by WIP

In case you’re wondering what President-Elect Barack Obama’s doing about the Gaza Strip, he’s got his hands full with another occupied strip of land—Hawai‘i! Obama officially has no comment on Israel’s aerial attacks and the 400 dead Palestinians. But on NBC’s Meet the Press on Dec. 28, Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod spoke on his behalf to say, “There’s only one president at a time, and President Bush speaks for the United States of America until January 20th.”

by WIP

Israel is always coming up with ingenious ways to make us love it. It believes that the bad reputation it has earned in the world is a pr issue and not a moral one. Of course, the best way to improve Israel’s image would be to end the occupation of Palestine, but that would be too practical. Instead, Israel has done everything else, from sponsor-ing a “Women of the Israel Defense Forces” bikini spread in Maxim magazine to hosting a popular reality TV show in which contestants compete to see who can be the ultimate spokesperson/apologist for Israel.

by WIP

Twenty-six Prosecuted for Non-Violent Womens' Solidarity Action: Legal Defense Funds Urgently Needed to Ensure Access to Legal Support!

All amounts are extremely helpful. Donations should be made out to "Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund" and mailed to: Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 295, Olympia, WA 98507 – 0295, or via the web: http://www.olypmr.org/donate.html

by WIP

Works In Progress was saddened to learn of the recent death of Lois Walker, local reproductive rights activist. Lois was a familiar sight at local protests, riding her bright red scooter and carrying a sign that said “Honk if you love birth control.” Although she was over 80, Lois was more energetic and committed than other activists a quarter of her age. She spent many hours picketing outside of Ralph’s Thriftway, in protest of the store’s refusal to carry emergency contraception in its pharmacy, as well as counter-protesting outside of Planned Parenthood when anti-choice picketers . . .

By Wally Cuddeford

Recently, I had the honor of interviewing war resister and military sexual assault survivor Spc. Suzanne Swift. During her deployment to Iraq in 2004, Suzanne was violently coerced into a sexual relationship by her superior officer, and was subjected to public humiliation and retribution when she filed a grievance while in Iraq. She is currently serving out the remainder of her enlistment, after the military refused to grant her a medical discharge or punish the perpetrator. You can read more about her case at www.suzanneswift.org.

by wip

Olympia Movement for Justic & Peace (OMJP) Yard Sale

Saturday, August 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 902 Division Street NW, Olympia (Right on the #41 busline)

Support OMJP and get some great stuff at great prices at the same time. Last minute donations are fine, but NO JUNK!

Raindate: Saturday, August 6

POWER Outage: Labor Day Picnic at Kennydell Park

On the first Monday of each month enjoy a night out with Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights

Monday, September 1st, Labor Day, Beach Picnic at Kennydell Park at Black Lake

by WIP

Local activists Jeff Berryhill, Shyam Khanna, Wally Cuddeford and Lillia Lassiter were arrested in a sweep during the first day of the DNC protests in Denver. They were among 100 people falsly arrested after Denver police swept up protesters at the anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist Everything for Everyone demonstration on Monday, August 25th. Riot police used chemical weapons, crowd division and mass false arrest as tactics to put an end to the demonstration. At arraignments the next day all four pled not guilty. Bail was quickly raised for all by Tuesday night. Shyam and Jeff were . . .