Story Archives 2004

by Joe B.

A Personal Quest

Well,folks a second column for the unseen public who are not able to write me because of excess spam may some of you get through someway,somehow, so dialog(s) can begin.

I remember reading Ann Fairbairn’s Five Smooth Stones about Joseph Champlin and his growing up from the early 1930’s through the 40’s,1950’s, and ‘60’s it is a book worth reading and pondering on but like Flower’s For Algernon the ending is too hard to take and I could never read those two books again.

Both Charlie and Joseph go struggle succeed only to fail one because of a chemical that a turns Charlie from a slow retarded man into a genius only to return back to his state of slow wittedness.

Joseph,an intelligent, sensitive,college educated young man falls in love with a white woman despite his friends and family he commits to marriage because he does love this woman and she returns his love.

A child is born and at a pivotal moment Joseph after an accident causing him to walk with a slight limp he again faces a civil rights orientated situation which doesn’t end well.

I am tired of Rainbow(Caucasians) included but mostly non white’s dying to live first for their rights, then for money,fame.

We have been dying shedding blood in war,by police,chased,de-balled, chard alive,chased like animals by mobs,KKK,or just for fun following their father’s teachings.

Isn’t time we as men stop setting our selves up as targets for hunting.

Bad enough we have a history of being set up by police to end up behind bars.

As a Black Man approaching 50 venturing though youth most girls ignored me,kept me at arms length which saved me during the late 70’s and 80’s before I knew about AIDS.

I met a few women learning about care, jealousy,and break us.

Finally a long term relationship with a lovely,sensuous,serious minded Black Woman and a friendship with a younger one completed a long process of delayed growing up.

My life has been difficult but not really as troubled as some of my brother’s and sister’s I see damaged women and men and wonder if I’ll ever be faithful married man to the woman who chose me as hers soul mate for life.

A low wage job,on Section 8,in the sometimes dangerous Tenderloin area of Market Street in San Francisco is not what most woman think of as date/mate material.

Even being in the City taints me as other than heterosexual even though my original home is New York,near the Bronx, Queens,and Park Avenue then moving to Oakland and Berkeley California or visa versa and while homeless learning silk screening,painting, environmentalart,and photography gave so may directions its difficult following one.

At this point I’m thinking of a longer span of life I owe it to myself to live,love,experience, as long as possible but the radical thing for me is see if it is possible to slow down and reverse my own aging process first struggling on my own then with help of Gerontology. Most people live their lives either quietly, adventurous,or inbetween I would really would like to try this way of living, has it been done before surely yes, but now if I had help from the government and followed some of they dictates minus too little sex. (I’ve done that already) I would like a small stipend and there should be others doing the same as I.

What would be the purpose of this living longevity study?

How about living longer and the results published so many more people can do the same but not under government care as we guinea pigs.

First as now I’ll struggle along giving up most of the foods, desserts,meats,all that cause to age the interior of the body,deep mental techniques,exercises to help further reverse maybe rejuvenate tissues throughout the body.

Later if a year then 2,3,up to 5 happens more will be possible until there is a limit then some cloning replacement parts, as the process of de-aging continues and some if not all of become younger there will be sexologist’s testing us further or our girlfriends,wives may do the honors checking on our complete sexual functioning.

It sounds science fictional but I’m starting now because there is no time like the present to go for this after all life should be enjoyed to its fullest and want more life for its fullest enjoyment.

If I succeed alone well its only I who’ll benefit but if the government or a life extension cartel with vast amount of knowledge can help then it speeds the way for everyone.

So,people,this is my quest and I don’t think I’m fighting windmills but it will take others doing the same thing to see what I’m about.

For the rest of you thinking me completely cracked even if I learn to slow,delay,and reverse my personal aging process.

If I can do it exactly the same way 50,60,70,or 80,times all it means is by 2030,40,or 2074,2084,I might not be an immortal that’s not the aim.

The aim is to simply be alive and healthy.

My other question is where will you reader’s be?

That’s it,my two columns,email or snail mail me especially Life Extension and Immortalist organizations.

Please tell where I can find studies on how to best do this self experiment without harming my self. Thank You



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by Joe B.

Fake Wombs,Two Mom’s And Zero Dad’s

Between experimental artificial wombs of 2000 and today’s "Males need not apply" at the lower page in the middle of the ever shrinking "The Examiner Weekly newspaper I’m wonder if both sexes have it wrong?

Its seems if men are redundant for pumping out trillions of gallons of spermatozoa that women can extract without flesh on flesh pleasure principle for procreation fake womb renders women as redundant.

I still maintain women and men are both equally brilliant and a the same time profoundly stupid.

Girls think quicker, better verbal,emotional intelligence until about 14 it may be 10 now its when they think of boys but its not the ones learning applied sciences, literature,or into politics its jocks,body builder’s,flashy ones with cars they go ga ga over.

It may take a decade or so until they are tired of being mistreated, disrespected,emotionally, and physically.

Boys take longer growing out of awkwardness some remain so we go for the too early ample girls with breasts and backs
( buttocks) teasing them mercilessly making them feel like freaks just as boys too skinny,tall,fat, are girls and boys are cruel in they’re desperate way of fitting in indeed its one of the only times where true individualism rings somewhat hollow.

As with men they find years later how petty, mean,idiotic they were.

So as to which of our species fem or men is superior/inferior of the other is really illogical because as if science and technology has its way both men and fem’s will make ourselves so redundant that may be artificial fem’s and men will take over real men and women as we continue stupidly argue who’s the best sex.

Women are as corruptible as men I say that knowing the pure human motive beyond sex roles.

Some women in power have shown it already through out time.

Ladies,look up your Herstory you already know His.

As for economics take whole chapter’s out of males books just add your own penmanship to it if you want change do what men do buckle down and get to work if men are stupid and can be controlled by our bio–physical urges then for Goddess sake use what you know to gain access and power then don’t be selfish with your sister’s and share it as men do when most aren’t looking.

All I see is male bashing jokes with no power behind it and though some women’s perfect men are gingerbread and snowmen there are many perfect men out there one may be for you and not others and there lies the answer,there are perfect men for those women who love what they have and stop trying to change what they have and for those who’ve found their mates don’t share secrets with your friends and family especially bedroom and the odd problem ones.

One thing about turning 50 its no in crowd worries, one can be him or her self without friends buzzing telling you what’s cool everyone can be cool as they want to be.

My odd little quest is seeing how long I can live in great health while delaying,slowing, stopping,and reversing my aging process that’s my personal adventure and it’s a multi disciplinary aspects before there was friends,school,limited travel,girls,women, bumming around in California,trade schools, surviving homelessness, more learning,political organization (not I) a fuzzed up,blurry future that has come into clear focus.

I do not know where life extensions road will lead may be a short one but if not let’s say I’ll be around choosing whatever it means to live in changing times.

One thing it will take long to find out is if inserting other species after getting them human compatible would be very interesting what our human imagination would come with.

I’m not completely void of happenings outside my personal sphere.

A great neighborhood beat cop both young folks and adults connected with is ambushed and killed of course ‘Thin Blue Line ranks close wanting justice on Officer Isaac Espinoza’s behalf his family and the force as a whole but the "2000 cops strong" attitude only means it was 2001 and going half cocked can whittle down their number one by one or in groups.

Death Penalty For Cop Killer’s is what Mr. Gary Delagnes,Police Union says he and the rank and file officers want.

A snag is D.A. Kamala Harris Ideologically opposed to capital punishment Harris has ruled out the death penalty for life with out parole for David Hall.

Police Chief Heather Fong is also want death for Davis,no revelation there.

Lots of innocent people have been railroaded and have been freed chemical death after being on death row for years that’s torture enough for years snatched away for fitting profiles.

Prosecutors and cops ego’s on the line bent on legal killing what they truly thought a guilty turns innocent.

All I say is if it’s a federal crime to kill law enforcement officer the same should be for "accidental, righteous shoots of citizen’s. Police face mostly deadly paperwork with high moments of excitement in the heat of car or on-foot hot pursuit of suspects.

If a cops life is worth an automatic death sentence then innocent lives taken should afford cops automatic trip to the death chamber without possibility of life behind bars.

Yeah, cops want know they are not beyond law, no freebie shooting at suspects with hands up weaponless,or suspicious looking objects such as wallets,pens,or deadly glowing cell phones. Folks it better to buy bullet proof vests that covers everything and have it light enough so you can run when weapons are aimed and shaking.

Target practice is normal in ghetto,barrios, reservation,there ‘po folks walking unarmed is like a free duck shoot to cops.

Its way past time to arm ourselves when law enforcement is literally the enemy! Learn gun safety,martial arts (you may have to register guns but keep unarmed combat to yourself it may save you if the psychological advantage is yours.

Police are enshrined gun toting legalized gangs with powers of life and death but as we’ve sadly seen even the good one fall because to harassed citizen’s are weary of all cops.

Until there are more humane instruction most interaction with police are potentially deadly the wild west,north,east,and south are still around only its wares gray,blue uniforms and see everyone outside of uniform as other,not them, in a us vs. them mentality.

Be careful folks they still play slave catcher even though slaves no longer exist in America.


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by Joe B.

Chick/Lad Lit Ho Hum

I just heard on KNPR about Chick and Lad lit or literature of post liberated young women writing books one book to move was Bridget Jones Diary.

I don’t read to many works of fiction by women but as I heard on the radio women don’t read books about men,by men they like reading,seeing themselves in print form.

Photo’s of legs are popular too.

Hmmm,woman like leading about themselves more than men.

I always suspected that women are basically selfish and don’t like men prettier than them its too easy for them to say because a man is in the gorgeous category he could be gay or bi sexual instead of just a regular though gorgeously facially and physically gifted man.

Me,I not handsome guy but have learned to make up for it by being clean, wearing clean clothes.

I’m a nice looking with a constant clean shaven, clear eyed,walking heads up confident air.

That more a turn for some woman sneaking a look at me that I don’t realize it sometimes makes it paradoxically sexier to women.

Its like the man holding an infant bare of shirt warring jeans sitting bear foot on the floor.

He’s sexy because he shows caring for the infant or baby in his arms,those strong arms gentle,caring sent tingles through women conveying him as also in other situations gentle and protective of them most men when they hold any child have an automatic tendency to lower their guard psychically emoting to children and children respond they sense real from false.

I’ve been thinking of novel or series of different novels about different kinds of men, one man is sexually abused by an older sister, trapped in another world where his first introduction to said world is raped and tortured over and over until he’s almost driven mad but in this same place he’s the answer to a long awaited prophecy to be savior of that world and the fierce warrior women now love him and would gladly give there life for him as he’s proved he would for them in many an adventure.

Another guy out of work gets in and out of trouble propositioned both by men and women, young girls and moral dilemma’s they entail.

A children’s book about a not so old guy who’s a wily adventures through his inventions are funny and educational.

I don’t think I write lad or chick stories as much as fictional fun.

If women and men,boys,and girls,the middle age or senior set like them fine as for critics or arbitrators of the next big thing,phase, fad,or trend they may get confused about categorizing my work because I don’t know how my character’s in stories will react but one things for sure it won’t be PC.

I need more schooling obviously some women’s courses,but like the gym once I’m in and learning I’ll probably be ignoring those women who think its an estrogen only club I won’t have time to argue as I pound the books in library or on the net researching unerring truths about women’s psyche.

I notice if guys really isn’t seeing a woman when he finding out more about his own self worth they try to under-mind it actually begin throwing sex at him when before he was asking,begging and no was the answer I guess its about control,control in clubs/bars,control at parties,in arguments and the ultimate using sex.

If a man controls his sexual urges,can clearly look through subtle games men and women always play and knows life is short as is and games are distractions from what matters either living a single lifestyle or marriage with another of similar interests.

It means no more games even though women still make less than men economically you can at least live as long as they minus the socialized game where women don’t pay,for drinks,food,dance and actually have no-sex fun going from bar to bar giving out phone numbers kissing men,leaving men ‘uh blue.

I know men do it too but women do it in wolf packs of 2’s,4’s,or as many as 8.

They tell each other they’re all for pure fun just to feel pretty, adored,complimented,and in control.

Men are more solitary do so in small groups of 2’s,4’s,and 6.

We may do this for fun but we tire of it quickly going back female flesh I don’t know about our gay blade bro’s.

Women complain about societies backwards treatment ‘um aren’t they too part of society or is when its in their favor as in free drinks,food,car rides, its just find.

Yes, they didn’t make the law but the ones working for them they aren’t getting rid of are they?

So either Chick or Lad lit means little to me all I need is a few million readers who like my stuff, someone to make screenplays,or have it televised and whatever critics say I’ll boo hoo my way to the bank.

I never was in style so should I begin now I think that’s one of the reasons I’m still alive because I didn’t follow drugs,get lots of casual sex,or to many parties this has caused me to age slower, have a clear crisp gray matter,stay negative for aids virus.
I have to thank many a girl who turned me down I am alive and healthy because if them.

Now,being careful, wearing rubbers,yes-I feel less but can go longer it’s a trade off and life is better than sickness and death.

Literature depends or readers,publisher’s, proofreaders, and editors, and marketing.

So guys,girls,stop playing games be single, or married and girls, women,wimmin,wymyn, Grrrr’s,Goth Babes, Goddesses all stop making, leaving guys hot and heavy as fun its no fun for guys and the same goes for the guys especially the pretty ones already married who are the look-don’t-touch for women go back to your wife,stop agitating arguments and her suspicions think of how the cheater’s show busted hubby’s and wives two timing on their marriage.

Last thing,you lovely, sexy,alluring formally "Lipstick Lesbians" that can get/hook any straight guy then say "Oh,I’m sorry,I’m Lesbian."STOP THAT DECEITFUL CRAP."

Get back with your own lovers,leave straight guys for straight women same goes for straight women going after gay guys for the challenge you know you won’t change most of 'em guess its ego boosting.

I guess all the genders are angry at me well maybe you should talk among yourselves and stop playing games.

I’m not really angry at lesbians they’re more real and true friends in a fix.

Sorry straight gals that's the bottom line.

That’s it for now,PM’s moving again back to its origins on 255 9th Street on Mission in the old historic Local 6 Warehouse building (sorry) fems,because cost.

For now from this new space. br>

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by Joe B.

Bleary Brain Quest

Before starting here’s an announcement Want to learn the fine are of being a thespian (No,it has not a lesbian misspelled).

It’s a fancy word meaning actor or actress.

It’s a the b Training by Alice Rogoff, MA in Drama and MA in Creative Writing.

Beginning Wednesday, April 28,6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 522 Valencia St. (between 16th and 17th St.) Sponsored by the San Francisco Living Wage Coalition.

For info call 415-863-5543 or email sflivingwage@hotmail.com.

On Saturday,May 1 (Sabado,1 de Mayo (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In the Woman’s Building /Edificio de Mujeres 3543 –18th Street(Valencia and Guerrero)

I wrote the above because someone asked of it like I’m always asking for money orders with money written on them and women in prison or out to write me or a send nice tasteful emails (mash notes)

Gotta try folks.

Last time I talked of a personal quest I have of living a very long, healthy life and being a fully functioning dirty old guy sleeping 22 or 25 years (these girls think their grown because they’re physically having "S" but that does not make them women or men earning experience.

First there is research and more of the same if I fail I’ll only know if not… well if I regain youth,hair,stronger, younger body plus have rejuvenating power as well then I know age stops or stopping my aging process in its tracks would really be an earth shattering feat maybe its Nobel prize material.

Like that song "When You Only Have A Hundred Years To Live."

I’m almost half way there so I better get to using whatever applied science before to prove I personally can beat chronology.

This is no going against God’s command if fact if we do have free will what’s one of the ways of testing it than testing the limits?

I sound like a complete idiot and fool but then again one never knows until they try so I’m going to do what I can the only danger I see is if I succeed and certain faiths,medical,or insurance even governments agencies would rather see me fail then actually prove that such a thing physically possible.

120 to 50 to around 200 years ought to prove the possibility then the whole world will tilt as scientists,researchers, biologists,physicist’s and folks in Gerontology start their test me and that could be my best contribution to People-kind longer, healthier lives because without life everything else we struggled,bled, and died for is worthless.

I may die of a heart attack, mugged,killed,run over by a car,or die in my sleep,or get taken out by a disease if none of those things happen and I’m around in 2154 looking remarkably young,healthy for 200 years you know it will cause a world wide furor.

But that’s not thing I’ll be doing life is full of risk so I will from time to time partake it them from flying/jumping out of planes,to surfing /wind,or para gliding.

I and others I don’t know men or women young middle age or old also may be practicing their own kind of life extension.

That’s my goal and if science over takes me and I have no need to do that great however we know how our governments work so if I want to live much longer I cannot trust it but must strike out on my own like most independent America until America government joins in the life extension/Immortality movement.

See some of you 200 years hence.


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by Tiny and Linda William

The deep sounds of never ending, mind-numbing,headache generating traffic bombarded the weather-beaten glass of the 6 motel (not to be confused with the pricier Motel 6), as I sat with displacement survivor and former Valencia Gardens tenant Linda William.

Driving up highway 80 East I kept referring to my friend and fellow PNN writer's careful directions, " Its sort of near Vallejo" she had said quietly on the phone, the weight of her horrendous dilemma flooding her voice, " I couldn't actually afford a motel in Vallejo, they were too expensive and all the cheap ones were filled" , she concluded wearily

It had been almost two years since Linda took the "sweet deal" offerred by Housing Authority to move out of her long-time residence at Valencia Gardens in San Francisco, Valencia being one of many hundreds of public housing projects in the Bay Area and across the nation labeled "bad" and targeted for "redevelopment" which resulted in the massive displacement of low-income tenants from public housing to essentially "a piece of paper" i.e., these tenants were handed a section 8 voucher and alot of promises of available market rate or privately owned low-income housing projects but ended up, like Linda, homeless, or as those of us in the know say; public housing was better than no housing, "they gave me a section 8 certificate and said I could go anywhere with it, of course I had always had a dream of moving out of the city with my 2 kids and I thought this was my big chance"

As Linda spoke the hairs stood up on the back of my neck, I, too, was relying on a pending section 8 certificate to stabilize the ever unstable housing of myself, my mother and my 9 month old son, but from all the recent reports out of the Bush administration, this "stable housing" might remain a dream.

"So with that certificate I started the search for housing in Vallejo, Fairfield and Marin, "Linda continued her story unphased by my uh huhs and head nodding, "well whaddya know, I found closed wait lists on almost all the low-income housing units in all of those places and all the rest of the landlords wouldn't even return my calls when I told them I had section 8" As Linda continued to explain how she transferred her certificate to Alameda County hoping for better luck in Oakland, I remembered the hideously classist and racist experience of trying to find an apartment when I told landlords that I was on section 8, "Ohhhhh noooo, I don't think so" they would say, dreams of welfare moms dancing in their collective land-holding heads.

"Eventually, I found a place in the middle of so much gang-mess, that one of my babies almost got shot last month, so I gave up and moved to this motel and now my section 8 worker is telling me that it doesn't matter anyway, cause due to the Bush-inspired cuts they probably won't have any money left in the section 8 program to fund another apartment for me anyway…and I'll end up homeless….." her voice trailed off into sadness and the whoosh of the highway filled the rooms silence

Linda was referring to the very serious cuts that the Section 8 program is facing due to the Bush Adminstrations' cuts to the program of 1.6 billion causing places like New York city to lose millions of dollars for existing section 8 vouchers and Alameda County not having enough money in May to even cover the rents of vouchers already in use.

"and now I hear that people are being offerred more sweet deals by housing authority to move out of the Bayview so rich people like Newsom and his buddies can make big bucks redeveloping the Bayview…."Linda paused to hold back an onslaught of tears, " all I can say to those folks is; Don't be fooled.. Hold onto what you have… Valencia Gardens had its problems, but it was still my home…it was still housing…"

To tell your story of eviction or displacement call PNN at (415) 863-6306 , to get involved in fighting the redevelopment effort of the Bayview call Bianca Henry at Family rights and Dignity (415) 346-3740,

by tiny/PNN

"Arnold (Schwarzenegger) couldn't take any time out of his busy schedule to meet with any of the students, elders or children , even though he already knew that we were coming many months ahead of time - that's one of the reasons we are fasting", the morning sun jumped in and out of sight behind a huge tree which shaded several large tents in the background as I stood with one of the dedicated young scholaz, 17 year old Berkeley High School student Julia Ibarra, at Oakland City Hall's Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Ms Ibarra continued to detail the roots of the struggle that led to the water only fasting of 1 mother, 2 teachers, 2 students, and 2 community members at the City and State buildings in Oakland , Ca " Before the fast we walked 70 miles over 7 days to meet with the Governor to talk about the serious crisis that faces education and the platform we are demanding; Equity in Education, Fully fund propisition 98 and eliminate the West Contra Costa County Debt"

On this, the 50 th anniversary of Brown versus the Board of Education, the state of education in California is not so much about segragation as it is about institutional racism and classism, i.e., if you are in the right neighborhood with the right tax base ( i.e, middle and upper income folks paying property taxes ) your experience in the public schools is not so bad, you probably have books, maybe an art or science program and some form of specialized Physical Education, but for the rest of us, especially those of us in areas populated by low-income families, education in California is Still Separate, Still Unequal.
And although the 1964 Civil Rights Act declared the that education is a civil and human right in 2004 California ranks 40th in education spending and 1st in prison spending.

"Schools in Richmond don't have soccer club, they have a asthma club, because of the close proximity to Chevron and that's how it is in the Bayview, West Oakland and a lot of poor communities of color across the nation, teacher , poet and activist Cesar Cruz who is also one of the organizers and participants in the fast described the flagrant disparities in education and why they needed to do this fast, " Poor communities have different realities, cause they dump everything on the poor."

" Go to Sacramento, keep fighting and don't let them stop you" On Day 7 of the fast, the amazing civil rights warrior Delores Huerta in the tradition of the United Farm Workers fasts for civil rights, joined the fasters in solidarity, encouraging them to migrate to Sacramento and camp out in front of Schwarzeneggers office until he responds to their demands. In so doing, Ms. Huerta squelched the efforts by (not) strong mayor Jerry Brown and his Oakland Police Department troops to give the fasters trouble in the first few days of their fast. Now the mayor has proclaimed Monday, May 17, Equal Education Day in honor of the fasters.

As the sounds of Hip Hop scholarship filled the morning air, Cesar Cruz spoke thewords of resistance that summed up this crucial fight, " We're migrating the fight up California , we'll be at Richmond High School tonite, and then off to Sacramento cause poor children fight these conditions every day, us fasting for eight days is nothing, so we're gonna go on til we see changes…. as long as it takes"

UPDATE**********************

The Fasters Have Reached a Historic Agreement with
Governor Schwarzenegger

Governor Schwarzenegger has singed a law called the
Daucher Bill that would help the poorest district
including Compton, West Contra Costa Unified, any
school district with major loans, changing their
interest from 5.7% to 1.7%.

Through the work of Jackie Goldberg's office, any
school district that is in any loan trouble, their
loan will be put off 2 years until Prop 98 funds kick
in. This means that, for example, none of the
libraries in West Contra Costa School District will
not have to close.

After the 70 mile march and 26 day fast the Governor
has agreed to come to Richmond to meet with the
students and everyone who marched at Downer Elementary
in October. This time he has agreed to come meet with
them in their home after shunning them in Sacramento
after their march.

We have gotten the Governor to really crumble, they
rarely give in to protest, said Cesar Cruz on his
25th day of fasting. They thank Dolores Huerta for
all the work and teaching that she did to make this
amazing victory possible.

For more on this struggle go to www.march4education.org.

by tiny

My friends lived next door

Until the Bulldozers came

My uncle lived down the block

until the bulldozers came

My Auntie lived upstairs

Until the Bulldozers came

I lived in my house all my life

Until the Bulldozers came

And then we didn't live

Anywhere

A poem by Lydia 10 years old , houseless youth from The Houzin' Project, Words, Art and Resources on Eviction, Displacement and Homelessness by POOR Magazine

"I am a single parent who is currently homeless, or what is called marginally housed, I am bouncing from family to family, pillar to post in order to survive" Lisa Cooper, resplendent in baby blue velour, cafe au lait skin shimmering in the end of the day glow addressed a crowd of over 200 powerful poor folks, organizers and advocates gathered at the first stop on a march and community speak-out held last Monday to bring attention to the abandoned or surplus n property that exists in the over-priced, under-housed city that is San Francisco, well-known for its seemingly unsolveable "homeless problem" or as those of us who are or have been homeless, its relentless targeting and harassment of houseless folks for just that, being houseless.

"If we were able as a community to run a property like this," Lisa's voice lifted above the afternoon wind as she pointed to the brown-black emptyness that was a cavernous government building located at 525 Golden Gate, "we could establish job training programs that would get us a living wage and on-site child care facilities so we can take care of our own children, but to do all this it takes us working collaboratively, coming together, raising our voice…"

The Surplus Property Campaign was formed by a diverse coalition of community and religious groups in December of 2003 to investigate city-owned surplus property properties for the development of low-cost housing. To date, the campaign has identified 30 properties owned by the city and County of San Francisco that have been declared vacant, surplus or underutilized that are suitable for housing development. Under current zoning these sites could yield between 750-1000 units of affordable and supportive housing.

BOOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOMbobobobobobdumddddd….. Our march was serenaded by the live rythems of the percussionists; Que Banda as we took off to the next location.; two empty lots on Gough between Polk and Van Ness.

"We are hoping to build a supportive housing unit on both of these lots, " Randal, one of the organizers from the grassroots housing group, Right To A Roof who along with long-time housing activist, James Tracy , Board Supervisor Chris Daly, a newly formed coalition of religious groups called the San Francisco Organizing Project and several other dedicated folks organized this campaign addressed the crowd, " this housing would be for foster children transitioned to nothing but homelessness, people who have struggled with substance abuse, mental illness, people who don't necessarily know what "normal" is"

On May 12, 2004 following the power of the voices heard at the march on that late Monday afternoon. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Surplus Property Legislation 9 to 1, Tony Hall being the only one against it. The bill sponsored by Supervisor Chris Daly approved the use of 15 vacant properties for the develop ment of housing. Although the legislation originally covered 40 surplus properties it was amended so that 25 locations were referred back to committee for further discussion .

Although this was a huge victory for real solutions to homelessness , i.e., HOUSING ,the organizers will continue to fight for the other 25 locations , because, like many of the currently houseless marchers chanted ; There are no surplus people - just surplus Property … and we all have the right to a roof!!!!!

To get a copy of The Houzin Project , click on the POOR Press button or call 415-863-6306

by Leroy Moore/Illin &Chillin

From Hip-Hop to Gospel to Rock to Soul to World
Jazz to Spoken Word, local artists, musicians, and
poets of color with disabilities are holding the mic
captive while shocking the local artistic arena.

From Lotus, a Philadelphia Rock\Funk band whose led singer,
Bird Williams, is a short person to the up
in coming Chicago's Paraplegic MC with his new CD
single Pieces of Dreams are blowing up the stage. We
can't forget the first ever spoken word CD, Until, by
a deaf poet from Boston, Ayisha Knight. The list is
endless but nine times out of ten I can't find the
above artists CDs at record stores! Why is that? Is
the music industry not willing to take on disabled
artists especially disabled artists of color? It is
striking how the music industry has the same practice
as the publishing arena when it comes to authors with
disabilities especially us of color, invisible.

The music industry has its door crack open for
certain artists with disabilities i.e. blind artists
like in blues, jazz, soul, country and now Hip Hop
with Tony Touch but artists with other disabilities
especially physical disabilities can't fit through the
little crack. The music industry is a carbon copy of
the publishing world! In the publishing world the
door is slightly cracked more but mostly only to the
medical system, universities and stars like
Christopher Reeves. However with every industry there
is an underground, independent labels, small presses or
do-it-yourself productions which most of the disabled
artists I mentioned and will talk about have gone this
rout. This is a mixed bag! Although I'm excited that
I found out about people like Rob DA Noize Temple,
the first disabled song writer\producer on Jive
records, I still have to special order his music.
He is the longest standing, well known disabled
producer in the music industry today. It is awful
that I had to search the internet to find his work and
like I mentioned above, most of the times I can't find
their work including his in local music stores!
Please don't bring up spoken word to your local
record store! Many times they don't have a spoken
word section but if they do it is very small.

In2003, Ayisha Knight made history by being the first
deaf poet to put her poetry to music on a CD entitled,
Until, performed by her friends. How did I know about
her? I was very lucky to have a mutual friend that
knew Knight and also doing research on the internet
about her work. How did I get her CD? I got her CD
by emailing her. Knight's CD is a spoken word CD with
hip-hop and soul music in the background. Knight used
to live in Berkeley, CA. Now she resides in Boston,
Mass. Her CD, Until, speaks about being Jewish,
Black, Deaf, and a lesbian and other issues young
women face in our society i.e. rape, body image and
becoming an independent woman who shares her love,
strengths and flaws with a commune of women, men,
youth, gays and lesbians. I checked in all record
stores and they didn't even have her in the computer.
Get this hot, groovy, finger popping CD by checking
out her website www.ayishaknight.com.

The same story is repeated from many upcoming
disabled artists in the local music arena from the
East to West Coast and in other places in the US. So
come on and feel our rhythm as I describe some
incredible CDs by the hottest local disabled
musicians, singers, rappers and poets of color today!
If you want the real deal, go to your local record
store and tell them to order these artists CDs or surf
the artists website or call them directly.

I'm so proud that Avotcja, music junkie, DJ on
KPFA & KPOO radio stations in the San Francisco Bay
Area, has accomplished what her fans and I have been
asking for and that is a CD of her poetry with the
international flavor of her band, Modupue. If you
haven't seen Avotcja & Modupue, well you haven't
lived. It's like being on a jazz cruise around the
world; you 'll hear music from all parts of the world
in one place. To help her band make more CDs go to
their performances. You can get in touch with her by
calling KPFA 94.1 FM radio station in Berkeley at
(510) 848-6767or KPOO radio station in San Francisco
at (415) 346-5373.

During Christmas holiday of 2003, I had the
opportunity to meet Bird Williams AKA Bird in New
Jersey. After talking about my poetry, Bird gave me
his CD entitled Knock A Wall Out. Bird is the lead
singer of a band called Lotus. Bird has a voice like
a humming bird on a Spring day. He gave me a little
piece on what he can do and I was blown away. This
strong and instrument like rhythm flew out of his
mouth and wrapped around my ears. Lotus mixes it up
with everything soul, hard rock jazz-fusion and
hip-hop. You name it Lotus can do it! Go to their
website at www.lotusband.net and if you're in Philly
catch them live.

They say Gospel is the music that keeps you
grounded and can put you on a higher plane all at the
same time. Well Michael Manning, a brother with a
disability that have been release from jail on bogus
charges after four years teamed up with Tanaj Perry to
return to his passion, music. Michael wrote in one
letter to me that, he wants to educate his people
through the music he writes and produced. With the
gorgeous soulful voice of Tanaj Perry, Michael returns
to the studio to assist on their debut album, The
Calling. Come fly with the hip-hop soulful holygost
on their album, The Calling. Michael Manning is from
Pennsylvania. Email Michael Manning at
www.justice4mike@pnpa.net and help them with
distribution and promotion of their CD. What a bag of
treats, The Calling, that is. This CD's hip-hop &
soulful gospel made my spirit dance beside me. This
album will be out later this year.

The whistling in the Chicago air is not the wind,
it is the tornado that Tony Green aka The Paraplegic
MC has been whipping up with his single, Pieces of
Dreams. I had the chance to speak to Paraplegic MC
and he told me he has been writing and rapping for
more than 15 years and his father said that, he is
really good! I'm waiting for his CD. In August last
year Paraplegic MC was interviewed by abc7chicago.com.
By bumping into this article online I had a chance to
talk to Tony and will receive his CD. Thank god for
the internet! Drop him a line at
medoxx@ameritech.net. He is looking for distributor
and agent.

Lets stay on this Hip-Hop thang! Hip-hop has
been blowing up everywhere in urban areas, the
suburbs, in the political arena, in the publishing
arena and in the media. Hip Hp has become more
diverse with women MCs, White, Latino and yes, Chinese
rappers but once again disabled MCs, rappers and DJs
are missing from this diversity. Like Blues, gospel
and jazz blind musicians are the first ones to enjoy
recognition and Hip Hop is no difference! The success
of Tony Touch and KRS One DJ is another example how
the door of hip-hop is only slightly open to blind
artists. Leave it to the underground to blow the
doors off its hinges! I would like to see the
Paraplegic MC in Chicago connect with the thumbin
sounds and lyrics of Fezo da Madone aka Keith Jones, a
one man rapper, producer and DJ of Boston, Mass.
Fezo has been making music and rapping for years.
Although he has Cerebral Palsy, Fezo is truly a
hip-hop head and dope producer. He writes all of his
rhythms and mixes his beats and sounds with his feet.
Yes with his feet!! His first album, Who is Leon
Soze? dropped on his own label, SeoulSpitahz
Entertainment. I'll be receiving this album soon but
from his website, www.dasoultoucha.com it says that
Who is Leon Soze? speaks on Fezo's life experiences
of being a Black disabled man. He is working on his
second album, Here I AM expected out on July 12th
2004. Fezo also talked about how hard it is to break
into hip-hop and also said that many have told him
that hip-hop is not ready for a hip-hop artists in a
wheelchair. He told me over the phone. Fezo and I
talked about our goals for our artistic talents and
the future of other disabled musicians. Something is
cooking in our rhythmic kitchen! Watch out because we
are cooking up something for all of us.
As I'm a researcher, I can't let a good topic
just slip between my fingers, so once again I turned
to google to find a long time producer, songwriter and
keyboard musician of Noizemozis, Rob Da Noize
Temple. The title of his article was the medicine to
my invisibility in the artist arena. The title of
this article says it like it is, Where are the
Disabled Musicians in the Music Industry?You see,
Rob Da Noize Temple, has only one arm. He has
played keyboards for more than thirty years. This man
has been around and he had a number one international
hit, Free, However in this article Rob Da Noize
Temple makes it clear the discrimination he faced in
the musical industry because of his physical
disability being called names to negativity of well
known artists toward him. He sends out a call for
disabled musicians to contact him so he and others can
work together to do a CD featuring disabled musicians
and to support each other. His email address is
Noize53@aol.com Listen to his music at:

http://www.ofmbsite.com/ofmbsite/noismos.

Once again I took the name of his band,
Noizemozis, his hit song, Free, to four different
record stores and nobody had this record or his recent
CD, Peace Thang. The only thing left for me to do was
to contact Rob Da Noize Temple. Hopefully soon I'll
receive his CDs in the mail. Thank god I'm a
researcher and resourceful if I wasn't I wouldn't have
known of these talented people I mentioned and would
never hear and feel their incredible music and
rhythm!! What can you do? Go to your local record
stores and demand that they carry these artists and if
you are in their area, go to their concerts. It is
called SUPPORT! Music industry, watch out, we're
coming kicking in your doors!!!!!!!!!!

by Dee Gray/COURTWATCH

PNN first interviewed Rebecca Armistad in 2002 when she had taught herself to be a paralegal so she and her son could launch a lawsuit against Child Protective Services for taking her three children out of her home and into foster care custody 14 years ago. Parents and children who have dealt personally with CPS, The foster Care system, and the welfare department understand that these systems feed off low and no-income youth and families, as there is a monetary incentive for CPS for taking children away from families and therefore these are "Closed" systems, i.e., almost impossible to fight, that is why we believe Rebecca is a poverty hero and should be a model to all parents who feel overwhelmed by these systems. Dee and Tiny interviewed Rebecca in May of 2004 (A. stands for Armistad, T for Tiny, D for Dee)

PNN; Rebecca can you give our readers a brief summary about what the lawsuit is about;

A: "The lawsuit is about Paul suing the C. P. S. [Child Protective Services] social workers in San Francisco County and Santa Clara County for having them taking him away from me illegally. That's the first legal issue in our lawsuit, the second legal lawsuit issue has to do with the illegal raid at Juan's house in East San Jose where we lived and where I got custody of Paul at."

T: "Right, I got that, and then lastly the defendants that you keep referring to are in fact Child Protective Services Workers?"

A: "Right, and we've got over twelve defendants."

T: "And are they named Child Protective Services Worker's?"

A: "Oh, yeah like Richard Wong, CPS Social Worker from Santa Clara County, who works for the Department of Social Services-Oh yeah."

T: "Ok great, These people, are they still in the department after all these years?"

A: "Yeah, they are still Social Workers."

D: "I was wondering, you went to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals…"

A: "Well let me finish the story." After we filed the summons and complaint and the defendants were served the defendants tried telling us no they were not served properly - Which is Bullshit! It was a outright lie, they were just trying to get out of a lawsuit. So what I did was I got really upset with the Feds … Federal Judge, Jeremy Fogul? took over the case from James Ware. They reassigned the case from James Ware to Jeremy Fogul. Now Jeremy Fogul is the presiding judge over our case.
Well, that's… the first thing I didn't like, the second thing I didn't like was that our defendants claimed that they were not properly served and they only answered the summons and complaint after the fact after I filed the default judgement."

D: "Ok."

A: "So I filed the default judgement… like I don't know remember which month it was let's see, we're going back over two years - man; so let's say September."

D: "Ok."

A: "So we we're suppose to back in court with our defendants like September and October of 2000 and I didn't show up in court because I got fed up with them."
So the Judge made his ruling based on the fact that Paul and I didn't show up in court."
So we filed the default judgement it was denied by the United States District Court Clerk and then he went and asked Judge Jeremy Fogul, they showed the default judgement they must of went up in arms - you know what that means…? I we were granted the default judgement they would owe us $25 million dollars!

T: "Right."

D: "A-huh."

A: And we would win the lawsuit, well Judge Jeremy Fogul didn't want that to happen because he's on their side. You have to look at the Judge as being for the state, being for the federal government."

T: "You have any history on this Fogul dude."

A: "Yeah, he's suppose to be one of the most liberal judges on the Federal Bench here in San Jose California."

T: "Oh."

A: "We're not talking about the Federal bench in San Francisco, we're talking about the federal bench in San Francisco."

T: "Gotcha'."

A: "We're talking about the federal… who sits on the federal bench in the San Jose
District, United States District Court. These are the men, some of them, and one of them is United States District Judge, Jeremy, Folgul."

D: "Yeah, but didn't you actually go to the San Francisco's Ninth District Court of Appeals?"

T: "Wait a minute on that, hold on, the defendant responded to the lawsuit after the fact after the fact that we filed the default judgement. Check this out. I did not like the judge's decision we were suppose to court, we didn't show up, the defendant showed up, the lawyer for the defendant showed up, and Judge Jeremy Fogul out right, just out right denied Paul's lawsuit on both legal issues." When we already had informal propos standing to sue on the second legal issue they gave us that right to sue on the second legal issue. Then he (Judge) turns around and denies the whole lawsuit.
I got pissed off and I filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal telling the Ninth Circuit Court that what this judge had done was illegal and does he have a right to deny a default judgement when it was filed in a timely manner.

So what happened was the Ninth Circuit Court in December/January of 2003 or somewhere in there they made a ruling on Judge Fogul's behalf and they threw out and just-just totally disregarded the lawsuit altogether and they made a ruling on Judge Fogul's behalf and they favored his decision." So Boy, I got even more pissed and I filed and appeal the United States Supreme Court." And that's where the case is right now."

D: "Ok, but you know what, when you called us, when you called us you said were very unsure and your friends and your family encouraged you to file with the United Supreme Court because, apparently you said it was very hard, very laborious, and very detailed a thing to you have to do…"

A: "Yes."

D: " I was very distraught and depressed and I didn't think I could do it but I got so much encouragement that I ended up doing it."

D: " And you have no representation, your just doing on your own?"

T: "How did you teach yourself to do that Rebecca?"

A: "Once you’re a Paralegal and you know how to work on cases it just Federal Law is not that much more difficult that State Law as a matter of fact I think federal law is easier."

D: "Why have you not been able to get any representation?"

A: "Everybody wants $25,000 - $50,000 to take the case, come one I don't have that kind of money."

D: " Right."

A: "That's why we can't find a lawyer they all want $25,000 to $50,000 dollars down."

D: "Have you talked to any civil rights attorneys about this?"

A: "Oh yeah, Anthony Boscovitch is civil right attorney in San Jose - he called us. He said please bring down the copies of all the work that you filed so far I want to look at your lawsuit. "That Son Of A Bitch" He asked to see the case almost six months ago and he never, he still hasn't called us to talk about the case, to have Paul and I to come into his office to discuss what going to happen; he just wants to find out what the United States Supreme Court is gonna do."
Well, let me you what's gonna happen - if there's a God in heaven and I've been a Christian all my life, if there truly is a God we will get a favorable decision. But if there isn't a real truly a true God in the heaven's then this whole thing's gonna go away that's my feeling on it because I'm very spiritual and I just stand on the ground that if there is a God the United States Supreme Court - they will make a favorable ruling for us.

In other words what they' re gonna rule is they'll either going to remand the case back time to the trial level and tell Judge Fogul that he has to hear our case because we have merit to the case. The defendants are saying Bullshit, Paul doesn't have a merit case to the lawsuit - throw it out, throw it out, that's what their saying that my son has no merit to the lawsuit."

D: "This is the lawsuit in his behalf?"

A: "Right, my name is nowhere on the lawsuit-and I'm not even a plaintive, this is my son's lawsuit for him and is brother's and sister's and sister Christina and Robert."

D: "Right, Can you just quickly describe what that lawsuit is that your trying to get heard."

A: "This is the lawsuit where Paul is suing the C. P. S. Social Workers for taking him away from me when he was four years old. That's the first legal issue. Now they went and raided my house before I we could file the lawsuit - you know what that did that opened up the doors for a second cause of action to be put in our main lawsuit. You think we're gonna let these people get away with raiding our house illegally without a search warrant? Come on we're not gonna let them get away with that.
What happened to us at Juan's house in 2001 we added that to Paul's lawsuit, and it was never suppose to be this way. We're not suppose to have two legal issues to our lawsuit its only suppose to be Paul suing the C. P. S. workers but look what they went and did.

They went and Fucked with us, they went and Fucked with me after I got all my kids out of the child welfare system, So because they went and Fucked with me, I threw in the other legal issue. That they raided our house illegally, they did not have a search warrant to come in, and we're suing in federal court, we're suing the office of the public. Now this the second state run agency that we are suing is called The Office of the Public Guardian And Conservator's. That's the proper name and they are another bunch of filthy bums. The umbrella of that agency is The Department of Social Services. There's two agencies' that work under the guise of The Department of Social Services. It’s the C. P. S. Child Protective Services Social Workers and the second state run agency is called The Office of The Public Guardian And Conservator's.
And that's what the public doesn't realize. The American people out here don't know that those two agencies are run by and through under the guise of The Department of Social Services."

D: "So you're hoping that will end up back in …"

D: "Now who will handle the trial?"

A: "If the United States Supreme Court Justices make a favorable ruling in Paul's Case and they remand the case back down to the federal courts that's where we have to go back into court to prove our merit, to prove that they damaged my children, and they did what they did illegally then we can have a trial on the merits of the case - are you understanding me now?"

D: "Yeah."

A: "Ok, so that's how this is going and its already being PU'd and we're not even at a trial level you see what bullshit you have to go through you see how long this shit takes."

D: "Yeah, I do and I'm so impressed with your perseverance that's the most interesting thing when you aren’t even a lawyer." You haven't had that kind of training, You taught yourself all of this?"

A: "Oh, I know."

D: "Taught yourself all of this."

A: "I know."

T: "You know what I did Monday, April the 5th we had to mail all the… The United Supreme Court wrote Paul a letter and said you made one error you have to correct it by April the 18th . So we corrected the error that we made and we sent everything back over to United States Supreme Court on Monday, April the 5th . My cousin, was with me, my cousin Benny Berraza? He served our defendants, I was able to get this paperwork back in the mail back over to Washington D. C., The United States Supreme Court. I anointed… because I'm a lay Chaplain with my church, I have the power to use anointing oil-and to lay hands.

D: "A-huh."
So I laid hands on the documents, on all the documents before we mailed them out."
And I sprinkled anointing oil over my documents!"

T: "Right On, Whatever it takes."

A: "So God's hands upon this case, if there really is a God, we're gonna get a favorable decision.

T: "Alright."

A: "That's what I mean, because I'm really losing ground in my Christianity, I don't go to church anymore, I'm very unhappy with the Catholic Church and what's been going on in the news about the molestation with the children, and I'm losing ground in the area of my spirituality. I'm being drained-pray for me, So I really need people to pray for me-please keep me in prayer."

D: "What exactly is your legal training?"

A: "I'm a Paralegal, but if you understand the court system, the court system is a process, and it’s a process of basically a lot of paperwork.

T: "Right."

A: "That's what it is, that's why the judges and everybody is screaming about all these case coming into the court house and now they don't have enough judges to hear all the cases and that's why they ended up in federal court, they ended up with a Federal Case Management Conference - Settlement Conference that you can go to. They initiated that about ten years or fifteen years ago because the court were just being overwhelmed with all these lawsuits. So now you have case management settlement conference, that you go to before you actually start your trial level and most people settle out of court and they never even see the courtroom in a trial level."

T: "Right, and I just want to say Rebecca that we gotta stop pretty quick - cause we got to get off the phone but the one thing is and let you got back to sleep but the one thing is-you’re an inspiration to hundreds and hundreds of mothers and fathers. I think you know that, everytime we put your story out on P N N we get like so many responses-so really…"

D: "Well anyway the main thing is when will you'll know… you don't when the Supreme Court…"

A: "The Supreme Court takes anywhere from 30 to 90 days to make a decision, so we just mailed everything back April the 5th so we're looking at May, June, July the 5th . "

D: "We'll do a continuation follow up after we find out what happens with that.
But its just really impressive that you've done and stuck with this and gone all the way through with it."

A: "I know its really a miracle."

D: "I can hardly believe it, its so proactive, Its really wonderful - Ok, Rebecca."

T: "Ok, bye."

A: "Ok, God bless you all.

To read Rebecca's first interview paste the following link into your web browser
http://www.poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&category=5&story=780

by Leroy Moore/REvolutionary poet and activist

There has been a terrible trend on how police and politicians’ policies treat our activists who are elderly! During the so called good times of the 90’s in the San Francisco Bay area gentrification hit and many elders were kicked out of their homes under the San Francisco Ellis Act i.e. Grace Wells. And during the anti-war rallies of 2003 protesters who were elderly from, Florida to New York to San Francisco, were physically abused or placed in jail by police including elderly nuns. Three Dominican nuns, Sisters Ardeth Platte, Carol Gilbert and Jackie Marie Hudson is serving six to eight years because they protest against US nuclear weapons in 1993.

The US is not the only one who is trying to silence their elderly activists. The arrest and police brutality of Zing Dilin of China, who is the leader of the Tiananmen Mothers, an activist group for the families of those killed in the Tiananmen Square massacre is another example. Although two of the Tiananmen Mother were release from jail, according to New York base Human Rights of China organization Zing Dilin has not been released. And how police arrested Annette Auguste, an elder Haitian singer and leader of the Lavalas activist movement in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for no reason. The pattern continued with the death of May Molina in police custody on May 27th, 2004 in Chicago, Molina, who was a long time activist against police brutality and the prison system especially those who were wrongfully convicted, was an elder Latina and disabled. All over the world police are trying to silence our activists who are elderly once and for all!

Why is the state trying to silence our activists who are elderly? The reason why, is that the state, police and certain politicians know that the elderly are a treasure of knowledge of what happen, what works, how to organize and have inside information on the system from local policies to international affairs. Some don’t want our elderly activists to pass down their knowledge to the next generation. Some see them as a threat to the system because they know where the wholes are and where the system is weak. I really think that some people in authority roles are shocked on how many elders are a part and play a key role in many grassroots movements form police brutality, local progressive political campaigns to the anti war movement. Many people in power have a common vision of the elderly and that is churchgoers, bingo players, golf players and knitting. This stereotypical vision doesn’t give the police and politicians the right to take away their homes, physically abuse them at rallies and drag them off to police stations where they are not given the medical care they need!

During the 2003 anti-war rally the number one issue came up over and over again in planning meeting of people of color against the war was the issue of elderly protesters who couldn’t keep up with everybody and didn’t feel save at the end where police were waiting. I am reminded of a friend who is a deaf Native American activist who was tipped out of his wheelchair by a San Francisco police officer during the anti-war rally in San Francisco of 2003. According to Napal Daily News of Florida & Associated Press in November of 2003, Miami police abused demonstrators at a protest of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. One of the members of Alliance for the Retired, Bentley Killmon said "he was trying to get back to the buses provided by the Alliance for Retired Americans when police pushed him to the ground, arrested him and handcuffed him for 12 hour."

I wonder what would the Gray Panthers and their founder, Maggie Kuhn, say about what is going on with activists who are elderly? The Gray Panthers (whose motto is "Age and Youth in Action") has and continue to work on issues that affect people of ALL ages and welcome and encourage members of any age. Margot Smith, Co-Convener of the East Bay chapter of the Gray Panthers puts it like this. "The police are cracking down on everyone who exercises their right of free speech, including the elderly. We must stand up for our rights against the Ashcrofts and others who would turn us into a frightened populace, fearful of overturning their rule. Even more oppressive is their cruel treatment of the elders, denying them medications and home health care through their cuts to services. They are spending our tax money on war and tax cuts, and deliberately cutting the social advances that we have fought so hard for over the last 70 years. Just as Reagan wore down the Russians with the arms race, Bush is wearing down our entitlements with the new arms race. We must stand up for our rights now!" To get involved with the Gray Panthers email Margot Smith at GrayPanthersBerk@aol.com.

Justice Riding on Four Wheels & Brown Fists

(For May Molina)

Activist in Action that was May Molina

Kept police & prisons

In checked

Turning over wrongful convictions

Target on her chest

She drove between institutionalize bullets

in her wheelchair

Like Harriet Tubman, Molina led her people to freedom

Out of the prison system

And into an activist revolution

Help started an organization

For Families of the wrongly convicted & victims of

police brutality

Her community, supporters and family

Demands answers about her death in police custody

Although she had diabetes police refused medical care

Thanks to police & mainstream media her background has

been smeared

While the names of officers are invisible

Seems like we've been here, Cammerin Boyd in San Fran,

Annette Auguste in Haiti

Hey Homeland security, am I next in line?

Cause like May Molina, I'm outspoken about systematic

oppression

I can see Molina wheeling up to the mic

at the Chicago Police Board

my Latina disabled sister

your spirit has traveled from Chicago to San Francisco

to clear my vision and to rededicate my life to your

mission

Time to bring attention

to how the black & blue

abuse their authority

onto my brothers and sisters with disabilities

Forget about internal investigation

Open up politicians & police's closets all around the

world to the public

The community & family is the Juror & the Judge

And we have our progressive, ethnic and activist media

Mother May Molina, your wish has come true

Judgement day is here

The power structure is crumbling

and Justice is riding on four wheels & Brown fists!

By Leroy F. Moore Jr.

Revolutionary Love! Rest in Peace Molina