FROM THE NEWSWIRE: Canupa Gluha Mani, leader of Strong Heart Civil Rights Movement speaks in West Asheville on Lakota independence.

With the stiff cold winds blowing and the snowfall covering my garden, I'm thinking again of the brave Lakota, who have so long endured hardship and oppression, and have now so boldly again declared independence from the treaty-breaking U.S. government. These First Nation people of Turtle Island have had enough of subjugation. They have reclaimed their sovereignty, and have invited all freedom-loving people to join them in the resistance.

At the West Asheville library last week, well over 150 heard Canupa Gluha Mani (One who walks as he protects the fight), aka Duane Martin, Sr., a warrior leader with Cante Tenza, the Strong Heart Civil Rights Movement. He was just back from Washington, DC where with eight other delegates of various Lakota tribes, they delivered documents to the U. S. State Department advising of a unilateral withdrawal from the trail of broken treaties.
"I never ever seen a man's face stretched as long as a rubber band," he said of the State Department employee on whom the Lakota served notice of their independence.

Calling the colonial oppressors by Lakota words meaning, "the people who like to steal fat," and "guy that can only smile for greed," Canupa Gluha Mani detailed some of the dire circumstances endured by the Lakota, including an epidemic of alcoholism, the removal of thousands of Lakota children to foster homes off the reservation, and the diminished life expectancy of Lakota men, many of whom fought in U.S. wars. "To this Godforsaken day it is always people of color going off to kill poor people."

Concerned citizens at "Patriots Meeting"

FROM THE NEWSWIRE: It wasn't your average activist meeting at the West Asheville Library on Tuesday night. A diverse crowd of roughly 60 people showed up to talk about the recent actions of local law enforcement and the ways in which Asheville citizens can make sure their constitutional rights are being upheld. Local radio host Virato formulated the idea for the meeting in reaction to four recent events: the assault and arrest of a West Asheville couple for flying an upside down American flag; the unprecedented police surveillance and repression of the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action and its direct action at Bank of America; the arrest by the Asheville Police Department of an activist for "freeway blogging", or holding a sign over a highway overpass while standing on a public sidewalk; and recent comments made by Mayor Terry Bellamy.

ashevilles_pissed_2.jpg Freeway blogger Jonas Phillips

Wife Power!

FROM THE NEWSWIRE: Knoxville rejects Nazis and Klan.

Saturday May 26th the VNN Vanguard Nazi/KKK group attempted to host a hate rally to try to take advantage of the brutal murder of a white couple for media and recruitment purposes. http://www.volunteertv.com/special

Unfortunately for them the 100th ARA (Anti Racist Action) clown block came and handed them their asses by making them appear like the asses they were.

Alex Linder the founder of VNN and the lead organizer of the rally kicked off events by rushing the clowns in a fit of rage, and was promptly arrested by 4 Knoxville police officers who dropped him to the ground when he resisted and dragged him off past the red shiny shoes of the clowns. http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/7704982.html