Labor Council Supports Local Activist
pogo, 24.01.2008 10:10
STANDING UP & SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER
The Southern Oregon Central Labor Council defends activist Wes Brain after he was denied a position on the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council following a false rumor raised by Jackson County Commissioner Jack Walker claiming Brain had burned an American Flag.
Proud Patriot Wes Brain
Jack Walker caught telling a fib
Jim Alexander, President of the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council voiced his support and requested the Commissioners reconsider their rejection of Brain. Alexander reported to Jackson County Commissioners on Wednesday that the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO was asked by staff of the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council to replace a departing member. Brain was appointed to that position because of "his willingness and previous service to the community." Workforce Council staff then presented Brain's name to the Commissioners for approval.
Brain's nomination was rejected because it was alleged he had burned the United States Flag - an allegation he flatly denies. Commissioner Jack Walker told media that he'd heard rumors that Brain had burned the flag in February 2003 during an Ashland anti-war protest, and that rumor influenced his decision two weeks ago to vote against placing Brain on the Workforce Development Council.
Brain insists, “I have never burned a United States flag, ever! My fifth great grandfather is Roger Sherman, Senator from Connecticut. He is the second guy from the left on the back of a two dollar bill. He is our only founding father to put his signature on these four documents: Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and my favorite, our Bill of Rights.”
A long-time Rogue Valley resident and community activist, Brain promotes citizen media, civil rights and labor organizing. He is a volunteer with the Rogue Independent Media center and he hosts the "Brain Labor Report" a daily radio show of labor news and interviews. The "Brain Labor Report" broadcasts "live" Monday thru Friday at 7 am pst only at KSKQ 94.9 fm in South Ashland, Oregon. The radio show is streamed over the internet via 
http://www.kskq.org Past shows are archived here: http://www.kskq.org/blr/
At the Wednesday morning meeting of the Jackson County Commissioners Alexander declared, "The Southern Oregon Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO respectfully requests that the Commissioners reconsider their rejection of Mr. Brain for the nominated position on the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council and clear his name of such a spurious allegation."
The Chief Elected Officials (CEO) consist of the three county commissioners from Jackson County and the three county commissioners from Josephine County. They meet as the Board of Directors of the Job Council with two responsibilities, the governance of the workforce system through their common responsibilities of the Workforce Investment Act and as the governing board of the Job Council, an ORS 190 Intergovernmental Entity formed in 1975 and revised in November 1999 to provide workforce training and support services for the two county area. The CEO's appoint all Development Council and Youth Council members.
ACTION ITEM
Contact Jackson and Josephine County Commissioners and voice support for Wes Brain's appointment to the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council.
JACKSON COUNTY
Dave Gilmour - Commissioner - 
gilmoudr@jacksoncounty.org
Dennis C.W. Smith - Commisioner - smithdc@jacksoncounty.org
Jack Walker - Commissioner - WalkerJW@jacksoncounty.org
JOSEPHINE COUNTY
Dwight Ellis - Commissioner - dellis@co.josephine.or.us
Jim Raffenburg - Commissioner - jraffenburg@co.josephine.or.us
Dave Toler - Commissioner - dtoler@co.josephine.or.us
For more on this story....
Listen to Wes discuss the issue on the January 24th edition of the Brain Labor Report:
http://www.kskq.org/brainlabor/?p=213
As reported in the Medford Mail Tribune: "Rumor ruins job prospects for activist"
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/NEWS/801240327
Make a comment on this article below
| Download this article in pdf format >> |
| Add this article to your pdf newsletter selection >> |
| Checkout and Download your PDF-newsletter selection >> |
| Email this article to someone >> |
| Make a quick comment on this article >> |
|
Time for Walker to step down 24.01.2008 - 15:08 It is clearly time for the old fart Jack Walker to step down! Jack went over the line> In support of WES BRAIN for RVWDC 25.01.2008 - 09:44 Letter to Jackson County Commissioners. I have known Wes Brain for many years and I respect him. I've found him to be a decent and honorable person devoted to speaking up for justice, for fairness and for the underdog in our society. I consider him an asset to our community. His voice is needed since injustice is rife in our American culture — and Jackson County is not exempt. Our community would, IMJ, be better served if there were more citizens as unafraid to speak up as Wes Brain. Someone who speaks up loudly and vociferously to right injustice is never popular with those who represent the status quo; and Wes Brain is tireless and unwavering in his efforts. He continues his work at a time when labor has been given a bad name — as has 'liberal' — and the rights of labor to a fair protest have been seriously damaged by the Federal Government and its cohorts in corporate power. The use of a spurious ad hominem slur by Commissioner Walker is in my judgment a case of 'the kettle calling the pot black' — though the metaphor might be better. One assumes Commissioner Walker can find no real blemish on Wes Brains record to serve to him. And in any case I can assure you it was not Wes Brain who burned the American flag in Ashland. Please urge your fellow commissioners to right this wrong and approve Wes Brain for his rightful and well earned place on the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council. John Fisher-Smith> Commissioner Walker, you are out of order 25.01.2008 - 13:16 I hope Wes Brain sues Commissioner Walker for slander. For Walker to say about Brain, "If he had not participated in any event like that, naturally you would apologize. I've been using the wrong information based on what I was told years ago." is clearly and continuation of stereotyping and innuendo by Walker against Mr. Brain and anyone who would behave otherwise than Mr. Walker. Commissioners Gilmour and Smith should also bear responsibility for making decisions based on admitted rumors. To not confirm one's source and information is an extremely embarrassing and ultimately damaging behavior, especially by any county commissioner. Walker's further rationalization about low blood sugar levels and needing insulin is utterly pathetic. What if all diabetics behaved in this manner? Then why shouldn't all people with some illness just blame the illness for stupid decision making? I have zero sympathy for Walker, and hope he is brought to justice by Mr. Brain for his pitiful behavior. As a representative of many people, dwindling county money, and the well being of an entire region, Mr. Walker's final statement above is especially disgusting. Did you lose your insulin again, Mr. Walker? Hal Anthony, Hugo, Oregon Hal B,. Anthony >  e-mail:: threepines@jeffnet.org
not just walker 25.01.2008 - 17:43 time for all three commissioners to make an public apology to wes and to all constituents and time for all three commissioners to make two new year's resolutions : 1. to protect the 1st Amendment rights of the Jackson County people 2. to faithfully execute the office of commissioner in a trustworthy way. Jackson Co resident> Jack Walker - Step Down ! 27.01.2008 - 21:36 To quote the MT article: 'Walker said commissioners sometimes have very little information about the character of potential candidates, but in this case he thought he knew something about Brain. "I just have my view of this guy," he said. Walker did acknowledge that he may have overreacted in this situation. "Maybe I did," he said.' Well, I have my view of Jack Walker and with his own words he substantiates what I thought of him is true. Jack Walker is a bold-faced liar willing to defame the character of others merely to insure his political leanings are the only ones allowed. He goes on in the article to deflect blame of his slander on with some limp-wristed excuse of his 'low blood sugar'. Sounds a bit like that infamous 'Twinkie Defense' doesn't it? Whatever the causes of Mr. Walker's outrageous behavior, we shouldn't have to put up with it. It is time for Jack Walker to step down. Jon Dowd> Brain 25.02.2008 - 19:55 Wes shoul sue Jack Walker for defamation of character, and should be recalled from the board of commossioners Robert Munroe> e-mail:: rmunroe@mind.net
|