Feature Archives

The People’s Revolutionary Organization (PRO), which is based in Petaluma, organized Pirates of Propaganda, a day of workshops about youth radio, stencil and graffiti art, and writing and self-publishing using Indybay. The group organized 30 days of action in July. By putting on events and workshops all month, the PRO wanted to show that activism is, “Essentially about doing stuff, and taking initiative... showing that single issue politics can be connected, even within a small group of people.” On July 23rd, about 15 people gathered at Free Mind Media Info Shop in Santa Rosa for workshops about making radio, stencil art and graffiti, and posting to Indybay. Report and photos

Josh Wolf was taken into custody on August 1st after a 9am court hearing. He was found to be in contempt for exercising his first amendment rights and refusing to provide a federal grand jury with video footage he shot at the SF G8 protest last summer. He could be held until the grand jury expires next July. A press conference was held outside of City Hall at 1pm, and at 2:00pm, the SF Board of Supervisors was to vote on a resolution in support of Josh's case. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) believes that the grand jury is being improperly used to obtain materials which would normally be protected under California's Reporter Shield Law. Interview with Josh Wolf | Video from 8/1 Report from 8/1

In the latest attack over free media in the Philippines, Radyo Cagayano, a community radio station run by farmers and supported by the left-wing Bayan Muna party, was burned down and its staff member injured and robbed at gun-point.
The radio station employees suspect the Philippine Army. Since Gloria Macapagal became President in Feburary 2001, 42 journalists have been murdered. AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Stations, is organizing a campaign to demand justice for the people of Radyo Cagayano.

Dina Boyer is a photographer and videographer who frequently posts media to Indybay, and covers LGBT and police brutality-related issues. Ms. Boyer reports, "For the last 8 years I have been covering the Pride celebration in San Francisco... every year I obtained media passes." After having applied months in advance for her official press passes, she was denied her passes on Saturday. She feels that she was discriminated against, and that her First Amendment rights as a journalist were violated. She feels that her presence as a transgendered woman and a journalist will not be missed when she does not cover Pride events next year. The press credentials of Allen White, who wrote a story critical of the corporate nature of SF Pride for Beyond Chron, were also lifted.

On June 10, protesters gathered on Market St. in San Francisco to protest Apple's use of Digital Rights Management, the restrictions placed by Apple on music purchased at iTunes. Photos & Video

Skidmark Bob of Free Radio Santa Cruz speaks with Ron Anicich, producer of Bad Cop, No Donut!. Ron talks about the Toronto Police raid of CKLN on May 25th during the airing of the Bad Cop, No Donut! - May 25/2006 radio program. Luckily Ron was not in the studio at the time of the raid. The police say they were responding to a 9-1-1 call after somebody listening to the show believed that someone at CKLN was being attacked.... Read more

audio (mp3): Interview with Ron Anicich (55:18 minutes / 38 MB)

see also: 5/25 Interview on RadioActive SanDiego || Previous BCND! Interviews on FRSC

Long-time Indymedia volunteer, reporter and activist rabble writes: It's easy to talk about how indymedia and the visible anti-neoliberal globalization movement appeared out of nowhere in 1999. As if it sprung magically out of the tear gas as a fully developed living breathing movement. It's a romantic myth which has been useful in the spread of indymedia. But it's not true. The Seattle WTO protests grew out of years of struggle and a coalition building effort and a lot of luck. Many social movements grew and converged at the same time as having a tremendous tactical victory in the streets.

So first i will explain a bit of how the social movements made the seattle wto protests a success. There were many years of very reformist and conservative unions who have declining membership who took on the free trade fight. They had fought and lost against free trade agreements with Canada and Mexico. So they understood the importance. Then there were social justice groups and the normal leftists. These groups were aware of the WTO through organizing against APEC and NAFTA. Folks had been inspired by protests against the G8 and many other groups. There was an idea, that elsewhere anti-globalization protests had been successful and how it was 'our turn'. So this broad spectrum of leftist groups included many media activists who created indymedia.

Read More | Indymedia and Indybay History