Welcome and introduction to SPS While there is a great deal of positive activist work going on many fronts, there's a real need for improved communications among groups and, more importantly, with sympathizers and independent and radical/progressive writers and media. i have a modest proposal for all activists and groups struggling for justice, liberation and the hearts and minds of our brothers and sisters everywhere. Former Black Panther and political prisoner Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, in a manifesto he wrote while entombed in one of the most brutal prisons in the USA, envisioned the creation an information bureau to network with activists and supportive media to get liberation messages out to the people. Put bluntly, the "mainstream" media, for all the right-wing howling of liberalism and political correctness, very seldom documents, struggles with and supports the efforts of people of color, the urban and rural poor and radicals/progressives in their efforts for freedom and justice. Instead, we're constantly treated to rightist talking heads distorting reality and neo-Nazis being given free reign in "mainstream" media to propagandize their opinions. What i am presenting is media on our own terms through an idea i hope gets your support and participation. The Salazar-Parsons Service (christened after the late Chicano journalist Rubeun Salazar, who was killed by the LA Police Department, and Black anarchist Lucy Parsons) is designed as an electronic gathering point for news and opinions of radical/progressive, liberationist and independent viewpoints. The service stays alive through your support. Activists, organizations and progressive writers should forward news, opinion, alerts and anything you wish for publication to SPS at the electronic mail address serve@hic.net. From here, SPS forwards material in weekly "packages" to media who've expressed interest in publishing articles from the service as well as a list of e-mail addresses for activists and groups who can spread the word and offer aid. Various progressive and independent media are always looking for help, articles and ideas too, and SPS will occasionally send over an address of someone needing your input. SPS is brand-new and electronically-based (and thus limited in some respects) but it can be a good start to more networking and information exchange among activists and with those writers and media sympathetic to our viewpoints and willing to support us. This endeavor deserves your support. All correspondences (articles -- news, opinion, alerts, ideas, comments, requests, etc.) should be forwarded to serve@hic.net. If you received this message directly mailed to you, you're already a part of the network list; if you don't wish to be included or want to recommend people to be, please write serve@hic.net with e-mail addresses and such. Write if you've gotten this message forwarded and want to join up. Those whose contributions can receive credit if they wish. Please keep in mind that there's a need for all kinds of articles -- analysis, news, alerts, activist reports, commentaries and anything in between -- so everything is helpful. You'll see most articles prefixed with a word. Categories are as follows: NEWS: news item or news feature on a given topic OPINION: opinion piece or commentary on a given subject ALERT: notice of a demonstration, street action or protests ANNOUNCE: notice of a conference, social action or similar event WORD: bit of information that fits no category This could be the beginning of a very positive project. Get involved!