Uhuru Movement-led Weekend of Resistance in Philadelphia!

MARCH ON CITY HALL FRI • OCT 2 • 12-2

meet at the state building at Broad & Spring Garden
end at a rally at City Hall

Join the Uhuru Movement-led march & rally to oppose Nutter's budget scam!
Tax the corporations, not the people!

Attend the convention SAT-SUN! Register Now Keynote Presentation - Chairman Omali Yeshitela: founder of InPDUM, Chairman of the African Socialist International Hear cutting edge analysis on the current deepening crisis of imperialism from the leadership of the International African Revolution, Chairman Omali Yeshitela. The Chairman will also speak on the role and responsibility of InPDUM to forward the Revolutionary Democratic Program of the African Socialist International. Other programs and workshops include: The Plebiscite on Self-determination Building InPDUM Using The Membership and Sustainable Funding Process Introduction of the IEC slate Discussion of the Revolutionary National Democratic Program (RNDP) to unite the African Liberation Movement in Struggle AND MUCH MORE! In order to struggle for freedom we must organize! Attending the convention is the best start! Register Now

For more information contact: Uhuru Solidarity Movement 215-387-0919 philly@uhurusolidarity.org www.inpdum.org

PRESS CONFERENCE - Demonstration - Public Hearing !

Hosted by INPDUM!

The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement is calling on you to join the:

Press Conference and Demonstration!

Stop the $700,000 Bailout of Baywalk!

Economic Development to the African Community Now!

Wednesday, Sept 30th - 10 am

PRESS CONFERENCE: Gather at 9:45 am at Baywalk, corner of 2nd St. and 2nd Ave. N., St. Pete

Thursday, Oct 1st - 8 am

City Hall, 175 5th St. N., St. Pete

Demonstration at 8 am - Public Hearing at 9 am

If you can't attend but want to take action, contact your representatives and make your voice heard - do so before Thursday at 2 pm:

• Email or call Mayor Rick Baker at mayor@stpete.org, 727-893-7201

• Email or call City Council at council@stpete.org, 727-893-7117

The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement is calling for all organizations, members and supporters to join the press conference and demonstration against this bailout and in support of genuine economic development in the African community.

African People's Solidarity Day!

Don't miss the event of the year!

http://apscuhuru.org/emails/stpete/APSD.html

Don't miss the event of the year - African People's Solidarity Day!
Mark your calendars now - tickets can be purchased by contacting the
Uhuru Solidarity Movement at 727-683-9949, stpete@apscuhuru.org.

African People's Solidarity Day
Benefit • Speakers • Workshops • Dinner
$20 - 50 donation includes dinner
Sunday, October 11th • 1:00 pm
Studio@620
620 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg

A call to the white community:
No solution to the economic crisis at the expense of African people!

• The U.S. attempts to solve the deep economic crisis through colonial wars from Afghanistan & Iraq to the streets of St. Petersburg.

• St. Petersburg spends $86 million of the people’s resources on a war budget funding the policy of police containment, prisons and courts, while spending nothing on economic development.

• This is a counterinsurgency war right here!

• We call on our community to stand with the program of the Uhuru Movement, demanding all rights of a free people for self-determination and liberation. We reject an economy and jobs based on the oppression of African people!


Unity in St. Pete through economic &

social justice for the African community!


SPEAKERS

Keynote Speaker:

Omali Yeshitela

Chairman of the African Socialist International

Chioma Oruh
N. Amer Region, African Socialist International. Specialist, AFRICOM and US military in Africa.

Penny Hess

Chair, African People’s Solidarity Committee

African Village Survival Initiative Workshop:

Ironiff Ifoma, Director of Economic
Development, African People’s Socialist Party


Kitty Reilly, African People’s
Solidarity Committee


TOPICS

• U.S. Political & Economic Crisis: No solution at

the expense of African & oppressed people!


• One Africa! One Nation! The solution for Africa:

Liberation & control of Africa’s resources, not charity!


• Why the problem is colonialism inside the U.S.,

not racism!


Stop U.S. Colonial Wars

At Home & Abroad!

Police carry out colonial war in the U.S. African community

The marines carry out colonial war

in Iraq & Afghanistan

Stop police murder & brutality against African people!

Solidarity with the U.S. African community and

oppressed peoples around the world!


727-683-9949 • uhurusolidarity.org

Folk Fest a Success!

Uhuru Solidarity Movement fundraiser food booth at St. Pete Folk Fest!

Uhuru Solidarity Movement did a fundraiser food booth at the St. Pete Folk Fest this past weekend as part of our pledge to raise $1,000 by October 13th for the Uhuru House Development Campaign. The Uhuru House Development Campaign is making genuine economic development in the African community a reality by outfitting a commercial kitchen and recording studio. The kitchen will provide much needed professional space for burgeoning caterers in the community, people wanting to develop their food products for sale and community groups to hold special events as well as foods training and so much more. The recording studio will open up the enormous musical talent in the community, making it possible for people to create, record and distribute their music, allowing African people to have control and benefit from their own culture!

USM met and exceeded our fundraiser goal at the Folk Fest by preparing and selling delicious Italian sausages and Philly cheese steak sandwiches with grilled peppers and onions! Our booths are run by 100% volunteers and we worked with some new and some returning volunteers, without whom we could not have reached our goal! BIG THANKS goes out to Zoe, Mark, Kitty, Johann, Melissa, Lani and Maggie who volunteered their time because they want to participate in building these urgently needed programs!

We were also able to give out information about the upcoming African People's Solidarity Day . As well as garner two donations of art for the upcoming Online Auction!

USM is still looking for volunteers to help us at the Saturday Morning Market where we prep, cook and serve a gourmet breakfast menu. Join us for a fun day anytime between 7 am and 4 pm, Saturday, October 3rd (opening day). We are also scheduling for the rest of the market season - contact us!

Weekend Containment and Terror Against the African Community of East Oakland

On Friday afternoon September 25th, the Oakland police had the African community near the Uhuru House in East Oakland on lockdown for 12 hours following what was alleged to have been a "standoff" between an individual and the police. Read the article. 

The justification for this military operation was  an earlier shooting in front of the a market on MacArthur Blvd and 76th St. at which point the suspect allegedly fled to the same apartment building on 74th and MacArthur where Lovelle Mixon hid on March 21st following the shooting of the two Oakland motorcycle cops.

At 1am on Saturday morning, the Alameda County raided the apartment building, searching several units and firing tear gas into one unit. Late Saturday

While the exact circumstances of the incidents this weekend are unclear, it is certain that the Oakland Police Department and the media that supports their worldview attempted to utilize the actions to rally support for the city's policies and to continue to terrorize the African community.  Most of the articles about the events over the weekend contained very few details of what happened but harkened back to the police shootings in March. 

Another aspect to the weekend's events was the decision by the Oakland Police Department to call in the Alameda County SWAT Team instead of using the Oakland's SWAT team because they were "too emotional" after losing two SWAT team members in March in that same building where Lovelle Mixon was hunted down and killed.

Reports Saturday stated that 20 year old Antoine Harris turned himself in at the Eastmont Police Station. 

The Uhuru Solidarity Movement in Oakland calls on all progressively minded people to see this latest military operation by the Oakland Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff's Department as nothing less than colonial war. 

Stand with the African working class community here and abroad to unite for freedom, self-determination and liberation.  We can no longer sit by comfortably and remain silent. 

The African People's Solidarity Committee and Uhuru Solidarity Movement calls on white allies and allies from any community to take a pledge to take a stand against the U.S. colonial war here and abroad. Build African People's Solidarity Day! Click here to take the pledge and/or make a donation.

What Can You Do? Get Involved!

Uhuru on the Move!

Check out all the ways that you can get involved with the Uhuru Solidarity Movement in the Tampa Bay area!

Volunteer with Uhuru Foods at the St. Petersburg Folk Fest

Saturday and Sunday, September 26^th and 27^th 

Shifts available between 8 am – 8 pm, no experience necessary!

www.UhuruFoods.org

2^nd BayWalk Public Hearing

Thursday, October 1^st – City Hall - speak out to Stop the Bailout of Baywalk!

Email us at uhurusolidaritystpete@gmail.com to get a reminder email for this mobilization!

Online Fundraising Auction

Get donations of: Art, Jewelry, Vacations, Products, Gift Certificates and more!

Donation letters available – Donations needed by October 7th

Proceeds benefit the African Village Survival Initiative

Call us at 727-683-9949 or email us at uhurusolidaritystpete@gmail.com

Yoga with a Purpose

Sponsored by Uhuru Solidarity Movement &Khalsa HealingArts Center

Benefit week of Movement   Meaning   Mobilization – Nov 16 – 22^nd, 2009

Yoga studios and instructors donate a class or workshop to AVSI

More info and materials available at yogawithapurpose.blogspot.com

Uhuru House Development Campaign

Join the campaign to outfit a commercial kitchen and recording studio at the Uhuru House, a working center for economic development. The recording studio will be an institution of international African culture and the commercial kitchen an incubator for community based economic development projects! Call us at 727-683-9949 or email us at uhurusolidaritystpete@gmail.com

Volunteer with Uhuru Foods at the Saturday Morning Market

Shifts available every Saturday beginning October 3^rd, 7 am – 4 pm, no experience necessary

Volunteer shifts during the week are also available! www.UhuruFoods.org

InPDUM Convention: “They Say Cutback, We Say Payback!”

Reparations Now! Independence in our Lifetime!

October 3^rd and 4^th, Philadelphia PA

For registration and other information: www.inpdum.org

African People’s Solidarity Day!

The event of the year: “Stop U.S. Colonial Wars at Home and Abroad!”

Sunday, October 11 • 1pm-8pm Studio@620
620 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL

$20-$50 sliding scale donation includes dinner

PROGRAM

Keynote Speaker:
Omali Yeshitela
Chairman of the African Socialist International

Chioma Oruh
Chair, N. American Region, African Socialist International, Specialist on AFRICOM and U.S. military buildup in Africa

Penny Hess
Chair, African People’s Solidarity Committee

African Village Survival Initiative Workshop:

-Ironiff Ifoma
Director of Economic Development, African People’s Socialist Party

-Kitty Reilly
African People’s Solidarity Committee

www.apscuhuru.org

Circus McGurkis

Volunteer with Uhuru Foods! Saturday, October 24^th – shifts available all day! www.UhuruFoods.org

Black is Back! 

March on Washington D.C.

Saturday, November 7^th, 2009

Organized by the Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations

The Coalition demands an end to Obama's wars against peoples of the world, Africa and the African community in U.S.

www.UhuruNews.org

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for Baywalk!

BayWalk Gets Bailed While Africans Get Jailed!

Host:	Uhuru Movement
Type:	Causes - Protest
Network:	Global
Price:	free

Date:	Thursday, September 24, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Atlanta Bread's community room
Street:	179 1st Ave. N.
City/Town:	Saint Petersburg, FL

Phone:	7276839949
Email:	stpete@apscuhuru.org

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for BayWalk! Support Economic Development for the African Community Join us as we take a deeper look into the $700,000 bailout of BayWalk. While Africans are getting jailed by the City of St. Petersburg's public policy of more police into the African community, BayWalk is getting bailed with more public money!

Volunteer with Uhuru Foods at the St. Pete Folk Fest!

Help your community and have fun!

Host:	Uhuru Solidarity Movement
Type:	Causes - Fundraiser
Network:	Global
Price:	Free

Start Time:	Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 7:00am
End Time:	Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 7:00pm
Location:	Creative Clay, Inc. Cultural Arts Center
Street:	1124 Central Avenue
City/Town:	Saint Petersburg, FL

Phone:	7276839949
Email:	stpete@uhurufoods.org

Volunteer with Uhuru Foods at the St. Pete Folk Fest in the Uhuru Foods fundraising food booth. Shifts available from between 7 am - 7 pm Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th! No experience necessary! Make a difference - Have a great time! Uhuru Foods does a fundraising food booth at the St. Pete Folk Fest to raise money for urgently needed programs that are addressing the struggle of African people around the world for social and economic justice. We need volunteers to help prepare, serve and sell! No experience is necessary and we will work with your schedule. Want to be part of an exciting day, on a great team? Need to complete volunteer hours? Uhuru Foods needs your help! Contact us today to sign up. Volunteers are needed between the hours of 7:00 am - 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. We invite you to sign up for at least a 4 hour shift. All volunteers with us will enjoy a free meal from our booth and the opportunity to be part of a truly meaningful fundraiser. Past volunteers have given their experiences with us rave reviews! If you're interested in volunteering, contact us today and help raise money for sustainability and self-determination in the African community! Stephanie, Volunteer Coordinator, 727-683-9949 or email stpete@uhurufoods.org

"City Council, You Can't Hide! We Won't Let this Bailout Slide!"

InPDUM led the chants on the steps on St. Petersburg, FL's City Hall today, demanding "No Bailout for Baywalk! " City Council wants to spend $700,000 to bailout a failing entertainment complex while 71% of the African community in St. Pete live at or below the poverty line. Today, the City Council held their "first vote" on the bailout and InPDUM called for a demonstration to demand economic development! Members of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement reported that the demonstration was powerful and attracted the attention of city council members that came out of city hall and approached the demonstration. Councilman Newton objected to the demonstration saying that he was the only one that voted against the bailout. But InPDUM responded that he did not defend the African community from the council attacks and that they are the reason that Baywalk is failing. Also, Newton supports more police! Councilman Nurse approached the demonstration and InPDUM struggled with him. As the representative of the majority African district in St. Pete, he doesn't represent the interests of African people at all and, in fact, blames Africans for the conditions and participates in gentrification of the African community! InPDUM defined the struggle by demanding they end the public policy of police containment, stop blaming the African community for Baywalk's failure and, instead, use the $700,000 for genuine business loans, and to create commerce in the African community!

Join the Black Community-led March to Oppose Philadelphia's War Budget October 2nd!

Friday, October 2nd - from Broad & Spring Garden to City Hall! Come to the planning meetings: Every Tuesday at 7:30pm at the Uhuru Solidarity Center • 3733 Lancaster Ave W. Phila To join the coordinating Committee for the October 2nd march or more information about the "They Say Cutback We Say Payback March" and Convention call: 215-387-0919 email: philly@uhurusolidarity.org Weekly meetings will are held on Tuesday nights at 7:30PM at 3733 Lancaster Avenue. Philadelphia , PA Please forward this info widely to other organizations & lists, family & friends, and post the link on Facebook! www.uhurusolidarity.org www.uhurunews.com

Demonstration!

Stop the $700,000 Bailout of Baywalk!










Economic Development to the African Community Now!
Thursday, Sept 17th - 2 pm
St. Petersburg City Hall, 175 5th St. N.

If you can't attend but want to take action, contact your representatives and make your voice heard - do so before Thursday at 2 pm:
• Email or call Mayor Rick Baker at mayor@stpete.org, 727-893-7201
• Email or call City Council at council@stpete.org, 727-893-7117

The struggle to stop the Baywalk bailout is ongoing. As you may know the Development Review Commission has approved the sidewalk giveway to Baywalk. The City Council of St. Petersburg will be conducting the "first vote" on the Baywalk Bailout and sidewalk giveaway on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 3:00pm at city hall.

The question of free speech hangs in the balance because the city is intent on giving the public sidewalk in front of Baywalk to Wells Fargo Bank which owns the failing entertainment complex. In addition $700,000 of taxpayer money, money that could be used to start new African businesses in the so-called Midtown area where 71% of the population lives at or below the poverty line.

The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement is calling for all organizations, members and supporters to join a protest demonstration against this bailout and for reparations to the African community.

We will assemble for the demonstration at 2:00pm and the demonstratiion will start at 2:15pm and end 2:50pm.

Build African People's Solidarity Day!

No solution to the economic crisis through colonial war from Afghanistan & Iraq to the streets of Oakland.

The Uhuru Solidarity Movement and Uhuru Foods in Oakland will meet on this Tuesday, September 15th at 7pm at Mama Buzz Cafe, 2318 Telegraph Ave in Oakland to discuss the political organizing work to build African People's Solidarity on October 20th. 

We are bringing Omali Yeshitela, the Chairman and founder of the Uhuru Movement to Oakland.

African People's Solidarity Day represents a stand from white progressive people in support of African liberation and freedom. From West Oakland to West Africa, Africans are one people divided by slavery and colonialism and united in the struggle for the unification of Africa. The resources of Africa - the diamonds, the gold, the coltan (used to fuel our computers and cell phones), the oil (used to fuel our cars) and all the wealth - belong to African people everywhere!

Join the Uhuru Solidarity Movement for just $25 a year and participate in the work to support the African Village Survival Initiative, the work to build the African Socialist International throughout Africa and the African world and the work to build the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement on the ground in African communities throughout the world.

The wealth of Africa is the cornerstone of the U.S. led imperialist system. When Africa is free, the world will be freed from this system that has brought nothing but misery and destruction to the peoples of the planet.

Contact us at 510-625-1109 or email at oakland@uhurusolidarity.org

Got Skills? Join the Uhuru News Squad!

We are looking for skills in Solidarity for African Revolution to unite Africa and Africans across the globe! Bring your talents and become a part of changing the world!

When: Sep 12, 2009 12:00noon
Where: Teleconference
Contact: Uhuru News, info@uhurunews.com

The African People's Socialist Party's Department of Agitation and Propaganda (Agit-Prop) is the pulse of the Uhuru Movement. Agit-Prop produces The Burning Spear newspaper, Uhuru News, Uhuru Radio, video, websites, books, and speaking tours.

But we could do much more and reach more people with your help! If you have skills in

• graphic design
• writing and editing
• photography
• web development / computer programming
• video and audio editing
• transcription
• translation
• research

then we need you to join the Uhuru News Squad! We'll be meeting Saturday, September 12, 2009 Noon U.S. Eastern time via teleconference. Learn about Agit-Prop's upcoming projects and how you can take your place in this exciting process.

Confirm you can attend by emailing your name, phone and email address to info@uhurunews.com. Or call 727-824-5700. We will contact you with instructions on how to connect to meeting.

Defend Uhuru Flea Markets in Clark Park!

West Philadelphia's most popular community flea market -
a benefit for the African Village Survival Initiative

Join the campaign:
"The Park Belongs to the People!"

Calling on all neighbors, supporters, vendors, local businesses & organizations to get involved in the campaign to defend the Uhuru Flea Markets in Clark Park. There is a small, vocal clique in Friends of Clark Park that is actively attempting to limit the number, size and location of the flea markets in the park for the 2010 season.

In the current economic crisis, which is hitting the African & Latino communities particularly hard, many Philadelphia neighborhoods, including West Philly, are facing devastating poverty, unemployment and foreclosures. Uhuru Flea Markets provide a crucial opportunity for economic development and bring the entire community together.

Come to the organizing meeting:
Thursday, September 17 • 7:30pm
Uhuru Solidarity Center • 3733 Lancaster Ave • W. Phila

philly@uhurusolidarity.org • 215-387-0919 uhurufleamarket.blogspot.com
Sign the online petition!

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for Baywalk!

BayWalk Gets Bailed While Africans Get Jailed!

Host:	Uhuru Movement
Type:	Causes - Protest
Network:	Global
Price:	free

Date:	Thursday, September 24, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Atlanta Bread's community room
Street:	175 1st Ave. S.
City/Town:	Saint Petersburg, FL

Phone:	7276839949
Email:	stpete@apscuhuru.org

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for BayWalk! Support Economic Development for the African Community Join us as we take a deeper look into the $700,000 bailout of BayWalk. While Africans are getting jailed by the City of St. Petersburg's public policy of more police into the African community, BayWalk is getting bailed with more public money!

Fundraiser Meeting!

Volunteer Orientation and Team Building for Uhuru Solidarity Movement, this Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 pm, location: Atlanta Bread's community room at 175 1st Ave. N. in St. Pete. Find out how you can participate in the fundraisers, benefits and other volunteer opportunities - all supporting self-determination and self-reliance in the African community!

Update on the Campaign to Stop the Baywalk Bailout!

Report from the Uhuru Movement weekly community meeting held on Sunday, September 6th.

InPDUM organizer Kobina Bantushango led a report and summation on the campaign to stop the $700,000 bailout of Baywalk entertainment complex in downtown St. Pete. He thought the demonstration last week before the public hearing and the speak out at the public hearing itself were both successful. About 15 people came out to participate in the demonstration even though it had to be held in the middle of a workday (which the City Council plans to limit participation from African working class!) InPDUM has been doing regular outreach in the African community as well and the sentiment is overwhelmingly against a bailout of Baywalk. People do not think that another failing mall should get $700,000 when the African community suffers in such incredible poverty!

Chimurenga Waller, International President of InPDUM, reported that the bailout is clearly extortion. Wells Fargo (who owns Baywalk) has said that they will be willing to consider investing $6 million in Baywalk IF the City Council gives them control over the sidewalk (for more background information on this struggle, see previous posts below!). But if the City refuses to give them the sidewalk, there will be no $6 million investment.

The City's Attorney clearly stated in the public hearing, regardless of free speech issues and the fact that the City will most likely face a lawsuit for denying free speech, that the deal should be done anyway.

Chimurenga also made it very clear that they only way that they are able to justify throwing away $700,000 on this already failing economic project is by blaming the African community for its failure. The City contends that the Uhuru Movement protests keep people away from Baywalk and that the young Africans working as ushers in the movie theater are the problem. Nevermind the complete economic meltdown!! We know that malls around the country are foreclosing as part of the same economic crisis that has resulted in all the foreclosures of African homes. Yet, the City contends it is the African community and therefore, the sidewalk must be privatized so that protests can be eliminated.

The plain truth, however, is that the City wants the $6 million. The other plain truth is that it was the African youth that had kept Baywalk in business for as long as it has been. African young people came out to Baywalk weekly and spent their money but eventually stopped coming because of the police containment that they faced there.

Also, in this meeting, people from the community testified about the conditions in the African community in St. Petersburg. Dr. Aisha Fields, director of the All African People's Development and Empowerment Project, said that she has never seen such stark poverty in the African community as she has seen right here in St. Pete. A young African man talked about the trouble that he has finding a job in this city and how there are no jobs in the community - he has to travel out of St. Pete just to work!

InPDUM is calling on people to attend a demonstration and speak out at the next meeting of City Council to be held on Thursday, September 17th. At this meeting City Council will vote on the Baywalk issue. This is not the final vote however. On Thursday, October 1st, there will also be the second of three public hearings where InPDUM is calling on everyone to come and speak out! More info on these actions to come!

Uhuru Solidarity Movement unites with InPDUM's struggle to stop the bailout of Baywalk and that the core issue is not just free speech or whether or not a sidewalk should be private or public. The core issue is that economic development in the city of St. Petersburg has ALWAYS come at the EXPENSE of African people. This time it is a criminalization of the African community to justify this bailout and privatizing the sidewalk. It is also the city's continued policy to put resources into more and more police for the African community and no resources for economic development that would provide jobs, loans for small businesses, commerce in the community that benefits the community. Take a stand for economic development in the African community - don't accept another bailout for the white minority developers!

Uhuru Movement Will Represent at "Power to the Peaceful"

"From Lil' Bobby Hutton to Oscar Grant: 41 Years of Police Terror in Oakland. Stop the War on the African Community!" reads the banner held high at demonstrations this year against the policies of police containment of the African community found in Oakland, San Francisco and all over the U.S. 

On this coming Saturday, September 12th, 2009, the militant stand in defense of the African working class led by the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement Oakland branch will be represented at the 11th annual Power to the Peaceful Festival held at Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. 

Joined by the Uhuru Solidarity Movement Oakland, the InPDUM Oakland will organize people at the festival to join revolutionary organizations led by the African People's Socialist Party. Uhuru Foods will be operating two booths raising funds for the Uhuru Movement by selling delicious sesame seed burgers, crab cakes and hand cut garlic fries to the crowds. Volunteer with us!

What originated as a "911"  festival in 1998 calling for support for African political prisoner  Mumia Abu Jamal is now being put forward, according to festival organizer Michael Franti, "as a day to remember September 11th as a day of service towards peace."

In this time of a renewed U.S. aggression against the people of Afghanistan, Iraq and the world, of economic crisis and escalating attacks on the African, Mexican and other oppressed communities inside the U.S. and at a time when the government has bailed out the Wall Street banks and the people are suffering, we in the Uhuru Movement believe that the only peace that will come about on this planet will come when African and other oppressed peoples have the benefit of their own land and resources. As we see the moral bankruptcy of a government that has money for war, police and prisons but not for human need, we must join the Uhuru Movement's strategy for the destruction of a social system founded on slavery and genocide and participate in the building of a new world.

   

This Saturday, we will be calling on people to attend the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement's National Convention being held in Philadelphia, PA on October 3rd and 4th with the theme of "They Say Cutback - We Say Payback! Reparations Now!" 

We are calling for white people and all allies of the African community struggle for justice and liberation to join the Uhuru Solidarity Movement with a membership of only $25 a year and participate in building African People's Solidarity Day in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 11th, in Oakland, CA on Tuesday, October 20th and on October 25th in Philadelphia, PA.  We are calling locally for participation in Uhuru Foods fundraising at the markets, festivals and pie campaigns.

This is time for us to get involved, make a difference through solidarity with freedom and independence for African and oppressed peoples on the planet and an end to a parasitic social system that has benefitted North Americans and Europeans at everyone else's expense.

As the Black Panther Party's slogan called for, "All Power to the People!" 

Join the Uhuru Solidarity Movement. Join us to volunteer at our food booth and come by our outreach booth. Look for the banner that says "Uhuru!" Uhuru means freedom!

For more info, call 510-625-1106 or email oakland@uhurusolidarity.org

No Bailout for Baywalk campaign update!

(pictured above: top is the Baywalk entertainment complex in St. Petersburg, FL, bottom is one of the Friday demonstrations led by InPDUM at Baywalk that lasted for 8 months until Baywalk agreed to change their racist policies that targetted African youth. The demonstrations were sparked because of an arrest of an InPDUM member that spoke out about police brutality he witnessed at Baywalk against another African young man.)

InPDUM President, Chimurenga Waller gave us this report from yesterday's Public Hearing regarding the Bailout of Baywalk:

The public  hearing was initiated by the Development Review Commission (DRC). The meeting started with an intervention by city Attorney John Wolfe, who literally instructed the commission that free speech and constituitonal issues were not what the commission was basing their decision on. He  also stated that he was sure that a lawsuit would follow if the city went through with its plan to give the $700,000 bailout and the sidewalk to Wells Fargo Bank. 

It should be noted that at no time during the hearing did the name "Wells Fargo Bank" get mentioned until I said it in my presentation. Even the real estate management company, Ciminelli Real Estate, did not mention the actual owners, who is Wells Fargo Bank. One thing was clear, the state is the enforcers for imperialist white power. 

The St. Pete for Peace group spoke in defense of first amendment and democratic rights.

The position of InPDUM is that not only does the Bailout represent violations of free speech, but at its core it is an attempt to keep Africans out of Baywalk. We pronounced that Carl Nurse lied when he said that we blocked the path of patrons coming to Baywalk. We also said the DRC was being sucked into joining in the extortion being carried out by Wells Fargo.

Kobina Bantushango, speaking on behalf of InPDUM, also stated that it would make more sense to give the $700,000 to the African community for reparations than to give it to a failing economic institution.

The local state apparatus made it clear that saving white power and its economic entities trumps any need to give the impression of democracy. As a matter of fact, it was clear that the sentiment was overwhelmingly against the bailout and the vote still ended up 6-1 in favor of the bailout and sidewalk giveaway! The only democracy on this day was the democracy for the white bosses and the bourgeosie. The dictatorship of the bourgeosie is still being exposed as the City government moves to enrich the class and national enemy of African People.

Uhuru! Thank you President Waller for that report and update. There will be at least one more public hearing before the City Council votes again. Stay tuned to this blog and UhuruNews.com for more information about that hearing. Support InPDUM's demands and learn what you can do to help - check out the previous blog posting!

BayWalk Gets Bailed While Africans Get Jailed - Forum: No Bailout for Baywalk!

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for Baywalk!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009 • 6:00 pm

Atlanta Bread's community room, 175 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL

Uhuru Solidarity Forum: No Bailout for BayWalk! Support Economic Development for the African Community Join us as we take a deeper look into the $700,000 bailout of BayWalk. While Africans are getting jailed by the City of St. Petersburg's public policy of more police into the African community, BayWalk is getting jailed with more public money! 

The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) is waging an ongoing campaign to stop the $700,000 giveaway to Wells Fargo Bank, who now owns BayWalk after foreclosing on the previous new owner. C.W. Capital Holdings, the management company/front men for Wells Fargo, is demanding that the city give them the north sidewalk to "control crowds." What they want to control is free speech. Wells Fargo Has Caused Immense Suffering to Africans and Latinos – Yet The Bank Demands More Wells Fargo Bank is currently being sued by the city of Baltimore and the state of Illinois for targeting Africans and Latinos for what Wells Fargo called "ghetto" loans, otherwise known as sub-prime predatory lending.

These loans have resulted in thousands of foreclosures and the largest loss of wealth for African people in generations.

This is the company the City of St. Petersburg wants to bailout with $700,000. The City of St. Pete should stand by their own policy which mandates they refuse to do business with companies that discriminate!  

The African Community Is Blamed For A Failed Economy and A Failed Business Model The City of St. Petersburg wants to make people believe that the African community is the problem behind BayWalk's economic troubles and foreclosure - yet malls across this country are going bankrupt because of the economy. C.W. Capital Holdings said they don’t forsee making a profit from BayWalk, but will only minimize their losses. They refused to commit to invest any money themselves or submit a business plan. Our tax money should not go to bail out a failing economic project! The Owners of BayWalk Prefer to Attack Free Speech Than To Remedy The Real Grievances of the African Community The Uhuru Movement spent eight months in 2003-04 demonstrating every Friday at BayWalk after the frame up arrest of InPDUM member Mtundu Dialobe who spoke out against police brutality he witnessed at BayWalk. Sembler Corporation, which owned BayWalk at that time, then attempted to convince the City Council to pass an ordinance making it illegal to demonstrate in front of BayWalk. The Uhuru Movement organized with other groups and stopped the ordinance. While African people are suffering at 15% unemployment and 71% of the African community in St. Petersburg lives at or below the poverty line, the City of St. Petersburg has refused to make economic development happen in the African community. Instead, the City gave $20 million to Sembler Corp. to build BayWalk. Sembler made a handsome profit from the sale of BayWalk without ever investing any of their own money. The City's budget has $86 million for police and only $1 million for "economic development" in "Midtown." When have police ever solved poverty? As a matter of fact, the city's public policy of police containment as opposed to economic development has resulted in the police murders of Tyron Lewis, Jarrell Walker, Marquell McCullough and Javon Dawson. The police are now harassing Africans at Ike's Liquor Store on 16th St. South as they play checkers and cards. The approach of the city toward Africans at Ike's is in stark contrast to the proposed welfare bailout for BayWalk. What is the SOLUTION? The $700,000 should be used not as a giveaway to wealthy corporations and banks, but to create an African community marketplace, to create businesses and foster an economy by and for African people! The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement is calling on all who believe in justice to join the campaign to stop the bailout and demand reparations and economic development to the African community. Join with INPDUM, the voice of the African community who is suffering the brunt of the economic crisis, the City’s decisions, and is being viciously slandered as the cause of BayWalk’s failure! WHAT YOU CAN DO: - Speak out at the City Council public hearings against the BayWalk bailout proposal. Email or call Mayor Rick Baker at mayor@stpete.org, 727-893-7201 and City Council at council@stpete.org, 727-893-7117 - Demand genuine economic development for the African community!

- Support Uhuru Movement programs that address the economic crisis faced by African community such as the African Village Survival Initiative with community gardens, alternative energy, rainwater harvesting and economic self-reliance programs. Volunteer, donate equipment/funds, help raise funds! - Get involved! Come to these Uhuru Solidarity Movement meetings, help put up posters, do media and internet outreach to raise awareness and get more people to participate.

SUPPORT THE DEMANDS OF INPDUM: 1. Stop the $700,000 welfare for BayWalk, and keep the sidewalk public. 2. Stop the police harassment of African people sitting under the trees at Ike's on 16th St. So. 3. We demand billions of dollars in reparations to the African community to create economic development and businessess for themselves. 4. End the policy of police containment and implement a policy of economic development for the African community. 5. We demand the right to free speech and peaceful assembly.

Economic Recovery in Oakland Through War on the African Community

On July 28th, the city of Oakland was awarded $19.7 million in federal funds through the COPS Hiring Recovery Program that will enable Oakland to hire an additional 41 police officers through the Department of Justice. This is the largest grant of this type awarded of any municipality in the U.S. and is part of Obama's economic stimulus package but will do nothing to make life better for the one in five families in Oakland facing dire poverty and will further escalate the war being carried out on the African and Mexican communities of Oakland.

As in Philadelphia, the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement and Uhuru Solidarity Movement has been active for the past year exposing Oakland's war budget, where with police overtime, the city spends over 50% of its budget on police services. 

This is in a city that is notorious for the police violence carried out against the African community, the same state violence that gave rise to the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in 1966 is still wreaking havoc on the lives of African people in the city.

Just in the past two months, two African men have been killed by the Oakland police. The police and the media work together to systematically absolve the police of any wrongdoing.

On July 15th, 36 year old Parnell Smith was shot and killed by "problem solving" officers Phong Tran and Scott Hewitt on the 1400 block of 16th Avenue because they matched the description of a rape suspect who used a cane, police said.  The same journalist in the following day's newspaper revealed the contradictions in the story with witnesses revealing that they saw Parnell drop his gun prior to being executed inside a garage.

On August 1st, 46 year old African handyman Brownie Polk was shot and killed in an East Oakland liquor store because police said he was "wielding a hatchet," painting a picture of someone less than human who didn't deserve to live. 

These are just two examples of the Oakland police killings that occur with more regular frequency and will escalate following the "economic stimulus" money awarded to the Oakland police department. 

As the new police chief steps into his role in Oakland to "solve Oakland's crime problems," it is our task in the Uhuru Solidarity Movement to win membership to our program to stand with the African community struggle for the revolutionary national democratic program of overturning the policies of police containment that they experience on a daily basis and struggle for true economic self-determination through the African Village Survival Initiative.

 

Come out to our meeting Wednesday, September 2nd at 7pm at Mama Buzz Cafe at 2318 Telegraph Ave in Oakland. For more info, call 510-625-1106 or email oakland@uhurusolidarity.org