Another Latino dies in a strange home invasion incident, this time by the Police... On May 5 at around 9:30 a.m., several teams of Pima County, Ariz., police officers from at least four different police agencies armed with SWAT gear and an armored personnel carrier raided at least four homes as part of what at the time was described as an investigation into alleged marijuana trafficking. One of those homes belonged to 26-year-old Jose Guerena and his wife, Vanessa Guerena. The couple's 4-year-old son was also in the house at the time. Their 6-year-old son was at school... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/jose-guerena-arizona-_n_867020.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2011 Greenpeace activists climb deadly smokestack at Fisk coal plant in Chicago Activists call on Edison International to “Quit Coal” and shut down Fisk and Crawford CHICAGO— Before dawn, a team of eight Greenpeace activists climbed the 450 foot smokestack at the Fisk power plant in Chicago. From the stack, they demanded that the operators shut down the dirty, dangerous Fisk and Crawford coal plants. The Fisk and Crawford plants – operated by Edison International subsidiary Midwest Generation are among the oldest in the United States. More people live in range of these plants than any other coal plant in America; nearly one in four Chicagoans live in a three mile radius of one or both plants. Coal fired power plants kill between 13,000 and 34,000 people a year--as many as one person every 15 minutes. That staggering figure includes the 42 Chicagoans who die as a result of pollution from Fisk and Crawford, including residents in the severely...

For link to PDF with hot link for ordering see the bottom of this message... Spring Fundraising Offer Donate $50 or more, Get 4 essential DVDs Support Labor Beat, and also add these essential labor DVDs to your library. Read below how you can get them... 1. Workers’ Republic Independently produced by filmmaker (and Labor Beat producer) Andrew Friend, Workers’ Republic tells the story of factory workers in Chicago who stood up to their boss and his financial backers to demand severance when their factory was closing. Winner of the John Michaels Human Rights Film Award (Big Muddy Film Festival 2010), this special fund raising offer represents the rare last stock of Friend’s non-profit version produced with music by indie artist Moby. 60 min. 2. Raid on A Nation After September 2010 FBI raids on Chicago anti-war activists, solidarity networks spring up. Scenes, speeches from first-of-its-kind 9/27 big protest in front of Chicago FBI headquarters. Also, mass anti-war protest at 2008 RNC, w...

What a May Day it was here in Chicago! Only 2006 was more memorable. It was a week packed with great events. For audio from some of those events, tune in to next week's episode of Labor Express Radio - Monday, 10 AM on 88.7 FM WLUW. For more info see… www.laborexpress.org Here is a collection of pictures from May Day 2011... First, the April 30th Haymarket re-enactment at DesPlaines & Randolph... https://photos.app.goo.gl/HCiGfhRKGNAiM2zQ6 Second, the May 1st re-dedication of the Haymarket monument at Waldheim Cemetery... https://photos.app.goo.gl/HCiGfhRKGNAiM2zQ6 Third, the May 1st Marcha for Immigrant and Worker Rights from Union Park to Pilsen... https://photos.app.goo.gl/HCiGfhRKGNAiM2zQ6

As you know from my previous posts, there is a LOT going on this May Day. For the complete list check this post... http://pilsenprole.blogspot.com/2011/04/updated-pilsenprole-guide-to-may-day.html There are three events which stand out as must attend events... Haymarket Reenactment ... Saturday, April 30, 2:00 PM Plaque Dedication & Reenactment of the Haymarket Tragedy Haymarket Square, Randolph & Des Plaines For more... http://pocketguidetohell.tumblr.com/ Rededication of the newly renovated Haymarket monument in Waldheim cemetery (the original)... Sunday, May 1st, 1:00 PM Forest Home Cemetery - 863 Des Plaines Ave., Forest Park Next to the Eisenhower (I-290) For More... http://www.illinoislaborhistory.org/ Immigrants Right March from Union Park to Pilsen ... Sunday, May 1st: May Day March & Rally for Immigrant & Workers’ Rights 2:00 PM gathering at Union Park, Corners of Lake St and Ashland Ave. 3:00PM March Begins heading to Pilsen Neighborhood 4:00PM March Ends and...

Congressman Gutierrez calls on City of Chicago to support the Clean Power Ordinance as coal continues to haunt Latinos in Chicago On Wednesday Congressman Gutierrez joined the rapidly growing list of supporters for the Clean Power Ordinance, a measure that would reduce the pollution at the Fisk and Crawford coal plants in Chicago. "For years I have looked at the smoke billowing out over my Congressional District and known that something was not right, which is why I have been a supporter of the ordinance and supportive of the advocates fighting for the community's health and safety," Rep. Luis V.Gutierrez said. "Children in Chicago face a lot of barriers to their success and the very air they breathe should not be one of them, so I urge the city to take action on this matter and to do so quickly." In the midst of Mayor Daley’s departure from City Hall, national and local Latino leaders are rallying to demand all politicians stand with the people and not polluter...

The Pilsenprole complete guide to May Day 2011 in Chicago: Note, some events have changed from a previous post... Monday, April 25, 6:00 PM Getting the Voice of Workers Heard Loud & Clear — from Haymarket to the Present Haymarket Brewery and Pub, Randolph & HalstedA panel of labor journalists including Steve Franklin, David Moberg, Kari Lydersen, Jeremy Gantz, and Estelle Carol discuss media coverage of the workers’ story yesterday and today. Wednesday, April 27, 6:00 PM Screening of Documentary Film on Sacco & Vanzetti Haymarket Brewery and Pub, Randolph & Halsted Following the showing, Professor Alison Fraunhar will lead a discussion of the film and the Sacco & Vanzetti case. Music will be provided by the group Mezcolanza. Thursday, April 28, 6:00 PM Panel Discussion on Constitutional Issues for the Workers Movement from Haymarket to the Present Newberry Library, 60 West Walton This event is co-sponsored by a number of Chicago-area lawyers’ organizations. A panel...