bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power! 

*please forward - forgive reposts

ACTION ALERT! 

COPS BEAT REBEL DIAZ RODSTARZ & G1

 
ALL OUT TO PROTEST THE 41^ST PRECINCT!!!!

bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power!

1035 Longwood Avenue (@Southern Blvd.) 6PM TODAY June 18, 2008

 
take the 6 train to Longwood

 
Please call the 41^st precinct 718-542-4771 and the arresting Officer MacHugo 718-542-8745 to demand:

 
1.  Drop All Charges
2.  Release Rebel Diaz!

 

Background:

 Bronx Hip Hop Heros Rodstarz & G1 were walking down the street and observed a street vendor being assaulted and arrested by police officers.  They pulled out a cell phone to document the situation, and were attacked by the officers in question.

 

Rodstarz and G1 have a widespread reputation as artists and activists for social justice, often speaking out against the rampant state violence in the South Bronx, Chicago (where they grew up) and Chile, their original country, where their parents were forced to flee as political exiles.

-Rosa Clemente

NYC Police Beat Up Rap Group Members Rebel Diaz

By Davey D

Looks like the NYPD are living up to their reputation of being bonafide ‘dipshits’. We are just getting word that NYC Police located in what was once known as Fort Apache-the 41st Precint in the Bronx, have shown that police terrorism is alive and well.
The word is in a unprovoked attack they badly assaulted two members of the Rap group Rebel Diaz.

The story we are hearing is that group Rodstarz and G1 were up in Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit. The two went over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and asked for the officers badge numbers. keep in mind that part of the Bronx has a large immigrant community and it is also being gentrified. The police from the 41st Precint have made it a point to commit acts of terror including the shooting and killing of an unarmed iGarifunan mmigrant man last year. http://ankhkara.blogspot.com/2007_05_27_archive.html 

The case brought up images of Amadou Diallo another immigrant was gunned down by out of control Bronx cops in the neighboring precint.

According to witnesses, when Rodstarz and G1 asked for badge numbers the police became agitated and turned around and started beating them with bully clubs and kicking them in full view of other vendors and people on the crowded street. The two were dragged off bloody, put into a police car and charged with resisting arrest and assault.

The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary rappers. They are well known activist who not only speak out against police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within this immigrant community. Hence it would not be usual for group members to bear witness and to speak out against the injustices. Rebel Diaz has committed themselves to given voice to the voiceless in that Bronx neighborhood.

Many feel that the assault by these cowardly Bronx police officers in plain view of everyone was a way to send a strong message to folks in the community that the police run things and they best stay in line. By beating the Rebel Diaz members in front of everyone was a way to spark fear and remind people that no one is safe from the police. They wanna let folks know that they can brazenly beat up popular rappers in front everyone even with cell phone cameras rolling and do so with impunity. The whole ordeal is akin to the slave masters from way back sparking fear in the hearts of other slaves by beating the strongest among them in front of everyone for all to see.

Over the past year NY Police have been man handling, arresting and terrorizing politicized Hip Hop artists, activists and news reporters.
For example, last year in Brooklyn well known attorney Michael Tarif Warren who routinely represents people in police abuse cases was badly beaten along with his wife when they stopped to watch and bear witness to NY cops terrorizing a unarmed tennage boy at a gas station.

During the protests immediately following the acquittal of the officers on trial for the Sean Bell shooting, journalists who had been speaking out against the police were harassed and roughed up.

Hopefully folks will read this and understand that what the police are doing will not work.. A police state will not take place on our collective watch..

Tonight there will be a rally infront of the 41st Precint Police station

bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power! 

***please forward widely***

ACTION ALERT! 

COPS BEAT REBEL DIAZ RODSTARZ & G1

ALL OUT TO PROTEST THE 41ST PRECINCT!!!!

bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power!

1035 Longwood Avenue (@Southern Blvd.
) 6PM TODAY June 18, 2008

take the 6 train to Longwood

Please call the 41st precinct 718-542-4771 and the arresting Officer MacHugo 718-542-8745 to demand:

1.
Drop All Charges

2.
Release Rebel Diaz!

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

The Conference is hosting an amazing line-up of activists, scholars, media makers, community organizers, musicians, filmmakers, artists, journalists and many more, of all ages!  Participants can choose from over 40 workshops and panels conducted by more than 50 local organizations on topics ranging from how to produce activist video to how to use that video to fight for policy changes.  We’ll discuss how the internet and social networking is changing the way we communicate.  You’ll learn how to find real election coverage and the best independent journalism.  And we’ll strategize how we can begin to create media systems that come from, and are responsive to the people.

Check out www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org/conference for all the info and updates!!!!

It’s happening in just two weeks – Don’t Miss It!
THE FIFTH ANNUAL GRASSROOTS MEDIA CONFERENCE
Speaking Truth to Power: MEDIA JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Co-sponsored by the Department of Film and Media Studies, Hunter College CUNY
Sunday March 2nd, 2008 9am–6pm
Hunter College North Building, 68th Street and Lexington Ave.
ENTRANCE THROUGH WEST BUILDING: Southwest Corner, enter from street or directly from 6 train
The Opening Plenary Begins at 9:45am in the Exhibition Hall

For a full list of Workshops and Schedule go to: www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org/conference
Admission: **
$20 advance; $30 day of
$15 students/seniors; $25 day of
$5 youth discount (18 & under) Youth admittance includes lunch.

Registration includes general admission to the Conference, access to all workshops and panels, film screenings, exhibition hall and networking after party.

EARLY REGISTRATION SAVES YOU $10

Join us as we seek to define what the term “Media Justice” means, as a community and explore how we can begin to make this ideal a reality for New York City.

Conference location:
Hunter College North Building, 68th Street and Lexington Ave.
ENTRANCE THROUGH WEST BUILDING: Southwest Corner, enter from street or directly from 6 train

DON’T DELAY - REGISTER TODAY!

For more information call (917) 523 -1045 or email info@nycgrassrootsmedia.org.

The Hip Hop Mental Health Project, an initiative of 1+1+1=ONE, is looking for an intern in NYC to work a minimum of 5 hours a week.

We need someone with strong administrative skills, computer/internet research/web surf savvy, amiable on the phone and to work with in the office. Pay is $10/hr plus metrocard stipend.

Below is the project’s mission.
Interested parties should respond to info@hiphopmentalhealth.org.

Mission:
The Hip Hop Mental Health Project seeks to shift the cultural paradigm of shame and alienation surrounding mental illness and satisfy our community’s need for a SAFE place to confront the issue and obtain vital information.

Through the integration of performance and research based dialogue, the Hip Hop Mental Health Project works to impact public discourse and values among urban communities in a way that educates about the signs, symptoms, and spiraling course of mental illness, and to explore possible solutions to the contributing life stressors of societal stigma and the difficulties of an overtaxed mental health system.

The Hip Hop Mental Health Project has a specific commitment to engaging young urban & low-income communities of color as they are the most detrimentally affected by the disparities in mental health diagnosis, treatment, and care.

The official word from the coroner’s office has come back in the death of UGK’s Pimp C, and the verdict is that the Texas rapper died from an accidental overdose, due to a combination of cough syrup and a pre-existing sleep apnea condition.The cornoer’s office said Monday (February 4) that the death was ruled as accidental and cited “promethazine/codeine effects and other unestablished factors” as the cause of death — specifically the use of prescription medicine used to treat coughs and congestion, and his pre-existing condition.The rapper (real name: Chad Butler) was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel on December 4th, following a concert the night before at the House Of Blues with rapper Too Short.He was just 33 years old.Read more: http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2008/02/4017/

What
Teen powerpoint presentation and forum on youth incarceration

With the recent disturbing statistics of Black and Latino youth being incarcerated at disproportionate levels to White youth and shut out from Summer jobs and inadequate resources for school, R.E.B.E.L (Rallying, Educating & Building Effective Leadership) is holding a forum on youth incarceration w/ a presentation by Haslee Cameron, 15-year-old R.E.B.E.L Organizer.

What Else
Refreshments will be served.
Bring Your Friends, Young People, & the Whole Community

When
Date- February 16, 2008
Day- Saturday
Time- 1:15PM

Where
West Bronx

Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME), Inc. HQ.
235 East 172 Street
Bronx, NY 10457

Directions
-Take the D or B to 170th Street walk 1 block (away from grand concourse) to Sheridan Ave. turn left to 235 East 172 Street

or
-Take the 4 train, walk 4 blocks (1 block passed grand concourse) to Sheridan turn left to 235 East 172 Street
Located directly across from William H. Taft High School Campus.

Cost
FREE

Information
R.E.B.E.L is an organ of G.A.ME, Inc. R.E.B.E.L operates a 14-week-plus Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) program in the Bronx.
Contact

718-690-3393 office,  contact@kickgame.com

The Harlem Arts Alliance is pleased to once again partner with The Field and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council on :Uptown/Downtown: A Workshop and Performance OpportunityApplication Deadline: Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 5PM How do you define uptown or downtown work?Through aesthetics? Culture? Geography?For seven weeks this spring, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Field, and Harlem Arts Alliance will bring together 10 performing artists, five from “uptown,” five from “downtown,” to explore these questions while developing short works for performance.What is Uptown/Downtown? Uptown/Downtown consists of six weekly sessions in which artists will show works in progress and share non-directorial feedback with a moderator present. Half of the workshops will be held in Harlem and in Lower Manhattan. A seventh session will feature guest presentations by Manhattan arts professionals. The workshops will culminate in two consecutive nights of performance in two of Manhattan’s newest performance venues, Dance New Amsterdam and Harlem Stage.Interested in Applying? • See attached GUIDELINES AND APPLICATON for complete details• Attend the information session on Feb 11, 2008, 6:30 PM  Call 212-410-0030 xt 212 to RSVPDownload Program GuidelinesDownload Program Application  

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE OF THE SEDGWICK PRESS EVENT IS NOW:

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Please join the Save 1520 Coalition, including DJ Kool Herc, Senator Schumer, and the tenants of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue  .   

*****************************************************************************************************************

Date:             TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008

Time:            10:00 AM

Location:      In the community room of 1520 Sedgwick  Avenue,  Bronx, NY

*****************************************************************************************************************

Please RSVP to Dina Levy:  levy@uhab.org or 212-479-3302

*****************************************************************************************************************

Driving directions:   

From the Major Deegan Expressway, take the MACOMBS DAM BR exit- EXIT 5- toward E 161 ST.

Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the ramp toward W 155 ST / MANHATTAN, then take a SLIGHT RIGHT onto SEDGWICK AVE. After about a mile on Sedgwick Avenue, the building will be on your right.  

Public transportation directions:   

Take the B, D or 4 trains to 170 St. On 170 St, take a Morris Heights bound Bx18 bus to Sedgwick Avenue.

Long time XXL editor-in-chief Elliott Wilson was suddenly fired from
his post at the rap magazine today (Jan. 7).

FULL STORY: http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/13381

Happy New Year Everyone!Please distribute this to all of the teachers at your schools and let me know ASAP how many people are interested in taking the January course. Your assistance is critical to the survival of innovative ideas such as the H.E.L.P. curriculum.Thanks in advance for your energy and support!Bobby(202) 321.1731www.edlyrics.com