The International Indian Treaty Council will soon present the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with a document that reveals America’s legacy of systemic racism, forced assimilation and apartheid of Indigenous Peoples.

The 87-page Consolidated Indigenous Shadow Report, which has been prepared with testimony from a number of individuals, covers issues such as: environmental racism, border injustices, the destruction of sacred places, violence against women, and most tellingly, the “overwhelming disparities in income, life expectancy, poverty and unemployment” in what can only be described as a system of …

photo courtesy of www.paqg.org/

Rights Action sent out a reminder today about the ongoing legal case against the group of Mayan Farmers known as the GoldCorp 7.

If you’re not familiar with the case—in January, 2007, residents of the communities neighboring Goldcorp’s open pit, cyanide-leeching mine in San Marcos set up a blockade in an effort to start a dialogue with the company. Prior to this, the community repeatedly tried to talk with the …

“In Prison My Whole Life” is a new British documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal, the renowned journalist from Philadelphia who has been on death row since 1983 for allegedly shooting Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

The documentary follows William Francome in his effort to shed some new light on what happened on December 9th 1981, the day William came into the world–coinciding with the initial arrest of the former Black Panther.

Premiering on Thursday at two film festivals, “In Prison My Whole Life” brings some well-earned rejuvenation to the …

On Sunday, Via Campesina peacefully occupied an experimental GMO field of the Swiss company Syngenta in the state of Parana, Brazil, when it was attacked by an armed militia that killed one and critically injured 6 others.

Via Campesina issued a statement following the attack, demanding a full investigation into what they describe as the execution of Keno, a local MST leader who was shot twice at point-blank range. They are also calling for Syngenta to be held accountable because they hired the militia in the first …

In a wave of massive repression, 2 days ago hundreds of Police began raiding houses throughout New Zealand, focusing specifically on Indigenous People working for self-determination. So far there have been 17 arrests, but the Police are currently looking for about 60 other individuals. Prominent Tino Rangatiratanga activist Tame Iti was among the first arrested at his home at 4am Monday morning.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the raids have set race relations back 100 years. That the ‘justice system’ has lashed out against Maori, …

On January 22, 2006, twenty two Mayan indigenous Community Leaders had charges laid against them by GoldCorp, with arrest warrants being issued for seven of them.

Incidentally, the charges were layed the very same day Goldcorp promised to establish a dialogue with the local Indigenous Population–upon the condition that they lifted the 10-day-old blockade they had set up. The Mayans agreed, and took down the blockade; but then on January 24 Goldcorp shamefully reneged on its commitment; and them on February 13, two of the seven were violently detained. The …

After hearing the appeal presented by the defense team of the Suchitoto 13, activists who were arrested at the July 2 protest against water privatization in Suchitoto, El Salvador — the judges reiterated the charge that they committed acts of terrorism, and will be tried ‘accordingly.’

The big issue here, is that the charge of terrorism is completely absurd. The demonstration itself, led by the water workers union SETA, CRIPDES, and a number of other groups — was peaceful. Yes, they blocked the road leading …

The Pan Am Games, set to begin in Rio de Janeiro next week, is expected to bring an increase of violence—particularly against the people living in the slums of Rio. Since the beginning of the year, military/police violence has dramatically increased, with the support of a National Security Force that’s been employed specifically for the games.

One recent incident occured on June 27, when an armed police force ordered “not to take any prisoners,” executed 19 people. There is also a further concern that, since this recent “operation” was …

“We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our birth. These are concepts which the Black Consciousness approach wishes to eradicate from the black man’s mind before our society is driven to chaos by irresponsible people from Coca-cola and hamburger cultural backgrounds.” Steve Biko, 1978

From South Africa’s 9/12, a Tribute to Steve Biko
On 12 September 1977, Stephen Bantu Biko, aged 30, died of brain damage from severe beating sustain while in police custody. Steve Biko was a co-founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, …

Robert Seth Hayes is a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army who has been imprisoned for the past 33 years. In this video message he speaks about the Panthers, the struggle of the Six Nations people and sends a message of solidarity to Trevor Miller, a Six Nations political prisoner.

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