Normal Person, We Will Get You!
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Sunday October 19th 7:30pm.
Wingnut International Presents: Normal person, We will get you!
Cafe Night Benefit for RNC protest felony cases. Vegan Cannibal Feast (with gourmet mock human dishes), Twin Cities Legal Update and Creepy accordion music.
Support RNC Protest Arrestees!
1. Take an action to obtain u.s. dollars 2. Bring the u.s. dollars to the benefit cafe!
Longstanding Berkeley Community Center Raided by FBI
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 16 Comments
More than a dozen computers seized in questionable search
*Berkeley, CA* — At 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 27th, the UC Berkeley police, plainclothes FBI agents, and an Alameda County sheriff raided at gunpoint the Long Haul, a long-standing community library and info shop. Police spent at least an hour and a half searching the premises without allowing Long Haul members entry to their building. More than a dozen computers and other equipment were seized in the morning raid. Having made no attempt to contact Long Haul members, agents forced their way into the building by entering a neighboring non-profit office with guns drawn. Police refused to provide a search warrant until after the raid was over and property was seized.
“This is an outrageous abuse of authority by the federal government,” said TKTK, a member of the Long Haul. “What cause could the police have to come into a community center like the Long Haul and seize information belonging to the people of Berkeley? They must return our property immediately.” The police went through every room, both public and locked - cutting or unscrewing the locks - and removed every computer from the building. Most of the computers taken were removed from an un-monitored public space where people come to use the computers just as they would at a public library. The remaining computers were taken from closed offices where they are needed for the day-to-day operation of the work done by members. Offices were rifled through, and a list of people who had borrowed books from the library was checked, as was the sales log. The warrant, which was produced after the raid, had little relevant information (claiming the officers were searching for 1 - Property or things used as a means of committing a felony; 2 - Property or things that are evidence that tends to show a felony has been committed, or tends to show that a particular person has committed a felony).
The Long Haul has been a community resource for 25 years, offering accessible meeting space to radical groups, access to alternative magazines and journals, a lending library and a historical archive of independent media. Long Haul also produces the well-known slingshot organizer pocket calendar. Multiple groups have met and continue to meet there as one of the few remaining inexpensive radical venues in the increasingly gentrified bay area. The same pattern of abuse was experienced recently when the convergence space for protesters against the Democratic National Convention in Denver was raided and supplies seized. Since the Long Haul raid occurred, lawyers have been working to seek the immediate return of the seized property, though the Long Haul continues to welcome legal support. The Long Haul is also in urgent need of computers to replace what was taken, while the fight continues to get the hard drives returned.
Long Haul members have vowed to protest this latest act of political repression. Check the Long Haul website (www.thelonghaul.org <http://www.thelonghaul.org/>) for more information as it becomes available.
Pictures and video of the Long Haul and of the officers involved are online at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/27/18530389.php <http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/27/18530389.php>
keep this info handy
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 | Long Haul Raid | No Comments
re: know your rights
one: don’t talk to the police without a lawyer present. while it’s easy to say that to ourselves, it’s much more challenging to keep in mind when you are confronted by imposing (or apparently charming) officers who are trained extensively to get you to think you have to talk.
for more info - there is a surprisingly good video at this link. (both parts of this video are useful.)
two: if you are subpoened for anything to do with the long haul it is important to contact the National Lawyer’s Guild hotline (415-285-1041) and speak to someone or leave a message. also encourage anyone you know who has been subpoened to do the same. even if you don’t want the NLG’s help, they need to know as much about what is going on in the case as possible.
Things you can do to help the Long Haul
Sunday, August 31st, 2008 | Long Haul Raid | 1 Comment
1) Donate Money
We will need money for legal expenses at the very least. Please consider donating to the Long Haul either by PayPal (to info@thelonghaul.org) or send a check to 3124 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley Ca. Phone 94705. Make checks
payable to Long
Haul. We are a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. Any amount will help.
2) Donate Time
The Long Haul needs people to help out with a variety of tasks. We need new people to help staff the Infoshop (we could be open many more hours than we are now). We need help with legal work, keeping the Infoshop open, attending meetings, maintaining the technology of the computer lab, etc, etc. Please email help@thelonghaul.org if you have time to give to Berkeley’s community Infoshop
3) Donate Stuff
We have had lots of donations of computers, thanks! So, unless you can give us something better than what we have now, we really don’t need more computers. A new coffee maker would be nice, though. And radical/anarchist/awesome books, zines and pamphlets for our library would make us smile. Please swing by the Long Haul during our open Infoshop hours (3-9 weekends, 6-9pm M-T) and talk to the staffer.
Thank You to everyone who donated anything!
Ongoing events at the Long Haul
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Sunday Nights @ 7:00 PM - Cafe Night
A Social Night/Benefit is held each Sunday by a different group, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. See the ‘Upcoming Events’ section listed above for to see what specific events are planned.
Note: Just because a Cafe night isn’t listed in Upcoming Events doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Either call us or drop by on Sunday to check it out!!!
Monday @ 7:00 PM - Stich and Bitch
An ongoing Knitting and Crafts workshop
Tuesday @ 4~6 PM - East Bay Needle Exchange coordinating meeting
A coordinating/planning meeting for N.E.E.D.
Tuesday @ 6:15~7:15 PM - Pilates Class
Pilates Mat classes. $8 to $15 suggested donation, but no one turned away for lack of funds. Visit their website at Pilates2thePeople.com
Tuesday @ 8:00~10:00 PM - Anarchist Study Group
Berkeley Anarchist Students of Theory Research and Development, (those BASTARDS), hold a facilitated discussion group regarding the Theory, Practice, and History of Anarchism every Tuesday night. Visit their website at sfbay-anarchists.org for current readings.
First Wednesday each month @ 7:30 Food Not Bombs General Meeting
A planning meeting for upcoming and ongoing FNB meals. Newcomers are welcome.
Wednesday @ 7:00 ~ 8:30 PM - East Bay Prisoner Prisoner Support night
East Bay Prisoner Support is a newly formed prison abolitionist project formed by members of the Anarchist Black Cross, Prison Activist Resource Center, and the Prison Literature Project. Find out about and connect with other anti-prison groups that are fighting the growing prison-industrial complex. Browse through and/or donate to our growing prison-related book/zine/video library. Read and reply to prisoner mail. Correspond with Political Prisoners. And/or initiate your own prisoner related project.
Wednesday @ 8:30 ~10 PM - Radical Movie Night
Just because a Radical Movie night isn’t listed in Upcoming Events doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not happening. Either call us or drop by on Wednesday to check out if anything’s playing!!!
1st & 3d Thursday @ 7:00 Berkeley Liberation Radio General Meeting
Newcomers are welcome - visit the website at ,http://www.berkeleyliberationradio.org for their broadcasting schedule and information on how to get a show.
Friday @ 3:00 ~ 6:00 PM - Community AcupunctureLicensed Acupuncturist providing providing private consultations and treatments in a community setting. A $15 to $30 donation is requested but no one will be turned away for lack of funds
Saturday @ 3:00 ~ 9:00 / Sunday @ 3:00~11:00 / Monday ~ Thursday @ 6:00~900 Infoshop Open
Come on in and use the computer room, checkout books and/or videos from the library, browse the magazine racks, pick up free stuff, (including our own newspaper, “Slingshot)”, buy a T-shirt, some patches or an organizer, drink coffee, or just hang out and talk with some cool people.
Upcoming events at the Long Haul
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Wednesday October 8 @ 8:00 PM, Radical Movie Night: “The Tin Drum” Based on the novel by Gunter Grass, it's about the life of Oskar, a German who uses his Tin drum to resist the rise of Nazi Germany, and who stays short, with a glass-shattering voice after vowing never to grow up.
Saturday October 11th @ 8:00 PM Movie: Yellow Submarine- Boo the Blue Meanies, cheer the love!
Wednesday October 15th @ 8:00 PM, Radical Movie Night: “There is no Authority But Yourself” Documenting the history of anarchist punk band Crass. The film features archive footage of the band and interviews with former members Steve Ignorant, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher. As well as reflecting on the band's past the film focuses on their current activities.
Sunday October 19 @ 7:00 PM, Cafe Night Wingnut International Presents: NORMAL PERSON, WE WILL GET YOU! a benefit for RNC protest felony cases. Vegan Cannibal Feast (gourmet mock human dishes), Twin Cities Legal Update (we might not have any special knowledge but we’ll look stuff up on the internet so you don’t have to), and Creepy accordian music. Support RNC Arrestees!
Wednesday October 22 @ 8:00 PM, Radical Movie Night: “Voces Innocentes” (Innocent Voices)
A young boy, is unable to have a normal childhood and avoid civil war in 1980’s El Salvador, as he is caught up in the conflict between soldiers and guerillas.
Saturday October 25 @ 7 PM button making workshop
Wednesday October 30 @ 8:00 PM, Radical Movie Night: “Berkeley in the 60’s”
A documentary about militant student political activity at University of California-Berkeley around free speech, anti-war and other issues during the 1960’s.
Saturday November 29nd @ 8:00 PM Hip-Hop Comic Con Comic Book Convention
Sunday, November 30 @ 4 p.m Slingshot New Volunteer Meeting for Issue #99 Come on down and get involved in the Slingshot. Artists, writers, distributors and layout mavens wanted! We Love new Volunteers!!