Dark Times in a Western “Democracy”

The very same afternoon that the Tarek Mehanna verdict was announced, I was diligently working on a piece I was meant to submit to the ACLU. Upon hearing the verdict, I simply closed my word processer and sat in a state of shock wondering whether or not I should even continue working on my piece.

Mehanna was arrested for a second time in the early hours of the morning on 21 October, 2009 on charges of conspiracy and material support for terrorism. Those who know him testify that Mehanna was openly opposed US foreign policy. 

PERF’s Jamaican Misadventures

Recent probing into the independent investigation of the Oakland Police Department (OPD), launched by Mayor Jean Quan to review the heavy handed actions of Oakland police at the Occupy crackdowns, revealed that the investigation to survey police conduct was anything but independent.

According to videographer, Scott Campbell, who was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet by the OPD, “The ‘independent’ investigation proposed by the city is just another version of the police investigating the police … This is especially true given the questionable past

ACLU of Massachusetts Statement on Tarek Mehanna Verdict

The following is the press release of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts in response to the Tarek Mehanna verdict on 20 December, 2011:

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Mehanna verdict compromises First Amendment, undermines national security

Decision today threatens writers and journalists, academic researchers, translators, and even ordinary web surfers.

Why Lowes Has Made My Day

I would like to use my blog space to thank Lowe’s for the events of the past few days that led to the internet storm over the weekend.

So here is my heartfelt “thank you”: Thank you Lowe’s for exposing your bigotry for the whole world to see.

On Saturday, I began seeing my twitter feed fill up with tweets from Ali Abunimah, of Electronic Intifada, with the hashtag #LowesHatesMuslims. Quite naturally, that caused me investigate what was going on. To my dismay, found the email exchanges between Lowe’s and the FFA that provoked Abunimah’s twitterstorm

The Media Whitewashing of the Occupy Boston Eviction

After Occupy Boston’s 5 am raid on the morning of 10 October, the Boston Police Department (BPD) tucked away with the media for a press conference. Since, I have been anxiously awaiting for the local media coverage of yesterday’s eviction of Dewey Square to come pouring out.

Just this afternoon, I came across this: an article from the Boston Globe entitled “For Menino, police, a 99 percent success” by Brian McGrory. I almost spat out my tea while I read the article. It was pretty much exactly what I was expecting from beginning to end.

Why I Am Not Protesting at Occupy

For those who have known me, my keen interest in the Occupy movement comes as no surprise. For those whom I have met only recently know me as the researcher, freelance journalist and blogger who has been making it a strong point to let everyone know that I am merely observing protests from the sidelines and not participating as a demonstrator.

Since the beginning of Occupy at Wall Street on 17 September, I have stood on the peripheries of encampments observing a democratic movement unfold before our very eyes: from marches, to GA meetings,