New Yorks Bloomberg acts like Bush
NEW YORK — This election season, Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg has portrayed himself as a liberal — a Republican in name only — interested in things like housing, jobs, gay rights and fighting racism. But the facts, and many people and organizations, disagree.
Delphi bankruptcy raises big questions
Delphi, the nation’s largest auto parts manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy last week. The company’s 12,000 retirees and 34,000 active workers who have spent their lives on hot, noisy production lines, making everything from air bags to instrument panels, are left staring at a future without pensions or health care.
Katrina victims face deportation
After heeding the Bush administration’s call to seek help regardless of status, a handful of undocumented immigrants who fled Hurricane Katrina have been ordered to appear for deportation hearings last month.
Raising money, raising hell for a fighting newspaper
“Unite to Fight” blue rubber wristbands, union-made buttons that say “Rebuild America, Bring the Troops Home,” and calling subscribers to give a “day’s pay” are all examples of grassroots, reader-powered fund raising projects for the People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo.
Growing movement wants military out of schools
PHILADELPHIA — When schools opened last month, “Opt Out Campaign” activists were outside high schools in cities and small towns around the nation. They were there to let the students know they can stop their schools from giving their personal information to military recruiters.
Labor and civil rights groups: We demand jobs, justice in Gulf
Oct. 29 rally in Baton Rouge to demand a ‘new direction’ for U.S. Gulf Coast union leaders hailed an action campaign launched by the AFL-CIO Sept. 30 to defend workers’ wages and rebuild their hurricane-torn states while turning the nation in a new direction that puts “people before profits.”
Harry Gaynor: fighter for open housing, social justice
Harry Gaynor, a longtime fighter for peace and justice, died in Chicago on Aug. 19 of heart failure. He was 90.
Chicago hosts world film fest
The 41st Chicago International Film Festival runs Oct. 6-20. One hundred five films representing 36 countries, and four programs of shorts, will be featured at the AMC River East (Illinois and Columbus) and the Landmark (Diversey and Clark). Nineteen films will compete for the gold Hugo Award at this country’s longest-running film festival. Chicago will star in four homegrown features.
Liberation music for the rebel soul
Internationally acclaimed jazz bassist Charlie Haden has convened the Liberation Music Orchestra for the fourth time since its inception in 1969. It began as a jazz response to America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Although the ensemble has undergone vast personnel changes between recordings, it has been consistently and markedly progressive and has taken its inspiration from sources such as popular Latin American movements, the Black liberation movement and the Spanish Civil War.
Jazz, struggle and Katrina
Actor Danny Glover and actor/singer Harry Belafonte made these remarks at the PBS/BET-televised Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit concert on Sept. 17.
