That said, what are Nicola’s options -

by Richard Stone

Lucille Wheaton
You are highly organized; you stay true to your values; you are a sympathizer, a well-wisher, and a formidable champion of peace and social justice, and yet you still make time for your friends. For all of this, we honor you.

"This issue is not new, since it has long been argued that immigrant labor takes bread from the mouths of citizens."

It is a known fact throughout the African American community that many of our men have given up. They have resigned themselves to the fact that no matter how qualified they become, they will never be able to obtain and keep that dream job. These people Mr. Hacker calls "discouraged workers."

Many of our men and some women, spend most, if not all of their adult life working two or three, part-time or temporary jobs regardless of their qualifications, just to keep from starving and a ghetto roof over their heads.

History has shown us that there was never any intent for the African slaves to be free, and if freed, never be able to compete with whites for housing, education and employment. Well, most of it is true.

The majority of us who refuse to accept American ideology, that we are inferior, and are not capable of doing anything but menial labor are trapped in poverty. It is all part of America’s plan, to keep the descendants of African slaves dependent.

Some of us have managed to break through the barriers. We have had to give up our identity, our culture, language and history (all that wasn’t destroyed during slavery). Our doctors have to prove themselves over and over on a daily basis. Teachers have to accept the white-oriented curriculum they are forced to teach our children if they want to remain employed. The same goes for lab technicians. Even African American lawyers are in the same predicament.

Many African Americans have managed to obtain employment in upper government or public service, but obtaining positions in the private sector is almost impossible. Mr. Hacker states," Business Week ’s 1991 roster of chief executive of America ’s 1,000 largest corporations had only one black chairman.... Unfortunately there is no serious sign that the other 999 are grooming black executives for eventual top jobs."

Though we have what it takes to start and operate our own business, we are denied the opportunity because of ‘redlining ’by banks and other lending institutions. Even the Small Business Administration, yes, the Federal government has a part in this form of racial discrimination, because of its requirements.

The few African American owned businesses are usually owned by one person (who does everything) or family-run firms, that cater to our needs.

"Even now blacks remain underrepresented in the professions of engineering, law and medicine, as well as architecture and journalism. Until lately, black students felt little incentive to train for these fields, since there were few if any prospects of obtaining a job....

While virtually, all professions are saying they would like to have more blacks on their payrolls, it still remains to be seen whether they simply want a few faces for showcase purposes or if they mean jobs with real responsibilities." (Hacker).

Source: "Two Nations-Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal." Hacker, Andrew, 1992, Ballantine Books, New York.

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1 Man’s Foreign Aid Program

For 16 years, the Wheelchair Project has been working with groups struggling for social justice and human rights in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chiapas (Mexico) and recently Haiti. The project has shipped an estimated 75,000 lbs. of aid to sister groups in these four countries, along with aiding other groups sending humanitarian relief to Cuba, and supplying buses, motorcycles, trucks, generators, metal shops, wood shops, and thousands of pounds of medicines and medical supplies, and mechanical help for environmental groups, Latin American solidarity organizations, and international efforts such as the breaking the blockade against the Iraqi people.

This year ’s projects will be working with the FZLN to support groups in Chiapas, and with Father Aristide’s movement in Haiti. For the next 15 months, both projects will go on simultaneously, and we would welcome the help of Valley folk in the following areas:

• $$5000 to ship a bus to Haiti.

• fill this bus and others with tools, steel, medicine, medical supplies, school supplies, flashlights, tubing/hoses, pipe and PVC and wire. Any kind of wire. We need to put up guide wires for a 200 feet radio antenna, and also need wire (heavier the better) to electrify buildings and the like, and transmit 110v from our generator to different parts of the town.

• Help inventory and load the buses.

• Solicit likely donors such as hospitals, clinics, etc.

A volunteer is with the cargo at all times to assure its arrival. Beforehand, groups within the country are asked exactly what they need, instead of collecting items that inappropriate for their circumstances.

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Healing social wounds: Picnic of Services in Roeding Park

This illuminating experience began at the Olive Avenue entrance to the park. I had been told that if you entered there it would be very easy to locate The Fresno Free Clinic. The first large number of people seen, men, women, and children, appeared to be part of one of those big family reunion get-togethers. They were all dressed in casual clothes; tee shirts, shorts, khaki pants.

People were hugging, greeting each other with "Oh, haven’t seen you for a long time. So glad you are here today. "Scattered across the lawn were towels or other personal belongings that appeared to me to be reservations for groups of people to share a picnic site to eat their meal together. The festive air to this gathering seemed to confirm the "Family Reunion," and, as I approached closer, the FRESNO FREE CLINIC sign signified that this was what I had come to see, and not a family reunion.

The area looked like a movie scene of life in a rural village of the 13^th or 14th century. Of course the doctor of that time would have been a barber with a red and white "barber pole "that signified "blood letting done here." Instead, the doctor was a 21st century Marc Lasher, dressed in jeans with a stethoscope, thermometer, and other modern medical equipment. A large, hand lettered sign said, "FREE TETANUS SHOTS TODAY -HEPATITIS ‘C ’ TESTING!!"

Behind the open air FRESNO FREE MEDICAL CLINIC was the Fresno County Health Department Medical Van; they are there every other Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The County Nurse said the van is equipped so Dr. Lasher can do minor surgery; lance a boil or an abscess, etc. She also told me they see eight to twelve clients each visit, giving at least fifteen minutes of counseling for each client to test for HIV/aids.

FOOD NOT BOMBS, a volunteer group that feeds the homeless, was dishing out food for the crowd. HARM REDUCTION, a group whose goal is to educate clients how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, was dispensing condoms and education. They are also volunteers.

NEEDLE EXCHANGE was exchanging sterile needles for dirty ones, all the while watching for police. While many policemen see the positive health value in needle exchange, it is still against the law in Fresno County.

Dallas Blanchard, the young man who was in charge of FOOD NOT BOMBS, said "We serve 100 or more people here on Saturdays. Then on Sunday we serve meals to fifty or more folks here." He also stated, "The food is all donated; most of it is organic -no Franken food here!"

It was impossible to count the number of people served by these three organizations. People were moving here and there in a quiet, orderly manner. The only line was at the FOOD NOT BOMBS location: it was an open air cafeteria. Nowhere did I see anyone pushing or demanding that their needs be met instantly.

At the line, as well as at the other services, people were patiently waiting their turn for whatever they needed, be it food, medical attention, condoms, or sterile needles.

The scattered possessions I had thought at first to be staking out sites for special groups to share their food were, instead, the plastic bags homeless folks use to carry their belongings about with them. Only two people seated themselves at a picnic table to eat, an elderly man with a young, disabled man. I wondered if they were grandfather and grandson.

Homeless people are used to eating while they walk. I know, we often see people walking about as they devour fast foods while doing errands during their lunch break from work. They do this by choice.

For the homeless, walking about and eating becomes an ingrained habit. They have no settled place where they can sit down to a meal. This was a street fair for the homeless accompanied with the acceptance, kindness, and the attention all humans need.

The festivity and joy that seemed so evident to me at first glance could be proof of human adaptability, or, more likely, the joy of not being harassed or subjected to censuring attitudes. For the homeless, it is being as comfortable as is possible for several hours on a Saturday afternoon.

All the professionals and volunteers treated everyone with respect and kindness. Not one judgmental statement was heard from any of those serving these poor, homeless people.

Suddenly I realized something was missing from this gathering. After a few minutes of reflection, I realized that, from the large group of children here, there was no sound of the gleeful laughter of exuberant children at play.

These children clung to their parents, not taking advantage of all the open space to run and play.

The parents didn’t discourage this clinging behavior as most parents would with remarks such as, "Why don’t you go out and play while Mama cleans, gossips with a friend, or whatever."

The joy of three hours of freedom from censure, harassment, and the other impediments that are part of being homeless, didn’t signify safety to either the children or their parents here in the park. With children being snatched from safe front yards, homeless parents have even more fear for their children’s safety.

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by Robin Greiner

If you are driving south on Blackstone Avenue, look on the east side of the street, 3966 N. Blackstone at the corner of Griffith, above Acapulco Restaurant, and read the above message.

Several recent studies indicate that people are less understanding and accepting of gay people when they claim they do not know anyone that is gay or lesbian so they only recognize the stereotype. The message Parents &Friends of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG)is expressing is that all of us know someone gay, whether or not we are aware of it or willing to admit it. Gay and Lesbian folks are in every profession, every church, every political party, every ethnic group and every socio-economic class. The majority do not reflect the stereotypes as portrayed on TV.

The billboard will remain on Blackstone for a few more weeks and then be moved to another location for two months and then to a final location for the remainder of the six months contract.

The going rate for a billboard this size is in excess of $1000 per month. Three "angels " have generously stepped forward to cover a large portion of the cost but the balance must come from the very limited treasury of PFLAG.

Tax deductible donations (I.D.#77-0405225) may be made to PFLAG Fresno Chapter P.O. Box 27382 Fresno, Ca 93729-7382.

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by Michael Feliciano

Here is the lineup of new reps:

Jeffrey Eisinger (Fresno) Regional Representative, Dallas Blanchard (Fresno) Alternate Regional Representative, Brad Coehn (Merced) Alternate Regional Representative, Brian Strong (Merced)Alternate Regional Representative.

The "election "came after a wonderfully moving and affirming process of negotiation, between the three voting Counties, it was decided by consensus that all four candidates would serve!

The process of government by consensus can be a slow, painstaking process, and indeed, the meeting did not adjourn until 4PM -The gathering was scheduled to end at 2pm,but it was worth every minute to witness a sincere effort at achieving harmony and balanced representation for the entire region.

Green Party members met in Merced on Saturday, June 30th for the annual Regional Gathering, which featured a fabulously vegan potluck picnic, and a presentation by members of the Grassroots Organizing Workgroup (GROW).

The Green Party Regional Representative is responsible for integrating the local Green agenda with the Statewide platform, and working to organize those counties in this region that have not quite congealed into full-fledged chapters.

The counties of Fresno, Merced, and Stanislaus are the three organized counties in the region, and the three counties that participated in the election of the new Regional Representative.

We have working groups established to address some pressing issues, such as the California Power Crisis, the proposed Dinkey Creek Hydro-project, and local police practices .If you are registered Green and want to get involved and need to learn more check out the website at www.greens.org/cal/fresno, or call us at 265-3647.

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The anti-gap and free speech demonstrations held monthly at Fashion Fair symbolize a meaning that goes beyond standing up for justice.

Each individual who stood on the sidewalk July 7th participated in using their rights and freedoms to stand for what they believe in. When the group stood together it brought change; a change to individuals and the community.

Corporate America wants people to feel insignificant and without options but, the protests at Shaw and Angus banish that ideal. The group of Fresnans—of all ages—felt strength as a group and then change seems possible. The table inside Fashion Fair was represented by The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) members.

As a man waited in a rusty brown car in the left-hand turn lane on Saturday, he popped the question to demonstrators on the median, "Can you really make a difference?" The demonstrators quickly responded "Yes," and gave proof—a difference that is changing the way Fashion Fair treats protestors, a difference in loss of sales for the GAP and a difference for the laborers that hear about the fight we are waging.

It was then that he shared his own story. He said, that he had stood up to a company (his former employer) who was exposing their employees to harmful chemicals. The man recalled turning the company into authorities, which ended up in the company’s demise.

Although, this man knew of the change that people could initiate and carry out, he still doubted.

Each person has a story that explains why he or she is out there on the first Saturday of each month.

"I am out here because of my involvement with WILPF, which gives me the [opportunities] to better the world for my kids and educate them about treating people fairly," said Lauralee Carbone, WILPF treasurer.

Carbone went on to talk about the unfair actions of firms that sell a shirt for $30,when the worker is only paid 15 cents. "That ’s not fair, the workers should get paid $15, not 15 cents," said Gus Carbone, Lauralee’s son. There were several young children who were present holding signs and balloons.

As two young children handed out balloons near the entrance of Fashion Fair a security truck came to a screeching halt next to the sidewalk. The guard hopped out of his truck and told the young girls that they couldn’t hand out balloons on the property because it wasn’t in the contract.

So the girls stopped and comprised by tying a big colorful bouquet of balloons that read "Stop GAP sweatshops, the GAP can afford to pay workers a living wage" to a pole in the front parking lot that disappeared 10 minutes later.

The brave girls also walked up and down the mall each carrying a bouquet of balloons, which caught the eyes of several children.

Marsha Bluestein brought her friend Maya Krateer, both seven, and attend Bullard Talent School, to join the other demonstrators. "I tell my friends at school about protesting [against GAP], "said Marsha." It’s not fair [that workers are treated unfairly] and this is the third time I remember demonstrating."

Saturday was representative of people and groups that join in harmony to fight against unfair and injustice practices.

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Court testimony Tuesday (7-17) revealed that a Fresno State police officer spied on GAP protesters and funneled information to the Fresno City police who passed it on to Fashion Fair security.

Fresno Police Captain Rene Martin testified that Fresno State officer Melinda Guerra got on the Students against Sweatshops e-mail list, attended at least one meeting and relayed the e-mails and other info to the police.

Based on Guerra’s spying Fresno police and Fashion Fair security planned to arrest 200 demonstrators. Nineteen were arrested.

Martin’s damning revelations came as the remaining 14 GAP of the 19 demonstrators who were arrested May 6 of last year, (3 had to plead out for various good reasons, 2 were juveniles) watched as our attorneys Patience Milrod, Jacob Weisberg and Bob Hirth tried to convince Judge W. Kent Hamlin that Macerich Company, the owner of Fashion Fair, should be ordered to turn over its security officer ’s incident reports that were written about our arrests.

They should be made to do this, our attorneys argued, because Fashion Fair security personnel and the Fresno Police had worked cheek to cheek to cheek--two police officers and one security officer to make each arrest. Nevertheless, the judge ruled that since the command structures had remained independent, the Fashion Fair people had not acted as agents of the state.

So, we don ’t get to see why Macerich Company security people said about why they arrested us, and we don’t get to see if there is any exculpatory evidence in the reports.

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At the June 19 KFCF board meeting Program Director Randy Stover reported the owner of the Wishon building in which the KFCF office is located recently died leaving things in the air regarding moving the studio to that location. Stover also said the satellite company is giving KFCF more power for the same cost. What a deal!

Both last month and this month Dr. Su Kapoor mentioned the need for board training. Board members failed to respond both times.

President Rych Withers reported that the Inter-Mountain Nursery Cultural Festival on May 20 raised about $500 and included food, music, Native American dancers and a tour of indigenous plants.

Executive Director Vic Bedoain reported he had not yet received a check from the last marathon, because checks are now coming directly from Pacifica instead of KPFA. Several ideas were put out on ways to honor Robert Munce. One was naming the Free Speech Award after Robert at the next banquet and the presenting of a plaque in his memory to his wife. Another idea was to donate Bill Mandel’s latest book to local colleges.

There was much discussion around the possibility of raising the dues for FFCF membership. One member of the audience suggested doing more outreach to bring in more members instead of raising dues which could be hard on those with low incomes.

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Framework for Restorative Justice