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Segment rundown
Oakland general strike brings labor, students, teachers into streets
Today in Oakland, students, labor leaders, teachers and city workers observed a general strike. The action sent many into the streets, where last week police forcibly removed protesters from an encampment near city hall.
We turn to reporter Brian Edwards-Tiekert who is in downtown Oakland and has been following the day’s events - Brian tell us where you are right now?
The general strike was voted on by Occupy Oakland’s General Assembly after a violent crackdown on protesters, US Marine veteran Scott Olsen remains hospitalized following the attack. The police have promised an investigation, and yesterday, the Oakland Police Officers Association, wrote an open letter to citizens saying they too are the 99 percent. The statement said they are also fighting for better working conditions and were confused by Oakland Mayor Jean Quon’s mixed messages - including ordering them to clear out encampments last week, and later, ordering all police to work, despite giving all other city workers the day off to participate in the strike.
Harsh police tactics criticized after crackdowns at Occupy encampments
Oakland isn’t the only city where police have attacked Occupy encampments, and some are questioning leaders’ decisions to use force on non-violent protesters. For a look at the legal aspect of the police response to the Occupy protests we turn to Heidi Boghosian, she’s executive director for the National Lawyers Guild. Attorneys with the Guild have been working closely with occupy protesters in a number of cities.
As protesters converge for G-20 in France, US lawmakers weigh transaction tax
In France, thousands marched this week to protest the policies of the G20, which is meeting tomorrow in Cannes. Because that city is cordoned off to protesters, activists organized a rally and counter summit in Nice. Madouh Habashi from Egypt was in the streets Tuesday.
“The peoples of the world, in the South and in the North are facing the same enemy. Always more people in the world recognize this fact: that we are facing the same enemy. And we have to coordinate our struggles together.”
Sound courtesy of Alter-echos.org.
One of the issues global activists want world leaders to approve at the G20 meetings is what’s called a financial transaction tax - also known as the Robinhood tax. Supporters argue everyday citizens shouldn’t bear the burden of bailing out banks, many of which are now reporting record profits. The plan would levy a half percent tax on financial institution transactions and has support from some EU countries, who estimate it could generate nearly $80 billion per year. In the US, lawmakers introduced similar legislation in Congress today. Matt Laslo has the details.
In Philadelphia, domestic abuse shelter strains under budget cuts
Advocates for survivors of domestic violence are urging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired at the end of September. Over the last 15 years, the act has provided more than 4 billion dollars for programs and legal help. But some are worried the next round of funding will be slashed, at a time when there’s greater need for services and as budget cuts have hit some local communities. FSRN’s Matthew Petrillo reports from Philadelphia, where the city’s only domestic abuse shelter is struggling to get by.
Syrian refugees wait in Turkey as violence continues in their homeland
Syrian security forces killed at least 9 villagers at a roadblock in Homs, activists said today. This follows one of the deadliest days in the months-long protest, when some 40 civilians were killed last Friday in a crackdown that included house to house raids.
The ongoing unrest in Syria has forced thousands of people to flee the country, many of them to Turkey. Many come from the city of Jisr al-Shugur, which was besieged by government forces in June. Nearly five months later, more than seven and a half thousand Syrians are still in Turkey, living in five separate Red Crescent camps in villages surrounding the southern city of Antakya. Hermione Gee visited the camp of Boynuyogun last month, the temporary home of some 1,300 Syrian refugees.
