Jeff Zavala's blog

MINOR MISHAP MARCHING BAND is a 25 piece renegade circus brass band. They are an absurd expression of boisterous pandemonium– Bourbon street meets Budapest.http://minormishap.com Twenty of the most exciting, original, and talented community street bands from across North America will perform absolutely free in streets, parks, and neighborhoods throughout Austin for the inaugural HONK!TX festival, from March 11th to 13th, 2011. Inspired by the success of the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts and HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington, HONK!TX is a non-profit and grassroots gathering of street bands that defy simple categorization. Bands will play unamplified and without built stages, breaking down any barriers between the crowd and performers. The bands range in size from four to forty members, all diverse in age, ethnicity, and musical background. They represent various performance traditions, including New Orleans second line brass, European klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, and festivals such as Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval. HONK!TX is made possible by the wholehearted support of neighborhood associations, local businesses, city officials, and other community members. Volunteers will provide housing, transportation, and their time at the festival. The festival has raised funds from over 230 individual donations through a kickstarter.com campaign. Wheatsville Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, and SXSW are major sponsors along with fiscal and in-kind support from numerous other local businesses. The HONK!TX Organizing Committee is comprised of the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Austin's own community street band, and iLoveMikeLitt, a local arts and culture group. More information, including full band lineup, locations and hours, is available at http://www.honktx.org Produced by Jeff Zavala. A ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org

Sherief Gaber, an Egyptian-American grad student at UT Austin has spent the last several weeks in Egypt. He has given several interviews to national news organizations and recently returned to Austin. He'll share his experience and give an analysis of the events leading up to the ousting of Mubarak. An introduction by Snehal Shingavi will provide a background of Egypt's political history. Snehal Shingavi received his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley. He won the Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies, has published articles in several journals including the International Socialist Review, and has appeared as a commentator on programs such as Hardball on CNN. The talk will be followed by a Q&A. This is a Austin Indymedia & ZGraphix production. Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. http://austin.indymedia.orghttp://zgraphix.org

The Workers Defense Project (http://workersdefense.org ) organized a march and rally called "Day of the Fallen" to commemorate the deaths of construction workers in the state of Texas. We began the march at the Federal Building Plaza and carried 138 black coffin replicas to the steps of the Texas Capitol. Although the coffins were built lightly of foam core board and contained only air, I felt the heaviness of the sadness we were conveying. People had come for the march from as far away as El Paso, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. We numbered about 300, I think. Included were union members and family members of construction workers who had died on the job. Jim Hightower spoke, and Eliza Gilkyson sang. Rev. Jim Rigby emceed. There were prayers in English and in Espanol, gospel music and a singalong of "If I had a hammer," led by a young trio. On my way home, I looked out the bus window at the beautiful buildings in our downtown, the new lofts and storefronts. Most of the people who built them can not afford to live in them. Some of the people who built them were injured on the job. Some were not paid for their work. When I pass the spot on Rio Grande where three immigrant men fell to their deaths because of faulty equipment, I sense their spirits are present, asking me why. The chic little shop that opened a few feet from where the men hit the earth is called, "Bodega on Rio." Sign the petition asking our legislators to Build a Better Texas: http://buildtexas.org/pettition.html This is an Austin Indymedia & ZGraphix production. Produced by Jeff Zavala. Edited by Jeff Zavala & Matt Gossage.http://austin.indymedia.orghttp://zgraphix.org

Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig will speak on the corrosive effects of money in politics and potential remedies to the problem. For much of his career Lessig has focused on law and technology, and his current work addresses the question of "institutional corruption," influences that weaken the effectiveness of an institution and public trust. He is the author of Remix (2008), Code v2 (2007), Free Culture (2004), The Future of Ideas (2001) and Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace (1999) and has served as lead counsel in a number of important cases marking the boundaries of copyright law in a digital age. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion including Sherri Greenberg (UT Center for Politics and Governance, LBJ School of Public Affairs), Steve Bickerstaff (UT Law School), and Brian Roberts (UT Department of Government). Sponsored by the Coffee Party-Austin Chapter.

MoveOn joined with the following individuals/groups (Van Jones, USAction/ TrueMajority, Color of Change, PCCC, CREDO, Democracy for America, National People's Action, Center for Community Change, Courage Campaign, and Progressive Majority) across the country to show our solidarity with the workers in Wisconsin. Republican Governor Walker is attempting to break the unions there, and other states with Republican governors will... be attempting the same strong-arm tactics if we don't stand up now. The country needs to stand behind these heroic individuals demonstrating in Madison. The middle class is shrinking and we need to draw our line in the sand now. Republicans have no use for unions, especially ones that have the best interests of children and aged at heart. This is a zgraphix production. Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.http://austin.indymedia.orghttp://zgraphix.org

MoveOn is joining with the following individuals/groups (Van Jones, USAction/ TrueMajority, Color of Change, PCCC, CREDO, Democracy for America, National People's Action, Center for Community Change, Courage Campaign, and Progressive Majority) across the country to show our solidarity with the workers in Wisconsin. Republican Governor Walker is attempting to break the unions there, and other states with Republican governors will... be attempting the same strong-arm tactics if we don't stand up now. The country needs to stand behind these heroic individuals demonstrating in Madison. The middle class is shrinking and we need to draw our line in the sand now. Republicans have no use for unions, especially ones that have the best interests of children and aged at heart. On that same day at the Capitol, we'll be following the March and Rally protesting "Arizona-type" anti-immigration legislation. If you are going to attend that, hopefully, you'll stay around for our rally. Bring your cameras as we show Wisconsinites that we are with them fully. This is a zgraphix production. Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.http://austin.indymedia.orghttp://zgraphix.org

MoveOn is joining with the following individuals/groups (Van Jones, USAction/ TrueMajority, Color of Change, PCCC, CREDO, Democracy for America, National People's Action, Center for Community Change, Courage Campaign, and Progressive Majority) across the country to show our solidarity with the workers in Wisconsin. Republican Governor Walker is attempting to break the unions there, and other states with Republican governors will... be attempting the same strong-arm tactics if we don't stand up now. The country needs to stand behind these heroic individuals demonstrating in Madison. The middle class is shrinking and we need to draw our line in the sand now. Republicans have no use for unions, especially ones that have the best interests of children and aged at heart. On that same day at the Capitol, we'll be following the March and Rally protesting "Arizona-type" anti-immigration legislation. If you are going to attend that, hopefully, you'll stay around for our rally. Bring your cameras as we show Wisconsinites that we are with them fully. This is a zgraphix production. Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.http://austin.indymedia.orghttp://zgraphix.org

Tim Wise, http://www.timwise.org/ , has emerged over the past decade as one of the most eloquent and forceful white people speaking for racial justice. He is the author of five books, including the 2010 Color Blind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity. Wise is a frequent speaker on campuses across the country and a regular commentator in mainstream media, including this interview on Tavis Smiley’s ...PBS show, http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/201008/20100812.html . 
Wise’s other books include: Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama; White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son; Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White; and Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male.
A panel after the lecture will feature Austin activists who will respond to Wise’s remarks and describe local efforts to build a more just society.
Donations for this event will benefit 5604 Manor, a progressive community center, http://5604manor.org/ . 
The event is sponsored by St. James’ Episcopal Church, http://www.stjamesaustin.org/ St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, http://staopen.com/ and the University of Texas Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/index.php Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavalahttp://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org

Protesting more than 60 "anti-immigrant" bills filed in the Texas Legislature this session, thousands marched from Waterloo Park to the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday. "We expect two or three thousand people from all over Texas," said Victor Ibarra. Ibarra was among a group from Houston, just one of many cities with protestors bused in from across the state. A separate group also marched from The University of Texas . The marches culminated in a rally outside the Capitol at 1 p.m. During this session, the marchers said a handful of "extemist" legislators have filed needlessly discriminating legislation aimed at the Hispanic population. "Texas has a lot of variety of nationalities," said Ibarra. "Those proposed laws don't go with those situations."Critics say many of those bills hurt, even target Hispanics, legal or otherwise. Lawmakers like Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, have maintained their stance though. "We have probably the laxest immigration law in the world, because we're not following our federal laws," said Berman, who also said he has filed ten anti-immigration bills, including one to make English the official language of Texas. "We're giving them free education, free health care, we're giving them in-state tuition."From Arizona-style immigration enforcement to forcing schools to report undocumented students, people at the rally fear the future, saying Texas is just making it too tough to live here. "We want to follow the law - U.S. law," said Ibarra. Photography by Rene Renteria http://renerenteria.com Produced by Jeffry Zavala. This is a zgraphix production.http://zgraphix.org

Protesting more than 60 "anti-immigrant" bills filed in the Texas Legislature this session, thousands marched from Waterloo Park to the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday. "We expect two or three thousand people from all over Texas," said Victor Ibarra. Ibarra was among a group from Houston, just one of many cities with protestors bused in from across the state. A separate group also marched from The University of Texas . The marches culminated in a rally outside the Capitol at 1 p.m. During this session, the marchers said a handful of "extemist" legislators have filed needlessly discriminating legislation aimed at the Hispanic population. "Texas has a lot of variety of nationalities," said Ibarra. "Those proposed laws don't go with those situations."Critics say many of those bills hurt, even target Hispanics, legal or otherwise. Lawmakers like Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, have maintained their stance though. "We have probably the laxest immigration law in the world, because we're not following our federal laws," said Berman, who also said he has filed ten anti-immigration bills, including one to make English the official language of Texas. "We're giving them free education, free health care, we're giving them in-state tuition."From Arizona-style immigration enforcement to forcing schools to report undocumented students, people at the rally fear the future, saying Texas is just making it too tough to live here. "We want to follow the law - U.S. law," said Ibarra. Produced by Jeffry Zavala. This is a zgraphix production.http://zgraphix.org

UT government professor Jason Brownlee will discuss the implications of the events unfolding in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. Brownlee is on leave in Washington, DC, this year, researching a book on U.S./Egypt relations. In writing and appearances on U.S. television and Al-Jazeera, Brownlee has urged the U.S. government to support real democracy in Egypt. “If U.S. officials don't want Egypt to be Iran 1979 [the Iranian revolution], they should prevent an Iran 1953 [when the U.S. re-installed the Shah and deposed the democratically elected Mohammad Mosaddegh],” he said. “All it would take is cutting their client-military loose and supporting indigenous democratization.” Brownlee was the lead organizer of a recent petition of academics and others calling for a new U.S. foreign policy: http://www.accuracy.org/an-open-letter-to-president-barack-obama His first book, Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization (Cambridge University Press, 2007), analyzed opposition movements in non-democratic states. The talk, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Social Justice Committee at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact Robert Jensen at 471-1990 orrjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeffry Zavala http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org

Inspired by the resilience of Egyptian people during their recent uprising, several notable musicians from North America have teamed up to release a song of solidarity and empowerment. The track is fittingly titled "#Jan25" as a reference to both the date the protests officially began in Egypt, and its prominence as a trending topic on Twitter. Produced by Sami Matar, a Palestinian-American composer from Southern California, and featuring the likes of Freeway, The Narcicyst, Omar Offendum, HBO Def Poet Amir Sulaiman, and Canadian R&B vocalist Ayah - this track serves as a testament to the revolution's effect on the hearts and minds of today's youth, and the spirit of resistance it has come to symbolize for oppressed people worldwide. Artist Information: Omar Offendum (MC #1) - http://twitter.com/Offendum The Narcicyst (MC #2) - http://twitter.com/TheNarcicyst Freeway (MC #3) - http://twitter.com/PhillyFreezer Amir Sulaiman (MC #4) http://twitter.com/AmirSulaiman Ayah (R&B Vocalist) - http://twitter.com/AyahMusic Sami Matar (Producer) - http://twitter.com/SamiMatar Artwork by Ridwan Adhami http://www.ridzdesign.com Blamethelabel - http://twitter.com/blamethelabel Mp3 download link: http://www.usershare.net/6cjtbiapu5y8"First they ignore you Then they laugh at you Then they fight you Then you WIN" - Ghandi Lyrics: http://www.facebook.com/notes/omar-offendum/jan25-lyrics/10150093099861500

As we cope with downturns in American power in the world and the American economy at home, there is much talk about reviving, renewing, rescuing, or redefining the American Dream. We would be better off facing the anguish inherent in the American Dream. Once we recognize that the dream has always been dependent on domination, we can see what fundamental changes are necessary to avoid a planetary nightmare. Jensen is the author of several books, including All My Bones Shake: Seeking a Progressive Path to the Prophetic Voice, and co-producer of the documentary film “Abe Osheroff: One Foot in the Grave, the Other Still Dancing,” which chronicles the life and philosophy of the longtime radical activist. Location: MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, Austin, 78751 http://monkeywrenchbooks.org Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeffry Zavala. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org

Friday, 11 Feb 2011. It’s 18 days that changed the history of a country Roy Casagranda cares deeply about. “It’s unimaginable and I have a feeling it will take a long time for it to set in, to realize that this guy [ President Hosni Mubarak ] is really, really gone,” said Casagranda. Casagranda, a political science professor at Austin Community College returned from visiting family in Egypt just days before the uprising started. “I wanted to be there,” he said. During the uprising Casagranda kept in touch with family and friends in Egypt mainly via Facebook and Skype. “My younger relatives are unbelievably excited and they can’t believe this guy is finally gone,” he said. Over at The University of Texas , Milad Pournik, a graduate student from Iran, remembers the feeling he got from Egyptians when he lived there last year working at the United Nations. “When I was living there, I felt people were unhappy,” Pournik said. Pournik’s parents still live in Cairo, but were evacuated by the UN to Greece. Pournik hopes the Egyptian revolution will be contagious across the Middle East. “I really hope this is not just a victory for Egypt, but a victory for freedom and the progress toward more representation and true democracies throughout the region and throughout the world,” Pournik said. Back at ACC, Casagranda said he can’t wait to return to Egypt to see his family and to see what life is like after Mubarak. “I have a feeling that I am going to go back to a country where Egyptians feel good about themselves and are proud about who they are,” Casgranda said. Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeffry Zavalahttp://zgraphix.orghttp://austin.indymedia.org

 

Friday, 11 Feb 2011. It’s 18 days that changed the history of a country Roy Casagranda cares deeply about. “It’s unimaginable and I have a feeling it will take a long time for it to set in, to realize that this guy [ President Hosni Mubarak ] is really, really gone,” said Casagranda. Casagranda, a political science professor at Austin Community College returned from visiting family in Egypt just days before the uprising started. “I wanted to be there,” he said. During the uprising Casagranda kept in touch with family and friends in Egypt mainly via Facebook and Skype. “My younger relatives are unbelievably excited and they can’t believe this guy is finally gone,” he said. Over at The University of Texas , Milad Pournik, a graduate student from Iran, remembers the feeling he got from Egyptians when he lived there last year working at the United Nations. “When I was living there, I felt people were unhappy,” Pournik said. Pournik’s parents still live in Cairo, but were evacuated by the UN to Greece. Pournik hopes the Egyptian revolution will be contagious across the Middle East. “I really hope this is not just a victory for Egypt, but a victory for freedom and the progress toward more representation and true democracies throughout the region and throughout the world,” Pournik said. Back at ACC, Casagranda said he can’t wait to return to Egypt to see his family and to see what life is like after Mubarak. “I have a feeling that I am going to go back to a country where Egyptians feel good about themselves and are proud about who they are,” Casgranda said. Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeffry Zavalahttp://zgraphix.orghttp://austin.indymedia.org

Friday, 11 Feb 2011. It’s 18 days that changed the history of a country Roy Casagranda cares deeply about. “It’s unimaginable and I have a feeling it will take a long time for it to set in, to realize that this guy [ President Hosni Mubarak ] is really, really gone,” said Casagranda. Casagranda, a political science professor at Austin Community College returned from visiting family in Egypt just days before the uprising started. “I wanted to be there,” he said. During the uprising Casagranda kept in touch with family and friends in Egypt mainly via Facebook and Skype. “My younger relatives are unbelievably excited and they can’t believe this guy is finally gone,” he said. Over at The University of Texas , Milad Pournik, a graduate student from Iran, remembers the feeling he got from Egyptians when he lived there last year working at the United Nations. “When I was living there, I felt people were unhappy,” Pournik said. Pournik’s parents still live in Cairo, but were evacuated by the UN to Greece. Pournik hopes the Egyptian revolution will be contagious across the Middle East. “I really hope this is not just a victory for Egypt, but a victory for freedom and the progress toward more representation and true democracies throughout the region and throughout the world,” Pournik said. Back at ACC, Casagranda said he can’t wait to return to Egypt to see his family and to see what life is like after Mubarak. “I have a feeling that I am going to go back to a country where Egyptians feel good about themselves and are proud about who they are,” Casgranda said. Ramsey quotes Immortal Technique in his song "4th Branch" Filmed, Edited & Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeffry Zavalahttp://zgraphix.orghttp://austin.indymedia.org

Toll mounts as pro-democracy supporters apparently come under attack from Mubarak loyalists in the Egyptian capital. Heavy gunfire is being heard in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square as pro-democracy demonstrators continue to defy curfew in the Egyptian capital. Ambulances were seen heading to the area on Thursday morning and at least two fatalities were reported. Protesters from the pro-democracy and pro-government camps fought pitched battles on Wednesday in Tahrir Square, the epicentre of demonstrations against Hosni Mubarak for the past nine days. At least three people were reported to have died and more than 1,500 others injured in those clashes, according to officials and doctors quoted by the Reuters news agency. An Al Jazeera correspondent, reporting from just outside Tahrir Square late on Wednesday night, said dozens of pro-Mubarak supporters erected barricades on either side of a road, trapping the pro-democracy supporters. They were gathering stones, breaking streetlights and using balaclavas to cover their faces, apparently in preparation for a fresh standoff with the pro-democracy crowd. Our correspondent said local residents thought the men preparing for the standoff were police officers but the claim could not be independently confirmed. Just hours earlier, an Al Jazeera online producer reporting from near Tahrir Square said: "Someone - a few people actually - were dropping homemade bombs into the square from the buildings surrounding it." Gunshots were also regularly ringing out of the square. Army standing by Witnesses said the military allowed thousands of pro-Mubarak supporters, armed with sticks and knives, to enter the square. Opposition groups said Mubarak had sent in thugs to suppress anti-government protests. One of our correspondents said the army seemed to be standing by and facilitating the clashes.

CORPUS CHRISTI -- A group of people got together today to take part in an annual Native American tradition. The South Texas Alliance of Indigenous People held the re-blessing of sacred grounds this afternoon. It started on Ennis Joslin Drive at SPID. Local Native Americans say this is the second largest Indian burial ground in the state. After the blessing, people didn't let the rain stop them from also joining in on a short march. One of the organizers says he looks forward to this tradition every year. Larry "Running Turtle" Salazar says, "Many years ago it wasn't good to be Indian many years ago we were looked down as scum, the lowest of the lowest and ever since the Freedom of Religion Act passed in 1973 now we can do our ceremonies." Photography by Rene Renteriahttp://www.renerenteria.com/

 

David Rovics performs his newly written "Song for Bradley Manning" in this video. Bradley E. Manning is a United States Army soldier who was charged in July 2010 with the unauthorized disclosure of U.S. classified information. He is being held in solitary confinement at the Marine Corps Brig, Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to face a court-martial in the spring of 2011. Manning was assigned to a support battalion with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Contingency Operating Station Hammer, Iraq, which gave him access to SIPRNet—the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network—used by the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State to transmit classified information. He was arrested in May 2010 after Adrian Lamo, a former computer hacker, reported to authorities that Manning had told him, during an online chat, that he had downloaded material from SIPRNet and passed it to Wikileaks. The material included the video of a July 2007 helicopter airstrike in Baghdad—the so-called "Collateral Murder" video, which Wikileaks published in April 2010—a video of the Granai airstrike, and a large number of diplomatic cables. Listen to more David Rovics at: http://DavidRovics.com Long live Wikileaks! This is a zgraphix production. Produced by Jeff Zavala. http://zgraphix.org