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“OBOMBA” FROM PAGE ONE

State of
Disunion
to complete an expansion of the Bagram
prison. The conditions at Bagram prison
have been describes as worse than those
at Guantanamo on a bad day. This facility
has been poorly covered in the mainstream
media compared to Gitmo, even though NUMBER OF US NUMBER OF US
two Afghans were beaten to death by US SOLDIERS SOLDIERS REALLY BRING THEM HOME
Army interrogators in December of 2002. that died in Afghanistan that died in Afghanistan
Additionally, Obama has said he supports in 2001: in 2008:
155 MARCH 2009 VOL. 7 NO. 3
the Bush policy of labeling detainees 12
as ‘enemy combatants’ who are alleged NUMBER OF
members of terrorist organizations that NUMBER OF
PRISONERS DOLLARS
don’t quite fit under the category of prisoner being held at Bagram farmers could get fined OBAMA: THE SYMBOLIC “ANTI-WAR”
of war, continuing the Bush-era policy of Prison in Afghanistan for not complying with
denying people the right of habeas corpus. 600+ the requirements of H.R. PRESIDENT
T
Abu Ghraib, a prison facility outside of 875:
Baghdad, is rich in history of torture, under NUMBER OF TIMES 1,000,000 he day that Obama announced administration, and seems to be escalating
Saddam’s rule, and under US occupation. Obama has ordered his appointment of Robert Gates, under the Obama administration. The US
Photos were released in 2004 revealing bombing strikes on NUMBER OF PEOPLE the former director of the CIA, to officially denies any unmanned attacks
Pakistan: that died as a result of
the inhumane treatment of detainees at Obama’s airstrikes in Secretary of Defense, all the hopes of a pro- on Pakistan since Obama took office.
5
Abu Ghraib. The prison was closed in Pakistan: peace president went down the drain. Obama And Afghanistan? Another 17,000
2006, but quietly reopened under another NUMBER OF 100+ is not an anti-war president (big troops have been deployed
name - the Baghdad Central Prison - in SOLDIERS surprise for any politician, eh?). to Afghanistan to add to the
February 2009. Photos were released of that Obama will leave NUMBER OF The same dude who has been 38,000 already on the ground,
the newly renovated prison, including in Iraq: SOLDIERS in charge of US military for the and they plan on sending at
a photo of the dining hall with flower 50,000 that are being deployed
to Afghanistan, in past two years will continue least another 10,000 on top
arrangements neatly placed at the center of his reign. Oh boy, here we go. of the 17,000. We’re going
each table. I’m sure it’s just rosy in there. ESTIMATED NUMBER addition to the 38,000
OF HOMELESS that are already there: Here is an excerpt from to have to send more and
These symbolic changes are only PEOPLE 27,000 the press conference where more troops and resources
a distraction from the pro-war and pro- in Grand Junction: Obama named Gates, Clinton to Afghanistan in the future,
torture policies of our new president 1000-1500 NUMBER OF ZINES and others to his cabinet: because our allies want out.
and the perpetual war machine that Grand Junction Dean (reporter): Do you still Canada plans to withdraw its
has continued unchecked since this Alternative Media intend to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan, and
country’s inception, regardless of party.• publishes:
8 forces from Iraq in 16 months Kyrgyzstan has cancelled a
after inauguration? Did you lease for a US military base,
* Sources for the State of Disunion can be found at discuss the possibility of that served as a main resupply
www.gjredpill.org
“BORDER” FROM PAGE THREE that with secretary Gates point for the occupation of
before selecting him? Afghanistan. NATO doesn’t
sleeps at night - how he is kept awake
by the shooting, and the fear of it. Tubi’s CA L L T O AC T I O N Obama: Well, keep in mind
what I said during the campaign, Dean, and
want to send more troops either.
In their campaign white papers, Obama
mother, whose house is even closer to the The Red Pill is looking for volunteers: graphic designers,
you were there, uh, most of the time, uh. I said and Biden supported an increase in the size
Green Line, hasn’t stayed in her house writers, poets, cartoonists, artists, and photographers are
that I would remove our combat troops from of the military, preserving global reach in
since the start of the War. It seems she has needed. Get your work published now. Help distribute
Iraq in 16 months with the understanding the air (including unmanned vehicles and
no intention of returning any time soon. The Red Pill in your community, church, and school:
that it might be necessary, likely to be electronic warfare capabilities), maintaining
Salim shows us the gunshot holes contact us at gjredpill@hotmail.com. You can also do
necessary to maintain a residual force... power projection at sea, and the controversial
in his house, and explains that they your part to keep us in print by donating time, paper,
A “residual force” has remained in national missile defense system.
never sleep with only one wall between film, copies, and of course money (it doesn’t print itself).
North Korea for nearly 64 years. John Although the new administration has
them and the Green Line. The bullets McCain’s plan of occupation of Iraq for promised to close Guantanamo Bay, the act is
used can penetrate through walls, so the the next 100 years doesn’t seem so far off nothing more than a symbolic gesture. There
family always make sure they have at from Obama’s plan for Iraq. Up to 50,000 are only 245 detainees still in Guantanamo.
least two walls between them troops will be left in Iraq to maintain a In 2004, the Supreme Court said that Gitmo
and Israel when they sleep. steady “period of transition.” A symbolic detainees had the right to challenge their
“The cease-fire is for the cities - the withdraw from a symbolic president. detention in a court of law. As a result the
centre of the cities”, he cries. “Not The Red Pill is collectively produced by Grand Junction
Since Obama took office in January, population at Bagram Prison at the Bagram
for the people near the borders!”• Alternative Media, with the aim of publishing stories and
five drone attacks in Pakistan have killed Air Base in Afghanistan increased to about
ideas that the mainstream media won’t cover. It is distributed
free, collects no advertising, and is completely staffed by over 100 people—civilians and militants 600 prisoners today. And the military is about
alike. The CIA-engineered airstrike
be the media! volunteers. All materials are copyleft, no rights are reserved.
PH O T O C O P Y A N D D I S T R I B U T E AT W I L L ! campaign in Pakistan began under the Bush “OBOMBA” ON PAGE EIGHT

www.gjredpill.org www.gjredpill.org
AMERICAN CITIZEN CRITICALLY INJURED LOCAL AUTHOR PUBLISHES STUDY
AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD OF AREA HOMELESS
BY ISREALI FORCES IN NI’LIN
Courtesy of the International Solidarity Move-
ment
G rand Junction Alternative Media,
long time publishers of The Red Pill,
Grand Junction’s only alternative
Richards’ style is able to move freely from
creatively setting a scene at a homeless
camp or reconstructing a conversation,

A n American citizen has been


critically injured in the village
of Ni’lin after Israeli forces shot
him in the head with a tear-gas canister.
(22), was the third Ni’lin resident to be killed
by Israeli forces. He was shot in the back with
live ammunition on 28 December 2008. That
same day, Mohammed Khawaje (20), was shot
newspaper, is proud to announce the
publication of the short local ethnography:
Freedom & Oppression: Homelessness
and the Grand Valley by Jacob Richards.
to discussing trends of gentrification
and the criminalization of homelessness.
“Police Harassment of the homeless
population in Grand Junction is an ongoing
Richards, a local activist and writer, spent problem,” Richards said. His ethnography
Tristan Anderson from California USA, in the head with live ammunition, leaving him over a year doing anthropological fieldwork, documents police harassment from brutality
37 years old, has been taken to brain dead. He died three days interviews, participant observation, and to indifference when homeless persons are
Israeli hospital Tel Hashomer, later in a Ramallah hospital. research. “It started as a semester long the victims of crime. “It’s probably the most
near Tel Aviv. Anderson is Residents in the village of project for an Ethnographic Methods class, explosive part of this study,” said Richards.
unconscious and has been Ni’lin have been demonstrating and later as an independent study. But the Freedom and Oppression avoids
bleeding heavily from the nose against the construction of the book also draws on my experience working academic jargon and is accessible
and mouth. He sustained a large Apartheid Wall, deemed illegal with the homeless prior to and after my to the layman while remaining
hole in his forehead where he by the International Court of formal study,” said Richards. “I wanted this interesting to the trained anthropologist.
was struck by the canister. He Justice in 2004. Ni’lin will lose study to move beyond statistics and present a Richards, through his sources, also
is currently being operated on. approximately 2500 dunums more humanistic portrayal of the homeless. looks at issues of: getting out of homelessness,
“Tristan was shot by the of agricultural land when the I try to let my sources tell much of the story.” gentrification, economic exploitation, causes
new tear-gas canisters that construction of the Wall is Freedom & Oppression is a of homelessness, and life in the camps.
can be shot up to 500m. I ran completed. Ni’lin was 57,000 compassionate inquiry into the lives of Copies of Freedom and Oppression,
over as I saw someone had dunums in 1948, reduced Grand Junction’s homeless community. At are for sale for $5 at Confluence Books 600
been shot, while the Israeli to 33,000 dunums in 1967, times academic, and at others a from-the- White Ave. Suite 302, at www.etsy.com/
forces continued to fire tear- currently is 10,000 dunums horse’s-mouth style ethnography, where the ConfluenceBooks, and at www.gjredpill.org.•
gas at us. When an ambulance and will be 7,500 dunums after informants’ own words speak for themselves.
came, the Israeli soldiers the construction of the Wall.
refused to allow the ambulance Orly Levi, a spokeswoman
through the checkpoint just at the Tel Hashomer
WHAT’S A ZINE?
Z
outside the village. After hospital, tells Ha’aretz:
5 minutes of arguing with “He’s in critical condition, ines (pronounced like magazine minus “We have “Freedom and Oppression:
the soldiers, the ambulance anesthetized and on a ventilator the maga) are alternative homemade Homelessness and the Grand Valley” an
passed.” – Teah Lunqvist and undergoing imaging tests, publications that are often photocopied. anthropological ethnography of the homeless
(Sweden) - International She described Anderson’s Zines have small print runs and are often community here in Grand Junction. We
Solidarity Movement condition as life-threatening.” labors of love to those who publish them. also publish “The Peep Show,” which is a
The Israeli army began using Israeli activist Some zines are underground comix, some serial alternative parenting zine. We have
a high velocity tear gas canister Jonathan Pollack told Ynet: are DIY (Do-It-Yourself) guides, some three poetry zines by local poet Quinten
in December 2008. The black “...the firing incident took place are ‘perzines’ or published journals, some Collier, as well as the Stray Cat, an local
canister, labeled in Hebrew as “40mm bullet inside the village and not next to the fence. are music zines (often punk rock), and art/music zine co-produced witht he Black
special/long range,” can shoot over 400 meters. There were clashes in the earlier hours, but others still are radically political, some Cat Collective.We have the complete Volume
The gas canister does not make a noise when he wasn’t part of them. He didn’t throw stones are academic essays, and much more. three of The Red Pill, and we also have
fired or emit a smoke tail. A combination of the and wasn’t standing next to the stone throwers. Zines are a relatively new thing to Grand “The CIA’s Nicaraguan Cartoon Sabotage
canister’s high velocity and silence is There was really no reason to fire at Junction, and all of Western Colorado. On Manual: Revised for Smashing the State,”
extremely dangerous and has caused them. The Dutch girl standing next to him November 7th, Confluence Books Radical said co-owner Jacob Richards. “Not to
numerous injuries, including a Palestinian was not hurt. It only injured him, like a bullet.” Bookstore and Community Center opened its mention our first DVD of short films produced
male whose leg was broken in January 2009. 13 March: Anarchists Against the Wall doors in White Hall Village and became the by GJAM and our up coming project—a
Tristan Anderson was shot as Israeli reports on Tristan’s condition(volunteers only retailer of zines in all of Western Colorado. journal of undergraduate ethnography.”
forces attacked a demonstration against the with AWALLS were present when “We specialize in books, zines and other “It’s about free speech and free
construction of the annexation wall through the Tristan was injured and have been at publications that are not carried by chain expression. The world of independent
village of Ni’lin’s land. Another resident from the hospital to oversee his treatment): book stores,” said Connie Murillo, co-owner publishing and zines is so much more varied
Ni’lin was shot in the leg with live ammunition. “The impact of the projectile caused of Confluence Books, “there is such a wide and vibrant than the mainstrean press. Once
Four Ni’lin residents have numerous condensed fractures to Anderson’s spectrumofideasandpublicationsthataresimply you start consuming alternative media you’ll
been killed during demonstrations forehead and right eye socket. During the unavailable through the corporate stores.” wonder how you ever lived life with the
against the confiscation of their land. operation part of his right frontal lobe had to be Grand Junction Alternative Media blinders of mass media on,” said Richards.
Ahmed Mousa (10) was shot in the removed, as it was penetrated by bone fragments. (GJAM), the larger group that runs Confluence Confluence Books is open 10am-6pm on
forehead with live ammunition on 29th July A brain fluid leakage was sealed using a tendon Books, also publishes a number of their own Sunday, 10am-8pm Monday-Thursday, and
2008. The following day, Yousef Amira (17) from his thigh, and both his right eye and skin zines, including “The Red Pill” which is a free 10am-10pm on Friday and Saturday. They
was shot twice with rubber-coated steel bullets, suffered extensive damage. The long term scope alternative newszine that has been published can be reached at 245-4442, and are located in
leaving him brain dead. He died a week later of all of Tristan’s injuries is yet unknown.”• in the Grand Valley for over five years. White Hall Village 600 White Ave Suite #302.•
on 4 August 2008. Arafat Rateb Khawaje
THE WAR ON SMALL LIFE IN THE BORDER ZONES
support FARMERS Courtesy of the International Solidarity Movement

local media
red pills, cds, zines,
T here is a bill working its way through
congress right now that would literally
kill local organic farmers, farmers’
markets, Community Supported Agriculture,
I f you stay here for five minutes, you
will hear gunfire”, explain locals
in Wadi Salqa. “They shoot at
anything moving in the village”. Palestinian
have cameras and are filming everything
that happens in the village. When guys
have been arrested, they have been
shown the footage that the soldiers have”.
through a death of a thousand cuts. H.R. radio stations have reported that people This intense level of surveillance takes place
patches, underground 875 is a corporate agriculture wet dream
that benefits massive factory farms, while
living in Wadi Salqa are scared to death. not just in Wadi Salqa, but throughout the
Arriving in the village, this seems no villages close to the border. Beit Hannoun
comics, books used and straddling small farmers with a bureaucratic overstatement. “If you move beyond the in the extreme north of the Strip, for
nightmare. The bill was sponsored by end of this road, you will be shot”, explains example, has white, camera carrying, fish-
new, fair trade coffee Californian Democrat Rosa DeLauro Mohammad Abu Magaseeb, pointing to shaped balloons floating above the border,
whose husband Stanley Greenburg works the end of the road we have just arrived on. looking for all the world like children’s
and teas, t-shirts, for Monsanto, the bill is also co-sponsored He takes us into his uncle’s house, helium balloons, filming everything.
by Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette. situated just 1km from the Green Line - the The other sure-fire way of getting
magazines, dvds, and The problem with the bill is that it is very electrified fence and military bases clear from shot at in Wadi Salqa is to be within 1km
broad and unclear what would be considered a
more. food production facility—your home garden
the three-storey home. It’s a beautiful home,
only partly finished, but it’s already been
of the electric fence, regardless of your
age of what you might be doing there.

confluence plot could fall under the jurisdiction of the new


federal agency that the bill creates. If you fail
to properly fill out all of the forms and paper
bombed.. Tank shells were fired through the
second storey during the war. They take us into
the newly-furbished bathroom - the bathtub
On 26th January, Israeli forces shot a
13 year old boy who was working on
farmland approximately 500m from the

books
work that H.R 875 requires they can fi ne you full of rubble and the southern wall missing. Green Line - an area that was previously
up to a million dollars for each infraction. Somehow the damaged mural of a considered safe. Yousef Al Akhrasi was
If this monstrous bill passes we can all waterfall on the tiling seems particularly shot in the back whilst he was working
600 white ave. suite 302 say good by to local nutritious food, farmers tragic. No one is sure exactly when this harvesting peas to help earn some
markets, CSAs, and roadside produce stands. • shelling happened, because, like most money for his family, villagers advise.
grand junction other villages near the border with Israel, Whilst we are standing on the
the entire village evacuated as soon roof, a tank appears on the dirt-road
as the War on Gaza started - drawing back that runs behind the electric fence, and
into villages closer to the centre of the strip. we are quickly ushered downstairs.

Activist Calendar
Mohammad’s uncle is lucky, however. The extension of the “no-go” area
Whilst his home is badly damaged, more of the village, from 500m to 1km from
than 30 houses in the village of 6000 people the Green Line, has been replicated
were demolished during the war, leaving throughout the Gaza Strip. In almost
Monday, April 6th • 6PM Saturday, March 21st • 11AM-5PM 120 families (approximately 10% of the every border village, farmers are unable
Solidarity Not Charity has its monthly meeting the first Peace Rally and Concert. Bands, Booths, Speakers, population) homeless. The rest of the 70 houses to enter their lands; families are unable
Monday of every month to discuss the numerous Free Food and much more. in the southern border area were damaged or to reach their (mostly destroyed) houses. Not
projects going on throughout the community. Fun for the whole family. partially destroyed. Mohammad and the only have their houses been destroyed, they
Confluence Books 600 White Ave Suite 302 Lincoln Park, Grand Junction, CO neighbours who accompany us are clearly now have no hope of rebuilding them. In Wadi
nervous to be in the house, especially to be Salqa, where the majority of the villagers are
Wednesday, March 1st • 5PM Saturday, March 28th • 6PM near the windows, for fear of getting shot. farmers, approximately 4000 dounums (1000
Drinking Liberally gets together to drink and talk Documentary screening to support the RNC 8 We move up to the rooftop, from where acres) of land have been effectively
politics the first Wednesday of the month. Grand Junction Alternative Media will be screening
we can see the Green Line on one side, and confiscated - hugely significant in the sixth
Kannah Creek Brewery, Grand Junction “Terrorizing Dissent” a film about the repression faced by
protesters at the RNC this past year.
the Mediterranean on the other. At this point, most densely populated region in the world.
Confluence Books 600 White Ave Suite 302 halfway between Gaza city and Rafah, the Wadi Salqa is a village living
Friday, March 20th • 5PM Gaza Strip is just 5 kilometres wide. “We with precarity in the extreme. Whilst
Critical Mass. Bring your bike or skate for a
community ride. We are traffic.
EVERY SATURDAY • 5:00PM are in a small cage”, one neighbour notes. villagers will enter the town during the
Lincoln Park, Grand Junction
Solidarity Not Charity meets at Whitman Park to serve They point out the destroyed houses in day, since the cease-fire approximately
free food for free people. the south of the village, as well as a pipe half are sleeping in other villages - with
For more info: 257-9520 factory that was attacked with tanks and friends; relatives; friends of friends.
Friday, March 20th • 7PM EVERY SATURDAY • 12:00PM Apache helicopters. In that neighbourhood, Visiting another house in the
Movie showing: Victor/Victoria The Red Pill meets at Confluence Books. the only building standing is the village, Salim’s house, gunfire starts.
at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation GET INVOLVED! village water reservoir. People shuffle to make sure the house is
of the Grand Valley For more info: 245-4442 Whilst being in the house itself is between them and the Green Line. His
1022 Grand Ave. GJ 600 White Ave. #302 Grand Junction, CO considered dangerous, nowhere in the village four year old daughter, Sara, shows us
Saturday, March 28 • 1-2:30PM is really thought to be safe. Certain types of the cast on her leg - she broke it when she
Alternative Parenting Series #3: Homebirth: Come Listen to two local homebirth midwives behaviour, though, seem to be more dangerous fell down, running from gunfire. His
about your birthing alternatives. Future Parenting Events: Home Schooling, Breast Feeding, than others. “If any guy carries just a pipe in neighbour, Tubi, explains how he no longer
Baby Wearing, Natural Parenting/ Attachment Parenting, and more! the village, they shoot at him”, Mohammad
600 White Ave., Suite 302, Grand Junction, CO advises. “They can see everything. They “BORDER” ON PAGE EIGHT
POLITICIAN: FOR BIRTHDAY BOMBS KNOW ONE KNOWS HER
BILL HICKEY BY COMFREY JACOBS BY ANGEL
Too damned old & leonine? When i turned 10 bombs started to fall upon Baghdad No one knows where she came from—
No, bolder & wiser, and the troops came marching in small towns just don’t ask much
amigomeister. as i blew out the candles atop my cake as long as you don’t act like you belong.
bullets exinguished little boys and girls live’s That’s why they’re going to hide in—
Hold bedrock values helicopters gunned down old ladies and blew up mosques you can lie all day long.
in spite of the rainbows I wear. as i watched the tv say it would be ok
Share citizens’ trust. that they were terrorists and had WMD’s No one knows where she came from—
cities just don’t ask much.
Truth is, this job makes you so happy birthday to me They only know her as the cart lady.
change your mind i really loved all those dead iraqi babies Mr.Bush sent me She may have been there forever
as often as teens change clothes. the thought of them makes me wanna cry keeping her secrets, keeping shady.
the thought of them makes me wanna die
Learn from whatever No one knows how she got there—
you bump up against & can’t move. so today i stand here 6 years later neighbors just don’t ask much.
Yes I sometimes roar. and bombs are still a fallin’ and bullets still flyin’ The couple sure seemed nice enough
and where’s those WMDs and over 4000 boys and girls that died in this war who ever would have known
Get passionate they’re 6 feet under and i still watch any man could get that rough?
about the People’s work. the insanity of babies blown to smithereens
Parse a certainty and this cake tastes like ash in my mouth I don’t know where they all come from,
and I don’t need to ask.
for the lie it may be. so happy 16th birthday to me The stories have the same, sad ring;
Sniff the wolves in sheepskin. i really loved all those dead babies Mr.Bush sent to me but I’m glad just one once made it out
Know maybe FUCK THE REGIME “CHANGE” that we may all take wing.
imperial capitalism still exists
the best can be done so happy birthday to me
puts band-aids i really love those dead babies Mr.Obama is sending me
on bleeding arteries.

Like Vincent St. John knew.


Like Harvey Milk Knew.
And yet, dared to do.

art goodtimes / union of street poets


vincent st. john local / colorado plateau/
aztlan kuksu brigade (ret.) / san francisco
23sep15008 [v10708]

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