hours. Yesterday he resigned his post.” Watch the action video here>>
“A+ Quality” Recycled Water is Turning Tribal Farms Green: Over a century ago, the Supreme Court ruled that reservations have a right to water. Today, thanks to a unique exchange, some tribes are finally getting their due. Read more>>
Major Win Against Factory Farming Points Out Powerful New Direction For Climate Movement: Small farmers in Oregon, backed by a coalition of animal rights and climate activists, secured a big legislative victory over industrial factory farms, providing inspiration for wider action. Read more>>
The Texas Shrimper Holding Industrial Polluters Accountable: The “reclusive fisherwoman” turned “controversial hell-raiser” is battling some of the biggest petrochemical companies — and winning. Read more>>
Thousands of US Health Care Workers Strike: Thousands of US health care workers have gone on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages. Picketing began Wednesday morning at Kaiser Permanente hospitals as some 75,000 health care workers go on strike in Virginia, California and three other states over wages and staffing shortages, marking the latest major labor unrest in the United States. Read more>>
Hundreds of Thousands of US Workers Involved in Rolling & Full-On Strike: At least 453,000 workers have participated in 312 strikes in the U.S. this year. Here’s a rundown of major work stoppages happening right now. Some of the unions involved are 75,000 Kaiser workers, 160,000 SAG/AFTRA actors, 32,000 LA hotels workers, 150,000 UAW auto workers and many more! Read more>>
Over 5,000 Actions During Campaign Nonviolence Action Days 2023: Campaign Nonviolence Action Days has been highlighting the interconnection between forms of violence and working to dismantle them for 10 years. During the 10th annual Campaign Nonviolence Action Days from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2, hundreds of local, national and international groups organized actions and events to build a culture of peace and active nonviolence, free from war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction. In 2023, a staggering 5,057 actions were planned across the United States and 20 countries. Over 60,000 people took part in these actions and events. Read more>>
Thousands Protest Around The World Against Japan’s Nuclear Waste Dumping: Protests took place in Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, and Bochum), the United States (New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle), South Korea (Seoul and Busan), Japan (Nagoya and Tokyo); Indonesia (Jakarta), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne); Switzerland (Zurich) and Wales (Aberystwyth). The New York rally delivered the Global People’s Joint Statement, signed by more than 2.1 million people around the world, to the UN. Read more>>
Remembering The ‘Disappeared’ Activists Of Thailand: At a Sydney rally, Kanyanatt Kalfagiannis, spokesperson of the Australian Alliance for Thai Democracy, said the enforced disappearance of activists who speak out against the military coup leaders and the closely associated Thai monarchy has marred politics in Thailand for many years. Read more>>
Tampa 5 Make Their First Stop In Wisconsin On Their US Tour: Chrisley Carpio, Laura Rodriguez, Lauren Pineiro, Gia Davila, and Jeanie Kida were all charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, disrupting campus function, and resisting arrest. In reality, they were arrested for protesting against DeSantis’ House Bill 999 which will ban ethnic studies, women, and gender studies, cultural groups, and programs as well as take away rights to tenure for faculty. Pineiro said, “These attacks should be seen for what they are: acts of political repression.” Read more>>
Censorship Opponents Vow to Fight Right-Wing Assault This Banned Book Week: “When we ban books, we’re closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives,” said the American Library Association. “But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book.” Read more>>
Get On The Bus: Banned Books Tour Hits The Road: Book banning in public schools jumped 33% this year, so a group of enthusiasts is tackling censorship with a bus tour from New York to Texas. Staffers have created festival events in each city to give free books to children, including banned titles – but only if requested. Information will also be shared with parents, teachers and librarians, guiding them on how best to fight against censorship in their community. Read more>>
‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ Writers Decline to Return (Exclusive): The daytime talk show is coming back Oct. 16, but the show’s three WGA writers — Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe — have turned down an offer to return with it. Read more>>
The Industry Backlash Against Low-Wage Worker Victories: After tipped workers in Washington and New York won ballot box and legislative wage victories, their battles had only begun. Read more>>
Student Loan Debtors Consider Debt Resistance As Moratorium Expires: To pay or not to pay? As the US moratorium on student debt payments expires, debtors face hard choices. The Debt Collective is helping them learn to resist. Read more>>
Québec Public Sector Workers Are Ready For a General Strike: An inter-union alliance representing 420,000 workers is mounting a serious challenge to the CAQ’s austerity program. Fed up with the deterioration of public services under the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government, thousands took to the streets to demand fair pay, improved benefits, and better working conditions while unions negotiated new collective agreements with the province. Read more>>
Building Ties Between Workers & The Climate Justice Movement: The Global Ecosocialist Network hosted an international online forum, in June, to bring together labour activists and climate justice activists to share their experiences in building links. Read more>>
Crowds Marched Through London Against Development of New North Sea Oil: Fossil Free London staged a march of hundreds of people through the capital on September 30. It was protesting the recent regulatory approval for the development of Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. Meanwhile, new research has revealed what we could be losing as a result. Rosebank emissions are equivalent to the output of around 28 countries. Read more>>
German ‘Last Generation’ Climate Activists Will Join XR A12 Blockade In The Hague: The supporters of the climate group Extinction Rebellion, who block the A12 highway in The Hague every day, could be joined by a more radical group from Germany, called “Letzte Generation”. This group plans to come to The Hague with about 100 people to participate in the traffic blockade on Saturday and Sunday. Thousands have been arrested over weeks of protests. Read more>>
Climate Defiance Has Profoundly Disrupted … Popstar Sara Bareilles?! “Ok, as far as we know she hasn’t approved any new fossil fuels. But she just performed at a Biden fundraiser. We showed up to call on the President to be a climate leader and declare an emergency. Watch the video>>
What Sunrise El Paso Learned From Its Youth-Led Climate Charter Campaign: El Paso’s youth launched a historic fight for the country’s first municipal climate charter. After a failed ballot initiative, the group is launching a new effort to bring climate action to Sun City. Read more>>
Climate Researcher Threatened With Termination for Taking a Stand Against Flying: “I am prepared to pay this price, if it helps raising awareness among the public and the societal leadership on the desperate situation we are in,” said Giancarlo Grimalda. Read more>>
The Fight To Shut Down DAPL Continues: Here’s what organizers are working on to stop the pipeline that tens of thousands protested at Standing Rock in 2016. Read more>>
‘We Keep People Alive’: As Summers Get Deadlier, A Tiny Church Is Fighting Back: In a South Phoenix neighborhood struggling with homelessness, addiction, and environmental racism, climate change is just the latest crisis. Read more>>
Indigenous Leaders, Allies Honor Orange Shirt Day: United American Indians of New England (UAINE), the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB) and their allies took over the entrance of Boston’s Basilica Church on Sept. 30 to commemorate Canada’s “National Day For Truth and Reconciliation”. Read more>>
Portugal Uses Art To Grapple With Legacy Of Colonial Past: The European country with longest involvement in the slave trade is coming under pressure to give a public apology for its role. Art installations are both part of the strategy for confronting the colonial past and in the crosshairs of controversy. Read more>>
Rejected by US Courts, Onondaga Nation Takes Centuries-Old Land Rights Case To International Panel: The Onondaga Nation has protested for centuries that illegal land grabs shrank its territory from what was once thousands of square miles in upstate New York to a relatively paltry patch of land south of Syracuse. It took its case to President George Washington, to Congress and, more recently, to a U.S. court. All failed. Now, they’re bringing a case to an international panel. Read more>>
Indigenous Activist Shot During Peaceful Protest Opposing Spanish Conquistador Statue: A man was shot and wounded as tempers flared in New Mexico over the statue of a Spanish conquistador. Chaos erupted as a gunshot rang out during a protest in northern New Mexico where officials had planned to install a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate, an event that county officials had already postponed anticipating that tempers would flare. Read more>>
Why the Indictment of Cop City Protesters Should Scare All Of US: The indictment of 61 protesters in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month on RICO charges rocked the nation. Civil liberties groups immediately denounced Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr — who pushed forward with the indictment of Cop City protesters despite objections from local officials. It has repercussions for everyone. Read more>>
Antiwar Voices Condemn UN Authorization of US-Backed, Kenyan-Led Invasion of Haiti: “Every foreign military invasion and occupation of Haiti has brought nothing but pain and misery to our people,” said one Haitian-American critic. Read more>>
Colombian Indigenous And Social Organizations March Against Violence In Bogotá: Over 15,000 Indigenous people from 10 departments of Colombia arrived in the capital Bogotá between September 25 and 27 to draw the national government’s attention to the humanitarian crisis faced by Indigenous communities in their territories due to paramilitary violence.Read more>>
Eleven Activists Arrested During Ukraine War Protests At Congressional Offices: More than 50 progressive activists marched across Capitol Hill on Wednesday to protest the war in Ukraine and call on lawmakers to push the Biden administration to negotiate an end to the war. At least 11 of the protesters were arrested outside the office of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) after congressional aides demanded they end a sit-in inside the senator’s office. Several senior citizens, including a handicapped elderly woman, were either handcuffed by officers or escorted out. Read more>>
Germany Launches Floating Anti-Nuke Art Exhibit: To commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons ICAN Germany hosted a floating exhibition with artists from Artists Against The Bomb on Rummelsburg Bay in Berlin. Read more>>
Himalayan Tree-Huggers And a Landscape Of Vulvas: At this eco-show, women call the shots. A new exhibition looks at the way ecofeminism has evolved – from anti-nuclear protests at Greenham Common to ‘multiple clitoris’ art. Read more>>
Trojan Horse Sounds Alarm About Public Deception Over Climate Emergency: An enormous Trojan horse together with three soldiers appeared this morning in front of Palazzo Grandi Stazioni, one of the headquarters of the #RegioneVeneto. But why a Trojan horse? People are being deceived about the #ClimateEmergency. Read more>>
File Under ‘S’ for Solidarity: Union Members Defend Local Library: When the MAGA right planned to protest a drag event at a local library, North Shore Labor Council members showed up to fight back. Read more>>
Lock-ons Prevented Security From Removing Just Stop Oil Supporters At Les Miserables Performance: Locking down stopped security from taking climate activists out of a musical performance of Les Miserable. The locks, however, did not prevent everyone from having a cheeky sing-along to Do You Hear the People Sing? Watch here>>
Broken Zipper? France Will Pay to Get It Fixed: Cheap, disposable clothing is causing an environmental disaster. Now, the home of haute couture is chipping in for its citizens’ garment repairs. Read more>>
How Children’s TV Is Helping Families Grapple With the Climate Crisis: Shows like Molly of Denali give parents a way into climate discussions that can assuage anxiety and even inspire hope. Read more>>
California Raises the Bar on Climate-Friendly School Lunches: Two-thirds of California’s largest school districts now serve non-meat, non-dairy meals at least once a week. Schools across the state are leaning into plant-based meal options — good news for both kids’ nutrition and the planet. Read more>>
San Francisco’s Diggers: In the 1960s, the Diggers were self-identified community anarchists who believed food should be free—and stew was their subversive vehicle. They performed street theater and organized mutual aid projects, from free stores to free housing to the dissemination of produce, hot meals, and bread. Here’s a look inside their interesting – and highly imperfect – revolutionary bread and stew movement. Read more>>
The UAW Fight is an Exercise in Class Struggle Unionism: UAW President Shawn Fain has said that “corporate greed” is the enemy, and autoworkers are fighting back. Read the interview>>
Pope Francis’ New Encyclical Is a Call For Nonviolence: To explore this new exhortation, it is helpful to see it against the backdrop of the spirituality, way of life, method for change, and universal ethic of nonviolence, a principle and practice that has been a defining hallmark of Pope Francis’ papacy and that connects directly with the importance of humanity taking responsibility for fully engaging the threat to the Earth. Read more>>
Julian Assange Faces Looming Extradition: Julian Assange may be extradited to the United States this month. His last avenues to appeal the United Kingdom’s extradition order are being exhausted. Clearing the FOG speaks with Kevin Gosztola, an investigative journalist and author of “Guilty of Journalism: The political case against Julian Assange,” about why the power structure is targeting Julian Assange, the charges against him and how his trial in the United States will be constrained to prevent him from defending himself. Listen here>>
5 Lessons From The North Hollywood Stripper Strike: At a time when labor strikes are escalating across a wide variety of industries, these Los Angeles strippers’ techniques could prove fruitful to new organizing efforts. Read more>>
How Bayard Rustin Inspired Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nonviolent Activism: Rustin helped Dr. King conceive of his protest in the grandest terms, terms that firmly linked three of his greatest interests—philosophy, religion, and social justice. In Montgomery, the pieces were coming together for the greatest nonviolent movement America had ever seen, and they were coming together in no small part because King and Rustin had the vision for how the pieces might be arranged, because King proved willing to adapt, and because these two men managed to forge a complicated but dynamic working relationship. Read more>>
Tell Citibank To Stop Funding Apartheid – And Start Funding Reparations To Haiti: Palestinians, Haitians, and allies are taking on Citibank: the largest U.S. bank investing directly in apartheid Israel, and the bank that spurred the U.S. takeover and theft of Haiti. Learn more>>
Disarm The Media: Join CODEPINK in urging the media to disarm the discourse by rejecting sourcing from anonymous intelligence officials with a pro-war bias and instead engage in ethical and common-sense journalism regarding China. Learn more>>
Protection and Asylum For Human Rights Defender Olga Karatch: Following the denial of political asylum by the Lithuanian authorities for the Belarusian peacebuilder and human rights defender Olga Karatch (Volha Karach), the international campaign #protection4olga has just been launched to demand protection and asylum. Learn more>>
Hungry for more Nonviolence News? Pitch in to keep these stories coming.
Donate here>>