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Two Humanitarian Aid Workers Face 15 Year Sentences
GUESTS: Isabel Garcia, Attorney, board member of Derechos Humanos, a Tucson-based immigrants’ rights NGO, Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and one of the founders of the No More Deaths movement

On December 20th, two volunteers with the humanitarian organization No More Deaths, will face felony charges for medically evacuating three migrants in Arizona. On July 9th, at the Arivaca Camp, Daniel Strauss and Shanti Sellz encountered three individuals, two of whom were ill and had severe blisters, and the third who was vomiting and had severe diarrhea. After consulting with two doctors and one nurse, it was assessed that the individuals were in need of immediate medical attention and evaluation. Strauss and Sellz were advised to take the migrants to the nearest medical facility. While on their way, the two volunteers were stopped and arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. They have each been charged with one felony count of transportation of an undocumented person and one felony count of obstruction of justice. More than 270 migrants, a record breaking number, died in Arizona’s deserts in the 2005 fiscal year.

Supporters are encouraged to contact Paul Charlton, the US Attorney for the District of Arizona, regarding the case of Daniel Strauss and Shanti Sellz.

For more information, visit www.nomoredeaths.org and www.derechoshumanosaz.net.

Empire Notes
GUEST: Rahul Mahajan, author of Full Spectrum Dominance and The New Crusade

We go now to our weekly commentary Empire Notes by Rahul Mahajan, author of Full Spectrum Dominance and The New Crusade. Today’s commentary is about the British “remember Fallujah” Tour.

Empire Notes is online at www.empirenotes.org.

Update on Garden Grove Police Case Against Activist Theresa Dang
GUEST: Duane Roberts, Orange County activist and journalist

On May 25th of this year, anti-racist protestors gathered in Garden Grove to voice their opinions against a scheduled speaking engagement by Minute Man Project founder James Gilchrist. A man named Hal Netkin, a supporter of James Gilchrist, was on his way to attend a speaking event when he ran his vehicle into three demonstrators. He was arrested and promptly released without being charged. Eight anti-racist demonstrators were also arrested. Activists, like Theresa Dang, continue to face charges. Garden Grove policemen raided her home just two days after she criticized their handling of the May 25th protest at a city council meeting. A criminal complaint was filed against Dang claiming that she stole a police officer’s flashlight. Her trial began yesterday, after a one day delay, and Deputy District Attorney, Erik Petersen, amended the original criminal complaint and is now charging Ms. Dang with “Theft of lost property.”

Read more about Theresa Dang’s case at la.indymedia.org.

Theresa’s case is being heard at the West Justice Center, 8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683

Hours:
Wednesday – Friday from 9:00 am – 12 noon and from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm.

10th Anniversary of Lori Berenson’s Arrest
GUEST: Mark Berenson, Lori’s father, Professor at Montclair State University

On November 30, 1995, a young American woman named Lori Berenson was pulled off of a public bus in Lima, Perú. Like thousands of Peruvians, she was detained by the Peruvian anti-terrorist police, tried for treason by a secretive military tribunal under anti-terrorism laws and condemned to life in prison. On the tenth anniversary of her arrest, Lori Berenson remains imprisoned in Peru. She released a commentary to mark this day.

For more information visit www.freelori.org.

Sonali’s Subversive Thought for the Day:
“..in the presence of social injustice and abuse, silence is almost as harmful as the injustice itself. To be silent is to be an accomplice. ” – Lori Berenson, from a statement made on the 4th anniversary of her arrest.