Mumia Abu-Jamal Benefit

Thursday February 8th 2018, Mumia Abu-Jamal Benefit, Volkseten Vegazulu, 7pm.

New Hearing in Mumia’s Case set for 3/27/2018 – Judge orders New District Attorney to address his request to “find out what happened to the missing Memo by taking action,” including a suggestion that they might depose the former ADA to get the answers.” He noted that he would require a status conference on 2/26/18, to hear details of their efforts. “I do not want to have another hearing in two months, and be in the same place. These questions need to be answered.”

Mumia Abu-Jamal, represented by Sam Spital of the NAACP and Judith Ritter, Professor at Widner, was in court in Philadelphia challenging his criminal conviction. Common Pleas Court judge Leon Tucker opened court with a query to the DA about his order that the prosecution produce testimony regarding a missing letter by former DA Ron Castille. This evidence, or evidence of a similar nature, could be a key to Mumia’s criminal defense appeals being reinstated. […Lees verder]

Benefit for Libertatia squat in Greece. Music with Rebet Guitar

Thursday February 1st 2018, Benefit for Libertatia squat in Greece. Volkseten Vegazulu from 7pm. Music afterwards with Rebet Guitar (Charis Konstantinou).

On 21 January 2018, the fascists attacked the squat Libertatia in the center of Thessaloniki, under the protection of the police after a demo that was called by the Christian fascist groups for the name of Macedonia. The day after, there was a demonstration in the city and 5 people got arrested. All around Greece, there was a call for demonstration against the state and the fascists. It’s not the first time that the police and the fascists work together against the anarchist movement, immigrants, free spaces and queer people. The collective of Libertatia is not giving up and they want to rebuild the social center. This attack is not gonna frighten anybody within the movement. Such an attack makes a stronger movement to fight against the state, the capital, the Christian churches and the fascists.

REBET GUITAR – Rebetiko, the music crossroad between middle east and west from the early 1900’s. Songs about love, joy and sorrow.
A musical sub-culture, a music of the lower classes.
“The womb of rebetiko was the jail and the hash den. It was there that the early rebetes created their songs. They sang in quiet, harsh voices, unforced, one after the other, each singer adding a verse which often bore no relation to the previous verse, and a song often went on for hours. There was no refrain, and the melody was simple and easy.” Ilias Petropoulos
Rebet guitar, focuses on the early rebetiko with one guitar, finger-pick style developed in USA by Giorgos Katsaros (George Curly), Kostas ‘Gus’ Dousias. […Lees verder]

Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey

Monday 20th November 2017, Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey, Volkseten Vegazulu, 7pm.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE LAW OF UNIFORM FOR PRISONERS IN TURKEY
IS RESISTANCE AGAINST FASCISM !
Dear friends and Comrades : the nowadays law in TURKEY obliging the prisoners to wear an uniform is one of the reactionary offensives of the fascist dictatorship that aims for standardizing the very whole people. It would be a mistake to consider it only as a plan against the prisoners because it is better a new attack of the fascism against the people and all the strengths of the democracy in Turkey and Kurdistan. As well in the society and in prison : the Turkish State rejects the existence of all Opposition to his fascist regime.

That’s why the project of uniform for prisoners is not a dress problem but rather a new stage in the program of standardizing the country and of muzzling it. In Turkey, with the present Government of the AKP (1) the practices of the fascism reach their summit : we protest against the application of this iniquitous Law and we say : STOP ! ALL THIS PROJECT SHALL NOT PASS !

  • During the military Putsch of September 12th in 1980 in Turkey, one first attempt had been made but it will be 3 years later in 1983 when the fascist regime will try again to impose the port of the uniform for the prisoners. This violent attack has been applied during numerous years with the aim of torturing, of destroying the personality and the identity.Finally, the Turkish State had to renounce face to the long run and intense Resistance of the political prisoners realized in the unity, in spite of all the difficulties and through notably hunger strikes and collective actions in jail. Nor the torture suffered in repression because of this invincible Resistance, nor the attempts of humiliations of the Courts legitimating this torture : succeeded make them to bend. Numerous Resistants have eternalized themselves in the course of this exemplary Resistance by snatching their imposed uniforms and by appearing in underwear during their political trial face to Courts of “justice” servant of the fascist regime. These same Courts have voluntarily ignored the return in blood and in underwear of the political prisoners with the torture inflicted as a daily dish supported by their verdicts…
  • At the beginning of the 90’s, among his incessant attacks : the military fascist regime will still try to put this project in the agenda but the increasing extent of the Resistance dissuades him.
  • Today, in september 2017, this project becomes topicality. The fascism gets ready for launching an attack against the liveliest and the most resistant part of the society in Turkey : the political prisoners. The fascist power puts the society under pressure by hunger, poverty, massacres, detentions, arrests and massive exiles. He wants to bring back the whole society to the condition of slave with no voice, practicing the political banishment against Kurd people and Abdullah OCALAN : the representative of his national and democratic fight but also against the Armenian people, the Alevi, the Yezidi and many others…

All the attempts of attacks from the fascist regime in Turkey are a failure : they don’t succeed in their plan. The political prisoners are the most Resistant part of the society and in capacity for sacrificing itself for Freedom. Yet, the fascist Turkish State fears all this would generates waves that spread within the people. That’s why, the prisoners become his first target and once again, he wants to mate them definitively and to succeed in imposing the port of the uniform for prisoners in the way to contain the whole society under narrow control.

As by the past, the present Government of the AKP wants is own revenge against this permanent affront and he wants to weaken the revolutionaries and the Opposition by nazi practices such as political persecutions, massacres, systematic torture and uniform for prisoners like those in the Guantanamo’s Camp but the Resistance is going to be enormous !

Every time that the fascist Turkish State will try to shut up the sound of their voice, we will always shout with a stronger voice, we will be their voices.

We have already shouted and we still shout :
We have refused to wear the uniform for prisoners and we never will !
The oppression and the threats will not intimidate us, we will be victorious !
Long live for the Revolutionary solidarity! Long live for the International solidarity!

Paris, September 2nd 2017. Platform of fight against the uniform for prisoners in Turkey

  1. (1) AKP. (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi-Party of Justice and Development). It’s one of the Turkish fascists partys. The AKP is in the government of the Turkish State, and since the last elections he cheated the votes against the victorious HDP (Democratic Party of the Peoples) which obtained an overwhelming majority against the AKP’s fascism regime.

Volkseten Vegazulu is a people’s kitchen, every monday and thursday, all year long. We are remaining closed if no one is volunteering to cook. Keep an eye on this page to make sure we are open. Door opens at 7pm. Vegan food for 4€ or donation. All benefits go for social & political struggles. No reservation.

Have you ever considered cooking at Joe’s Garage with your friends? We’re always looking for cooks. Any help is welcome in the kitchen. Experience not required. Enjoying it is a must. If you want to know which days are still available in the schedule, send an email to joe [at] squat [dot] net and book yourself the night. You can, of course, also participate by rolling up your sleeves and doing the dishes.

Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey. Music with the Resonant Rogues

Monday 21st August 2017, Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey, from 7pm. Music with the Resonant Rogues from 8:30pm till 10pm.

Our Kurdish friends are back for their monthly benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey. After the food, on the stage, music with the Resonant Rogues from Asheville, North Carolina, duo accordion, banjo, guitar, vocals, suitcase, percussion. Two years ago, the Resonants Rogues played all the squats in Amsterdam. Their tour blog is all about what they experienced in Amsterdam and further.

“American folk music has always had a populist perspective, a vision of music made by the people, for the people. Asheville, North Carolina roots band The Resonant Rogues know this well, for they’ve traveled the byways and highways of America, even crossed the water to Europe and the Mediterranean with instruments and songs in tow. Anchored by the songwriting duo Sparrow and Keith Smith, the Rogues have shared songs with train-hoppers in New Orleans, busked on the streets of Budapest, learned Turkish Romani dance in Istanbul, and marched in protest in the hills of Appalachia. Throughout, the stories they’ve heard and the people they’ve met have fueled their music, which abounds with influences like Eastern European Romani brass bands, New Orleans street jazz, old-time stringbands, Woody Guthrie anti-fascist folk, French jazz manouche, and Middle Eastern rhythms. It’s not easy to pull off such a bold combination of genres, but The Resonant Rogues learned this music in person from the people who created it, so they have a tie to each tradition and a working knowledge of what this music means to the ordinary people that make this music every day. It’s a tintype view on the modern world,a cracked image that reflects the past through a prism of the future.”
https://theresonantrogues.com/ […Lees verder]

Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey, music with Bordelestino (Chile)

Monday 10th July 2017, Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey, music with Bordelestino. Volkseten Vegazulu at 7pm. Music from 9 till 10pm.

Bordelestino was formed in Santiago of Chili in 2011, by members Lolita Ponce, violin and vocals, Javier Valdebenito, double bass, and David Santis, accordion and vocals. Their repertoire ranges from tango, to French chanson; from Italian canzonetta and tarantella, to Chilean waltz and tonada; from Balkan music, to jazz, and to their own songs which melt those music genres with stories and poems. The use of acoustic instruments has made us a constant presence on the streets, in Chile, Brasil, France and Italy. During their 2015 European tour, Bordelestino made quite an impression in Finland. They are again on their way to Tampere. Lucky us, they are back for one night at Joe’s Garage. http://bordelestino.cl/ https://soundcloud.com/bordelestino/ […Lees verder]

Benefit for Mumia Abu-Jamal

mumia2017Monday 29th May 2017, Benefit for Mumia Abu-Jamal, Volkseten Vegazulu, 7pm.

On Monday, April 24, 2017, Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 63rd birthday and 36th year of torturous wrongful incarceration, there will be a hearing on his Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition in Pennsylvania state court. The hearing is expected to begin at 9:00AM at the Criminal Justice Center, Room 1101, 1303 Filbert Street in Philadelphia, PA. This hearing is being held to determine whether all of the PA Supreme Court decisions from 1995-2008 that denied Abu-Jamal his freedom should be overturned.
Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1981 for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner despite evidence demonstrating the police and prosecution manufactured proof of his guilt and suppressed evidence of his innocence. He was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to death because of political reasons: his former membership in the Black Panther Party and his support for the MOVE organization.
Beginning at 8am and continuing while the court hearing is in progress, there will be a spirited live-streamed rally and demonstration around the Criminal Justice Center and City Hall, calling for the release of Abu-Jamal on signs and banners. The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Mobilization for Mumia are also urging supporters to attend an evening program “Resistance Matters – Legal and Medical Justice for Mumia and all Prisoners” at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 North Broad Street, from 6-9PM for the most up-to the-minute update.
This legal challenge is based on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Terry Williams’ case, which ruled that an appellate judge cannot participate in a case in which he had a former role in significant prosecutorial decisions. Ronald Castille was the District Attorney responsible for opposing Abu-Jamal’s 1989 appeal of his trial conviction and death sentence. Former Philadelphia DA Castille ran for election to the PA Supreme Court bragging that 45 men (including Abu-Jamal) had been convicted and sentenced to death by his DA’s office. After being elected to the PA Supreme Court in 1994, Castille ruled against Abu-Jamal in every appeal brought before him critical of the actions of his former DA’s office. Castille had also been financed and named “Man of the Year” by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). This is the same right wing organization who endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016.
In the meantime, the Mobilization for Mumia won an important victory for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and thousands of other similarly infected individuals suffering from hepatitis C in PA prisons. After a two year long campaign in the courts and the streets, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC), paving the way for Abu-Jamal to get the cure for his hepatitis C infection which had already led to the scarring of his liver. He is now in the second week of receiving the life saving medication and his victory will clear the way for the other 7,000 inmates suffering from untreated hepatitis C to also get treated. Legal actions continue in fighting for compensation for damages due to the DOC’s negligence in refusing to treat Mumia and other prisoners in a timely and humane manner.
Our ultimate goal is to win Abu-Jamal’s release as well as freedom for other politically targeted political prisoners, virtually invisible in the modern day concentration camps we call prisons.

For more information look at: http://www.freemumia.com […Lees verder]

Benefit for the political prisoners in Greece. With Rebet guitarS and Tassos

Monday 22nd May 2017, Solidarity fund for prisoners and persecuted fighters. Volkseten Vegazulu at 7pm. Music from 9pm with With Rebet guitarS (Charis Konstantinou and Jaap Faber) and Tassos (violin).

The Solidarity Fund for prisoners or persecuted militants is a nationwide structure in Greece consisting of individual assemblies in various towns. The structure of the Solidarity Fund supports people who struggle and are persecuted and imprisoned for their involvement in the social and class struggles, for their subversive action within the spectrum of the multiform revolutionary struggle.

We support the imprisoned militants MATERIALLY-ETHICALLY-POLITICALLY
Up until the demolition of the last prison…

Rebet guitarS (Charis Konstantinou and Jaap Faber) and Tassos (violin):
Music from the 30’s, composed A. Kostis, Spyros Peristeris, Kostas Skarvelis, Stelios Chrisynis.
Rebetiko, the music crossroad between middle east and west from the early 1900’s. Songs about love, joy and sorrow. A musical sub-culture, a music of the lower classes.
“The womb of rebetiko was the jail and the hash den. It was there that the early rebetes created their songs. They sang in quiet, harsh voices, unforced, one after the other, each singer adding a verse which often bore no relation to the previous verse, and a song often went on for hours. There was no refrain, and the melody was simple and easy.” Ilias Petropoulos. […Lees verder]

Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey. Show with Troy Faid (Scunthorpe, UK)

Monday 15 May 2017, Benefit for the political prisoners in Turkey. Show with Troy Faid (duo guitar, double bass from Scunthorpe, UK). Volkseten Vegazulu, people’s kitchen at 7pm. Music from 9pm till 10pm.

Troy Faid (Scunthorpe, UK), guitar, banjo, stomp box & vocals. Folk musician and songwriter, political and poetic lyrics played with furious intensity. His fingerstyle jazz guitar and earlyold voice communicate a desirous music – appreciated by many and influenced by a myriad of musicians and thinkers: from Elliot Smith to Django Reinhardt… Karl Jung to Erich Fromm. http://www.troyfaid.co.uk/

Volkseten Vegazulu is a people’s kitchen, every monday and thursday, all year long. Door opens at 7pm. Vegan food for 4€ or donation. All benefits go for social & political struggles. No reservation. In July and August, the people’s kitchen is closed on thursday.

We’re always looking for cooks. Any help is welcome in the kitchen. Experience not required. Enjoying it is a must. If you want to know which days are still available in the schedule, send an email to joe [at] squat [dot] net and book yourself the night. You can, of course, also participate by rolling up your sleeves and doing the dishes.