Sulfide Mining Presentation 5/24

Hate Crime Against Transgender Student at California State University, Long Beach: Please Share!!!

(This message was collected from Facebook; hence, the FB references.)

The following message was sent in an email by the UCR LGBT Resource Center on April 23, 2010 to students on the UCR LGBT Center listserv. This revolting attack on a FTM (Female to Male) student at Cal State Long Beach is appalling, cowardly, hateful, and cannot remain hidden from public view. There needs to be an outcry from ALL PEOPLE, Queer or Straight, student and non-student against this hatred, ignorance, and cruelty. I am as solemn about this attack, as I am angry. I am as appalled as I am saddened. I am determined to make this attack known to as many as I can. Please stand with me and write a similar note that brings light to this heartless attack--or share this one. Let all those on Facebook see what members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community (and many other oppressed people) face on a daily basis just for being who they are...I am tagging as many people as I can in this note, with the hope that those who were tagged and those who weren't, will read it and rewrite it, tagging others, and so on. UCR students, faculty, and staff, please feel free to write something to the victim by writing him a card, message, etc. (or where your creativity takes you) to show your support, love, and affirmation and turning it in to the LGBT Resource Center. I am constantly reminded by Harvey Milk's words during times like these, in which he said, "Hope will never be silent.”

In Love and Solidarity,


Vince Michael Pancucci
---------------------------------------------------------

"We've received confirmation of a violent attack against a trans FTM
student at Cal State Long Beach that happened a few days ago. The
student was attacked on his way to the bathroom. The attackers beat
him, ripped off his clothes and carved the word "IT" into his chest.

As a recent facebook note expressed, "When someone is attacked it is
painful, scary, and difficult to get over. When someone is attacked
because they are hated for their identity...for simply being
themselves, the horror and sense of isolation goes well beyond a
simple attack. This has not only affected him, but sent a ripple
through our community, because somehow we all know it could have been
us. Please reach out to this man and let him know he is not alone.
Tell him that for the few people that expressed their hate of him,
there are hundreds of us that support and care for him."

We are working with UC Irvine's LGBT Resource Center to collect cards,
messages, etc. to be given to the man assaulted. If you have something
to share, please drop it off by Wednesday evening at the LGBTRC in 245
Costo Hall. We are respecting the privacy of the student, so we do not
have a name to share.

After what he has been through, he could use our support."

Greene v. County of Sonoma et al.

Clay and his partner of 20 years, Harold, lived in California. Clay and Harold made diligent efforts to protect their legal rights, and had their legal paperwork in place—wills, powers of attorney, and medical directives, all naming each other. Harold was 88 years old and in frail medical condition, but still living at home with Clay, 77, who was in good health.

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold’s care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes.

Ignoring Clay’s significant role in Harold’s life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf. Outrageously, the county represented to the judge that Clay was merely Harold’s “roommate.” The court denied their efforts, but did grant the county limited access to one of Harold’s bank accounts to pay for his care.

What happened next is even more chilling: without authority, without determining the value of Clay and Harold’s possessions accumulated over the course of their 20 years together or making any effort to determine which items belonged to whom, the county took everything Harold and Clay owned and auctioned off all of their belongings. Adding further insult to grave injury, the county removed Clay from his home and confined him to a nursing home against his will. The county workers then terminated Clay and Harold's lease and surrendered the home they had shared for many years to the landlord.

Three months after he was hospitalized, Harold died in the nursing home. Because of the county’s actions, Clay missed the final months he should have had with his partner of 20 years. Compounding this tragedy, Clay has literally nothing left of the home he had shared with Harold or the life he was living up until the day that Harold fell, because he has been unable to recover any of his property. The only memento Clay has is a photo album that Harold painstakingly put together for Clay during the last three months of his life.

With the help of a dedicated and persistent court-appointed attorney, Anne Dennis of Santa Rosa, Clay was finally released from the nursing home. Ms. Dennis, along with Stephen O'Neill and Margaret Flynn of Tarkington, O'Neill, Barrack & Chong, now represent Clay in a lawsuit against the county, the auction company, and the nursing home, with technical assistance from NCLR. A trial date has been set for July 16, 2010 in the Superior Court for the County of Sonoma.

http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issue_caseDocket_Greene_v_County_of_Sonoma_et_al

MAYDAY

happy international workers' day everyone!
and a happy eight hour day to all workers of the world.
if you're pagan, a happy end to Floralia!

MPFS will be hosting a discussion (about the labor history) and picnic on MayDay at Nelson Park, 5pm. ( And through the grape-vine i have heard word of a parade afterword. )

See you there!

Visit to Ziibiwing

MPFS scheduled a visit to The Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways here in Mt. Pleasant this past Monday. Though it was sparsely attended, those of us who went got a lot out of it.

Ziibiwing's main, permanent exhibit is called "Diba jimooyung, or Telling Our Story." This is where we spent most of our time. This exhibit walks you through Anishinabek history using The Seven Prophecies or Fires; in which prophets told the Anishinabek of seven major periods of change in their future.

The Seven Prophecies lay out periods of migration, european colonization, and the cultural trials that the Anishinabek would endure during and after those times.

The exhibit is a roller coaster of emotion and fascinating history. The curators have done an excellent job. The exhibit is unapologetic in it's honesty about the continuing colonization and it's affects. Yet you still walk out with hope and intense respect for a community who is rebuilding and reclaiming against such devastating odds.

I highly recommend everyone in Isabella county and every CMU student visit Ziibiwing. Once was not enough for me, I will certainly be revisiting.

For the Mt. Pleasant Free School,

Angie Pohlman.

Blog repost: 5 Native Myths You Really Oughta Know About

I thought that this was a really pertinent link in light of some of the conversations that have come up over the past year about the relations between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people of MP: http://bitchmagazine.org/post/5-native-myths

Capture The Flag

This Thursday at 7pm we are playing Capture The Flag in Downtown Mt. Pleasant! Come join in!




Rules:
Red vs. blue, identifiers will be provided and must be visible at all times.


Flag has to always be in plain sight, in boundaries, and on your side. However, players may exit boundaries at any time.


When tagged on the opponent’s side, you will be escorted to their jail (jails location is decided by the territories team), where you must stay until another member of your team tags you. Then, you get a free walk back to your side. While walking back, raise your hands into the air so other players know you’re returning.


When you find the enemy flag, you must return to your flag without getting tagged. ANY PLAYER HOLDING THE FLAG CAN BE TAGGED WHERE EVER THEY ARE, RED OR BLUE SIDE.


(About every hour we will be checking in at the X, bring a watch if you want to note these check-ins)