Holiday Inn Austin Midtown Built with Stolen Wages!

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On Thursday, August 4th at Holiday Inn Midtown (6000 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin TX) a dozen construction workers will lead a protest to reclaim over $10,000 in wages from a recent remodel at the hotel. "It's just not right that we worked hard and didn't get paid" said Quirino Juarez, a construction worker who performed framing and drywall work at the Holiday Inn Midtown. Juarez along with 11 other workers worked under Mely's Construction, a San Antonio-based sub-contractor, in January and February of 2011. Over thirty workers are owed wages for work on the hotel, although only 12 have come forward so far. WDP has attempted to negotiate a fair settlement with the general contractor and Holiday Inn management. However, all parties have avoided responsibility, promising to pay numerous times but never following through. "The job is done, the rooms look really great. They raised their rates and are benefitting from the remodel but we've received nothing", said Heladio Liborio who is owed two weeks of wages for drywall work at the Holiday Inn project. "It's been hard to pay my rent, bills and take care of my family." According to Bloomberg News, InterContinental Hotel Group, owner of the Holiday Inn franchise, saw a 38% increase in profits in 2010 due mostly to remodels like that done by these workers1. The worldwide makeover has given the company a fresh new image and a higher level of revenue. Meanwhile the workers who helped remodel Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin have yet to receive payment for their work. "Holiday Inn has an opportunity to be a leader in corporate responsibility by ensuring that those that work so hard to make it one of the nations most profitable hotel chains are compensated for their work" stated Patricia Zavala, Workplace Justice Coordinator at WDP. A ZGraphix Video Production. http://zgraphix.org Video produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala http://austin.indymedia.org Photography by Jason Cato Learn more about Workers Defense Project/Proyecto Defensa Laboral: http://workersdefense.org

Feminist Flash Mob Protesting Larry Flynt & $exual Exploitation Industry at BookPeople

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Larry Flynt was in Austin, TX on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 speaking at Book People as part of his tour to promote his newest publication, One Nation Under Sex: How the Private Lives of Presidents, First Ladies and Their Lovers Changed the Course of American History. Sexual Violence Free Austin joined allies and advocates who stand in opposition to rape culture and the commoditization of women's bodies, the sexualization of young girls. R.A.G.E. - Radical Action for Gender Equality was also an organizer for peacefully protesting this event. Larry Flynt has made a 400-million-dollar fortune from his pornographic empire, including cartoons such as "Chester the Molester", which follows the life of a pedophile, and his infamous publication, Barely Legal, that features very young women portraying even younger girls in a pornographic manner. Want to learn more about his most famous magazine, Hustler? Sponsored by Sexual Violence-Free Austin and Radical Action for Gender Equality Check out this: WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT http://www.hustlingtheleft.com/ http://www.hustlingtheleft.com/CRAPP_E_LIB/russell.html http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=2678 Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala http://austin.indymedia.org A ZGraphix video production. http://zgraphix.org

Paul Cienfuegos on Corporations vs. People

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The Citizens United Supreme Court decision gave corporations a green light to secretly funnel in as much money as they want to elect candidates. The justices in their supreme wisdom have once again privileged corporations over citizens. The results have been dramatic. Even with a weak economy a record amount of cash has flooded political campaigns. Although corporations are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights a series of legal decisions have given them the rights of personhood and free speech. Focusing on limiting or even stopping corporate harms is an inadequate response to a fundamental problem. And that is corporations rule and not the people. Citizens are marginalized and are left with Coke and Pepsi choices. Paul Cienfuegos is a community organizer and activist. He co-founded Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County in Northern California, an organization which works to dismantle corporate rule. He lectures and leads workshops on this topic. Recorded in Portland, OR on February 26, 2010 Audio Produced by Alternative Radio http://AlternativeRadio.org Video produced by Jeff Zavala ZGraphix Productions. http://zgraphix.org

Texas Parent PAC - Fighting for Our Children's Education

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Texas Parent PAC is a bipartisan political action committee for parents, grandparents, parents-to-be, and anyone who supports high quality public education. Our statewide group has a track record of success, helping to elect 23 new members of the Texas Legislature. In each election cycle, Texas Parent PAC supports an equal number of candidates from both major political parties. Endorsed candidates reflect traditional mainstream American values that honor and support families, communities, democracy, and quality public education. Texas Parent PAC seeks to elect more state legislators with the courage to stand up for children and neighborhood public schools. Endorsed candidates understand that children are our future, and lawmakers must adequately invest in education to ensure prosperity in Texas. All endorsed candidates support the Texas Parent PAC Guiding Principles, which are posted at www.txparentpac.com/principles.html Donate: http://www.txparentpac.com/donate.html Contributions pay for myriad campaign expenses, including postcards and letters, yard signs, TV advertising, phone banks, campaign staff, get-out-the-vote efforts, and more. Email: info@txparentpac.com Website: http://www.txparentpac.com Video produced by Jeff Zavala. This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org

Texas Parent PAC - Fighting for Our Children's Education

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Texas Parent PAC is a bipartisan political action committee for parents, grandparents, parents-to-be, and anyone who supports high quality public education. Our statewide group has a track record of success, helping to elect 23 new members of the Texas Legislature. In each election cycle, Texas Parent PAC supports an equal number of candidates from both major political parties. Endorsed candidates reflect traditional mainstream American values that honor and support families, communities, democracy, and quality public education. Texas Parent PAC seeks to elect more state legislators with the courage to stand up for children and neighborhood public schools. Endorsed candidates understand that children are our future, and lawmakers must adequately invest in education to ensure prosperity in Texas. All endorsed candidates support the Texas Parent PAC Guiding Principles, which are posted at www.txparentpac.com/principles.html Donate: http://www.txparentpac.com/donate.html Contributions pay for myriad campaign expenses, including postcards and letters, yard signs, TV advertising, phone banks, campaign staff, get-out-the-vote efforts, and more. Email: info@txparentpac.com Website: http://www.txparentpac.com Video produced by Jeff Zavala. This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org

Striving for a Sustainable Future Where Our Actions Match the Crises and Opportunities We Face

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Paul Cienfuegos on June of 2010 at the Village Building Convergence in Portland, Ore. Topics include: Democracy, Natural Rights, The Colonized Mind, Pushing the Envelope, Citizen Action, The Populist, Climate Change and more. To find out more visit his website http://PaulCienfuegos.com

Author and Radical Activist Robert Jensen on Rag Radio 7-8-2011

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Robert Jensen is a University of Texas journalism professor, widely-published author, Austin-based political activist, and leading radical thinker. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a professional journalist for a decade. At UT, Jensen teaches courses in media law, ethics, and politics. He is also a board member of the Third Coast Activist Resource Center. His most recent books are All My Bones Shake: Seeking a Progressive Path to the Prophetic Voice, Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity and The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege. Jensen also writes for popular media, both alternative and mainstream. His opinion and analytic pieces on such subjects as foreign policy, politics, and race have appeared in papers around the country. We discuss his recent essay, The Anguish in the American Dream posted on The Rag Blog, as well as the current ecological crisis and the key role he believes it must play in our political thinking. Rag Radio is Cutting-edge alternative journalism, politics, and culture in the spirit of the Sixties underground press. Rag Radio is Broadcast Live from 2-3 PM CST Every Friday Afternoon on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin and Streamed to the World. http://koop.org Host and producer: Thorne Dreyer Co-producer and engineer: Tracey Schulz Video produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. http://austin.indymedia.org This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org