Feature Archives

In 2006, a historic mobilization for immigrant rights swept the US as millions took to the streets. Corporate news media predictably covered the marches with a mix of surprise, ignorance, and racism, yet grassroots media activists were there to document the voices and the stories behind this mass movement. ¡Gigante: Despierta! ("Giant: Awake!") is a DVD compilation of short films from around the U.S. documenting the story of May Day 2006, due to hit the streets in the weeks before May 1, 2007. The project was shot, edited, and brought together by a network of independent video activists, graphic designers, community organizers, musicians, and immigrant rights activists.

V-Man writes, "While looking through some old cassette tapes, recently, I found this archived edition of Rockin' the Boat, dated December 22, 1999. This show features an interview and conversation with Mr Bradlee, aka Brad Will, who was murdered October 27, 2006 by government paramilitary forces in Oaxaca, Mexico, while documenting the popular uprising there."

On April 3rd, independent reporter Josh Wolf was freed from federal custody after spending 7 1/2 months in prison for refusing to turn over video footage to a federal grand jury. That morning, Josh wrote on his blog, "During the course of this saga I have repeatedly offered to allow a judge to be the arbiter over whether or not my video material has any evidentiary value. Today, you the public have the opportunity to be the judge and I am confident you will see, as I do, that there is nothing of value in this unpublished footage."

Author Norman Solomon and peace mom Cindy Sheehan spoke at the Sacramento for Democracy meeting on Wednesday, April 4. The title of the talk was "Meeting the Historic Challenge: War, Peace and the 2007 California Democratic Convention." Norman is a nationally syndicated columnist on media and politics and a newly elected delegate to the State Democratic Party from the 6th Assembly District.

The San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center is a non-commercial, democratic collective of Bay Area independent media makers and media outlets and serves as the local organizing unit of the global Indymedia network. The SF Bay IMC currently has a web group and a print group. The Indybay website and Faultlines newspaper groups have separate orientations for new volunteers as well as joint IMC orientations every few months.

A memorial for Nadia Cabezas, who was also known as Kitty Kastro, will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 2pm at St. Anthony's Foundation, 121 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. Kitty Kastro was struck and killed instantly by a reckless driver in Indiana on March 5th. Nadia Cabezas stood with ACT UP, educated society about transgender issues, confronted the religious right, and fought for the rights of disabled people. Kitty Kastro hosted a public access show called Tranny Talk, where she interviewed police chiefs, children of transsexuals, religious extremists, mothers of transsexuals who have been killed, and others. Nadia is survived by her partner, who is Tranny Talk producer Dina Boyer, as well as her Mom Kathy, her dog Maya, and the couple's two cats, Samantha and Kitty.

Bay Media Lab host Howard Vicini will present video evidence during a Friday March 16th broadcast on San Francisco cable access covering the case against Josh Wolf. The video is consistent with Wolf's assertion that he was there as journalist covering the event despite statements made by the prosecutor and the judge that called into question Wolf's status as a journalist. The live broadcast will feature discussion among media activists and journalists concerning the Wolf case and others that have resulted in journalists facing federal subpoenas and the prospect of jail time.