In These Times -- Newsletter -- June 23, 2011

Created by : Francis Goodwin View profile
 

Protestors rally outside Bank of America in Chicago as part of the People's Bailout Week of Action organized by Jobs with Justice in December 2008. (Photo Courtesy of Tamara L Smith, Jobs with Justice) 

This week, Curtis Black of the Community Media Workshop's Newstips singled out the new issue of In These Times for its stories from our home city, writing: "As a national publication based in Chicago, In These Times often provides better coverage of the local scene than its rivals." 

This praise is based on articles like Yana Kunichoff's report on the Unemployed Action Center organized by Chicago Jobs With Justice. The Center's campaigns have included a petition demanding that President Barack Obama and members of Congress "hold Wall Street accountable, tax corporations and wealthy individuals their fair share... and create a jobs program to rebuild our public infrastructure." 

While Chicago activists in the U.S. demand that Wall Street be held accountable, Chicago resident and pacifist Kathy Kelly will soon be joining the second flotilla setting sail to hold the Israeli government and military accountable for the blockade of Gaza. She tells Jenny Tomkins why she's undertaking this potentially dangerous endeavor. 

And from the same issue: one of Chicago's most respected journalists, Salim Muwakkil, gives his thoughts on the late Manning Marable's biography of Malcolm X and the subsequent conflict it has provoked—both the "inordinate focus" on two paragraphs related to an alleged homosexual relationship, and more substantial critiques "delivered by two of the black movement's elder statesmen." 

Also this week: Terry J. Allen on alternatives to cutting Medicare, David Sirota on the Pentagon's attempts to convince potential recruits that joining the military gives you superpowers, and a report from last week's Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis.

And tomorrow (June 24) is the deadline in In These Times' search for a part-time, salaried blogger. So if you have a dedicated audience, a demonstrated awareness of the current state of progressive politics and debates, and a uniquely engaging voice, hurry up and apply! Check out the full job description for more details and instructions on how to apply. 

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NEWS/FEATURES 

  • Malcolm's X-Factor: "Marable simply seeks to demystify Malcolm; that seems irreverent to those who demand hagiography," says Salim Muwakkil in a look at the controversy surrounding Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. 
  • Breaking Blockades for Peace: "We are acting on the belief that the Palestinians must have control over their own passageways and points of contact with the world," peace activist Kathy Kelly tells Jenny Tomkins. "The flotilla boats will be a way to focus attention on Gaza." 
  • Justice for the Jobless: Yana Kunichoff reports on the work of the Unemployed Action Center, which "aims to bring together the unemployed and under-employed to fight for a federal jobs program, and to empower people while they do so." 

    COMMENTARY 

  • Cut Waste and Fraud, Not Medicare: Terry J. Allen identifies "some low-hanging billions in waste and fraud and poor practices" that should be cut instead of slashing Medicare. 
  • Promoting Militarism While Hiding Bloodshed: "The U.S. military's new commercials are particularly deceptive coming from a military establishment that proactively hides the hazards of war from public view," argues David Sirota. 

    THE ITT LIST 

  • Netroots Nation: Obama Shills & Breitbart vs. People Who're Actually Making A Difference: "Anyone taken aback by the grilling Kaili Joy Gray of Daily Kos gave White House Communications Director Dan Pheiffer on Friday morning was obviously not at the War on Contraception panel, or they'd have known what to expect." Joe Macaré gives his impressions of NN11. 
  • "Viva La Casita!" Whittier Parents Revive Occupation of Fieldhouse After CPS Attempts Feint: The struggle over the future of a fieldhouse turned community center and library in Pilsen took another drastic turn as Chicago Public Schools attempted to "hoodwink" protesting parents, according to Miles Kampf-Lassin. 
  • Chicago City Colleges Take Corporate Turn, While Unions and Students Fight Back: Candice Bernd on the resistance to "a business co-opt of education started under former Mayor Richard Daley, and being escalated under Rahm Emanuel." 
  • Bring Our War Dollars Home Campaign Shows Signs of Life for Anti-War Movement: "There is a growing grassroots anti-war movement in several cities across the United States that shows no signs of slowing down," reports Cole Stangler. 

    WI RISE UP 
    We'll be hosting a party tomorrow night starting 7 p.m. at 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago, and anyone who can make it is encouraged to come! In These Times is celebrating the opening of 'WI Rise Up', an exhibition of posters and photographs from the 2011 Wisconsin movement to defend collective bargaining rights, which has just been installed in the community art gallery, Art In These Times, right in our offices. 

    The Hard Times Trio will perform jazz versions of classic labor songs and union-made Wisconsin beer will be available. There will also be a report back on recent events from WI and more music from Alex Han. 

    WI Rise Up 

    The exhibition features screenprints and off-set posters from rallies in Madison and Milwaukee and features prints by Nicolas Lampert, Colin Matthes, Eric Drooker, Jesus Barraza, Josh MacPhee, Jesse Graves and others. Photography by Lauren Cumbia (who co-organizes the gallery space with Daniel Tucker), Ryan Williams, Brandon Pittser and the Public Collectors archive will also be exhibited. The space is not wheelchair accessible. 


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