New Book on Umoja Village and Take Back the Land by Max Rameau

Greetings:

On October 23, 2006, in response to one of the most severe epidemics of gentrification and low income housing in the United States, a small group of activists, members of Take Back The Land, seized control over public land, created the self-governed shantytown of Umoja Village, and started a movement.

Take Back the Land: Land Gentrification and the Umoja Village, the new book by Umoja Village organizer Max Rameau, is part political theory and part narrative, documenting the planning, development, struggles and triumphs endured by Take Back The Land activists and Umoja Village residents, and tackles the larger fundamental issues of land and power distribution in black communities.

In the wake of public housing vacancies, corrupt government officials and flawed federal programs, a community found the courage to fight back, offering a model for fighting against gentrification and for land. Detailing the thoughts, arrests, conflicts and the devastating fire which would reduce the village to ashes, the book describes how one community built Umoja. This book is a great tool for activist, organizers and historians.

The book is 134 pages and can be purchased directly from Nia Press or from Amazon.com. Buy the book NOW at:

http://niapress.niainteractive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=productdetail&productid=349

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Back-Land-Gentrification-Shantytown/dp/1434845567/

forward,

Max Rameau

LC7- Closing Arguements Wednesday, March 26

Greetings:

After several weeks of testimony, the Liberty City 7 retrial is coming to a close. The government put on only a skeletal version of the show they performed during the last unsuccessful trial. So, here is the updated schedule.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008. There is no trial on Tuesday, therefore, we will not be protesting Tuesday morning. Tuesday's regular protest is cancelled.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008. Protest against the Liberty City 7 trial at 9:00am, in front of the federal courthouse, 301 N. Miami Ave. in downtown Miami. Then, as many people as possible will attend the first day of closing arguements.

Thursday, March 27, 2008. Final day of closing arguements. We need people to attend the final closing arguements.

If you are going into the courtroom, do not bring your cell phone, as they will not let you into the courtroom with a cell phone.

Please come and show your opposition to this witch-hunt and waste of our tax dollars.

forward,

Max Rameau

Take Back the Land on NPR- The Story

Greetings:

Tonight, Wednesday, March 19, 2008, a tenant of Take Back the Land will be featured on The Story, an NPR program. In Miami, The Story is heard of WLRN 91.3FM at 8:00pm. Check your local listings at www.thestory.org.

As you are aware, since the fire which destroyed the Umoja Village, Take Back the land has continued our mission by moving families into vacant government owned and foreclosed homes. The Story will tell the story of one of those families tonight. Please take a listen.

forward,

Max Rameau

Rally for Community Control Over Housing- March 14 at 6PM

Greetings:

On Friday, March 14, 2007, Take Back the Land is hosting a rally for community control over housing. The rally will be held at 6:00pm in front of the vacant public housing units on 46th St. and NW 25th Avenue and will feature food, music and a message of community empowerment.

Miami-Dade County has one of the highest rates of public housing vacancies in the United States, a rate which has not diminished since the federal government took over the housing agency. A symbol of this failure to provide housing during a housing crisis lies in the vacant and boarded up units of public housing on 46th St. and NW 25th Ave. The fact that there are tens of thousands of families on the housing assistance wait list while over a thousand units of public housing sit vacant is nothing short of criminal. These units should- and must- be filled immediately.

However, because local governments do not want to provide housing for low income people, the only solution to the problem of vacant public housing units is not federal or county control, but community control over the public housing stock.

We invite the entire community to come out and support the call for direct community control over housing.

Land 
Self-Determination 
Housing as a Human Right 
Community Control Over Housing

forward,

Max Rameau
Take Back the Land
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development

Liberty City 7 Trial- Call to Action for Tuesday, March 11

Protest the LC7 trial on Tuesday March 11th and 18th at 9:00am in front of the courthouse, 301 N. Miami Ave.!
Pack the courthouse to show opposition to politically motivated trials! Court is Tuesday to Fridays, 9:30am to 5:00pm!

Greetings:

As you are aware, the Liberty City 7 retrial has been ongoing for over a month. Last week, the prosecution rested after presenting the same lame case which earned one acquittal and a hung jury in the first trial. The judge continues to rule overwhelmingly against the defense and the government is making a federal case out of seven impoverished young men with access to no weapons or training, while allowing right wing Cuban paramilitary groups to train to attack hotels and tourist destinations, unmolested.

This will likely be remembered as one of the more significant trials of our time, determining the boundaries for politically motivated prosecution of organizations and individuals across the country. That is to say, if noone cares when the government entraps a group with no intention and no capacity to commit terrorist acts, and then throws tremendous federal resources behind a flawed and weak case, you and your organization might be next.

This week, the accused present their defense with one or more of the Liberty City 7 testifying in court. We must be there to find out, first hand what happened, and show opposition to this type of politically motivated prosecution.

As such, as this case winds down, CopWatch is calling on people of good conscience to do two things:

- Protest against the Liberty City 7 case. We protest every Tuesday morning at 9:00am in front of the federal courthouse, 301 N. Miami Ave. in downtown. Please make plans to protest this Tuesday, March 11 and next Tuesday, March 18.

- Pack the courtroom. Attend the trial. Listen for yourself. Show the world and the federal government that people are watching and care about the outcome of this case. Trial is held Tuesday through Friday from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Come with your organization or friends. We must pack the courtroom to show our opposition to this case. The trial is held at the federal courthouse, 301 N. Miami Ave. in downtown Miami. No cellphones are allowed in the courthouse, so please leave yours in your car.

Please make plans to protest and attend this trial during the next two weeks.

forward,

Max Rameau
CopWatch
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development

Edison Students to Protest Monday March 3

After successfully propelling themselves onto the stage of a public meeting regarding police attacks on protesters, Miami Edison Senior High School students are preparing to boycott what they call an "unsafe" environment at the school. The boycott starts on Monday, March 3, 2007 at 7:30am at Athalie Range Park, across the street from the school on 62nd Street and NW 5th Avenue.

In response to the incidents of Friday, February 29, when school, city of Miami and Miami-Dade County police brutally beat, tased and sicked K9 dogs on students protesting police brutality on campus, the school principal called an open meeting on Sunday, March 2 at the school. She began the meeting by announcing that students will be heard on Monday, at a school assembly, but not at the public meeting. In addition, the public was not allowed into the school assembly, a clear attempt to prevent the student's from publicly relaying the events of the 29th.

Students, however, maintained their protest spirit, chanting until the Principal agreed to allow students to speak. While she promised the police would be available to answer questions, neither Chief Darling of Miami-Dade Public Schools or any other police officer answered questions from students, parents or the public.

Student leader Chris Green spoke eloquently about what he witnessed and the biased media reporting on the story. Green also laid out the student demands, including the arrest of assistant principal Perez for assault on a student; dropping all charges on those arrested Friday; No retaliation against students; and the institution of Restorative Justice as a problem solving model, instead of arresting more young people in the future.

In addition, Green and other students announced the boycott. Students are asked to arrive on time and in full uniform for school, but instead of reporting to school, gathering at the Range Park across the street. Many students and parents expressed concern that they were to return to the same school and police force responsible for the violence on Friday. Organizations supporting the student movement are organizing workshops and classes at the park. Students say the boycott will continue until all demands are met and they feel safe at the school.

Defying charges of apathy and lack of civic involvement, the youth of Edison saw a wrong and organized to stand up for their rights. Instead of talking to the students and working towards a solution, the administration ordered the police to beat and arrest the mostly Black students. These young people are on the front line of a new wave of student activist and need our support and understanding, not beatings and jail time.

CopWatch is calling on activists to show up at the Athalie Range Park, with video and still cameras, to support the students and protect them from other potential attacks by the school administration and police. Students are gathering at 7:30am Monday and will remain throughout the school day.

forward,

Max Rameau
CopWatch
a project of the Center for Pan-African Development
afrimax@gmail.com