(audio 1:10:12) Shanta Driver of BAMN examines venue motion filed in the Mehserle case. She says it is very rare to get a change of venue. People of the community should decide. She uses select pages from the change of venue motion filing to make her points (see PDF below). On page 4 - in the 1960s cases cited first venue cases of black protestors getting fair trial in location they were protesting injustice. She notes that it is rare that "we" are "The People of the State of California" in trials. She says that Oscar Grant's family does not own this case (with family present at Town Hall). If the case is lost, the people lose. Shanta Driver adds that the video is not key to this case as in Rodney King because that trial was about excessive use of force and this one is about Mehserle's state of mind and intent. Mehserle's testimony about fear for life will be key (and backed up with Domenici's supposed fear). And they he'll cry and talk of his regret -- he's probably taking acting lessons right now for that purpose. That will play to a white suburban jury who will acquit because they will simply think he went too far but made a mistake and jury should give him a break. Political decisions by Alameda DA O'Malley, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, and Obama's Justice department play a role. The DA needs to find evidence of Mehserle's racial bias from other cops like Pirone who used the N-word and they work on the same force. Rains will argue if young/dumb Mehserle was charged, why not other more experienced officers. "We are all Oscar Grant" -- the case is about other Oscar Grants, and people like videographers and those testifying, taking a stand against injustice. Minister Keith Muhammad adds comments about the recent G20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where police attacked protesters and tested new technologies on people. There's video of a woman who threw her bike towards police harassing her from Davey D. Police produce aggressive crowds, not activist groups. Minister Keith discusses how OPD swat faced an accused shooter in the same apartment complex as Lovelle Mixon. The Lovelle case and Meyers Nave report on BART call into question training. Yesterday cops didn't rush in as they did with Lovelle -- they warned neighbors and they waited until 3am (after 1pm chase). He goes on to note that BART has yet to hold anyone accountable. Disband the BART police. DA O'Malley should fight the venue move, or expect a 6 month career as DA. He remembers back to the cameras on DA Orloff meeting on January 7th. The DA is a political position. Two supervisors did not vote for new DA O'Malley. Minister Keith recalls all the talk from U.S. war hawks about war with Iran by the end of the U.N meeting last week. Announcements of upcoming events are made at 1:05.

(audio 28:24) Wilson Riles, who was about to head to an event for justice for African immigrants and through U.S. foreign policy, discusses defense attorney Michael Rains' legal strategy as per a conversation Wilson Riles had with a lawyer. Rains' own personal racism jumps out from the venue motion filed. The motion is intended to push our buttons, so that we overreact and justify his motion to change venue. The motion is weak, not likely judge will move, but it's all over the place and focuses on just Oakland, not all of Alameda County, so what is his goal? Wilson Riles then notes that the DA in the OJ trial had to be pressured to allow African American jurors by local clergy. He adds that another county might prejudge Oscar Grant as having deserved it. He speculates that there are politics in the case with DA Tom Orloff resigning (cops mad for Orloff's pursuit of the Oakland Riders and Mehserle and Orloff's potential upcoming election was looking bad). Even defense attorneys have to deal with DA's office on motions, etc. Orloff's hands are now clean of the case, what will new DA O'Malley do? We need to watch her closely, might be politically in her re-election interest for case to move. Prosecutor Stein needs to stand like in OJ case regarding kicking all African American jurors off the jury. Minister Keith mentions a recent Discovery channel program that insultingly exaggerated that there are 10,000 gang members in Oakland when mostly what the program showed was sideshows. As for the Mehserle trial, he notes that there is no time to play with the DA and that he says we will organize against Nancy O'Malley's election if she allows a change of venue.

Minister Keith Muhammad speaks first at September 26th Town Hall for Justice for Oscar Grant and tells the story of a man who was on death row in San Quentin, who had slapped and choked the warden while incarcerated, but then was later able to secure his own release. He notes that it seems like the fight now can't be won, but we are on the right side of justice. Reverend Henry WIlliams talks about a scene he witnesses in a liquor store at Fruitvale and Foothill just before the Town Hall. A woman was beaten by store workers and then taken away in handcuffs by OPD. Roxanne Lewis speaks, who also witnessed the beating, says she was an older woman, with a red/swollen face from the abuse, after she had thrown fruit at the workers. Police arrived, ready to tase the woman, but witnesses yelled not to. Police didn't listen to witnesses or take any statements and just left after the ambulance took the woman away. Minister Keith says our duty is to take care of people. He discusses the real meaning of the word Jihad. First, it is compassion for those suffering injustice. Second, it is raising one's voice against what's wrong. And third, it is to engage physically, mentally, and spiritually for change.

(audio 3:02:04) After opening remarks and NOBLE's presentation of the executive summary, public comment begins at 1:11:30. Community speakers include Ramona Tascoe, Minister Keith Muhammad, and Jack Bryson. Questions and comments from the Board of Directors and General Manager Dorothy Dugger begin at 1:39:00.

Welcome to This Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, for September 26th to October 2nd, 2009

Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org for Thursday October 1st, 2009.

(audio 31:20) Cephus Johnson declares that he is not afraid of a change of venue and he is not afraid to continue speaking out. He notes that it's not about him, but about his sister, Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant, and her wishes. Cephus says that he wants the community to keep doing what it's been doing. Rains is trying to silence us. He thanks activists, especially teachers who have been discussing the case with their students. Cephus announces an event at Rock Scissors Paper on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland on October 16th: The Human Face of Death Row. Minister Keith Muhammad discusses the huge pain felt by families who suffer loss and says that the community supports them. It's not about the Nation of Islam or BAMN or others. He discusses still-missing five-year-old Hasanni Campbell and how OPD arrested his parents and lied about evidence of Hassani's presence in Oakland. Regarding the Mehserle trial, all eyes are on Oakland. Johannes Mehserle is guilty, and you can tell Rains to quote me saying it, Minister Keith says. He talks about how the Alameda Board of Supervisors held no public hearing on their appointment of a new District Attorney. He mentions a link at the Oakland Tribune website to coverage of the Town Halls for Justice. As for BART's recent failed attempt to pass its flawed police oversight plan, Minister Keith says it is better to say no to right than yes to wrong. He wonders who it was that leaked it to the corporate media that BART had rehired four of the officers on the platform when Oscar Grant was murdered. Minister Keith calls for people to attend and support JR Valrey at his trial the following Monday for false charges stemming from the Oscar Grant Rebellion on January 7th. He describes the injustice of the judge in the case previously calling JR wreckless for taking his case to trial rather than accepting a plea bargain. Minister Keith says fight, don't plea.

(audio 16:40) Yvette Felarca speaks about the upcoming change of venue hearing, calling for a demonstration at the court house on the first day. She says we have strength through numbers and organization. There should be no change of venue, because those from other counties do not represent us. She notes that the DA's office needed pressure to bring charges in the first place. She calls for the largest turnout possible when the hearing starts in October. Yvette objects to Rains basically saying in his change of venue motion that white suburbans have the right to determine when black men can be shot in Oakland. If we don't stand up, we lose, she says. Minister Keith then speaks about Rains' racism.

Minister Keith Muhammad notes that family members of Brownie Polk and Oscar Grant are in attendance. He says that Johannes Mehserle defense attorney Michael Rains' motion for a change of venue for Mehserle's murder trial is not the end to the community's right of free speech. Rains quotes the Town Hall in the motion as if that's a bad thing but the Town Hall was right in what was said. He notes that while Rains' says African Americans can't be fair jurors that African Americans are often more fair in many ways. In the motion, the influence of activists is often overstated and what they do does not intimidate activists. "They want us to continue to be slaves," Minister Keith says and he adds that Rains' wants blacks to tap dance. The recounting of Oakland history in the motion, from immigration to the Black Panthers, is irrelevant to Mehserle's trial. Rains argues that police can't get a fair trial in Oakland, but the Oakland Riders were acquitted twice (although one fled and never faced trial). Minister Keith notes the very small sample used in the survey the motion points to as evidence of bias in Alameda County, yet they polled just 400 people in a country of 1.5 million. Rains says African Americans can't be fair, but African Americans have not had fairness in court in 400 years. Minister Keith tells those in attendance to not be afraid to speak their minds, as Rains does not own their mouths. Addressing a factual error (deliberate or not) in Rains' motion, Minister Keith points out that the Oakland Police Department Chief stated publicly twice that the Nation of Islam was never a part of the Chauncey Bailey investigation, but Rains plays up fake fears of the Nation of Islam. He adds that proper education is the basis of a democracy, not emotion, and speaking about the public record is not a crime. In the first piece of audio below, Reverend Humphreys opens the Town Hall and discusses how Michael Rains incorrectly linked the Nation of Islam with the murder of Chauncey Bailey in his motion for a change of venue (Yusuf Bey IV and Devaughndre Broussard of the now-defunct Your Black Muslim bakery are facing charges for the murder).

Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org for Wednesday September 30th, 2009.

An editorial comment/response to the issues brought up during close to six months of debate and discussion around bilingualism and diversity at Free Radio Santa Cruz.

Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org for Tuesday September 29th, 2009.

The next time I hear a politician promise to do something 'for the children', I may heave.

On today's show... * We bring you a wrap up on the activities, protests, police attacks, and repression of dissent that took place during the G20 Summit

New anti-Lisbon treaty music video i have released in aid of the No campaign.

Amy Goodman interviews Iraqi trade unionists Rasim Awadi and Falah Alwan. They tell how the invasion has esulted in the destruction of civil society and has unleashed an onslaught of privatisation and attacks on womens and workers rights. Full transcript of interview at link.

Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org for Monday September 28th, 2009.

Nancy O'Malley was appointed "interim" District Attorney for Alameda County at the request of Tom Orloff at the September 15th Board of Supervisors meeting. Interim is in quotes here because the retiring DA, Tom Orloff, ran unopposed in every election he ever ran in since he was first "elected" in 1994. Odds are O'Malley's interim status will pass in the same manner and she will become permanent without any real input from the general public. Before the Alameda Board of Supervisors rushed to appoint Nancy O'Malley, they went through the motions of having public comment. Audio of the first six speakers is below:

Minister Keith Muhammad speaks about police protecting the privileged and governmental policies being designed to benefit the "haves" over the health and well being of the majority of people. He discusses recent issues with the Oakland police department regarding their declaration that they are not searching for the missing five-year-old Hasanni Campbell and they have not released the videotape depicting the OPD murder of Brownie Polk. Minister Keith adds that the city of Oakland settled with the family of Gary King by agreeing to pay $1.5 million for his murder by OPD officer Pat Gonzales, who is still on the force while taxpayers foot the bill for his police brutality. Minister Keith details the failures of Alameda District Attorney Tom Orloff in the case of Oscar Grant, from January 7th when he first refused to meet with community members at his offices, through the official City Hall runaround resisting the effort to recall him, through Orloff's recent resignation and his effort to rush through the recommendation for Nancy O'Malley to be his replacement without any vetting of what Alameda might want in a DA. Minister Keith talks about Jerry Brown as Mayor of Oakland having displaced long-time residents to make way for developers downtown, in contrast to statements he had previously made on his radio show on KPFA prior to his election as Mayor. He mentions the injustice of JR Valrey now being tried on false felony charges that arose out of the January 7th Oscar Grant Rebellion. He speaks about the recent actions of attorney Michael Rains in defense of Johannes Mehserle with his failed 995 motion to dismiss the case and by filing another motion to move the trial out of Alameda County and the racist implications. Lastly, he speaks about the racial gentrifying of San Francisco that has chased out African Americans and is now down from 120,000 African Americans to just about 30,000 today. He notes that similar things have been occurring in Oakland since the tearing down of 1/2 of the Acorn ten years ago. Minister Keith closes by encouraging Town Hall attendees to make it out to the Supervisors meeting in San Francisco on the following Tuesday.