Dayamani Barla, activist and journalist from Jharkhand state in India, attended the Hotel Workers' meeting.

This man emphasized the point that most working people live just one paycheck away from becoming homeless. He said the contractor employing him ran away with his money, and he ended up in a homeless shelter--he presently lives there.

This hotel worker cried while telling her story. She said she makes barely enough to support herself and her two children, that her mother is sick in Mexico, but she does not have money to visit her. She said she had to do 15 rooms before; after joining the union she now has to do only 14—and it is a big difference.

A short skit was presented. Hotel workers are on strike. A man wanting to get a room in Marriott ends up staying at a homeless shelter.

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Slavery, Theft.
I have to write a piece stringing my thoughts together on all of the above.
These ideas kept me hostage while I attended a meeting of ‘Bay Area Hotel Workers’ in San Jose, last night.

Video highlights of November 10 rally in San Francisco

Friends of South Asia (www.friendsofsouthasia.org) and other Bay Area organizations arranged an anti Martial Law rally in San Francisco, today.
Here is a part of the media advisory they issued:

“STOP U.S. SUPPORT OF GENERAL MUSHARRAF, NOW!”
San Francisco Bay Area community groups to protest Martial Law and US government support for military dictatorship in Pakistan with a peaceful rally

WHEN: Saturday, November 10th, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
WHERE: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA

WHAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI, www.moveforjustice.org), Friends of South Asia (FOSA, www.friendsofsouthasia.org), Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER, www.actionsf.org) and a number of concerned citizens from all walks of life will rally in front of the City Hall to protest the imposition of Martial Law in Pakistan and the US Government’s support for military dictatorship there and also to show solidarity and support for the pro-democracy movement in Pakistan. The day of action will begin at 2pm with speeches from community leaders which will be followed by a rally.

In response to emergency rule imposed by General Pervez Musharraf on November 3, FOSA (wwww.friendsofsouthasia.org) had a poster making session after its 2007 Eid-Diwali dinner on Sunday, November 4.